243 days to go...

Day 116: Various rice snacks at the supermarket.

Day 117: Oops

Day 118: Usually, I'm not too impressed by the English "sayings" on Japanese products. But I like this bag.

Day 119: The first blooms I've seen this Spring. Hoping for more to come...

Day 120: Friday was a holiday, and I had told the Hitsujigaoka baseball team that I'd come see their game. Imagine my surprise when I see the Hokuyo 2nd year basketball team at Fukuzumi station. I think they were pretty surprised as well! I miss these boys!

Day 121: The beginning of my humble balcony garden. I have basil, sage, parsley, mint (for my herb garden), two tomato plants, and I bought seeds for some lettuce greens and even some zinnias (my favorite flower). Let's just hope it grows!

Day 122: The last of the snow. Not so pretty anymore.

****

This week was the beginning of "Golden Week" in Japan, a series of holidays that includes Children's Day this Thursday. So I'm off this whole week, which is nice, if the weather will cooperate! Saturday was absolutely beautiful, and spurred me and Nate to make a trip to Homac and buy all my gardening supplies. But today was ridiculously windy and rainy, and it forced me to stay indoors. Seriously, I haven't seen wind like this since I lived in the Panhandle of Texas! So I feel like today was kind of a waste, but I guess it's OK to have days like that every once in a while. After the holidays, I'll be starting my month-long visit to Yamanote Special Education School, which I'm excited about. In June, it'll be back to Hitsujigaoka, which is getting better every day. In fact, it was just this past week that I was beginning to form some really close bonds with some of the students. Hopefully I won't have to start all over with those kids when I return. Tell you the truth, I'm gonna miss those crazy kids. Why do I always get so attached?

Goodbye Hokuyo JHS

Last Friday was my last day at Hokuyo Junior High School, and like Higashi Yonesato, it was a hard departure for me. It seems like I was just starting to get some of the kids to really open up and be comfortable to me, and the teachers as well. Last week I made it a goal to see and talk to as many of the kids as possible, and to eat lunch with some students who I knew had always wanted to, but were too shy to ever ask. And - surprise, surprise - I discovered students who are great at English, but who'd never talked to me before. All on the last week!! It made leaving that much harder...

The boys of homeroom 2-4

The other boys were pushing the one in the white shirt closer to me. You can tell he's a baseball player because of his short hair.

Friday was also the last day of the school year, with a new term beginning in April after Spring Break. It was also closing ceremony day. I think the Japanese love definite beginnings and ending of things - there seems to always be an opening and closing ceremony for everything - and for someone who loves routine, this is right up my alley. There were several other teachers whose last day at Hokuyo was Friday, whether retiring or moving on to another school. On Friday at the morning teacher meeting, we were marched in front of the staff and teachers, and each of us gave a goodbye speech. I was ready for this, and had even prepared to speak some of it in Japanese (I had practiced very hard the night before). Then the Closing Ceremony started, and we were again asked to come to the front, this time in front of all the student body. The Principal spoke about each of us, and then we were again asked to give a speech. I did my speech to the students in English, telling them how great they were and how much I was going to miss them. Then we were each given a huge bouquet and exited the gym through the students as they were clapping and waving to us. A large number of third graders had returned to the school for the closing ceremony, and I was told by one of my JTE's that it was to see me off, though I don't know if that's true. It was good to see them again, as it'll probably be the last time. After that, I visited as many of the homerooms to say goodbye, write notes, and take pictures.

Homeroom 2-1, the loudest second grade class. And my favorite!

Me and Rino, a second grader. She cried when I hugged her on the last day. So sweet!

I called these boys my body guards.

Me and the "Banana Bunch". Long story.

Mizuki and Serina, my biggest fans

That Friday night was also the teacher's end-of-year party, which was a new experience for me. Two hours of food and speeches (yes, I had to make another speech). I told them that I had already used all my Japanese in my last speech (they laughed), and asked Shimada sensei to translate for me as I told them what great teachers they were and how honored I was to work with them and at this school. And I meant every word. They gave me another bouquet of flowers and a framed letter:

Being at Hokuyo was an absolute joy and I looked forward to going there every day. I loved listening to the music classes, and recently found out that their music teacher, Ms. Abe, is a well-known teacher throughout Japan. After attending their end-of-year chorus club concert, I can see why. I mean, do you know any other junior high school students that can sing like this:

Hokuyo Chorus Club Girls Choir from Sarah Robinson on Vimeo.

I'll miss this school so much, but I promised to come back and visit, especially to hear them sing!!

Hokuyo Graduation, Pt. 2

So, before the earthquake hit last Friday, the third-graders had a "goodbye party" as they called it, to mark their last day of junior high school. There were a few speeches, of course, a slideshow of the third-graders throughout their years at the school, but being as this is Hokuyo JHS, there was lots of singing.

First, the first grade sang a song to the third grade...

...then the second grade...

...and finally the third grade sang their goodbye song to the whole school.

And just when I thought it was wrapping up, I heard my name amidst lots of other Japanese words I didn't know. Suddenly, all the students were looking at me and I was told to please come on the stage. So I slowly make my way, looking like a deer in the headlights, and not knowing what's going on. Then one of the third graders tells me - in English - that they've enjoyed working with me these three months and would like to give me a present for me to remember them. Then she gave me a booklet that said , "Dear Sarah" on the front - every third grader had written me a goodbye message. It was the sweetest thing, and I didn't know what to say......and then I was asked to make a speech. It went something like, "Wow, this is a surprise! Thank you so much, I've enjoyed meeting everyone of you, and I wish I had more time with you. You are all great students ......"We're crazy!", said my favorite group of girls I called the Crazy Girls......"Yes, and you're crazy too, and that's OK. I hope I see you all again!"

