Friends I've made in Numazu

This is Miwako Murakami--my first "Numazu friend"

I was emailing her with questions before I even arrived; and she's been a great help!  She was waiting at Narita Airport (with Ms. Moshizuki) to help take me to Numazu.  Her English is really great. (:  She works at City Hall--I'm not exactly certain what she does, but she works with several other people who speak various foreign languages (Spanish, Korean, etc) and I think they help foreign residents in Japan.  Miwako is also a member of N.I.C.E. (Numazu Association for International Communication and Exchange), like Fusako.

I need a picture of Ms. Mochizuki!

Ms. Mochizuki works at City Hall, too, but she is in the Department of Education.  She's been a lot of help, too!  She doesn't speak as much English as Miwako, but she has certainly done her best to help whenever she can.  She was also at Narita the day I arrived; she showed me where Dai Ni  Jr High and where the grocery store were located; she's helped with my questions about the bills that arrive at my apartment; and lots more!

Sorry about the crappy quality picture... it's from the newspaper...

Next up are the Nakamuras--Fusako and Toshi.  Fusako e-mailed me a few days before I left Michigan and invited me to stay in their home for a little while.  They showed me around and helped me get some important stuff done (registering as a foreigner in Numazu, getting a re-entry Visa, etc).

I had a really great time staying with them, and I really think it made my transition a lot easier!  They have a lovely home up one of the small mountains of Numazu-I've got to get pictures to show you-and Fusako made delicious meals everyday!  One night, she even had a small "Welcome Party" for me. (:  Another night, after I had moved in to the apartment, she invited me over for a 'sushi party'--it was pretty tasty! (:

At Dai- Ni Jr High

Seki-sensei

Ikuyo Yamamoto

Seki-sensei teaches the other two second grade classes and the third graders.  Some of his third graders can speak pretty good English!

Hitosugi-sensei

He teaches the first grade and two of the second grade English classes.  He likes manga and anime! (:  I conversed with his students quite a bit--just asking them random questions,

Yeah, I need a picture of Ikuyo,

too. (:  She is one of the office ladies at Dai Ni, and she's really nice!  She is learning English right now, so she liked to talk to me to practice conversing. (:  She's even given me a few tiny presents.  And she's helped me out with mailing letters and writing a Japanese self introduction and things.  She's a sweetie!

I usually became an English-English dictionary for his students, helping them learn new words.  I also made small quizes for them!  Wee!

or talking to them, so they can listen to English.  We also played a lot of word games.

At Oohira Jr High:

Morisue-sensei

This is Morisue-sensei at Oohira Jr High.  She teaches all but one of the 6 English classes there.  (Yoshikawa-sensei teaches one of the first-year classes, since six is quite a load for one teacher.)  She is a little new to teaching, but she gets along really well with the kids, and she's a good teacher.  Her English is very good! (:  We tried to have a lot of fun in class.  She was very interested in trying new things--as most new teachers are. (:

and Dai Ichi Jr High:

Atsumi- and Ogawa-senseis I had a lot of fun working with these two. (:

Us, on Christmas Day--my last day at Dai Ichi.  This was just after the Closing Ceremony.

Atsumi-sensei teaches the first-years and helps with two of the 'elective' third grade classes.  She liked to have fun in class, so the kids enjoyed learning English.  We played lots of games, and did lots of moving while we learned. (Like walking around to talk with each other.)

Ogawa-sensei teaches the second and third years, and all three of the 'elective' English classes.  She studied English in Vegas for a time!  Her classes were a little more serious, but we still had fun. (:  She often had the students write and recite short paragraphs, which was a great exercise to prepare them for upcoming high school entrance exams.