Last class

I had my last class with four of my 6th graders. (Actually the fourth showed up unexpectedly yesterday after three months of absence... I had scolded him in December and he chose to boycott my class.)

I've had these kids for 6 years. I've had their older brothers and sisters too! They will be entering Jr. high school in April and in my experience every Jr. high student turns ornery in the first year (my kids included!) and gets an attitude. I long ago decided I wouldn't teach Jr. high students... Jr. high is the start of formal, grammatical English and preparation for high school exams so most Jr. high students will start going to cram schools at night. Most of my students will quit my English to start attending cram school English. If they stay with me their grades don't go up! And another reason that Jr. high is a good time for them to quit my English class is because they will start formal school sports activities with practicing going until late at night. There is just no time for these kids!

So for the past couple weeks three of the kids worked on their Happy Villages as a remembrance of my class and I quilted them this week.





And yesterday the four kids came early and we cooked dinner together.

Hmmm. I should have spent a few more lessons on manners. I got a lot of grimaces and retching sounds from them and then refusal to eat whatever we'd made because of some reason or another. Giggles about grace before the meal, complaints about helping clean up. I couldn't see ending English on a bad note with me scolding them again so I let them say what they wanted. Let's say that though I have some great memories of being with these kids, it WAS TIME for them to quit.



I honestly don't think these kids gained a lot of English in the 6 years that they came to me (why was that boy still stumbling over counting to 16?) If nothing else, last night I realized that they were comfortable with me. Hopefully they will encounter more foreigners and overseas situations and will remember me harping over the same sort of things or having the same customs.

I should have been able to do more with these kids. Move on and try to do more with the ones who are still coming.

Once upon a time

Once upon a time... Tetsu did not like cats. Tetsu was a dog person. His mother tells tales of Tetsu running away from home and getting as far as the dog house where hours later he was found sleeping with the dog.

Then I (Tanya) came along who doesn't classify herself as a dog or cat person. Maybe animal person. Tetsu and I helped a few stray cats but they went on their way and Tetsu brought home a stray dog (Shoko) which became an important part of our family. Then a friend "gave" us their cat that they couldn't keep (Lami) and after that one we adopted a kitten (Lemi), and somewhere along the line the strays started showing up. Zorro. Velvet. Cleo, Patora and a sibling (which found a home). Choco was a stray I brought home. Tetsu rescued other dogs which were returned to their owners. Chip. Toi. Mi. (I fail to mention the parakeets Tetsu and I kept before the kids showed up.)

Tetsu is now a cat person. Choco plays second fiddle because she is always digging holes, ripping up cushions and blankets, tearing apart her dog house, making more work for Tetsu.

The cats could care less about Tetsu. He's not the one who feeds them nor cuddles them. The only time they take an interest in Tetsu is when he is eating. In this picture, potato chips. Suddenly Tetsu is every cats' best friend! (Four cats there.)

And according to Mi, Tetsu is always her best friend. The feeling is mutual. Happiness is sleeping on top of the one you love.

Job interview

I went to my interview for the crosswalk guard position on Friday afternoon. I'm supposed to get an answer from the city this week.

On my way to the interview I looked down at my jeans and bright blue shirt and had the thought...

"Wait a minute. I seem to recall that when going to interviews young college graduates at least have an interview "uniform" of black slacks, black jacket, black shoes etc. I wonder if I was supposed to get dressed up for this."

Too late. I look like what I look like. At least I'm not pretending to be what I'm not. (I don't own black slacks, black jacket or black shoes.) I went in smiling to my interview because I'm sure my attire was a first.

