Me and Shion-baba, Part 2

Roughly a year ago, I posted about Steve and Michiyo's daughter, Shion Viktoria. Well, this year she doubled in age and will be 2 very soon. She is growing bigger, faster, smarter, and cuter. I still enjoy holding her and being her uncle. I will miss Shion dearly, but am blessed to have had the chance to see her grow up for over a year, and I look forward to seeing her again in the future.


ほぼ１年前に、友人の娘の史恩（しおん）について投稿しました。あの時から、年齢が倍になってて、もうすぐ２歳になります。大きくなってると同時に動きが速く、頭が鋭く、見た目が可愛くなって来ています。今もおじさんとして史恩を抱っこしたり遊んだり笑わしたりするのが大好きで、史恩に会えなくなるのは寂しく思っています。でもまた将来に会えることを信じているので、その日を楽しみにしています。

Fun at Kumon? 公文のお楽しみ会

昨日は初めて公文に行って採点をしなかった日だった。と言いたいけどお楽しみ会の後、採点の作業がありました。けどその前に子どもたちと４時間ぐらい遊べました。色んなゲームやパズルを出して一緒に楽しみました。ほとんどの時間は豆運び競争のコーナーを担当しましたけど、空いている時に練習していました。生徒には負けましたが、２０粒の小豆を４８秒以内に運ぶ事ができました。いつも一生懸命勉強してる子どもたちがゲームなどで盛り上がるのを見て、やっぱり子どもたちに触れる仕事が与えられて感謝だなぁと思いました。これからも公文宮の森教室で頑張ります！


Yesterday I went to Kumon as usual, but instead of grading homework the entire shift, I only had to do so for the final hour! The reason: we had a fun day for the kids! It was the first Kumon day of the year, so the kids got to play games and do puzzles and stuff. Most of that time, I spent watching the kids play a game in which they have to move 20 little beans from one bowl to another using chopsticks. My boss asked me if there is any kind of game like this in the west. All I could think of was the egg-on-a-spoon relay. I was thinking about the use of utensils and how these "games" kind of train kids to use utensils skillfully. Anyways, it was fun - I didn't beat the kids too badly when I played... but I certainly learned how to use my chopsticks better! Having a day like this, where the kids I usually see studying hard, actually playing and having fun, made me realize that I am blessed to have a job at which I can be around kids. They're the best! Here's to another year at the Miyanomori Kumon!