Tomorrow is the Last Day!

I am really going to miss this school, everything about it. Today, I had three classes with my first years. It was fun even though I realized early this week that these students will not have much sentiment over someone they met only four months ago, but I am really feeling the love from my second and third year students. Enough love to let myself know that I did what I wanted to do. I wanted to give these students a good experience with America and English and I think I've accomplished that. In between my classes, I had some great memories. I was going to the bank when I saw students from the blind school that I had just said "goodbye" to yesterday. They were having an exchange with one of my 2nd year classes. THey all gathered and I watched them play すいかわり (breaking the watermelon). I got to talk with a whole bunch of students and got to even play myself, breaking the watermelon. There was cherring and good things everywhere. Then a group of boys, some that I thought didn't have a care about me wanted to take pictures with me. Then in the office, a 3rd year student gave me a letter. I had trapped her into conversation earlier and she wanted to say her own goodbye. Then one of my 3rd year students that always comes to talk to me came and we had a great reminiscent talk. Tomorrow is my last day, but I feel like I can properly leave this school with my head up high, saying that I have done what an ALT is suppose to do.

Sports Festival!

3 days of no study and all play.

Around this beautiful time in June, students finish their vigerous exams and get to rest their brains with an all school Sports Competition. Softball, Badminton, Volleyball, Basketball, Dodgeball, Handball, and soccer are the games of choice. Being a teacher in Ichiko the number of female teachers to make up the female teacher team is quite slim. But this year, we managed to win at Badminton and Softball and win second in Soccer. I was goalie. I hate running. I had so much fun since the students would all be so happy to talk to me. I was having conversations with students the whole time. I felt the love. English, Japanese, they didn't care what language, but they were so willing to take their time to talk with me and I really enjoyed their company since they didn't have the reigns of education tugging on them. Last year, I only got to see one day. I'm so glad I got to experience beginning to the end. My body aches from so much fun.

My First Last Day

Yesterday I got a glimpse of what life will feel like in a couple of weeks. Yesterday and the friday before it, I made my way to another school, Matsuzono Yogo, a school that I visit for about two days while Ichiko has tests. So guess I've been to this school a total of 16 times in two years. But each time I go, I always leave with good memories. The initial smell of the school reminds me of tatami in the winter. The staff room always welcomes me with bright OHAYO GOZAIMASU. The kids in the first lesson are always incredibly shy, but by the end of the day, they are peeking into the staff room to get a HELLO from me. They like me. They want to talk to me. It's a very obvious affection which is what makes me love this school. After leaving Matsuzono Yogo, knowing that I wouldn't come back, it really bummed out my evening. If a school that I have only been to 16 times makes me so depressed, I'm worried about Mo Gakko and Ichiko where I've invested so much more time and effort. It's going to be a depressing three weeks.

English Club Cooking

So after feeling huge guilt for not being an active part of English Club last year, I decided to go full force this year. Last year, they never really asked me to set anything up for them and I didn't want to intrude if they had study time. But I did make an awesome Halloween party and nade it to their end-of-the-year banquet, so I got some points there. This year, I get one day a week to do conversation practice with them. The past couple of times have been fun as we tried to get some short conversation out of this ridiculously shy group of girls.

The most fun though, has been the two cooking classes we had, the most recent being yesterday. Last month we made "American style" pancakes, which just meant making pancakes but with chocolate chips, sprinkles, and nuts in them. These girls love sweet food and gobbled it up. Then yesterday I decided to make Tacos, something these students will hardly get a chance to eat. So, I went to our local foreign food market and got a really expensive taco making set. Expensive because of the fact that imported prices are crazy up here. But they got to eat avocado flavored chips for a snack and each of them had a taco-making job and at the end, we made an assembly line of taco making. I could see the happiness in their faces. They were quite shocked with the meat oil dripping from the taco and freaked out when it got all over their hands. I just told them that "eating tacos is very messy." It was also really funny to see them contemplate how to eat the tacos since there isn't much Japanese food that required the tilting of the head. I had a great time. I gave them the recipe in English and sent them off as I heard "oishii katta" and "onaka ga ippai" exit through the doors.

Only at Ichiko

An example that my students are so smart that it's funny.

I asked two of my students whom I've just finished a class with how much English they understood in class. They took a couple minutes to think about it and then said... four-fifths.