Japanese young people are in the last stages getting ready for new jobs. The fiscal year starts in April (as do schools, TV programs etc) and college students have madly been pursuing "shushoku katsudo", job hunting, for the past two years. Yes! Two years! Around the middle of the junior year in college, companies will start conducting interviews and accepting applications and resumes for positions two years hence. By the time the student starts their senior year in college, ideally they should have a position secured for them upon graduation. I don't know how the companies know how many positions are going to be open or how the economy is going to be in two years but anyway, college students and parents get very nervous as the senior year continues with no employment future cemented. And by the way, not a lot of studying gets done in college that last year when all that is required of the student is a diploma to show to their future place of employment. On the other hand, the colleges really play a big part in finding their students jobs, so the good and bad of the system balances out.

Back to interview uniforms, otherwise known as recruitment suits. Many parents will buy their college bound son or daughter a black suit that will be put to use over four years of college. The suit can be worn once for the entrance ceremonies to school, and two years later it can be worn daily throughout the many months of job hunting seminars, interviews and ceremonies. I was always very relieved when I listened to my friends woes of the cost and styles of recruitment suits that they were buying for their children. I wonder if my kids will EVER have use of a formal black suit. (Pictures from the Internet)

Ah well. My interview is over (sat alone in a folding chair across from three men at a long table while they made inquiries of my crosswalk interests, my language ability, my driving record and my husband's job).

And they did make it clear that IF I should get the job I wouldn't be able to wear my jeans...

Works in progress this month

I don't have a lot to show for handwork so far... I must be doing something but nothing is getting completed and I still have a ways to go so here are some of my in progress projects.

Stitchery... that I was NOT planning to do anymore of but couldn't resist when the cats showed up. This is still February's block and I'm nowhere near the end. March block has already been posted at Red Brolly but I can't even think about that yet. I'll be happy if I get THIS block done! It should have a bit more color when I get to flowers and things... This looks pretty drab right now.

I am in possession of one of the corners for our bazaar quilt and four of us took home embroidery thread and instructions to stitch around all our previously colored patterns. It will be SOO nice to get this to a flimsy stage. Already we are beginning to ask... "Who is going to quilt this quilt?" "Not I." said the little red hen. My stitchery on this is taking me away from my cat stitchery (and the feathered star.)

Leiya asked me (and who can refuse a daughter living in another country whom you haven't seen in a year) to make her a vest. A knitted vest. Neutral color. Maybe specks of other neutral color. Button down. Not bulky.

Hmmm. She's asking a lot because according to my calendar I am out of the knitting season (November to January) but because she ASKED and because I LOVE her and because I haven't made her anything for a year I went off to the yarn shop and bought cotton yarn and found a pattern I like.

Sorry Leiya, I can't make it to order because I couldn't figure out EXACTLY what you were thinking of. I hope motherly love will cover the faults of unfashion. (And don't count on this arriving in your mailbox for awhile... Think summer.)

And finally a little COLOR on my blog... Three of my 6th graders are
"graduating" from English this month so I set them to work on Happy Villages. Now what that has to do with English I don't know but instead of going out and buying them a pen and pencil set or something I decided I'd rather help them make a remembrance of their six years with me. (And we did some minor sewing over the years.) So the three Happy Villages have been made and I need to get them quilted by Monday. Yes, I know there are only two here in the picture. I'm devoting Sunday night to quilting the last one.

And I shamelessly copied Diane Gaudynski's addition of a quilted cat in one of the houses because I know one of my student's likes cats (me too!).

Got to get back to work!

Elementary school

Yesterday I went to the local elementary school to teach an hour or so of English to the first and second graders. Japan has always had English (of sorts) in Jr. high and high school but no one comes out speaking any English after 6 years of studying so the Education Department is hoping to add English into all the elementary school curriculum next year. There are already foreign teachers hired on a two year contract that make the rounds to all the schools in the district about every other week. I have never thought of applying for that job because I'd prefer to work in small groups and get to know the children. (And I don't want to do a lot of driving.)

But the neighborhood school asked me to come in yesterday and I had a good time. Sort of everyday English which wasn't very interesting but the way I was treated as an honored guest! I thought that was interesting.

