Day by day

Japan has a festival day practically every other day it seems. Yesterday, Aki rang me to wish me a good 4-20, apparently a day when you can get stoned legally, although through the backround train drones, her mobile`s crackle and her broken yank English, I am not sure if this is a national holiday or an Aki one. Children`s Day is coming up, so a student gave me a crappy Koi streamer to hang up in my room. I tried, but it`s cheap and clashes with my other cheap possessions. The same student also ran through some other `days`, but I got stuck on `Bad Teeth Day` and wouldn`t budge. I still don`t know what happens (they laughed when I said `go to the dentist`, but I suspect this is because no one here goes - teeth are wonky and covered in coffee-coloured goo), but will investigate.

Teaching has been a bit hellish this week. The new year excitement has worn off the younger students already and they are back to their usual disinterest. How long did I really expect a new textbook to keep them interested?! I`ve been having a few discipline problems. Miteki, who I previously loved because he was excellent and quite cute, has decided his new book is too easy (he has been demoted by about three years` of English study, poor lad) and is going to give me shit in class instead. He was joined by his side-kick, Ryoya, who is far worse as he lacks the imagination to create his own disruption or be won back by more complex exercises. I understand Miteki`s chagrin. He was forming fairly advanced sentences (for a boy of 9, anyway) and is now learning how to introduce himself in the company of a bunch of retards. One girl who actually did the same class and was allegedly on the same level as Miteki is seriously special. We did a run and draw game, all the kids get it and we generally play it quite a lot as it`s easy and fun. Mayuko looked at me gormlessly holding the pen, having watched her two team-mates draw their nouns. I said `bag` in English and Japanese, but it still didn`t help. She just drooled down herself and another girl had to hold her hand and guide the pen. I quite get Miteki`s outrage. However, his and Ryoya`s little moment of rebellion came while I was being observed by the parent of a potential new student and I don`t think she was impressed that I couldn`t even get them to catch a ball and count to 10.

This was Wednesday, perhaps the hardest day of my week. I may also have made a bit of a clanger as I took a class with one of Natalie`s ex-students. She had warned me the woman is insane. Without a shred of shame, she explained she wanted to learn English to go to Disneyland. She has already been (although not to Disneyland Paris, I put my foot in it asking about that!) to Florida and wherever the other one is a couple of times, but has been to Tokyo Disney 400. Apparently the appeal is because she loves Mickey. He is kind and a gentleman. She is 30. Foolishly, I tried to apply all the language to Disney. It was weird concept checking around Donald and Mickey. It was a real struggle trying to remember how to spell Goofy (is that right?!). Anyway, I am seriously worried she enjoyed it too much and will now want me forever. I cannot bear the thought.

This country is full of loons.