Day 1: First Day of School

It's April 1 here in Japan, which means the new school year officially starts today. Nevertheless, all of the students are still on vacation. In fact, the students won't be coming back to school until next Thursday evening, so their first day of school is next Friday. I wish the teachers had some time off, too, but that would be so un-Japanese.

This morning we were officially introduced to the new teachers and administrators. This time around, there are nine new faces: five teachers, the school nurse, the high-school vice-principal, the principal, and an office worker.

Of those who are leaving, I will mostly miss the out-going English and chemistry teachers, nurse, and principal, because I had good relationships with all of them. If I had to pick a favorite, however, I'd have to say it was the principal, because he made life at school so much easier for me. For instance, I could talk to him about anything, he often came to me for advice regarding English, I helped him write speeches, and I often chatted with him in his office. We even sat next to each other at most English department parties. When I first came here, I almost never talked to the principal who was here at the time (they switch every two years), and now that my buddy is gone, I expect to have nothing to do with the incoming principal, which is a shame.

Anyway, today will be filled with meetings, most of which I won't be required to attend. The only meeting I have to go to is coming up in a few minutes: the English department meeting. We have a new English teacher, unlike last year, so there will be some adjusting to do. Adjusting to new things is the norm here, though, so I don't think the change will bother me much.

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There were two surprising developments at the English department meeting. For one, the junior-high-school vice-principal will be teaching about 4 hours a week. That's the first time since I've been here that that has happened. For two, the junior-high-school English teacher will be teaching the high school freshmen (they would be sophomores in the U.S.), which is also a first. From what I remember, when I first got here there as only one junior-high-schol English teacher, and he taught all of the classes. Since he left, two of the high-school English teachers have also been teaching junior-high classes, but I've never seen that situation reversed.

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The English teachers just got back from lunch, which we had at a nearby restaurant, the one on the hill. I walked there with the new English teacher, so I had a chance to get to know him a bit better. The other teaches drove there, which I think is pretty ridiculous, considering the restaurant is visible from school and is a five-minute walk from here. To each his own, though, right? (I walked back here by myself.)

Yeah, so there's nothing much going on for the rest of the day. This evening, however, we have the welcome party for the new English teacher. I'll let you know how that went tomorrow.

Take it easy!

p.s. By the way, as you can see by the picture, today is nice and sunny. Better yet, it's getting warm. This winter is taking too long to end. I really, really, really can't wait for spring!