Sayonara

Today was the graduation ceremony for the third grade students. I can't believe it. The kids that graduated today were tiny cute little first graders when I first came here. That they are not my students anymore must mean that it will soon be my turn to graduate, i.e. leave Japan. Has time really gone so fast? Yes, it feels like a long time since I was living at home and working at Countdown, but even so I really can't believe that I have spent nearly three years here.

Graduation ceremonies here in Japan are a lot more emotional than I remember them being in New Zealand. There are a couple of reasons for that. First, student-teacher relationships are a lot closer here. Second, it is socially acceptable for boys and men to cry. Therefore many students cried during the ceremony, and even before they started the three (male) third grade teachers were sniffing and mopping at their eyes with handkerchiefs.

Why are teachers and students closer than in New Zealand? Students are allowed to come into the staff room to see teachers whenever they want to. The teachers are not just the homeroom and subject teachers of the students, but also the managers of their sports and cultural clubs. All students are members of a club, and they all spend hours everyday practicing, so that means that the students get to know their club manager very well. The teachers have a much bigger involvement in the students' lives: for example, if a child gets in trouble outside of school or gets hurt, the police will call their teacher first, not their parents. Also, it is okay for teachers here to express fondness for their students (within reason). They are not discouraged from being friendly. Japan does not see paedophiles under every lifted stone, so it is okay for teachers to clap students on the back or ruffle their hair. All these factors combine to create a very good cohesive school atmosphere. Which brings me back to: today was a very emotional day.

After the ceremony, all the second and first grade students and the teachers lined up in two lines making a human corridor leading from the front door of the school to the school gate, and the newly graduated students walked through the corridor to the sound of an extended round of applause. Then they doubled back and ran around taking photos of each other and getting their mothers to take photos of them with the teachers. I ended up in a few photos.

This evening there was a party for the parents of the graduating students, and of course the teachers went too. It seemed very short to me. All I ate was some vegetables, some rice and some cake and then it was time to go home. Whatever.


The above is a picture of the students who graduated today. It is quite an old picture. Actually, it's from half way through their second year, but all I have of them since then are busy, messy pictures of them playing tug-of-war at the sports day last year and videos of the culture festival, which would be a hassle to upload.