御幸山中学校

Recalling the last time I posted, it feels that months have passed instead of the mere week or two. Nonetheless, this post is much overdue.

This time on 日本 and Brandon's Nonsense we will be featuring 御幸山中学校 (Miyukiyama Junior High) and Brandon's expeditions thereof. So, please, tune in, sit back and enjoy the ride...
Two Wednesdays ago, putting that on May 19, was the first day of my shiny new job as an Assistant English Teacher (AET). So, naturally, with the Japanese scrupulousness for being on time, I was late. It was horrible.

To elucidate the whole lovely experience, it's good to know my daily route. School starts at 8:30, so I'm asked to be there at 8:15, the start of my work day. So, with a total one-way trip taking about 45 minutes, I usually try to leave the house by 7:15, just for good measure. However, the first day being the first day, I was up and Adam early and took off at 7:00 sharp. From my quaint apartment (of which I keep promising pictures) it's about a 10 minute leisurely walk to 金山 (kanayama or 

"Golden Mountain") Station which is the nearest subway stop. Then I take the 名城 (meijo or "Reputed Castle") Line to 上前津 (kamimaezu or "Upper In Front Of Harbor") then make a のりかえ (transfer) to the 鶴舞 (tsurumai or "Dance of the Swan") Line and take that to 塩釜口 (shiogamaguchi or "Salted Pot Thoroughfare") Station. From that station it's about a 10 to 15 minute walk to the school itself.

An absolutely essential observation is that the "meaning" of these names is fascinating—some evoking aesthetic imagery ("Dance of the Swan"), others being nicely descriptive ("Upper In Front of Harbor"), and yet others evoking a "huh?" feeling ("Reputed Castle"). 

So, the whole trip is actually quite nice. I've been carrying along my handy dandy Japanese text book and studying on the commute, which I'm happy to report is at least helping me believe my language skills are beginning to blossom from the "I'm a deaf mute" stage to the "watch me utter crazed nonsense that you might possibly understand" stage. I still have a ways to go before that "elite ninja skills" stage kicks in, but now I'm feeling some movement in the whole progress department.

Anyway, besides the ride being enjoyable and all language-study-y and not to mention the "my heart's going to die" cute Japanese school girls, there are these adorable elementary school kids that ride the train in the mornings. They are always in a group, dressed in the same blue and white uniform with matching brown leather backpacks and white sailor hats. They're awesome. But it struck me the other day, as I watched a group of six-year-olds waving good bye to their mom and trekking off to the subway station on their way to school, that this is something I would never expect to see in the US.

Any parents reading this, I'm sure you can just imagine how readily you'd be willing to do such. But in Japan, it's the norm—a somewhat sobering testament to the safety and perception of safety in Japan.

Ok, so returning from our segwaying, I arrive at "Salted Pot Thoroughfare" Station at 7:30 am and strike off toward the school, only about 15 minutes later having no clue where I'm at. One day, try getting lost in a place that you are absolutely unfamiliar with and also don't really speak the language. I asked for directions. And that was really helpful, especially if I wanted to put on my puzzled-look face.

Anyway, eventually, after some calls, the principal of Miyukiyama comes and picks me up and we get to school around 8:40.

Keep in mind that, if I were to show up one minute late, yes literally one minute late, it wouldn't be unexpected for Cosmo (through whom I work for the middle school) to make a complaining call. So 25 minutes late, plus a bit of imposition for the ride equals woo-hoo fun! At least I made an impression. Hehe.

Actually, though I feel like a rollie pollie staring at a rapidly approaching bulldozer when talking to 野口校長先生 (Principal Noguchi), the other teachers, even the vice principal, and I get along nicely and even joke around a bite. So, yay-osaur.

As for the students, I'm beginning to feel like a rock star among a throng of fans. The students all eagerly call my attention with, "Herro!" or "Burandon!" then I'll say "Hi!" or "Good morning!" or the such. And that's the extent of our deep conversations usually. The guys tend to just hang around quietly and with a bit of awkwardness in the air, and the girls usually giggle and either run off or attempt at more engrossing conversations beginning with "how tall are you?" and "good bye."

The girls are really cute.

Also, club activities abound. I joined soccer club one day after school. Even the 13 year old first years can whip my butt. It's a blast. Oh, and imagine this; the cafeteria food is actually delicious and nutritious at the same time. In the US, I seem to recall that neither of these factors seemed to be important in school cafeterias. To boot, an my school each meal is an unbeatable 280 yen a pop, which comes to roughly $2.80.

In an amongst delicious meals, cute girls and an intimidating principal, I've given my 45 minute long self introduction enough times that I've lost count. Maybe 15 times, that is, to 15 different classes. It's quite fun, there's a whole game involved, pictures of snakes, steaks and hammerhead sharks, and even high fives at the end for the winners. The high fives invariably elicit laughing at the strange and curious custom.

One of my favorite classes has been the special needs class. The students are all very open and honest I feel. I smile. Then some classes are very 元気, or lively, and a few students are impressively conversant in English. Some of the students are terrible at English, but eagerly use every bit that they know, which is tons of fun. And others are really interested in speaking and learning but also quite shy (hmmm, I'm reminded of someone here). I think of one student in particular; her name is Shiori. She a cute 9th grader and wrote an impressive English short essay I thought. She loves practicing English together. Some of the guys interestingly know all kinds of strange words, like some know "hammerhead shark" and "rattlesnake" in English, but not "to eat."

I love the students. （＾＿＾）

Wow, so there's one sufficiently long post. Thanks for tuning in to the much belated nonsensicalities.

Over and out,

ブランドン (Burandon)