Sunday, October 24, 2004
Farewell DT!
I took Monday morning off so I could take Daniel to Aokata Port and catch the 12:30 Taiko ferry. We went up to Aokata a little early to buy some blank CDs and gifts for my family, then sat in the car and exchanged files. I wanted to get some TV shows off his computer and he wanted all my pictures from the trip. At 12:25 we pulled out his suitcase and went into the terminal, but it was closed and there was no one around. We waited until just shortly after 12:30 and decided we should find out what’s going on. The ferry was no where in sight. I asked a man working in a lumber yard next to the terminal if the ferry was coming. He said no, it wasn’t; (my heart jumps) I didn’t understand why, but at least we knew not to wait around anymore.
I was really nervous because I had to be at work in just 40 minutes (1:10 p.m.). I had only enough time to drive directly there, but I couldn’t just leave Daniel stranded in Aokata. I called Kazuma who said we should go to Arikawa’s port and he could go via Sasebo. He said he’d call the junior high for me to tell them I’d be late. So, in a mad dash we drove to Arikawa. I wasn’t really familiar with the ports and right now they’re building a new one right next to the old one. Of course I drove to the new one which isn’t open yet and had to race back to the old one. I ended up dropping DT off in the parking lot and just wishing him luck buying his ticket and figuring out how to get to Fukuoka from Sasebo. I wanted so badly to go in and help him get the ticket and say a proper goodbye, but there just wasn’t time.
As soon as I drove out of the parking lot I started bawling. I think the stress of being late for work and having to say goodbye so quickly just made me loose it. I felt like I left a limb back there and all I wanted to do was cry. And I cried—so hard it hurt. I went through a whole package of tissues—all while going 80km/hr trying to get to work on time. (The speed limit is 50km/hr in most places here.) I composed myself some half-way through the trip so I’d look presentable when I arrived at school. I was only about 20 minutes late.
Being at school took my mind off things. I had to teach two demo lessons during 5th period in which all the other teachers come and watch us. It was my first demo lesson and I think it went well. I actually had to be split between two classes that period so I didn’t see the entirety of either one. I didn’t even know that we were doing a demo lesson today so it’s really good that I was able to get there in time. I think the teachers were pretty nervous that I wouldn’t show up in time and these lessons would be a disaster. You can’t demo a team-teaching lesson if your ALT isn’t there. In the end it all worked out and I stayed after school or about a half hour to “make up” the missed time. I'm not sure if it works like that, but I figured it better than nothing. I didn’t have anything to rush home to anyway.
As soon as I got home I got a call from Catherine who said she was having a disastrous day. She’d been in the hospital for an infected bug bite and was sent home early to rest up. On the way home she backed into a pole, denting the driver’s side door and tearing the side mirror off. I went over to her place to console and help her out. When I arrived she was limping around and had a bad fever. The bite was on her ankle and she basically couldn’t walk on it. I did some errands for her in town and brought her some coffee and cake for a snack. She said Eiko, her supervisor would be coming by later too.
I missed our volleyball game in town, but I was so tired that I’m not sure I would have gone anyway. Even though Daniel’s gone the craziness hasn’t stopped. This weekend I have a business trip to the mainland too so I’m not going to have a lot of time by myself for a while.
Just a few pictures of Daniel—the last ones for a long time…
I was really nervous because I had to be at work in just 40 minutes (1:10 p.m.). I had only enough time to drive directly there, but I couldn’t just leave Daniel stranded in Aokata. I called Kazuma who said we should go to Arikawa’s port and he could go via Sasebo. He said he’d call the junior high for me to tell them I’d be late. So, in a mad dash we drove to Arikawa. I wasn’t really familiar with the ports and right now they’re building a new one right next to the old one. Of course I drove to the new one which isn’t open yet and had to race back to the old one. I ended up dropping DT off in the parking lot and just wishing him luck buying his ticket and figuring out how to get to Fukuoka from Sasebo. I wanted so badly to go in and help him get the ticket and say a proper goodbye, but there just wasn’t time.
As soon as I drove out of the parking lot I started bawling. I think the stress of being late for work and having to say goodbye so quickly just made me loose it. I felt like I left a limb back there and all I wanted to do was cry. And I cried—so hard it hurt. I went through a whole package of tissues—all while going 80km/hr trying to get to work on time. (The speed limit is 50km/hr in most places here.) I composed myself some half-way through the trip so I’d look presentable when I arrived at school. I was only about 20 minutes late.
Being at school took my mind off things. I had to teach two demo lessons during 5th period in which all the other teachers come and watch us. It was my first demo lesson and I think it went well. I actually had to be split between two classes that period so I didn’t see the entirety of either one. I didn’t even know that we were doing a demo lesson today so it’s really good that I was able to get there in time. I think the teachers were pretty nervous that I wouldn’t show up in time and these lessons would be a disaster. You can’t demo a team-teaching lesson if your ALT isn’t there. In the end it all worked out and I stayed after school or about a half hour to “make up” the missed time. I'm not sure if it works like that, but I figured it better than nothing. I didn’t have anything to rush home to anyway.
As soon as I got home I got a call from Catherine who said she was having a disastrous day. She’d been in the hospital for an infected bug bite and was sent home early to rest up. On the way home she backed into a pole, denting the driver’s side door and tearing the side mirror off. I went over to her place to console and help her out. When I arrived she was limping around and had a bad fever. The bite was on her ankle and she basically couldn’t walk on it. I did some errands for her in town and brought her some coffee and cake for a snack. She said Eiko, her supervisor would be coming by later too.
I missed our volleyball game in town, but I was so tired that I’m not sure I would have gone anyway. Even though Daniel’s gone the craziness hasn’t stopped. This weekend I have a business trip to the mainland too so I’m not going to have a lot of time by myself for a while.
Just a few pictures of Daniel—the last ones for a long time…
Love, Sierra
