Today was the first day of school for the new school year. It was strange riding my bicycle to school, passing the students, and saying, "Good morning!" with the only response being a look of surprise and a giggle. First year students. They haven't met me yet. How re-assuring it was to walk in the building and be greeted with enthusiasm by second and third year students.

Today these first graders (about 12 years old -- we call them "ichinensei") were learning the rules of junior high school -- how to enter and leave the teacher's room, etc. They were cute and curious, but seemed hesitant under the weight of instruction.

I had no classes so I spent my time drawing and coloring several sets of alphabet cards for next week. It could have been the rain, the dark clouds, the quiet office, or the lack of sleep the night before that made me start to daydream -- although "zoning" would be a more appropriate word since I don't really think my brain was active. I was working on a supersize version of the letter "J" when the forms started to seem unfamiliar and I had to doublecheck to make sure the lowercase b's, d's, p's, and q's were pointed in the appropriate way. It's funny how when you live in a foreign country and are limited to only basic English, your communicative patterns start to resemble the students'. It's scary actually.

So now maybe you understand why I ramble so much in e-mails, on the phone (the lucky few), or in letters. Sometimes we just need to make noise in our own language for a change even if it has no significance or profound meaning. Sometimes we just need to laugh with the full knowledge that someone else truly gets it too. Sometimes we just need to -- okay, sometimes I just need to be able to act crazy without people thinking that I actually am. One thing I have learned very well here... sarcasm is lost in translation -- big time.

It was pouring down rain when I left school so another teacher gave me a ride. This means I will have to walk in the morning as my two wheels are still at school. It's okay with me. The cherry blossoms have just bloomed and are so beautiful. Unfortunately the wind and rain was so heavy today that by morning they may have all fallen. They are so simple and fragile, yet utterly breathtaking.

The blooming of these flowers becomes a traditional event and parties are thrown just to watch them. It's nice also to see the children excited about it.

We say in the west to take time to smell the roses, because no one ever does. Unfortunately, no one ever stops to even look either. Nature is God's perfect creation, and there are surely lessons in so many parts of it. But how will we ever learn if we never open our eyes...

Until next time...

Copyright 2000 H. Krebs