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| it's been a loooooooooooooooong time since i posted anything, but this one's gonna be a really quickie...and since i'm an alumi and gotta root for my school....and i am extremely bummed i can't watch the damn game live. GO WARRIORS! | | |
| Well, it's graduation time (卒業!) again at our schools. Had mines yesterday and man, was it something special. It was something that I have never seen before in my nearly 3 years of teaching at a Junior High School in Japan, which is why I'm writing up a blog.
For those how have heard from me, you know how I have felt in general of the school I'm currently working at. We've got some bad kids at my school where they are quite disruptive during class. Now when I say bad, there are nowhere as they can be back home. They are bad in the Japanese sense where they can be quite rude...but I blame it on the lack of strictness at the school I teach at. Anyways, there was always one bright spot that I liked about this school, and that was the 3rd year kids. The majority of the bad kids are mostly in the 1st and 2nd grades, but the 3rd graders were always genki, outgoing, fun, and respectful. They always went out of their way to greet me and the other teachers when they saw us, and they always tried to use whatever English they knew when they met me in the hallways. I always had a fun time having classes with them. Well, yesterday's ceremony was a perfect example of the tightness of the bonds that these kids had with each other and of their personality.
Of course, at the beginning of the ceremony, you had your few kids who were already sobbing as they headed into the gym. It was cool to see a bunch of the students giving hugs to each other as they headed into the gym (of course, it was only the girls) to remember the moment. During the usual ceremony rituals, everything went smoothly and as expected. Then came the part where the 1st and 2nd graders sang a farewell song to the 3rd graders. The effort I'd rate it as "good". Not great, not bad, but good...just barely though. This kinda of summed up on how the feeling is with the 1st and 2nd graders. Anyways, right after that, the 3rd graders all stood up to sing their final song to everyone and man....you could tell the difference right away! The energry and feeling these kids put into that final song totally made the 1st and 2nd graders look like crap...but rightfully so since they are the upperclassmen and had to set the example. That was really cool to see, but that wasn't the most impressive thing.
Right after the singing, the 2 class leaders (girl and boy) went up to do their final speech to their class. It was quite emotional to where the girl almost couldn't finish her part of the speech and the boy stepped in to help her out. I couldn't understand the entire speech, but I know it was something special since a few of the teachers who were close to those kids began tearing up. That's was pretty cool to see too....
Ok, now in getting to the coolest stuff. All the kids headed back to their classrooms for one final homeroom with their teacher who has been with them the whole year. I didn't go to watch it, for out of respect for the class and the teachers. It was their final moment together and i'm sure that was special too. Anyways, when that was over, I had thought it was time to do the usual and meet the kids outside to say good-bye to the kids and take pictures with them, but what happened next tripped me out.
All 150 of the students gathered in the hallway in one big circle. The homeroom teachers were gathered at the center along with the principal (whom I just found out is retiring after this year). And to my surprise, the kid who I considered the biggest "punk" at the school (because he was always caused a lot of trouble to the teachers) was sitting behind a piano. His partner, the other "bad boy" was stooped up on a chair ready to direct everyone for one final song. Then they all started singing. Slowly you could see some sobbing happening with some kids.....then a little more sobbing....till finally almost everyone was just crying. When I say everyone, I mean the homeroom teachers were all crying, even the teachers who you would think could never cry. Even the principal, as stern as he usually is, was shedding some tears. It was a sad moment, but a special one. So sad to a point that the "bad boy" on the chair just broke down and couldn't direct everyone anymore. When it was all over, the"baddest" of the "bad boys" got up from behind the piano and just broke down too. Heck, I kinda of started welling up cause I totally understood the moment that these kids had, and it was something special. All the other teachers at the school came to watch this too and some were sobbing a little too even though they never had classes with these kids. Some special moment. I've never seen such bonds between a group of students at a Junior High School since I've been here, and it was quite refreshing to have witnessed this.
About a year ago, I remember talking to Smart_bad about his experience with a graduation class that he had that he said was really "special". Now I understand what he meant by that. I only wish that I had more classes with these kids cause they are one of the rare classes that I'll probably get to experience as an ALT. I've had great 3rd year students before, but this one was just one of the special ones that defined the meaning of "bonds" hence which explains why one of their favorite songs is Orange Range's "kizuna" (a favorite of mines too).
