School Lunch

School Lunch

Okay, so for this week, I had initially planned to write about one of my favorite temples here in Japan (maybe next week), but I wanted to write about something else that happened to me recently that I thought was a really cool, unique experience and wanted to share it with you all.

First of all, the "kokurika" (school visits) that I have are first and foremost work, but they don't FEEL like work at all. I get to play with the kids, talk to them, and learn from/with them. We do some SADA (Sing Along Dance Along) Hippo language club activities, we listen to and mimic other foreign languages, hear some speeches from other Hippo members who have homestayed abroad, I do my little speech, and it's usually over before I know it. All in a days work, right? My rule of thumb stands, if I can make them smile or laugh, then my day was worth it.

At this latest kokurika I had, I spoke in front of a small class of about twenty super-cute 4th-graders. It had been a while since I'd done one so small-scale. Lately, it's been multiple classrooms gathering together in the gym, consisting of 100+ kids or more.

Well, when the kokurika activities were all done, and I was on my way back to the meeting room, the 4th-grader homeroom teacher pulled me aside and said, "Why don't you have lunch with the kids?" and invited me to eat with the students in their classroom.

What an amazing experience!! I got my things and headed for the classroom, and as soon as I opened the door, everyone in the room - teacher included - started clapping, and the kids were yelling, "Danielle! Sit over here! Sit by us!" I had a hard time choosing a spot to sit at, but I finally found a place to sit down, and me and the kids started talking and talking about anything and everything. I had a GREAT time!

Afterwards, we all finished lunch period by saying "gochisousama" (thanks for the meal), but even then, the kids were holding my hands and talking to me. I wish I could've stayed; they were too cute!

So, thank you very much, 4th-grade sensei, for giving me such a neat opportunity. I'm so grateful to have been given the chance. And thanks, kids, for being so nice to me, for showing me all your cool pencil sets, and answering all my questions about your favorite school subjects, foods, Pokemon, and such. Thanks for being awesome!