Amsterdam - HERE I COME!

I had three classes today. The first class I had today was with 10th grade fuji and like usual they were lazy and loud. They didn’t really feel like doing the activity that they were assigned to do. They were to report what they did in Santa Barbara because that will be their speech test on June 6th. They had a paper that they needed to fill out with things they did, people they met, foods they ate, restaurants they ate at and things like that. Most of the students put one word answers on the papers and really didn’t fill it out the way that it was intended. But I’m surprised that most of the students wrote something because some of the students didn’t.

4th period was with 11th grade ran and I was supposed to have a substitute teacher with me because the one I’m normally with is ill with the mumps. But she came right before this class started, which was great because she’s been gone for a whole week. So I started off like usual and it wasn’t pleasant because this was the class that they have right before a test. So the next meeting we will have will be their oral test. So we had a lot of work to do today since they are actually behind all of the other classes. We had a little catching up to do today, so we started with the listening practice. During this time, I had read the dialogue with the other teacher and asked them the questions. They did very well since it was all oral and they didn’t have any of the answers in front of them, which was what I intended, but couldn’t pull off in time. But they were able to answer it and some of the students, actually 3 of them got perfect so I gave them some Bryan bucks. Then we moved on to making groups and me explaining the test and what I expected of them. At the end, there was only about 10 minutes left. So I gave them the rest of the class and then told them to turn in their books to me by Thursday so I could check them and make an answer sheet and hand them all back by Friday so they have one whole week to memorize it, which is more than I gave any of the other classes.

During lunch time, I was working on recording a new script for the Beauty and the Beast for the recitation contest. There was a recorded mistake the first take and no one caught it, so we had to redo about 35 discs. I had to show the teachers how to do it again, but they knew it. I think that they will manage without me. We did the recording and then I showed the teachers how to put it on CDs using the school’s computers.

The last class of the day 5th period was with 8th grade kiku. CP had to leave school early today because she was feeling sick, so I took charge of this class. It was really weird for the students since they haven’t really had me as a lead teacher before. So they were all giggling and being cute. It was a bit annoying since we were doing self-introductory speeches today. I gave them a few minutes to memorize it and then I let them go up to the front of the room to give it. We went in reverse order because I was worried about the level of some students in the beginning. That’s why I started at the end, and it turned out ok. We had enough time at the end and I just reviewed vocabulary.

During my off period, I went to pick up my new Burberry suit from the office. It was cool that I was able to get it. I left it in my locker though since I didn’t want to be lugging it around when I was going home in a rather crowded train. It didn’t rain, so it would have been a good time to take it home though.

After school, I was working on getting some of the things ready for the oral tests. I made all the listening comprehension sheets and then all the score sheets too. I hope things work out well and if they don’t at least I tried. I stuck around till around 5pm. Then I left. I wanted to go to Yokohama and get the tickets for the trip to Amsterdam. I have decided that I will get it and go. I gave myself no choice and made sure that it was a sure thing since I was getting the tickets.

I was at the Across Travel agency for about an hour, but they took care of everything that I needed, which was flight and insurance. I was really prepared and guided the agency to get everything that I wanted and for the times and days too. I had a discount coupon for about $10, which doesn’t really save me much because it was about $950, but at least I got a discount on that. I will take Cathay Pacific, which left a good impression on me when I went to Thailand since it was nice and comfortable and I had a TV and all. The food was good too, so I will fly with them again. It was also the cheapest flight I could find to Amsterdam in May. I will have to make a two hour stop in Hong Kong though, which is fine with me because I could get some food while I’m there.

When I got home, the first thing that I needed to do was secure a place to stay. I was looking online at hostelworld.com. The place that I was looking at yesterday got all booked up, so I needed to find another place. The price kept on changing on me today too. I was checking a lot of places and to see which had high ratings and the area. I will arrive in Amsterdam at 7am after a 17 hour flight and my check in time is 11am. That should be more than enough time to find the place and be able to hang out for a little bit. I don’t plan to pack that much since I’m going to be backpacker style and I just want to enjoy. I also have to worry about things getting stolen since I will stay in a hostel with 5 other people in a mixed dorm suite style. I chose Hotel Annemarie, which is a hostel / discount hotel. They had very good comments on their website and things seemed reasonable enough for me. It was close to a lot of the things that I want to see, even though it is a bit far from the main part of the city. I think things should be fine though. It took about 3 hours to find and decide on the place to stay though. The other place I was planning to stay was at stayokay vondelpark hostel, which is only across the park from where I decided. The price I was looking at yesterday would have been a bit cheaper for 3 days and I would have been with 3 other people in a mixed dorm. So I should have taken care of things earlier since this place had a higher rating then the one I decided to stay at. But all of the places seemed fine.

I took a shower and then watched some TV and ate dinner then slept. I was sending emails back and forth with CHda asking her if she wanted to go to the Utada Hikaru concert with me. She said yes, so I’m incredibly stoked about it. I really had a wonderful day today.