So this post should have gone before our week snowboard trip up to Hokkaido, but I'm just getting around to it today. There were no tears at school my final day, I guess I didn't expect any though. It was funny as I had actually 6 hours of classes on my final day compared to my usual 3 or 4. Guess they tried to make me work extra hard on the last one. I was told that after lunch they would have a little meeting to say goodbye and that I should prepare a speech (in Japanese). Well I wasn't hoping for anything big and it definitely wasn't. There was 3 minutes left as the teachers finally started coming to the staff room before the next period bell rang. Quickly the English teacher said a few thing and then I stood up and gave my last speech in Japanese, probably forever. I said all nice things, even if I didn't want to and then the bell rang...class time! The teachers clapped and then quickly moved out of the room. As I said before I wasn't expecting much, but a 3 minute meeting was a little less then I expected, seriously! I had been there for year and half and all they could give me was a 3 minute going away party. I'm not bitter, but thankful that teaching there is OVER! Granted, I have no idea what's next on the agenda. Here are a few pictures of my school and the English teachers I taught with. Actually at the end of the day the English teachers gave me a few present which was nice. I got some new chopsticks, slippers, a door curtain all of Japanese prints. Though, I will miss teaching at the elementary schools as those were the most fun and kept me busy all day. The kids were great and I probably learned most of my Japanese with the 1-6 graders. In the last week they all made little origami animals and wrote notes to me. I guess it was okay they all thought my name was Ms. Jan or Ms. Jane and wrote it on every letter :)

I worked out in the rice fields


Sakae Jr. High School


Second year students on my last day


The English teachers I worked with (the guy in the black coat was always scared to talk to me that he would just cancel my classes so I wouldn't have to teach with him)