It was the last danshi nomikai (guys drinking meeting) for the lads at Nagashou on Monday night. We all went to this fantastic sushi place where a huge selection of sashimi came on this little wooden boat. First time I saw something like that outside the realms of anime.
And I finally found out why they always serve beer in these dinky little glasses that hold about as much as a large thimble. Everyone had their glasses filled so that we could 'kampai' together. Japanese custom is such that you never pour your own drink lest you be thought of as an alcoholic. So, after the kampai, we all had our drinks and I finished about a third of my glass, which is about a decent swallow, and someone appeared behind my shoulder to fill it up. It is also apparently not good form to let them fill up a cup which is almost full so I had to drink another third. After the refill, one is obliged to drink a bit of that and I once again imbibed another third prompting someone else to fill my glass. By the time my glass managed to find its resting place on the table again, I think I had already consumed 2 full glasses or so.
I also got a nice present. The teachers gave a necktie to those who were leaving and I got an expensive-looking tie along with some sort of wooden plate thing. Very nice.

And with that, I am no longer one of the pillars (in every sense of the word) of the faculty of Nagaura Elementary.
Aside from myself, five others were leaving too. One was the school librarian who had been with the school for five years, another the school secretary's assistant who had been there for two, and the remaining three were trainees who were, wait for it, in training for a year. All of them will be placed in another school in the district.
One of the trainees was crying when she gave her speech and that escalated into full-blown weeping for the next hour. Some of the kids were crying too. All of us gave our speeches and received a huge bouquet of flowers. I don't think you can fully imagine the floridity of such a gargantuan floral arrangment. I am definitely going to attract some looks going back home tonight.

The last day of the academic year fast approaches and strange things are afoot.
There will be a meeting later today where all the teachers will be 'reflecting' on the year gone past. Due to the rather desperate lack of English ability, the Vice-principal only managed to convey the concept of having a meeting, 'reflect', good/bad, and Aeric ('reflect' having come straight from the closest Japanese/English dictionary).
So I have to lie like stink.
But seriously speaking, I'm guessing I have to comment about my experience teaching in Nagaura Elementary and ultimately providing feedback to improve the English Programme.
In addition to this mind-numbing, butt-warping affair, I have to give a speech tomorrow to the whole school. 'Thank you for everything ... blah blah blah ... yada yada yada ... ad nauseum, ad infinitum'.
Tomorrow (Thursday the 25th) is the last day of work and probably my last day at Nagaura Elementary. On Monday, all the male teachers will be gathering in Sodegaura for some sort of alcohol-fueled lunacy. I'm not all that interested in going, especially because of the combinations of 'lots of alcohol', 'far away from home' and 'need to leave by 2130 to catch the last train'. However, 'giri' is forcing me to go. It's either this or the party for the entire staff room the following night which is going to cost between 10,000 to 15,000 yen. To be honest, a few couple of hours out with people I don't really enjoy drinking with and having to leave early doesn't inspire me to part with that much money. No sir, that kind of money is good for at least two dates with infinitely better company.
I have to pack up all my stuff in school too. All the flashcards, my files, my suit ... I have to cart them home slowly. Good thing is, it should be doable in one day. Tomorrow itself, I just have to pack up the last of my things which I can't take home today.
In other news ... and here I am scratching my head trying to think of 'other news' ... ah ... here we go ... the technological world is strangely quiet even in the midst of CeBit 2004. A few new marvels have arrived but there aren't as many websites covering it as I had expected. Of particular mention are the offerings from CoolerMaster (cases, drive bay units and the new Aquagate Watercooling Unit), and Gigabyte (Bluetooth dongle for printers and GO-1600A Multi-media DVD unit). I'd write more about this but no sense in repeating what other people are saying.

Aww ... my kids are growing up! It's the school graduation today and the fourth to sixth graders were graduating to the next level. A most important day for the sixth graders since it will be their last day in this elementary school. The next time they go to school, it will be in Junior High (amusingly enough, almost next door). It was a little sad as I won't be seeing them any more. Couldn't help feeling rather teacher-like as I saw their classrooms had been cleared out.
It's also more than a little strange that despite graduation was today, the first to fifth graders still have classes until the middle of next week.
Had quite a few kids thanking me for the past year and a few even did their best to thank me in English.
In preparation for today, some of the teachers, myself included, went to a flower garden 15 minutes away by car to gather some nanohana (rape blossoms) to decorate the assembly hall with. It was quite a sight. I was standing in the middle of a huge field covered in tiny yellow flowers coming up to mid-thigh (or head height for the average Japanese. *ooh, evil* :p ). Will upload a pic once I take it off my phone. Unfortunately, I didn't have a proper camera with me but I did have my keitai so I did the best I could.
Anyway, it's about time for me to begin my trek back home.

During lunch with a fifth grade class today, a couple of boys we using English that I hadn't taught them. One of them said 'You are fool (sic)' to which the others laughed. We had tempura prawns for lunch and one ate the tail but not the top bit. Then he loudly proclaimed 'I am fool' and his neighbour said 'That's right'. After saying 'I am fool' several times throughout lunch, he then had a little laugh about someone else who made a silly mistake, pointed at him and said 'I am fool' only realizing this gaffe a moment later.

I'm now blgging from the brand spanking new Apple Store in Ginza with Nick. The whole building is pretty swank and looking like a huge G5. Although not being used to using Macs, the whole system is a little confusing. Grr ... spot the PC users.

I've just witnessed a drive-by flirting ... yes ... WTF indeed. Two of the sixth year boys came into the staff room to get something for their homeroom teacher. Now, sitting next to me is one of the younger female teachers. Upon acquiring what they were sent for, one of them deliberately went out of his way, came up to this teacher and started winking until his companion called him to leave.
Note: this same boy also whispers 'sex' to me whenever he sees me. A very amusing, if somewhat twisted chap.
I realize the there was no driving involved or even any sort of vehicular device but I felt this description was most appropriate.

The sixth Grade students officially graduated yesterday. It was a pretty big affair with the whole school doing putting together some sort of performance on a class-by-class basis for the Sixth graders. At the end, the graduating students gave each and every teacher a card and a rose. It really was quite nice of them. I got a nice card made by three of the guys in my favourite sixth grade class with a message and bits of English that I'd taught them over the past year.

The sixth graders are graduating today. The whole school will be in attendance for the second and third periods. Then they will clean the school for the fourth period. I am teaching the fifth graders today. Their lessons are from the second to the fourth period. I have no classes. I wish someone could have told me this a lot sooner so I could be doing something useful.

Okay ... the weather has officially gone nuts. It's snowing! The temperature isn't even sub-zero yet and it's snowing. Now! In March! Not when it was a lot colder a month or two ago. But now! What the ...?!