So let me tell you about my week

And what a week it was! I can't remember ever being so up and down. So I started on Tuesday and I was just observing. I made a little girl cry because I wasn't smiling big when she walked in the door. But other than that the other kids were good. I have the entire age spectrum I think so it'll be nice. I taught more and more classes as the week went on and I would go from feeling so confident to wondering if I was actually cut out for this several times in the same day.
Yesterday I taught half of the classes and it went surprisingly well so I was back to feeling confident. Then the outgoing teacher left and I started feeling a tad nervous. So I brought all my materials home and will probably be lesson planning the day away tomorrow. Fortunately I teach the same class several times a week so I won't have to lesson plan for all thirty something lessons.
But right now I'm feeling good. I went to the Peace Park with my manager today, saw a big heron hanging out in the river, snapped a photo. Apparently, during the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom people will have picnics in the park and drink lots of beer so... bloom, cherry blossoms, bloom!
I also went exploring in this underground mall. SO many cute shops. I can see where a big chunk of my paycheck will be going. Naturally I will devote another huge chunk to traveling so saving... maybe after the first six months? But I figure who knows how long I'll be here or when I'll ever come back. I definitely got stared at a lot when I was in that mall. People are so obvious with their staring. They can't help but look, maybe? So I stared back and a few averted their eyes but a few kept their eyes open wide and mouths agape. Never seen a gaijin before?
For me, being at the Peace Park was sobering. It was really sad to see the Atomic Bomb Dome. It was a quiet place. I am excited to see the cherry blossoms though, looking forward to it next month.
I know I keep saying I will post pictures, and I will, I will! But perhaps now I sound like a broken record and I should probably actually post some.

I will!