a quiet spell

Yuuki-chan - so smart
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The last two weeks have felt somewhat like the 'calm before the storm', with the storm being this Friday's planned trip to Cambodia.  Not a lot has happened in the past couple of weeks, it's just been back to school and teaching as the new academic school year has kicked in.

The only real change for me has been that I now teach first year junior high school kids as well as my usual high schoolers.  The reason is that my main high school is changing into a junior high school, but, the change isn't immediate, it's gradual.  For the next three years we will take a new year of junior high kids, while the senior's continue to graduate and move up through the ranks, until eventually the halls are filled with three age groups of junior high laughter.  However, currently Seiryo is a mix of 12/13 year old junior high kids, and then 16/17/18 year old senior high kids, kind of strange, but nice.

Maybe I wont have to teach too many 'alphabet' lessons after all!

Shino-chan - such a cutie
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So far I have only been fortunate to have taught my self introduction to three junior high classes, but they have all gone really well and left me very excited about the prospect of teaching them again.  The kids are sooo little, cute and full of energy compared to the usual high schoolers, they're adorable!  They also know quite a bit of English which is good to see, then again they are pretty much the smartest kids of their age group, as they were tested to come to our school.  Maybe I wont have to teach too many 'alphabet' lessons after all!

Angus - gutted
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I'm not the only one who has been learning the ropes of teaching junior high schoolers either, the past couple of weeks has brought quite a change to Karen's life in Japan as she is now working for a junior high school, and three elementary schools, in the nearby town, Taku.  She is being kept very busy, especially as she is also working extra classes at night as she finishes out her previous job.  And, while it's good to know the teachers clearly value her as a resource for class and clearly have faith in her skills with the number of classes she has been getting, it will be nice for her after golden week when she is only working at the school and her shifts for her previous job are finished and behind her.  That will mean she no longer works evenings or, more importantly, weekends!  Road trips here we come!

I recently passed the '100 days remaining' on my contract, and as I write this there are only 92 days to go.  Knowing this brings a mix of emotions.  However I think being scared is the most prominent at the moment.  There are only 92 days until I am unemployed and homeless, yikes!  There is still so much to do here, and now, so little time!

However, even though there is still much to see and do in Japan before we check outta here, the next stop on our map is going to be Cambodia this weekend.  We are flying into Bangkok for a night of debauchery, before heading across the border and down to Phnom Penh.  I have been perusing realtravel for hours, reading other peoples blogs and making use of the 'trip planner' function.  I'm primed and ready for our next back packing adventure, Cambodia here we come!