this is what is currently covering my body thanks to my elementary students. . . at some point over the last few weeks, i had to start saying goodbyes and actually confessing to my kids that i am in fact returning to america. . .
a confession which they can’t seem to grasp. . . i don’t think i believe it yet, so why should they really, right? “you mean you’re going back to visit america this summer?”“oh, you’re going to go to america to get permission from your family to marry tsuyoshi and live in japan, right?”. . . ummm, no, i am moving back to America. . . you know, my home country?
or when i tell the teachers that this is my last class with fifth grade or whatever. . . they just nod their heads like oh, yeah, it is almost summer break. . . but when the end of class rolls around and i want to take a memorial photograph, the teachers just shout out “ええ！you mean you are leaving japan?!?!” ummm, yes, i told you this before. . .
seriously, after you live here for three years, you become so much a part of the community that no one believes you when you finally decide to leave. . .
my 小学校二年生 girls wouldn’t stop holding my hand during reading time. . . after class they gave me these huge sweaty hugs. . . one girl had tears streaming down her face when she let go. . .it’s so sweet but so sad!
and all the kids have been asking for my autograph. . . this is not something new. . . the requests have just multiplied. . . sign my hat. . . oh, how about my backpack. . . エリン先生 sign my plastic divider thingy. . . one kid asked me to sign his jeans. . .it’s ridiculous. i think their parents would kill me if their kid walked in with my signature on everything he/she owned. . . the students were even laughing at themselves and started calling me “夢人エリン” (celebrity erinn). . . some kids left with five signatures!
anyway, i haven’t said many official goodbyes yet. . . next wednesday will be one of the hardest days because it’s my last day at the elementary school in my town. . . i’ve been with the students there for three years!! i’m planning to dance for them as a farewell “present”. . . haha. . . wonder if elementary and junior high school boys enjoy watching their teachers dance? ;)
ahhh, three years will be up soon. . . too soon. . .
