School

Long before we even arrived, we knew that we would have two very different options for our children to attend school in Japan:

1. The DODEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) schools located on the base.  These schools are American style schools, they are top of the line, the resources they have are incredible and no expense is spared.  

2. Local Japanese schools, located off base.  Here the children would have all classes in Japanese, they would attend a "Japanese as a second language" class, but other than that, it would be an all in type of situation.

Andrew and I thought a lot about this, and before coming we thought that for our family and for our situation we would really like the kids to go to Japanese school.  Our intentions for coming to Japan were and still are to have an immersive cultural experience.  On the base, you don't even realize that you are outside of the United States.  We decided, however, to wait to make the final decision once we got here.

Then we got here.  We very naively assumed that we would be able to quickly and effortlessly enroll our kids in Japanese school much like you can do at public schools in the States.  We were so, so so so so so, wrong.  So wrong. 

First of all, the Japanese school year runs April to April, on a year round schedule.  So when we arrived they were on summer break for a couple of weeks, but were going to be going back to school to the same grade they were in before summer break.  This means our kids would need to go back a grade: Holland back to Kindergarten, Keane back to 2nd grade.  Then they would move up this coming spring.

Kindergarten in Japan is a completely separate school than elementary.  They only allow so many students, and they fill up.  Quickly. LUCKILY, we very magically got Holland a spot in the oldest class at a nearby Kindergarten. This is because the student that she replaced was removed from the school so they could begin going to school on base (they also only allow a handful of foreign students).  So we really got lucky there.  So..Holland began school this past Tuesday.  It was a rocky start.  Like...real rocky.  But by the end of the week she was pretty happy, and loved riding the bus home.

Also...Uniforms! 

Summer uniforms:

                                                   

Then there is the winter uniform: 

Next are the specific bags, one to house her indoor shoes that can only be worn....indoors.  The next is her backpack.  She is required to have these exact bags.

Finally, she is required to eat school lunch every day, and must have a place mat, cup and utensil set.  And don't worry, all of these things are super easy to find at the kids store because...this is only new to me!  

And really....take a look at this lunch menu!

No nasty chicken nuggets, no over processed funky pizza.  Plus the kids help prepare, serve, and clean up lunch.  They are learning life skills here!!

Granted, day 1 Holland ate one potato piece for lunch and nothing else.  Because she was grumpy about something that had happened during P.E, so she thought she would stick it to her teacher and not eat.  But after that, she did fine and said the food was/is really good.

After spending  2 weeks trying to get all the things, having to go back and buy a different water bottle because I got the wrong kind the first time, I think we finally have everything she needs.  

Now on to Keane:

As I mentioned, we thought we would come, enroll him in school and off he would skip.  Turns out, that was lofty thinking.  In Japan you have to have an interview with the city education office in order to even be considered to go to a school.  As a foreigner in a small town, they are very (very very very) hesitant to allow him to go to school, especially since he does, technically, have another option (Base schools).  

We made friends with a member of our church who is an American that speaks Japanese and he offered to help us with translation.  So we accompanied us to the interview, which was pushed back several times.  We werre told that IF he was allowed in, it would be several weeks, maybe even 1-2 months before he would be allowed to start.  

We thought a lot about this and decided that Keane really needed, and wanted to be in school, so we enrolled him in base schools in the mean time (fully aware that he would likely love it and not want to switch over, but it seemed better than keeping him home with nothing to do for 1-2 months...).  And that is where we are at.  Waiting for an answer as to whether or not he can go to Japanese school.  ***WHICH, by the way is located right across the street from the house we will be living in when we finally can move in (September 28!!)

So, Keane's first day of school:

Both older kids have begun Kumon, which is after school Japanese tutoring.  It is twice per week, is only about 1/2 an hour, and then they receive homework to do the other days.  

Andrew and I are using a program called Mango to learn Japanese.  I was feeling pretty great about it all, and then the other day I told someone that we are planning for Keane to go to CHINA, when I meant to tell them we plan for him to go to Japanese ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I suppose you can't really learn a new language without some slip ups huh?

Cache wishes with all his heart that he could go to school too.  We tried to get him into preschool but there were no spots.  So for now I tell him he gets to do school with Mommy at home, he hates that idea.

But he DID have a birthday and got to choose a digger cake so...that distracted him for 5 minutes.

                                                   

And Indie?  She's happy to go along for the ride.  She sits up, she is trying very hard to crawl but currently just ends up landing on her face. She's not too sad about it though.

And Andrew?    He is enjoying the slower pace of work here, getting settled in the new environment, and is more than ready to move into our house.  

                                                   

Me? I'm just enjoying bossing everyone around, and eating my way through Japan.