Here's a good word to know: 照れ臭い or "terekusai." Basically, "awkward" or "embarrassing." Learn it. Commit it to memory. Come to Japan, it'll be your best friend. Not that that's a bad thing, of course! As I said before, "Learn sumo by losing." The silliest thing you can do is feel embarrassed for messing up on something that you're completely ignorant about.
For me (this time) it's how to bid farewell to a school.
On Monday, I said my final goodbyes at いい中学校. I'll really miss this school. But I'm glad I got to spend my last day with the third year students: the very kids who are leaving for high school in April. The head English teacher (also the head of third year) had the students pose with me after class for a picture. I can't wait for my copy! At lunch, I talked to them about the Sochi Olympics and which high schools they'd all be attending. Seems a few will be in my town, so maybe I'll see some familiar faces in the streets!
The day started pretty rough. F.K. came over to my desk for our morning exchange...and he informed me I'd be asked to give a little speech during the teacher's meeting. Oh, great, I thought. "Of course," I said.
My face has this ridiculous habit of turning into a big freaking tomato when I'm embarrassed and of course, after the requisite "Sorry that my Japanese is so bad" opening, I started thanking them for being so kind to me. Immediately, all the blood from my toes flew to my face and all the emotions started coming up. I could feel myself losing it so I wrapped it up and sat down and quickly got to the vital business of fiddling with my worksheets while the meeting continued.
At the end of the day, once I'd finished checking the worksheets I'd assigned them all for the day (and leaving an encouraging little note on each), I packed it in for the last time. I handed off the stack to the English teacher beside me and we exchanged meishi so she could send me the picture and we could stay in touch! Then, I stood and thanked her for everything. We were a little shy around each other at the start, but warmed up gradually. So I told her I appreciated it and enjoyed working with her all year.
She stood and said, a little startled, "Oh, you're leaving, a no...." and looked around. A few other teachers started standing, then the gym teacher grabbed a stereo...checked it's contents and asked us to wait a minute. She ran out into the hall with the stereo, I heard some clicking, then the English teacher led me out to the hall. The stereo was plugged in on the floor, with the gym teacher kneeling by it. F.K. and the principal arranged the attending teachers in a sort of semi-circle around me, with my back to the entry way where the shoes are kept.
Then the music started. It wasn't Vitamin C, but it invoked the same feelings, whatever it was. But then the feeling of awkward fondness and unsureness was compounded when the teachers started clapping. I wasn't sure what to do, so I played the default card and just started bowing. They kept clapping and started bowing. Unsure what to do next, I looked to the English teacher for a clue. She sort of gestured for me to move around the semi-circle....and do what? Shake hands? Clap at them? I had no idea, I just wanted out of the hula-hoop from Hell.
So I promenaded like Dorothy following the Yellow Brick Road before the Munchkins. Awkwardly, quickly, and made for my shoe cubby. The kept clapping as I changed my shoes (thank goodness I wore the nylons without toe holes!) and they kept clapping as the principal and English teachers all bowed to me as I bowed back, trying to open the door and juggle my books. Backing out of the door, I figured it was finally safe to turn my back and start walking to my car.
Good old F.K. He opened a window in the hall adjacent.
"Goodbye," he said, waving and smiling behind his mask.
"See you later," I said, waving my shoes.
And with that, the ungainly little foreigner took her leave.
*Here's an update, by the way! I will be working at two other junior high schools in Hanamaki. I'll sign my contract next month and probably do my school visits in early April. I'm looking forward to meeting new staff and kids and trying some new enterprises.
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