Morioka Camp - Winter 2008

Well, it seems that I'll be doing this for the third time.
Morioka College called me out to help out with the English Camp a few weeks ago.

I was really happy to get to see some of the teachers again. I was happy to take on the work but I've been super busy the last little bit. Besides working I've been actively trying to find a place to live... with what little money I have, and zero credit rating at any Japanese Bank, I've had a few setbacks.

Being the third time round, I can sort make a guess of what type of level I can do with this group. So it wasn't very hard to make materials for it.

Anyways, we had a blast!! Too bad I wasn't able to stay the night as I had to work else where in the morning.

Check out the pictures







Cheers

-Tom

Passports and such~

Well, nows thats it the new year and I'm no longer a student, Partly because I didn't pass the entrance exam. I've been faced with a rather large problem. I have to head back to Canada or some how magically get a Visa.
One of the reasons I haven't wrote on this topic before, basically comes down to that I really don' t know out it would turn out.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not quiting school. Even if I had headed back to Canada in January, this isn't really much I can study till September.... That is if I head back to Camosun, Uvic is a different story.. Anyways..

I've been working part-time at a language school downtown and they have been really great!!
They said they would try do their best, helping with the forums and sponsorship. Anyways, over a period of 3 weeks I had no idea if I was going to still be in the country the next week.
Making a longer story shorter, I was rejected once, called back, asked to get more papers, called back again, and received a post card in the mail that didn't state wither I had or hadn't be able to get my work visa. Just a post card asking for money for the change.
Rather confusing..

Anyways, overjoyed that I didn't have to worry about visa, I happily rode down to the visa office and got my stamps. Very happily giving them the ￥5,000 ($50Cdn).

Now I just have to worry about where I'm going live...

Taking it a step at a time,

-Tom

Soul & Gospel

Hey hey,

Today after class, I went to Mori-dai's Soul & Gospel final performance, preformed at the small chapel beside the dormitory. The inside of the chapel was rather quaint with its stained glass windows.

I still haven’t been able to force myself to get up early Sunday mornings to see if there actually is service.
Anyways, the music was great and everyone had a blast.

-Tom

English Camp Sleep Over

Yesterday and today was the English Camp Sleep Over!

A few weeks ago, I was asked if I could help out with an English Boot Camp, Mori-Dai was running with the idea that everyone was expected to only speak in English.
After that, about one week ago Terui-san, the English teacher, asked if I would be willing to run the teaching part of it. I have done a few things like this before, but nothing for this amount of material in such a short time. Normally if I’m teaching, I just make enough materials for 2 hours for the first day, and then see what level everyone is at.
This time I wouldn’t be able to do that. I would have to do one class then ten minutes later do the next class. I spend a lot of time thinking up ideas that would be fun for everyone regardless of their English level.

Anyways, I make up all the materials, and then found that one of other English teachers from the High school was going take 2 hours of the classes.
It was really nice of him!! Two hours less of worry. ^_____^

Always, with the help of the other international students and Japanese helpers, I was able to get some really good lesson ideas and suggestions on how I could make the ones I already make even better! Cael ran the Doge ball game and Jennifer came up with a good idea for the matching game I was planning.

Anyways, the camp was a huge success and everyone had a good time!

-Tom