B B B B B B B B Back in black.

The Introduction of a DS lite (thank you again T.O.H) has meant anything resembling actual thought processes, conversation and social interaction has been reduced to a small brightly lit screen and a stylus and often the words "wait, wait WHAT! DAMN!!! oh just one more go". So posts on the blog might slow down to at least 2 a day. In the meantime its been more introduction lessons at school with the two new English Teachers, who both (thankfully) seem easy going and good teachers. After almost 2 years I've honed down my introduction depending on the teacher to an art form. I explain who I am, what I like to do (they are currently loving me telling them about my DS Lite and how I'm not very good at it) my family what I like to eat and importantly that I SPEAK NO JAPANESE WHAT SO EVER.. and immediately explain this in Japanese (I like to see the look of confusion on my kids faces early "EHHH he said he couldn't speak Japanese and then said it in Japanese!! EHHHHHHH). I've also perfected the world map game I play. In which I clearly show them where England is then tell them I will give a volunteer two stickers if they show me on the map where England is again. I let the first person show me, give them a round of applause and the stickers, now here the kids have begun to think "well thats not so hard I'm going to have ago" and that my friends is where they fall into my trap BWAHAHAHAHAHHAh cough cough.
I ask for another volunteer, (usually I find there's always one very active boy in the class, so he's a good volunteer/victim) and then just when they are about to put the magnet on the map I shout STOP!!! and explain its a challenge, they have to do it blindfolded, and cue the EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSS!
I explain the basic directions up, down,left, right STOP!!! then blindfold the kid (who I have made sure knows the directions two as last year we had one or two unfortunate incidents involving tables and chairs) and then walk them around the room and around and around letting them touch the board (I'm not evil you know!) and then encourage the kids to shout... a nice way to show the kids where England is and practice directions for later....
I also introduce the concept of the handshake, usually through lots of exaggerated bad examples (teacher crushing my hand, me turning away or bounding around without letting go etc etc) and then shake every students hand; weirdly they seem to enjoy this bit the most, its quite funny to pretend a tiny tiny first year is crushing my hand or refusing to let go, and usually there's one or two students who decide to actually try only for me to not let go and drag them around the class room with me! Then I let them practice with each other.
Although note to self; next year remember to tell them not to crush each others hands quite so much... right back to bomberla...no work must concentrate on work.

school headmaster watch; Navy suit, blue and red painted tie, gold tie pin.
School headmaster look; Like an 50's Casino crooner just waiting for his time in the spot light once again.