Movin' Out

The shoebox that I called home at Park Arumik Mansion (apartment building) is no longer mine to call home. Everything (for the most part) has been packed up and shipped home or stuffed into the Bluebird to be shipped or carried home at a later date. The cicadas are out in full force, loud as ever, as when I first arrived and I am left to sit back and figure out where the time went and regroup once again.

Building Bridges

**this entry would have been more appropriately posted about three weeks ago. gomene.


we did it! It started out as a small English lesson, a way to practice informal writing and to communicate with a native English speaker of similar age, and it turned into a much larger international exchange. On Tuesday July 4th, seven students from the Ronald Edmonds Learning Center (MS113) in Brooklyn New York, came to Hayaso Junior High School in Hidakagawa-cho and met their Pen-Pals face to face. But perhaps I should begin at the beginning...

Pen Pal projects are nothing new, though they are becoming rarer with the advent of the internet. I many times wonder myself, especially now being so far from home, how people managed to keep in touch before the internet. I cannot even imagine, yet it was not so long ago. And speaking of the internet, there are websites now that arrange pen-pals between countries, often internationally, though I have heard more failures through this type of arrangement than successes. Luckily, Sara is a Social Studies teacher with students of a similar age as my students at Hayaso Junior High School, so the connection was obvious. I am also fortunate in that I have a lot of freedom at my Junior High School over what I teach and how I teach it. This year among other lessons, we made New Years cards and sent school supply donations to children in India, learned about Martin Luther King Junior and his I Have a Dream Speech, watched School of Rock and listened to translated a Cat Stevens song. When I proposed the pen-pal project with the students from RELS, Sakamoto Sensei was thrilled with idea. And so it began.

Hayaso Junior High School is only 2 students big (23 when we began writing), the equivalent to less than one of my sister's classes. So, although many of her students wanted to participate, only one class could. Lists of students were made and my kids drew names out of a hat, regardless of gender, and the pairings were made. The first letters took a couple of lessons to complete. We learned the format of a letter, how to address an envelope and some informal ways to sign off (love, from, peace, best, hugs...). My students all brought in special letter sets (have I mentioned how crazy Japanese kids are over stationary) to write their final drafts on, and we took photos to include.

We wrote about four letters and postcards back and fourth throughout the year, including some Valentines Day cards and candy. Both Hayaso and RELS made video letters as well, hand delivered and received when Sara came to visit in November. We explained school uniforms and bento lunch boxes, they did a fashion show and performed a dance for us, declaring that "this is how we dance in America". Both sides of the Pacific got a good laugh out of each other.

My good friend Corri is an English Teacher at a school not far from Hayaso, a school much larger than Hayasao. When Sara came in November for Thanksgiving, the two decided to extend the project into another school in Japan and into more classrooms in New York. About ninety more students began to write letters.

Slowly with the progression of the project (we wrote, or received a letter about every month), Sara got the urge to take it to a higher level and bring the students face to face. The plan was a grand one to say the least. I admittedly took it with a grain of salt at the beginning. Not only would it be difficult to pull off because of the funding, but there was also all the logistics of the trip to work out, not to mention insurance, chaperones, differences in school year calendars, getting it OK'd by my Board of Education (who recently cut out an exchange with Australia from the budget after the merging of towns last year), etc. I knew what an amazing experience it would be for students in both countries, but I did not get my hopes up. My sister, more persistent than I however, explored her options and finally found a travel company that specializes in student tours to Japan. Ping pong, as they say in Japan. A perfect program for our situation. A tour of a few Japanese cities, and on the way the New York students could train it down to the no-on-the-guidebook-town of Hidakagawa-cho. The next step then became how the funding would work.

I don't know all the specifics of the fundraising campaigns that then began in New York. After an informational meeting with parents and students, about thirty kids expressed their interest in going. Community donors were sought out, small bake sales took place and my sister began to contact larger organizations and celebrity figures to help the kids get to Japan. In the end, it was the private donors, small community organizations and hard work of the students that made the trip possible. Though there were some breaks in terms of publications in New York that carried stories about the grand idea. And in the end, seven students, all girls, raised enough money and maintained the interest to make the trip to Japan.

