brighteyes82

Since I added this goal I’ve made improvements in a variety of areas. But there are so many different strategies and techniques to learn about and try out. I find myself going in cycles. I’ll learn some new techniques, or try different things and my classes go well for awhile. Then I notice that one area could use some improvement. I work on that, those classes go well for awhile but the I notice something else I could improve.
My problem is I teach everything from kindergarten to advanced adults, so I can’t even focus on one technique or teaching style. I also don’t have much training, just a TEFL certificate. But I have almost one year of actual experience now and I have learned SO much in that year. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, and make sure to try to focus on one area for improvement each week or so.

I decided to come to Japan without really saving beforehand, and as you can imagine I ended up in the hole for awhile. I’ve been sending home a decent amount of money each month, that goes towards paying off that line of credit, as well as my monthly student loan payments, RRSP contributions and credit card bills (I went home for Christmas which was pricey). Only one more month and I’ll be able to start putting more of that money into a savings account! I can’t wait!

get documents ready for translation

plan high school lessons

work (7 classes today :()

buy groceries

cook

catch up on email

write

relax

Tomorrow:
clean!!!
– kitchen
– bathrooms
– my room
buy laundry detergent
do laundry
study japanese
write
research textbooks to order
actually write in my daily planner
plan some classes
print out pictures
go to tokushima jazz street

This, in a way, was one of my new years resolutions. But I never worked out a system and all of those things are still sitting around not done. Today I put off organizing my schedule until my break, only to realize I DIDN’T have a break (ahh! last minute lesson!)
So now this will be a priority.

February 20th, 9pm edition:

1. Plan for visa renewal.

2. Reschedule private lesson.

3. Program all makeup lessons in phone.

4. Write out schedule in daily planner.

5. Plan for lessons tomorrow.

6. Email parents.

Question: What is the formatting code for crossing something out?

A few months ago I was too focused on work and wasn’t getting out to enjoying myself. The past couple months I’ve been going out a lot, but I haven’t really had time for myself and I’m getting run down. I find that I’m often doing things to make OTHER people happy. I’m going out because they want me to. I end up having a good time… but I have to make sure I do what’s right for me.

I have made improvements, but I still have a long way to go. Lately I find myself wanting to study Kanji more than my general language texts.
One reason could possibly be because the text makes it much more interesting. My general language text was written in the 60s and it’s incredibly boring. I also have to memorize a lot of vocabulary that I will never actually have to use. The Kanji one (Kanji in Mangaland) is fun, more up to date, and each unit ends with a Manga strip. I just ordered Japanese in Mangaland 1 and 2 in hopes that they will be just as interesting.

Living in another country has really opened my eyes to a lot of things. I’m coming up on one year since I’ve been here, and I’ve decided to stay one more year. I want to make the most out of my time here, but what does that mean exactly? For some people, it’s getting out, enjoying life and meeting as many people as possible. For others, it’s becoming fully immersed in the culture, learning the language etc.
I want to travel more. I want to explore my spirituality through Buddhism and Shinto. I want to improve my Japanese. I want to gain a better understanding of the culture. I want to learn more about teaching and become a better teacher. I want to meet people from all over the world. I want to become healthier. I want to learn more about myself and the world around me.
Maybe I’ll need to stay longer than one more year.

Thank you for this goal! There are so many good things about being single. I just tend to forget about those around valentines day :/
I’m going to celebrate single awareness day by focusing on being the best possible person I can be, without worrying about whether or not I will find a significant other in the near future.

For those of you who aren’t in a relationship:
Do you have a ‘crush’ on anyone?
What do you do when you have a crush on Valentine’s Day? Wish them a happy valentines day? or pine?

I always beat myself up for stupid little mistakes. I need to learn to take it easy on myself. I am trying to forgive myself, and choose to look at it as a learning experience.

I’ve been doing okay on the ‘active’ part of this goal, but lately I’ve been eating very badly. I always seem to have cravings for chocolate or greasy foods. It just clicked last night that I haven’t been drinking as much water lately (I usually drink a LOT). I’ll make an effort to drink more and hopefully that will cut down on the cravings.

I make decisions, but I always want to have backup plans. I can never choose one thing and simply stick with it. I always want to feel as though I have an out.
I need to make a decision and focus on following it through, rather than on making sure I have multiple things to fall back on. If a decision I make does fall through, I’ll deal with that when I need to.

Have you ever read a horoscope (after the day was over) and been shocked at the accuracy?
Do you remember what it was and why you were so shocked?
Do you think that there is something to them? Or that people simply see what they want to see, and that statistically speaking, they are bound to be accurate now and then? Please elaborate if needed.

And this is just for fun but please indulge me with your thoughts because I’ve been curious about this matter: If I were to read a horoscope posted at 6:00 am Toronto time for February 3rd, and I am in Japan so my February 3rd is now winding down, when would that horoscope apply to my life? Does it apply to my February 3rd which is just finishing? Or does it apply to the next 24 hours of my life?

I’ve been doing hot yoga lately and I love it! Yoga is definitely good for the posture. I’m more conscious of it now, hopefully eventually I will have good posture without having to think about it.

When was the last time you did something stupid?

edit: What was it?

Do you think you learn from yours? Or do you keep repeating the same mistakes?

_{I try to learn from mine, but I know I repeat them on occasion. Right now it’s taking a lot of willpower not to repeat another major one.}

Are there any problems that seem to pop up again and again for you?
Or decisions you are faced with time and time again?
Care to share what they are?

I was a bit worried about trying it because I often get dehydrated. I didn’t want to faint or get too dizzy! But it was really quite relaxing and soothing. We stopped fairly often to drink water. Hopefully this will turn into a weekly thing. I’d definitely recommend trying it!

Do you get PMS?

If so,
What are your ‘symptoms’? Tired? Bitchy? Depressed? Or just aches and pains?

If not, (guys, feel free to answer this one too)
Do you believe it exists?

_{I had a professor once tell us that PMS did not exist, that it was the product of the media. And that in ‘non-Western’ nations people didn’t experience it. I personally think that’s BS. Obviously there are hormornal changes and hormones affect us whether we like it or not. Every month I find myself wondering why the hell I’m so depressed and then the lightbulb turns on: “Oooh! It’s that time again!”
And in terms of people not experiencing it in ‘non-Western’ nations, I had a discussion with some Japanese women about this (actually it was menopause, the professor said the same thing about menopause – that women don’t get psychological symptoms outside of North America) and they said that their mothers or grandmothers experienced changes during menopause or pregnancy, but it wasn’t viewed as a problem back then. People didn’t complain about it because it was just a fact of life. I can see that, but if someone doesn’t complain it doesn’t mean they’re not uncomfortable!}

This year I want to continually learn and grow. In order to do that I feel like sometimes I purposely put myself in difficult situations. Sometimes I second guess those decisions, and sometimes I just want to take the easy road. But I know that I’m strong and that I can take whatever life throws at me. I just need to remember that. So my word is Strength.

I want to be able to summon strength from inside when I need it. Strength to continue pursuing the things that are important to me. Strength to lift myself up when I feel down. Strength to always see the potential and to find the lessons in every mistake.