So I really should not be writing this and should be going to bed but I couldn't resist. Writing a Sunday night blog post has become my way of reflecting on the week that has passed and mentally preparing myself for the week to come (that's what EDU 216 Reflective Practicum will do to you!). I may have to sleep in tomorrow but I have a lot to do so we will see. Oh and I should mention that this post is being written on my brand new MacBook Pro!!
As per usual, my week was jammed packed and I still have a lot to do, despite it being Sunday night, almost Monday. It was my final week with my Yamaguchi students and in addition, my classes are starting to increase in work load, with assignments, readings and tests so I honestly felt as though I had no free time this past week. But it was well worth it! Monday, I had a full day of classes, so like always, I did not get to hang out with my Japanese students much. I did however make dinner for my housemates successfully again - turkey burgers and delicious mashed maple sweet potatoes! Later that night, I got asked to be a part of the BU Student Alumni Association, meaning I would get to help with alumni events. Unfortunately, they wanted me to start right away last week but my schedule didn't allow for it. Hopefully, I will have a chance to help out in the future! On Tuesday, I had my interview for the Big Buddies club, where us university students are paired up with a buddy from the local elementary school. I didn't get a little buddy last year, but apparently the club's numbers have increased this year so my chances are looking good! I will find out this week who my little buddy is/if I got a buddy, so wish me luck!
Tuesday afternoon, I took my Japanese students into Sherbrooke to an international grocery store. We had to take the city bus so picture me, the most directionally challenged person in the world, leading ten foreigners around the city. But have no fear, we made it there and back with no trouble and my students got what they needed for their special event! I then took the Japanese professor to the student ministry dinner so that he would not have to eat alone; the students were teasing me about taking their "sensai" on a dinner date. Haha! Later, in my astronomy class, we got to go up to the Observatory and look at the moon through the giant telescope! After looking at the moon, we were going to try to look at a nebula, but it was getting late and I needed to head home.
On Wednesday, the Japanese students hosted the annual "Japan Night" in which they shared a little bit of their culture with me, my boss, their teachers and host families. They made okonomayaki, which is a Japanese style pizza, made with special Japanese flour, eggs, cheese and water, I think. You combine the ingredients and then fry it up! You can add in veggies and meat and then you put a special Japanese barbecue sauce on top. It was delicious! They gave me some of the flour and sauce so that I can try to make it one day, but they didn't give me a recipe.... They also made a traditional dessert, taught us some origami (cranes and ninja stars) and shared a Japanese children's song with us. I kept a copy of the lyrics to use at camp next summer! It was a wonderful night, and I left with glossy eyes as it was one of my last nights with them.
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| Okonomayaki! |
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| Origami! |
On a side note, on Wednesday, I got an invitation in my mailbox to join the Bishop's University Golden Key Honour Society. It is a group for people who are in the top 15% of their program academically. I am not quite sure what membership entails yet, but I do know that it is an international society, with groups at schools in 8 different countries. Members get access to Golden Key scholarships, are invited to networking events and do things together at a local, national and international level. I have to go meet with the BU group sometime this week, so more on this soon. :)
On Thursday, I had my last Dewies lunch (tear, tear) with my students and then we had our final banquet dinner. We got to eat in the Adam's Dining Room and had a traditional Quebec dinner, tortiere aka meat pie and cheesecake. I made a slideshow of photos that I shared with everyone and then there was a ceremony to hand out their program completion certificates. They all received a certificate, a Bishop's bag and a Bishop's t-shirt. We took a lot of fun photos and then shed a lot of tears as it was the last time they would see me, and I them. It was a great night, but very sad. I had a great experience as the language monitor and I would not trade it for the world. I really hope that I will be able to do it again next year! They made me promise to try to come to Japan one day, and I suggested in 2020 for the Tokyo Olympics. Here's hoping that I will be able to make it work!
I was up late Thursday night trying to finish some work and watching a movie while packing my suitcase. It was time to head home for my Grandpa's Semi-Surprise 75th Birthday Party! Now, I say Semi-Surprise because my grandpa knew that my grandma was having a party for him but he did not know that my cousin Duncan, who is on coop in Ottawa and me were coming home! I spent Friday on the road, taking a total of 4 buses, 1 plane, 1 ferry, 1 train and 1 car to get to Ancaster but the travel was well worth it to see my family. My grandpa was so surprised!
Saturday, I went to my brother's hockey game, which his team won (YAY), to the mall to get a dress and then to the Mississauga Golf and Curling Club for the party. All of my cousins (except one) were able to make it and all of my aunts and uncles on my mom's side of the family. It was a lot of fun to get dressed up and have a classy evening at the golf course. My grandma made me the official photographer so I got lots of photos, some posed, some action, some just plain ridiculous. The food was delicious and the cake was so tasty that I had a piece for lunch today (no other food, just cake)! The party was a lot of fun, as my family is hilarious. A few of us made speeches for my grandpa, and my mom and I showed that we are definitely related as we both finished our speeches in tears! On another note, my uncle Bruce had a secret mission that night - he was trying to steal his World's curling banner but after much debate, decided that he needed to do it another night as it would too obvious that it was him since there was no one else at the club with us. So after a really fun night, we left the club (mostly) intact and all headed our separate ways home.
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| Birthday boy! |
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| Little lady #3 |
Sunday I woke up bright and early to go to a dentist appointment (perks of having your dad as your dentist) and then went to the gym with my mom. I should not have done so because the new Ancaster gym makes the Bishop's gym look very, very sad. I then packed my suitcase back up, Macky included and began my long trip back to Bishop's. However, I did get a ride right to the airport and got picked up by my saint of a friend in Sherbrooke, so the trip home was much quicker! It was nice to come home to my housemates, especially as they had dinner ready and lots of stories to tell me as it was homecoming at Bishop's this weekend. They had a "great" weekend and even though I am sad that I missed it, I am so glad that I went home for the party. It was great to see my family and it was a good way to take my mind off the lack of Japanese students in my life. It will be weird (and disappointing) to not be going to Dewies for lunch tomorrow! But with the end of one great thing comes the start of another and that is certainly true for this week. On Tuesday, I start my first practicum!
Announced last Wednesday, starting this week, I will be going to an elementary school in Magog on Tuesday mornings to be the student teacher in a grade six classroom. I am beyond excited!! I am also going to be volunteering with the LES Outdoor Club which starts on Thursday afternoon so if you were worried about me not having anything to do without being the language monitor, you do not need to worry anymore! Wish me luck as I take on new challenges!
So I must head off to bed now as I have a lot to do tomorrow - two assignments, a quiz, and who knows what else! Wishing you a wonderful week!
All my love,
Erica
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