My kids

Last night, I needed a much needed break from life in Japan and needed to be reminded of life back home in Vancouver. Which means a trip to Starbucks for a Chai Latte. While, I was sitting there chatting away with some of my friends about students and teaching (translation=complaining about how bad my kids were yesterday), my friend points to the window and says, "hey do you guys know that girl?". I turn around and to my surprise, it is one of my students from 2 years ago, my first graduating class. She is ecstatic to see me. So I run out of starbucks, knocking a chair over on the way out and causing quite the disturbance and give her a big hug. She is a little teary eyed and very happy to see me. She looks the same but older, her hair is dyed and she is wearing make up, but still Iyumi. Iyumi hated English but loved my class. She was great to have in class because she was always genki and would try to talk to me in Japanese. It was one of my favourite classes. Part in parcel to her enthusiasm and the occasional note that the kids would pass to me, written in cute English proclaiming their dislike for English but their utmost love for me.

I was glad that she came up to me and very happy about her very obvious enthusiasm at seeing me. She left with the promise that she would come back to school to visit me before I left for Canada. It is nice to be reminded that you did leave an impression on some kid some where, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...