Now that summer is here (hot humid and sticky) and I have got all my photos off my camera I can tell you about spring. I have also finished my first subject of my graduate certificate, which gives me a little more time for writing.
So, spring in Japan. All Japanese people love spring. They complained when it was too cold and now they're complaining that it's too hot. (I even had one teacher today tell me how much he preferred winter over summer.... interesting, I 
remember he didn't like winter at all!!). One thing I have learnt in Japan is to like what you have or otherwise you'll never be happy. Apart from a few weeks in autumn or spring the weather in Japan is not that great. As you can see (or possibly know) spring is about cherry blossom trees. Sakura is the Japanese word for cherry blossom. They really like cherry blossoms - they have elaborate picnic drinking parties under the trees, the locals take photos of the trees and they even make cherry blossom flavoured soft drinks. And yes, it tasted terrible! The cherry blossom chocolate was ok though.
At the end of spring is Golden Week, almost a week of public holidays. Children seem to be rather important at this time and there are different festivals and activities for boys and girls over this time. Lots of fish-flags are put up (our neighbours made a lot of nice that Saturday morning). The picture is near our local castle where flags have been coloured in/painted and strung up over the water. While you might think a week of public holidays is a good time to travel, guess again! Every Japanese persons thinks so too. So we had a very nice relaxful time close to home. (That was also the week I did some serious work on my essay for uni).
The last thing of interest was "the mystery of the swollen eyes." One night I woke up halfway through the night and discovered that one of my eyes had swollen shut. It was a bit of a surprise. At that time I thought I'd just gotten bitten by a mozzie (I'd had a few bites on my face previously and they swelled a little but were always ok by morning). I wasn't quite sure whether to put cream on, so I just left it and went back to sleep. In the morning both my eyes were swollen. As always these things happen on a day off work, and after some debate (and the realisation that it wasn't going to go away on it's own) I decided to go to the doctor.
The incredible thing is when you go to a doctor in another country, there are some things you just don't have to explain. Once they decided that I didn't have renal failure, and it was probably just an allergic reaction, I was able to go to the chemist (more stares and exclamations), get some antihistamines or something and it went down over the next few days. Ready for me to go back to work! But the mystery remains: allergic to what? something I ate? mozzie bites? my new feather pillow? Incidentally I decided Dan could keep the feather pillows, and I used the opportunity to ask my employer (who organised my apartment) about fly screens.
Good news everyone! One of my students won an English speaking contest! YAY!! The students had to memorise a short story (in two weeks) and present it at a competition. One of my school had 2 year 8 students enter it. I didn't get to help my students as much as I wanted (I was at the other school while they were preparing), but I was able to record myself reading it. Their English teacher is fantastic and helped them lots!
The competition was on Saturday at a local high school. I was fortunate to have my teacher take me instead of having to figure out a map to find the place!
Both the girls did a fantastic job! They both worked really hard - they memorised it, thought of some actions and spoke well in front of everyone. They were the only year 8 students there - everyone else was in year 9! I was surprisingly proud even before we found out our student had won! No-one told me how great it feels when your student does a really good job. I'm sure I wouldn't have felt that good if I had won it!
They were judged on: how well they memorised it, their pronunciation and delivery. I noticed that the student who won also had a very natural rhythm (actually sounded a bit like me, guess she really did listen to the recording I made).
The trophy, which is quite large, seems to be kept at the school. I also gave them an Australia pen each (thanks Mum and Dad).
There are a few of these contests around, and it was nice that I didn't have to judge this one.
The students were able to choose a story out of 5 options. This is the reading they girl who won chose to memorise:
The Fox and the Stork
At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal hungry as when she began.
“I am sorry,” said the Fox, “the soup is not to your liking.”
“Pray do not apologize,” said the stork. “I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon.”
So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at the table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar.
“I will not apologize for dinner,” said the Stork.....
One bad turn deserves another.
We are approaching the end of the school year. At first I thought it was strange that they start the year in April and have the summer vacation in August, but after talking to one of the teachers I agreed that it wasn't so surprising - Japanese people are very conscious of the seasons and believe that it's best to start things in the spring.
So I'm saying goodbye to the third year students (year 9) as they finish junior high school and go to another school. This has been a great class and I'll miss them!
I went to their graduation ceremony on Friday. It was interesting. The staff were really dressed up - they looked like they were at a wedding of a family member. The female third year teachers wore traditional Japanese kimonos. The ceremony was very long (2 hrs) and by the end my but was aching and going numb, but every time I moved my chair squeaked! I guess I should be thankful that I was able to sit on a chair. For most of our ceremonies, the kids sit on the floor and the teachers stand or sit on the floor. I was amazed how much crying went on. The third year students sang a song as a class, but halfway through there were so many crying (boys and girls) I was amazed the song was able to continue. Then I looked at the staff and they were all crying!
There was a bit more ceremony and photos, but I still managed to get an early mark from work so I could go home before the staff drinking party. Yep - students graduate and the teachers go out and party. The party cost about (8000 yen or $120 AD with the current exchange) and was held in a private room in a big hotel. Once we started on the beer and food, the speeches started up again! While it was difficult for me to remain interested in the speeches, I had a good time talking with other staff (something I don't usually get the opportunity to do) and avoided the after party karaoke!
You probably haven't heard much from me over the last few weeks because I've been trying to organise a distance education course with varying degrees of success. I'm doing a Graduate Certificate of Education (Special Education). Although I began organising this early, they lost (!?) my application so I've been finalising everything at the last minute. It's week 3 now and I'm still waiting for/trying to access study materials. I also just had a look at the assignment and thinking it's not going to be possible to do while I'm here in Japan.... information which would've been useful earlier. Hopefully it will work out and I'll be able to catch up ok - it is only one subject for this semester.
Happy birthday Paul, glad it's not past your "used by date"!
