School 2.0
As we settle in to life in Japan, our lives are becoming more and more consumed with typical, daily life-type things. School is the thing that takes the most time out of anything else, and it's no joke. That being said, we do not regret the decision we have made to put the children in to Japanese school, and if I'm completely honest, they don't regret it either!
The process of getting kids into school here is lengthy and quite exhausting. It's possible that this is just how it is for me as it is not what I am used to.
It began with meetings at city hall. Many..many..many meetings at city hall with us expaining just why we wanted our kids to go to local schools instead of the American schools on the military base. We had the opportunity to tell countless people that we CHOSE to come to Japan. We sought out the opportunity to move here, and we did so so that we could have an immersive experience. School is crucial for the children's immersion. They still weren't sold. So we got to meet with OTHER members of school boards and got the tell them this as well. Then we got to meet with the actual elementary school and expalin to THEM why this was important to us.
Through all of this I would be lying if I said we remained steadfast in our decision to send the kids to Japanese school. In fact, we wondered time and time again if we were making a huge mistake. I mean, to us it looked like the school didn't WANT our kids there. We were nervous how they would be treated, and if the trials of school in a foreign language would far outweigh the benefits.
All of the details were very complicated as well. For example: last school year in Utah Holland was in kindergarten. In Japan, new school years begin in April, so our kids would need to go BACK to the grade they had each just completed, and then would move up to the next grade this coming April. Kindergarten is separate from elementary school here, and Holland got into kindergarten easily.
But as we had increasing difficulty with Keane, and were considering having him just go to base school, we were left with the question of what to do with Holland. Do we leave her in Japanese school and hope they let her in to elementary school? Do we jump her into first grade even though she is 2 months behind? Or do we do a different combination of these options? WHAT DO WE DO!?
We did a lot of thinking and praying and we felt like we should press forward with Japanese school, despite the frustration.
Keane was finally (FINALLY..after 2 months of interviews and waiting, and interviews, and waiting) he was allowed to do a trial week at elementary school.
We had already bought all the school supplies because we were under the impression that he would be starting school definitively several weeks before this time. And ya'll....The exactness of these school supplies is overwhelming at best. As you can see, along with markers, crayons and folders, there's also a pianica (cross between harmonica and piano, the blue case in the bottom corner), a recorder, indoor shoes, a very, very, very specific type of (expensive!!) waterbottle, umbrella, lunch placemat, toothbrush, cup and bag, a jumprope, specific pencils and erasers, ruler, pencil case, and a million bags to put all these things in. Also, a randoseru (Japanese elementary backpack) which can cost as much as 60,000 yen (that's $600 big ones, guys!). Also, hand towels and tissues have to be in his pocket every single day. He has to have all white shoes, which he didn't have during the trial week (oopsie!!), white or navy socks, a yellow hat, gym clothes and a gym hat, nametag, a blazer, sweater, polo shirts, chino shorts, and so so sosososossosososo many more things. I know. Anxiety.
The week went as follows:
Day 1: "MOM! I LOVE SCHOOL! I can't wait to go back tomorrow!"
Day 2: "Wow, it's really hard. My brain hurts and I'm so tired."
Day 3: "Nope, I'm not going back after this week. It's too hard. I don't understand anything. Can't make me do it."
Day 4: "Glad I had this experience, but I only have one day left!"
Day 5: "Well...the food is really good. And I love playing Japanese dodgeball. What should I choose?"
The range of emotions was a wild ride for all of us. In the end, the school allowed him in, and Keane made the conscious decision to attend. Is it easy? HAYYYYLLLLL no. Is it always a blast. Obviously not. But over all, Keane is happy, he is making friends, he is learning at incredible rates, and we are very happy that we pressed through all the difficulties of getting him here.
This has also given us a lot of confidence in what will be good for Holland and for Cache. And the process? For Holland? BREEZY compared to Keane. All of the interviews have gone well, and all of the administration we have worked with have been thrilled at the idea of Holland coming to first grade. They were just tickled that she could say "cow", "horse", "strawberry", and "I like ramen", in Japanese. Not sure why the reception was warmer this time around, and also don't care! We're in! But, lest you think that because she is in Yochien (kindergarten) and it is less demanding, think again!
Holland had a long list of items necessary for school as well. This included a summer uniform, a winter uniform, a specific back pack and indoor shoe bag, 12,000 yen ($120) worth of school supplies, a "monday bag", lunch kit with spoon/fork/chopsticks/cup/placemat, outdoor hat, and a bunch of other things I'm certainly forgetting.
What about Cache? Children have the option to start school here at 3 years old. For 3 years, from 3-6, this school is play based. It's very similar to Montesorri schools. Typically I would never sign my 3 year old up for full time pre-school (every day for 5-6 hours/day). But again, after a lot of thought and prayer we decided that this is the only way he would really get a chance at the language.
Finding a Yochien (Japanese kindergarten) is also quite the process. There aren't any school boundaries, they go on a first come first serve basis. Applications have to be turned in by November 1 of the year before (yeah, that's 6 months before school starts in April!). After visiting and talking to 3-4-5 different schools, and all of them saying their waiting lists were full, I got up my courage and went to the Yochien right up the road from us. This one is very small, and has no English speaking staff. Many of these smaller Yochien do not accept foreign students because communication with parents is too difficult. But I figured I would never know unless I asked.
After learning a few new words, and practicing what to say so I would be at least a bit coherent, Cache and I walked over. I said what I had practiced.
"This is my son. He is 3. We want Yochien in April. I don't speak Japanese well, but we want him to learn. Is he allowed to come to this Yochien?" BOOYA!!! I DID IT!!!! And ya know What? We received the warmest welcome. They made it clear that all communication and instruction would be in Japanese, and were perhaps a little confused when I expressed my enthusiasm at that. And so....Cache has a school!
*Deep heavy sigh of relief*
[and now that we have a routine, our kids are out of school for at least 10 days because of a spike in COVID cases. Please send help.]
I'm amazed and thrilled at what y'all are doing!!!!! Way to go on having faith in the answers to your prayers!!!!
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