The Song Remains The Same

My final day at school had arrived and as I drove onto the parking lot, I was shocked to find the entire lot empty. Wasn't there to be school that day? Had I been misinformed? As I sat in my car for a moment contemplating whether I should enter the building to see if I could find anyone or if I should call my OWLS advisor to see if I had misunderstood my schedule, I watched through the windows a few teachers walking down the hallway. Another few moments passed and I saw a couple of students following. Relieved, I entered the school only to find everyone in frantic preparation for graduation. Apparently, all of the teachers had parked in a nearby field to allow room for the families of the graduates.

Though I knew the 6th grade graduations for all of my schools were imminent, I wasn't aware that they were going to be held that day. And as I saw all of the teachers dressed in their Sunday's finest (a rather inappropriate expression I suppose, considering the culture), I was happy that I happened to have dressed that morning in some of my most conservative clothes; though had I known, I certainly would have worn my suit. I was amused to note that most of the men wore white ties as during one of my training sessions at OWLS, the men were warned that it was inappropriate to wear black ties for any happy event like a wedding or graduation, but that they were more suited for solemn occasions. Given that, I was surprised to see that other than white neckties on the men, black was easily the predominant color of everyone's clothing. All of men and a great majority of the women were dressed in black suits with many of the women also wearing black tops. With the kids in their navy blue suits, the gathering resembled something more like a funeral to my eyes.

Though I had remembered the grab my camera that morning with vague hopes of documenting my last day, my luck held true and as soon as I turned it on, the batteries died. So, unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the graduation, though I have to say that I'm not sure I would have felt very comfortable taking any pictures anyway. Japanese graduations are nothing like American ones. Throughout the ceremony I was reminded of a Catholic mass - it was held in a language I didn't understand with elaborate choreography that everyone else appeared to instinctually know, and with a solemnity that I doubt any American crowd could achieve at such a happy occasion. The only times the audience showed any kind of approval was with controlled applause when the graduates entered and later exited. Other than those two times, the entire crowd was silently attentive, even the little kids.

Sidenote: Speaking of the entrance and exit of the graduates, their musical accompaniment was Pachebel's 'Canon in D.' And later as they received their diplomas, another familiar classical piece was playing softly in the background. And for some reason that tickled me. It's certainly not the first time I've heard classical music - Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin - played in the schools and it always amuses me. I realize that it's ridiculous to think of these pieces of music written by someone over 200 years ago who no more spoke English than I speak Japanese as somehow more part of my culture than of this culture, but I have to admit that I kinda do. I don't know why.

And now back to our regularly scheduled program: As the ceremony began, I amused myself by counting how many times people bowed. I stopped after about twenty minutes into the ceremony at bow number 100. That's about 5 bows a minute. The graduation lasted an hour and a half. Do the math. Though, I have to be honest that the first part of the graduation was a bit bow heavy with the dispensation of diplomas while the last half was filled with speeches and songs and didn't have quite so much bowing. We had speeches from the principle, from a representative from the Board of Education, from the president of the PTA (which to my amusement, they do call the PTA and in actuality appears to consist mostly of grandparents rather than parents), a speech from a gentleman chosen to represent the graduate's parents, and one from a woman that I never did quite work out who she was. Even the younger grades were given their chance to speak, and trust me, you haven't truly lived until you have seen and heard 60 to 70 first graders flawlessly delivering a synchronized speech. It was only a few sentences, but impressive nonetheless.

Afterwards, there was about twenty minutes of people bowing to each other as we shuffled out of the gymnasium. The graduates and their parents retreated to a special picnic that only they were allowed to attend. The younger children raced away to enjoy their half day off from school. And I said my final goodbyes to my co-workers and to the school. It feels like the year went by so quickly.

Album(s) currently playing on my IPOD - Yes' 1973 Tales from Topographic Oceans and The Decemberists' 2009 The Hazards of Love. I read a review of The Decemberists' most recent album that called it, somewhat ambivalently, the group's answer to Yes' 1973 concept album. So I figured it only made sense to re-listen to Tales to before I checked out The Hazards of Love and I discovered that for me, Yes albums play much the same role as Proust's madeleines. Suddenly, I was back in the living room of the house I grew up in with my Dad sitting in his chair reading while I did my homework. It was such a comforting sense memory.

