Hasta la proxima...

Today I am finishing up my work before my two week vacation. The students have no classes for the next month (their longest break of the year), though most will continue to come to school everyday to practice sports and extra-curricular activities (would this fly in US schools?). Four of my students will be rehearsing for the English Speech/Recitation contest in September. I spent the afternoons this past week helping two students write their speeches. Actually, I wrote all of the English, but the main ideas are theirs. Last year we practiced many hours on memorization and delivery, only to find that the judges weighted 80% of the score on speech content and the degree of English difficulty. Thus, at the request of my co-teacher, this year I wrote two very difficult speeches, considering the English level of the students. However, both students are strong (one because he learns quickly, and the other because of sheer determination). I have no doubt they will succeed.

On Sunday, exactly one day before my one-year-in-Japan date, I am off to the Philippines for some solo travel. Looking forward to island-hopping, the ocean, learning a few words of a new tongue, new modes of transport, and the overall intoxicating feeling of feeling lost in a new place.