So it's been a while....again. Time most definitely slips through my fingers.
Finally in February I started feeling better and I'm not sick anymore- I don't know what was up with that.
Today was my final day of work for this school year. During the day, we held the graduation ceremony for the 3rd years (9th grade). There was this whole thing with the parents, Board of Education people, the PTA and everyone. I did like that instead of clapping after every name and every student to go up there and receive the diploma, they all bowed instead. Less noisy, saves energy. Like every other ceremony, there really couldn't have been any more bowing than there was. I spent a lot of time sitting there, attempting to figure out what was being said in the speeches, and certainly I got the gist of most of them. There were a couple of student speeches and this one girl couldn't stop crying, it was really sweet and I just wanted to hug the lot of them.
When it was time for the students to go home with their parents, they had us line up in the hallway by the entrance and each kid with parents in tow came by so we could all say something like congratulations or anything. I chatted very briefly with a few of them, and gave them all a wave. I was happy that some of them used a bit of English with me, and some of the parents and I bowed at each other. Down the line was one of the teachers, his name is Kiriyama-sensei. He's bald, and many of the kids took this opportunity to pat his head. The sensei is a really good sport and always brought a bit of energy to the teacher's room. During lunch, a 3rd year girl, Haruna, would come in from another classroom and basically force their excess soup into his bowl all the time. Somehow, that's just something I really don't want to forget.
It turned out, and I just found out today, that 8 of our teachers were either retiring or locating to another school. I found out from Shimomura-sensei, who sits across from me in the teacher's room, told me that in Japan, teachers (not that it's their decision, mind you) get switched around schools all the time- far more frequently than back in the US. There was a little ceremony for that, in which I accidentally got in line with the leaving teachers- because I didn't know that's what this line was, but it wasn't a big goof up. Still, my Japanese is not bad, but there are some procedures (a lot) that I just won't get unless I'm either fluent, or I'm already used to how everything is done since I wasn't around to be a part of this culture growing up- that's how it works. It's weird- you think if you know the language, then everything will be fine because you'll understand- but there are plenty of things that you just need to understand regardless of your language ability...I hope that makes sense.
Honestly, I was really surprised that these teachers were leaving, I had no idea. I had a bond with a lot of them. Let's see- Mochizuki-sensei, Nakamura-sensei, Kiriyama-sensei, Hashizume-sensei, Kawakami-sensei, Takami-sensei, the secretary sensei, and the sensei who came in for the remainder of the year in place of Furikoshi-sensei, who died this summer. Those last two, I could never catch their names- it's hard! Everyone says things really fast.
Anyway, between the ceremony where these teachers said goodbye and leaving the school, myself and all the other teachers went to the music room to practice a song. It was a present for the teachers who were leaving.
This evening was the end-of-the-year/teachers are leaving party at this big place made for this sort of thing. We had a big eastern style room with tables and chairs. I wasn't able to eat everything that they brought out- each dish was small, but somehow it always fills be up so much- I don't know how some of the teachers do it! Even when I'm really hungry, sometimes I can't finish things! And of course, beer after beer was poured. You always pour for other people, or other people pour for you. I wondered what the significance is and it's supposed to be that when you accept someone pouring you a drink, you're accepting the feeling of like...mutual goodwill and camaraderie- things like that. Symbolism, yeah.
There were speeches to and from the leaving senseis, which I couldn't understand most of, but still. Those who are leaving sit up front at the head table, and eating time is also when the rest of us would get up and go talk to them. Well I didn't think it would happen, but I was crying a lot. I talked to Kawakami-sensei- she was the teacher whose desk was next to mine, and one of the English teachers, so I had classes with her and such. We used to talk a lot and laugh. WHen I spoke with her, I basically said thank you for all the help and encouragement and everything. SHe even gave me a hug and said I am a good teacher. She really had the best laugh whenshe thought something was funny- just tended to make me happy. I hope we'll still talk over email. SHe gave me a ride home too, and we were talking and laughing like before. There's no way I'll forget her.
I talked to the sensei who was new- he used to chat with me sometimes in the teachers room, and well, that relaly meant something to me. I talked to Mochizuki-sensei, the librarian. She said she'll be at the towns library, so I should be able to see her again. I remember one time she had dropped something in the hallway outside of the teachers room. Actually it looked like a bill. WHatever it was, I could read her name on it, and I brought it to the library and gave it back. I feel like that meant something to her, I don't know. Still, she would always acknowledge me, and was really kind. I talked to Takami-sensei. He wasn't here the whole year either for whatever reason. He's an older man so I think he's retiring. But he would always try to talk to me and greet me in ENglish, even though he can only remember a small bit of words. This cheered me up all the time. Hashizume-sensei was the nurse lady, and we've had a lot of conversations actually. She helped me and talked with me a lot. It seems her husband is in the guide club, so I'm sure we'll meet again. The secretary lady was crying as badly as I was. we shook had kinda, and I told her how much it meant to me that we would talk a little bit after lunch time and about her setting up my lunch tray a lot and how just some of that kindness meant a lot. I otld them all how happy I was that they talked to me and how muc htheir kindness meant. I'm crying again as I type this, actually. Jeez....
Then we all sang the school song together and then we performed the song for the teachers leaving. I understnad mos to fthe words so that made me cry more. Then we did the banzai thing in a circle. I found out that some of the teachers actually have a second little drinking party, and I was happy to be invited- but I tohught about money and the fact that I didnt want to drink anymore either, and so Kawakami-sensei took me back.
Just remmebering each of their faces when I tlaked to them tonight makes me so sad.YOud think I'm old enough to handle people leavig my life but I guess not. Whenever its my turn to leave, I'm so screwed.
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