Arigato and Sayonara: Teachers

In the U.S. it is faily common for teachers to work at the same school for over ten years; however, in Japan (or atleast in Okinawa) that is simply inconceivable. Principals, vice principals, and teachers spend three to five years at one school before they are transferred, while assistant and supporter teachers' employment are based on a yearly contract. Teachers can be transfered to any part of Okinawa and its outer islands, and sometimes teachers are transfered to and from Mainland Japan. As a foreigner, it is difficult to understand the logic behind these transfers, but it is seen as a way to share the talent of skilled teachers and purge the inept.

 In early January, I overhead talks of transfers, and in February I watched as the teachers wore their best suits to hand in their resumes to the board of education. By early March the transfers were decided and the news spread throughout the schools. Although I had braced myself since January I became distraught when I discovered that some of my favorite teachers were leaving. It sounds selfish, but I formed strong bonds with these teachers as they helped me adapt to the Japanese work enviroment for the past eight months. I had become confident in both the staffroom and the classroom, and now I would have to adapt once more to new teachers and new methods. In all honesty, I was mostly upset because my closest coworkers, the three librarians and the young assistant/supporter teachers (including my trouble buddy), were all transferred.*

Although not as exaggerated as Big Bang Theory's Sheldon Cooper, I am someone who dislikes change and becomes flustered when it is thrusted upon me. What can I say, I like to feel control in a world full of chaos.

In the usual Japanese fashion, we bid the teachers farewell at a lavish party. Most JETs with multiple schools will focus on one specific school for these events; but since I love to party, I decided to spread myself thin and attend all three. Two were held on a the same day and time, so I split my time between the two. I tend to 'turn up' at these events by wearing something scandalous, so I wore a cut-out dress. In the U.S., this would seem like a church dress, but in Japan anything that shows your back in considered extremely sexy. Once the teachers got a glimpse at my back, I heard gasps and exclamations that they wanted to touch me. And my 'me,' I mean my back. And by the female teachers, of course.

That back though!

The last one, with my favorite school, was the most fun as I had a great time pulling the male teachers onto the dance floor and accompanying other teachers to a salsa club. It was great to see everyone loosen up, but it was also nice to hear their tear-jerking farewell speeches. Bless that waterproof mascara.

One consequence of the transfers was the sense of closeness I felt with the teachers who were staying. They also felt anxious about the new teachers and expressed their worry about work compatibility. Meanwhile, the teachers who transferred schools within my town were relieved that they knew at least one person at their new school, me.

I know that I will eventually adapt to the change, but for now it does not alter the extreme wave of loneliness that I feel that my favorites are gone.

*P.S., The staff member who reprimanded me in the previous post retired early ;). 

Arigato and Sayonara: Students

In March, English classes began to dwindle as the teachers used that time to practice for the kindergarten and 6th grade graduation. Although, only two classes were graduating, the other grades were involved in the ceremony’s preparation and performances. I welcomed the break from teaching, but I couldn’t help but feel a little sad when I realized I would no longer see my 6th graders. That feeling did not extend to my Satan 6th graders, as I counted the days to the final English class, only for it to be canceled. Thank you Japanese Jesus!

At the other schools, the homeroom teachers ran out of ideas and relied on me to plan the lesson. In elementary schools, it’s not encouraged for the students to learn how to write English, since they are taught in middle school. However, I decided to chuck the rules out of the window and have the students write compliments to one another. I taught them the basic 'You are' and added adjectives such as 'funny, beautiful, handsome, smart, nice, cool, etc.' Then, they would write their names on a blank sheet of paper and pass it to their neighbor. Their neighbor would see the name and write 'You are (insert compliment)' with the explanation in Japanese. The exercise went well and they were really excited about the compliments they received. Surprisingly, a few got daring and wrote “you are handsome/beautiful” to their crush. For the next lesson, I taught them how to insult each other. It sounds foul, but the insults were used to create a 'cootie catcher' or 'paper fortune teller' where fate would either give you a compliment or an insult. It was all in good fun and no feelings were hurt.

Cootie Cather! Will you get a compliment or an insult? Let fate decide!

Never underestimate the power of Pokemon for youe English lessons!

The day before the graduation, my favorite 6th grade class called me outside and thanked me for teaching English. Moreover, they sang a traditional farewell song and posed for a picture.

I'll miss them!

 Graduation day for all three of my schools fell on a Thursday, which meant that I would be forced to watch my Satan 6th graders graduate. Thinking ahead, I used polite Japanese to ask my coordinator if I could visit all three graduations. I would spend half an hour at each starting at Satan school, and quietly excuse myself to visit the other two.