Graduation Day

Graduation flowers



Today the sun is shining more than the breeze can be cold. The end of winter also calls for the end of a school year. After three years of studying, prioritizing work over play, and having too much stress than a normal high school student should, these kids can (almost) put their feet up. Many of them already know if they are going to University and unfortuantely many of them will see this time wasted because they have not been accepted into their University. It's a terrible system, but I'm sure the focus for these students today is to enjoy their "last" day at school (they'll be back) and remember the fun times they did have here. There are a few students that I will miss, a few more than last year, which makes this graduation not the anthropological study that it was last year, but more of the purpose of seeing these young adults challenge a new world. The best part of today is... I get a bento!

My wonderful senior students. The only ones who sat down and talked to me almost everyday. The girl was my lunch buddy and the boy would talk to me after school about America's political situation and Obama. Told you this was a smart school.

Ending the Year

Today is the last day of teaching class. I had a really good year. I am really glad that I stayed another year to experience everything again. This year I got to know my second year students a lot more. I had a great freshman class. I had a lunch buddy for the entire year. I had a great Halloween party and English club and helped the students traveling to Australia. My only regrets was not being a big part of the English club and not participating in the Speech contest, but I know that if I left before, I would have a lot more regrets. Now I'm looking forward to making my last 4 months at Ichi-ko really shine. The reality of leaving is starting to hit.

By the way...

When asking one of my students if they want to do more activities in English Club next year, you know they are in the smartest high school when instead of answering in English, she draws a pie chart showing that she wants 15% study and 85% fun.... I love my school.

322 student interviews

I am now in the final stretch of the school year, students are taking their final exams and I have just finished doing 5 minute interviews with all of them. Overall, I was quite impressed. These students study so much English, but it's difficult for them to use it in real life. However, for the interview, they really stepped up and surprised me. So, for everyone to enjoy, I will recall some of my favorite answers.

What is your future plan?
"I want to get married my 25 and make many sweet children."
"I want to be very rich." How? "I don't know."
"I want to be a teacher and I want to make a school that is filled with smile."

What is the most important point of archery?
"Your mind." (Does the FRIENDS 'unagi' sign)

Why did you like Oral Communication class?
"Because Juni and Ms. Kasai are beautiful women."

Why did you decide to go to Kyoto for the school trip?
"Kyoto was a 5 day trip. The other places were only 4. I wanted more vacation."

What are you looking forward to next year?
"I am looking forward to watching Heroes Season 2 on DVD."
"I am looking forward to eat a lot of delicious food."

What is your future plan?
"Of course, I want to graduate university and marry my girlfriend?"
Why do you like your girlfriend?
"When I am with her, I don't feel stress. She makes me happy."
Wow! Make sure you don't let her go.
"Oh yes, of course, I won't."

What I am Thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

In school, I am teaching a lesson about Thanksgiving. I asked my teacher what students knew about Thanksgiving and he says "Turkey." So I have a lot to explain. At the end of their lesson, students write in their journal of 3 things they are thankful for. I was surprised by two students responses. Since it made me so happy, I would like to share their amazing English with everyone.

"I appreciate you. I didn't know about Thanksgiving Day. You taught me very important thing."

"I appreciate Ms. Juni. Because it is easy for me to listen to her English and she often talks to me. I like to talk in English, but sometimes I don't know what to talk to. She makes me take it easy to speak in English."

Three Cheers for crying in school!

Happy Halloween!

I just finished my school's Halloween Party. This was quite a large feat since I had never planned a party before. Plus, making a party for about 1,000 students in a 30 minute time period. This past month has been pretty busy with making decorations, costumes, and other Halloweeny things. But it was worth it. The party was a big success. I also had to teach 4 classes that day which didn't help my stress, but with some lucky breaks before the party and super helpful students, it was flawless. Once lunch time started, kids just started spewing into the classroom. We had a Candy Jar guessing game, a voodoo game and a bobbing (fishing-it's cleaner) for apples game. We gave out some prizes and students all left with a little bit of American culture. One of my teachers even came in and offered some of his own candy for me to share with the kids. My English Club especially seemed to have a great time and I think that this will be a good memory for Ichi-ko students. It's one of my favorites.

My School Festival

My school has just finished their school festival, one of the best parts of a school year. Last year, I experienced the school festival, but since I was only at the school for a month and had not started teaching, I knew none of the students. It was a lot of wandering around, not knowing where to go, and all these faces that knew me, but who I didn't know. This year was much better. Not only did I know what a school festival actually was, but I was constantly pulled into different rooms and booths since my students wanted my attention and to see their handiwork. They probably wanted me to spend money on their booth, but in my eyes, they really wanted my attention.

