American Bowl - Week 52 (May 12 - May 18)

Since almost every picture this week has students in it I can't post it publicly on the net. So instead you get Sean harvesting the booty of Kayoko and I!

American Bowl

Week 52

This week marked not only my birthday, but also my receiving of what is likely the worst birthday present I could possibly ask for: Kayoko leaving. She was returning back to Wisconsin in order to continue her education over the summer at University. Good move, but sad to see her go.

That Saturday was her last day teaching at Musashi-Koganei before she returned to the US to pursue her studies over the summer at university. It was a pretty emotional week at the school with few of her classes finishing with perfectly dry eyes. Definitely a bittersweet week if there ever was one.

Friday afternoon was great though because I had a most awesome of surprise parties. It was in one of my afternoon classes. Right after the class I was surprised to see one of the new sub teachers that would be taking over for Kayoko come into the class with a little tree of cupcakes. It was super awesome and I was kind of embarrassed. I got really nice gifts from my students too, including one for my mom which I will give to her when I get home. I was still super shocked and embarrassed though. I really wasn’t expecting it.

I was also starting to get to know Sakurako, the new manager! She’s very cool (I’m actually sitting next to her while she researches hiking routes for me as I write this) and had just started before golden week.

But that really wasn’t the big part of the week. The big deal was Sunday’s good bye party/birthday party thing. It happened in Koganei park, and featured what is now tradition when teachers leave the school: a nice, big, barbecue. Japanese style of course, so yaki-soba and yaki-niku, not burgers and hotdogs.

It was a fantastic party actually. Sean came along as well, which was nice because he got to reconnect with his old students. Sakurako was also really meeting many of the students for the first time. It went splendidly. This was despite the rather cold, windy weather. Didn’t matter though, the conversation kept us warm! That or climbing trees, which I did between snapping pictures of students and talking to everyone. The beer helped too.

The BBQ broke up around 5 after a few group photos and a tearful goodbye speech by Kayoko. After a long walk to the parking lot Kayoko and a few of the students acquired transportation to the bowling alley for the second half of the party. Sean and I dropped by my apartment to drop off some supplies before following them.

Bowling was much the same as the barbecue. Great time, everybody was really happy and we even had a few students that don’t usually turn up to the parties. I can’t say that I kicked ass, I think I only came in around 8th of 19, but I was pretty content with my bowling prowess after I got into the swing of it. One of my younger students was there, Taiki, and we totally dished out massive high-fives. It was great fun. I think Mr. Clarke (some of you know who I mean) said it best when he quipped ‘it’s your own fault if you don’t have fun at bowling. You should be excited and ebullient’ or something along those lines.

We finished off at around 10 and everyone went their separate ways. It was a great send off for Kayoko, I think it really helped close that chapter of her career and life.

Monday…well…you know what I do Mondays, reprise my erstwhile position as rock singer at Ben’s place in Shimo-Kita-Zawa. How can you beat that for a weekend though? Parties all weekend long!

Partied out…

Ian “Mello Yello” Cantello