Typhoon...

"Typhoon" update: Well, I woke up this morning expecting a typhoon, and was greated by sunshine and humidity. I had the idea that I'd spend the day getting my class wonderfully prepared to start our first learning theme (with the incredibly creative title "School & Friends", chosen by yours trully), doing up my second bulletin board, and organizing everything. I really just put the finishing touches on the newsletter and seemed to make more of a mess. I went to the bank after school, but still can't get into my bank account (the school still has my passport to get my foriegn expert visa). Frustrating! It just seemed like one of those days where the small things add up.

I didn't believe there was really a typhoon overhead, but I believe it now. I'm used to the sudden, warm rains from when I lived in Japan, but I'm certainly not used to this kind of thunder. Maybe it seems extra loud because I'm 19 floors up, but it just seems to rumble longer and so much louder than anything I've ever heard before. The water level of the small pond at the centre of the apartment complex (I need to post some photos, it sounds fancier than it really is ^^) has definitely risen. It's been rumbling for almost an hour now. We were told today the government would inform the school by 8 PM if school was to be cancelled again today, so all the teachers are holding their breath and waiting to see if we'll get another day in our classrooms.

The thunder is coming later than before - just a few minutes ago it sounded as soon as the lightning had faded, and the storm definitely sounded like it was directly overhead. When I came in from the pouring rain, one of the small stray cats was inside the entryway. I went upstairs and got some milk and sliced ham, and when I came back down, a boy of about ten with a UK accent was feeding him. I asked him if he fed him often and what the cat's name was (another teacher and her son had named him Amos) and the boy told me "His name is Bobtail because he has one". On our way upstairs (the boy was all the way up on the 25th floor), he chattered about how his old school in Hong Kong was always cancelled because a tree would fall in the road where they rode their bikes, and he had once seen a tree blown down by the wind. I love the international school kids and their outlook on life at such a young age...

Anyways...two long posts in two days. I'll try and post photos soon (if anyone will actually read this - I can't believe people really want to read my babbling as well as hearing it). The thunder seems like it's getting a bit louder now - fingers crossed for no school tomorrow!

PS - Thinking of you, Owen Marshall!!! <3

My first ever attempt at blogging...

Well, here is my attempt at a blog. I’ve really liked reading peoples’ blogs so far (Melissa, Melissa, and Alicia's, to be exact!) and have toyed with the idea of starting my own for a while now. I always felt like I missed the opportune time to start a blog (when I first went to Japan, I guess…I always remember myself at 21, wearing my first suit in the 40 degree humidity, sitting at a desk in the Iwate Prefectural School for the Blind and thinking, WTF did I get myself into…that would have been a good time to start a blog). Anyways, more than four years later… I’ve finally gotten around to it.

Today was one of those days that was just so intense, I felt like so many things were going on at once and I could barely absorb it all. Those are my favourite kind of days, I like to end a day feeling like I've really lived in it, and not just let the minutes pass by.

Most importantly - today is the day that I became an aunt! My beautiful sister gave birth to what I’m sure is a beautiful baby boy. He was born about 10:20 PM New Brunswick time and weighed 10 pounds and 2 ounces. I'm not sure when I'll go home to meet him yet, but I’m sure he and his mom both know – I love them!!!

I had Parents’ Night, and successfully explained my centres and our routines to about 10-12 parents. My parents are all nice (one gave me a gift certificate for Chinese mooncakes, to be specific, the mother of the 3 year old boy randomly breaks into Michael Jackson dance routines about three times a day). I've done well with my new job and not being nervous talking to parents or speaking up in meetings, etc. I was actually more nervous starting out my practicums in Toronto, which is strange.

My students aren’t coming to school tomorrow because of a typhoon. How fun is that?

Shuhei and I just booked my ticket for me to visit Tokyo over my week break at the beginning of October thirty minutes ago. I would have liked to go see somewhere new, but can’t really afford it unless someone is helping me pay – so back to my second home I go! The familiarity will be nice. I can't believe how much I miss Japan, and I really should just keep my mouth shut about it because I'm afraid I'm annoying everyone I talk to, but my three weeks back there just reminded me how much I love it and how I want to live there again some day (Shuhei or not). Eventually I want to post some of my pictures from my trip, including the two day trek up and down Mount Iwate.

I think (considering I’ll have all tomorrow, with no kids!) I’ll take some pictures of my classroom and post them on here. I’ve been promising them to Melissa for ages!

And that was my first attempt at a blog. Thanks for reading xxx<3