Day Ten

November 21, 2006

 

We went to a middle school today. What fun! The kids were great! It's nice to see how much they are like our kids in the US. One way that Japanese schools are WAY different from ours is that they go to school for 6 days a week. Their school year starts in April and goes until March. Probably the most interesting way they are different is that they have little or no staffing for recess, breaks and after school clubs. You can rarely find a teacher around, unless there is a class going on. And even then...it might be hard! There was one class today where the teacher had two classes happening at the same time so he would get the class started on work, leave them unsupervised, and then go next door to the other class. AND....the kids do what they're supposed to be doing! It's amazing!

This was an English class . The American in the photo is really from the states on an exchange program to teach English.

Lakia, Leigh Anne and I with our professional attire and slippers! When you enter schools you must take your shoes off at the door and wear slippers. It's really a great idea! It saves TONS of cleaning (and it's really comfortable).

Koto lessons in the Japanese Room. This is for girls only. The music is beautiful!

Lunch and again...it was OISHI (yummy)!

Koto lessons for us! It was similar to a guitar EXCEPT...all of the music is in Japanese.

This sign makes me laugh! I had no idea what it meant until...

I saw the boys running around with their tooth brushes! They were excited by having their photo taken by an American! They brush their teeth after every meal.