graduation!!!

I had to take down the pictures of this post.

ok. fine. so i’m a little late, but we had graduation some weeks ago. all the third year students get dressed up in kimono (mostly girls, but some guys would dress up too) or suits, and march in twos. i teared up a little, but managed to hold it together among all my fellow tight-lipped japanese teachers. this year’s graduates were my favorites. i felt we had, in particular, achieved some level of camaraderie. we shared jokes . . . we chatted in both english and japanese . . . i went to see their rock bands live . . . . i played sports with them . . . . i went to their games and practices to watch them. i liked them a whole lot.

japanese high school graduations are generally held during the morning on a normal school day. all students and teachers attend, along with parents and guests. it’s usually held in the gym, and it’s pretty ceremonial, just like america. and then there’s picture taking, talking, and laughter afterward. however, unfortunately this year i had to take off immediately following the ceremony because i had to rush to osaka. damn! so, no pictures actually with the students. but, here are some during the graduation . . .

i, myself, was pretty sad to see them go . . . . but their ghosts remain running through the halls and playing on the fields. sitting in the seats during the classes i teach, their laughter echoes. i only hope i affected their lives in some way as they have affected mine . . . .

SATOSHI!

i teach this boy named satoshi. several months ago . . . during late november? december? i can’t be sure, carrie, tiffany, and i were eating at our favorite sushi joint in arai, having a normal threesome evening for us. while munching on our makase (chef’s choice), sitting at the sushi bar, a man comes out of one of the private tatami rooms. he had heard us speaking english, so he ventured out to try his hand at it with us. in short, it turned out that he had lived with his family a year ago, for a year, in connecticut of the states. and he was wondering if any one of us would like to teach his son. wanting some private lessons, i offered to teach him. after making arrangements with yamada san, i began teaching satoshi once a week on wednesdays at their home next to my school.

he’s 7 and adorable. his english is great considering all the factors. and his pronunciation is fabulous. this goes to reinforce the fact that children take to and learn a foreign language much easier than adults. get them started early!! yamada san knows what’s up. smart smart. we go over vocabulary, learn verbs, play games, sing songs, etc etc. satoshi’s rambunctious and has become comfortable with me which i like a lot. we’re affectionate with each other, and i’m confident he likes me a lot.

so here's pictures of talented little satoshi . . .