DAY 4, leaving tommorow

The 25th August

My morning started way to early. I headed over by train and bus to Ashiya were the AIS (Ashiya international school) was located. This was going to be my last stage placement in Japan. I had to manage reading the Japanese place names and comparing it to my information I had. So that I would not get off at the wrong stop. The place was easy to find, but the entrance not. One of the staff members helped me out to get inside. Once I was inside the building I met Miss. Mayuko who was my contact person. She led me through the school and send me to Miss. Mary. She explained to me how their day normally works and that I should just go with the flow. There was not much to be explained and I should just follow. I headed with her and all the other teachers to the classroom next door for the morning briefing. They were happy it was the last day of summer camp. But they were also sad because three of the teachers were heading back home (America) and were experiencing their last day at the AIS. After this our first children started coming in with their large bags. It was our responsibility to make them put their towels on the hooks, bottles in the blue basket, bag in the cupboard with their name and symbol and hand all their papers in. After this they could go and play. They had lots and lots of toys to play with and we should just help them play. Make sure they did not choke on anything or colour in their beautiful outfits. These children were a lot younger than the ones I had worked with until now. The youngest was 1,5 years old and the oldest had only just turned 4. At 9.30 they all had to clean up their toys. Some things were too heavy to lift so we had to help them and then make sure that everybody went to the bathroom. They all went outside and changed their slippers into shoes. Paired up with a partner they walked outside towards the front were the small playground was. Here we had to make sure no children were kicked by the ones on the swings, no sand was eaten, no one fell or anything else. Even though they were asking me questions about the Netherlands we all did not stop watching the children. At least two of the four were occupying the small ones. 50 minutes later when heading back in everybody had to visit the bathroom again and wash their hands. Some could not reach or did not use any soap so I had to help out. When they were done they had to go and find their chairs where their symbols were on. They sat whilst having their lesson. They were learning the days, months, alphabet, first 10 numbers, and all the colours in order of the rainbow. In their system they used songs to learn and on the wall they had the alphabet out. From all the 10 children Miss. Mary picked a child every single time to help her out picking out the right words. On the program for today was cooking. So everybody went with their chairs to their seats at the tables to listen to the instructions after having washed their hands. We were making happy-chocolate-faced- hart-shaped-banana-bread. It looked so easy but for a two year old and even for me it was hard to do. So all the 3 teachers and me helped out with the squishing of the banana and explaining in English what they should do next whilst one new leader made pictures. Whoever was finished had to get out their obento box from their bags and get ready to eat. After waiting for everybody to finish our only male teacher started the prayer. Some children were not willing to eat or had trouble eating with chopsticks that we had to help them. So once one of us finished their lunches the other was helping and then we swapped roles. If they were ready they could eat their dessert and afterwards start playing after tidying up their plates. Once everybody was finished the children who had started to play had to tidy up and sit on the mat to prepare for the dancing and exercise. Once we were done we did a story time and once more had to go to the bathroom before the parents came to collect. If the parents were not yet there the children had to sit on the mat and wait whilst watching some English videos. Soon after I had to find my way to the bus stop and then the train again. It was easier because I had done it on the way there. I found it sad to have to leave them behind but I think I might go to visit them when I again go to Japan.