March

 I was hoping that March would be a good month.

I was hoping the weather would be nice, not so cold!

But March came in like a lion, a very wet, cold lion! And it's leaving like a soggy, cold lion.

We had a few days of lovely weather, it actually got very warm for about a week, up to low 20Cs. Now it's back to cold weather, I'm sitting with the heater blasting at the moment!

I really wanted to clear part of this garden and get planting. Unfortunately our schedules and the weather didn't match up. On the nice days, everyone had work, on the rainy days we had free time!  We did a bit, but not enough.  

I'm getting used to going to the other city to teach. I only have to go two or three times a week. I'm hoping that we can get more students in April!  We need the money! I know that is a bad motivation, I should be thinking about how we can help people with their English study, helping kids in school, or adults who need English for work. But we are broke! So a few new students would really help!

The highlight of March was Hannah's graduation!

She worked very hard during the past four years to graduate. She got the top mark on her thesis. She learned a lot about herself and what she can do. The course she took was in education, focusing on elementary school education and special needs education. She is now a licensed teacher for elementary school and special needs school.  During the teacher training, she realized that being an elementary school teacher wasn't for her. In Japan elementary school teachers are moved from grade to grade, so one year you might be teaching first grade, the next year sixth grade. The changes are made during the two-week spring break, and teachers have about a week to prepare for the new school year. It's really hard on the teachers! Also, the curriculum is constantly being revised, and new subjects are being added. Plus, the demands made on the teachers' time are ridiculous; most teachers arrive at school at 7:30 am and don't leave until 8 or 9pm. In addition to working all day teachers have to work as social workers, which they aren't trained for. When Hannah saw the reality of this, she decided that, for her, doing another 3 years of study to get a junior high school license would be best. Her graduate course is divided into two parts, one is graduate study plus university study to get a license to be a junior high school English teacher. She is already researching her thesis! April 2nd is her entrance ceremony!  I think she's really excited about this course. She thinks part of it will be studying English literature. I think I would enjoy that course!

Hannah's graduation

April, I wonder what this month will bring?!

I'm hoping for warm weather. A chance to get the garden sorted and to do some spring cleaning. 

We will see!