Not the language kind of lessons, they will have to come later. I failed my German O level with an ungraded mark. Not something I would normally admit to if it wasn't for the fact that I believe my entire class got ungraded marks too (obviously our teacher was not good!). I can do numbers and recognise a few words, but as for speaking it... not a hope yet. Besides, my mouth comes out with Japanese and, for some peculiar reason, some Spanish. I also still bow in Japanese style to everyone. They must think I'm bonkers here!
I digress.
No, the lessons I'm referring to are my talks to Rhiannon's new school about how the earthquake felt in Tokyo.
And a lesson on how to order a taxi...
Friday 15th April. I am due to do my first talk at 10am to the littlies - Key Stage 1 (for those without kids, that's 5 to 7-ish year olds). Then I'm booked to do another presentation for the Key Stage 2s (8-11 year olds) at 11am. Rhiannon wants to help me present the talks.
That's OK. Rhiannon's used to public speaking too. And I'm well used to talking to children about stuff and with the Japan earthquake still very fresh in my mind I have no worries about any of this.
What I am worried about is getting to the school. I will have to take a taxi at 9.15am to ensure I arrive in time. After seeing Rhiannon off on the magical school bus I then have to get the dog walked, me changed and off to school. It's the end of term and school finishes at noon so I will go back on the bus with Rhiannon. It's too expensive for two taxi journeys.
So I phone to order a cab for 9.15am. But it only took me to a recorded message. I recognised some numbers "Press 1 for something and press 9 for something else".
I pressed 1. As you do. Or as I really shouldn't have done as the next message made me swear.
"Your taxi number 88734 will be with you in 4 minutes".
Oops, how embarrassing. (Incidentally, they automatically know your address from your phone number).
What could I do? Well, all I could do really. Get the dog ready for her walk and stride out of the house... where the taxi was waiting for me. I just had to play the dumb foreign woman that I am and apologise. The driver was unimpressed to say the least.
Anyway, I know what to do now. I'll phone again when I am ready to leave and hope I haven't been blacklisted.
The dog gets her walk. Thankfully it's no longer raining. I changed quickly and phone the taxi number again. I pressed 1, hung up and walked out the door to see three cabs pulling up! Fervently hoping it wasn't the same driver I got into the first car and showed him the map.
He sighed, "that's a long way". Yeah, but isn't that what you do? It wasn't the same driver but they don't seem to be happy people. However, he cheered up immensely when I tipped him at my destination.
So, deep breath and into the school. People were milling around everywhere and it was obviously a mufti day. The fashions were very "German" if that makes sense? Very cool, slightly punky for most ages. And very different from Japanese fashion. It turned out that the mufti day was part of their ongoing fund raising campaign for Japan. To date they had raised an impressive 4,500 euros.
Rhiannon found me as soon as I got into the building. She was running errands for her teacher. I briefed her quickly on what sort of things I was going to say and how she could help.
Then it was time for the first talk. I hovered on the edge of the assembly while the head gave a talk about Easter bunnies and spring, reminded the kids why they were having a non-uniform day and then introduced me and Rhiannon. At the same time, she pressed a button on the screen show and up popped a photo of a Japanese temple surrounded by cherry trees in bloom.
A lump appeared in my throat and to my surprise my eyes started leaking a little. Not a great start, but I was so moved by the beauty of the familiar photo I couldn't help it.
Anyway, the show must go on and all that. In a slightly quavery voice, I talked about what happened to us that day (pretty much what I wrote here). I added actions, included Rhiannon with "what happened next" questions and even got a big laugh out of explaining that it was like trying to walk on jelly.
The children were mesmerised. It was quite daunting actually as they'd been fidgeting and whispering until we spoke. I thanked them for their fund raising work and finished to a loud round of applause.
Phew!
The headmistress was impressed and amazed by Rhiannon's confidence and public speaking too. Then it was time for an awards ceremony. I was very pleased to see the children being rewarded for their efforts in such a way. I think it's vital for confidence and gives the children something to aim for. Rhiannon's already planning which certificate to aim for first.
A quick half cup of coffee then it was in to talk to the older children. This included Rhiannon's year group and we did a slightly different talk. Basically I was just winging it - I hadn't made prompts, I just talked. The reaction was exactly the same. I was rather pleased with it all.
During this awards ceremony Rhiannon received a certificate for Student of the Week; for being there only two days and settling in quickly and "making cool new friends" as well as presenting these assemblies. Proud Mum and proud child.
As Rhiannon went back to her class with strict instructions to find me so I wouldn't miss the bus with her, the head of school said to me, "So, are you ready to talk to the seniors now?".
"Yes, of course"... I was still very jetlagged.
Seniors? Oh my god. That means teenagers. They are a complete unknown to me and a notoriously unreceptive group. Now I was nervous as hell.
I had no idea what I said to them, to be honest. Wittering on about walking on jelly wasn't going to work, that's for sure. I may have got a little ranty about how many people had died and were displaced yet were now forgotten in favour of media reporting on the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
But I truly can't remember. To their credit they remained quiet during my ramble and applauded at the end.
I was very pleased it was over. The two head teacher's hugged me and suggested I should give talks on a regular basis, perhaps come into school and teach as a volunteer. No, but thank you for your kind offer...
Rhiannon was waiting for me at the gate, the bus was already there. It was a long drive back but enabled me to see where some of the other children lived.
We had a quiet afternoon, with occasional shudders from me as I relived the terrors of talking to about 80 teenagers.
Lessons learned.