It is 10:00pm on a humid Wednesday night. Freshly home from my night of teaching, I am hunkered down with my computer and nestled under the ac in the bedroom, attempting to wind down from a vigorous night of imparting wisdom. (Or more accurately, I am sitting in bed anxiously awaiting the ac to kick in and end my daily whipping from the heat.) The only potential improvements: my husband and two furry cats. (How have I managed to lose so many important belongings so quickly? But I digress).
Every other Wednesday I teach two Conversational English classes back to back from 5:45-9:00pm. No matter how much I dread the 45 minute drive to class in the Japanese traffic, I always walk away fulfilled and giddy. But... before we get there... let's skip back a bit...
Tim officially got underway a week ago today. Staying busy with friends and fulfilling organizational responsibilities does not hide the obvious void in my heart. That palpable, something is not quite right feeling. Unfortunately, due to a long distance relationship from the get go and to my role as a Navy wife, I have learned to move on, currently neglecting to acknowledge that I am home alone in Japan. Not in an "ignoring reality" type of way, but more of a "I can conquer the world on my own" survival mechanism. I would like to think that I have a pretty good head on my shoulders, that I really can make it on my own in any situation. Throwing Tim into the mix (when he is home) just is an added bonus. But I would be lying if I did not admit falling victim to the not so pleasant mindset that I am home alone in Japan without my hubby.
I know that Tim and I would both be the first to say that our adventures would be far less manageable without the support of our family and friends. With the clock practically glowing in my car this afternoon, marking the exact milestone of one week since Tim's departure, I was slightly blue walking into the post office today. Checking our PO Box, I found the bright yellow slip screaming "you have a package." "No big deal", I thought. Tim warned me that he had ordered plaques for the squadron and asked that I dealt with them upon their arrival. Thus, lacking excitement, I went to retrieve our package. Imagine my surprise when I saw a flat rate box addressed to "The Prechters" with a return address from 12 West Vale. A Package from Aunt Leigh! And a heavy one at that!
I hurried home to open the package. Books (boy have I got my work cut out for me!), magazines (I have already torn out at least 20 recipes I want to try), festive napkins (I had recently shown my friend Lauren my napkin collection and told her that, if I knew my family well, I was sure to get more for the holidays - yeah!), and rock candy. I remember making rock candy with my Aunt Leigh at their old house on Jefferson. Cutting it while piping hot fresh off the stove, I would almost burn my fingers. It certainly brings back favorite memories and the love of my aunt.
The rock candy from Aunt Leigh (in my head I am currently singing "Big Rock Candy Mountain" from whatever kids' cd we had for Kath when she was little) is such a treat and a part of my childhood that I decided to share the wealth. I have taken Girl Scout cookies that Mom sent me to my classes before. So I thought they would enjoy another little taste of home. First stop: my class at Ricoh (a printer and machine manufacturing company).
My Ricoh class has anywhere between 1-10 students a class depending on their work schedules.
L-R: George, Jodi, Eric (feeding George)
This class is often a challenge as one student barely speaks English while Jodi speaks fluently. I know I have mentioned to a few of you before about showing up for class to find only one student in attendance and panicking as that one student barely speaks English. Well, that is George, wearing his white, often ink-stained, manufacturer garb above. George is wonderful, very kind, and meticulous. He always comes to class with prepared notes about his weekend or working on sentences so he is ready if we play Hangman. Luckily for me, on days when we are just one on one, we have found mutual ground: beer and baseball. These two subjects we can discuss endlessly. While I was home in May, George was hospitalized for diabetes. Luckily, he seems to have it under control. I am grateful that he is always in class. Jodi, on the other hand, speaks English beautifully. I was pleasantly surprised and touched when she and her two daughters came to the Atusgi Bon Odori festival and danced with me (yes, blog post pending). Now, Eric. I have not quite put my finger on this guy. He speaks English just fine and always reuses words or phrases I teach in class; kudos to him. But he was absent for the past three months. Jodi explained to me that he has a mental illness and occasionally will take a leave of absence from work. Tonight, upon his return he did mention being sick but with no specifics; I did not ask. However, George did aptly point out that Eric had gained weight while he was gone. Eric's rebuttal: I was sick and slept a lot. The good news is that he is running a 1/4 marathon in October so he is working on being back in shape.
I am not sure that giving highly sugared candy to this class was responsible, with the diabetic and marathon trainer in the class, but they certainly enjoyed it! Jodi even reprimanded Eric for continuously popping candy. I feel a little guilty for saying this but I wasn't concerned; each piece of candy consumed put a smile on my face.
With nearly half the candy gone, I headed to my class of sweet older ladies. Japanese in general do not enjoy sweets the way Americans do, and those they do eat are typically not nearly as sweet as ours. Having recently taken a chocolate poundcake to class for a birthday party, I was curious to see the ladies' responses to the rock candy.
L-R: Kazuko, Katsuyo, Kazuko
They loved it! I even sent more home for them to share with their families.
These ladies are my favorite class. They are sweet, smart (although they do not all speak English well) and generally fun. Tonight, I found myself explaining a couple of phrases:
To walk in another person's shoes
To see through rose colored glasses
It took us a bit to get through the first. But ultimately, we got there. So with five minutes left in class, as they wrote down their notes from the first phrase, I wrote on the back of the board the second phrase. Phew! I thought that would be easier but I was certainly wrong. After a few explanations and examples, I finally took a new approach: You know Humphrey Bogart? Audrey Hepburn? The movie Sabrina? "Ah so!" They did! "You know the song Hepburn/Sabrina sings in the car on her way back from Paris? "La Vie en Rose?" It literally means "life in pink" with a figurative translation of "life through rose colored glasses." "Ah soooooo!" And we all began to hum the famous French song from 1946. I certainly earned my keep that night! And they certainly earned their rock candy! Who knew that my affinity for beer, baseball, and classic (or old as they call them) movies combined with a little French could help me teach English to the Japanese!
Thanks for the candy, Aunt Leigh! It was delicious, as always. And it means so much to us that you sent such a wonderful box of goodies! My students would also like me to tell you, "Thank you." Or as Kazuko said, "give our regards to your aunt, please." Looks like I may be asking for the recipe so I can make rock candy to give as Christmas gifts!!!
I walked into class tonight tired and with a little piece of home in tow. But I left class rejuvenated and inspired by my Japanese students. Despite Tim's absence, I've really got a good gig going for me!
Thank you for all of your support while we are in Japanland.
We love and miss each one of you!
