Well...

It's official. I am no longer a gaijin in the wonderful world of Japan. I have barely been "home" 24 hours and it is a strange feeling. After a year, I have grown fairly accustomed to a homogenous society...and the U.S. is clearly not that way...at least not at LAX or in Redding. But it was nice being able to have a conversation with a cashier and use my debit card. I miss Japan a lot and it really hasn't sunk in yet that I no longer live there. I want to go back (to visit, not to live) as soon as I can.
So, as of now, this blog is dead. I suppose I can save it for those times that I do travel back to Japan (hoping that I do).
Sayonara.
~Jamie

Goodbye Letters

My JHS students wrote me letters. It was cute. A lot of the girls put purikura stickers on their letter, so I will be able to remember their faces. I have a few addresses and I have promised to be a pen pal to some. Yay. I do hope to keep in touch with a few of these kids. I know they will have promising futures. I told them I was "maybe" coming back to visit again in spring. Anyone down for a trip to the 'Bu in March 2008? :)

Flowers. They DO love me.


Noriko's letter to me. She will be one of my pen pals. Such a sweetheart.


Kanae's letter.


They were supposed to draw pictures in the bottom right hand corner of the letter.
Here is a cute one.


This kid wanted me to know that he had no "imagination" to draw.


And perhaps one of my favorite letters from Wataru, one of my 15 year old kendo boys. Finally, someone sees me for what I really am. :)

And his picture. He wanted me to remember that he wears black glasses, or "brack megane" (glasses.)

A Little More Matsuri and Fun at Goh's

Friday, the 20th, was my farewell ceremony at my junior high school. It wasn't too sad. I gave a little speech, they gave me flowers, we clapped. The students all left school by 11:00am, so it was a short day. I had a meeting at 2:30, so I had to say "さようなら" to my co-workers for the last time. I'll miss their faces.
After my meeting, I headed down to the festival with a few friends and walked around...running into ALL my students again...and then two more times. I didn't take too many pictures this time.

My JHS girls in their yukatas 浴衣 (informal summer kimono).

Some of my elementary girls in their yukatas. They are so cute.


A float "garage."


The main event in this festival is the men who carry the mini-float through the Arakawa River and then carry it through the streets. They drink the entire time they do this, and I have no idea how they even make it through the day. They look so tired and that float can't be the lightest thing in the world.


Some important Chichibu Shrine people.


After the festival, Lynnette and I headed to Mr. Goh Arai's house. Goh is a chairman in the Chichibu City Council. He is the youngest councilman ever in Chichibu. And he is a cool guy. He went to college in the U.S. and speaks English very well. This is the second time I have been to his house, so there will be pictures from that night as well. He has a really cool lounge-like room with a full bar, karaoke, Wii...

Goh in his traditional float pulling gear. He participated in the festival because he is a V.I.P. Or at least he thinks he is.


They wear some pretty cool pants...looks like he is wearing a diaper.


This is Junichiro (Jun), Goh's best friend from childhood. He is hilarious. He was in San Diego for a month back in 2000-soomething. It is strange talking to someone in Chichibu about Balboa Park and learning his surprised reaction to Hillcrest. He does know some random English. It sucks though because if I try to be a smartass and say something really fast, usually one of them catches it. Damn! It has finally caught up with me. Jun works for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He speaks tagalog, so he translates for the Dept. He also loves Lynnette because she is Filipina and likes to talk to her in tagalog. :)
"Karate-chop!"


They loves them some karaoke.


These pictures from the first night at Goh's. Most of them I can't post though...I don't want to cause a scandal in the Chichibu government.

Goh, Yuko, Jun, Miyuki




Best buddies


Four hours later...


And a picture of me and two of my third grade students (this has nothing to do with this post...just didn't feel like editing another one.)

My last matsuri. :(

Tonight and tomorrow (all day) is one of the summer festivals in Chichibu. It is for the children of the town, so I ran into pretty much every one of my students tonight. It was good, since tomorrow is my last day. I will miss these kids more than I realize.

There are also a lot of beautiful floats...pictures don't really do them justice. You have to hear the banging of the taiko drums and the chanting of the people on the floats to get the real feel. Come to Japan!



Later that evening...


The floats at Chichibu Shrine.


This is where they house the floats. They are all over Chichibu.


I ran into Joey and Juliana (English teachers, but not JETs) and their 6 month old twin babies. Cute.


Some of the students I ran into...at least the ones who didn't run from the camera.
They look so grown up in out of their uniforms.

I can always count on these boys to be willing to take pictures...Keigo, Daichi, and Retsu.


My volleyball girls.


Me, Ryo (former Killer Kid), and his "girlfriend" Kaori (who is also my student.) I ADORE Ryo. I know his life story now and he hasn't had it easy. He has a heart of gold though. One of those kids I'll remember 20 years from now.


More pictures to come...another day of festivities tomorrow.

Arachu

Just some more pics from junior high school. Today was my official last day of "teaching."

My ichi nensei 1A class (first years...7th grade equivalent.) I am the floating head in the back.


Osawa-sensei (Yumiko) and me. She just came to Arakawa at the start of this school year (April), but I like her. She actually uses me in the classroom. I would have gotten a picture of my other English teacher, but I am pretty sure that he thinks photographs steal your soul.

I didn't know robots had souls.



The view I look at everyday from the third floor. Beautiful...and you should see it in the fall. They are building a new bridge over the river though, so it disrupts the harmony of it all.


Studying hard.


Mami


Naruki doing his best impression of President Nixon.




Nami. She punches me in the arm everytime I walk by her, and I do the same. Damn...I'll miss hitting my students without getting arrested. :)


Risa and Yuka, my third years.


The hams...Keigo and Naoto, with Daichi hanging out in the back.


Keigo convering his face with some famous guy I don't know of.


Hikaru at lunchtime with his little beetle friend.


Cute, huh? He was chillin' on the table as we ate.


Bread anyone?


Brushing time.
Miyu and Saki.

Yuya, Rice Boy, and Retsu


Mari hauling arse down the stairs. I hid around the corner and scared the crap out of her. She always pokes me and tries to tickle me. Needless to say, she didn't leave me alone after I took this picture.


Cleaning time.

Keigo vacuuming. This kid is awesome. Such a ham.


Sweep...sweep...sweep.


Cleaning the "outdoor shoes" cubby holes.