A Blind Mistake! Part II

The week following last at Mougakkou (School for the Blind).

There is a service for all the students and some teachers called "Teishoku", which is going to the students' dormitories and eating lunch there. For a well-prepared lunch for ￥300, I couldn't refuse. So today, I started eating lunch with the students. First, I had to wait with my supervisor teacher for the senior high students so we can walk them to the dormitories. I introduced myself to all the students that I haven't met and gave them some English practice. Then Junior high started to make their way out. There was one girl who seemed shy at first, but slowly made her way over to me. It was obvious that she was fully blind so I came up to her and offered my hand. She took both my hands and started to grip really tight.

No problem.

Then she started scratching my palms while she was holding my hand.

No big deal, I thought it was to feel the lines in my hands or something.

Then... too quickly, she lets go of my hands, grabs the bottom of my shirt, and tugged down...really hard. So hard it left my pink bra exposed in front of the students and my fully-seeing male supervisor.

I was later told that this student suffers from a disability where she can't control her movements of her feelings. I soon saw her in the cafeteria subdued by three teachers as she grabbed a handful of rice and started to shake the rice everywhere. Hopefully this was just a bad day for her. I couldn't imagine her going through this everyday. Needless to say, however shocking that experience was, it didn't feel that embarrasing. Maybe I'm getting used to embarrasing things happening to me at my school.

A Blind Mistake!

During my 25 years of life I have taught a number of different people; from toddlers, elementary age, high school, to adults and the elderly. I've worked with the very sick, and those that are physically, mentally, and emotionally disabled. I feel that I have a pretty good range so far. However now, every Wednesday, I work at the School for the Blind. It's a whole new experience for　me. I don't think that I've ever really met blind people. But I looked forward to the experience, knowing that the best I could do was treat them as if nothing is different.

My class at the end of the day was a class of 6 of adult students learning acupuncture (isn't that cool?!) I gave my introduction and the team teacher asked if I could ask each person a different question to get to know them. As I was trying to think of questions, my mind was racing as to find good, personal questions that did not deal with seeing, fashion, movies, and vacations. Since I am not a person who can multi-task, I ended us asking one student the worse possible question I could ever imagine to ask.

...What is your favorite color?...

By the time this processed as completely wrong, my teacher already hesitantly translated it in Japanese. It got quiet for a little while and then the student graciously answered,

"My favoite color is black and white."

I could not feel more of a horrible person. In my defense, there are various levels of seers. Some of them are completely blind, some need technical resources, others are legally blind, but can see colors. Since this girls looked like there was nothing to really aide her, I made the mistake of assuming she could at least see color. Rookie mistake! Never again. At least I can look back at that moment after I'm done with this school and hopefully see how much more sensitive and understanding I have become.

I hope, I hope, I hope.

The Coolest Thing I have ever seen

I am a lucky ALT.

First, I get placed in Tohoku, where the traditional spirit of Japan still lives without being tainted with too much modernity. Then I am put in one of their largest cities that saves me the sanity of having to go tens of kilometers just to get face cream or avocados. Then, I am based in the highest academic school in the city, nay, the entire prefecture. These students are motivated and have a purpose for themselves. I can speak in a slower, but still natural way and these kids are smart enough to catch on and understand what I'm trying to get at.

Now I'm almost done with my boasting.

In the schools in Japan they have what's called an Undoukai (運動会）which is a competition day. A day of various relays with different teams. There are tug of wars, class jumproping, a "Capture the Flag" sort of thing, and running relays. It's a day where students can stop thinking about their studies and just enjoy themselves. Well, this in itself is a great event to watch, but my school, Ichi-ko takes it one hilarious step forward.

Since the beginning of the new school year, the first year students have gone through an intensive month long initiation. Since Ichi-ko is the oldest school in the area and is killer hard to get it, they are allowed to do this. So, since the first day, the first years have after school activities of learning the 10 school songs overnight and then singing to the top of their lungs in a group while the second and third years taunt them like Boot Camp. Students are losing their voices, getting sick, throwing up. It's a bit ruthless. After the two weeks of memorizing the songs, they then learn a dance to prepare for the Undokai. Girls and boys learn separate dances. Then a couple days before the festival, I noticed that many of the boys started to wear school scarves on their heads. I figure it was a part of school spirit. Apparently, the senior students take a hair razor to the boy students. Zing! Zing! Zing! With only patches of hair gone. The day before the festival, I go outside of the school and my boy students are painted up in red and blue paint with grass skirts on. The girls are wearing decorated smocks to look like Japanese Kindergardeners. On this day, they have to walk 10 km around the city and do their dance for anyone who will watch. I tagged along. It was crazy. Not only did the first years have to dance, but the second and third years also dressed up, but in cuter outfits. There was crazy cross-dressing goin on.

