Thursday, September 30, 2010
very sad...
oh my...a post typed in chinese is GONE!!!!! deeply saddened. It took me probably like...2 hours... very sad...very very sad.....
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sports day 運動会
Yup, it was Sports day today. It was fun!!! =) Unlike the sports day I had when I was in elementary school, this sports day doesn't have any "traditional" sports other than relay running. However, I guess the point of sports da y here is for everyone in the school to be involved in an activity. It's basically classes vs. classes. There's also a parents team. There were 5 "sports"
1. throwing bean bags into a basket... ( XD )
- there are around 18 ppl in each circle. They will pick up the bean bags from their circles and throw them into the basket. Yup...it's that easy. =)
2. Tug-of-war
-yup, ur basic tug-of-war. Class against class. It was fun. Well, tug-of-war is always fun. =)
3. passing big ball & small ball...
-2 ppl grabbing either the big ball or small ball....run to the middle, and grab the other ball...then run to the other side of the field. It was fun tho. :) I was playing it too! I was in the PTA team (parent & teacher association). When the students saw me...a few of them were yelling "Joyce sensei~~~" hehe..they are so cute.. XD
4. Running with a bamboo...
-haaa..i like this game. =) 5 kids hold a bamboo. They run to the first cone, make a circle..turn, then run back. After they run back to their group, the bamboo has to go under everyone, meaning everyone in the group has to jump over the bamboo. Then the bamboo will be brought back to the front from the back over everyone's head. Hmmmm, sounds confusing, but it was fun!!! =)
5. Relay!!!
-there were relay against each class, and relay against other clubs. Teachers formed 2 teams too!! I was in one of the teams, going again the girls. Well, but the teacher's team that was going against the girls consists of 4 male teachers and 2 female teachers. Some students were sort of complaining about the teacher's team composition.....then the males teachers told them that because they suck, that's why they're in the girls team....XD tooo funny! =) Well, as expected, the teachers lost....like last place. It was fun tho! =)
Ohhhhhh.....marching band......I want to play my clarinet too......
After sports day, there was a staff dinner. Yay, I finally had my authentic ox tongue. It was yummy..... =) Although I didn't talk much w/ the teachers (since I have very limited Japanese....and they're not that into English...), it was still nice to hang out w/ colleagues outside of work. Haaaa...Japanese really like Nomihodai (all you can drink). Man.....couldn't really stand the smoke tho..ha!
1. throwing bean bags into a basket... ( XD )
- there are around 18 ppl in each circle. They will pick up the bean bags from their circles and throw them into the basket. Yup...it's that easy. =)
2. Tug-of-war
-yup, ur basic tug-of-war. Class against class. It was fun. Well, tug-of-war is always fun. =)
3. passing big ball & small ball...
-2 ppl grabbing either the big ball or small ball....run to the middle, and grab the other ball...then run to the other side of the field. It was fun tho. :) I was playing it too! I was in the PTA team (parent & teacher association). When the students saw me...a few of them were yelling "Joyce sensei~~~" hehe..they are so cute.. XD
4. Running with a bamboo...
-haaa..i like this game. =) 5 kids hold a bamboo. They run to the first cone, make a circle..turn, then run back. After they run back to their group, the bamboo has to go under everyone, meaning everyone in the group has to jump over the bamboo. Then the bamboo will be brought back to the front from the back over everyone's head. Hmmmm, sounds confusing, but it was fun!!! =)
5. Relay!!!
-there were relay against each class, and relay against other clubs. Teachers formed 2 teams too!! I was in one of the teams, going again the girls. Well, but the teacher's team that was going against the girls consists of 4 male teachers and 2 female teachers. Some students were sort of complaining about the teacher's team composition.....then the males teachers told them that because they suck, that's why they're in the girls team....XD tooo funny! =) Well, as expected, the teachers lost....like last place. It was fun tho! =)
Ohhhhhh.....marching band......I want to play my clarinet too......
