it is still happening and i think that it will continue to happen for as long as i am here. the small differences in the ways that we go about life from the states to here is just startling. observing these seemingly small things that are kind of huge for an american in the flow of the 'wa' here is just something that leaves me scratching my head and wondering how and why we do things the way we do them back home and how they can do them differently here without a big fuss.
take for instance the regualrity of students and teachers alike carrying exact-o knifes. you know those razor sharp little knives that we use for crafts and such back home, yes those knifes, well they all have them here. i may be making it sound like they are all arming themselves, and really they are, but for entirely different reason; for EXACT cutting needs. when they do any art project here, big or small, if one person's eyes will see it or one hundred, they make it as precisely and nicely as possible. so naturally they need an exact-o knife so that they can get the job done and not have to make a big deal about 90 degree angles being off and whatnot. it makes sense now that i see it in action everyday. what really struck me about it though was entertaining the thought of any 6th grade student back home with the same tool in their pencil case. well, honestly for the most part that is just scary. i WOULD NOT want to be the teacher in charge with everyone packin razor sharps in their desks. i just wouldnt. what about you? its a small difference here, but really its a big one, it kind of translates over to the disapline the kids have and the expectations that adults have of them.
this is seen again in the simple fact that when it is time for after lunch recess there is NO playground supervision. yes that is right. so your teacher wants to take a smoke break instead of watch you play soccer, what's the big deal? there is no big deal. the kids play and get along and there just isnt another option. kids here know that the wrath of the sum of adult figures in their lives would come down on them if they got into the kind of trouble that american kids seem to find at recess. they dont want that and life is easier when they all just get along, so they do. they make it look so easy. when i watch them play out my window it sometimes just blows my mind to think of all of the times that i had to interject an adult face/voice/words when watching my school kids in america play so they didnt beat the crap out of eachother or leave eachother out of play or a million other troublesome things that they seem to get into. that just does not happen here. wow.
the small can become the big in a lot of ways and though i get used to seeing it i dont know if i will ever be able to fully wrap my mind around how it works. i like it though. its good to be in japan.
today was a special day though, i did join my fifth and sixth grade students after lunch for a friendly little game of soccer in the warm sun. their homeroom teachers played as well and we used not one game ball but two. good times i say. as for all of the other kids running about outside, what were they up to you say?...who cares!
sendin love and sunshine from my island to yours
beth
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