Graduation Day

High School Graduation is certainly very different in Japan, as compared to my experience with American graduations. As you can see, there are only about 3 or 4 short rows of parents there (right half of the picture). I think at my High School Graduation, we were given 5 seat tickets for family and friends, and even then everyone complained that five wasn't enough. Granted, I could be mixing up my High School and College graduation experience. I'm old. But in general, there weren't that many people there, and it was very.... drab. Sumimasen (sorry/excuse me), Japan. I had gotten plenty of sleep the night before, yet I struggled profusely with maintaining (at least) slightly open eyes.

Each student does not receive a diploma. Instead, the class leader receives the only official document. At my school specifically, there are 4 classes, each with 40 students. Meaning 160 students graduated, but only 4 students took center-stage to receive a diploma-like document.

The Principal and Vice Principal gave speeches, and so did 2 student representatives. The school song was sung. There was a lot of standing up, sitting down, bowing. Whenever a student had to walk to the front, they walked like snails. Dignified snails. And silence. I attended the "graduation practice" the Friday before...and that was basically all the students (and teachers) practicing standing up and sitting down exactly in sync.

I love Japan. And there are many pluses to how they do things. But this graduation thing needs to be spiced up. Yet, next year, at exactly 10a.m. on March 1st, I will again be bowing and sitting, standing, bowing and sitting.

Me and my supervisor!

Its cold! Later on in the day, I burned the skirt you see me wearing, when I was getting too close to that heater you see me warming up over. Ha! :(

Nothing like starting a fire with your skirt to impress your Japanese co-workers!