My piano is good because I eat mushrooms.

Yesterday, teachers and students have been slightly anxious of the typhoon that was heading towards Hiroshima (from Okinawa).  Word got out that there might not be school this morning.  Not really knowing how serious Japan's typhoons could be, I just floated along. 

Anyways, we had school.  The feeling was similar to waiting for a snow day. 

It rained heavily all day, this is nothing new by now.  I went to school as usual and assisted with each period. 

Suddenly, an emergency meeting was announced for teachers only...

At the meeting, one of the teachers told us that the typhoon will hit soon; so we must change our schedule.  I just thought, Okay, cool, we're getting out a few hours early.  Boy oh boy... I guess it's been a long time since I was around middle schoolers.  As soon as the early release was announced, the energy level of my students sky-rocketed. 

It.  Was.  Crazy.

My 8th graders that are always tired after lunch, suddenly spoke and responded the whole period. 

Shocked, I was. 

My 7th graders that are usually ALREADY hyped up, were even MORE hyped today.  Their regular responses became united shouting during practice reading time.  Also, without planning it, they all somehow synchronized (all 40 of them!) and read the material together!  Normally, it's disjumbled and sound like a subway station.  Today, it was special. 

Amazed, I was.

We were able to leave school around 2pm after our cleaning and homeroom time.  Most teachers stayed to prepare 1st term exams (Wed-Fri this week).  It will be a new experience for me because there are only three exams per day.  I was told students can leave around noon.  Teachers, of course, stay and grade tests.

Tonight, I learned that if you want to learn a language, hang out with a 7 yr old child.  My new homestay's daughter is absolutley precious.  This 1st grader laughs randomly, runs to her targets, and tilts her head when she listens to you.  I was playing some piano before dinner and she thought it was the coolest thing ever (some Bach and Beethoven).  My guess is she's never seen live piano music other than her own.  She kept running around and peeked over furniture to watch me practice.  She would silently say "oh. sugoii" then change to a different spot and say "wah. sugoii."  Now, keep in mind my playing is not the greatest, but I can get by...  :P

At dinner, Itsuki (the same little girl), refused to eat her shitake (mushrooms).  I turned over to her and said "demo, watashi no piano wa ii desu, shitake o tabemasu kara" (but, my piano is good because I eat mushrooms).  A few minutes later, she ONLY asked to eat shitake...hahah.  Her mom was so surprised because Itsuki ate ALL the shitake in the miso-nabe (miso boiled stew). 

Oh my gosh, what have I done.....