Meanwhile, I was pitching the idea to my students and principles and school officials with skepticism, admittedly, over whether it would actually happen. Some event of this magnitude would surely take some planning and official-telling, so all seemed somewhat unsteady about the visit and to what extent the city would have to be involved. Fortunately the principles at my school were very flexible with the changes in schedule and degrees of certainty surrounding the visit and were eager to make things happen.

All things came together in the first week in July. My sister, two parents and seven students would most certainly come to Japan and would separate from the rest of their tour group (they were grouped with a few other school groups from the U.S.) to train it down to Gobo to meet up with Hayaso and Shoyo Junior High Schools. Corri and notified our schools about the date of the visit, July 4th (!), and lessons were prepared (as well as test schedules worked around) for the visitors.

In the end, the penpal face-to-face meeting went wonderfully. It was a very quick trip, approximately six hours total, but we made it work. First Sara and the MS113 kids arrived safely in Gobo and myself, my JTE and Emi greeted them. We traveled into the mountains to Hayaso Junior High School where all the students and teachers were eagerly awaiting with ready-made name tags. We all sat together upstairs in a meeting spot and a few introductions and welcomes were made by the principle (who very bravely used some English), Sara and a third year student, Hiroki. Then the NY students introduced themselves in Japanese. It was superb and I was impressed with their effort. In groups the students mingled with each other and then double dutch ensued. My sister had mentioned that the girls had brought out their jump rope in Osaka the night before and jumped in the street, so we asked them to put on a bit of a show, which they did, and received a boisterous response. A few of the Hayaso students and the P.E. teacher tried their hand at it as well. That I think was the ice breaker and from then on, as we decorated bamboo and ate a small lunch together, the mood in the school was energetic and happy.

The two hour visit at Hayaso, went quickly, and afer gifts were exchanged on both sides and a few photos, it was in the taxis to go to Shoyo Junior High School. It was a group goodbye, and some of the kids ran after the cars as we drove out of the yard...I wanted to cry.

At Shoyo we wandered around to the different club activities that Shoyo (a much larger school than Hayaso) offers: tennis, swimming, volleyball, brass band, Kendo, baseball, table tennis. We all joined in before gathering with some eager English speaking students to chat. Some of the Shoyo students choreographed a dance to show to the RELS students and in return, the RELS students did a double dutch performance. It was interesting and good to allow the NY kids glimpse two different schools and participate in their activities.

I think the the experience was a bit overwhelming for everyone involved, though highly enjoyable and amazing. Nobody at times knew what to make of each other. When you agree to write to a student in another country, I imagine that you never think that you will meet them in person. But such was the case. The jet lag, nervousness and enormity and weight of the experience lingered as the students met their penpals and observed schools in Japan, but we were all thankful to have made it happen and to be a part of this project, that perhaps, hopefully will continue. We will have to wait and see.

The day grew later and the time came to race back to the train station so that the NY group could head to Kyoto (a train they barely made...my fault) so we all said our goodbyes and the obligatory "see you later." Yet, overhearing Kaiya's last word to her penpal as they parted ways after getting to chat one-on-one for only a short time, gave me faith in the connection that Sara, Corri and I and all the others had worked to make: "I'll email you when I get home, " she said.

365 days later, Sayonara

It's over. The teaching part, that is. Last week, everyday, I said goodbye to a school; on Tuesday it was Hayaso Chugakkou, on Wednesday Wasa Shougakko, on Thursday Kawabe Hoikusho and then on Friday I bid farewell to my Board of Education. After the long week of tears and speeches in front of entire schools, and considering that I had already formally said thank you and goodbye to my co-workers at the town office, I didn't have the energy to have another tearful departing. Instead I waited until nearly everyone left to go home for the day and then I too clocked out...

