School Visit Adventures!

School Visit Adventures!

If I could visit with elementary students at kokurika (school visits) every day, I totally would. The kids are so incredibly welcoming to me, so eager to learn, and sooo cute!

This week, I had my second kokurika (school visit) at a kindergarten. This was my biggest one yet, for an hour and a half, with 4 classrooms of kids altogether - probably 60 or more 6-year-olds all jam-packed in one room, the energy was fantastic!

We played many Hippo games, did a bunch of fun activities with them, and I got to introduce myself to them with my large-print kamishibai (paper theater). As I brought out my family photo (specifically, showing them my eight family members), the whole room burst out with "Ehhhhh?!!" And then I told them that compared to their kindergarten (which had a very large campus), my garden was even bigger than that. "Ehhhhhh?!!" Their reactions were priceless!

I was also amazed at how, when I told them I was from America, they started openly – without hesitation or embarrassment - speaking English to me. My heart melted when they'd look straight at me (a foreign face) then smile and say, "Danielle!" and "Hello!" and "See you!"

Towards the end of the day, I left our Hippo members' meeting room to run to the bathroom (the bathroom was an adventure all in itself, by the way. Pictures included).

On my way out, I was bombarded with those little cuties coming up to me, wanting to play. Handing me origami paper and watching me fold the only thing I know how to fold. Asking me which mold they should use make their playdough creations. Showing me their art albums of crayon masterpieces. Introducing me to Cat's Cradle string games. Taking photos together with my well-used camera that day. Giving me so many high-fives and smiles. I had a hard time leaving them – If I could've stayed and played with them all day, I would have!

Kids are awesome. I know I could learn a thing or two from them. Their welcoming, all-inclusive attitude; not to be afraid to talk to someone new, not to be afraid to walk up and give someone the warmest smile you've ever seen. Not to be afraid by barriers of any kind. If we could all think more like children, the world would be a less fearful place, I think.

P.S. Got on the 5:40-something-AM train to get to the school (which I guess is VERY early by Japanese standards), and I got to sit on every train I transferred to. It was glorious, and I would not mind doing it again. :D