"We love you!!", yelled my Crazy Girls.

When I got home, amidst all the craziness happening, I opened the book they gave me and read every single page - all 120. Here's just a few of my favorites:

I'm very powerful, I'm sure you knew that.

See you next someday...

Wait, my eyes were enhaled?

It's good to be boosted

Those l's and r's are difficult for the Japanese

Short and sweet

I think it's pretty obvious how I feel about these kids. In such a short time, they made such a difference in my life, and I hope they feel the same way about me! I gave a few of them my e-mail, and they've already been keeping in contact with me - telling me what they ate for dinner, if they were accepted into the high school they wanted to go to. It makes me so happy to see them trying to use the best English they can. Actually, the connection I made with these kids convinced me to accept a high school teaching position in August. I'm hoping to see some of them at Keihoku Commercial High School!!

My crazy girls - Miku, Maayu, and Runa

Cute girls, Aoi and Honoka

And some cute boys. Man, they loved taking pictures!!

This is Shohei. He asked me to eat lunch with him a few times. Sometimes when I'd walk by, he'd quietly say, "I love you".

Hokuyo graduation, Pt. 1

Yesterday, was graduation day for all the junior high schoolers of Sapporo (and probably all of Japan). This was my first Japanese JHS graduation, so I was excited to see how different they would be from American graduation.

First of all, Japanese graduation is extremely orderly. Everything is timed down to the second, and everything is very precise.

Here's one of the homerooms walking in to the ceremony. Notice their homeroom teacher's wearing kimono.

Next was the handing out of the diplomas. This was also a very precise method, and the students had to accept the diploma, bow, and turn all in a certain way.

First the boys,

...then the girls.

Then the principal made a speech (who, by the way, was looking very sharp in a suit with coattails), then the PTA president made a speech, then the student council president made a sppech. I had no idea what any of them were about, but I'm sure they were your run-of-the-mill graduation speech.

And did I mention there was lots of synchronized bowing? When over 500 people bow at the same time, it makes the coolest whooshing sound.

Next, it was time for the 1st and 2nd grade to sing a song to the 3rd grade. Beautiful, as always. And afterwards, the 3rd grade sang their farewell song. I taped some of it:

Hokuyo Graduation from Sarah Robinson on Vimeo.

Then the whole school sang together and the third grade left, class by class, many of them crying. Boy, did I find out later that it was just the tip of the crying iceberg.

After the third grade left the gym, they went back to their homerooms to say goodbye to their class and teacher with whom they'd been with for three years. It was very emotional, both happy and sad.

Tamayama sensei, playing two recorders for her class.

Then it was time for them to leave, and the cameras and yearbooks came out. I must've signed hundreds of yearbooks, and taken hundreds of pictures. And I loved it!

Excited boys. They were yelling "I love you Sarah!" at the top of their lungs right before this moment.

Love these girls: Misa, Saki, and Miyuki. Miyuki is the one I helped with for her English interview.

On the right is Go, one of my favorite students. He spoke great English.

Keita's in the front. I had lots of good conversations with him.

Taiga came along and then we just started getting silly.

What a special group of kids, and I really wish that I'd had more time with them. Now they're all going off to their high schools, wherever that may be.

Man, I'm gonna miss them!!!

*For part two, I'll talk about the third grade goodbye party that was last Friday. It was a little overshadowed by other, uh, events that happened that day. Until next time!

299 days to go...

Day 60: Japan has the absolute weirdest flavors of Kit Kats known to man.

Day 61: A mosaic on the front door of Hokuyo. The Pegasus is their mascot.

Day 62: What a surprise, more snow.

Day 63: In Nakajima Koen

Day 64: Another one of those times where the day was over and I remembered I hadn't taken a picture. Thus the shot of our kitchen from the bed.

Day 65: It's the simple things that help you feel closer to home. Like being able to watch The Daily Show and Colbert Report on the computer.

Day 66: My pretty dessert at the cafe in the Kitara music hall.

***

What a great weekend we had! On Saturday night, we accompanied our friend Sara to see Bunraku, which is an old form of Japanese puppetry. If you don't know anything about it, check it out online, it really is amazing. Ever since I studied about Bunraku in Theater History, I've always wanted to see it. Granted, I had not idea what the stories were, but just watching was fun. On Sunday, it was off to the Kitara Concert Hall to see my Principal perform with a singing group. Last week, he came by my desk and told me about the concert, then gave me three complimentary tickets, so how could I refuse? Actually, it was great, the singing was just beautiful. Some Hokuyo students were there, and they were so excited to actually see Nathan (the legend!) in real life.

Ethan's school had an overnight trip to Takino on Thursday and Friday. It was the 4-12 grade, and the days were filled with lots of activities . Ethan told me he snowshoed, went snow-tubing, and did lots of other activities with the word snow in them. He told me they stayed up until 1:30 am doing whatever boys do at a sleepover. It makes me happy to see Ethan adjusting so well to life here. His friend Simon even came over on Saturday after aikido. Ethan and Simon are both into WWII history, and Simon has even gotten him into making model airplanes.

Hokuyo is gearing up for the third year students' graduation, which is March 15. In Japan, the school year ends in March and the new school year starts in April after a spring break, as spring is seen as the time of new beginnings. Songs are being practiced every day, posters are being put up, and goodbye notes are being passed. I've asked a few third graders if they're excited about graduation, and most say they're actually sad. It's understandable, all of them are going to different high schools throughout the city, so they might not see some of their friends again. I guess graduation is always a bittersweet celebration.