Deep South, into the Ocean and down the River

The idea of climbing Mt. Fuji this past weekend had been tossed around, but doubts that Fuji could top the Mt. Yarigatake experience, compounded by the fact that it was the last full weekend to get some packing and cleaning done before having to move out, squashed it. Instead, Belinda, Corri and I took a road trip to the southern most point of Honshu (another little known wakayama attraction). We started out early and ended up meeting up with some other folks on a small southern island off of Kushimoto to snorkel. Apparently there are some prime snorkeling spots down there, and while it was beautiful it was more treachurous than we had expected and a few cuts and stings cut the snorkel trip to about an hour. Still we saw a lot of puffer fish (kawai!!!), some chisai fluorescent blue fish and some sea creatures. We continued the day in water with a trip to a beach in Nachi and then to Kawayu River for some natural onsen baths. Tanoshikata. I slept most of the long ride home, thanks Bel.


Sunday, the sun was shining brightly again and the humidity was stifling. So it was a bike ride to Ubuyu beach, a bit northwest of Gobo. Unfortunately my granny bike is gear-less, so the knees are chotto sore today, but it was quite a pleasant ride. Oceans at the end of the tunnel are always a good incentive. Most of the beaches in Japan clear out around 4 or 5, so we had the water mostly to ourselves.

Then finally, to finish off the three-day weekend, I headed to to Nakatsu to float down Hidaka River. Some folks were out kayaking down the rapids, others were netting frogs and bugs. Nothing like an innertube and some beautiful turquoise water to relax the mind from packing induced stress. Well, except perhaps, for the onsen across the road. Ah, I will miss this.

soubetsukai

So, I cried. I had originally intended to give my speech at the goodbye party with my Board of Education, in English and then Japanese, but I got so choked up as we were getting ready to begin, that I figured I couldn't handle speaking in English. So I stuttered and sniffled through my prepared and practiced speech. I think that most of it was understandable. My good friend and co-worker, Emi, was crying too, which made it harder to keep my compusure. But in a way, considering the language barrier that I have with most of the people I work with, it felt good to be able to express what this year has meant to me, even if it was through tears. Body language is a marvelous thing, and the goodbye was a good one.



We chatted and drank, barely ate (nobody ever does at these things), I got some goodbye gifts and a wonderful scrapbook from Emi, and then we went off to Karaoke for dancing and singing. Only three more formal goodbye's to go.

almost a year already?

So, as of today, I have exactly nine days left of my contract as an Assistant Language Teacher in Hidakagawa-cho. I am not really sure where the time has gone. Many times I have felt as though time in Japan stood still as the rest of the world, or rather my former world in the U.S., zoomed by. I told a friend a while back that I, unintentionally, had begun to measure my time in Japan by the number of births and deaths that occured back at home. Strange I know, but it happened naturally, and I suppose it makes a lot of sense.

Fortunately looking at this blog has helped to pique my memory of all the things that have happened while I have been living and working here. And no doubt it has been a very full year.

Last weekend the goodbye's began with a sayonara party for all of the English teachers in Wakayama, and they continued through this week with my last lessons at two of my elementary schools. Tonight is my goodbye party with the Board of Education, where I will have to make a speech in Japanese and will likely cry (depsite the fact that through translation I am no longer sure exactly what I am saying). Next week gets no better with the pains of leaving hitting my last Elementary school, Wasa, Kawabe Nursery school and Hayaso Junior High. It's very draining, all of these near-tears moments. Today after leaving Nakatsu Elementary school, the humidity and weight of the day was too much, so I took a swim in the river, work clothes and all. It seems that was just what I needed.

Haiku attempts

Tsuyu continues

Semi cries will mark its end

til then clothes stay wet

What this humidity can do:

Today at Hayaso Junior High we played a review game in teams. One team chose to call themselves Team Lethargic...

UPDATE: Team Lethargic is now being made to practice the dance for the undokai (sports festival). It's not pretty.

Friday at Nakatsu Elementary: big beetles, the Tanabata Games

Nearly every Friday I teach at Nakatsu Elementary school. About a twenty minute drive (my furthest school) from the BOE, it is nestled in the mountains in the most picturesque settings out of the five schools I visit.

