Day 19: All About Discovery
This morning Mrs. Pieczulewski made a great breakfast to start off the day. Naomi, the second grader I am staying with, showed me the way to school. Notre Dame is not far from their house, since they live just past Matsugasaki Subway Station, which is the destination if commuting to school via the subway. 
This morning began, once more, with an English conversation class in Mr. Yukita's room. Mr. Yukita lets me lead the discussions while he watches and encourages the students to be brave and speak with me. Today, I focused a lot on table manners in America. The Japanese table manners are quite different from that of Americans. For example, slurping and sipping out of a bowl of soup is not polite in America, but it is a compliment to the chef in Japan. The twenty three-students traveling to the United States will be staying with host families, so it is important that they are prepared for the American ways of life. The students asked some great questions of me before our class was complete. One girl asked, "Do Americans take off their shoes when entering their house?" Taking one's shoes off at the door is vital everywhere in Japan, but American families may or may not take their shoes off when they enter their home. I told the students that, to be safe and comfortable, they should take their shoes off when entering someone's home. Overall, I emphasized the importance of observation; The students will know what to do if they simply watch what everyone else is doing.
During the conversation classes throughout the week we have been practicing the song America the Beautiful. This morning all of the Discovery America students were on the morning television broadcast. I enjoy watching the production of the shows, because it still amazes me that these students produce it themselves! This beautiful Friday's show concluded with all of the Discovery America students singing America the Beautiful. I am proud to see the students venturing out on their own into a new place with new people. They have a great appreciation for American culture and the English language, and I hope they are rewarded with an unforgettable experience in the United States.
I sat for a moment to type some emails before yet another meeting with the Discovery America students. This meeting was more of an informational meeting regarding the trip itself. Sr. Beatrice shared the profiles of the host families with me, and they all look like very nice people. We answered questions and explained travel to the United States. For example, we showed the types of bags that are allowed to be carried on to the plane. Mr. Yukita told the students, as I told him, that the standard electrical outlet plugs from Japan will work in the United States. Sr. Beatrice asked me to say a few words to conclude the meeting. I told the children that I am very lucky to have been able to travel to Japan and experience a new culture. Likewise, they are all fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to America and learn about the culture and schools there. Among the students, there is a great disparity in confidence levels when it comes to their English skills. I told the students not to be afraid, but to be excited! The families they are staying with will be great, and they will learn a lot during their trip. Lastly, I encouraged the students to try their best to live like an American for the ten days they are there. I am excited for the kids and I wish them the best.
I had another meeting before lunch today regarding the fifth graders' trip to the Sea. As I have mentioned before, I will be traveling to the Sea south of Kyoto in July to help the fifth graders during their 2km swim. I met with Inoue Sensei and she explained the schedule for me. I will be leaving with some of the other teachers on July 12th. The students do not travel to the Sea until July 13th. Inoue Sensei showed me photographs of last year's event. This swim in the sea is a sort of right of passage here for the fifth graders, who will soon be in junior high. Last year was especially emotional because of one particular boy with muscular dystrophy; he swam over 1km! The teachers began crying when the boy ended his efforts in the arms of his weeping mother who was wading in the water. It is a very powerful story of hardship and triumph, which embodies the entire event's purpose and gives inspiration to all who witness it. Needless to say I cannot wait to be part of the event. I will be swimming with the students to help make ensure their safety. Do not worry, the swim is around buoys in a small bay, so it is safe.
Today I ate lunch with the second grade students of room eight. I was surprised to see that the salad I was given was covered in really small fish! They didn't taste like much, but it was interesting eating them whole. I think today's meal was Chinese. The school actually cooks a lot of Chinese food. It could be because they like it, or maybe just because it is easy to cook in large quantities. Even more surprising was the clear plastic bag of nuts which came with the meal. There were almonds and dried fish in the bag. I am sure they do not taste bad, but I think I will save them as a gift for someone back home.
After school on Friday's, Notre Dame Elementary usually has club activities for the students. My first two weeks here the club activities were cancelled, so this week is my first such experience. There are a lot of fun choices: volleyball, basketball, roller hockey, badmitton, softball, kanji, English, and many others. I chose to play softball today. It was a lot of fun playing with the fifth and sixth graders. I was careful not to hit the ball too hard, in fear of hitting one of the students. One of the other teachers actually hit a student in the nose with the ball! Poor kid. I had fun, but I will probably try a new club activity next time.
When I arrived back home at the Pieczulewski's there were some other guests waiting to meet with me. There are several other Notre Dame families in the same apartment building as the Pieczulewski's. Everyone I meet is very friendly and seems to go out of their way to help me and make me feel at home. We planned to eat with a lot of other people, but it seems that there is a major illness going around. A lot of students and families are getting fevers, so I better be careful not to catch an illness myself.
Mrs. Pieczulewski, Naomi, and I played a friendly game of Apples to Apples before dinner. The Pieczulewski's have a lot of American things, including board games I am used to playing back home. We had another awesome meal for dinner: lasagna, and coconut shrimp with a Tabasco orange marmalade sauce. After dinner I talked with Charles, Mr. Pieczulewski for a while about business in Japan. There are a lot of differences between business in Japan and business in the United States. The difference which is easiest to pinpoint is that a typical workday in Japan runs from about 9am to 8pm. Many Japanese workers work even longer hours.
