Tis the Season 2013

I am constantly chastised by my sweet, sweet husband for not using my words.  Not so much in life (a practice I am sure he would love to change).  But more when it comes to writing blogs.  Well, jokes on you kid!  Since you no longer read the blog (that you created, might I remind you), I can do whatever I darn well please.  And with that thought...

I cannot imagine life in Japan without my "job."  Job ... you say.  Yes Job.  I am an independent, private English teacher.  I teach in community centers, businesses and even in our humble house.  I typically say that I am unemployed.  But truth be told, I do get paid for teaching, and I often leave class feeling guilty that I just accepted money.  Truthfully, teaching is a joy for me (Mom, hold that tongue.  I meant teaching English in Japan, not teaching for me as lifelong career - no matter how convenient it would be as a military spouse).  I truly can say that I love my job (will that ever happen again???)!  My students are smart, funny, and oh so incredibly kind.  Whether bringing me gifts from their home countries (as they say), inviting me to their homes, or simply teaching me about Japanese culture and language, I always walk out of class happy.  People often ask which class is my favorite.  The answer: whichever class I have taught most recently.  Each class is unique, completely different.  The ages of my students range from 5 years old to 80 years old.  I have students who have traveled the world and students who are simply working on making it to kindergarten.  But each one, each individual, means so much to me.  Tears consume me with the mere thought of saying goodbye... but we will leave that for another day... hopefully a year from now.  

In addition to my students, I am truly thankful for all of our American and Japanese friends.

With somewhat of an homage to those that shared the holidays with us, I documented some of our Christmas parties this past holiday season and I would like to share.  I do not have pictures of all ten of my classes or all of the parties, unfortunately (I have a tendency to get caught in the moment, forgetting to capture it with more than just my memory).  I hope you enjoy the pictures, having a chance to see my students and some of the classrooms.  Tim- if you are actually reading, quit rolling your eyes and spend a moment in my shoes.  Enjoy!

Tim was not here for the beginning of the Christmas Season because he was here

on the Shiloh for a two week cruise in December.

 Claire's 2nd Annual Beaujolais party

We had about 30 people in our tiny house.  Lots of food and lots of wine!  Unfortunately no Beaujolais Nouveau, as the party was too late in the season and Japan had seemed to have sold out.

Nanako

Nanako is my 7 year old student.  We have class at our house or sometimes at their home in Yokohama (where we have dinner afterwards).  Nanako's mother Mari and their family lived in Berkeley where her father got his MBA.  They speak English very well and enjoy the American culture.  They had us over for dinner back in November.  They wined and dined us!  Nanako is eager to learn and gets very upset if I do not assign her homework.  This picture is taken at our house in front of the Christmas tree.

Tuesday Nights

I teach four classes from 2:45-6:45 every Tuesday.  I am the native speaker teaching along side 2 different Japanese teachers.  For Halloween and Christmas, they ask me to make 50 cupcakes for our holiday parties.  I do not normally bake cupcakes.  But they pay for the supplies with a little extra on the side.  So I oblige.  After class, I mentioned that Tim loves cupcakes.  We had extras, so Mrs. Tagami asked if I wanted to take some to Tim.  Confused, I said maybe one or two not knowing what she had in mind for the other ten or so leftover.  It turns out, that Mrs. Tagami's husband, daughter, neighbors and so on were waiting for them!  I had no idea I was running a bakery out of my home!

Class A: 5-7 year olds

My Japanese teaching partner, Scyori Ishi with the class

Eating and Crafting

Moka

Uta

Asuka

Yusei

Yuna

Nagomi

Her name escapes me at the moment and I feel awful!

Haruki

Misaki's brother

Misaki

Akari

B Class: 8 year olds

The class with teachers, moms, and siblings

Rinon

Shinkai

Rinon licking the wrapper

Shinosuke (very smart but class clown) and Haruki

Crafting

The younger siblings from Class A crafting with Class B: Yuna, Nagomi, Haruki

Rinon

Shinkai

C Class

L-R: Shota, Sota, Hanoka, Mrs. Tagami, Yuna, Rikuto, Tomoki, Yoshinosuke

Shota and Sota, the Class Clowns

Class D: junior high

(Please don't ask me their names - it's not only hard to learn 30 students' names, let alone in a foreign language!) Not in order: Mai, Misaki, Naho, Miho...

Decorating the squadron Christmas trees at the Officers' Club

I am part of the Atsugi Officers' Spouses' Association.  As NAF Atsugi is also a Japanese base, the Japanese also have a spouses' group called the Atsugi Women's Association.  We are fortunate to have a lovely partnership and friendship with the ladies.  Every year, we invite AWA to help us decorate the AOSA Christmas tree at the Officers' Club.

Michko (the most giggly woman I know!)

ornaments on the tree are made by AOSA and AWA

Ricoh

Every other Wednesday night, I teach a group of Japanese business people for 1.5 hours.  Their company, Ricoh, pays for the conversation class and they come to class when they please.  There are five regular students.  The students are varied in their English abilities, one fluent, one barely speaking English (except after a few cocktails at the "drinking party), and several in between.  We have "drinking parties" twice a year, one of which is at Christmas.  At each party, old members of the club are invited to join us.  Everyone brings a gift (around $5 and you draw a name to see whose gift you will receive).  The parties are always entertaining and never disappoint.  

Back Row: John, ?, Bear, Tina, Botch, ?, ?, ?, Kevin (the party planner)

Front Row: Angie, Me, George, Hiromi

opening my gift (a blanket)

Botch - he has not been to class recently.  He does not know much English.  After several beers, he finally confessed to me why he is named Botch: Botch means lonely in Japanese.  He is lonely in class because he does not speak English.  I reassured him that I understood how he felt having taken many years of French and I promised that if he came back to class I would call him Butch (as in strong) instead of Botch.  He has been back once.  

? and Hiromi

Christmas Cake (a tradition we should totally start in America)

Angie and Me

Satomi and Ai

Satomi and Ai are a mother / daughter duo.  When Ai cannot make it to class, I have class with Satomi, the mother.  These two have taken English lessons from a military wife years.  In fact, one of their old teachers is returning to Japan as her husband is Tim's new XO.

Every now and then, we have class on base.  They like the french fries and ice cream. This picture was taken at the Officers' Club.  They wanted to see Christmas illuminations (more popularly known as Christmas lights).

Christmas at the Prechters

The Japanese eat KFC on Christmas Eve.  I am not one hundred percent sure why they do.  The best I can tell, they associate turkey with western Christmas but they do not have turkey so they eat chicken???  So, as of last year, we decided to make our own fried chicken on Christmas Eve instead of enduring the long lines at KFC or worrying about placing an order weeks in advance.  However, last year, Tim had the flu.  So we did not make our fried chicken.  Luckily, this year, we were both in great health and we were able to fry that chicken!

 Chef Tim

On Christmas day, we had our friends Lauren and Kyle and Jack and Kristie over.  We transformed our small living room into a dining room.  After dinner, several other friends joined us for dessert.

I know you have heard me say it, but I cannot say it enough: we truly are blessed to have the friends, family, and opportunities we have been afforded here in Japan.  It is a unique experience that will always stay with us.  And we have made exceptional friends that we will never forget. 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!