Today was my last time to teach the 5th and 6th graders, so I gave out English certificates and signed my name in the fast, scribbled manner that all Japanese kids seem to love. And then I stuck around for most of the rest of the day to join in on some of the excitement that was going down.

First off, to continue the brief beetle thread that I posted earlier, we had some huge foreign beetles brought in to the school for the kids to look at. Over the past few weeks, nearly every classroom has gained a class beetle for a pet. Some bigger than others, a few different species, they are all held and poked and made to fight each other. They are all large for my standards but in the larger beetle picture as I have now learned, they are rather chisai. The beetles brought into Nakatsu on Friday were from Brazil and another South American country and were absolutely huge. Big eyes, big pinchers (?), big bodies, big...And they are expensive, each starting at about $400. Unbelievable. The kids got to look at them for a while and then had a lecture about them, after which they were brought into the office where all the teachers got to get a good look at them too.

In addition to the beetle bonanza, the school celebrated Tanabata after lunch. Tanabata is a festival of sorts celebrated every July 7th. The celebration is held each year in honor of the star lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi who are separated by the Milky Way and only allowed to meet once every year on this date. If it rains however, the lovers cannot meet and they must wait another year (unfortunately July seventh is still the rainy season, so I think it rains often on this day, as it did this year). Either way however, children decorate bamboo with tanzaku (wish tags), origami and other paper crafts. For a more in depth explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata.

In addition to the traditional celebration of Tanabata, the rokunensei (6th graders) organized a short puppet show to tell the story of Tanabata and a school-wide relay race (which I prefer to refer to as the Tanabata games). Teams mixed with all grades had to run around the gym, dribbling basketballs, weave through cones, shoot hoops, spin looking face down at a baseball bat and dodge swinging ropes (some with other students hanging from them). It was good fun, a nice change from the normal routine of cleaning after lunch.

a river runs through it or, rare events at the BOE

yesterday morning, I awoke to crashing thunder and sideways rain, not to mention the continued stifling humidity. And thinking that maybe this was the typhoon that Terutaka had briefly mentioned last night, I was thinking (perhaps hoping) that this would be one of those "it`s not safe to come in today, so stay at home and watch movies" days, okay maybe not that last part. Anyways, by the time that it was time to go to work, the rain had slowed to a sprinkle and driving was no longer treacherous, so I boarded the bluebird and proceeded to work. When I got near ACOOP (local grocery store) I noticed people standing around on the sidewalks, looking in awe of something (you know the way people gape at a palm tree in flames (happened once outside my house in Berkeley)...okay maybe not the same, but nonetheless, there was something going on. As I turn the corner to enter the BOE parking lot I noticed the back up of cars and then saw that the parking lot was no longer a lot, so much as a lake. The same went for the surrounding streets--rivers. Men in knee-high boots, were wading about and people clicked cameras, capturing this rare event on film. I parked at the dry haven of Lawson's (so much more than a convenient store) and then saw the extent of the flooding. The streets surrounding three sides of the BOE were rushing water, creeping in to the Lawsons parking lot, the community center parking lot was completely flooded and it seemed to be rising. The commotion inside the building consisted of people gathering round third-story windows to get a good look from above. The EEHHHHHH sounds could be heard throughout. We watched as small logs floated by and as cars began to flood. A train rolled by at half the speed. The weather channel was turned on in the main office (the weather report being eyed more seriously than the news conference on Korea's tested missiles). My last school visit to Miyose was cancelled. I feared not being able to get back in town were the water to rise more and I think that the Sumo exercises meant to be held today are probably cancelled. Zanen. And then about a half hour ago, almost as fast as it had risen, the water receded. The streets are clear.

It is estimated that we lost about three cars in yesterday morning's events. A couple of k trucks and a couple that are mighty nice, one being Kawabenishi's principle's car which apparently he didn't have time to move because he was so worried about the students. What a man.


UPDATE: the cars have all been saved, though no word on their water damage.

I'm in love with Cali too Jon

Happy 4th of July everyone...the fireworks are even going off over here (though, as with everything, it is the season for such)



http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/07/04/DDGOBIQ33P1.DTL