more cultural differences in the school system

[ladyjemanny]

the new school year just started, so there is a whole group of new fresh-out-of-kindergarten first graders in my elementary school... one of whom happens to be of russian descent (i'll call her "m." this conversation took place in the teachers' room

Comments

[rina_says_hello]

a russian girl in japan!

i feel like that kind of argument flies in high school, but first graders? really? what will she miss?

how is your new school and the new kids? any interesting travels are of late?

i miss you!

[ladyjemanny]

hey!! i miss you too!!! i like my new schools so far--i just went to the second of my junior highs today. it's a really small school out in the countryside (aka an hour's bus ride from my apartment T_T) so i thought the kids would be really quiet and well behaved... but they turned out to be VERY energetic and chaotic in a good way. i was also surprised to see the hugest student i have ever seen (as in, and actual football player sized japanese kid)--and it turned out that he's training to be a sumo wrestler! that was pretty cool.

i haven't gone anywhere recently, but i'm going to korea for the first week of may!!! i'm really excited. how have you been? anything new?

[adragontongue]

Hey hun, I've got a friend who's hoping to do a program like the one you're in next year - what city are you in? What program IS it that got you there?

I miss you :) Keep updating!

[ladyjemanny]

sorry to reply so late! how have you been???
the program i'm in is called JET--"the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme." it's through the japanese government, but you apply through the japanese consulate in whichever state you live in. applications are usually due in late november/early december, interviews are in february, and you get your decision in may to start work in late july/early august, so it's a reallly long process! i'm in oita city (oita prefecture) but there are JET locations in all prefectures. you can list preferences, but it's hard to get into popular areas, like places around tokyo and kyoto. if your friend wants to ask me any questions, she can contact me through email or facebook--i don't go on often, but when i do, i'll definitely get back to her!