Thank you Iino Elementary!

I called this my 'country school.' The students have their own rice paddy, grow vegetables outside their classrooms and are usually much better behaved. The school requires the students to wear school uniforms. And there is no talking at lunch. It is much stricter than my other elementary school. This is the school where the star wars teacher used to work. So for almost three years I looked forward to going to work because I would be entertained by her conversation and stories. And she always made sure to give me extra school lunch...something the new teacher makes sure I don't get! Hmm?

The 2nd and 3rd graders were always my favorites. They knew me from the start and that seems to make a world of difference. I'll miss all those little ones! But Iino also had a few GREAT teachers that I really loved teaching with. The kind of teachers that inspired and motivated students just by walking into the classroom. It is impressive!

Iino was my first official school good-bye speech and my last school enkai! Two weeks ago I stood up in front of the student body and told a little story about a duck who got lost at sea and made new friends. And I compared myself to that duck. It's a book by Eric Carle called 10 Little Rubber Ducks. I'm not sure the students got the metaphor, but I hope they enjoy the book!

The school good-bye was dramatic of course. Students and teachers presented me with gifts each class made. After school we had coffee and cake in the staff room. Teachers who never talk to me outside lesson planning chatted me up! And we agreed to meet two weeks later for dinner!

Two weeks later after all the other good-byes and parties, I was thrilled to find out it would be at my favorite izikaya and was a small get together!! It was fun to see some of the teachers again in a more relaxed environment. I'm gonna miss this little country school with ostriches out back and a Guinness world record for jump roping!

Kancho or Charlie's Angles?

Saying 'see you' to the 3rd graders

My last school lunch

The Iino Elementary School Staff

A mini-enkai at Kokuriko Izikaya

Saki & her Momma

I met Saki's momma at Autobacs, the local car/auto mechanic/oil change shop. I remember going there the first time and being totally nervous. It is one thing to do these kinds of chores in your own country, but it's another thing altogether when you are negotiating a new language and culture. But Saki's momma was so helpful and patient. She spoke slowly and clearly--a natural at communicating with someone who couldn't communicate in her native language. It's truly an art and many people fail at it!

Our customer/Autobacs service counter employee relationship continued for awhile before I ran into her outside of work. It turns out she is a bit of a party momma too! And we had a few wild nights at our favorite bar. It was during one of those wild drunken dance party nights that she showed me a picture of her daughter and told me she was a single mom. In a town this small, it wasn't too surprising that her daughter was one of my students, but until people point those things out, it's not obvious!

It wasn't long before Saki found me at school and asked if I knew her momma. Yes, of course I did, but I hoped she didn't know the WHOLE story! Anyway, because of that connection, she and I bonded at school and she was always reminding me that I knew her mom!


Last year JP and I ran into Saki and her Momma at Gosaro, a local ramen restaurant. We had dinner together and ever since we talked about doing it again. Last week, we did it again as a farewell party! Unfortunately, JP couldn't make it!


As people, we don't have a lot in common, but they both love learning and asking questions! That is what made the 2 hour dinner possible! Even, Saki, a 3rd grader with no previous exposure to foreigners had a ton of questions for me. And her pure curiosity drove the conversation most of the night. With some people these 'farewells' feel a bit contrived, a formality we all have to submit to. But dinner with Saki and her momma was honest and fun. I know it must be a struggle to get by as a single mom in Japan, so a dinner out was truly a gift. But they also gave me three years of friendship and patience. For that I'm thankful!



I gave Saki my address and requested a letter! I hope she writes to me!

Nishichu, I'll miss you!

After about a month of saying good-bye to individual classes, finally, on Friday I stood up in front of 450 students and teachers and gave my farewell speech. It was brutal. I got through the Japanese version without crying or getting choked up. Bu the English version choked me up. Even though the the English one meant nothing to the students, the words carried a lot of meaning for me. After my speech, the student council president and vice president came up on stage and she gave a speech in English. She thanked me for three years and wished me luck all in English. They gave me flowers and by that time my face was red and puffy with tears dripping off my face. I returned to my seat, the students sang the school song which I sobbed through and then I had to leave. The students parted and I had to walk through the sea of clapping students and teachers. There were several teachers waiting for me at the door and they patted me on the back and commented on my speech. The teachers ushered me out the door and the VP escorted me back to the teachers room. I collapsed in exhaustion until everyone returned from the closing ceremony almost one hour later.




