There’s something you should know about me before we start this blog relationship… I don’t do well with deadlines for writing. In fact, pretty much every journal I’ve ever tried to keep has failed miserably, with the exception of one travel journal I committed to in college. This is actually my second attempt at blogging about my Japan adventures, and for your sake, let us hope I make it past the first entry. (The first shot wasn’t so lucky.) I refuse to let my experience as an English teacher in Japan go to waste without a good fight, so here we go…
It is Sunday, and I am at school. (Insert your long and sympathetic “Awwwwww” here.) In all fairness, you shouldn’t feel too sorry for me, as I’m pretty much doing nothing, which shows in the fact that I have time to write this blog entry. (Did I mention I get Tuesday off because I had to come in today?) Education definitely tops the business world in time off and fair hours!
The reason I am at school on a Sunday is for the graduation rehearsal and end of year awards ceremony. In Japan, graduation for high school third year students is held in March, and the new school year for the remaining students will begin in April after a three-week vacation. As it would be in America, the hallways are filled with laughter and excitement at leaving high school forever. Some are sentimental as they frantically run around with their memory books to be signed by friends and teachers. Until today, I hadn't signed a year book in seven years, so I was a little rusty. I think I regained my ability and accomplished the typical, "Good luck next year" and "It was great getting to know you. Please stay in touch". A few of the students who were in the English Club or ambitious in speaking with geijin (foreigners) received a more personal message. With over 1,000 students between three schools, they're lucky I can remember their faces.
Before all of the year book hustle and bustle started in the hallways this afternoon, we had our rehearsal for the graduation ceremony, which will take place tomorrow. The rehearsal itself came along with an hour-long awards ceremony where third years were recognized for their achievements. If you have ever visited Japan, you know that everything is extremely formal. You will have an opening and closing ceremony for every event, and there will be speeches by many. For each award given, the student walks to the stage taking every turn at an exact 90-degree pivot. They then bow to the kouchou-sensei (principal) and are given their award. They then bow a second time, turn around, bow to their classmates, and walk back to their seat. This ritual happens for EVERY award.
There is an appreciation on my part for the formality, but there is also frustration. Things can be very robotic in Japanese high schools, and the sincerity isn’t always there. On the other hand, students have a high amount of respect for each other and are better behaved than students in America. Like everything, there are good and bad points.
Along with formality comes the Japanese tradition of bowing. While “practicing” for our graduation ceremony, the students were forced to go through about 15 minutes of practicing how to bow in unison. As if their 18 years of practice hasn’t been enough! They bow in every class, at the beginning and end, and they bow every time they meet someone throughout their day. Despite the vast exposure they’ve had to the art of bowing, they are expected to be at their absolute best tomorrow while the governor of Akita is observing our ceremony. At the end of the practice, they had a stretching session since most of them were pretty stiff from constantly bending over.
Now please understand I’m not dogging on the Japanese culture. In fact, I find the formal and in-synch ceremonies very appealing at times. I just can’t help but think that most of these kids are itching to get away from the Japanese school system, which makes them blend in with a larger group rather than expressing their individuality. (My belief is supported every time I see an old student visit the school with piercings, colored hair, and makeup caked on their faces. It’s like the minute they step out of school doors, they try to shove their individuality out into society for all to see.)
As for the students who will be spending another year or two at Nikaho High School, the teachers will be making sure they blend in for the time being. During the ceremony practice, teachers were constantly walking up and down the rows fixing the students' posture, hand position in their laps, or the way their clothes were situated on their bodies. It truly is entertaining for a foreigner!
I can't wait to see how tomorrow plays out... or the rest of my time in Japan for that matter.
