Graduation

The junior high schools in Takayama had their graduation ceremonies this past Tuesday, March 10. I was in Miya, same as last year. I've posted about the graduation ceremony before, so this time around I'm going to talk about something different. One of those odd little things that only happens in Japan. Or anywhere that requires a change of footwear at work.

Graduation is a big, big deal here. Students show up in the same thing they wear every day - their school uniforms, but teachers are expected to dress to the nines. As in, suits and white ties. Women wear black. I broke out the pearls even.

This year I went for the Johnny Cash look, after noticing that my white dress shirt isn't so white anymore, heh heh...

I've cropped the picture since I'm not really supposed to show close-up pictures of my students anymore (sorry!)

Now, the fact that I'm wearing a suit isn't that big of a shock... or maybe it is. But what I really find amusing here is the pairing of this quite dressy look with my school shoes. Which happen to be a pair of blue sneakers.

And this, of course, is perfectly acceptable.

Another farewell...

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and with it, graduation. I had my final English classes with the san nen sei (9th graders) at both of my schools this week. Since my schools are very small, I only have one class for each grade - 1A. 2A, and 3A. Both of my schools opted to let me be in charge of the final class (in Kuguno I was allowed free reign in my final 5 classes with them), so in Miya we played a game and in Kuguno we finished the English yearbooks I'd started with them several weeks ago. I also saved some time at the end for my goodbye speech and for handing out the music cd's I decided to make for all of my graduating junior high kids. Talk about something that's easier said than done - that sounded like such a good idea when I came up with it last month, only to turn into a hellish amount of work to get it done in time, lol. But I think they were happy to receive the gifts, complete with a message from me, written in English and directed toward each student individually.

It's customary for the graduating classes to give all of their teachers large square cards with messages from the students. Last year I got them from both my junior high (9th grade) and elementary (6th grade) graduating classes. This year I got the card from the students in Kuguno after their pre-graduation celebratory ceremony, held two weeks ago. This class decided to part with the usual tradition of messages from each student, and instead chose a kanji for each teacher. This is mine

This character, when used in the verb 抱える (kakaeru), means "to hold". They explained to me that they hope I will forever hold the memory our time together when I return to America (T_T)

I missed the part of the ceremony where they gave these out as, torn as I always am between these two schools, I had to go to Miya to participate in part of their san nen sei party. So the kids at Kuguno gave me the plaque the next time I was there, in the lunchroom before the entire school, prior to everyone eating lunch.

In Miya, after handing out the cds, the class had asked for some time to give their farewell to me. Which started by presenting me with my message

which includes a picture of the entire class when they were ichi nen sei (7th graders), 3 years ago. This they followed by singing a song to me.... at which point my self-control went out the window and the tears started flowing, lol (;_;) After that we took a picture

These two classes have by far been my favorites. Since I've had them from when they were ni nen sei (8th graders), I've had more time to get to know them than the kids who graduated last year. Plus, they're just FUN. Many of them are outgoing and playful, and all of them are kind - there's not one kid in either class I don't feel comfortable talking to or teasing. I'm really going to miss them! But I'm excited for them to move on to new challenges and experiences d(^_^)b