Death of a student

Kenzo the quite student who always go teased got up early one morning. He went right into the class room. When he heard kids starting to teas him he gave up. He went on the balcony and committed suicide. This was terrible. How could such a thing happen. Japan has a large suicide rate and now even kids are doing it. It was a very sad day. I wish I could have stopped it, but I was to late.

spring time

Cho comes to my house on this lovely day to celabrate spring and the coming of cherry blossoms. We went to his home town for the celabration. This festival is very popular and people come from all over Japan. The place is covered with pink streamers and of corse there are cherry blossoms. While talking to Cho I found out that he is not going to mary Chieko. The only reason for this is because they went to different collages it dose not make sence.

Graduation

In Japan graduating from junior high school to high school is very important. The students work hard for that day so that they can go to a good highschool. This graduation is so important because the students will no longer learn in there hometown. The day before the students practiced how to sit, stand, and bow properly so they will not mess up during the ceramony. The parents crowded in the gym for the ceramony. It went pretty well.

Craming

In Japan children cram alot for school. This can help there education and harm it at the same time. In America some kids will study to much, while others do not study at all. In Japan there is so much disaplin that kids always study.

parenting

Today I found out that the teacher is the one who dose mothering not the actual mom or dad. This is very strange it is almost as if the parent has no control over the child. In America the teacher dose not have very much control. They have the right to teach the child and if nessasary punish them, but no teacher rases the child. This custom in Japan is very strange.

Blind date

Hara one of Cho's friends asked If I would go to a gocon with him. I agreed even though I was not sure what it would be like. All I knew was that a boy and a girl invited their friends, and then the people paired up. We got there and I found out I was the only one with out a date! There was only one girl I liked but I thought that she was the other guys girl friend she was not. Then a fight started, I was curios about it and the sweet girl actually asked for me it was a little strange but also kind. The dating prosses starts with eating, then disco, and last but not least there is coffee. The first to parts did not go very well niether did the coffee part because kana called americans later how rude!

teaching about race

Today when I was teaching about America to the seventh graders, I tried to teach them that people come from different countries but all live in America and speek english. To my suprise most understood and one girl even asked about descrimination. I was very suprised and not sure how to answer, but I had to tell the truth so I told her that there was descrimination. The students asked a little to many questions. This is fine I do not mind.

getting hurt

I was playing tennis and I was winning until my ankle twisted. It did not hurt much, so I thought I would be able to continue. I was wrong instead I had to go to the hospital. For this unevere sprain they diagnosed a cast. I even asked for my friend who was a docters opinion And he said to get a cast. It is anoying I am fine I can move it and walk on it. It hurts a little but I don't think I need a cast. Oh well I geuss I won't be walking any time soon.

uniforms

In America uniforms are not important. In Japan they are very important. The code is very strict. Today some students forgot part of their uniforms. This is a big disgrace so there teacher shunned them on the megaphone. This teacher also has signs about the correct uniforms next to his office. I'm not quite sure the reason for such strict rules with uniform, but I know that in America this would have not happened. The boys have to where black pants and blazer. And the girls wear navy blue skirts and blazers. Both genders have to wear perffect white shirts with out wrinkles. There also rules about the shoes, sweaters, and sports clothing that is aloud to be worn.

The welcome party

I got an invitation to a welcome party how nice. I am the gest of ohner so of corse I have to go. It is at a nice hotel. I walk in every body is drinking it is nice to see every body happy and free, but they don't seem like they are the same people that are at work but they are. Affter this we go to a karaoke bar. Every body is very crazy here. I would rather not disscus what has happend here.

Teaching ninth grade

This teacher seemed alot less strikt she gave me more time so I felt like I could meet the kids. They all had such boring uniforms blazers and either a skirt or pants. It was not like the tipacal uniform that is a little more looce.

Teaching seventh grade

My first class was with the seventh grade english teacher none of the students were having fun. I thought they would ejoy learning a nother language, as I liked learning more japanese. The teacher rushed through my introduction so fast that no one could really know me very well. Then they had to resite chapters by heart. I did not think this tought any thing. Even people who are born english speaking memorize things like that. It is not a real test of skill only memory.

My first day

One of my colleags drove me to school today, so i would know how to get there. This is very nice in america we just mapquest places if we do not know where they are. We were driving along when all of a sudden these Japanese kids started bowing in unison. Why were they doing this now instead of waiting for us to get in?
When we got iside we went to the big room with the desks again and talked about todays plan I met the teachers I would be teaching they were all very nice.

Going to the school

Today we went in to the school. Every body is quite nice but they do not seem to know how to act around me. At the school all the teachers work in one big room with alot of desks when they are not teaching. It is very crowded in this room I really would rather have my own office.

going to the baths

Today I was invited to bathe with men who will soon be my colleagues. It is kind of strange, in America no one takes baths or showers with other people. I was in shock! I had no clue what to do so I started to get undressed. The other men were staring at me I am not sure why, but it was a little irritating. One of the men lent me a small whight towl to cover my self. I put it on and we walked to a cavern inside of a mountian, inside of this cave there was the hot springs with dosens of men bathing. I entered the cave with a few of the other teachers. The man who handed me the towl now started to talk, he told me that his name was Mr.Cheryblossom, he also lead me in to an area specialy reserved for cleaning your self. At the cleaning station there was no soap instead you just have to clean your self with your hands and some water. It seamed perculuar to be bathing your self just to take another bath!