Today was the first day of school back for the entire student body, and my first really full day at work. I didn’t have any classes to teach, but I was expected to make a brief self-introduction in English and Japanese to all of the students and staff in the gymnasium. It worked out to about 1100 people.
There was an opening ceremony, and a brief awards ceremony, and then they called me up to the stage. Mr. Hayashi came up with me, and I was grateful for the company. Standing in front of a thousand silent high school students was pretty unnerving. Before I started, all the students rose from their sitting position on the floor and bowed to me, and I bowed back. The moment was perfect for a photo, but it probably would have been awkward. Maybe I’ll take one at the start of next term.
I jumped into my speech in English. I cut it short because of the heat and the idea that only a few people in the room could understand me. Then I jumped to Japanese and kept it short because of the heat and the idea that I cannot speak Japanese well.
Afterwards, one of the members of the student council rose and read me a short paragraph in English welcoming me to the school, and then Mr. Hayashi and I tried to explain where California was by referencing famous Japanese baseball stars in the major leagues. I am not sure how well that went over. Afterwards, we left, and all of the students were smiling and saying hello (“konnichi wa”) in the hallways. Apparently I was a hit, and many students were lining up outside of the teacher’s room to stare, point, and if it was a girl student, giggle. I would say hello and set them off – their giggles and laughter would echo down the halls. I wonder how long the novelty lasts?
Some of the students that I had already met through Andy or at the summer sessions came in and congratulated me on my speech, and so it was great to talk to them a bit. Tomorrow is my first class, and it is actually with Miss Kageyama, so I’ll be at least familiar with the teacher a bit.
This evening I sauteed some calamari in garlic and butter, and had that with rice and hot sauce. Afterwards I ran down to the store to buy some ingredients for future meals, and to get ready for the party upstairs tomorrow night. Mel and I had a drink together and talked about the big fiesta tomorrow. She is throwing a birthday party for the guy that threw the BBQ the other night in the next town. She is really nervous about it, and isn’t sure how the neighbors are going to react. I’m just glad it’s in her apartment, and not mine.
