The first of My Last Classes

Well, two years have almost come and gone now. This week I had the first of my last classes. Exams start next Thurs. and thus I will not be teaching my Thurs. and Friday classes anymore after tomorrow. It was sad...the kids have been well...interesting..sometimes they make me laugh and sometimes they make me so mad that I could cry. It has been a learning experience with them. I guess, no matter how mad they made me, I will always remember them and think of them as my kids.

Well, my I-nensei's whom I know the least and probably are not most favourite kids even made me a littled choked up. At the beginning and end of class students stand, bow and greet. Well, for my final act with the kids I was asked to lead it. It is a privledge to do so and a confirmation that I am one of them. It does not seem like much but it is something. I also was told that I would be missed and had my hand shaken.

My III-nensei's, my favourites, I asked them to write a letter to me. Many of the letters were very sweet and I was touched by their sentiment and at the end I took a class picture with them. They were very kind and I was told that I will be missed.

As a side note, I got a double on a bike by one of my students. I was going to the convenience store for somethign to eat and she said she would double me. Well, what a sight that was in my skirt. Imgaine , me on the back of a bike with my skirt hiked up. Yeah, great image for a teacher.

Perhaps, they will not remember me when I leave but these little things make my stay in Japan worthwhile. My reason was that I was going to make a difference but perhaps it was not making a difference in them but in myself that was more important. I hope that I have left some kind of impression on them, cause they sure as hell have left one on me.

Man, this leaving bit is going to be tougher than I thought. I only had to deal with last classes today.