If I had to pick my number one “love” in Japan, this is it.
A little background: I am based at an all girls academic high school and I also visit two low-level co-ed high schools each week. They are all different, but they all have their own charm. Before coming to Japan, I had primarily taught adults. This is my first venture into the world of teaching teenagers, and I just adore it.
Flashback 2008: If you had asked me if I liked children or teenagers five years ago, I would have said that I hate kids. This was despite (or because of?) working at a children’s entertainment facility for two years prior. However, no matter how much I grimaced at the idea of children, they were always drawn to me, and I was always a natural with them. I also found teenagers irritating and incorrigible, despite looking back on high school as the happiest days of my life.
But, somewhere in my old age (…my late 20′s), my heart grew three sizes, just like The Grinch.
When I first started teaching in Japan, it was really intimidating speaking to a room of forty glazed-over, uninterested teenagers. I didn’t know them, and they certainly didn’t know me. Both parties were apprehensive about each other. It took about 8-9 months before I settled into my teaching role and the students became comfortable with me. After that, magical things began to happen. The students and I formed bonds, laughed together, shared stories, and really got to know each other. I fell in love. Madly, madly in love. My students are the funniest, most creative, beautiful people I’ve ever met. I care for them as if they are my own, referring to the students at my base school as, “my girls.”
Why do I love it? Well…. I have a handful of girls who come to gossip with me in the teacher’s room when all the other teachers are in a meeting. I’ve tutored and coached several students one-on-one for exams, college entrance papers, and speech contests. I’ve got a small English club who loves cooking, making crafts, talking about boys, and playing scrabble. I’m constantly accused of having a boyfriend every time I’m seen with another male. My groceries are always inspected by students at the local supermarket. Sixteen year old boys have professed their love for me and asked me on dates (totally normal here in Japan), to which I politely declined. I’ve talked with a boy whose dream is to drive Route 66 in a big, old-fashioned car (he’s a big Elvis fan). I’ve written notes (high school style) back and forth with a girl who was too shy to talk to me in person. I’ve received endless letters, handmade gifts, and snacks. I’ve taught (and been taught) funny slang words that have become inside jokes. We’ve sang together, we’ve taught each other dances. Endless hugs, smiles, laughs, and joy. The list goes on and on.
I can’t even begin to list my favorite one-liners from these kids. They are hilarious.
It’s not all a cakewalk–don’t get me wrong. Teenagers are teenagers all over the world. They can be noisy and unruly and make you want to beat your head against the wall. Sometimes you have to take a deep breath and count to five so you don’t lose it. But for every bad class, there are a dozen good ones, so the bad times are quickly forgotten.
Ten days ago, I attended my main school’s graduation. I knew it would be sad because it was sad last year. However, it was harder this time since I had developed even stronger bonds with this class. I held it together for the ceremony, but the rest of the day was an emotional roller coaster spent signing yearbooks, taking photos, and saying goodbye. It was tough. There are so many big personalities that I just can’t imagine not having around. A few students in particular were hard to say goodbye to.
Aika: She’s one of the sharpest and most mischievous kids I’ve ever met. She once professed that she was, “Machiavellian,” and she’s right. Her love for “colorful” English words have left me rolling in the floor time after time. She’s the primary “gossip girl” that comes to me in the teacher’s room and, on her last day, we spent the whole afternoon together shooting the breeze. She had complained about school life earlier in the year, and I told her to enjoy her high school days because she would look back on them fondly one day. On graduation day she said, “Do you remember that I said I hated school? Well, I changed my mind! I don’t want to leave. I keep thinking that I’ll come here on Monday but I won’t. I’m thinking where do I go? Where do I go now?” I told her life is always like that. Not a linear path, but a constant divergence of paths to choose from. I’m excited to see where her path leads in the future.
Saki: Saki is a very sweet, light-hearted girl with an infectious laugh. She came to me for help with a college entrance requirement. She had to read an English book, “Love Story,” and then write a report about it. She had a Japanese cliff notes version along with the English book. My co-worker and I took the Japanese version away from her, put it in a desk drawer, and I told her I would create a study plan for her in English. She was shocked, but up for the challenge. At first, she struggled, translating every word. She worried about communicating her answers to me. But, after some practice and advice, she was reading and understanding the book with little help from me. I was so proud! We met after school about once a week for over 3 months. We discussed life and love and her dreams. I’ll cherish those times forever.
Mari: Mari is a hard-working, studious, over achiever with a big heart. She’s the kind of student who, when asked to write a one-page paper, writes 4 pages and turns it in early for me to check so she can rewrite it. …She reminds me of myself! She was the president of the English club and plans to teach English in the future. She has huge dreams, and I believe she can accomplish all of them if she wants. For this year’s speech contest, she wrote an original speech about bringing peace to the world. Over the summer, she came to school to practice it with me almost every day. During that time, she worked so hard and improved leaps and bounds. Also over the summer, her grandmother, who she was very close to, passed away. One afternoon, I simply listened to her share her grandmother’s memories. Later in the year, she chose to write about her grandmother’s remembrance for a “show and tell” project. When I read that first draft, I nearly cried. It was so heartfelt. On graduation day, saying goodbye to her was the hardest. I nearly fell apart. It was one of those, “I’ll miss you most of all, Scarecrow” kind of moments.
Just last year, I saw the movie, “Mr. Holland’s Opus” for the first time. I got it. Really felt it. Being a teacher gives you the opportunity to see students as the really are. You care about them, and you want them to succeed. But, in the end, the circle of life wins. You have to do your best, then say goodbye and look forward to educating the next class. I can only imagine what parenting must feel life. Kudos to all you moms and dads out there.
Tomorrow I’ll go to school. I’ll be greeted by a chorus of smiling girls shouting “Good morning, Rachael!” from the baseball field. I’ll leave with a sense of satisfaction that I’ve spent all day helping kids reach their full potential. What more could you ask for in life?
