Goodbye Asago Chugakko

Last night my teachers had a farewell enkai for me, and it was really good. They took me to an all you can eat barbeque place, so for the first time ever I didn’t need to have “betsu menu” (separate food). They gave me a new jimbei, and some other Japanese souvenirs. On the way home one of the teachers I was with, who was pretty drunk, said “I want to buy you ice cream!”, so we went to the convenience store and got some ice cream.

Today was Closing Ceremonies for this term, which means the last day before summer vacation. Since I will not be back next term I gave a short speech that was translated by Kakio sensei. After that two girls came on stage and read a speech to me, and then gave me flowers. Then all the students made a path for me to walk through, and I left the gym. It was a pretty dramatic way for me to end my time here. I’m glad that I still have a few extra curricular classes for the exchange group, because if I had to just finish up completely today it might be too much. It will be really strange when I’m not coming to this school anymore. Although the year has seemed to fly by, it still feels like I have been here for a really long time.

“Lasto Day”

Everyday Nakamura sensei passes out a schedule for the following two days, and if I am at my desk he says something like “Doryuu sensei, tomorrow’s…” Today he handed the schedules out, and then pointed to one and the following conversation took place:

Nakamura: “This day…your lasto day. So…[points to a bunch of Kanji] sayonnara ceremony”
Me: “Ok, thanks”
Nakamura: “You will…”
Me: “Make a speech?”
Nakamura: “Ah! Hai! Hai!”
Me: “Ok, how long should it be?”
Nakamura: “Etooo… [points to Nohmi sensei's desk, and then back at me]“
Me: “I should talk to Nohmi?”
Nakamura: “Hai”

I know it doesn’t sound like much, but I really appreciate the effort Nakamura sensei puts into speaking English. Considering he is a math teacher, and not particularly young, I’m impressed with how much he can say and even more so by how much he can understand.

Anyway, I guess I have to make a speech. I just hope it can be English only this time.

Goodbye Okuganaya

Today was my last day at Okuganaya Elementary, so the school had a goodbye party for me. We played some games, they gave me some presents they made, and then we said a lot of speeches. It was a really good way to end my time there I think, but it was still very hard to leave at the end of the day. Even though I was only this school for one day a week, I still got to know the kids pretty well, especially because there were less than 40 in the entire school. I was really impressed at how well all the kids work and play together. I guess because the school is so small they have no other choice, but I never saw anyone getting picked on, or even left out of any games. The teachers here were also great, which I think played a huge part in the way the students have turned out. They have certainly set the bar pretty high for the schools I will be in when I get back to Canada.

Okuganaya Elementary

The students drew me some pictures to remember them by, but there are too many to show on this page. I have made a separate page with all the pictures, plus my attempt at translations (they are all in Japanese).

See The Pictures

Last Classes at Okuganaya

Today I taught my last classes at Okuganaya Elementary, because next week will be a goodbye party for me. At the end of my classes the teachers told the students “now shake hands, and look at his eyes!”. This led to some students staring unblinkingly at me, and others basically crouching on the ground with their hand up for me to shake.

A few minutes ago the tea lady came up to me, gave me a can of Aquarius, and had one of the other teachers tell me she wouldn’t be here next Friday so this is the last time we would meet. Then I shook her hand a few times, and took a few pictures with her.

I think in exactly one week I will be pretty sad.

Sadako is Back

The other day in class I noticed that the next story the san nen seis would be reading was about Sadako and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This unit was also the first that I did with my students when I got to Japan, so it really made me realize how soon I will be leaving.

Next Friday will be my last day at Okuganaya Elementary, and the following Friday will be the last day of classes for Asago Junior High students before summer break. Since this week is basically all tests, and the week before a break has always meant no classes for me, that means I only really have one more week of classes with my students. I will still be seeing students from Asago JHS when they come to school for club activities, and Nohmi sensei told me today that I would teach a special class with exchange students, but it is still weird to know that my last classes are coming so soon.