~Spring in Nippon~

Winter has finally subsided and spring is slowly creeping into Japan. Spring brings the most beautiful of landscapes in this country. Spring (in Japanese "haru") means that all the plum (ume), peach (momo), and cherry (sakura) trees bloom, and the whole countryside becomes one big pink puff! It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. The pink flowers, above, are peach blossoms. The cherry blossom in Japan carries a very significant meaning to Japanese people. I will quote (indirectly) from a book, because the author puts it so well ....


"Cherry blossoms are a very important part of Japanese spirit. They do not fade or wither like other flowers. At the height of beauty, they drop. You see birth, beauty, death. Sakura season is the end and beginning of the Japanese school season. The Japanese fiscal season. Everything. "
~ From "Moon Over Tokyo" by Siri L. Mitchell.


Interesting, isn't it? One great tradition that comes with Sakura (cherry blossom) season is called "hanami" which literally means "flower watching." Offices, schools, families, you name it, will have hanami parties where they picnic and relax all day underneath the cherry trees, just enjoying the blossoms, and the magical shower of flower petals when the breeze blows. These parties are so popular, that some businesses will stake out or rent a "spot" in a park, even the year before. Then they'll send the man on the bottom of the totem pole to go lay blue tarps and sit in their site, very early in the morning, on the day of the party. The Japanese are serious about their sakura. I hope to attend a party this year, however I live amongst peach orchards. They're only a stroll away, and for free. Nice!


As the season for school change rapidly approaches, I'm preparing for change too. Next year I will not teach with my teaching partner, and dear friend, Sachimi Sensei. She will be moving. I'm not sure what my "post" will be next school year; the BOE could change my schedule to teach at other schools. Actually, every teacher faces this same possibility for change. Can you imagine-you are a 3rd grade teacher this year, but in one weeks' time (last week of March) you could receive news that you're being transferred to another school, maybe 45 minutes away, and you'll be moved to 1st grade. You have one week to prepare. Good luck! ... YIKES! But that's just the way it works here. I've never heard a Japanese teacher complain about it.



Here are some cute pictures from school recess. My girls are SO talented at the unicycle. It is my goal to unicycle in Japan before I leave!

Here, the boys are making paper flowers (yes BOYS making FLOWERS!), Preparing for the 6th grade graduation ceremony. The students all prepare to send the 6th graders off by decorating the gym, preparing performances and cards ... you name it, they do it! They are so awesome!