Japan Diaries 4: Week 6

Week 6: December 6-10, 2021 

Week 6: December 6-10, 2021

Hey guys! I have been an ALT here in Rumoi High School for 6 weeks already. Last week, I already got an idea of what my responsibilities are for my visit schools after visiting Haboro High School last Friday. For this week, I am scheduled to visit the high schools in the towns of Embetsu, Teshio, and Tomamae.

Day 35: December 6, 2021 

Monday - Rumoi

It's another week. What made this week special was the fact that Soeda-sensei is back. For today after being rushed to the hospital last Monday after he slipped on ice. For today's work, I have team teaching schedules with Sato-sensei and Motoyama-sensei.

I submitted my intent to be reappointed for the next school year 😁

Here's my workload for today:

2nd period - Part 2 of the Q & A activity @ 1-5 of Sato-sensei
6th period - Iwo Jima Lesson @ 2-34 of Motoyama-sensei

English Club - Watched the Grinch

During today's lunch, Motoyama-sensei drove me to Engan Bus Sales Office to buy the Moekko Free Ticket. 

I bought the following:
  • 2 - 2-day consecutive Moekko Free Ticket
  • 2 - 2-day skip Moekko Free Ticket
  • 5 - 1-day pass Moekko Free Ticket

Day 36: December 7, 2021

Tuesday - Rumoi

Good morning everyone! It's getting colder and colder. Motoyama-sensei gave me a unique-tasting food called wakasaimo. It was delicious. 

Today's the first time that I'd get to try the wakasaimo. Thank you Motoyama Sensei!


Here's my workload for today:

3rd period: Food review activity @202 of Motoyama-sensei
4th period: Iwo Jima lesson @ 2-34 of Motoyama-sensei
6th period: Mine Kaffon @3-2 of Kutsumi-sensei


Day 37: December 8, 2021

Wednesday - Embetsu

Today is my first visit to Embetsu Agricultural High School in the town of Embetsu. I boarded the 6:14AM Engan bus at the Motokawacho bus stop going to the Embetsu bus stop. I arrived at the stop at around 8:49AM. 

Waiting for the bus at the Motokawacho bus stop

Arrived at Embetsu Bus Stop
The bus fare was 2100 yen but since I used my first 2-day consecutive Moekko Free Ticket for this trip, I didn't need to shell out anything. 

First visit to Embetsu Agricultural High School 12/8/2021

That's Momochin, Embetsu's mascot

Inside Embetsu Agricultural High School

Here's my commode in Embetsu Agricultural High School

Upon arrival, I was welcomed by my JTE Sasaki Sensei and by the Kyoto-sensei. The faculty had a special get-together at 11AM just to welcome me. I did a short Jiko Shokai (Self Introduction) before I proceeded to my team-teaching classes with Sasaki-sensei. 

Here's my workload for today:

3rd period - Jiko Shokai @ 1st year Advanced Class of Sasaki-sensei
4th period - Jiko Shokai @ 1st year Basic Class of Sasaki-sensei

I left Embetsu Agricultural School at around 1530 to catch the 1605 bus to Rumoi City and reached Motokawacho at around 1840.

Day 38: December 9, 2021

Thursday - Teshio

Today is my first visit to my farthest visit school, Teshio High School in the town of Teshio. I boarded the 6:14AM bus at the Motokawacho bus stop going to the Teshio Kokomae bus stop. I arrived at the stop at around 9:16AM. 

Teshio Koko Mae Bus Stop

Teshio Manhole Cover

It's my first visit to Teshio High School

Although the bus fare is 2510 yen, like yesterday, I didn't pay because I used the 2-day consecutive Moekko Free Ticket.   

Teshio High School 12/9/2021

My commode at Teshio High School

I was welcomed by my JTE Miyakoshi-sensei and Kyoto-sensei. I then did a courtesy call with the Kouchou-sensei. After meeting the Kouchou-sensei, my JTE showed me my coat jacket before ushering me to my commode in the faculty room. 

Here's my workload for today:

3rd period - Jiko Shokai @ Combined 2A and 2B of Miyakoshi-sensei
5th period - Jiko Shokai @ Combined 3A and 3B of Miyakoshi-sensei
6th Period - Jiko Shokai @ 1A of Miyakoshi-sensei

Just to share, I felt down during my Jiko Shokai Class for the 2nd year students because there were several kids who seem disinterested and probably have a world of their own. Thankfully, my JTE gave me some helpful tips and I managed to reverse what seemed to be a bad first meeting impression for the 3rd and 1st-year classes.

Boarded the 3-hour + long bus ride to Rumoi City.

I left Teshio High School at 1520 to catch the 1536 Engan bus to Rumoi City. I arrived at Motokawacho at around 1840.

Day 39: December 10, 2021

Friday - Tomamae

Today is my first visit to Tomamae Commercial High School in the town of Tomamae. However, unlike on my previous visits, I did not wake up early to catch the first bus. Instead, my JTE Hasegawa Sensei picked me up and drove me to work.

It's my first visit to Tomamae Commercial High School

Tomamae Commercial High School 12/10/2021

I love the fact that ALTs in Tomamae Commercial High School have their own lounge. 

He introduced me to the Kouchou-sensei and then the Kyoto-sensei. I was asked to do a short Jiko Shokai during the morning faculty meeting. What I love about this school is that it did not only provide me with a commode, I was housed in one room which I share with the Tomamae ALTs Mike and Guy. 

Tomamae Commercial High School's Karuta Takai Competition

Tomamae Commercial HS Karuta Takai Competition 2021



Even the teachers compete with the students

I came during the school's Karuta Takai Competition of the school which means I have no team teaching load today and just watched the competition. The Karuta Takai Competition is a card game where players race to determine which among the array of poem cards is being read, The first to touch the card keeps it and the first to get rid of his deck wins.

Tomamae Manhole Cover

Headed to my Block Adviser's place to hang out and play video games while waiting for Kiaya the other Rumoi City ALT

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

I didn't go home after the competition but stayed up until the afternoon to wait for Guy to pick me up. We went to his house and played video games while waiting for Kiaya (the Rumoi JHS ALT) who will be riding the bus from Rumoi City.

Discflect at Tomamae



I had fun playing Discflect with Kiaya and Guy

When she arrived, we drove to Tomamae Sports Center which is the building across the street from Tomamae Commercial High School. We met up with some members of the Tomamae Board of Education and played Discflect. It's a game where your goal is to shoot the frisbee inside a large plastic can to get a score. Although we played for fun and didn't count scores, deep in our hearts we wanted to shoot the frisbee in the can. Aside from playing Discflect, we were also taught by the members of the Tomamae Board of Education about how to play the kendama.

That night, Guy drove me and Kiaya back to our houses which officially wraps up my 6th week. See you this weekend!

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Location: Tomamae, Tomamae District, Hokkaido, Japan

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