At the entry to the school someone had written welcome greetings and ringing the intercom brought one of the office ladies to let me in. Although the other doors seemed to be open and children were freely going in and out, the formal front door to the school was locked. I was directed to the Principal's office and we settled into the deep sofas to enjoy a cup of hot coffee before my class.

Pretty soon a couple second graders knocked on the door and very nervously announced their names and that they were from the second grade, and then guided me down the corridor to where the class was waiting, (also nervously). I "performed" with exaggerated gestures and a lot of action and finally everyone warmed up. A fun 30 minutes.

After class I was led back to the Principal's office and served a cup of hot tea and a sweet bean cake (which I declined until the first grade class was over. I couldn't see trying to teach with my mouth sticky with sweet beans and omochi.) The first graders were shy and sweet and I think we all enjoyed the 30 minutes.

Again back to the Principal's office and I was served more hot tea, ate my sweet sticky bean cake, chatted with the principal and the two teachers who came in specially to thank me for giving up my precious time, was paid for the hour's work and handed cakes and Japanese paper gifts on my way out. Principal, vice principal and two office ladies accompanied me to the front door bowing deeply (me too!) until I was out of sight.

Hm-hmmm~ That was sort of fun.~

Elderly care

My friends and I are arriving at the age where our parents and in-laws need a lot of care. When I visit with my friends, the conversation which once revolved around kindergarten activities and then cram school and entrance exams, now focuses mostly on parental care. And all my friends speak of exhaustion, irritability and broken family relationships.

In some ways, Japan has an excellent system for caring for the elderly. Each person over 70 is categorized as needing a certainly level of care. Those who are still independent, are in fairly good health and have no dementia are eligible for limited care or help. Others who suffer from poor health, who are bed ridden or have Alzheimer's are awarded more hours and levels of care.

For example, my mother-in-law lives alone in an apartment but she no longer walks without a walker and holds onto arm rails. She also doesn't see very well but she survives with certified "helpers" provided by the city to come in to clean and occasionally cook a meal. The helper will also do some light grocery shopping but that had to be negotiated between our family, the care manager and the city. My mother-in-law also gets daily meals brought in and has access to "health care taxis" which will take her to the doctors. All this is at a VERY minimal fee but my mother-in-law balks at paying anything and she isn't very happy about the way the helpers clean or cook etc. If she had been "categorized" as being less independent or slightly senile or in poorer health, the care would have been more complete and cost even less so right now my mother-in-law is not happy that she is considered healthy.

The levels of care include in home medical care; short stay programs where a convalescent facility will accept an elderly person for a few days (in order to let the family have a break); and day care services. Day care programs will pick up the person by a facility van, will provide meals and activities and in some cases the person will be bathed. At the end of the day the person will be brought home. Some of my friend's parents use this service three or four times a week. My mother-in-law won't have anything to do with short stay care nor day service care and so she is getting along on the helper system.

Convalescent homes in general are dreary places (sorry Tetsu). They are warped linoleum, thumb tacked announcements, plastic aprons, crowded feeding centers. It is no surprise that so many elderly people do not want to go there. There are private convalescent homes that may be comparable to nice American facilities that one must pay a lot for but Japanese are not used to paying for health care so only the extremely wealthy are able to live in these private facilities. I'm afraid I wouldn't want to live in a subsidized convalescent home and I guess Tetsu isn't thinking of putting his mother in one yet...

For so many families, the burden of caring for their elderly falls on the daughter or the daughter-in-law. Japanese men work long hours. They aren't particularly good at expressing their emotions and the pain of watching elderly parents decline is pushed onto the women. In many cases the husband has been transferred to another city (or country!) and the wife remains in the in-laws home to take care of them. Resentment sets in between siblings and spouses. By the time the parents are gone, no one is speaking to each other any more!

I once got into an argument with a neighbor for saying something simple like,

"I don't see my children ever coming back to living with Tetsu and me. They have their own lives and we raised them to go out into the world and touch others."

