川中（Kawa Chuu）

Today was my first day as a Sensei at Kawa Chu (the hip abbreviation for Kawasaki Machi no Chuugakko (which in English is Kawasaki Town’s Middle School)). As an added surprise, I got an email last night from my predecessor ALT(actually a JET program employee who had lived and worked in Kawasaki for three years up to the time I arrived), who wished me luck and gave me tips for getting along with the teachers and students.

With that bit of reassurance, I started the day off on the right foot. I must admit: I was a bit nervous. During orientation, the staff drilled us on the importance of the first lesson. After all, the first lesson is your first impression as a teacher and your students quickly decide whether or not they are going to like your class and thus your material.



I can honestly say that things went just as well as I was hoping. The students were about as timid as I was expecting, as excited about having a new teacher as I expected, and generally reacted to my games and gimmicks as I had anticipated. The unexpected and memorable moments were the under-the-breath commentaries in Japanese that they didn’t think I could understand and the questions they came up with when I opened the floor for Q & A. I had two 1st year and two 3rd year classes (1st and 3rd of Middle School, that is). I got questions ranging from my interests in Korean Pop Idols, to whether or not I owned a portable PS3, to my height (which they particularly liked as I answered in Feet and Inches).

After lunch, I had no more classes, but I stayed in the teacher room until 5 PM, as I am determined to make a good impression as a reliable co-worker. This may sound extreme, but in Japan, it is a point of solidarity and camaraderie not to leave work before your peers. Today, I was fine, busying myself with introductions, trying to read the newspaper, and enjoying the best coffee I’ve had since coming to Japan. Tomorrow, though, I plan to bring some Japanese studying materials to productively pass the time.



Speaking of group camaraderie, I believe that I mentioned to many of you the unique tradition that Japanese schools employ of “cleaning time”. For those of you that don’t know, there is no custodial staff at the school. Rather, all of the kids and all of the teachers take part in meticulously cleaning the school every day. I heard one story of a retiring teacher whose present to the school was scrubbing an entire stairway with a toothbrush. My school and most--if not all Japanese schools--take this degree of cleanliness very seriously.



In fact, I am not sure if you are aware, but while at school, everyone has set of indoor shoes. You might think of slippers, but more often they are what we would call sneakers, or trainers. That way, none of the outdoor dirt gets in the pristine classrooms. It also means that all of the teachers are wearing suits and tennis shoes. It’s quite a sight.



Please indulge me one last observation while we’re on the topic of cleanliness: while the school is immaculately clean, it is not a Lysol clean. By that I mean, strongly scented soaps are avoided in favour of clean water and elbow grease. This principal applies in more areas as well. People brush their teeth 3-4 times a day(all students brush at lunch), shower 1-2 times a day, and bathe nearly every day. Nonetheless, strongly scented deodorants, perfumes, or even hair products are strongly discouraged. Such olfactory presentation is a markedly individualistic practice and draws attention to one’s self that is—in their eyes--nothing short of gaudy.

Enough of my verbose musings. The long-distance running team won second place in a regional competition this afternoon. As such, there will be a special presentation in front of the whole school in the gymnasium tomorrow. Apparently, it will also serve as my formal introduction to the school. Wish me luck!