it's not life that matters but the journey...

I've been sitting at the computer for over an hour in a room that has no airconditioner.  the cable modem is only on the second floor, and the AC is upstairs!  So I am a bit cranky now.  nonetheless, I will write a little today.

For some reason,  I've been really irritable and cranky all day.  On the train, I was annoyed by this woman sitting next to me who was  digging food out of her teeth and making some weird noises, and then almost falling onto me when she fell asleep (anyone who has been on a train in Japan - except rush hour in Tokyo - will attest that nearly everyone sleeps, and they are not shy about sleeping on you!!).  Then she elbowed me trying to retrieve her cell phone from her handbag.  I wanted  to scream!  Then getting off the train, everyone moves in slow motion and there is a big traffic jam getting to the stairs and out of the station - I got behind some lethargic high school students, and then an old woman who could barely move.  It took me nearly 5 minutes just to exit the station! 

Then the real fun started - I taught the baby class again today, and unfortunately it wasn't so successful.  Only two little girls showed up (the one who was so fussy last week showed up 5 minutes before the end of the class!) - and one of the girls was really distracted and wanting to play with anything other than what I was showing her.  I tried reading a book with animals and neither of them was interested.  I think that there are too many toys in the room, and the kids just want to go in there and play!  But I sang lots of songs and just did what I could to make the time go.  I think 40 minutes is too much and I might tell Naoko to change it to 30 minutes.  How long can you keep the attention of 2-year-olds?
and to top it off I started getting an enormous stomach ache right at the end of the lesson, which I had to ignore, so it was tough!  I haven't had stomach problems for about two weeks but today something made me really feel bad.  Luckily I had only one more class after the babies, a private student who I also teach on Saturdays, so it was easy!

I came home and took medicine and slept a little, and now I feel better.  thankfully I have two days off and then I have a crazy schedule Saturday - five classes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.  I will be so tired!  Sunday afternoon I am supposed to go up to Saitama to visit my friends the Yoshinos and stay for a few days, so that will be a nice getaway - just me. Masahiko will stay here with the cat!

thats all that is happening with me.  Masahiko and I went to the beach on the weekend, which wasn't as exciting as it sounds.  the beaches here in Shizuoka are not clean, and are generally crowded and, of course, hot!  he went Surfing on Saturday while I worked, and decided to go again Sunday so I could go too.  but I just ended up getting hot and sunburned cause I couldn't really swim - its too crowded and its the ocean!  too many waves!  But it was nice to see the ocean anyway. If we go to the Izu Peninsula next time it will be better - that is beautiful and cooler.

I am so looking forward to the end of this hot summer.  The heat and humidity seems to take all of my energy and enthusiasm for anything.  I haven't done anything creative since I started working (i.e. writing or studying) and I'm even getting tired of my job because of the commute and other things.  For instance,  I am so tired of being lectured by Naoko every time I do anything that she doesn't approve of.  Which is almost every time I am there.  I already wrote about her lecturing me last Saturday after the kid's class - and then last night, right before my last class, she said something ridiculous that really pissed me off.  I was preparing to teach the lower level adult class (really really beginners) and they use a textbook for each lesson.   There was one student out in the lounge, and I went out there and asked Naoko what page we should be doing in the textbook (I don't remember since I don't teach it every week).  Naoko then proceeded to tell me (in the other room) that I should not have asked "what page" in front of the student since she would think I am not prepared.  First of all, the student probably doesn't know what I am referring to (it could be anything, even for another class); and second of all, she probably didn't even understand what I said since she is a beginner.  Sometimes I think that Naoko has way too much pride and worries too much about the "image" of her school.  She also gives the students too much credit.  they don't really know what we are talking about, much of the time.  Next time Naoko says anything critical to me, I am afraid I might have to tell her how I feel.  I just don't appreciate her criticism when I am helping her out tremendously by substituting so much and commuting so far - and teaching babies and kids when I have a M.A. in English!!  thank goodness this job is temporary!! 

but I shouldn't complain too much, right?  after all, I was desperate for work a couple months ago!

Oh the dilemmas we face in life . . .