Let's enjoy (?) graduation!

April is almost over, which means that I’ve survived the first month of a new school year.

In Japan, the school years run from April to March, which is a serious disruption to my deeply ingrained September to August calendar (especially since the JET contract is based on the West’s school year). Anyway, what this means is that, on April 6^th Tomyoji Junior High School welcomed approximately 150 new ichi-nensei (7^th grade) students. However, while many changes have occurred since the new school year began, I would rather focus this particular post on the events held at the end of March.

The graduation ceremonies for Fukui’s junior high schools were held on March 16^th. Graduation in Japan is one of the most important school ceremonies (rivaled only by the entrance ceremony in April) and, as such, the students practiced for weeks. They learned songs, wrote speeches, and were forced to participate in hand-numbing clapping drills. To top it off, all of these events were held in the freezing cold gymnasium (we still had snow in March!!) which made them quite unbearable. As always, I was a bit amused by the endless rehearsals. From what I remember, we didn’t even rehearse for JHS graduation in Canada, but I suppose that my JHS grad was more of a party than anything else. In Japan, however, graduation is no laughing (or smiling) matter. In Japan, graduation is sad. Like, really sad. So sad that I cried. So sad that all the graduating students, the non-graduation students, the parents, and the Japanese teachers (both the men and women) cried. So sad that perhaps I should take a moment to explain all the sadness.

In Japan, students basically stay with the same peer group throughout their elementary and junior high school education, and some students will have had the same friends since kindergarten. While this can also be the case in Canada, in Japan a major break occurs once the students complete 9^th grade. Japanese high school attendance is based on entrance exams – if you earn high marks, you can go to a top-rated high school, and if you fail, you enter the workforce (Japanese education is only compulsory until 9^th grade). Because which high school you go to depends on these exams, students know that it is likely that they will be separated from their friends (which, I think, makes Japanese JHS graduation more akin to Canadian high school graduation). When you throw in Japanese group mentality and the fact that these kids are still at an age where their peers are extremely important to them, what you end up with is an extremely tearful graduation ceremony.

To get you in the right mood for the rest of this post, let’s watch a video! This one was taken at my school’s graduation ceremony. It is of the graduating students singing their graduation/farewell song to the rest of the school and their parents. If you look closely, you can see many students (both girls and boys, graduating and non-graduating) wiping their tears. Good times.

Now that we’ve enjoyed some videos, you’ll understand me when I say that the best word I can think of to describe the ceremony is “solemn”. It’s kind of like a funeral, actually - everyone wears black, there are a lot of speeches, and everyone’s in tears. Now I can’t say that I’m not prone to crying, but I was rather tearful on graduation day. I had become quite close to a few of the san-nensei (9^th grade) girls, and was genuinely sad to see them go. I think it was especially hard for me because, as a foreigner who is only staying in Japan temporarily, there is a good possibility that I will never see these people again (sounds fatalistic, I know, but it’s true nonetheless). To top it all off, after the ceremony is over the teachers all line up outside the school to see the students off. As the students exit the school (never to return again), we all clapped and congratulated them. This part is less tearful, but still bittersweet.

While it was a tad embarrassing for me to be crying at work (I come from the West where crying is for sissies – it’s incredibly stupid and lame, but I can’t help it), I couldn’t help but also see my tears in a positive light. At the very least, they were tangible proof that the little monsters that slept through my classes had made an impact on me. In return, the students’ tears were also proof that I had made an impact on them. As one student left the school for the last time, she walked up to say goodbye to me and was only able to get out a shaky “Rinji…” before bursting into tears. It was probably one of the most touching things I have ever experienced. My second favorite moment from that day was when another girl’s mother sought me out to thank me. I had helped her daughter prepare for an English interview that was a part of her entrance exam, and she wanted to thank me for helping her daughter “reach her dream”.

Anyway, those are my musing about Japanese JHS graduation. Sorry if this post seems a bit disjointed, but a bit of time has passed since the actual event (my fault, I know), and I’m having a bit of trouble collecting my thoughts.

Last but not least, here are some pictures of me and some of my students. If it looks like I’ve been crying, its because I’ve been crying.

Worst blogger ever...

Wow... I'm a terrible blogger. Gomen, ne!

Lots and lots has happened since the fall, and I think that my blogs have become so neglected because Fukui really feels like home now. It's as though I've forgotten how blog-worthy parts of my life really are.

I've been wanting to write something about Japanese graduation, so I'll do that soon!!!

Until then, enjoy some sakura! Sakura season has passed in Fukui (the blossoms were at their peak around April 10th), but luckily you can enjoy them right here! Yay!

A year (and a bit) later...

Since I'm stuck at home with swine flu, I thought it was high time that I added another post.

First off, let me just say that people need to start treating animals better!!! If we didn't have our disgusting factory farming practices, things like H1N1 would be a lot less likely to occur. I'm usually not the type of vegetarian to preach, but, since I've been infected by hamthrax, I'm a tad annoyed. The way people treat animals is appalling, and there are small things that we can do in our everyday lives to make a change. You don't have to go veggie (although I'll buy you a block of tofu if you do!!), but even things buying free range eggs can make a difference.

There. I've had my rant. Now let's move on...

As I was beginning to study the first book of my JET Programme Japanese Language Course (yes, I'm a bit behind) yesterday, it suddenly occurred to me that I've been studying Japanese for over a year now. Granted, there were about 3 months in there where I didn't do much, but still! A whole year! That thought both depressed and excited at the same time.

