School @ MindSay

Work starts again for me in about three days, but will end abruptly about seven weeks from there. September will be uninteresting but October should prove to be lots of fun as I pack things up and ship things home. I am getting more and more excited about it as each day passes.

We had a meeting today, sort of a "back from vacation" thing. I got to see all of my co-workers and we got a chance to talk about this and that. I told some of them that I was going home in November and they seemed to think that was pretty cool... but the weird part is that many asked me when I was coming back. One in particular, an older, nice guy that I have spoken to on many occasions, had this dialogue with me:

"Going home in November? Must have found a new job huh? So when are you coming back to Japan then?"
"What?" I asked, "um, never. I'm going home for good."
He looked  at me, somewhat shocked, "Really? You don't want to come back? You want to live in America??"

As the word "America" was said there was a bit of a shiver to the guys voice. Like it's such a bad thing. It reminded me of how I used to think, and it made me realize just how proud I am now to be an American. Now mind you, I won't go waving the flag around, buying black velvet paintings of eagles crying or voting republican... I'm not that kind of American. But I will say I enjoy the freedom, the space and the general attitude of the country of my birth. It just took a little while for me to realize it.

Back to my conversation, I was then asked what I planned to do when I got home.
"Well, I plan on being with my family and friends."
"Well, what about your Japanese friends?"
I did tell the truth. I said "They'll be fine, I have all their info and they want to visit me in the states!" What I didn't mention is that not one of the friends I have made out here is actually Japanese. Sure, I met these new friends in Japan, but they are all sorts of backgrounds... Asian and European. But no Japanese. Not one. I know more Japanese people in America then I do in Japan. And that's another reason I want to go home.

"But what about all the things Japan has to offer?"
I started to feel like he was a spokesman for the Japanese Consulate of Foreign Workers or something. I basically said that it would be best for me to live in America. Both me and my girl would prefer it (yes, I had to explain how my girl is Japanese but born in America and likes The USA better and so do I etc...)
He digested what I told him for a moment and finally said "Well that's cool. I kinds wish I could move back sometimes too... but I haven't paid taxes in the USA for over 40 years. I really can't go back".

So now I understood the disdain. Still a pretty cool guy by my standards.
For me, Japan used to mean a freedom from everything that I was used to. No more mundane, day to day routine, but instead an exciting and interesting new world to explore. Now, it means nine hour work days, low pay, high taxes, people who are constantly "too busy" to do anything (I will explain that in more detail in a later post) and long, loooooong commute times.

America used to mean boredom, no opportunities and  stifling family members and friends that would keep me from doing what I wanted to do. It was too cushy, too easy, too drab. I needed to get away and do something on my own... but now, just like a painter stepping away from the easel, I can now see America for what it really is to me. Opportunities abound, free stuff all over the place, personal transportation so you can go wherever you want whenever you want, 24 hour everything, food from all around the world (and cheap), a house or very large apartment and most importantly, foreigners.

In America we are all in the same boat. We are all foreigners. America is this grand social experiment, and we've managed to all get along well enough to form one of the most powerful nations the world has ever seen. I love that I am a part of that. Anyone can be an American, but only natural born Japanese can be citizens in this country. I like our system better.

Anyways, I really do only have roughly 7 weeks of work left, so I'm going to spend most of that doing very little, especially after I give my notice of termination. This is going to be a sweet two months...

-Maru!

Today was the first day of school for all the other kids in the building besides my trio; they start Tuesday.  Claudia and I weren't allowed to move the furniture into our room because Bill, the amaaaaaaazing custodian, had to wax the floor a few times, but we were able to figure out where to put things, and made a few bulletin boards.  I made my first official bulletin board that was MINE.  Not me making one for someone else, not me hanging up someone else's students work; the stuff I do now... it's MINE.  It's a strange, but good feeling.  Exciting.

We had an assembly this morning, and they introduced all the new staff.  I am so happy that so many of the great kids from camp go to BSE.  I got to see SO MANY of my kids from camp; I looked out my window while I was wiping down the counter, and saw Jordan and his mom getting out of their Jeep, and Jordyn, Thea, Noah, Matt, Corinne, Jenny, Gretchen... they're all there.  And I saw a picture of Mr. Bennett, so even though I didn't get to see him today, he does in fact go to the school I teach at, and I will get to see him. 

