Shibuya Shoot

Last week of school over here and things are all kinds of bitter-sweet. I'll deal with that later. 

On a totally unrelated note, I love this little set of photos from when Jessica was here two weeks ago.
Life is just more fun when that blonde is around.

Miss you Jesshka,
Kate

Sayonara Speech

I have one more full we week of school, but today we had a school-wide assembly so it was decided that I would give my sayonara speech then. After writing the little speech in English and getting it checked and translated by a few of my favorite Japanese all-stars, I practiced a bit last night. I really wanted to nail the pronunciation and inflection. 

And I am proud to say, I did.
Despite the fact that I was nauseatingly nervous. 

All morning, in between the classes I was teaching with Keima, I was repeating the few words I was struggling to pronounce. At the top of that list was, wasurerarenai, which means do not forget. My kids knew I was leaving, but they did not know I was giving a speech today. A few of my favorite 1st-year girls joked with me this morning, repeating the word back to me and most likely wondering why I was saying it so many times. After the speech they came up to me, hands clasp together, they travel as a unit, giggly, clearly new BFFs, and said, 

"Keito Senseiiiiiii, wasurerarenai! hahahaha. wasurerarenai!wasurerarenai!wasurerarenai!"

Cuties. 

Between those two and the beautiful flowers I received post speech it has been an absolutely wonderful Friday.

Oh GoChuu, you are going to be so hard to leave. 

Wasurerarenai, 

Kate

Conversation Journals

Responded to a fresh batch of questions this week. 

The kids recently learned the key words up, on, near, under and in. To practice using them in sentences they spent most of the class describing a picture of a bedroom on a worksheet to their partner.
Is there a desk near the window? Is there a cat under the bed? 

At the end of the class, when it came time for conversation journals, the teacher asked them to "try to imagine Keito Sensei's room in America and ask her a question about it". 

Keep that in mind as you read through these, especially the last one. 

Gorilla on my desk? Obviously.

True story. 

Charlie has some serious celebrity status with these kids.

She knew one of the words had double letters...

How well this child knows me.

Seemed like a logical response to his question.

Star student.

This kid basically wrote out a Japanese sentence in English letters which made me laugh.

McDonald's really is synonymous with America. 

Creative.

xoxo, 

Kate

Words

My mind is all over the map (literally) as of late. 

This came as a welcomed reminder... 

xoxo,
Kate

Weekend Update

With only four weekends to go, I have been doing my best to make the most of each. With the help of a few friends, we have done a pretty phenomenal job. This weekend consisted of multiple awesome restaurants, park days, a Saturday night party, lunch with a visiting BFF and a late Sunday afternoon beer outside. 

A few pics from Ari during our afternoon at the Imperial Palace. 

Thanks, Ari!

Hope you all had a great one as well!

xoxo, 

Kate

Rising Sun Wanderings: Video

I finally finished the little I was working on. 

Here it is if you'd like to see!

Rising Sun Wanderings from Kate Bohan on Vimeo.

xoxo, 

Kate

Throwback Thursday

Today at school, the Backstreet Boys made an appearance. 

I don't know the last time you watched six classes of 40 Japanese students sing along with Howie, Kevin, Brian, Nick and A.J., but let me tell you, it was pretty adorable. 

I want it that way, 

Kate

P.S. This original music video is pretty winning too...