Then the day of the festival, the games were ruthless, but everyone's spirit shone crazy bright. I myself dressed up like a Kindergardener and another teacher and I crashed the girls dance and started to dance along with them in front of the school. Once my students realized it was me, there was an insane roar of cheering. I felt so proud and popular. I guess they do like me.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC2PacfQqL8
By the end of the day, I was completely bubbling up with joy. Apparently, no other school goes to the lengths of Ichi-ko for their Undokai. I felt so blessed to be a part of this school and enjoy their activities. I'm so glad I'm staying longer.

Happy March!

Yesterday we had a gigantic amount of rain in Morioka, which is huge! That means that we are now away from negative degree weather and it's now a waiting game until the beautiful sunshine shines warm and I can start working on my tan. I think the high today is 2 degrees. YES!! Today is also Graduation for the third year students. Everyone at the school looks their finest and I've even donned a skirt for the occasion. Tonight is our biggest enkai, which I am very much looking forward to. All in all, spring is coming and I can't wait. Happy March!

Also, as a friend of mine informs me, yesterday was Garlic Day in Japan.
2-29 (2 is ni)(9 is ku)= ninniku = which means garlic. OK, it's just a play on numbers but everyone should eat a big bite of GARLIC today!

39 (san)(kyu)= Thank you!

Enkai Culture

I totally forgot to write about this. This is SUPA- SUGOI! (my new word= super great!)

Last Friday, the school was going to have a formal welcome party for me. This was also celebration for one teacher who was on his 25th anniversary of teaching, as well as an art teacher who won an award with his paintings. Throughout the night, I was amazed by the culture and traditions that these formal enkais have. With everyone's permission, I would like to share my experience.

So when I first got there, I was escorted to another room, separate from the other teachers. There I was with the Principal, Vice-Principals, and the the other two rewarded teachers. Later we were told to follow the MC teacher. As the door opened, music bursted throughout the room. We walked in, took our first steps into the room, bowed, and continued to our table. Everyone was cheering and clapping. I felt like I had just won a Grammy. Then there were speeches. Different teachers spoke for different teachers. Mine was in English. YAY! SUPA-SUGOI!

Then I had to come up and give my speech. I decided to give my speech in Japanese and it worked really well (Thanks Mayumi). I was given flowers and sat back down.

NOW... Once the food started coming out, it became really cool. Teachers from different tables would come up to us with a bottle of beer and continually fill our glasses as a sign of respect. I got some really good Japanese practice in because of these teachers coming to talk, many with whom I've never talked to before. So constantly I had to drink my beer so that they had something to fill. I would just like to say that the Japan is a drinking society and they drink very well. It really is how they socialize. After dinner, when I was about to fall over, we all stood up to sing our School Song. Usually, these songs are sung by the Male Cheerleading Squad (they are much more manlier than it sounds), but for this party one of the teachers took the flag and led the teachers with the song. After the night ended, I was so pumped up from the night. It was really a side of Japan that I never would have expected to see. SUPA-SUGOI!

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

I never thought I would be so happy to see something that I know would later make me miserable. It's snowing up a storm (haha) in Morioka. I'm in my school doing nothing because the students have tests all week and I look outside the window. There is a good heap of snow. Coming from California, I ran outside to try to find the men who are off camera sprinkling styrofoam in front of the window. But lo and behold, it was actual snow. They kind you eat, but not a lot because you die. The kind that you can make yellow with your own bodily fluids. The kind that you can fall flat on your face and not get hurt, unless the snow decides to freeze. Then the hurt factor will be a little different.

All my teachers watched me run out of the teacher's room and outside to play in the snow. It wasn't enought snow to make snowballs yet, but it was enough to walk around for ten minutes and watch your footsteps follow you. I came back in VERY genki. I think my exitement for the snow made the teachers realize how cool it was and we all enjoyed a couple minutes of enjoying the snow.

I know that in a couple of weeks, you will all see a blog that looks a little like...
I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW I HATE SNOW...