But back to the music. I understand what the critic was trying to say, however I find the Decemberists conceptual execution closer to Pink Floyd's 1979 The Wall. In the end, I have to say that I enjoy The Hazards of Love. The Decemberists are often be tagged as hyper-literary and pretentious, and I'm not going to argue strenuously that they're not. But unlike my high school English teacher, I don't mind looking up words I don't know and if given the choice, I'd rather err on the side of pretension than on the side of 'If You Seek Amy.' 5 points for the gratuitous Britney Spears reference, score!

- Jenny

America's Favorite Pastime?

Did you know that right at this very moment hundreds of millions of people all across the world are tuned in on their radios and televisions to watch a major sporting event? And no, I'm not talking about NCAA men's basketball tournament. As my March Madness bracket begins to sink to the bottom of my pool, all of my neighbors, co-workers, and students are anxiously watching the Japan national team in the WBC.

The WBC? My mind was drawing a blank when Stewart first mentioned over dinner last weekend. The Women's Basketball Championship? The Women's Bowling Challenge? I was pretty sure it was Women's something. As my facial expression no doubt matched my mind, Stewart helpfully supplied an explanation. I was wrong. It's the World Baseball Classic.

The World Baseball Classic. It's the Baseball World Cup basically. It happens every four years and countries from all over the world participate. Did you even know something like this existed? Now, I don't claim to be the average American sports fan. I like to believe that I'm not the average anything. However, I do feel fairly confident that most Americans join me in my ignorance of the WBC, a fact that shocks and dismays most Japanese. This appears to be as big, if not bigger, than the Olympics. During recess and break periods, fifth and sixth year students have been begging to enter the teacher's room to watch the games on the television. It was even the main topic of discussion during my lunch with a second grade class. I had all of these 7-year-olds talking to me so earnestly about the Japanese team and I think even doing a little bit of trash talking about the upcoming Japan v. USA game. Well, we'll just see.

Album currently playing on my IPOD - Beck's 2008 Modern Guilt.

- Jenny

Food Fight!

We've headed into this twilight days of the school year, which of course, means assemblies, events, and other special to-dos. Everyday my class schedule is tweaked: a change in class location, in class time, sometimes even the cancellation of a class.

Last week at Shichijo Sho Gakku, we had a school picnic. I was informed a few days earlier and was told to wear comfortable, casual clothes and to bring a hat and bento. Bento is basically the japanese version of a sack lunch. I considered going to the nearest Hirai Bento store of which there are practically one per block in Kumamoto and simply buying a pre-made bento, but decided that one of my goals as an ALT is to expose the students to a different culture, so instead I went to the grocery store and began to construct my own American style bento. To truly show a traditional American style sack lunch, I should have packed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Just the thought of such an absurd combination is enough to send most Japanese children into a fit of giggles. Unfortunately, I don't like peanut butter, so that was out of the question. Instead, I had packed some sliced canadian bacon, Ritz crackers, apple slices, and two types of cheeses, camembert and aged gouda.

Of course, the day of the picnic began overcast and drizzling. And given the fact that about a 1/5 of the kids had influenza, the principle made the command decision to move the picnic indoors to the gymnasium. I sat with the 4th graders and watched as they all retrieved the small handkerchief wrapped bento boxes from their backpacks. ( For a better idea of what I mean, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Home_made_Bento.jpg) They were already reaching for their chopsticks when I opened my sack lunch and the chopsticks were suspended mid air as they watched with fascination as I revealed my lunch. The kids thought my sandwiches made of crackers, bacon, and camembert were ingenious. But, it was the sight of me eating slices of apple and gouda cheese that sent them into hysterics.

Their own lunches consisted of rice - every child had rice of some kind in their bento, some small meat or fish- usually a very, very small piece of chicken, meatball, or small shrimp, and some fruit - most popular was strawberries as they are in season. Also found in the bentos were various forms of pickled vegetables. And unlike any American child's sack lunch, there was not a sweet to be seen.

