The Nail That Sticks Out

If you’ve studied about Japan, then you’ve probably know the saying 「出る釘は打たれる」　(deru kugi wa uchitareru) or, in Inglés, “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” This suggest that deviancy in Japanese society is met with resistance and ridicule. It could stem from Japan’s seemingly homogenous society, ingrained Confucian ideology, or something else altogether. However, I wanted to discuss a couple “nails” I have met this past year.

Kindergarten
Chihiro

With the new school year came a new set of kindergarteners at my Tuesday/Wednesday school. My eyes were immediately drawn to a Japanese girl with mocha skin and soft, Shirley Temple curls. Her name was Chihiro and she seemed like a living doll, but I quickly realized that looks can be deceiving. During our first English class, I asked the kindergarteners to introduce themselves in English, but Chihiro just cried. This isn’t a rarity; younger kids cry all the time, but Chihiro completely checked out - she lied on the floor, face down, for the entire 45 minutes of class. When a teacher or classmate would try to speak with her, she would lash out, striking anyone within arm’s reach. I would love to say that this was a one-time occurrence but this happened every week for an entire year.

I tried to rig games so that she would win, but the results were the same. Any form of attention, whether good or bad, resulted in her lying on the floor for 45 minutes. I regularly apologized to the kindergarten teacher, but she informed me that Chihiro acted this way during other activities as well. As the year progressed, Chihiro’s condition worsened but I ignored her behavior and focused on the other students. I couldn’t help her and I know my solution of “tough love” would not be welcomed, so English playtime continued with or without her.

During our final class, Chihiro participated with the help of her friends, but threw a tantrum when she lost at musical chairs. She ran to the corner of the room and started kicking and punching the wall. When the kindergarten teacher tried to stop her, she burst into tears and ran away from school. I finished the class but cringed as I watched the kindergarten teacher chase Chihiro around the yard. I hope her family can find the help she needs. 

6th Grade
Maru

Here’s an interesting fact: Students cannot be held back or fail a grade. Seriously! If you’re a terrible student and miss 90% of school, you will continue to the next year and eventually graduate elementary school (6th grade).

I had no clue about this until I was told that one of my 6th grade students, a boy named Maru, was illiterate. Japan uses a mix of kanji or “Chinese characters” along with two separate phonetic alphabets called hiragana and katakana and although Japanese literacy requires all three, kanji is the most essential and difficult; Maru could only ready hiragana and katakana.

I wasn’t sure if Maru had any specific learning disabilities, but he was assigned a supporter teacher to aid him in all subjects. Even though Maru could not read his native language, he knew the English alphabet better than most students and seemed to enjoy English class. Nevertheless, I noticed cliques forming amongst the boys that eventually correlated with Maru’s behavioral deterioration.

I first noticed an issue when I saw Maru frequent the nurse’s office. Every day, he claimed to have a terrible headache would stay in the nurse’s office until the bell rang for lunch. It was a miraculous recovery, but teachers weren't fooled. Then, Maru stopped coming to school altogether. I heard the boys in his class would go to his house in an attempt to convince him to come to school, but Maru just stayed in bed. On the rare days Maru would come to school, he and the supporter teacher would bake and cook various foods in the home economics room. If he was forced to join a class, he would become completely lifeless or fake an illness – even during English class. Ouchies!

His mother came to the school and donated books on autism but when I asked his supporter teacher if Maru was autistic, he just shrugged. The entire staff seemed to be miffed by Maru’s behavior, but they dealt with it the best they could. During graduation Maru said he would do his best in middle school. I hope he can overcome!

5th Grade

Riko

I have a soft spot in students who are bullied. Why? Because I too was terribly bullied as a kid. As a foreigner in Japan, it is sometimes difficult to understand the class dynamics and identify the popular kids from the evil little shits, but the target for this 5th grade class was clear - a short, thin girl named Riko.

Here's what I know about Riko: 

• She was abandoned by her mother
• She lives with her father and grandfather
• She is teased for being poor and foul body odor
• I've "smell checked" her - nothing
• She's shunned by her classmates
• She has no friends

I fould out about Riko's situation when I came across her crying uncontrollably in the nurse's office. Apparently, her father had bought her a new pair of red-framed glasses, but her classmates said that her father bought the glasses at Daiso (the dollar store).  Little Jerks! I was later told that her only escape from bulling was to fake an illness.

One afternoon, as I made my way to the 5th grade classroom, I heard the homeroom teacher yell in a form of Japanese I liked to call "Yakuza." It turns out that one group of students decided to play in the rain while another group of students tormented Riko. English class was canceled, but I was brought into class where the homeroom teacher announced that the English Halloween Party would be canceled if their behavior did not change. Oh no, not the English Halloween Party! Their behavior improved and Riko's seat was moved to the front of the classroom so that the homeroom teacher could keep an eye on her. I've also kept my eye on her during English class and scold any students who attempt to bully her. She seems happier, but she still has not made any friends. As a result, I make it my mission to say hello and speak with her before English class. One day, I hope to set aside time in order to tell her my story and reassure her that things will get better.

What's the point of this post? You never know what your "nail" students are going through.

"You Is Smart, You Is Kind, You Is Important"

***

Names have been changed

Hold on, I Need a Moment (With Update!)

