School enkai =)

Ok, I am really really behind w/ this picture a day thing. Anyway, I better document my first school enkai for the new school year. It was supposed to be some time last month, but we had to cancel because there was a typhoon. After some re-scheduling, we had our enkai yesterday.

Not many teachers signed up for this enkai. Out of the 60 something staffs, only 15 showed up. We had yakiniku and of course, nomihodai. I always get a bit nervous going to school enkais because I usually don't interact with the teachers a lot on a daily basis, so I wasn't sure how it would be like. Yesterday, I sat with my school secretary and 2 other young teachers. I'm glad the secretary went because she is the person whom I chat with the most in school. She is cool, nice, and cute! =) Although I sit in front of one of the young teachers, we don't talk much. However, I could see those 2 young teachers...the "boys", would be fun to talk to. We had a good time chatting during dinner. It was fun. =)

Well, what's a Japanese party w/o nijikai (2nd party)????? A few teachers, including the secretary, went home after the enkai. I was going to go too, but after finding nijikai was karaoke and the 2 young teachers were going, I went as well. Actually I think going to a karaoke box wasn't really for the karaoke, but more for the chatting. We had another nomihodai and 2 hours of karaoke session. After we went in the room, everyone was just chatting. As a karaoke person, I was thinking to myself......"why isn't anyone choosing song????" Well, since I was just a small potato in the group (vice principal was there too....), I didn't say anything. I sang "Edge of Glory" by Gaga since they asked me to choose a song. Ugh, bad choice....cuz my voice wasn't ready yet. Oh well, it was fun. Haha! People slowly chose more songs. It was fun.

THEN, another teacher came. He was......MY PREVIOUS JTE! Haha, I still remember I was a bit scared of him....and he gave me various "surprise" teaching incidents before he transferred to another school. Haha, we were both happy to see each other! Well, since I was surrounded by all Japanese people, we had to sing Japanese songs. With the help of one of the young teachers, we sang one of my favorite songs by Funky Monkey Babys - あとひとつ. Haha, somehow I surprised the teachers by being able to sing Japanese songs. My ex-JTE, Mr. H., was surprised and said my Japanese became very good. XD Haha, thank you for your compliment. Later on, he sat beside me and we were chatting. I've never really chatted with this JTE before. In fact, I've never really had good chats with any of my JTEs other than my supervisor. Haha, like he said, alcohol loosens up people.

It was a great chat. He was like..."I can't tell if you're Japanese or Canadian anymore!" He said that he was happy to see me grow as a person. I am not as "shy" as before, and I'm more active in social settings, according to Mr. H. Haha, I will continue to improve my Japanese! Well, since I'm leaving next year, I've gotta get the most out of this opportunity!! =) At last, a teacher chose a song from ゲゲゲの女房. A few teachers asked if I knew the song, and I ACTUALLY DID KNOW THE SONG!! Haha, a teacher had a mic and I had the other mic. I was singing w/ Mr. H. It was very interesting. At last he said, "I'm glad I came!" Awww, that was so sweet! I was glad I went too!! =)

Haha, when a few of us were walking towards the subway station, the younger teachers and I were saying we should do karaoke next time again! They said they are going to practice some English songs. Haha! tooooo funny.

It was definitely a great evening! It's great to chat with my colleagues outside of work...cuz it seems like that's usually the time when I could chat with my colleagues.

Thanks, God! You always give me pleasant surprises. 真是超乎我所求所想！！ =)

Day ??? - 2nd birthay in Japan

October 2, 2011

Ohhhh my... yea, haven't updated for the LONGEST time! Well, I'll slowly catch up. =P Wow, it's my birthday again! Where did time go??? I still remember Amanda, Winsy, Sophie and I went for pancake last year...then we chilled at Sophie's for the afternoon. Dinner was a solo meal at Royal Host. It was good.

A year has passed, and this year, I was very very very very fortunate to have a group of awesome friends celebrating my bday with me. =) Thank you sooooooooooooo much for planning and organizing the party, Hung and Mayu!!!!! I love you guys! =) and of course, thank you alllllllllllll who spent my bday w/ me and/or sent greetings to me. What you guys have done are very very heart warming. I'm tooo fortunate, tooo blessed. =)

Sooooooo Oct. 1...It wasn't my bday yet, but that's when the activities started. =) Melissa and I had a spontaneous shopping day at the Mitsui outlet mall near Sendai port. Seeing an outlet mall reminds me of the West! When I went in the Coach store, I just felt like I was in the States. We first had something to eat to get some fuel, then we did our own shopping. Haaaa, we were supposed to meet in an hour, but both of us figured we needed more time, so 1 extra hour it is! Well, since I'm not an easy buyer, so I didn't really buy things. I saw some sweaters that might be good for winter, but they weren't fabulous enough for me to spend on them. In order to "motivate" myself to go to the gym, I decided to buy a pair of runners. I saw a pair from Nike that looked quite nice and cheap! However, the size they had was a bit too small for me. Boooooo!!! Zannen! =( Ahhhh! because of the shopping time, I WAS LATE FOR THE PARTY!!! Ugh, one of my bday wishes/resolution is try my very best not to be late for things. Man.....and it's a party for me, how bad is it to be late???!!!

Party plan: dinner + karaoke. =)

We had dinner at a restaurant with sort of fusion Japanese food. Well, it's a party, so it was a nomi thing! =) Then, everyone was sooooooo sweet that they gave me different presents!! Wow, I haven't received so many presents for a looooooooong time!! Thank you soooo much!!!! It was my great great honour to know you alllll!!!!

Haaaa, what's party without karaoke right?? =P We then went for karaoke til 2 something. It was a lot of fun singing with all these cool friends! =)

Oct. 2 - the day.

Man, God, You are toooooo goooood to me! The girls gathered at Emily's place for Lasagna, cake, and cookies. Well, it's ALWAYS good hanging out w/ the girls. I feel like I've had a bit too much sugar. Well, but I guess you gotta indulge yourself once in a while.


Ha, so the "new year" will start tomorrow and I'm continuing to go to work...etc.

Yes, You are taking care of me and people around me, Lord. May I truly be a blessing to every single person around me!!! Again, thanks everyone!!!!! =)