A week of lasts

Three cheers for free Internet at Starbucks!

The past week was full of good-byes. Monday was a training day, so no good-byes that day, but Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were all final days at various schools.


Tuesday was Tsunoe. On the whole, the year five and six kids were a mediocre bunch, but the year six teachers were really special. All year, they always had time to talk to me. I don't know how many meetings we had that lasted well over an hour (and well past my finishing time), because although we finished the official material in the first 10-15 minutes, we just kept talking about anything and everything. This happened even at the start of the year, when my Japanese was still quite poor. Somehow, Bingo and Ono had a way of understanding me, and making themselves understood. As my Japanese improved, the "meetings" were fantastic.

At the end of the day, I said good-bye to all the teachers individually, with many hugs, and then when I went to leave, the Vice Principal made an announcement, and everyone stood and clapped as I left. I waved and waved and waved, then left and closed the door in tears. Outside, was the Principal. I shook hands with him, accepted his admonishment about my tears, and then realised that I had forgotten something in the staff-room. That got a good laugh.


Wednesday was Nampeidai. First class was ok, the second was predictably terrible. Last English?  About time. The third class was my good year five class, always the highlight of my Nampeidai day, except on those days where I got to play with the littlies. We did the chicken dance, and they were incredibly enthusiastic and we had a blast. Fourth period was a disaster. Actually, the class went tolerably well after the initial shenanigans, though the kids were still a bit difficult.

In fifth period, and part of sixth, instead of teaching the last class of (difficult) year sixes, I was taken up to the "Mountain School". This is a special residential school, staffed by Nampeidai teachers, for children in Osaka Prefecture who have been removed from their families due to abuse. The better adjusted of these kids live on site but go to Nampeidai school (which is a part of the reason there are so many behavioural problems at the school). The kids who are having more difficulties get taught at the Mountain School. I'd heard a bit about the school, but hadn't previously visited it. It was hard. There are only four classes there, covering the six year levels, and I had them in two groups for half a lesson each. The kids weren't bad, but they were all over the place. Several of them were incredibly withdrawn, some were trouble makers, and none of them were particularly enthusiastic, except a cute little year one girl who was the only year one student at the school. I hope they got something out of it.

I returned back to the main school, and said my good-byes. When I left, three friendly older ladies walked me out and stood by the school gate, waving to me for the next few minutes as I walked down the street. I was touched, but not in tears. Despite the wonderful leadership and great teachers at the school, I was relieved that I wouldn't have to come back and teach the 3.5 bad classes (.5 because one class could be good, or terrible, depending on time of day and, I suspect, the direction the wind was blowing, or something equally irrelevant).


Thursday was Nankan (Minami Okanmuri). During the morning meeting, they gave me a present, and I almost cried. Lessons were slightly chaotic. Year six lessons were a bit all over the place, but they usually were. Year five at that school are absolutely brilliant. To reward them for being fantastic all year, I organised a Vegemite tasting. Sadistic? Maybe. I pre-spread the Vegemite on Ritz crackers, and had mostly positive results, although there were still a number of kids who went racing for a drink to wash it down. Two of the classes were doubled into one period, half a period each.. There was a mess up in the schedule, and there was no way I was going to be cheated of one of my fantastic classes for the last lesson.

In the afternoon, all the teachers were in various staff meetings. I waited until a bit after 5, then spoke to the Vice Principal, who advised me that it was the last such meeting of the year, and would probably continue for a while yet. What was I to do? I invaded each of the meetings to say good-bye, to the surprise of the teachers involved.


Friday was Takenouchi. They gave me flowers during the morning meeting, and I nearly broke down. I actually had bad dreams the night before about saying good-bye to one of my Takenouchi classes, I love those kids so much. I did Vegemite tasting with all the classes - that's a lot of Ritz crackers to spread. With year six, for no particular reason except that the teachers wanted to, we had a food party. We gathered in the Home Ecc room, and decorated crackers with cream, marbles (smarties), marshmallows, chocolate sauce, cream cheese, ham and tuna. There were some odd combinations...

When it came to saying good-bye to my favourite class (I admit I had a favourite, they were so sweet and energetic, although that day they were slightly hyper), one of the boys started mock crying, we discovered later to cover the fact that he was actually crying. Another boy started crying, and then the teacher and I started. I didn't have time to wallow in self-pity though, as I had to race to period six and start preparing another Vegemite tasting.

I finished period six with a sense of shock. That class started off a bit difficult, but has grown to be a really sweet class. That combined with the fact that it was all over, my year's occupation just finished, really left me feeling bewildered and close to tears. Soon after that, one of the girls from my best class arrived with a letter for me. She gave me a hug, and waved and waved as she left. When she closed the door I burst into tears, to the amusement of the teachers around me.

I got in my good-byes early, as there was a staff meeting, and spent the rest of the afternoon scabbing school Internet to work on blog posts. When I left, several of the teachers walked me out, with promises that they would attend our farewell party. That's about it. A year of teaching English is at a close, all that's left now is to finish up other business, and fit in a bit of sight-seeing.