We all had a nice time and thankfully I had brought enough crackers to share with the small circle of 4th grade girls I was sitting with. Afterwards, we all played dodgebee, a combination of dodgeball and frisbee and a favorite of all of my students. Alas, we never had the food fight I was so hoping for yet unfortunately unable to start myself in my position of authority.

Album currently playing on my IPOD - The Band's 1978 The Last Waltz. An amazing album and an even better movie. The documentary recording of The Band's 1976 Thanksgiving farewell concert, directed by Martin Scorsese, is perhaps the greatest concert film ever made.

Current reading material - In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, since I refuse to wear green and I abstain from all alcohol on this day, I have been reading poems by one of Ireland's favorite sons, W.B. Yeats. You can check some of them out at http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=7597. While "The Second Coming" is a sentimental, if cliche, favorite of mine; it is "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" which has captured my imagination and fancy.

- Jenny

Shine On, You Crazy...

As I was on my daily walk yesterday, I passed a house and noticed a few articles of clothing hanging out to dry. One was a dark blue t-shirt with the words 'Silver butterflies go better with JESUS' printed on it in silver lettering. Indeed. Well, who am I to argue?

Another sign that caught my attention as I was walking down Shimotori last weekend was for a Thai restaurant named Cabbages and Condoms. No joke. I'm reminded of an urban legend I once heard... Well anyway, I've heard they have fantastic Thai food.

Album currently playing on my IPOD - Pink Floyd's 1975 Wish You Were Here.

- Jenny

Out of The Mouths of Babes

A few months ago, many of my students began the, at first disconcerting habit of shouting 'Yes, we can!" at random moments. Several would continue on with "Big Boss Obama!" to which a very few would counter with "Clinton!" Since then, "Yes, we can" has been fully integrated into my lessons. Instead of asking the students to stand up, sit down, play a game, etc., I ask, "Can we...?" Without pausing and in unison, the entire class will yell "Yes, we can!"

At first, I didn't understand the timing of this "Yes, we can!" outbreak, but I have since acquired a reasonable explanation. Recently, a set of books and tapes have come out using Pres. Obama's speeches as a teaching tool to teach English and they have become very popular here in Japan. No doubt, my students have picked up "Yes, we can" from their family or teachers who have purchased the books and tapes.

Obama started the election season fairly popular with the Japanese people as there is a town in Japan named 'Obama'. And his popularity has only risen since taking office with the attentions his administration has paid to Japan (Secretary Clinton's first official trip being to Japan and Pres. Obama's first White House invitation to a head of state to the Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso). But like many Americans, it is Obama's public speaking that has primarily captured the attentions, both good and bad, of the Japanese people.

On one hand, the Japanese as a society place very little value on rhetoric. They embrace displays of emotion rather than eloquence. In fact, they tend to believe that if someone has the presence of mind to be eloquent, that person cannot feel deeply on which they are speaking. Therefore, the more eloquently one speaks on a subject, the less they must feel about that topic.

But, like many societies, that on which they scoff is often that at which they cannot do themselves and they find themselves jealous of those who can. And so, books and tapes of Obama's public speeches fly off the proverbial shelves beginning a process which ends with young elementary schoolchildren shout "Yes, we can!" to their American school teacher.

Another Americanism that my students have surprised me with is "I'm lovin' it." Several students had to say it a few times before I finally accepted that I was hearing them correctly. It wasn't until one said "Makudonaredo" which is how Japanese pronounce 'McDonald's' before my suspicions were confirmed. I do my best to ignore the sad commercialism represented by this phrase and instead celebrate the fact that they are speaking English.

Album(s) currently playing on my IPOD - David Bowie's 1971 Hunky Dory and Nirvana's 1994 MTV Unplugged in New York.

Current reading material - James Joyce's 1914 collection of short stories, Dubliners. Stewart once talked of reading a book on Norse mythology and being overcome with a feeling of "These are my people. This is where I come from." I understand what he means when I read Joyce's Dubliners. These are my people. This is where I come from. These are not happy stories, in fact many have a certain melancholy about them. But, there is a always a moment where a clarity is found. Often, that moment is brushed over and sometimes willfully ignored by the characters, but in that moment of clarity, I find great hope and in the honesty of Joyce's writing, I find great beauty.

- Jenny