Well after a shaky start to lessons last week, I finally feel back on my feet. I had a successful day of teaching on Friday, with four very different first year classes. I received a greater vibe from these students. They were full of energy and enthusiasm to be in their English classroom – or at least I hope they were! Their energy was very refreshing and it has reset my motivation for why I am here.
Last Thursday I spent at a visiting school, organising and planning my initial lessons. Being cooped-up in the office all day is not very exciting, but today turned different. I had many third year students actually make an effort to come into the office during lunch and talk with me. Although I will not be teaching them this year, they simply wanted someone to practice their English with. Who am I to reject? They even took me out to watch their school festival preparations. I was amazed at how many of these students would enthusiastically wave and shout a greeting to me. Their high energy really made me feel welcomed at this school. I truly look forward to teaching them soon.
Soon enough Saturday came, and so too did my cold. I awoke to a very sore throat and husky voice yesterday, which has only become worse today. However, this was not stopping me from enjoying my weekend!
Saturday was spent with some friends pottering around Kurashiki’s historical district. This section is much larger than I first remember, so I must return to explore further. However, the rest of our day was spent at AEON mall, which proved to be an unsuccessful shopping trip for myself. This just means I have more money for travel though!
It seemed that Okayama had also finally delivered on it’s reputation of the ‘sunshine state’. So, to make use of this fine weather, I finally went to Shiriashi beach with a friend. Shiraishi Island is just off the coast of Okayama. While it is a far distance to travel, it is a beautifully and relatively non-crowded beach. It was great to just relax by the ocean and let time pass us by. We even got to hire out a kayak and have a gentle stroll along the water. It was a great way to finish the weekend.
So as the weekend draws to a close, and my voice still as croaky as before, I pray that I feel better with some good sleep!
