Today was almost a regular day at school, except that the last two periods were reserved for a speech by a Tibetan lady who is now living in Japan. The theme of the speech was not so political, more just a speech about being aware of how good Japanese students have it.
The speech opened with a video that she had shot with some friends on a visit to a school in Tibet. It was really well done. It wasn’t professionally done – and it was chopped together rather crudely, so transitions were abrupt and a little disorienting. Somehow it added to the flavor, and you felt like you were there. From the video taken from the passenger seat of the Land Rover climbing the steep mountainside, to the grinning schoolkids pushing to get into the camera shot – lots of great stuff.
The school was very primitive, with dirt floors. The students were studying not only their own language, but Chinese and English as well. They were reading outside the classroom during breaks – every one of them reading out loud at the top of their lungs.
After the movie, the speaker told stories about her arrival in Japan. She had met a Japanese man in Tibet and they got married and came back here. She’s been here ten years, and her Japanese was fantastic. I understood about 40% of it.
Following her speech she sang two Tibetan folk songs, and then did a Japanese song. The students were patient throughout the presentation, and didn’t cause any disruptions. I thought it was a great way to show the students that there is more to their world than just Japan.
I went home around the regular time, and then went over to Azusa’s to tutor her in English. Her brother and sister-in-law were there, and they looked surprised when I popped in for an hour. They didn’t speak any English, so I introduced myself in Japanese, but they were both really shy.
On the way home I walked through Carrefour and saw some shirts and shoes that may be a little closer to my size. Later in the month I think I’ll go visit and do a little shopping. Carrefour was close to deserted – I don’t know how long they are going to be able to stay open. Ito Yokado is rarely deserted, even late at night.
I came home and made a quick bowl of corn soup for dinner, and now I’m off to bed. Tomorrow the first year students are going to Universal Studios Japan, so a third of the school will be gone.
