10:21 PM

The Turning Point

So…I decided that I’m going back home in July. My original plan was to spend two years here then go back to do graduate school and start my career. So far, it seems to be going alright lol. But…how am I supposed to tell my students? I, in a cowardly fashion, decided to wait until they very last minute to say anything to the students, simply because I didn’t know how to say it. After January, seniors don’t come back because they have to do preparation and such before coming back March 1st for graduation. March 1st is the date of high school graduation in Japan. So I had two weeks left with my seniors, so I decided that I’ll tell them the last week of January. I would wait until the last Wednesday of January since that day is my weekly English teachers’ meeting. Not to mention the deadline for the decision of whether or not I re-contract is due February 5th, so it fit in well right?

Well, this past Tuesday I took a look at the monthly schedule and I saw my seniors have graduation exams in last week of January! Damnit, so I had to hurry and tell my students this week. Then I find out for that final exam for seniors I had to make another Listening and Interview test. So, not only do I have to tell them that I’m leaving, but now I have to springs tests on them too -.-. it’s find of a hassle but, I didn’t have any choice.


When I told the seniors who are already graduating, they were unbelievably shocked and some were upset. No, no, no…don’t act like this! I reminded them that they’re leaving too and I told them that it was fun teaching them, which it really was. When they concentrate, they can be one of the best classes of the week. So, after I told them and they were still staring at me with wide eyes, it got eerily silent. I didn’t have anything left to say either and I was a bit embarrassed and they said that was “cute” because I never acted so awkward around them before. So, to break the all of a sudden strange atmosphere, I go,”Heh heh…well….this is awkward,” but then I remember that they don’t know that much English so my attempt to break whatever mood I caused had failed lol.


So, after I kinda just stood there... I had to make them write down questions and answers for the Interview Test. Class must go on. At the end of it, a couple of students walked up to me, bowed and thanked me for teaching them. That was very sweet of them. Even my Rockstar Cicada Kenta-kun is graduating and I’m quite sad about that, but then again, I’m so happy that he was able to get into a good college. I hope he uses that college time to travel; it’ll serve him well.

I told the English teachers and the wonderful office ladies and surprisingly I got the question of whether Japan or America is better. Err…..lol…what a….”difficult” question….lol. I told her honestly since she asked honestly, judging by her face after I told her what I thought, I think she expected me to say Japan lol. Eeeerr...I mean my family and friends are waiting for me back in New York. No country can compete with that.
Overall, the seniors took it well and I’ll see them again March 1st when they graduate… but how the hell am I going to tell the 1st and 2nd year students? :-/