I can't wait to meet my 3 guys.  I'm getting the sense that they're tough, but I've always loved the tough ones.  William.  Lloyd.  Maliek. Startashia. I know I'm going to get knocked on my ass a few times; I'm okay with that.  I know there are going to be tears, but I'm going to be okay.  I'm going to breathe and keep going.  I don't think I'll get to write here everyday, but I'm going to try to get everything poignant and important in here, good or bad.  Let's hope for more good than bad.

I can't imagine growing up under the bubble wrapped
 constant surveillance that exists for kids nowadays.

I was a dreamy child, and some of my best memories
of childhood are of the worlds I created in my head
 while playing alone in the woods, of the long walks
 on the beach alone with our dog in the early morning,
 and of the exquisite pleasure of being allowed to
 ride my bike to the store alone.

 The idea of 'stranger danger' is so exaggerated and
so pervasive in our society that we're raising an entire
 generation of paranoid kids afraid to go out on their
own and at the same time resentful of being coddled.

In the US as a whole, the figure I found with a quick
google search suggest there are about 100 abductions
 a year by strangers, over a population of about
300 million; something like one case in 3 million

Putting children in a bubble isn't making them safer,
 it's depriving them of the joyous freedom of being a kid.

We absolutely need to start booting our kids outdoors
starting at the earliest possible age.
Turn off the freaking electronic toys.

 My mom used to send us out in the morning during
 the summer saying "it's a beautiful day there will be
 no sitting around the house. I don't want to see you
again until dinner."

Could it be the true cause of the problem is Capitalism for it
 can't profit as much from unstructured, noncompetitive filled play.
 like a school or civic related soccer program, for example,
they require more consumption than a snowball fight.

We've allowed FEAR to guide policy. Kids are going to
scrape knees, get into fights, get bruises, split lips, break bones,
fall out of trees and every so often, in some sad and rare
and terrible event, be seriously injured.

There are more and more studies showing that unstructured
play is vital for childhood development because it directly
impacts self moderation, which is a primary indicator
 of success later in life.

They conducted a study in the 60's which involved placing
a child in a circle and asking him to stand still for 1 minute.

 A 1 year old could barely maintain a few seconds.
A 2 year old about 10 . . . 3 year old starts getting to 30 
on and on until about 5-6 the child can stand still, consumed
 by his own thoughts and imagination to keep him busy.

Recently they re-conducted the test. The results?
Children today at age 5-6 were as developed as
children were at age 3 in the 60's.

All this control and "structured" play is setting our children
up for failure later in life. As a parent, its your choice.

If you never experience a moment of true freedom
and fear and thrill, and live through it, you will never
 understand real Revolution and want to be a part of it.

 You will never take to the streets and feel the heady
energy of taking back what is yours.

 Never take that risk of conflict without
needing to know what is on the other side.

You will never know what's worth fighting for.

And you will be a slave the whole of your life.

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because
they tell us that dragons exist, but because
they tell us that dragons can be beaten."
-- G. K. Chesterton

~~~DFTBA

Today was the official first day of school, even though classes began on Thursday. I'm sad that summer is over,yes, but I am overjoyed that I'll have something to do til May. I guess it was a good first day and I hope that the rest of the year continues this way (with less confusion of  where my classes are).

Hello! So, I got my valadation e-mail for Teen Tuesday. So, I'll be writing for that blog along with the three of my own. Check it out and tell me what you think! I'll probably be making my first post for it on Tuesday, hence the name. :D

 

In other news, I'm babysitting tonight. I know, it sucks, right? Tonight is the last night we can stay up late because we go back to school on Tuesday. I don't want to go back! School is really going to suck, isn't it? *sigh*

 

Anyway, I don't know what I'm going to do with Thomas today. We'll probably just stay inside. It might rain today, I don't know. I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of summer. I hate school! I don't want to go back! Anyway, bye!