Several hours later I ate my last staff room lunch. We all ordered bentos and ate together in the meeting room. I made chocolate chip cookies and brought chocolate as omiyage which was served for dessert.




I was hoping since it was my last day, I could escape early and hopefully without fanfare. But it wasn't to be. I was asked to meet with a student and her mother. This student doesn't come to school regularly so it was pretty special that she came to say good-bye to me. We chatted about her upcoming trip to Disneyland this summer.

After making my rounds at school and bidding 'see you' to the students AGAIN, I finally packed my bags and headed for the door. Teachers and students were summoned to congregate and wave me off. It sounds so romantic and like a scene out of a movie...but I guarantee you, it is not something I enjoy! It just inspires tears and it becomes impossible for me to do anything but mumble a quiet and somewhat pathetic 'see you' and 'thank you.'

I hate saying good-bye especially to teachers and students who have been so welcoming and wonderful the last three years!

The Ultimate Enkai!

Nishichu, my main school, threw the ultimate farewell enkai for me. I had no idea what to expect, but I didn't expect this. It was a super great night! It was full of laughing, singing, dancing, crying, speeches, food, beer, more beer, and more beer. And the highlight was of course dressing me up in a yukata! It was fun playing dress-up and everyone loved seeing me dressed up...it was wild! It was a really great night with lots of teachers that I have come to think of as my family! They have all helped me in so many ways. I'm really really going to miss Nishichu! 'Miss' is an understatement....it's just too overwhelming to try and put into words what so many of these people have meant to me, that unfortunately, all I'm left with are these meaningless expressions like 'miss' or 'thank you' when really I want to say so much more! I just don't know how in these kinds of situations.

My dinner table!

The crazy lady dinner table!

Whoa...I'm wearing a yukata!! Thanks Everyone!

The English Teachers

The strongest guys in town!!

Nishichu's previous VP!

Nishichu Teachers and Staff

Crying through my speech!

A good-bye message card from the teachers!

Going crazy at Karaoke!

3rd+ Year ALTs Say Good-bye

Our Serious Faces

About a month ago, in very Japanese-style, most of the 3rd+ year ALT in Toyama gathered at the Nepalese restaurant for a sayonara-enkai! Of the many many ALTs that arrive in Toyama in August of 2004, this is all that's left, plus a few 4th year ALTs. We came from all corners of the ken and shared stories of packing, good-bye parties, post-JET plans and funny stories from our three years. Everyone has something exciting planned and it's fun to hear about where people are going and what people will be doing in a few short months. I wonder if we will ever cross paths again. Part of me knows that it isn't likely, but if we do, we will instantly have so much to talk about and will have three years of memories to reminisce and remember. Good luck everyone!

Our English Teacher Faces

Ducks Farm

I wonder how many hours I have spent here in the last three years? And I wonder how many cups of coffee I have drank? I didn't discover it for about a year, but after I did it became my favorite place to study and relax. Plus they have free wireless. So during the height of my studying for the Japanese proficiency test and my MA studies, I would often go to Ducks Farm and study. I would easily spend about 4 hours sitting there sipping one coffee and then just drinking water. They never cared that I only bought one cup of coffee. By the way, it is the best coffee in Toyama--roasted on site! Nyuzen is full of surprises!

Take Care Hasegawa-sensei

This is Hasegawa-sensei, otherwise known as the "star wars teacher." She became my instant friend at Iino Elementary because she loves English. And she wanted to practice speaking English any chance she got. She isn't afriad of making mistakes and even though she can't speak in full sentences, she gets her point across. We always had a great time communicating--and even got scolded by the principal once for laughing too much!

She only started studying English recently, but she is light years ahead of my Japanese. Her primary method of study: movies, and especially any movies with Hayden Christenson. She loves Hollywood and she really LOVES Hayden. And I'm not exaggerating. Before her forced retirement due to cancer, she had pictures of him all over her desk. And she had a file of pictures that she used to rotate through in several picture frames on her desk. Note: in Japan teachers don't usually keep photos of anyone on their desk, so having a 20-something movie star's picture is a bit odd! And the other teachers all thought she was a bit odd. She does her own thing, she laughs out load, and she speaks her mind.

