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Yesterday was my last day at the JHS. Big Goodbye. The students were great. I got a huge bouquet of orange roses, black-eyed susans, and some kind of red berry. They gave me cards with messages from everyone...and even performed Kagura! While we were waiting for the Kagura people to get ready we played a game of Bingo, I managed to get Bingo on the very last call, which seems like awfully good scripting to me.
Since the sappy post I wrote last week went over so well, I thought I'd post my goodbye speech to the JHS students, translated into English.
When I was 18 years old, I met a man named Larry. He was a very easy-going and calm person. In fact, some people thought he was boring. But the more I talked to him the more I realized what an amazing person he was. He had been a professional poker player, worked for a circus, and knew famous comic book writers. I decided that I wanted to live a life like that.
I wanted to have lots of different experiences. And so far, I've done pretty well. I've earned my black belt in Tae Kwon Do, tried fencing, directed a local cable access show. I've learned to draw pictures, write stories, and speak Japanese. I worked for an Antique gallery and held things from Ancient Rome in my hand.
And then I came to Japan. I left my family and friends and came half way around the world.
I was very, very lucky. I left my family in America and found a new one in Japan. You have been my family and my friends. These two years have been the best, most important memories, the best experience I've had. And I owe that all to you.
I'm still learning Japanese, so I don't always understand everything you say. But I love to listen to your voice. I love your laughter. You've gotten bigger these past two years, taller than me. I've always been listening, always been watching. Sometimes I can see the adult you will be come inside of you. It's amazing. You are all really wonderful people. Please don't change. Don't forget your courage, strength and vitality. You are stronger than you think you are. You can do more than you think you can.
I heard this Japanese saying from another ALT, "There are dancing fools and watching fools. They're both fools, so you might as well dance." So let's dance together. This is the kind of life that I want. I want us to become amazing people.
Thank you so much for these two years.
.....You know, that's a lot shorter than I thought it was. LOL
Since the sappy post I wrote last week went over so well, I thought I'd post my goodbye speech to the JHS students, translated into English.
When I was 18 years old, I met a man named Larry. He was a very easy-going and calm person. In fact, some people thought he was boring. But the more I talked to him the more I realized what an amazing person he was. He had been a professional poker player, worked for a circus, and knew famous comic book writers. I decided that I wanted to live a life like that.
I wanted to have lots of different experiences. And so far, I've done pretty well. I've earned my black belt in Tae Kwon Do, tried fencing, directed a local cable access show. I've learned to draw pictures, write stories, and speak Japanese. I worked for an Antique gallery and held things from Ancient Rome in my hand.
And then I came to Japan. I left my family and friends and came half way around the world.
I was very, very lucky. I left my family in America and found a new one in Japan. You have been my family and my friends. These two years have been the best, most important memories, the best experience I've had. And I owe that all to you.
I'm still learning Japanese, so I don't always understand everything you say. But I love to listen to your voice. I love your laughter. You've gotten bigger these past two years, taller than me. I've always been listening, always been watching. Sometimes I can see the adult you will be come inside of you. It's amazing. You are all really wonderful people. Please don't change. Don't forget your courage, strength and vitality. You are stronger than you think you are. You can do more than you think you can.
I heard this Japanese saying from another ALT, "There are dancing fools and watching fools. They're both fools, so you might as well dance." So let's dance together. This is the kind of life that I want. I want us to become amazing people.
Thank you so much for these two years.
.....You know, that's a lot shorter than I thought it was. LOL
