Time on my hands

It is going to be difficult to keep writing something new and interesting every day, however, the fourth year students have gone to England for a month, the new first year students are still being taught how to find their way around and how to live the Shumei life, so our schedules are very light at the moment and I have time to compose something.

Unlike other countries, apart from South Korea perhaps, Japan's academic year starts in April. This is to coincide with the cherry blossom time, so that the students have that symbolism of the ephemeral nature of life and the swift passage of time when they enter this new phase of their lives. The opening ceremony was held last week and was conducted with a great deal of pomp and ceremony. As well as the entrance of the new first year students, it also marked the entrance of the former third year students into the senior high school. The ceremony starts off with the entrance of the new students in their too large uniforms, looking nervous and lost, then the stage party entered and we all bowed to them in turn. After the kendo club boys played the taiko drums, the Japanese contingent sang 'Kimigayo', the controversial national anthem that has been in use since before the second world war and which some people refuse to sing because of its militaristic overtones.

Lots of speeches followed, from the founder, the headmasters of the junior and senior high school and representatives of the new first years and the new fourth years. The parents were all very attentive and videod and photographed dutifully to make a record of this landmark day in the lives of their offspring. They are paying an arm and a leg to send their tykes here, so I guess they were here to ensure they were getting their money's worth too.

After the ceremony was over and we had all sung the school song, it was off to the English Teachers' Preparation room, (doss), for a cup of tea and a natter, before having to get down to the task of preparing the new syllabus for this term.

If you want to see our ugly mugs here at Shumei, try this link, http://www.shumei.ac.jp/kawagoe2/home.html we are viewable if you choose the fifth button from the top on the left hand side of the page, the one that says English education, (but you knew that).
Mr. Van de l'Isle has been replaced by Alison Ormisher, but apart from that, we are all present and correct.