Today was the last day of classes before the summer break, and my last day of teaching in Japan. At the end of the day I had to give a speech to the whole school in Japanese! I was pretty nervous about it as I somehow managed to avoid learning any Japanese during my three years here. My wonderful supervisor Kaori was kind enough to translate into Japanese a speech I wrote and even helped me with pronunciation. I think I did a pretty good job, but it's hard for me to say for sure. After the speech I was presented with a great big beautiful bouquet of flowers, which made me feel a little "natsukashi" for when I first learned of this custom upon my initial arrival here three years ago. The principal also gave me that cute mini kokeshi doll too.

Just as I was leaving, some students from one of my best classes rushed out to my car and handed me this really nice plaque they made for me. All this love has got me feeling a little vaklempt!

Follow up:

For my final lesson, I had the students make paper pro-wrestlers and play kamizumo with them.




Perhaps you might be questioning the educational value of such a lesson right about now, but as you can see there was an English component involved.



The kindly Rokkasho kids go at it in the squared circle.




I also did the lesson at Hiranai High School, where I saw this.



My wrestlers "Mr. Happy Pants" and his poorly named tag team partner "Red Girl".




Victory is mine!


Well, so long teenagers of Japan. It's been a fun.