After sports day, there was a staff dinner. Yay, I finally had my authentic ox tongue. It was yummy..... =) Although I didn't talk much w/ the teachers (since I have very limited Japanese....and they're not that into English...), it was still nice to hang out w/ colleagues outside of work. Haaaa...Japanese really like Nomihodai (all you can drink). Man.....couldn't really stand the smoke tho..ha!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
This is the day that the Lord has made~
September 12, 2010 - Sunday. Hehe, I think I am getting better. :) Haha, yeah, I guess I was going through my stage 2 of the "cycle of culture shock"..XD I guess I felt that there's no one close here....felt a bit uneasy about all the changes that seem to be happening. Well, God brought me here right?? He will be with me wherever I go.
Ok, since today was church day....and I am going to a Japanese church, let me do a Japanese 101. =) For those who have been going to church, you will probably know this song. We sing this right before 問安. Instead of saying "peace" and shaking hands, people would say "おはようございます！”and bow. It's very "Japanese" eh? =P
Kk, enough talking. Here's the Japanese lesson.
この日は
この日は この日は 主が作られた 主が作られた
われらは喜ぼう この日をば この日をば
この日は主が作られた われらはこの日を喜ぼう
この日は この日は 主が作られた
(in romaji...so ppl can sing along..haa!)
konohiwa konohiwa shugatsukurareta shugatsukurareta
warerawa yorokobou konohioba konohioba
konohiwashugatsukurareta warerawakonohioyorokobou
konohiwa konohiwa shugatsukurareta
(English version)
This is the day
This is the day (X2) That the Lord has made (X2)
We will rejoice (X2) and be glad in it (X2)
This is the day that the Lord has made
We will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day (X2) that the Lord has made
Yes. God has allowed everything to happen. This is the day that the Lord has made, so I will rejoice and be glad in it. I've been singing this song for the last month...and this is my sudden discovery. I guess God had just hit me on the head. haa! =) It was a nice hit. I will cherish everything God is giving me, and thank God for the things that He is not giving me. =) Thanks Lord.
Man.......this is bad....just spent like...$140ish on shoes today... =S They are not even that cheap....why did I buy them??? I just need runners.......! sigh... I guess no eating out for the week... Well, I DID make a big pot of curry..! I also marinated some chicken. Yup, deal! Those will be my dinner..s for the week....
Oh, talking about runners, the reason why I need runners is because I AM JOINING SPORTS DAY!! Haaaa, should be fun! =) Each club is going to have representatives to do a 200m X 4 relay. There will be a teacher team...and I WILL BE ONE OF IT! Haaa, I can't believe I'm gonna run in sports day!! I've never ever joint sports day before! Well, I guess I was one of the cheer leaders when I was in grade 4. Wow...don't even want to attempt counting fingers........ ANYWAY, I think the students are SOOOOO gonna win...=P Oh well, it's just for fun anyway. It should be fun! :)
Ohoh, the Jozenji Street jazz festival was AWESOME! Seeing all those bands made me wanna SING!!~~ =)
Yup, I am feeling better I think. Yes, I will treasure all the opportunities I have. Well, I don't know when that "stage 2" is gonna hit again. That's ok! I am safe in His arms. =) Just wanna share this song with you...for those who doesn't have facebook.....Ahemm...u know who u are.. =P
God will never leave us or forsake us. I believe since He had promised us that He will never leave us and we will be safe in His arms, there is essentially nothing to fear...nothing to be discouraged... Everything is under control! Isn't it great....~~ =)
Wowwwww....POURING!! I guess typhoon is either coming or it's here! Welcome to Asia. =)
Once again, thank you for those who care for me and 精神上支持我。 I love you all. I mean it.
Thanks Lord. Your love is amazing.
cheers~~ =)
Ok, since today was church day....and I am going to a Japanese church, let me do a Japanese 101. =) For those who have been going to church, you will probably know this song. We sing this right before 問安. Instead of saying "peace" and shaking hands, people would say "おはようございます！”and bow. It's very "Japanese" eh? =P
Kk, enough talking. Here's the Japanese lesson.
