今はアメリカで子育て

I went out for dinner and beer! But I couldn't enter a fashinable bar because I didn't have a ID which shows my age is over 21. A student ID didn't work. Oh, I should have remembered that. But a bar across from the bar didn't check ID so I could enter. Huh.

Oct. 14 (Thu)

Today I worked as an assistant teacher at a language school. Well, I enjoyed a lot. Students are from Morocco, Mari, Aritrea, Ivory Coast and so on. Sunds interesting, huh?

Oct. 13 (Wed.)

A Wednesday's class is really hard. I mean a preparation for a class is hard. Today I had to hand in one essay, present an abstract of a current research from journals, read a whole book, and take a quiz (small test). It's over! But another Wednesday comes a week later...

Oct. 12 (Tue)

Today I observed a class of English learning program. Students spent most of the time for a preparation of their skits. I was surprised that they wrote their scenario by themselves. I walked around and listened to their practice. Some scenarioes sounded very interesting. At the first scene, a couple are talking. A girl is pregnant and her boyfriend proposes for marriage... Wow, I would like to see the whole story.

Oct. 11 (Mon.)

There's a funny story. As a course requirement, a group of students leads a discussion of class every week. Our turn is on 25th. Today my group consisting of 3 people was supposed to have a first meeting before a class. However, there were so many things to do and couldn't prepare for a meeting. So I sent e-mail that I would like to postpone the first meeting to next week. One student gave me a reply that she agrees with it because she also couldn't prepare for it. We were waiting for a reply from the last student of our group. Unfortunately we didn't know his phone number. Because we couldn't get an e-mail from him, we decided to go to a meeting place anyway. We waited and waited but he didn't come. Eventually he didn't show up in a class, either! How can I contact with him!?

Oct. 10 (Sun.)

There are things that make sounds besides music instruments. A hair drier, vacuum cleaner, and so on. Those stuffs in the US make really big noise. Much bigger than Japanese ones. If less noisy stuffs are on sale, they might sell well. I will buy it.

Oct. 9 (Sat.)

Today I went to see Bharata dancing and music. A dance troupe came to Philly for a tour. It was best Bharata performance I had ever seen. I leaned Bharata (Southern Indian classical dance) more than two years at Tokyo. It was wonderful to see a great dance performance and music by Indians!

Oct. 8 (Fri.)

My friend asked me which life is easier, student's life or working life. I was just thinking the same question. Well, it's difficult. As a student I don't have so much stress and I can use my time freely. The best thing is that there is not much time restrictions. Because I was working 9:30 am to 8 or 9 pm. It was like I was selling my time. However, here as a student I study before and after class over midnight even on weekends. My roommate goes to lab every day (weekends, too) and comes back very late. It's OK to reject the offer to hang around saying I have to study. Student's life is not very easy but ... I like student's life better!

Oct. 7 (Thu)

Free food again and again! My friends and I went to a party at dental school. We were late because of our class. So not much food were left. I got a hamburger, chips and beer. Well, for me that's enough. After that I went to a salsa lesson and I met a guy who was at the party. He was saying "I'm gonna throw up". He ate two hamburgers, two hot dogs, three bags of chips, potato salada, beans, drank a lot of beers... He left a studio earlier.

Oct. 6 (Wed)

Free food again! We had a picnic on the courtyard. Although we call it picnic, we don't go anyware. The courtyard is back of our building. Today I marked △ on a calendar.

Oct. 5 (Tue.)

I studied a lot today. (Well, actually today is 11th.) I know it because I found a mark ○ on the calendar. When I studied hard I checked ○. When it was like so-so △. When I didn't study or studied a little I marked ×. I have to study hard every day so that I can check ○.

Oct. 4 (Mon.)

I worried myself that I was tired, had a slight headache, couldn't concentrate on, and didn't study much the latter half of last week. But today I started study again! Or should I say, I had to study...

I like to study in a library because it's quiet and nothing bothers me. But the bad thing is it's too cold. I even caught a cold because of air-con. Today I found a better place, not cold floor. I sat in a sofa and read for a few hours. It was comfortable.

#a view from a dorm (21st floor)

Oct. 3 (Sun.)

Today I went to "King of Prussia", the biggest shopping mall in the east coast. It was huuuuge. It has many department stores and shops. I almost got lost although I had a map.

I bought a bag and shoes. I really had a good time.

Oct. 2 (Sat.)

For a course requirement of school I will start working as a volunteer teaching assistant at a English language school. The school is a non-profit organization and most students are immigrants from Liberia. Before starting we have to take part in two workshops and today I had one of them. In Japan I didn't have a chance to communicate with immigrants, so I'm looking forward to interacting with students.

Oct. 1 (Fri.)