Teachers'hobbies

Cait if you're reading, you should stop and wait until after the trip.

I never really think of teachers here as really having lives outside of school considering how hard they work and how much time they put into school and club activities let alone that they could possibly have hobbies. It's always a bit shocking to learn that in fact they do make time. Like when I went snowboarding with the PE teacher back in November.

Well today, I learned about O-sensei and M-sensei's hobby. They are online auction fanatics. O-sensei mainly sells things while M-sensei mainly buys things. This little bit of insight into their lives came about because of my procrastination. I didn't start planning in detail my sister's trip to visit me in Japan until just recently. That means that of course sumo tickets are sold out. I actually hadn't really thought about sumo until I went myself last weekend. Somehow my friends and I were able to throw together a day trip. My friend bought the sumo tickets last Tuesday and I got the bus tickets on Wednesday. (I had work Thursday night and had to take a late night train to my friend's apartment because...) We were busy with an English camp Friday and Saturday over night. Then we took the bus Sunday morning. It was a lot of fun, so I thought I might try to do it for my sister. But it happens to be the last day of the tournament. So of course the seats are all sold out.

Anyway, I mentioned this to a teacher. And said that there are general admissions tickets that go on sale the morning of for 2000 yen which is a great price even though the seats are free-seating and not a great angle for watching. But she thinks some people may be waiting overnight and that many will come early in the morning. So it may be difficult. Apparently she mentioned it to another teacher who suggested online auctions. So we searched, and I found some tickets, but my credit card wasn't working on the site. So, some M-sensei was nearby and overheard. He got interested and started talking with us. Lots of talking later, O-sensei comes by. It was decided since he has a better internet connection at home, he will follow the auction. Actually, I just checked. It ends in 4 minutes and he is bidding right now! I hope he wins it for me. I gave him my limit and he will call if he needs to go over. I looks good so far. We will see.

Anyway, it's always funny to find out about my teachers. They always have surprises. Wish me luck!

US in August

Just when I think I've gotten things under control and my blogger procrastination managed, I see that another month has gone by with nothing posted. Well, I'm trying to work things out.

I've got a lot of things on my plate at the moment it feels. I'm working on plans for when my little sister comes to visit me in a couple weeks. I'm working on plans for a possible volunteering/work experience in Africa for sometime after August. I'm thinking about starting on the application process to grad school. And of course still working, learning Japanese, and living a fairly full social life. Trying to get in lots of experiences before I go home.

As you have probably guessed, if I haven't already told you, I'm heading back to the states sometime in August. After that, as you can see, my plans are a bit up in the air. Not sure I like that, considering I'm leaving a stable job with a fairly high salary, but I have my reasons and they were deemed logical and intelligent by a trusted friend. So I'm going with it.