"Ohesashi buri desu! Mata Oiadekitte Ureshi idesu.
Kyonen, Madison ni kaeru tokini Omose ni modotte kuru
yume o mimashita. Sorewa, anatagata nihon no subete
ga. Daisukini natta Karadesu.
Long time no see! It is so good to be back at Omose
School. When I had to leave one year ago to go back
to Madison, I had a dream to come back to Kesennuma.
It is because of you that I fell in love with Japan
and wanted to return.
Anatagata Omose shogakko de Ikkagetsu sugoseru noma
totemo ureshi idesu. Atatakai kangei Arigato
gozaimasu. Minasan ga Amari yasashika shite. Watahi
ga kaerenaku naranai yohni kiwotsukete kudasai.
It is with great pleasure that I will be here with you
at Omose for one month. Thank you for such a warm
welcome. Please be careful not to be too nice to me
or I will never leave. Thank you. "
Becky Rosenberg, Teacher, Lincoln Elementary School, Madison, Wisconsin, to the children and staff of Omose Elementary School, Kessanuma, Japan, June, 2003
First Week at Omose Comes to a Close
By Becky Rosenberg
After getting re-acquianted with Japan (our first few days in Tokyo) I left
with Oikawa-sensei and Rie-sensei for Kesennuma. Our group arrived on a
Saturday and we all went to our host cities, escorted by our partners, on
Friday. In our program we have just over 30 partnerships, so that means
that first week in Japan was a lot of time with the American teachers, from
across the US, participating in orientations, and getting ready to embark on
a wondrous month with our paired schools.
We left mid-morning on Friday by bullet train, just one week ago.. After
about 2 hours on that express train, we switched to a local train that took
us to the station in Kesennuma. I was greeted there by the ever-famous
Massa (thanks to the O'Leary family for the cheesehead and to his students
for the fabulous sign), the assistant principal (Kyoto-sensei) and then was
swept away to Omose. It was great to have a short visit with the staff,
give out and receive hugs and smiles and then pick up my luggage. I had all
the luggage sent by Black Cat service the day before from Tokyo. No one
here travels with much luggage or gear since there is a service that will do
next day delivery of basically everything and anything, for a reasonable
fee.
I got to my apartment to settle in and unpack before heading out to dinner
with the principal, Kocho sensei, Kuni (our Board of Education teacher who
visited Madison last year) and a few other wonderful teachers. The
apartment accommodations are wonderful and make me feel like a princess.
Later that night we had a lovely dinner of many different kinds of local
specialties.
That was a big Friday for me. It was a definite rush to be back in
Kesennuma, my home away from home. I just love it here. Everyone is so
warm, welcoming and kind. The students treat me like a star, yelling
good-bye as they walk home, from far away streets. In the school they are
seeking me out to say hello, shake my hand and ask me questions.
The first weekend here was set aside to settle in. I started my busy
Saturday with a run, and then got picked up by Reiko. She took me to her
daughters Kindergarten (which is a separate school from Omose). Omose is a
1-6 school and kids younger than first grade attend preschool and
kindergarten. The kids there were too cute for words.
The day resumed with lots of outings and errands, shopping for groceries,
going to the pharmacy to get something to help with my bad head cold, the
100\ shop (which I love and is like a dollar store) and more. I was ready
to fall over in a heap at the end of that day. Besides, I had to gear up to
go with Massa, Yuichi and Yuki, and their families, for a special Sunday
excursion to a wetland.
Sunday's trip to Kabukuri Numa (Numa meaning marsh) was fantastic. We were met there by Mikame-sensei (President of the Environmental Education Center
of Miyagi University in Sendai) and some other community wetland
specialists, along with a group of Miyagi University Environmental Education
students. This place is halfway between Sendai and Kesennuma, about 90
minutes drive. When we arrived, we met some specialists who told us many
things about this special place. There were also tanks, containers, cages,
some empty and others with previous collections from this site. Our group
first went to the river to check the nets already set up. People carried
insect nets, and other collection containers. There were so many cool
insects, including many Pieris rapae (Cabbage white butterflies) feasting on
some sort of wild and native brassica. The children especially enjoyed
trying to catch things in the water.
Later on we took a longer hike down to the big pond. There we saw this
flock of white herons in the distance that were really beautiful. Speaking
of birds, there were a few serious birders in the group, with some great
scopes. They located a nest to focus on that had a few big birds of prey
(looked like eagles but all brown) and some other local beauties. It was a
fabulous day spent exploring the wetland.
The story about this preserve is that years ago when there was an abundance of rice, the government told certain farmers to not plant as much or any. Some fields were left and others turned into these amazing natural places. This place, Kabukuri Numa, was turned into a wetland preserve and is known throughout the area as the mainstay for thousands and thousands of geese in winter. It is of similar status to Kushiro where the famous Japanese cranes hang out.
Here comes the news from Omose Shogoko.
