Sloshball

So it's been 2 weeks now that I've officially been teaching on my own and I am happy to report that it is going swimmingly. The kids are so smart and so eager to learn, it feels so great to be a part of their upbringing. My mother having been a preschool teacher for almost 30 years now, I have definitely learned much more from her than I realized. 

In other, non-work-related news, I've started socializing a bit more here in Okayama. I went out to an expat bar last Saturday and met some people who got me connected with the Ajets, a group of foreign teachers in the area who organize social gatherings and fun events for all of us lonely teachers. It seems like a great resource that has already helped quite a bit. I attended at event they held yesterday aptly named 'sloshball'. Basically it's a big game of kickball with an additional rule that a player must always, without exception, have a drink in their hand (most choose beer or something similar). We played for a few hours, fighting off the coming typhoon but when lightning started to strike the parking lot, we simply had to quit. The game was fun but more importantly, the people were incredibly friendly and ready to greet and welcome a newcomer like myself. It seems as though no matter how long a teacher has been here, we all came for the same reason in the beginning and it was quite nice to feel that little connection with so many people for the first time since I arrived here. I am very excited to get to know them better and hopefully make some real friends in the group. It's interesting to know that no matter where I move or what I pursue, people seek community. Be it theatre in NYC, serving drinks at chilis, or teaching kids all the way in Japan, it seems as though people instinctually draw together and support one another. It's nice to know that with all the crap that goes on in the world, no matter where you go, someone will welcome you with open arms. 

On a less sappy and possibly less significant note, I made my first hair appointment yesterday. It is getting dreadfully long and since it hasn't been properly cut in months, it just grows larger and more difficult to deal with everyday. Japanese men have the coolest hairstyles I've ever seen and I am positive I can't pull any of them off. I'm planning on bringing a lot of pictures since none of the stylists speak English and hopefully I'll end up with something resembling what I want. It's only hair and you can always change it, but it is on my head and I'd like it to look good. 

Getting a computer (finally) in just a couple weeks so I promise, when that happens, my posts will become more frequent and much more exciting.