Wow. Graduation is over and the 3rd grade is officially history. As we waved goodbye to the parade of students and parents from the steps of the school, I realized I just might miss these kids. There are some real winners mixed in with the punks... and even the punks seemed much more innocent with their "graduate" pins and flowers. The ceremony itself was really impressive. The gym walls were decorated with red and white striped sheets and the stage edge was lined with flowers. Next to the podium was a perfectly shaped bonsai tree (can you rent those in this country or do they just keep it hanging around for special occasions?) and the Japanese flag and school flag hung on the wall. There were another two huge Japanese flags outside the front door. All the teachers were dressed to the nines... The outfit of choice being a black as night suit with white shirt and white or off-white tie for men, and a black suit with a frilly blouse for women. I was not the only one in navy, but there were absolutly no other colors but a couple of beiges. Our principal was in a morning suit (black jacket with long tails, white shirt and tie, gray pant) which was impressive, though a bit overwhelming. The students, of course, were in their uniforms, though they'd been warned to wear the properly (no shorter then normal skirts, no pants slung down past the butt, etc.).

The ceremony started with the classes being led into the gym in pairs by their homeroom teachers.. they walked so slowly it took a almost a half hour for all 198 students to be seated. They were in the front, with the rest of the student body behind them, and parents (80 percent mothers) behind them. The staff was along one wall and the Board of Education, Village Head, and other assorted VIPs were along the other. We heard speeches from everyone including the PTA president and a parent. The students received their certificates one by one while their names were called. There was absolutly no applause, no noise at all throughout the entire ceremony until the last moment when the graduating class finished singing to the audience. Then they walked out again, in twos.

After the ceremony ended, the third graders retreated to their classrooms and the rest of the school dismantled the decorations. Then everyone piled into the gym for a ceremony for the leaving teachers. The teachers who will be leaving walked slowly into the gymnasium, led by the principal, with all the students gawking to see which of the teachers were leaving. Then they lined the teachers up on the stage and listed how long each has taught here and where they will be going. Finally each teacher had a chance to say some words before officially saying goodbye. It was pretty sad to see 19 staff members line up to leave.. almost half of our entire staff. To wrap up, we sang the school song, then the teachers walked back out of the gym through the middle of the students. It was pretty emotional for many of the teachers. It must be rough to get only a few minutes to say goodbye.

After that, we had a separate sending off ceremony for our principal, with speeches from the vice-principal (also leaving), the PTA president, and the student body president. He was presented with a huge bunch of flowers, then we sung the school song for the last time (third time in one day!).

We had a short break, then before lunch we all gathered outside in a line around the front steps. The 3rd graders (with their indoor shoes and everything else they hadn't yet taken home) and their parents walked out of school past all the teachers, for the last time. Many were crying but most looked really happy. We applauded them as they passed, some took pictures, others just hurried past. It was hard to say goodbye to my favorites; Yuka- the student who I helped with the speech contests... all the way up to 3rd place in the nation, Wataru- one of my "special" boys who paid attention just long enough to participate in the cermony, Endo- another kind of odd kid who stopped the entire line to say very slowly and clearly "Thank you and Good-bye" to me in English, Izuki-the other incredibly gifted speech contest girl who came in second in Nagano and is wise beyond her years (and mine!), Sayaka- who hates Mr. Ishizone but was still crying so hard while saying goodbye that she couldn't even look up, and so many others... students I didn't even think I liked!

Of course, when it all comes down to it... I'm pretty relieved that they are on to their next step... as a class they are a pain in the butt! ;) I'm really looking forward to this year's 2nd grade becoming 3rd graders.. they are much more mature and much more fun.

I'm still sad that many of my favorite teachers are leaving, but I've already heard that one of the incoming English teachers is an incredibly nice woman. We have our last staff party tonight at an onsen/restaurant near Matsumoto. There will be a lot of great food, sake, and congratulations all around!