This morning began, once more, with an English conversation class in Mr. Yukita's room. Mr. Yukita lets me lead the discussions while he watches and encourages the students to be brave and speak with me. Today, I focused a lot on table manners in America. The Japanese table manners are quite different from that of Americans. For example, slurping and sipping out of a bowl of soup is not polite in America, but it is a compliment to the chef in Japan. The twenty three-students traveling to the United States will be staying with host families, so it is important that they are prepared for the American ways of life. The students asked some great questions of me before our class was complete. One girl asked, "Do Americans take off their shoes when entering their house?" Taking one's shoes off at the door is vital everywhere in Japan, but American families may or may not take their shoes off when they enter their home. I told the students that, to be safe and comfortable, they should take their shoes off when entering someone's home. Overall, I emphasized the importance of observation; The students will know what to do if they simply watch what everyone else is doing.
During the conversation classes throughout the week we have been practicing the song America the Beautiful. This morning all of the Discovery America students were on the morning television broadcast. I enjoy watching the production of the shows, because it still amazes me that these students produce it themselves! This beautiful Friday's show concluded with all of the Discovery America students singing America the Beautiful. I am proud to see the students venturing out on their own into a new place with new people. They have a great appreciation for American culture and the English language, and I hope they are rewarded with an unforgettable experience in the United States.
I sat for a moment to type some emails before yet another meeting with the Discovery America students. This meeting was more of an informational meeting regarding the trip itself. Sr. Beatrice shared the profiles of the host families with me, and they all look like very nice people. We answered questions and explained travel to the United States. For example, we showed the types of bags that are allowed to be carried on to the plane. Mr. Yukita told the students, as I told him, that the standard electrical outlet plugs from Japan will work in the United States. Sr. Beatrice asked me to say a few words to conclude the meeting. I told the children that I am very lucky to have been able to travel to Japan and experience a new culture. Likewise, they are all fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to America and learn about the culture and schools there. Among the students, there is a great disparity in confidence levels when it comes to their English skills. I told the students not to be afraid, but to be excited! The families they are staying with will be great, and they will learn a lot during their trip. Lastly, I encouraged the students to try their best to live like an American for the ten days they are there. I am excited for the kids and I wish them the best.I had another meeting before lunch today regarding the fifth graders' trip to the Sea. As I have mentioned before, I will be traveling to the Sea south of Kyoto in July to help the fifth graders during their 2km swim. I met with Inoue Sensei and she explained the schedule for me. I will be leaving with some of the other teachers on July 12th. The students do not travel to the Sea until July 13th. Inoue Sensei showed me photographs of last year's event. This swim in the sea is a sort of right of passage here for the fifth graders, who will soon be in junior high. Last year was especially emotional because of one particular boy with muscular dystrophy; he swam over 1km! The teachers began crying when the boy ended his efforts in the arms of his weeping mother who was wading in the water. It is a very powerful story of hardship and triumph, which embodies the entire event's purpose and gives inspiration to all who witness it. Needless to say I cannot wait to be part of the event. I will be swimming with the students to help make ensure their safety. Do not worry, the swim is around buoys in a small bay, so it is safe.
Today I ate lunch with the second grade students of room eight. I was surprised to see that the salad I was given was covered in really small fish! They didn't taste like much, but it was interesting eating them whole. I think today's meal was Chinese. The school actually cooks a lot of Chinese food. It could be because they like it, or maybe just because it is easy to cook in large quantities. Even more surprising was the clear plastic bag of nuts which came with the meal. There were almonds and dried fish in the bag. I am sure they do not taste bad, but I think I will save them as a gift for someone back home.
After school on Friday's, Notre Dame Elementary usually has club activities for the students. My first two weeks here the club activities were cancelled, so this week is my first such experience. There are a lot of fun choices: volleyball, basketball, roller hockey, badmitton, softball, kanji, English, and many others. I chose to play softball today. It was a lot of fun playing with the fifth and sixth graders. I was careful not to hit the ball too hard, in fear of hitting one of the students. One of the other teachers actually hit a student in the nose with the ball! Poor kid. I had fun, but I will probably try a new club activity next time.
When I arrived back home at the Pieczulewski's there were some other guests waiting to meet with me. There are several other Notre Dame families in the same apartment building as the Pieczulewski's. Everyone I meet is very friendly and seems to go out of their way to help me and make me feel at home. We planned to eat with a lot of other people, but it seems that there is a major illness going around. A lot of students and families are getting fevers, so I better be careful not to catch an illness myself.
Mrs. Pieczulewski, Naomi, and I played a friendly game of Apples to Apples before dinner. The Pieczulewski's have a lot of American things, including board games I am used to playing back home. We had another awesome meal for dinner: lasagna, and coconut shrimp with a Tabasco orange marmalade sauce. After dinner I talked with Charles, Mr. Pieczulewski for a while about business in Japan. There are a lot of differences between business in Japan and business in the United States. The difference which is easiest to pinpoint is that a typical workday in Japan runs from about 9am to 8pm. Many Japanese workers work even longer hours.
posted by Ryan Harkins at 9:52 p.m.
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