Brendan in Japan: Last day at school

Friday, December 22, 2006

Last day at school

Ms Nagamatsu explains using a megaphone (?) that today they are going to learn about the true meaning of Christmas ....

That's right! Santa Claus. We celebrate his birthday by giving presents...

Here the children learn about how to give to others in the spirit of Christmas....

Is that Chip... ?

Don't worry children although Santa's going he will be resurrected in three days...

2 comments:

cfg said...: Hahahaha :-D

Love the picture of the lady with the megaphone and the girl with her finger in her ears!; 7:34 am
Anonymous said...: Hi Bendan, great to see the kids learning the true meaning of Christmas. keep up the great work.
Whishing you and your friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Steve, Carol, David, Tom and Claire; 11:59 pm

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The story

I arrived here in Japan in 2005 on a scholarship. I was gleefully ignorant about the country, ill-prepared and basically only came because I wouldn't have to pay a thing and well... it seemed cool.

At first I hated much of it: the food, the accommodation, and the prospect of being blown away by an approaching Typhoon. But now, two years later, I love it.

I have spent my time learning Japanese (fascinating in numerous ways), frivilled away too much time in the time-warp capsules of Japanese style internet cafes, camped it up with some barbershop, and been to lots of festivals - some beautiful, some with lots of fire, and some with lots of fire where I got drunk and joined in.

There's been the odd bit of travelling around Asia too, with trips to China, the Bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand, Korea and the homeless snows of Northern Japan.

During my time I've had some surprises: professors that find it de rigeur to start a scholarship with an organized boozing session; a nation of women that are enchanted by the western male; or a the cultural-muddle that is a Japanese Christmas. (Especially hearing about how - in a particularly inspired feat of confusion - a department store once presented a Chrismas scene with Santa nailed to a cross.)

I 've also been baffled by the odd gadget, impressed by the odd bit of Japanese design (confused by others) and been delighted by the warped incorporation of English into Japanese.

Started as a "day job" my teaching position at a local primary school has turned into my daily pleasure. Though part of the Tsuzuki Gakuen (a kind of Microsoft of Japanese education), which means even regular school events like Sports Day are a bit odd, children are simply the most fascinating and amusing category of human being alive. (See above.)

Two years since arriving, I now enjoy reflecting in words or pictures more generally on Japan: Everything from Japan's sex industry, its unique approach to religion, to its vending-machine fetish.

In April 2008, I finished teaching and moved to Tokyo, where I am currently interning for a Japanese MP, deep in the heart of the Japanese political system. Which is another way of saying I clean cups and answer the phone.

All Over

Friday, December 22, 2006

Last day at school

2 comments:

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The story

Brendan at School

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