Last week was teacher switch day! The crazy time where all the teachers meet in the main office and Vice Principal receives a call from the Principal and the teacher that gets called is definitely getting switched. It feels different from last year. I feel more “in the know” so to speak as opposed to last year when everything was new. So, instead of being confused and wondering why all the teachers came to my office, I went to the library to chat with a few of the female teachers then we all walked together to my former office. I certainly don’t miss the room lol. I knew all the teachers that got called down. I was talking with one of the science teachers and he was explaining that most of the time, one or two teachers from every subject gets switched so one of my JTEs will definitely be transferred.
It wasn’t my supervisor who was switched; it was the other female JTE. Damnit. I was hoping it’d be the older male teacher but he knows he won’t be at risk for transfer for a while. Everyone wants to stay here because it’s close to the city so it’s one of the best places to be. Well, I mean, I’m leaving anyway but I’m glad that the next ALT will get my supervisor. She’s a bit flaky and wishy-washy, but she’s better than most. I wasn’t too upset about the 9 teachers being transferred because I barely spoke to them, but I certainly was shocked about the JTE. I wasn’t upset though because I KNOW she wants to leave because of the academic school JTE who is a bastard to her. She thinks that he has it out for her, but unfortunately I don’t think he cares about her enough to even THINK that much about it. They did have a couple of awkward moments where he yelled at her in the middle of the hallway during cleaning time so teachers and students were milling about. He got angry at her because she didn’t “properly thank him” for a favor she asked of him. I have to be honest: he MIGHT have a small point, but the guy is a bit of a prick lol. He’s asked me and other teachers for favors but he never thanked us, so he’s a hypocrite. That’s not all he is though.
What happened was her son suddenly got ill so she had to take a paid holiday on one Friday afternoon. She usually writes up weekend homework for the students and hands it out but this time she had to leave early because of her son. While they teach different students, all of their students are in the same class, just separate whenever the teachers have them, so she asked if he would be kind enough to print out the homework he has for his students and give them to her students as well. He said fine and he did it. On the following Monday, she was back in school and she was so busy because she had a full day of classes. Nevertheless, she hadn’t seen him for the whole day until he went to her during cleaning time and yelled at her. Wow. After that day she would avoid him whenever possible and tell me how much she hates him lol. My supervisor would act all high and mighty about it and how she thinks she’s being a petulant child and complaining about nothing….until they had their own argument. Her tune changed real quick lol.
In any case, after I found out she got switched I went to her room to chat with her. I asked her where she’s going and all that. She told me that she’s going to the commercial high school. I asked her if that’s good and she said it is because it’s still in Miyazaki City. Another thing she said was, “I CAN say goodbye to him.” Well, when thinking about it like that, it’s a great thing lol.
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The other teachers were trying to figure out a movie to show the students because the semester is winding down. Last year they showed "You've Got Mail" -.-. Ugh. No. It isn't even socially or culturally relevant anymore lol. Not to mention they were knocked out in the first half hour. Awkward. They also suggested showing "Ice Age" or "Shrek." That would be fine, if this were middle school. So...I suggested "Drumline" lol. It's better than their ideas, damnit! It's a part of my culture and I think they would appreciate the "One band, one sound" ideology within the movie. So, I bought it at a giant book/game/DVD/music store here to make sure it has Japanese subtitles and gave it to my supervisor to watch over the weekend. If she likes it, she can vouch for it to other teachers and they'll be passive-aggressively convinced to show it in their classes too. I'm not sure if I'm expecting her to like it, but I can definitely say that I won't be surprised if she wouldn't want to show it. I know it's just "Drumline" and it's not even all that spectacular in the States, but it's a completely different culture, people and beliefs. Perhaps watching this might help destroy some stereotypes, but like I said, I won't be surprised if she wouldn't want the students challenging the same ideas that they were taught in high school about "foreign countries." So...standby and I'll tell you how it goes.
Yes, March 1st is the national graduation day for high schools in Japan. It was strange. It felt different from last year’s graduation. Not better, not worse, just different. I’m not even sure why. It could be because I’ve changed since the last one; I feel as if I’ve grown, learned and understood more compared to how I was around this time last year. So, I’m able to view everything with different eyes. Of course, it was the same as last year; they walk in with music played by the band, class by class, then they sit down. There are a couple of long-winded speeches by people no one knows. Then the Principal calls out everyone’s name one by one. Once they’re called, “they say “Hai!” and stand up. Once everyone is called they bow together then sit back down. After the speeches are finished, a representative of the graduating class goes up on and stage and reads a letter from them to the Principal. The representative this year was one of the girls from the Speech contest! The one who did the environmental speech. Then they all bow together. After the proceedings the graduates march back out to music while everyone applauds. 
It was so sad. These were the only guys that have been with me from when I first got here two years ago. They were a part of the 2E class last year. I felt like I was definitely able to get to know them well enough to believe that I think they’ll be alright! Of course they don’t actually have any interest in English but at the same time, this wasn’t the day for English. I wanted everyone to know exactly what I said, as I say it lol.
After the graduation, the students return to their classrooms and are given certificates and say a couple of words. I went to each and every one of their rooms, said a couple of silly words to cheer everyone up and took some pictures. My rockstar cicada kid wasn’t very spirited. The day before, he went to his father’s funeral. I didn’t find out until yesterday. It was by a car accident. How can anyone make him feel happy about his graduation? This is his only high school graduation and to have something so tragic happen at a normally happy occasion is so sad. There’s no Japanese equivalent for “My condolences” or “My thoughts and prayers are with your family” without translating it literally, but that will come off awkward. So, in this country, it’s best to just say nothing. 
Alright, I admit it. I cried a little -.-. It’s so hard not to. I’m leaving in July so it’s safe to say that I’ll never see these kids again. These kids that made my time here so worthwhile. Especially the all girl class. About 15 of them, including the teacher were crying before I even went in the room. Then it hits me that I’ll never see these young women again and I couldn’t hold back my emotions. It’s embarrassing! -.- I was able to cheer them up with some jokes but there was always that lingering feeling that this really IS goodbye. I really do hate crying in front of people -.-.
Unlike last year, the students didn’t adjourn to the biggest classroom and eat lunch; most of them had already gone home. The last time spent in their classrooms was longer than last year, so I guess there’s no time. I was a little disappointed about that but there’s nothing I could do. I certainly feel just as tired last year as I do now; it takes a lot out of you. I saw the new students a couple of weeks ago and I’m a bit sad that I won’t get to know them like I do my current students, but I guess I’ll leave that up to the next ALT. Thinking back on my last graduation post when I said that I think it’ll be a good year, it definitely was a good year, after all. 
The day after (today), my rockstar cicada came to see me. Surprisingly, he asked for the video of his speech contest. I was so surprised because he never wanted to see it lol, until now I guess. Of course I had it so I put it on a DVD for him and told him to pick it up at the school. My supervisor wanted to see it and I realized that the quality is not that great on it, so when he got here I asked him if he had a flash drive. He owns one but he didn't bring it, so I told him to come again with the flash drive and in the meantime he can watch the DVD. Even now he actually didn’t want to watch it lol. Weird. I mean, there are some aspects of Japanese culture that are based on appearances and despite his own personal tragedy, I felt a genuine happiness from him. I think he’ll be alright.
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? :-/