Monday - 牧丘第三小学校

So, finally here is my Monday School, Makioka Dai-san Shogakko (Makioka Number Three Elementary School). It has less than 29 students and no first graders this year. Apparently the board of education is perfectly content to let the school continue to operate with so few students.

In Yamanashi City, the fifth and sixth grades have 35 English lessons a year, which translates into once a week, while the third and fourth grades have 20. I believe the first and second grades have 15 or so, which means I have fifth and sixth grade classes every week and the others every other week, give or take.

The genkan, or entrance-way where you change your shoes as you enter and exit the building.

The slippers on the right are for guests and the teacher's shoes are behind those doors. Above the cabinet is a small window to the teacher's room so guests can announce themselves without having to take off their shoes and come to the door around the corner.

The teacher's room door on the left. I didn't manage to get a picture of the teacher's room unoccupied, and I am not allowed to post pictures with students or teachers in them.

The section devoted to English is the bottom right part of the wooden shelves. Groups of flashcards rubber-banded together. Also a few large children's books on the second to lowest metal shelf. (So far we've only read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, both in the second grade class).

Since Maki San has no first graders, we were allowed to convert the unused first grade classroom into an English room and put various things on the walls, like the alphabet for the kids and classroom commands for the homeroom teachers for when they forget.

The English room, from the back.

Well, that's all for 牧三小 (Maki San Sho, as it's abbreviated). Tuesday's school will be coming soon.

The Apartment

Well it has taken me far too long to get around to this, but here is my apartment in Yamanashi City. It's "mansion style," like the last one, but there are some vast improvements. I'm really excited about the kitchen. It's at least twice the size of the one I had in Mito. Without further ado, the pictures.

From the front door.

The kitchen, left after the entrance and bathroom.

The laundry room. There is an empty washing machine pedestal to the left. I didn't take a picture as it is currently serving as my garbage and recycling area.

Japanese shower, where you are supposed to shower sitting in the area to the right and then soak in the tub on the left.

The stack on the right is my futon. I fold it in the morning and use it as a lounging chair.

It was completely unfurnished when I moved in. I got all my stuff on the cheap from foreigners who are moving out soon. The cardboard coffee table was an unintentional gift from Amelia.

And my closet, before I had my stuff here.

Well, that's the place. I am currently working at a different school each day, so I figure I can break up my schools into separate posts. However, that's all for now. Look for more soon.