Diseased.
West closed because of the measles, so they couldn't have my enkai, for whatever reason. And when trying to reschedule it, they found that they are pretty much booked. So instead, I was asked to come into school on Friday for lunch. They ordered bento (boxed lunch) for everyone.
Kocho-sensei gave a speech and gave me a gift, and then I gave my speech. I basically copied it from our going home guide and I got through about half of it (in Japanese) before I started crying. I probably would have cried anyway, but I was a bit emotional because of my canceled enkai and also some problems with the Board of Education and money. Anyway, I hate crying, and I especially hate crying in front of people, but I think they appreciated that I cried and I saw a few wet eyes in the room, though I was trying not to look up. So then we ate and I chatted with my teachers around the desk. Oh, I also gave the principal this picture:
For the school, so they all passed it around and oohed and awed. The teacher across from me gave me a gift from her daughter, whom I used to teach.
After an hour or so, they had a brief meeting and then I was able to leave. I did invite a few teachers to my bbq first though. The present was a piece of cloth, it's used to wrap things, and a tiny bit of money, which is, apparently, the standard amount for all leaving teachers now. It used to be that each teacher at a school would give a leaving teacher money, but they've stopped that. Now the money comes from the school and I'm really not sure what the point of it is.
After, I stopped at the BOE and they tried to tell me that I'd have to pay over $300 in taxes before I go, even though I won't be here for the rest of the year, so that REALLY put me in a good mood, and I might have to say goodbye to my dream of buying a Nikon digital slr before I leave Japan.
All in all, not one of my best days ever, so I very much looked forward to Courtney coming over in the evening and sharing a bottle of wine (or two). Ugh.
Kocho-sensei gave a speech and gave me a gift, and then I gave my speech. I basically copied it from our going home guide and I got through about half of it (in Japanese) before I started crying. I probably would have cried anyway, but I was a bit emotional because of my canceled enkai and also some problems with the Board of Education and money. Anyway, I hate crying, and I especially hate crying in front of people, but I think they appreciated that I cried and I saw a few wet eyes in the room, though I was trying not to look up. So then we ate and I chatted with my teachers around the desk. Oh, I also gave the principal this picture:
For the school, so they all passed it around and oohed and awed. The teacher across from me gave me a gift from her daughter, whom I used to teach.
After an hour or so, they had a brief meeting and then I was able to leave. I did invite a few teachers to my bbq first though. The present was a piece of cloth, it's used to wrap things, and a tiny bit of money, which is, apparently, the standard amount for all leaving teachers now. It used to be that each teacher at a school would give a leaving teacher money, but they've stopped that. Now the money comes from the school and I'm really not sure what the point of it is.
After, I stopped at the BOE and they tried to tell me that I'd have to pay over $300 in taxes before I go, even though I won't be here for the rest of the year, so that REALLY put me in a good mood, and I might have to say goodbye to my dream of buying a Nikon digital slr before I leave Japan.
All in all, not one of my best days ever, so I very much looked forward to Courtney coming over in the evening and sharing a bottle of wine (or two). Ugh.