Today was such a great day spent at Meiyo Junior High School. Upon arriving at school we were escorted to the gym where the entire school population was waiting for us. The students were all seated on the floor. It's amazing how they were all seated in such neat rows. After we entered the students all stood and bowed to us in unison. Welcoming speeches were given as usual and the band played for us. It was great to hear all of the Disney songs!!! After a quick orientation we were sent out into the classrooms. We were allowed to roam from room to room freely. Sometimes teachers and students would acknowledge us, other times we just milled about the room as class went on. We were allowed to take as many pictures as we wanted, however we cannot post them on the internet. I began in a seventh grade English class. The regular teacher was teaching with a British assistant. It was fun to watch and listen to the kids repeating the teacher, then trying to say the words on their own. They appeared extremely nervous to speak English in front of us, but did so at the teacher's insistence. I visited a variety of classrooms, taking pictures in each. The kids were very much into holding their fingers up to symbolize the peace sign for each photo. Gym classes were held in the pool. I watched about ten minutes of free time in which the kids were all running in the same direction around the pool. Some were on backs of others and dunked backwards. Others were pushing for fun and everyone was having a great time, lots of laughter. The two gym teachers were sitting watching, not saying anything. With all the fooling around going on, the kids did seem under control and just having good old fashioned kid fun.
During lunch we ate in classrooms. A handful of kids, dressed in white type lab coats, masks over mouth and nose, and hair covered with net type hats went to the kitchen to get pots of food...rice, bean sprouts and what seemed like stew (beef, chicken, onions, potatoes and carrots in a light gravy). Milk was also served and no dessert. The best part...the kids also served their classmates. They brought each student a tray, then walked around the bowls of food to each peer. The teachers were in the hallways during all of this. The kids were very orderly and when the serving was done the teachers came in. At that point we all began eating with very little talking, maybe only a whisper or two. The only thing you could hear were the chopsticks hitting the sides of the bowls. Yup, the kids all cleaned up their dishes and trays in a very orderly fashion afterwards. Oh, it gets better later in the day!!!
After lunch we did more classroom observing. At 4:00 club activities began. All students are required to take them. Club activities consisted of softball, swimming, gymnastics, instrumental, running and other similar sports. I watched the girls warm up for softball. I didn't get to see them play and would have loved to, but we had to leave and by now we all know that punctuality is key! I did watch for about half an hour though and I do have to admit they were good!!! These girls were really into it and it was clear they knew how to throw a ball. Warm up was much different than that in the US. These girls were doing all kinds of stretching, running, calisthenics with throwing in there too. They meant business when they threw the ball though! I'm sure they could teach the kids back home a few things about how to handle a softball. The best part...yup, more cleaning. The first year students, which were the seventh graders were cleaning! Some were working in the vegetable gardens while others were scrubbing and washing down the sidewalks. Not just hosing them off, but making sure no dirt was left on them...at all! Take note students who will be in my class next year!!!
On our way home we were treated to viewing some ping pong and judo. Wow, you should have seen this one girl throwing around this rather large fellow, hitting the floor with a loud thump. They had a few good laughs over it. It was work though, as one girl was bleeding from the mouth kept at it and did not complain at all. Ping pong was fast! My eyes had a hard time keeping up with the ball at times.
The night was rather uneventful...dinner with some friends, organizing and reviewing my speech for the next day.
A few things to catch up on: Sticker shock...when calculating yen to dollars. A round of golf...30,000 to 40,000 yen or 300 to 400 dollars; Broadway play (traveling troupe of course) 60,000 yen or about $600 or more depending on the show. Of course everything is imported adding to the cost; two beers and a soda...3700 yen or about $37, there's usually a cover charge at the lounges. Oh, how could I have forgotten this...early on, when we first arrived in Tokyo coming in from the airport, this is so the truth...as we were going over the Rainbow Bridge, corny but true, there was a rainbow over Tokyo. That could only mean good things! So far, so true!...Oh yes, the hundred yen shop, translation...dollar store! They're so huge here. Well, I guess they are at home too, but not like here.
Thanks Kathleen for checking over my speech, it went great today. Thanks Bob for long distance help with computer. Thanks Marie for emergency shipments. Thanks Claudia for the last week of school and the laughs I received in your email. You're a saint!
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