I officially started my new job yesterday (checks time)…on Friday, May 4th. But I already reported to the office on the 2nd and 3rd for trainings. I can’t say much about it since I am only a few days old into the job. Will post more probably after my first week. All I can say is that…freedom is so good! We have YM!! And MSN! And iTunes! And a lot more! Wipee! Goodbye proxies. ^_~

Speaking of careers, I had a chance to think about what I really want to do with my life. And that is to teach Japanese. I know that there is absolutely no money in teaching. I know that people actually expected me to be some big-shot banker, economist, corporate planner or a CFA but I am only 75%-80% convinced that I can be happy being any of those. I mean, really happy. I know people will say that if I pursue the teaching path, my economics degree will go to waste and that the cum laude (kung laude?) thingie would mean nothing.

So what?

Right now, I do not care about those things anymore. I am in search of my ‘best place’ (Refer to the anime Shaman King) and I have a pretty good idea of what it is.

However, I don’t have any immediate plans of quitting the rat race. Not yet. I still want to save some money. Maybe work for the next couple of years with the teaching job on the side. I will be teaching anyway starting next year so I have a weekend part-time job too. Before I go 100% into the teaching world and quit the corporate world altogether, I want to move into a decent place of my own, have ‘respectable’ savings…the loose change I keep doesn’t count.

I know that I am heading for the right direction. I am always happy whenever I am involved with something related to Japan or Nihongo. Whether it is something for Japinoy.com or something for school, I never feel that I am being forced.

If I can’t logon to Japinoy at least once a day, I’d feel deprived…forget GirlTalk and PinoyExchange. I’m going to channel all my energy and resources into the site I love most in the entire WWW: Japinoy.com ^_^

At school, I am always bibo, enthusiastic. I go over the moon every time sensei says something really nice about me…like that time he called me the ‘go-go-go’ type of teacher. ^_^

As early as now, I am already trying to come up with things to make my lessons more interesting: great looking visuals, funny anecdotes, Japan trivia, songs, whatever. I (mentally) prepare them for every lesson. Like this one: Ben Affleck to Wentworth Miller to dochira ga hansamu desu ka? Hek-hek-hek.

As early as now, I am already thinking of what I want my students to call me:

• Ramos-sensei – No way. It ages me at least 10 years.
• Catalina-sensei – Nope. Not cool enough.
• Cat-sensei – Pittari!!

As early as now, I am already picturing what kind of teacher I will be…I want to be the cool one. ^_~ Someone like Alfred-sensei, maybe. Someone who’s ready to go to karaoke after class. Someone who enjoys pop culture. Someone who is funny. Someone who makes impossible-to-answer exams…not!

As early as now, I am already thinking of how to improve name and face recall. I am bad at remembering names and faces and if I were to become a good teacher, I should at least be able to tell who’s from my class and who is trying to stalk me!

So many plans for next year…andI still have eight months to come up with more. ^_^

Ok, this is the part that I say oyasumi and mata ne. I have to rest and catch up on sleep. I just hope my diarrhea has stopped already. I got it from drinking too much coffee…I so badly wanted to stay awake in class!

Oyasumi! Mata ne! (Whenever that is)

Mojica-sensei (Edwin-sensei) told us that Kouchou-sensei (Betty-sensei) wants our class to have a 模擬授業 as soon as we finish Chapter 5 of the book. As expected, everyone was surprised with the announcement. We weren’t happy with it…we were scared! Besides, we thought it was too early to be doing practice classes. Those usually come in the second semester. But Kouchou-sensei insisted that we have it. ASAP. We did bargain that the practice be moved to after the Holy Week, so we have the long vacation to think about what to teach and how to teach. Wipee…not.

Why am I scared? I suppose it’s not because I’m scared of teaching…I’m scared of making a fool of myself in front of Kouchou-sensei! Her presence is always so intimidating. If she weren’t there, it wouldn’t be so bad, but the thing is, she wanted to be there and observe everyone. 校長先生がいなければ、大丈夫かもしれません。でも、模擬授業は先生のアイデアです。ですからいるはずです。恐い。。。

But why should I be scared? Shouldn’t I be proud that one of the best Nihongo teachers in the country will be observing me in class? I do not exaggerate when I say ‘one of the best’. Kouchou-sensei has been recognized by the Emperor of Japan for her contributions to Nihongo education in the country. Together with Edwin-sensei and Ogata-sensei, they are the pioneers of teaching Nihongo in the country. I am proud to say that I am studying under the very best people in Nihongo education in the Philippines. Reading this speech by Ambassador Yamazaki during the conferment of Kouchou-sensei’s Order of the Rising Sun made me really happy and proud….Teacher ko yan!

Geez…if only it was so easy to measure up to the three of them…just as it is easy to feel proud that I am their student. ^_~

PS: Pag ako naging teacher na, sure ako na magiging mabait ako sa mga estudyante ko…hindi ako mahirap ayain sa gimik. Pag gusto nila ng karaoke, papayag agad ako. Yun na! ^_~