Saying Goodbye, Round 1

Yesterday I had an absolutely fantastic day, but it requires quite a lot of backstory to express why, exactly, it meant so much to me.

In Japan, the school system is a bit different from the US in that you have to take exams to get into a particular high school, and it may or may not be in your town. Compulsory education here only lasts through junior high, and although it's not manditory, roughly 98% of all kids in Japan do go to high school. Getting in to the right school is very important; basically you must get in to the right school for the job you want to do or the college you want to go to. In my opinion it's a lot of pressure to put on the kids graduating from junior high (15 years old, taking exams that may end up deciding your path in life), but I digress.

Way back in September of last year I met a group of high school students in Kuguno. This is fairly impressive given that most high school kids here are either too shy or beyond caring to give me the time of day.

This all started because I ride the train to work when I am in Kuguno. The local runs between Gifu City and Takayama (and back), and it stops at all the stations along the way, taking about 3 hours. Students in the Hida region also ride this train, either going to the schools up in Takayama or down south near Gero, depending on where they live. In one of the towns south of me, Hagiwara, there happens to be a high school. And that's where the students I met in Kuguno go to school. It's also the school where a good friend of mine is the ALT.

So back in September I met this group of students who live in Kuguno. The train sits at the station in Kuguno for about 10-15 minutes before heading on it's way north to Takayama, so there is a lag between when they get off the train and when I need to be on it to go home. So every week, either 2 or 3 times depending on where I was for elementary school, I have chatted with these high school students before getting on the train. The conversations are an interesting blend of English and Japanese - 2 of them happen to be really great at English, the rest are so-so. It's been a really fun experience, and as I get to know more of them, then more find out about me and it snowballs and I get to make even more friends ^_^

Anyway, 2 of the students were seniors this year. One speaks only a little English, and one is quite good at it. And I really got to know both of them quite well, and looked forward every time I was headed to Kuguno to see them. In the mornings when I got off the train, one of them would be at the door waiting to shout "washoi!" (something commonly shouted during festivals and such, kinda like "hey-ya!" - and his tagline, apparently) and give me a high five. The quieter one was usually standing nearby rolling his eyes, ha ha

The seniors at the high schools here finished classes almost a month ago. So I haven't seen those boys for several weeks. But before classes ended they were telling me about a concert they were going to perform at their graduation, in which one would play guitar and the other would sing. I told them I really wanted to see it, so before they stopped riding the train they gave me all the info they had and invited me to go.

Since I also happen to know the ALT at their highschool, a fantastic South African named Gavin, I talked to him about acutally attending the graduation ceremony as well. Sort of as a surprise to the kids. He spoke with his principal and we worked it out so that I could go. I also managed to get in touch with one of them (who speaks excellent English for a student) in time to let him know I was coming and that I'd be on the train so he should come find me.

Saturday arrives. I get up, get myself going, and somehow manage to be late. Just late enough in fact, to watch the train pulling out of Miya station just as I'm running up the steps. @_@ I was't the only one who missed the train that day though, as 4 seniors were also left standing at the station as the train pulled away. They however, had a mom to drive them to Hagiwara, whereas I did not.

Missing that train was a huge dissapointment for me, not only because I was now going to be late for the ceremony (a HUGE deal here in Japan where everyone is freakishly punctual), but more becuase it meant I didn't get to ride the train with my friends. A good 40 minute train ride to chat and I missed it.

I ended up having to take a bus up to Takayama and catch the 848 limited express train, which stops in Hagiwara at 928. The ceremony began at 9. I didn't know exactly where to go so I was text messaging my friend who was there, and it turned out that since I was late I wasn't going to be able to get in. Crushed, I wandered around outside the school, until some people in the office near the entrance took pity on me and asked me if I needed something.

This actually turned into an interesting conversation as they didn't speak English and my Japanese hasn't quite made it to the point of being able to express "I was invited to attend your graduation but I'm late" so I ended up instead saying "uh, watashi wa, miru... uh, graduation? graduation? what the hell is graduation in Japanese?!?!.... um, san nen sei... bye bye?" ha ha ha ha ha

Eventually we got it worked out, and I finally was able to tell them that I was supposed to be watching the ceremony but I had missed my train. I watched as they debated amongst themselves "well, it's already started, I don't know, should we let her in?" and finally I guess they decided in my favor as they had the youngest guy escort me over to the gym and let me in.

The ceremony was about half over at this point but I did get to see the last hour or so of it. But the real fun began AFTER the ceremony, when I got to go meet all the students. My friend Gavin showed me, and my friend Theresa (who also attended), around the school while the san nen sei were having their final class meetings, and I got to see several of the students I have met at the station. Which was fun. Also got to meet many new faces.

Of course the best part was after the san nen sei (seniors) finished up and it became mayhem on their floor as everyone was running around, chatting and taking pictures and congratulating each other. Gavin and Theresa and I wandered around too, until I spotted some hair I recognized and ran up, shouted "hey!" and got a "Ore? Jen? JEN!!!! WASHOI!", a high-five, a huge smile, and was introduced to all the people who were near enough he could say "Kuguno's ALT" to, ha ha ha ha ha I did manage to get a congrats in and we took pictures and it was great.

Then the other one made his way over, I congratulated him as well, we got a picture

One of them then proceeded to escort me over to the building where they were having the "graduation live" show. I'm sure this was an incredible ego-boost for him, as everyone watched as we walked over there together, chatting and whatnot. Sometimes being in this place you really get a feeling for what celebrities must experience on a daily basis.

Anyway, I saw 3 performances at the graduation live, the best of course being when the boys and their friends played. I also managed to sit with my ichi nen sei (Freshman) friends, which was really fun. When they came out, the singer got to the mike and shouted "Washoi Jen! Jen washoi!" and then they were scanning the, quite packed, room trying to find me. "Jen? imsasu ka?" (are you here?) and when they found me he pointed me out and shouted "Hi Jen!" ha ha ha ha ha, I love that kid.

They sang 2 songs, one of which I recorded and the other I spent taking pictures. Before I knew it, it was over and they had to go home. I am at once so happy for them to have graduated and be going off to college, and at the same time sad because it means I won't get to see them any more. It has been such a great experience getting to know them over the past 6 months. And this is exactly the kind of thing I came to Japan for. Getting to see a different way to experience life, meeting new friends and finding common interests.

I am REALLY going to miss them. At least I still have the 1st and 2nd years, ha ha ha ha ha ^_^