この日は
この日は この日は 主が作られた 主が作られた
われらは喜ぼう この日をば この日をば
この日は主が作られた われらはこの日を喜ぼう
この日は この日は 主が作られた
(in romaji...so ppl can sing along..haa!)
konohiwa konohiwa shugatsukurareta shugatsukurareta
warerawa yorokobou konohioba konohioba
konohiwashugatsukurareta warerawakonohioyorokobou
konohiwa konohiwa shugatsukurareta
(English version)
This is the day
This is the day (X2) That the Lord has made (X2)
We will rejoice (X2) and be glad in it (X2)
This is the day that the Lord has made
We will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day (X2) that the Lord has made
Yes. God has allowed everything to happen. This is the day that the Lord has made, so I will rejoice and be glad in it. I've been singing this song for the last month...and this is my sudden discovery. I guess God had just hit me on the head. haa! =) It was a nice hit. I will cherish everything God is giving me, and thank God for the things that He is not giving me. =) Thanks Lord.
Man.......this is bad....just spent like...$140ish on shoes today... =S They are not even that cheap....why did I buy them??? I just need runners.......! sigh... I guess no eating out for the week... Well, I DID make a big pot of curry..! I also marinated some chicken. Yup, deal! Those will be my dinner..s for the week....
Oh, talking about runners, the reason why I need runners is because I AM JOINING SPORTS DAY!! Haaaa, should be fun! =) Each club is going to have representatives to do a 200m X 4 relay. There will be a teacher team...and I WILL BE ONE OF IT! Haaa, I can't believe I'm gonna run in sports day!! I've never ever joint sports day before! Well, I guess I was one of the cheer leaders when I was in grade 4. Wow...don't even want to attempt counting fingers........ ANYWAY, I think the students are SOOOOO gonna win...=P Oh well, it's just for fun anyway. It should be fun! :)
Ohoh, the Jozenji Street jazz festival was AWESOME! Seeing all those bands made me wanna SING!!~~ =)
Yup, I am feeling better I think. Yes, I will treasure all the opportunities I have. Well, I don't know when that "stage 2" is gonna hit again. That's ok! I am safe in His arms. =) Just wanna share this song with you...for those who doesn't have facebook.....Ahemm...u know who u are.. =P
God will never leave us or forsake us. I believe since He had promised us that He will never leave us and we will be safe in His arms, there is essentially nothing to fear...nothing to be discouraged... Everything is under control! Isn't it great....~~ =)
Wowwwww....POURING!! I guess typhoon is either coming or it's here! Welcome to Asia. =)
Once again, thank you for those who care for me and 精神上支持我。 I love you all. I mean it.
Thanks Lord. Your love is amazing.
cheers~~ =)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
God's Providence
Sepbember 4, 2010 - God's Providence
(From my Daily card)
"All things work togehter for good to those who love God." (Romans 8:28)
God regularly and consistently takes all that He allows to happen to Christians, even what seems to them to be the worst things, and turns those events ultimately into blessings. That is divine providence at work. No matter what your situation - happy, prosperous, and easy; or sad, painful, and difficult - through it all, God works to do what is ultimately best and most blessed for you.
In His providence, the Lord uses "all things", circumstances that are evil and harmful as well as those that are good and helpful, to mold you into the kind of person He wants you to be. When you struggle with life, just remember what God promised the apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). That pledge is for you as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"你 的 恩 典 夠 我 用" and tears came out
(From my Daily card)
"All things work togehter for good to those who love God." (Romans 8:28)
God regularly and consistently takes all that He allows to happen to Christians, even what seems to them to be the worst things, and turns those events ultimately into blessings. That is divine providence at work. No matter what your situation - happy, prosperous, and easy; or sad, painful, and difficult - through it all, God works to do what is ultimately best and most blessed for you.
In His providence, the Lord uses "all things", circumstances that are evil and harmful as well as those that are good and helpful, to mold you into the kind of person He wants you to be. When you struggle with life, just remember what God promised the apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). That pledge is for you as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"你 的 恩 典 夠 我 用" and tears came out
1 month now...!
