Today was, as predicted, an easy day. I went in a little early since I’m basically copping out the rest of the week. I’m getting four days off for the price of two, so the least I can do is go in a bit early.
Without classes I just studied Japanese, chatted with the history teacher, had a nice lunch at the coffee shop down the road, and really just relaxed. Sometimes I can’t believe I get paid for this.
Towards the end the day – a revelation! Here’s the scoop:
Kids in Japanese high schools attend for three years. The staff of Takasago Minami High School is divided into three groups, the first, second and third year teachers. These teachers teach only the students in their year. I’m attached to the first year teachers, even though I’m a special case and teach all three years of students. Got it? OK.
So the school year is ending, and I’ve been going on the the idea that our students will move on and be taught by the second year teachers, and we’ll get a fresh new crop of faces to teach in April. Turns out, I’m wrong.
We will actually become second year teachers next year, and follow our students through the school. We’ll move our desks over to the second year area, and the third year teachers will move to the first year section and teach the new students.
It kind of threw me for a loop – I was very surprised. I won’t be affected much, but the other teachers follow their students through school, and so that explains all the tears I was seeing at graduation – it’s a three year relationship with these guys.
In other news, I got a request from my grandparents to post some pictures of my apartment, so I’ve posted them below with a short description. Click on the link and the (rather large) picture will load up. There’s more description in the pictures themselves.
