Update part 1: Graduation

Hello and Happy Easter everyone!!!
Been a while since I've blogged, ne? Because this is a potentially large entry, I'm splitting it up into a few parts.
Spring has come (finally) to Japan. The way the school system works here is the school year goes from the beginning of April until mid March. Which means that the 3rd graders all graduated a few weeks ago. It was a big to-do, the Japanese really love their ceremonies. The children spent forever preparing, including having no classes at all a few days, just spending them doing preparations.

The ceremony itself was rather dull. In the beginning, the 1st and 2nd graders lined up along the middle of the gym and faced the middle. Then the 3rd graders all walked slowly and meaningfully through the lines in pairs. There were a lot of reeeeeally boring speeches, about half a dozen of them each lasting 10 minutes, during which nobody moved. Nobody even sneezed of breathed heavily. No clapping in between, just a solemn bow before and after each person. These kids are really disciplined!!!
There were a lot of songs during the ceremony, including the school son and a few farewell songs. We sang before and after the children got their diplomas. After each person got their diploma, they made a short speech. They started off okay, but by the end, there wasn't a dry eye in the house, and the boys that worked hard to keep their cool and tough looks during the year started bawling. Right afterwards, the 3rd years sang a farewell song, which must have been hard to do with them crying so much. I haven't shed so many tears in quite a while.

After the main ceremony, there was a break for lunch. Us teachers ate pre-made lunches, called bento, in the teachers' room. After lunch, there was a short ceremony for the 4 teachers who were leaving. The children did not know which teachers were leaving and which were staying until this moment, which is the last time they would be able to see them. I think it's kind of a cruel system, not really letting them say goodbye, but the Japanese claim it saves the kids from being too sad. Didn't work this time, as soon as they were announced, everyone started very loud tears in unison. The teachers gave speeches.
The children and teachers lined up in two lines outside and faced into the middle. While they clapped, the 3rd graders gathered up their school things, and walked casually down the middle, a very symbolic last walk home. Of course then everyone whipped out their cameras and took pictures with everyone they could find.

In elementary school and junior high, all the kids grow up together and keep their own friend circles. To get into high school, they have to take entrance exams to get into the school they want. Everyone ends up splitting up and going their own ways. Most of the schools are in Iida City, with about an average commute time of 1.5 hrs one way.

Probably the children with whom I had grown the closest with were the 3rd years. They knew the most English, to be sure, so it was easier to communicate with them. I also had the most classes with them. Also, by the 3rd year, the students really feel comfortable and open up, showing their real personalities instead of being shy and timid like the other grades. I'm going to miss them so much. They will always be "the" 3rd years.

Good luck in the future.