Yup, I have been in Japan for a month now! Well, a month and 2 days to be exact. =)
It somehow seems like a loooong time! I guess I've done many things...? How am I? so far so good I guess. I do miss things at home...and feel strange from time to time. I think I'm still adjusting my life here. I guess I'm just not a very social person (Haaaa....anti-social?..hmmm..) Well...getting there..getting there. =)
As of school, I'm enjoying it so far! Yes, there are a lot of repeating. For example, I've done my self-intro for more than 10 times now. It can get a bit boring from time to time, but I'm always seeing different groups of students! I do enjoy working with the students so far. Some of them are so funny!! =P Haha, I finally remember the 3 girls who always come talk to me! They even thought of ways for me to remember their names and their classes...XD so 2 of them are Rina, and the other cute girl is Saki (yes, I think she is cute~ hehe..) One of the Rina's is in 3-7, the other one is in 3-2, and Saki is in 3-5. Saki was like.."7-2=5"!!! They attempted to get me to remember their last names....hmmmm...didn't happen. Haaa...add to the 3, another girl joint the group. Her name is Jurina. Whenever I see them in the hallway, they will test me on their names...XD There are just soooooo many students in the school that I can really only remember a handful of them.
Oh, I really enjoy the special ed class too! When I was in that class, I was thinking maybe I can do that when I go back to Canada! They are innocent bunch of kids. =) One little girl, Juno, always likes to go to the teacher's room and say "hello joyce sensei~"...then she usually starts to speak Japanese to me....haha Whenever I ask "how are you?" to her, she would say "I am happy!" as simple as that. =) well, today, she said "I am hungry"...XD
Ohoh, there are 2 grade 8 boys who would come to the office everyday and say "it's time to clean up"... Apparently I've been assigned to clean a section of the school with the students. On the first day when they came and got me to do clean up, we used about 3 min....standing outside of the teacher's room...to figure out what exactly what he wanted me to do. Since I have very limited Japanese and they have limited English, it was sort of like a chicken is talking to a duck..haa After a few days, it has become a daily routine. We would chat every time we walk upstairs to the place where we had to clean. It was a pretty scene. =) One of the guys is pretty good in kendo. Haaaa, maybe I'll get him to teach me one day...hehe..! =)
Yay, I'm finally eating lunch with the students. The first day eating with the 1-1 class was awkward! The boy sitting right beside was TOTALLY ignoring me....XD and the girl who was sitting right in front of me felt awkward because she didn't know what to say to me. I started by asking things like "what's your name? how are you?"
haaaaa..and they got scared...XD The boy beside looked at me for 2 seconds, then turned back to his friends and continued to chat...haa.. Oh well, first day... Things are getting better. I eat with a different class everyday. Eating with the other classes has been quite fun. Many of them are like "hello Joyce sensei!" We would use simple English to chat.....and those students with stronger English would translate for the others (usually girls translating for the boys...XD) Well, I actually haven't even taught all the 1 nensei's. Some of them would try to think of things to ask me!