In a lot of ways, I don't really think I am where I should be. I could (aka should) be studying a lot more. While I do put in some solid hours every week, I rarely study at home. Most of my studying is done during my spare time at work (of which I have plenty), but it's very rare that I can be seen benkyousuru-ing any Nihongo at my apaato. Not to make excuses, but I think I just get to the point where, after listening to (and barely understanding) Japanese all day, the last thing I want to do at night is study. For some reason, curling up with a steaming hot bowl of ramen and some old America's Next Top Model videos on youtube sounds MUCH more appealing. (Yes, I know, I'm pathetic... :P)
Also, although I should technically know (aka I've studied) about 150 kanji front to back, I'd say I've got a solid grasp (stroke order, on'yomi's and kun'yomi's, etc.) on about 50ish, and then have a basic understanding of another 20 or so.

There are other times, however, when I'm pretty impressed with the progress I've made. For instance, while out with one of my friends' host family, their little girl said to her mom, "きのう, おかしはおいしかった,” which I immediately understood. Sure, it's an incredibly simple phrase ("The sweets yesterday were delicious" - my friends had made smores for them), but I was pleased that I had understood what she meant without having to go through a huge translation process in my head. However, while brief, glittering moments of understanding are slowly becoming more frequent, I'm still saying far too many "uuhh, sumimasen, wakaranai"'s than I'd like.

On a perhaps more interesting note, I think I'm picking up the lovely, sing-songy Fukui dialect (aka Fukui-ben). Here in Fukui, people like to elongate the last vowel of words. For example, I can no longer say 今 (ima - "now") in standard Japanese. While my Tokyo dialect-trained brain might be saying "ima" with a nice, short "a" sound, my mouth can't help but say, "imaaaaaaaaaaaa".
I'm totally embracing it though - what could be better than talking like I'm a Sea of Japan coast country bumpkin?

Anyway, I really don't know where someone should be after a year's worth of studying, but I have a feeling that I should have progressed a bit more. Thus, I solemnly swear to study my butt off and make more of an effort to talk to people. See? I feel better about this whole situation already.

By the way, I'm totally not thrilled with the JET books. I use the Genki textbooks for studying, and I prefer them to pretty much anything else that I've come in contact with so far. I'm still going to do the JET course (you get a fancy smancy certificate for completing it) , but I'm just going through the motions - for me, it's all about the Genki.

In other news, JUST before I got the flu I went to Kyoto for the first time! Very cool, but I wish I hadn't been feeling like death by the end of the day. I plan to go back in December though, so all is well!

I'll write more soon, but in the meantime, let's enjoy a picture! :D

(I'm on the left)

What I'm thankful for.

This whole "blogging" this is pretty new to me. I've kept a journal since I was 15, but I find that the process of writing for myself and writing for others is quite different. Anyway, I suppose what I'm trying to say is bear with me!

I decided to start a blog because, since I've moved to Japan, I've been coming across many things that I'd like to share with all the people back home. While I love that I've moved across the world on my own and that every day brings new, strange, and exciting things, I've come to the conclusion that the most enjoyable experiences of my life have been those which were shared. Ultimately, this blog has been created in that spirit - it's my way of sharing this particular moment in my life.

I'm currently living in Fukui-shi (福井市), Fukui-ken (福井県), Japan. I won't go on about all the of details of my marvelous city and prefecture, but please take a moment to check out the prefectural website. Situated on the Sea of Japan coast and considered rather 田舎, Fukui-ken generally isn't a place that draws in tons of foreign tourists. However, if you happen to find yourself in Japan, it's well worth stopping by. Fukui is beautiful, and its people are absolutely amazing. Although I had never heard of the prefecture before receiving my placement, I feel very fortunate to be living here.

So much has happened since I arrived here nearly two months ago (cockroach killing sprees, a fantastic Silver Week adventure, adjusting to the daily escapades of 中学校 life, etc), but I don't feel like backtracking here. Instead I'd like to write about things that are currently on my mind.

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving and, incidentally, the first real holiday that I've ever spent away from my family. My family is pretty close, so we usually have a big dinner for every major Canadian holiday. Even when people began to move out and away, we'd always make an effort to reunite for those dinners. While it was strange not be there this year, it helped that some fellow Canadian JET's and I celebrated Thanksgiving, Fukui-style.

Two nights ago, six of us gathered into my friend's cosy apaato and threw together a delicious feast! While cooking in Japan does have its limitations (the biggest ones being the absence of full-sized ovens and familiar ingredients), we did rather well considering. We spent the evening eating (chicken [for the non-vegetarians], mashed potatoes, greek salad [with super expensive feta!!!], these thin bread things, homemade carrot cake, and some pretty intense chocolate peanut butter squares), laughing, and drinking red, white, and plum wine. All in all, it was a fantastic evening and one that I won't soon forget.

Generally I don't find any particular value in most of Canada's holidays (I'm not religious, and I don't celebrate Canada Day), so I usually just appreciate the good food & company and the day off. However, for some strange reason, I actually took the time to think about what I was thankful for this year. I think that being here makes me more aware of things - I don't quite know how to explain it. I'm by myself a lot, so there is a lot of time for contemplation.

Anyway, what I'd like to say is that I'm thankful for this opportunity that I'm currently exploring, I'm thankful that I have people to miss back home, and I'm thankful for the new relationships that have been forged in Fukui. I don't know if I'm just feeling particularly genki right now or what, but, for today at least, I really love my life!