懐かしい - Nostalgia

Two summers ago, I found myself sitting on a black leather couch across from my new bosses. They welcomed B. and I into the Board of Education, telling us in Japanese that we could call on them any time for help. They urged us to do our best when working with the children of our small city. I looked outside my bossman's window, and could see the Japanese flag waving outside. I was wearing my dark grey pinstripe pencil skirt from Club Monaco, paired with a short-sleeved black collared shirt and my Aldo pumps. I was sweating, due to the sheer humidity and the anxiety about being dropped into a new world.

When I visited home last June, some of my friends asked if I was going to be bored living in the same Japanese city for yet another year. Throughout my years living here, I've sent them e-mails and photos illustrating the life I've created for myself amongst the rice paddies. I definitely live in the sticks. The nearest Starbucks (and hey, I was a major Starbucks fiend back home) is in the next city over. And there is no known pizza delivery in my area.

But I can say that Motomiya has truly nestled a special place in my heart. I appreciate the sheer beauty of this place -- be it the people and the picturesque landscape. Cicadas chirp throughout the day and night in the summertime. Hundreds of rice paddies are currently a beautiful lush green. And the kids have made my time here absolutely magical. I'm going to miss the hundreds and hundreds of kids I've met over the past few years here. Even the naughty kids. Like the senior baseball captain who pays no attention in English class. (Ironically, I got along fabulously with his senpai last year. Last year's baseball team members were my absolute faves! We played cards together and everything, lol).

Last month, my friends and I checked out our city's little summer festival. Basically, the main drag was dotted with various food stalls and carnival games. It literally took two minutes to walk from one end of the festivities to the last stall. But we enjoyed ourselves, because we all ran into some of our students.

A group of high schoolers kept looking my way, so I called them over to say hello. (I recognized them from my first year as an ALT here. They were seniors at 2chu, so I only taught them for about eight months.)

As they stood in front of me this evening, dressed in their civvies, I tried remembering all of their names. Surprisingly, I only forgot about Tomo-kun and I was able to guess Taka-kun's name with some hints. The boys and Y-chan screeched, "懐かしい!" I guess that can be loosely translated as "Like whoa, old memories!" I can't believe they're so big now! They go to high schools in the area. Sadly, they still can't really speak English. I believe they understand what I'm saying, but they can't express their answers in basic English. I asked them things like "So, what club activities do you do?" And all Taka-kun could reply was: "No!!!" He was trying to tell me he doesn't do club activities any more. Oh, dear. Although their English hasn't drastically improved, I was delighted to see them. It's crazy to think I saw them as tiny junior high school students. Now, they're getting closer to graduating from high school and moving onto bigger things.


It was also interesting seeing my current junior high schoolers at the festival. Like their older counterparts, they weren't in uniform. The older girls were clicking down the street in their heels and  jumpsuits. The boys were strutting in cargo shorts and tees. I even teased three of my girls, because they were wearing Engrish t-shirts. I asked them to do some quick self-introductions with my friends. After they obliged, I sent them along on their way. :) 


Two friends said something meaningful that night to me. I can't quite pinpoint the words, but they said had been watching me fluttering around the festival. And they remarked I was really good at interacting with my students. I'm really appreciative of hearing such praise! It makes me miss my little nieces and nephews back home. I also have a godson, but I barely know the kiddo. So, I'm pretty excited to do what I've gotta do in Japan... and then I'll be heading home at the end of the year! WOO HOO!

As a JET, my job isn't strictly in the realm of teaching English. It's about making the these Japanese students, who live in such a homogeneous society, learn how to interact with foreigners. "Grassroots internationalization" is one of the JET Programme's buzzwords drilled into our heads.

Snapshots: Back to school

"Gemma-sensei! Gemma-sensei!!" hissed one of my third-graders from the hallway. I was sitting at my desk, mostly focusing on fanning myself amidst the heat. It took me a couple seconds for me to snap out of my daze. When I finally did, the loud third-grader yelled "HERRO!!!!" then ran away. Kids do the funniest things.

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School is indeed back in session. Things kicked off at the end of August. This summer, the heat is intoxicating. You'd think we'd have some air conditioning at school, right? But no. Everyone was sweating, and everyone looked miserable in the humidity. Funnily enough, there was a memo going around the office saying students were being granted permission to bring cold tea, sports drinks and water to school. (In general, kids aren't allowed to bring thermoses and bottled drinks to school. Even their lunch is supplied by the local school lunch center!) The drink allowance was an effort to prevent dozens of kids from fainting in the heat. This point was once again reiterated at the school assembly, but the teacher reminded them each student is responsible for their own trash. It's funny how mundane things are such big announcements around the office water cooler. (I made a funny.)

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Three years ago, I was part of the opening ceremonies in August.This is an assembly wherein the principal gives a talk to help inspire the students.

I remember sitting in a chair next to Y-sensei. Waves of anxiety washed over me only when I saw about 300 students walk into the gym. It was the first time I saw all of my them. I got nervous as I heard them shuffling their chairs into orderly lines. It was overwhelming to see all of these Japanese faces stare at me, as I fumbled through my introductory speech.

On to my third year... like whoa!