I actually really like how students would eat lunch together, start to eat lunch together, take turns to serve lunch, finish lunch together. This kind of "activity" can really build team spirit. I love it! Too bad it's not like that in Canada. I'm guessing it's similar in Taiwan eh? Too bad I wasn't raised in that kind of environment. I love teamwork. =) good teamwork. After each student got his/her lunch, everyone will wait until everyone is seated. One person in the class will say something...that I have yet to understand..., then everyone will put their hands together...and say "itadakimasu~~" It's cool!! After that, then the students can either put some of their food back (if it's too much) or get extra. The homeroom teacher would say what they have left so that the students who want extra would help themselves. From the last few days eating with the students, if someone doesn't like to eat something, either another classmate will help him/her to finish it, or s/he would just eat it (unless there's a lot of something s/he doesn't like..haha) I like how they are mostly willing to help each other. Today, the kid who sat beside me asked if I like milk. I said not really, and he said no too. However, he still finished his milk. I wasn't going to drink the milk, but since a student who didn't like milk drank it, so I drank it too. Wow....full fat unpasterized milk... By the way, school lunch is BIG! It's interesting how they want to make school lunch healthy, but there's deep fried food like.....5 out of the 7 meals i've had... Here's a picture of a school lunch. I would say it's one of the "healthier" ones..just to give u an idea. =) Don't get me wrong! I think they're tasty actually..hehe
I like being with the students so far. =)
Haaa, I think teachers here have sooooo much other stuff to do that planning lessons may be their very last thing to do. On Monday, I asked one of my JTE if he would like me to prepare anything for the class tomorrow. His reaction was telling me that he hadn't even thought of his classes. Well, he asked me to prepare some sort of ice breaking game and a writing activity using "want to". The next day (the day of the classes), we really couldn't figure out the writing activity, so we whipped up a plan literally 5 min before class started. After the ice breaking game, we had the students do some sort of skit from the book. My JTE and I first modelled the skit (with emotion and stuff..), then the students were practicing it. It was definitely effective to model the skit beforehand because the different emotion got the students excited...(Haaaa...I was an old woman and a man..haa, so I had to use different kinds of voice. The students LOLed.....haaa) It was fun.
Errrrr....emtion roller coaster.... I'm probably still getting used to this place and this life. I would occassionally feel like I don't really belong here...ugh...that emptiness. I would sometimes feeel sooo bad that I want to cry. (Haaaa..that just happened like..yesterday in school!) Yes, God is always by my side. God is never changing. There is nothing to fear. =) I am really really thankful to have friends back home...or in hk who we could chat. No matter what we chat about, just having someone who truly cares for me is just...heart warming. Thanks for those who would listen...thanks for those who would just..be there. =) I am blessed. No matter what, I believe God will give me the best!...even when things don't seem to be as good as they could be.
Ok, time for another pudding. Sigh....bad bad bad bad......I think pudding is what I constantly will have in my fridge............bad sign.
Wow..this is looooooong.. In this stage, there are just so many interesting things..hehe =)
Suddenly find this song encouraging~ enjoy!
See you again my friends. Cheers~ =)
It somehow seems like a loooong time! I guess I've done many things...? How am I? so far so good I guess. I do miss things at home...and feel strange from time to time. I think I'm still adjusting my life here. I guess I'm just not a very social person (Haaaa....anti-social?..hmmm..) Well...getting there..getting there. =)
As of school, I'm enjoying it so far! Yes, there are a lot of repeating. For example, I've done my self-intro for more than 10 times now. It can get a bit boring from time to time, but I'm always seeing different groups of students! I do enjoy working with the students so far. Some of them are so funny!! =P Haha, I finally remember the 3 girls who always come talk to me! They even thought of ways for me to remember their names and their classes...XD so 2 of them are Rina, and the other cute girl is Saki (yes, I think she is cute~ hehe..) One of the Rina's is in 3-7, the other one is in 3-2, and Saki is in 3-5. Saki was like.."7-2=5"!!! They attempted to get me to remember their last names....hmmmm...didn't happen. Haaa...add to the 3, another girl joint the group. Her name is Jurina. Whenever I see them in the hallway, they will test me on their names...XD There are just soooooo many students in the school that I can really only remember a handful of them.
Oh, I really enjoy the special ed class too! When I was in that class, I was thinking maybe I can do that when I go back to Canada! They are innocent bunch of kids. =) One little girl, Juno, always likes to go to the teacher's room and say "hello joyce sensei~"...then she usually starts to speak Japanese to me....haha Whenever I ask "how are you?" to her, she would say "I am happy!" as simple as that. =) well, today, she said "I am hungry"...XD
Ohoh, there are 2 grade 8 boys who would come to the office everyday and say "it's time to clean up"... Apparently I've been assigned to clean a section of the school with the students. On the first day when they came and got me to do clean up, we used about 3 min....standing outside of the teacher's room...to figure out what exactly what he wanted me to do. Since I have very limited Japanese and they have limited English, it was sort of like a chicken is talking to a duck..haa After a few days, it has become a daily routine. We would chat every time we walk upstairs to the place where we had to clean. It was a pretty scene. =) One of the guys is pretty good in kendo. Haaaa, maybe I'll get him to teach me one day...hehe..! =)
Yay, I'm finally eating lunch with the students. The first day eating with the 1-1 class was awkward! The boy sitting right beside was TOTALLY ignoring me....XD and the girl who was sitting right in front of me felt awkward because she didn't know what to say to me. I started by asking things like "what's your name? how are you?"
