This weekend I visited the Imada ningyo (bunraku) troupe on my own for the first time, and am here to officially state that my Japanese is horrible. They had a special meeting on Sunday too, which I probably shouldn’t have gone to (=Japanese overload) because going home I felt like I was not only completely inept at Japanese but that I was a colossal burden to the instructors and other members. There’s another meeting this coming Saturday and yet again I will go. It might take a few months (if not longer) to get used to these meetings; last summer aside from the 2-3 Imada members, everyone was from my study abroad program and the more advanced student members could help translate. Well, the students and student leaders have gone home now and it’s just me. O_O
At the same time this experience last weekend has taught me how much I am in my element when I’m in the classroom. I had what I think was a great first day in the classroom, giving presentations and leading the students in activities from the get-go. The students were alittle quiet, as expected, but came around enough. My visit high school might be a little more challenging, since the students are general ed on in some other field of study as opposed to the International Studies students at my main high school. Regardless, I’ll make it work. I have to make it work, I’m an education major. 