So, I've been a little out of sorts lately. I'm not exactly sure what is wrong with me, but I just know something is wrong - like my chi is off, my light as dulled, or as though my environment is not very feng shui. 

I am a fairly active person, but I've noticed that I am becoming a bit more lethargic and reclusive. It's frustrating because I know that's not me, but I can't seem to slap out of it. The good news is that warm weather and bright, sunny skies are upon us in Okinawa, and I have a solo trip to Hong Kong in the near future.

I have a few other surprises planned to help me out of this "funk" so until then, stay tuned! 

Moment #1 

 I forshadowed a bit with the picture of me wearing the mask. Sayonara long-haired Gabie  ;)

Moment #2

I took a small bunny hop to freedom at Macau Tower (the world's highest!)

It may seem cliché and something out of a feel-good movie, but I don't care. It's a fresh start (●` ཅ ´●)

さよなら Kinderbabies!

It's important to live in the moment because once the moment is gone, you can never have it back. Ok! That's a little too morbid! Let's lighten the mood!

Yesterday, I watched my favorite kindergarten class, aptly named "The Kinderbabies," graduate. I teach kindergarten at two schools, but I wanted to watch the Kinderbabies, and not the Kindercrazies, graduate. The problem was that I was at my Kindercrazy school for the day, so I dressed for the ceremony, but told the head of school affairs that I would go to my Monday school to watch the Kinderbabies graduate. His response? "Why?"

I didn't understand why this was an issue. I travel between my three schools for graduation, sports day, recitals, festivals and welcome and farewell parties, so how was this any different? I told him that they asked me to come (truth), but he asked "why" again. So I lied and told him that they wanted me to give a speech. In reality, they wanted me to meet the parents but an official introduction was a part of the schedule. After I said this, he let the subject go. However, when it was time for me to leave, he turned to me and said "まじ" or "really?" I stopped for the moment, but the IT teacher told me to ignore him and go. Bye Felicia!

At the graduation and sat down with the parents and awaited the ceremony.

Their chairs and milk carton giraffes.

 The Kinderbabies were individually introduced and announced what they wanted to be when they grow up. There was a bout of laughter from the audience when one boy said he wanted to be a super hero, and there was a shocked response when a girl aspired to be a police officer. You go girl!  

The ceremony did not greatly differ from that of the U.S. We listened to speeches from the principal, clapped along to the kids' singing, and cried when the students received their diplomas. Yes, I cried! The Kinderbabies collected their diplomas from the principal and then walked down the red carpet to find their mother or father waiting to congratulate them. We were all beside ourselves when a mentally and physically disabled Kinderbaby, who is bound of a wheelchair, was pushed to greet her happily crying mother - it was a very touching moment.

Handing her a present

For me, I realized that English playtime with the Kinderbabies had ended.  Afterwards a few kinderbabies approached me and asked me to regard them favorably as 1st graders. I don't teach 1st grade at this school. Excuse me while I continue crying!

Goodbye babies! (Probably the only time I let them hug me lol)

It's a Whale of a Tale

"Are you feeling better, Gabie?" my friend, Tka asked.

 

"No, I might vomit," I replied as looked over the side railing and thought, 'Please God do not let me projectile vomit into the sea.'

 

The start of the new year heralds the migration humpback whales (ザトウクジラ) to Okinawa.  Whales are magnificent creatures, and it’s difficult to truly appreciate their immense size and  beauty until you see them up close and personal.

 

In January, a few OkiJET ladies rallied together to take part in a whale watching adventure! We met in Chatan where we paid, signed wavers, and boarded the boat that would take us out into the sea.

 

The boat was large and ridiculously clean, but it had a cover the blocked the view to the outside. There were zippers on the cover the opened into a window but when Tka opened another window, an attendant close the other. Luckily, I faced this window and intensely concentrated on the horizon to combat motion sickness.

On our way out into the sea, we were given life vests and a vomit bag. We were told to vomit into the bag while the boat was in motion and, jokingly, advised to vomit into the sea to attract fish when the boat was stagnant. All around me, people were getting sick. These was one lady who I swore would die from vomiting. I felt so bad for her, and the sound was enough to set me off, but I continued to breathe and concentration on the horizon. Since my attention was focused on the sea, I was the first in our group to see other whaling ships. A few seconds later, I watched a whale emerge and a blow a  large amount of air from its blowhole. I freaked and soon the boat stopped.

 

We were free to move about the boat and so I walked to the back and sat down on the side railing to breathe in fresh air. The whale did not surface again, so I continued to look out into the sea. Soon, I saw another whale! Or maybe it was the same one? I don't know, but I was pointing out the whales to my friends when they would pop up. At one point, a whale appeared right in front of our boat. I was surprised by its size. It was some Godzilla* shit!

 

Here are some pictures:

This photo was taken by Tka

 

In the end, I didn't "toss my cookies." It was a perfect day of whale watching and yet another item to cross of my Okinawa Bucket List.

This photo was taken by Tka

 

*Ironically, the word gojira or "Godzilla" is a mix of the word gorira (gorilla) and kujira (whale). So, Godzilla is technically a gorilla-whale.

Sunflower Festival!

Sunflowers are my absolute favorite! Check out some pictures from the Sunflower Festival in Kitanakagusuku!