My coordinator thought it was a wonderful idea and granted me permission.  Thank you once again Japanese Jesus!

Elementary graduation is not very different form our own in the U.S. The gym was beautifully decorated and the ceremoney consisted of slide shows, songs, longs speeches, and tearful goodbyes from their homeroom teachers.

Graduation decorations at Satan school

It was a wakeup call that the school year and my time with some of my favorite teachers had ended.

The Only Disability is a Bad Attitude

One topic during the JET Skills Development Conference focused on teaching English to children with disabilities. Although I hoped to receive some insight about teaching to special needs children, the discussion quickly turned into a 10 minutes rant by one JET concerning the way Japan ostracizes children with disabilities. I cannot speak for Japan as a whole; however, I can state that this is not the case at any of my elementary schools. In one of my schools, a specific teacher is hired to give one-on-one lessons to a 1st grade girl with Down’s syndrome. Aside from morning greetings, lunch, and cleaning time, she spends most of the day with this teacher. My interactions with her are limited, but she surprisingly greets me in English even though I’ve never taught her to do so.

During graduation practice I silently observed how well she behaved. She sat without fidgeting, stood at the proper moments and, although her speech is slurred, spoke and sang along with the other students. I am unsure about the progress of her formal education, but it is comforting to see how a small town like mine provides a teacher to cater to her special needs. Another school of mine also has a special needs program for five students from various grades. These children are given an education in a safe and stress-free environment with teachers who are both caring and understanding. Moreover, my town has also hired a child psychologist to visit the schools and observe classes to identify and help children who may be in, what they refer to as, 'the gray zone.'

Therefore, does Japan ostracize children with disabilities? Not in my town.

Valentine's Day and White Day

Those of us who are use to receiving extravagant gifts of flowers, chocolate, and jewelry for Valentine’s Day were round-house kicked in the face for Valentine’s Day in Japan. Like many other things, Japan gets Valentine’s Day completely wrong by having only women give men chocolate. There are two types of chocolate that the ladies can give: giri and honmei choco. Giri choco or 'obligation chocolate' is chocolate that you give to your male coworkers and friends. Giri chocolate is usually small and simple. Honmei choco or 'real chocolate' is chocolate that is given to your sweetheart, and they are usually large or handmade chocolates. This can be an exciting time for girls to not-so-subtly express their interest in a boy the the hoeps that he will return the gesture a month later on White Day. If the boy returns the feelings, he will also give her honmei white chocolate and they will most likely date. If he does not, then he will simply give her giri white chocolate or nothing at all, and thus crushing all her hopes.

Who doesn't love Ferrero

Valentine's Day fell on the day I visit my Satan school, and the female teachers collected money in order to buy the male teachers Valentine’s Day chocolates. Since I float between three schools, I was not asked to participate. Instead, I bought the male teachers small Ferrero Rosher chocolates while giving larger chocolates to the principal and a few other close male teachers. A month later, the male staff returned the favor, and I also received White Day chocolate from male students. What made my Valentine's Day exceptional was a care package send by my boyfriend and my mother that contained all sorts of chocolates and goodies. Care packages really help alleviate homesickness and make you appreciate your loved ones.

6th graders White Day chocolate to his favorite (and only) English teacher

For my Valentine's Day lesson, I discussed (using only English) the differences between the Valentine’s Day traditions. It blew the kids’ minds that the Western version of Valentine’s Day includes their White Day. I also had the kids make heart-shaped Valentine’s Day cards for their friends or parents and, afterward, folded the heart-shaped cards into origami envelopes.

Kindergarteners making Valentine's Day cards

S.O.S. Venezuela

One of the challenges when living abroad is the hopelessness you feel when terrible things happen in your home country. Home is where the heart is, they say, and my heart lies in both Venezuela and the United States.

In Venezuela, ridiculously high inflation and crime rates, as well as shortages in basic goods have caused mass protests against the Venezuelan government. The country has been in a downward spiral since 1999 when the late President Hugo Chavez took control of the country. A land once known for their abundance of oil, rich culture and beautiful women has begun to steadily follow the footsteps of Cuba (aside from the embargo), and the citizen just cannot take it anymore.

Some would assume that because I was raised in the United States that I am disconnected from the events happening in Venezuela. What would I know about their struggle, right? I know what my aunts, uncles, and cousins go through on a daily basis. I have witnessed their fear and paranoia when they are out in public. I also know of the transgressions committed against them that have caused them to delay college graduation, unsuccessfully find work, or move out of the country.

My heart breaks for my homeland, and I pray for change and my family's safety. They deserve better. Venezuela deserves better.