Since she started chemo again, I have visited her several times. She is still very very engergetic and full of life. She is fighting it all the way! Chemo hasn't toned her down at all. She is a tough lady! A few weekends ago, we met at a highway interchange to say good-bye. She presented me with two kimonos and an obi. We said our choked up 'see yous' and waved a teary good-bye from our cars.

I sincerely hope she beats her cancer and can escape her husband and come visit me in the US! She has never left Japan before! I miss our weekly conversations and laughing sessions!

Our good-bye at the Namerikawa IC

A former student, Star Wars teacher and Spidey at the Hospital, May 2007

Sports Day 2005

Star Wars III, September 2005

Sayonara Kurobe Masters Swim Team

An essential part of being Japanese is belonging to a group. It might be a sports group, a social group, a professional group, a neighborhood group, etc. But it is important to find a place to belong and a group to be a part of. As a foreigner is is really difficult to become part of one of these groups outside school and work. It took me two years to join the Kurobe Masters swim team. I knew they existed and they knew who I was. We had been meeting at the pool for 2 years and had gotten to know each other a little. After this 'get to know you' period I was invited to join a swim meet and then the team. So, I've been training with them once a week for about 16 months. And they have even asked me to coach a few times. Although, their idea of coaching is much different than my idea of what a coach does and is! It has been fun to be part of a group outside of my teaching and school groups. Although the practices often turn into a type of eikaiwa because my Japanese, especially swimming vocabulary, is so poor that I often use a mix to get my ideas across. I really appreciate their patience and acceptance of me. I know it's no small thing! Two weeks ago I attended my last practice. Last week I met with several of the women and Linea and we went for dinner at a delicious Mediterranean restaurant in Kurobe. Who knew?

For more stories and posts about my workouts with the Kurobe Masters Swim Team, please visit my other blog A Mad Duck

Kirsten & Reiko, April 2006

Reiko, Kayoko & Me, July 2007

The ladies of the Kurobe Masters Swim Team

My good-bye gifts

Saying Good-bye to Spidey

Teachers aren't supposed to have favorites and I've tried really hard not to. In fact, when I first arrived it was something I was really conscious about. That, and the fact that it was really hard in the beginning to have favorites because I didn't know one student from the other. And I wasn't cluing into the group dynamics of classes and students yet. But now, I'm very aware of who is popular or cool and who isn't. And it is easy to spot different social groups and cliques even in the elementary schools. Although it doesn't seem to be nearly as apparent as in the US. But regardless of my attempts not to pick a favorite, I think one picked me...and now it's mutual! Some people are naturally friends and some people aren't. A few lucky students and teachers fall into that category of becoming friends, but most don't! I feel like I've found one...and I hope I can keep him as a friend for a long time!


Spidey is a very unique and special guy. He made attempts to reach out and learn English that no other student made! He overcame shyness and looked passed peer criticism to pursue his love of English. He wants to be a translator, and he is working hard to achieve it! Everyone who knows me has heard me talk about him and knows he is one of my favorites! I made him pinky swear he would come and visit me someday! I hope he keeps his promise.

BFF, ne!!

Nyuzen Eikaiwa Class

My sister was visiting, July 2005

X-mas Enkai at Sakura Sweets, December 2005

My parents were visiting, May 2006

X-mas Enkai at Chinese Restaurant, December 2006

My Farewell Enkai at Sakura Sweets, June 2007

Our last class together, July 3rd, 2007

Once a week for more than two years, I taught an Advanced English Conversation Class in Nyuzen. The class has been meeting for twenty years and they have had many different teachers from different countries. They aren't particularly interested in grammar or serious study, although many of them study at home on their own or listen to the English NHK morning radio lesson. But they like to talk and they want to talk! They love to share ideas, opinions, stories and information about Japan.

They write a zine every few months and last winter we started publishing their writing on the Nyuzen-machi English Blog. Please visit it and leave comments!

Some weeks I brought a detailed lesson plan using lots of different activities and conversation topics. Other weeks we would just talk and they would carry the conversation without any direction. I often used this class as a springboard to bounce ideas off of for issues that were raised in my TEFL studies or questions I had about Japan and Japanese culture. Every week I learned something new. I hope they did too!

I will miss our weekly conversations!