This week has been incredibly packed and exciting. Monday, June 23rd,
we started the day with a meeting in the staff room. The
principal and vice principals had speeches and staff introductions. There
were a few new faces in the crowd, so it was good to get the formal hellos.
The main highlight of the day was the school welcome assembly held in the
gym with all the students. Each and every grade did a song and dance
presentation to welcome me, after I walked through the tunnel of decorations
to the school stage, with the Omose band members playing enthusiastically
for the procession.. I had prepared a speech and had a few lines I even
tried to fumble through with Oikawa-sensei's coaching. It was a fabulous
event.
Then there was lunch with the principal in the teacher room.
All the staff have desks in there, where they work. No one works alone in
his/her class after school and all planning takes place in that staff room.
Attached to it is a kitchen, and all copying is done in this room as well.
Every staff person works long and hard hours in here and there is a mellow
buzz in the air that fills the room. Teachers get a chance to plan together
and teaching partners have desks next to or across from each other. It is a
good, efficient system that fosters serious comraderie and teamwork.
School lunches here are amazing. They are delicious and healthy to the max.
I have pictures to share soon. Not only are they tasty but they are
presented beautifully. Yuko-sensei was telling me how the government
subsidizes the lunch program so that everyone eats well. No one brings
lunch from home, not even staff. Everyone pays the same (with some
subsidies for those in need, which is about 10% here) and eats the same
lunch. There are opportunities for seconds as well, which seems to happen a
bit.
Back to Monday. I also had some time in the afternoon to be with the 2nd
grade classes of Tomoko and Reiko. Their students introduced me to their
gardening projects. Each person is on a vegetable team that has a common
chosen veggie. They tend to them daily, sketch them, ask questions and
eagerly look forward to their vegetable party in later weeks.
After the students left for the day, there was a long staff
meeting. While I didn't understand even a quarter of what was said, I could
pick up a lot of information about how things are run, who participates and
so on. I think teachers share the responsibility of facilitating and it
seemed like everyone had the opportunity to share, based on the topics at
hand. This was their long, formal monthly staff meeting. They talked about
student behavior, the next month ahead, and even had special strawberry
shortcake for everyone in my honor. That was a really good part. There was
much more shared as well, but I am not sure about the content of it all.
Unfortunately that day my computer bit the dust. I thought
it was just jet lag that computers get but it is much worse. So, I have
been a bit stressed out about that and having so much on that computer that
I needed for my stay here. Sigh.
Tuesday, June 24th.
Today was an early release day since there was a big presentation and
meeting with all those University and community supporters of this Master
Teacher Program project between Lincoln/Omose. I was to also give a
presentation about what we had accomplished this past year and what we are
hoping to do in the next year. Each of the grades presented their plans for
this year, including a timeline of what and when things will happen. What a
meeting. It is a great thing to have an entire staff on board on a
comprehensive 1-6 project. I know that people are putting in lots of extra
time and work to do their share but it sure does put Omose in the limelight.
Later that evening I was thrown a welcome party by the Omose staff. It was
organized by Massa, who was pretty excited about having a buffet style party
(the first for the staff). It was catered at a fancy hotel in town and was
really lovely. People were mingling in ways that they have not before,
since the parties and gatherings are mostly sit down in one place kind of
deals.
Wednesday, June 25th
Today I was prepared to teach about Madison and Wisconsin
water environments to the fifth and sixth grade classes. They wanted to
know about lakes, rivers and ponds, especially about our Pothole study.
What plants do we have there? What is our environment like? Can you drink
the water in the Great Lakes? What fish do we have in our waters? There
was a lot to share and a lot of really great questions.
Since the 6th graders took a rain check until they do a little more research
and preparations, I spent time with the first graders in the afternoon. It
was blast. I was trying to write hiragana from the board, as the students
were doing. Also, I was impressed that they were practicing Zen meditation
for a short period of time. Their teacher, Yuko is fabulous. When I was
walking through the hallway and saw her class sitting like statues at their
desks, with eyes closed and being conscious of only their breathing I was
shocked. She motioned me in and I tiptoed across the room. When the
students opened their eyes, as the timer went off, there I was standing next
to Yuko sensei. They were surprised to see me there. It was really
impressive to see them having so much self control and have that experience
to work on.
At the end of the day the students sit at their seats and
are led by two classmates with daily wrap up. This is after they write down
the schedule for the next day off of the board, and receive any extra
assignments. The two cuties call on fellow classmates for news about their
day, accomplishments, things they want to remember. Then the teacher says
good-bye and take care. All students, in unison, say their thank you to
their teacher and bow. What a culminating bunch of activities.
After school I met with both the second grade team and the
first grade team to go over our lessons for the next day. They told me
their expectations and I took notes. I also shared some things I had to
share. Each meeting was helpful and clear. Then from 5-6:15 I had a
videoconference with some other MTP participants in the Elementary grades.
We had 4 of us just checking in about how things were. This looks like it
will be a weekly activity for us, which will be nice. The time we all spent
together in Tokyo was like an intense week of summer camp. Friendships were
made easily and eagerly. That was a nice thing for all of us.