haaaaa..and they got scared...XD The boy beside looked at me for 2 seconds, then turned back to his friends and continued to chat...haa.. Oh well, first day... Things are getting better. I eat with a different class everyday. Eating with the other classes has been quite fun. Many of them are like "hello Joyce sensei!" We would use simple English to chat.....and those students with stronger English would translate for the others (usually girls translating for the boys...XD) Well, I actually haven't even taught all the 1 nensei's. Some of them would try to think of things to ask me!
I actually really like how students would eat lunch together, start to eat lunch together, take turns to serve lunch, finish lunch together. This kind of "activity" can really build team spirit. I love it! Too bad it's not like that in Canada. I'm guessing it's similar in Taiwan eh? Too bad I wasn't raised in that kind of environment. I love teamwork. =) good teamwork. After each student got his/her lunch, everyone will wait until everyone is seated. One person in the class will say something...that I have yet to understand..., then everyone will put their hands together...and say "itadakimasu~~" It's cool!! After that, then the students can either put some of their food back (if it's too much) or get extra. The homeroom teacher would say what they have left so that the students who want extra would help themselves. From the last few days eating with the students, if someone doesn't like to eat something, either another classmate will help him/her to finish it, or s/he would just eat it (unless there's a lot of something s/he doesn't like..haha) I like how they are mostly willing to help each other. Today, the kid who sat beside me asked if I like milk. I said not really, and he said no too. However, he still finished his milk. I wasn't going to drink the milk, but since a student who didn't like milk drank it, so I drank it too. Wow....full fat unpasterized milk... By the way, school lunch is BIG! It's interesting how they want to make school lunch healthy, but there's deep fried food like.....5 out of the 7 meals i've had... Here's a picture of a school lunch. I would say it's one of the "healthier" ones..just to give u an idea. =) Don't get me wrong! I think they're tasty actually..hehe
I like being with the students so far. =)
Haaa, I think teachers here have sooooo much other stuff to do that planning lessons may be their very last thing to do. On Monday, I asked one of my JTE if he would like me to prepare anything for the class tomorrow. His reaction was telling me that he hadn't even thought of his classes. Well, he asked me to prepare some sort of ice breaking game and a writing activity using "want to". The next day (the day of the classes), we really couldn't figure out the writing activity, so we whipped up a plan literally 5 min before class started. After the ice breaking game, we had the students do some sort of skit from the book. My JTE and I first modelled the skit (with emotion and stuff..), then the students were practicing it. It was definitely effective to model the skit beforehand because the different emotion got the students excited...(Haaaa...I was an old woman and a man..haa, so I had to use different kinds of voice. The students LOLed.....haaa) It was fun.
Errrrr....emtion roller coaster.... I'm probably still getting used to this place and this life. I would occassionally feel like I don't really belong here...ugh...that emptiness. I would sometimes feeel sooo bad that I want to cry. (Haaaa..that just happened like..yesterday in school!) Yes, God is always by my side. God is never changing. There is nothing to fear. =) I am really really thankful to have friends back home...or in hk who we could chat. No matter what we chat about, just having someone who truly cares for me is just...heart warming. Thanks for those who would listen...thanks for those who would just..be there. =) I am blessed. No matter what, I believe God will give me the best!...even when things don't seem to be as good as they could be.
Ok, time for another pudding. Sigh....bad bad bad bad......I think pudding is what I constantly will have in my fridge............bad sign.
Wow..this is looooooong.. In this stage, there are just so many interesting things..hehe =)
Suddenly find this song encouraging~ enjoy!
See you again my friends. Cheers~ =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)