For the Most Part You Control How Your Day Goes

This is the lesson I learned a few days ago. I realized I have a considerable amount of control on how well or bad a situation can be.

It started off on the wrong foot because of some aggression I was later able to pin upon a book I was reading on Africa, "Race Against Time." It was the first time I felt really appalled about the country's treatment on the one hand and obligation to do something about my reaction on the other. I hadn't noticed that was the case earlier in my day and so I blamed the lack of spunk in my classes on my students. When all of sudden, I thought,

Why don't you start initiating some craziness instead of expecting it from the students?

So, I set aside my disparaging feelings for a bit and actively tried to engage the students that looked "too cool for school." The difference compared to my former classes that day was astounding. It turned my day from rotten to amazing! I had a great time with my students and I saw how I could address these feelings I had towards Africa. While I'm certainly not saying that I or any one person could heal the country over night, I do realize that sitting back and waiting for something or someone else to make things better isn't the way to go. You've probably heard this before and think, "yeah? ya da ya da etc.," but today I didn't just hear it from someone else. I experienced it. And the two are worlds apart. An epiphany.

The School Entrance Ceremony

Well this custom is certainly foreign to me. I might even be able to say it's foreign to most Americans as well. Apparently, each year a ceremony is held for the incoming students to the school. After taking part in the ceremony,I realized it was just like the graduation ceremony, but in reverse. Rather than bidding them goodbye they were saying "Welcome!" with all the pomp one can imagine.

My new principal, formerly our vice principal, had the honor of wearing the penguin suit today. But as he's taller than our former principal he actually was able to avoid resembling the bird. Lucky him, eh?

Remember when I embarrassed myself by creating a racket with my coughing at the graduation ceremony? Well this time, by now you think I would know better, eh ;), I managed to embarrass myself by my inability to stay awake during the ceremony. Ha! The first 20 minutes were palatable. Then I realized oh!, I can't keep my eyes open any longer. It got to the point were the stoic "Ree!," the signal given for people to bow at the appropriate moments, scared me awake not one, but several times. I felt really bad. :(

This was the first impression I left with the parents of my new students.

Sigh...

Oh yeah and for some reason I wasn't told that a specific location was set aside near the stage for 1st year teachers to sit. So that when the first year teachers were called on stage to bow in front of the new students and their parents, I had to stand out like a sore thumb as I rushed on stage from the other end of the gym. Go figure...

Oh and not only did I stand out because I was coming from a different location, but my appearance also made me stick out. Evidently, all must wear starched pressed black suits to this event. I had a feeling that that would be the case when I was told I would have to go on stage to welcome the new students. Yet, for some reason I felt rebellious in this point. I had just dry cleaned my fantastic black suit and to tell you the truth, I didn't think the ceremony was worthy enough for the first fit. So, I opted for the formal brown suit instead and payed for the feeling of being a noticeable outsider again. But this time it was all my doing.

Craziness

March was certainly a hectic month. I ended up at Tokyo at least six times! And Kyoto twice!!! So much money was spent. So I'm looking forward to a slower pace this April. Although my trip to Korea on the 27th will still insure that it won't be a cheap one. Oh well.

I'm so exhausted. My students are on spring break and rather than us getting these days off as well, we still have to be at school. I consider this such an injustice. I think it's absolutely ludicrous as well, as we literally don't have anything to do, but because of some rule we must be at the school. A bunch of baloney if you ask me. Sorry I'm so bitter about this...

Oh, new pictures are up.