Well, now I can chalk down another "memorable" experience in my life as an ALT. I'll miss those kids and hope for the best for all of them.... until next time... | | |
| holy shit....another blog....
well, as how things go when you give it some time, things have gotten better since my last blog. but now i think i'm heading into another shitty ordeal...i think i getting sick!  shit! the usual winter cold/flu has finally caught up to me i think. i'm going to be gargling up a lot of salt water tonight and drinking a lot orange juice! 
on another bright note, i got a surprise phone call at work. i never get phone calls at work. if i do, it's once in a blue moon from my BOE. but this week, i got a phone call from my old school (Ikeda JHS). i was freaking out at first because i was thinking what the fuck did i do?  i was thinking i did something bad. anyways, the call turned out to be a good one. my old kyoto-sensei (vice principal) called me to let me know the kocho-sensei (principal) of Ikeda JHS was retiring soon and he wanted to send me an invitation to attend the retirement party next month. i thought that was pretty cool of them to do go out of their way to contact me at my current school and tell me that. never would have expected it. now i gotta decide if i can go. i heard it's gonna cost me about 12000 yen (about $120! - $20 for the gift, $100 for the party). yikes!!!  being on a tight budget from now...it's gonna be a tough one to decide, but i'm leaning on going...mostly because i think i should. and it would be good to see all the people i used to work with before.
anyways, sitting at my desk at work right now. already finished teaching for the day. i had to run 2 classes on my own today. that usually doesn't happen, but had to step in and help out since a bunch of the English teachers were absent. thank god it went well! guess i'll read up on Densetsu's MGS 3 strategy guide to pass the time. i'm a little more than half-way through and hope to be finished soon. lataz!
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|  Since it has been a VERY LONG 6 months since I last posted something, thought i'd shock some people out there by writing something today. First a brief summary of what has been up with me...
Since my last post (way back in July 2005 ), I was in the process of moving to Mie Prefecture to a new job in a more inaka town. Ever since then, it has been a major rocky road for me...a lot of ups and down...but mostly down. Living in my new place hasn't been the best and has made me realize how much I really enjoyed where I was living at in the first place back in Gifu. Also, I still had many close connections back there and always found myself heading back there on the weekends. Having a significant other back in Gifu also made it an obvious reason why I would go back there on the weekends to hang out.
Now it's January 2006. A new year has started. The good news is that I have been given the opportunity to move back to Gifu thanks to an offer of a job back there. The only unfortunate thing is that that job won't start unitl June 2006 and my current contract ends in March 2006. Because it doesn't make sense to re-contract with my current employer in April 2006, then suddenly quit again in May 2006, I have decided to live unemployed during April and May. It'll be a time of uncertainty, but I look at it as a good time to sit back and really think about I should do in the next few years. It's also a good reason to get my ass in full-gear to get my Japanese level up ASAP  .
Anyways, not to sound like a griper (since I've heard that a lot of blogs for the new year have been all about gripes), but the new year has started off so-so and currently this week, I'm going through another trial of dealing with a "difficult situation", and this time, this one is a little more closer to me personally and is a little more harder to deal with. It's something rather new to me since usually I was always the one on the other side giving the advice (and special thanks to Densetsu for listening). But I know I'll get through it... I just need some time.
Lastly but not least, I gotta send a shout out to those guys who have offered support and advice thoughout these hard times. I really appreciate it. I hoping that moving back to Gifu will make living in Japan fun again for me because these last 6 months have been a good test of why I want to stay here. Heck, who knows, maybe when I move back, I'll be posting more. ha!
In the meantime, I'll be plopping my ass down to try and finish playing Metal Gear Solid 3 so that I can for once, join in with those odd conversations about the damn game that I missed out on last year. I'll try my best to finish it before the trip "boish". Looking forward to it!  | | |
| Another Memorable But Sad Day...
Had been meaning to have posted this blog sooner but have been just too damn busy, but it's worth it.
Well, the day finally arrived, my day to say goodbye to the school with whom I have been working at the last 2 years. It felt really strange and sad to be standing on that stage saying goodbye to everyone, but I'm glad I got to do it my way after asking for permission with the teacher in charge of the closing ceremonies for the students.
