Wako-shi.

Yep. That's the name of my workplace. If you're not careful it could sound like wacko-shi, or even faster, wacko is she (No, not me! Her!). If you really must push it, it could also be wacko shit. No matter what variation strikes your fancy, they are all acceptable pronounication.

Wako-shi branch is a much much smaller branch than Ikebukuro. (It's on the fourth floor of the building in the pic) They are more laid back too. Definitely my kind of school!

This is my staff room! If you have no-shows or a 'free' lesson you have to stuff Nova cards into Nova tissues. (see those bags on the right? they are all stuffed tissues) Very stimulating for the brain! The files in the background on the second and third row are all student files. At Ikebukuro there were four full cabinets. The people I work with are mainly Aussies with one from Canada and another from England (but he's leaving soon for another company)

These are the 'classrooms'...more like closet space. My toilet back home's bigger than that. See what I mean about the no privacy issue? The walls are not soundproof either. So when other teachers are in the vicinity and are more boisterous you have to kind of compete with them so they don't steal your lesson away.
I also love the attempt at making it look more lively with the odd potted plant...actually I think it's plastic.
I haven't taught kids yet because I have to be trained to do that - and that won't happen until later this month. Joy!
My flatmate was so sweet! She bought me a slice of strawberry cake (she knew I love strawberries...because I have so much crammed in the fridge) to celebrate my first day! You all should spam her to say how nice she is. (sorry no photo...same reasons for no photos in other posts...gobbled up too fast)

The students I help are usually adults, from 20's to 60's and their skills really vary. To be honest I find instructing beginner levels the hardest.. It's really diffcult when every 2nd sentence you have to stop and explain and you really have to use plainer words. I've come to realise when we speak naturally it's not very direct - and I'm a bit afraid if I teach alot of beginner levels my vocab (kinda limited already) will really go out the window. In a few months time you will be reading more "Todaay, I teach English. It was Ok. I ate Japanese Food, then I sleep. The End." On the other hand, I'm a bit nervous with the higher grade ones - hahah because I think I'm actually at that level myself (the highest level in Nova is 2 - that's native speaker level, and Wako-shi has Level 3's only). Anyway there was this one time where I have to explain what shoot the breeze was. (This was How to Start a Conversation lesson). I had absolutely no idea! I never heard of that expression used before - so I dug it and poker faced my way through. Of course my explanation was totally wrong (I said something like, Oh, it's a bad thing, because you don't wan't to kill a nice breeze or something really stupid). I just hope the guy wouldn't go home and look it up for himself. (Holy crap! I'm peeing in my pants thinking about it) All the students have this expectation that you know everything. Like, you're the walking English dictionary. I mean, I do know alot of the expressions used but sometimes a spanner would be thrown into the works when you least expect it. I've been very good, teaching all the students proper English and none of my own ...yet. Hahah!

It's really interesting to speak to students - sometimes I get more from them than they get from me (well, hopefully they did learn something during the 40mins). It hard to resist the temptation to just talk with the capable students and ask them about Japanese life and their opinions about things. For one thing, I've learnt that most political parties in Japan are associated or represented by a particular religion! It's also impolite if you eat on the train - because you disturb other people's 'smelling space'. (Damn it! I can't eat on the run!!). Also with puking on trains - Most spewing takes place during the last hour of service, where people are packed like sardines trying to get home. Unfortunately, getting drunk is a result of the incredible stress at work - this is how people de-stress. Anyway, as you can imagine, if one needs to spew on a packed train one really can't avoid it. Just hope to God that the swaying guy pressed against you won't decide to chuck all over you. I asked a student what happens if someone does spew on another person and he just replied that if the spewer remembers, he will give money to the spewee(s). But usually the spewer is too drunk to remember. (The funny thing is that the spewee(s) won't take further action (maybe complain a little) but I get told off for bringing a bucket into a packed train?!?! Where's the logic in that?!) He also told me if you see an empty carriage and it's busting out at every other carriage DON'T be a smartarse and go into the empty carriage...because you'll find out why it was empty in the first place.

Food pics time! This is something I had for supper (I had a late shift...ended at 9pm and ate 'dinner' at 5pm). The red bean bun was actually whole but (I know this is getting really old...but it's the same reason, again and again...I just don't learn) I took a bite out of it before remembering to take a pic. Next time I won't even bother explaining why there is a chunk missing from the food. I think you will know why by now. The red bean bun I had with Michelle at Anderson's was better. I was also told that the white bread here is really high in sugar - no wonder they taste so good! And no wonder the Japs have such bad teeth!
I'm hooked onto these Creamy Almande (it's almond) and chocolate coffee beans! Very, very addictive! I just can't stop snacking! It's terrible... I don't understand how the Japs can stay so skinny when there are SO much bad food around!
These were the panda biscuits I bought from Donki Kingdom (a few posts before) They were really yummy but the panda face reminds me of that creepy mask from Scream. Oh looook! They support WWF as wellllll~!
The hamburger snacks I bought with it were really cute! They really were little hamburgers but with milk and white chocolate as the 'filling' and biscuit with tiny sesames on top on the two ends!