First day at work!

Today was my first day at work at my high school.  As expected, I was nervous as heck! I got up early and arrived at school a good 45 minutes before I was asked to be there...

What can I say, I wanted to find out what I would be doing and get started!

That's not really how it panned out though...

I sat at my desk, which I had been shown to on a very brief introduction to the school. I was hoping that someone would come and tell me what was happening, as I knew no one and knew nothing except that at 8:25 I was to do a self introduction to the other staff.

A teacher nearby asked me if I knew what my classes were, and I told him that I had no idea...
He looked shocked, and said "I think you can come to my classes today!" I was grateful I had been given something to do, although I still thought that someone would at some point give me some kind of orientation, or a schedule, or a map perhaps... Or maybe even an idea of what I was expected to be doing for the next year, starting with the next couple of weeks.

I nervously performed my introduction in Japanese, using a microphone so I could reach the entire office of around 30-40 people. Then I sat back at my desk and waited for the bell to go.

Once the first bell rang, the teacher who had told me I could come to his classes had left, leaving me confused. Was I supposed to have followed him somehow? Was I supposed to know where his class is and meet him there? Had he simply gone to the toilet, soon to return to take me to his class?

He returned in an hour or so and I asked him if I should be going with him. He responded "Not yet. In the afternoon". And with that, my only idea of what I was supposed to do today left, leaving me with no work, and no idea. I was quite confused.

Luckily some other assistant language teachers came into the office and basically told me not to worry. Things are quiet in the school at the moment due to high school students exams coming up so older students currently don't have classes. This means they spend a large amount of time in the office, watching youtube videos and on facebook. They encouraged me to bring in a book.

In the whole day of work, from 8-5, I only helped out with one class, in a minor role pronouncing some words. The rest of the day I did as they do in Rome and went on facebook, and studied Japanese, vowing to bring in much more homework next time.

The day passed slowly, and I can only hope that as I get into things, someone gives me more information. But for now, I might as well go with the flow and take each day as it comes. I mean, who am I to complain about too little responsibility...