The reason why I had to inquire for permission was because I had made a video as a present to say goodbye to my students and to the teachers and staff of the school. I ended up being able to show the video to all 900 people in attendance that day...and it was cool, with some minor "hiccups" though.
First of all, let me explain about the video, I actually had this idea planted in my mind months ago, but didn't know how I could pull it off. But after seeing Smart_Bad and Densetsu pulling off making videos on their own in recent weeks, I felt inspired to do it. Thanks to those two guys, I was able to put my feelings of how I felt at this moment for the school and was able to say goodbye in my way. I wish I could have had the time to find a site to host my movie file, but been to damn busy. Hopefully, if I get some time later, I'll do it. But in anyhow, to all those I know who read this blog, I hope to be able to share it with you guys soon. Personally, I felt pretty good about the way it came out. Oh, and before I forget, I have to REALLY thank Smart_bad because he had "doctored" up some funny ass pictures of me and him which I used for the video. Thanks Chris dude!
One last comment about the video, if you every plan on doing something like this, I suggest considering using "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Brada Iz (Israel Kamakawiwoole). It's amazing how that song done by him can bring out just the right emotion for things. After the video, a lot of teachers were asking me who sang that song. They said it summed up my feelings and the moments on my video perfectly, so gotta do a thanks to Brada Iz for his contributions!
Ok, in going back to the minor "hiccup" I had with my video at the ceremony, what had happened was that they made a mistake and showed my video before I did my speech. Was kinda of shocked at first, but before I realized what had happened, it was too late. But it was all cool.
My speech went very well thanks to the awesome translation help I got from mister "Pera Pera" himself, Keith. My Japanese is not good enough yet for me to translate something, and he was the man who helped me out GREATLY! Thanks Keith! Initially, I had thought about doing the speech in English, but it wouldn't have done me justice in saying goodbye, so for those ALT's out there reading this, I highly recommend you do your goodbye speech in Japanese if you can...it makes a big difference for the atmosphere you create in saying goodbye.
So after both the video and speech went great, and after receiving the ceremonial flowers you get as a thank you from the school, near the end of the ceremony, I had a surprise that I never exepected.
There is this Japanese teacher whom I've been sitting next to the last 2 years. He is basically the guy in charge of counseling and safety matters for the students, and is always there to do a speech to the kids to encourage them to do better in various matters around school. Anyways, I have had the greatest experience to have sat next to this guy and get to know him. Although he didn't speak English very well, we have learned a lot from each other and have become good friends. Anyways, when he went up to do the last speech that he always does at all the ceremonies, he basically used that time to tell all the students to talk about me and of how lucky the students were to have had me as an ALT. This surprised me. He basically praised me for all the things I had done for the school and of how he hopes the students learn from the examples I had showed to all of them. He noted that he had never seen a foreign English teacher do the things I had done, and that although I was considered an "foreigner", my actions often reflected that of the Japanese way to a point where I should not be considered a "foreigner". To me, living in Japan the last few years, this has got to be one of the best compliments to ever receive.
Now, please note, I am not writing this to brag about what I had done. I am writing this more to show my humbleness and appreciation for what that teacher had done for me. To have a teacher of his authority use his speaking time at a closing ceremony to do this is unheard of, especially in a Japanese school system where all important school matters must be discussed to the students. For this, I am truly appreciative for what he had done and am glad to know that my efforts (not just teaching wise, but in demonstrating good examples to the kids) were recognized during my two years there. Thank you very much Okuda-sensei!
Overall, it was a surreal day...make that week. Although I officially said my goodbye that day, I am still required to report to work until next week. It feels really strange to show up in the office even after saying goodbye. I still got a bunch of farewell parties to go to. From now, just gonna try and absorb and enjoy these final days at my school. One thing I know is that I will never forget about my time at Ikeda Junior High School in Ikeda.
To my fellow ALT friends out there who are also going through your last few days at school, I hope you all are getting an awesome last experience. Enjoy it up till the very end. Best of luck to all of you in wherever you may end up or do!
To my fellow ALT friends continuing on with the next year, ENJOY IT to the best you can because you'll regret it if you don't. Good luck in the upcoming new year into your contract!
Until next time...Ahui ho!
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