Aw

One of my students started crying on the floor today when I told her I was leaving school in 2 weeks to go back to America, she's 15. I think it's going to be a sad goodbye at my 3 schools.

World Cup Side Effects

Watching their friends during a P.E. class volleyball tournament, my students cupped their hands around their mouths and made vuvuzela sounds for a solid 10 minutes....bzeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Two new pics from cherry blossom season a while back...

Before & After (too bad I'm going home in 6 weeks)

splashhh

rainy season is actually living up to the hype here...forgetting what the sun looks like...

Remix

Japan: Color Shock

Had some free time at work today...made a video to some of the pictures I've taken! (Talo Cruz Music)

The Difference Between Floors (The 3's & 2's)

At one of my middle schools there is a stark contrast between the third year and second year students. The third year students on the third floor are 14 & 15 years old while the second year students on the second floor are 12 & 13 years old. I'll label them the 3's and 2's from this point on...so the 3's are still teenage kids, but are respectful in class and to the teachers. They are friendly, outgoing and for the most part study hard. We sit in the teachers room between classes and trust them to act accordingly, or go out and talk to them like little adults. This is a small school, about 80 kids per grade and of course there are the trouble makers....but overall its an ideal grade. As I walk from my 3's hallway down to the 2's it is probably best compared to walking from a nice park into a jail that is in the middle of a prisoner riot. Just 15 steps down you find kids punching each other in corners, throwing trash on the floor, and drawing all over the desks. They run around throwing what is left of their school supplies, and between classes the teachers roam the hallway with a loudspeaker/blowhorn like prison guards. The teachers from other floors are heard taking deep sighs before they descend into the 2's. I spend most of the time in the 2's classes waking students up, taking away small weapons or turning their textbooks to the right page. In the 3's classes I spend most of the time teaching, helping the students or answering questions. However, stickers seem to be like tranquilizer darts for the 2's, slowing them down to study a little. I'll have to tell my successor before I leave...

woah

big hole...(<---link)

New Pic

CELTICS CELTICS CELTICS!

wishing I could watch these games on TV instead of my tiny computer screen, at least I'll be home for the Red Sox championship this year