Linea's Eikaiwa

X-mas Party 2005

X-mas Party 2006

Farewell Party, June 2007

I was surprised when Linea told me her eikaiwa wanted to have a farewell party for ME! I've substitute taught for her a handful of times! And I've been to their x-mas party potluck for the last three years (no digital images from 2004)! Their parties are always one of the most delicious meals of the year! Everyone makes their BEST dish to show off! Others bring wine from a foreign country or icicles from the depths of a mountain cave (very illegal). Their parties last for hours and hours and are always on a work/school night! The farewell party was no exception! There was amazing food, delicious alcoholic beverages and hilarious conversation and stories! It's been so much fun to be included in their parties! I'm so happy we got to have one more! I wish I could eat this well all the time! I will miss their yearly x-mas parties!

Macon, GA Family

My sister was visiting and they made a birthday cake for her! July 2005

Birthday Pizza-making Party, July 2006

Birthday Pizza-making/Good-bye Party, July 2007

I met this family about two years ago. They had lived in Georgia for 5 years and both children had attended American schools. They older girl remembers a lot of English and is fairly fluent. The younger boy was too young to remember much English but because of his early exposure to it, he picks it up really fast. And his pronunciation is great!

For over two years, I met this family twice a month. It was always a challenge to think of something that would suit both their levels, but we played a lot of games and did a lot of fun activities like making cookies, making pizza, dying easter eggs, and going out for ice cream. After every class their mother would bring us tea or coffee and a snack. This was our informal English conversation time and we would all chat about their weekend plans, life in America, or they would answer my many questions about Japan. For our last lesson we made pizza, shiratama and their dad made a delicious seafood pasta. We all sat around their big kitchen table together and ate and talked about their memories of the US and dreamed of their next trip to the US, with a stop at my house of course. After dinner we exchanged gifts and then I gathered my things to leave. The family walked me to the door and as they stood their wishing me well and offering me a place to stay when I visit, I lost it. I hate that moment. I really do! I hate saying good-bye or even 'see you'! It's miserable! But it is also the culminating moment, the moment all their kindness and our memories together flash before me and it overwhelms me. And again I don't know how to express my gratitude or tell them just how important our time together has been! And I'm left with, "Thank you!"



I won't forget you, please visit me in the US, or wherever I am!

川口先生 ありがとうございました！

I realized after we said good-bye in the Uozu hotel parking lot, that I don't have a picture of Kawaguchi-sensei. Or if I do it is lost in the depths of my photo files.

Kawaguchi-sensei was my Japanese tutor for more than two years. We met every Monday at 5pm at the Uozu city hall in a small back room used for storage and Japanese tutoring sessions. We met there as part of their free Japanese tutoring program for new ALTs. At our first meeting I could barely introduce myself. Luckily she was studying to be an English teacher so where my language skills failed, hers stepped in. Our hour long sessions every week were more than tutoring, she became my cultural informant. Every week I would ask her questions about things I didn't understand or tell her stories of new experiences I had had in Japan. She drew me maps to find hair salons or local public baths, she drove me to the dentist, and almost every week she brought me food. Sometimes the food was a snack that she had made or bought for us to share together. Sometimes she brought me diner to take home and eat. And she always brought tea or coffee for us to drink. I tried to reciprocate as much as possible but I couldn't keep up to her kindness and generosity.

In addition, she also helped me with all my CLAIRE language study books and even gave me the answers a few times so I could pass! She helped me study for the Japanese proficiency test (lowest level) and I passed.

We didn't meet my third year because Uozu kicked me out of the program because I was no longer a beginners anymore. And I was studying for my MA and she was teaching full-time at JHS. But last month we met for lunch. She treated me to a beautiful lunch in a fancy hotel. We ate sashimi, tempura, pickels, salad, rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and fruit. It was all very beautifully presented and came one by one over the course of an hour. We chatted and caught up and did so mostly in Japanese. My Japanese isn't at all where it could be or should be after three years, but I get by. And she helped me achieve that!

I'm totally overwhelmed with how to thank someone who has spent hours each week teaching me to communicate and become my friend as well.

Thank you!

Saying Good-bye to Colare

The good-byes are starting to overwhelm me. People handing me presents, asking for photos or my email address, and then the saying 'good-bye'. I usually can hold it together, but everyone now and then, with one of those special someones, I get teary-eyed. Last night we had a farewell dinner with the Colare international cooking workshop group. I cried alone in my car all the way home. The next few weeks are only going to get harder. More pictures of farewells to follow soon.