Would somebody PLEASE shut the cupboard doors? Lately there's been a lot going on. That's an understatement in every sense. Life's been insane. Not so much busy, but as my brother put it, when he has a lot of classes or tests, he feels like his brain's a kitchen and there are too many cupboard doors open at the same time. I feel this way, too. As a lot of you know, I've been teaching all of Tamaki sensei's classes in the last two weeks, and I got a surprise the last two days when I taught more classes for her when she wasn't there. So, I've taught a total of 14 of her classes by myself. Sounds like it's not so bad, but when the kids are used to a certain style of teaching (as in EXTREMELY structured), and used to everything being explain in Japanese, my teaching can throw them for a loop. It did yesterday when I tried to switch some kids around for work groups. All of the "smart" kids were in one group (put together by another teacher), so I asked one kid to switch with another kid so that the groups would be more even and they could help each other better. Bad move. He was really hurt, and looked at me quite crestfallen, and asked, "Sensei, why move?" That's not all that's going on, though. I'm also studying for the GRE, and since this whole shebang is going to cost about $300 (that's without the shopping afterward ; ), I want to do well so I don't have to take the stinking thing again. Which means a lot of studying. A LOT of studying. I will be glad when it's over. Saturday 4:00, come quickly--but not quickly while I'm actually taking the thing, cause then it would be even more stressful... On top of all this, my parents called on Saturday and said that my dad's work project got switched again. Date this time: May 1st. Pretty much this means that the trip they rescheduled from March/April to April/May is now out. After crying for 4 hours, Tammy and I had a brainstorm, and discovered that if he can (basically) beg his boss to let him re-switch it to March/April, my family could piggyback on Tammy's family's plans. "Just don't think about it," says my mother, "while we wait for an answer." You'd think she'd know me better than that. My brain (and, yes, sadly, usually worry) don't have an "off" button. I just want an answer. If you read this, please pray for the situation, I can't express how much I want them to come in March. It's been a very hard winter. And...this weekend, the 3rd person directly related to teachers in my school passed away--this time, my principle's father. Earlier this year, a teacher friend's father, and before that, an actual teacher (she had been out a couple months on sick leave). Besides the obvious reasons that this is not a desirable situation, this makes for a not-so-fun atmosphere at school. All of the teachers take turns going to the funeral, and I sorta get left behind. In such a family-oriented school, sometimes I kinda feel like the dog. Fun when you have time for me, but left behind usually, and doesn't understand everything that's going on. Thankfully, there are a few people who stop and pat my head every once in a while... So, yeah. Those are just some of the things. On a lighter note, though, today my 1 nen sei stinker, Ryo, was messing around, threw his shoe, and it went through a window. A closed window. Woops. I had a hard time stifling my giggles while the vice-principle was lecturing him this afternoon. Ah, I love that kid. Oari desu.