"What on earth is the point of having children if they are not going to take care of their parents! After all I've sacrificed for my children, their first duty is to care for the parents who brought them into the world and gave them everything so far!" (And in my neighbor's thinking, her son needed to find a good wife who would cheerfully take care of his parents. Good luck!)

It is an impossibility to explain one side to the other and by far, the children's duty to the parents plays a very important role in Japan. By those standards Tetsu and I aren't doing well by his mother nor my own.

Japan has the highest population of elderly in the world. Actually the government is having trouble keeping up with social security, health care and services. The ideal is to keep the elderly person as independent as possible and many programs are being developed and businesses abound. Still, it looks like it will be a long haul before everyone is satisfied... In twenty years or so I'm going to be needing some of these services myself. I hope they get it worked out.

Lucky

I finished my paper piecing quilt. It is nice. I hope my friend likes it. It was a "see if you can do it" type of quilt. A combination "Paint by number" and "Brain teaser" project. There is not a lot of creativity in this quilt because I ordered the pattern and fabrics from Silver Linings Originals and it turned out about as I imagined. I put in some wonky letters (that aren't very wonky) but that's about it for individualism.

My friend, Mrs. Shibahata lost her beloved dog Lucky, last month. Although I don't believe in luck, Lucky lived up to her name. When I first met Mrs. Shibahata she shuddered whenever an animal came near. NO PETS FOR HER! But her young son wanted a dog. NO WAY! How about a hamster? When they went to the pet store to look at hamsters Mrs. Shibahata felt ill at the possibility that she might turn into a "mouse" owner. They came home without a hamster and the Shibahata household remained petless for a few more years. Her friends, including me, just couldn't imagine an animal in the Shibahata family.

A few years later a stray dog was found in the neighborhood and it looked like it was destined for the pound. Would Mrs. Shibahata take it? Gulp. The son was pleading. Mrs. Shibahata agreed that UNTIL the/an owner could be found that the dog could live in their yard. The SECOND the dog entered that car, Mrs. Shibahata was touched by an angel and fell absolutely in love with her new dog!

No trip was taken without Lucky being along. The family excursions were planned around which hotels would accept dogs. Lucky was introduced into the social life of cafes that catered to dogs and Mrs. Shibahata's life was enriched by many dog owner friends. A dog door was built into the window, a terrace and ramp led to Lucky's yard. Lucky lived in the living room in her own little quarters and Mrs. Shibahata happily made organic treats. The neighbors adopted Lucky on the few times that Mrs. Shibahata absolutely had to leave her alone and pictures of Lucky adorned the Shibahata picture frames.

Then a couple of years ago Mr. Shibahata was transferred to Germany. What to do? Lucky was getting old. She had back problems. But it was unthinkable to leave her so all the paper work and shots and health examinations were completed so that Lucky could go to live in Germany. And Lucky and Mrs. Shibahata traveled first class on Lufthansa airlines so that Lucky could sit at Mrs. Shibahata's feet during the flight!

Reports back from Germany were that Lucky was a real star and she had happily adjusted to doggie German life. More lunches in dog welcoming restaurants. More travels, this time around Europe in hotels that accepted animals. Lucky's bad back made it necessary to transport her around in a stroller/buggy type arrangement but that only made her all the more popular with other tourists and Lucky often posed for pictures in her stroller. After a year, the Shibahatas and Lucky were back in Japan but gradually old age was taking its toll on sweet Lucky. Finally last month she passed on with Mrs. Shibahata by her side.

On a table in the Shibahata living room is a digital picture frame where the pictures change every few seconds. At first glance the pictures seem to be of the glorious scenery of Europe but in every picture there is Lucky, sitting proudly in her stroller, being held by Mrs. Shibahata, walking along the shores of some famous resort.

Lucky was a very "lucky" dog. But I think it was Mrs. Shibahata that was even "luckier"! A small, friendly Beagle changed her life and changed her heart.