But for now, let's all relish the beauty that is... SNOW!!

The Culture Shock of the Japanese school system

Ive now been in Dai Ichi for three months. I find the staff amazing and incredibly smart. All the things that I heard about sexual discrimination against the women workers, I have not seen here. The teachers all respect each other and truly care about the students and each other. I feel really blessed to be in this school. With that said, there are so many things that I have seen in the school that has completely boggled my mind, both in a good way and bad way. I think the most culture shock that I felt in Japan (besides the size of their pizza) was in the way the school works. So instead of having you all wait until you go to Japan to become and assistant English teacher for a year, possibly two, I thought Id save you the plane ticket.

Being a teacher in Japan is a highly prestigious job. Many people in Japan respect teachers and what they do for their children. Teachers are seen as the second parent, sometimes even the first parent. If there is one thing I can say about the Japanese teachers is that they are fully dedicated. Teachers actually follow their classes throughout the year so that the students have consistancy with an authority figure. Teachers will arrive at school at 6am and maybe not leave until 9pm. On the weekends, teachers will most likely be with their students for extra classes, club activities, or club tournaments. Teacher eat, live, and breathe their students. Even when students are on a break for a month, teachers are still in the teachers room working. They rarely have vacation. Compared to my 40 hours a week, Im no match for these teachers.

Another thing is that teachers are constantly circulated within the prefecture (state). The life span of a teacher in a school is roughly 7 years. Around that time, teachers will be called in and the principal will tell them that next year, they are teaching another school in another city. Now, that wouldnt be so bad in a prefecture thats the size of Pasadena, but for Iwate, the largest prefecture in Japan, you could be working at a southern city and then be sent to a school 3 hours away. So you have a family? Well, they can either leave everything to come with you or you can live by yourself. I live in a building they call "teachers housing". I guess I know what that's for now. Ive heard many stories of teachers that havent seen their family for three or four years because they live so far away.

Im not completely complaining about the school systems in Japan. If anything, its incredibly efficient. Students are very smart and grow up well rounded because they have positive role models all around them. If one goes astray, a teacher will be there for them. If the students live away from their family, their school provides comfort. Teaching is a presidious position because teachers are so effective. They sacrifice a lot, but there is a heap of reward that they see. I dont know if I like the system just yet, but this is truly a learning experience.

PS. Teachers have a life span of 7-8 years...principals have a life span of 2-3 years.

Wow! Our first typhoon!

So I heard that there was a typhoon coming around this area, which is pretty rare. I heard its not very dangerous and it usually doesnt come around Iwate. Well last night I woke up because of the rain, there was so much just pouring down that it woke me up. Today at school was just as rainy and after lunch the rest of class was cancelled because of the typhoon. They wanted the students to get home before the shinkansens and other trains stopped or are delayed. So Im just sitting around waiting for them to let the teachers go. Its only one o clock so Im hoping for a bonus couple of hours to leave. Hopefully all well get is rain.

Sexual Harassment

Well before I even start this awesome story... If you have been reading my.... our blog (crap!) give yourself ten points. It really means a lot that you all are reading and are interested. If you have been commenting then give yourself another ten points. I love reading the comments. Oren- your comments crack me up. Charleys right, you do sound the way you write. Its like Im hearing you talk in Japan. The comments really make me feel good and give me a smile so please keep it up. I love it. So for those of you that read, here is a very entertaining story for you.

The very first day, of the very first class, of the very first lesson I presented my self introduction to the class. I had a poster full of pictures and pamphlets that really show JUNI. After the presentation I had the kids write their own self introduction. I collected them and took them back to my desk to look it over. A lot of them were really cute with some sweet comments and awesome pictures... except one. One student decided to draw a picture of Doraemon, but lets just say that Doraemon was naked and was doing something to himself that normal children characters dont do. To top the cake with a little bit of icing, he decided to show off his English skills by putting a comic bubble that said ---- me! (slight chuckle)I wanted to play dumb and just think that he didnt know what he was doing, but since this is the top academic school in Iwate, I realized that I couldnt be that naiive. So I took it to my English teacher and asked if this was appropriate and he looked really embarrassed. He apologized profusely and went to scold the student. I actually dont know what the student looks like, and Im actually really glad. I really didnt care too much about the picture, I think the kid was just trying to test how much power I had. Either way, it makes a great story to tell all of you. Ill keep you all posted about this kid. Hopefully I wont get anymore artwork from him.