Sometimes my life is so strange

Really. It's bizarre sometimes. Today, I went to Enya Elementary for Super English. I decided to do a lesson on prepositions since that was the last lesson that their previous teacher did. So I decided, instead of using flashcards, I would use a ball and a box. I would put a ball in, on, next to, etc. a box. To do this, I had to bring a ball and an extra box. Unfortunately, the only box I really had was a really big box. And even more annoying, I had to do it via bicycle. So Im sure you can imagine, here I am on a shiny grey bicycle, holding a big ol' box in/on the basket biking through some rice fields. It was amusing me because I am very wobbly when I only use one hand to bike so I was swerving quite a bit.

That wasn't the very strange part. Though. Im getting there!

Anyways, class went well. Once I showed the students to correct syntax for saying "The ball is in the box" (it's backwards in Japanese), the picked up on what I wanted. It was a short class and boring, but I promised them that we would play a fun game next week. Im not sure how fun it will be, but Im sure they will enjoy it. Hope so! They seemed pumped about the game.

Anyways, after class is when bizarro world started. I had to walk down two flights of stairs and make it out of the school whilst carrying a huge box with the word "BOX" written on it in big letters (I wanted to students to know what a box was and not worry about the vocab for 'ball' or 'box'). Ok, so the box wasn't HUGE, but it was an armful. Anyways, it seemed as if everyone and their mothers were there! And they all decided to politely thank me for coming. "Gochisosama deshita!" "Otsukaresama deshita!" The first meaning "Thanks for taking car of me/us", The second meaning...well...it's hard to explain in english. Its like "You worked hard, thank you!" All very polite stuff, however I have no idea of the apropriate response. I usually just agree or say thank you. This is uncommon but they were all staring curiously at the box. Plus, there were soooo many people. Even weirder is the people who "harro!" me. Kids normally do and I encourage it. But its always weird when the adults do it. Just biazarre!

Anyways, thats still not the weirdest part. I headed back home (a short 5-10 minute bike ride) and I was almost home and I saw this old guy. We shall call him, "Ojiisan". So I have seen Ojiisan somewhere before. I recognized him instantly. However, I was waiting to cross the street and he was across the street. He saw me (all sweaty and hanging onto my box). He went, "oh! Konnichiwa!!" Then he said something I didn't understand. So I was waiting to cross the street and he just stood there...waiting for me to get across the street...just staring at me. *sigh*

So finally the traffic lets me across and I get to where he's standing. He stops me and asks me if I am taking my box to recycling. I just smile and shake me head. I try to explain about how I was using it for English class. I show him an example. I don't think he got it, but it did bring a few others out and they decided to discuss why I had the box and why I didn't want to throw it away. I just grinned, bowed, and said excuse me and left them in discussion. Really, it was just strange. Not in a bad way...it was just an odd encounter. And I still can't remember where I know him from! That's what's driving me crazy I think!

On a completely different note, Im spying on you people! I know 6 different people have viewed my blog since the last time I updated and two of you have come twice (or one person came three times). Woo! So I can seeeee you in a super secret way. Woo! Heh. But shhh...it's a secret! Anyways, tonight is the first Enkai of the new semester. The new JETs first enkai. It should be fun. I will try to remember to tell you guys about it. I will bring my camera though. Lets see what kind of picture we can get!