Legal Alien Status

            Before I left for Japan, everyone assured that time would fly, that I should treasure the time here because it will be over before I know it.  That all sounds well and good sitting on your couch in Lanesboro, Minnesota, but it doesn't really sink in.  Well, it sunk in today.  At the end of the first week, John and I went Tsu's City Hall, and registered ourselves as aliens.  We were told that we could expect our official registration in two weeks.  Well, when we walked out of the building two weeks ago, it seemed like two weeks was forever away, that we would never get those cards.  Well, we got those cards today!  It is finally  starting to sink in that we are going to be here for a while, and that it really isn't going to feel like very long.  It is an interesting realization to come to. 

My official Alien Registration Card!
Great pic, right?  

             Also, while we're on the topic of things happening faster than you expected, the old OBC teachers are leaving in a couple of days.  It is a subject full of mixed feelings for everyone involved.  For Angela and Peter (the old teachers) they are both super excited to go home, but at the same time, leaving this wonderful country has got to be difficult.  All of their students have been throwing them farewell parties, taking them to lunch, and giving them gifts during their last classes.  It has been interesting to watch.  It is mixed for John and I, as well.  Neither of us wants to see the old teachers go for a whole myriad of reasons.  As soon as they leave, we're sort of on our own.  I mean, Sarah is still here, but thats just Sarah, and you know how she is!  (Just kidding, Sarah!!)  Also, that means we won't have a safety net in any of out classes, and that our year is actually starting.  On the other hand, as soon as they leave, we get their bikes!  That isn't the only reason for being excited though.  We also get to move out of the guest house, and start our lives here!  It is a very exciting and sad week.

            Well, while these last two weeks have flown by, they haven't been empty.  We have been so busy, sometimes it feels like there isn't time to sleep!  John and I have almost completed the training stage of our time at OBC.  We spent week two introducing ourselves to the students we would be teaching during the first 20-30 minutes of each class.  It was pretty exciting, and was a good introduction to being in front of a class.  During the second week, I also had my first teaching simulation.  This was pretty interesting, because it involved teaching a whole lesson to a simulated class.  This would have been pretty interesting on its own, but I was also being observed by John and the rest of the Japanese staff.  The difficulty was increased pretty dramatically when I walked into the classroom and found out that one of the two women I was supposed to be teaching this lesson simulation to had ZERO English experience, and the other was barely above beginner level.  That was interesting, let me tell you!  Despite the difficulty involved in trying to teach a slightly advanced lesson on the problems and advantages with internet dating to two people with no English experience, the lesson went pretty well.  My bosses had great comments, and I think I learned a lot so it was good.

            The third was even more eventful, if possible.  During the third week, we taught everyone of the classes we would be taking over, and the old teachers just sat in the back of the class observing and taking notes.  It has been pretty exciting all around, and it has been especially fun to teach all these classes and start to get to know our students.  Most of the adult students are truly interesting and intelligent people who are studying English merely as a hobby rather than for any specific reason or need, so they genuinely want to be in class, for the most part.  The kids that we have are mostly here because their parents want them to be, but they are a pretty energetic and exciting group of kids.  All in all, teaching at OBC looks to make for a pretty exciting year!!

All the best!