Thursday, June 26th
Today I spent my day with the younger folks at Omose. The
2nd graders hosted me in a vegetable discussion, with their teachers
Keiko-sensei and Tomoko-sensei.
What do we grow in our school garden? What vegetables do we eat? How do we
say their vegetables in English? Each student had a page of questions to
ask me. I also woke up early to make a ratatouille that incorporated many
of the vegetables that the students are growing here. For almost all of
them, this was a new taste. Kids are kids and of course there were many
students who did not like it and who do not entertain the thought of eating
veggies much.
The other part of my instruction was with the first grade
students and their teachers Rie-sensei and Yuko-sensei. Their period
included self-introductions, asking me about my city and state, learning
different responses to: How are you? I shook each and every one of their
hands and did a one-on-one introduction with them. They all did a super
job. They learned to say: I am GREAT! I am fine. I have a cold. I am
hungry. I am sick. Also, they learned how to ask, How are you? And say
nice to meet you. There was a lot of excitement in the air.
Then the students sang and danced for me, both an English
song (Good Morning) and a Japanese song (Sampo). We then took a walk around
the campus to check out their vegetables. They are growing Morning Glory
flowers, eggplant, pumpkins, sunflowers and marigolds. There is a small
garden plot by the staff parking lot where the sunflowers are located.
There students taught me about how to make flower wreaths or necklaces
Hanawa (Hana meaning flower and wa meaning circle) and two crafts made of
bamboo leaves, Sasa no ha. The boats the boys made, since this is a
gendered thing that boys made the boats and girls made the necklaces, are
called Sasa fune. I walked away at the end of the lesson with many boats, a
flower ring, a gigantic necklace and even a few four leaf clovers. There is
a grove of bamboo trees right across the street from the school. In fact,
part of the view outside the principals window is this lovely forest.
Ahh, the end of the day I learned how to use the bus system
with my guide, Louise-sensei. She is the Assistant Language Teacher (ALT)
who teaches the children English. She is British and has a great accent
which is a little different than mine. It was great to learn with her how
to board the bus (in the middle), take a ticket upon entry, and watch the
screen up by the driver which tells how much your fare is. That screen
changes the further you go and longer you spend on the bus.
I ended up taking the bus to school on Friday, which was a
good experience and shocked all the staff. Some say I enjoy challenges.
Friday, June 27th.
Today is Friday and I am already sad at how fast time is flying by here in
Kesennuma. I dread the last day here when I will be a soggy mess, sad to
leave everyone once again.
The big highlight of the day was with the 3rd grade classes.
They took me on a neighborhood field study of bugs in four different
locations. Each group was assigned an area to collect insects for an hour.
There was a tall grass group, a low grass group (both of which were former
tombo areas or rice fields), a forest group and a river group. It was
really tons of run looking for insects. I believe every student had a few
different insects and was eager to research them back at school. One
teacher had a group of maybe 20 kids. Everyone wore their school athletic
uniforms and field trip caps, along with their high rubber boots. Almost
all had collection containers and nets or trowels. It was great to see how
the children behaved so well and were excited to participate. Kyoto sensei
had a group, along with the other two classroom teacher and a special
education teacher. It turns out that these three 3rd grade teachers have
been converted into such insect lovers due to their MTP project focus on
bugs. I think they are secretly enjoying it.
Not only do the students and teachers get into the outdoor
investigations but they have cabbage butterflies (at different stages) and
mandarin caterpillars going through their life cycles in their rooms. In
fact, the hallway has a few mandarine trees (potted) that are being munched
up by a whole lot of those crawling feasters.
I need to talk about one more thing before closing for the
week, about kyu ushoku (school lunches). I mentioned before that they were
delicious and also pleasing to the eye, beyond the palate. Yesterday we ate
sweet and sour shrimp, today udon curry noodles and fish, earlier in the
week salmon, with cherries for dessert. I wish to take pictures of the
lunches here daily because I think they are extraordinary. There is an
expectation for children to eat this healthy meal, that is affordable and
accessible to all. Sure, they would probably all choose junk food if they
could, but that is not what is presented to them. Children and teachers eat
together in the classroom. This can be a bit of a long day for teachers, I
know, with practically every minute with the class. After eating and
beforehand, a class message is stated saying thank you for the food. At the
close of the lunch time, students clear their washable dishes, cleaning off
their plates into buckets for each of the dishes and then they are off to
brush teeth, along with the teacher. Then, clean-up of the classroom takes
place. The younger children take off their surgeon like garb and put on
their cleaning bandanas and aprons and get busy. They work in teams
cleaning the floor, dusting, weeding outside, scrubbing surfaces-the whole 9
yards. Everyone participates, even the teacher. The whole experience of
lunchtime is really something so out of this world and different than what
we do back home. I look forward to joining a different class each day for
lunch, which I have already started doing this week.
My week has been wonderful. It is great to be in a place
where so many people, kids and teachers, are working so hard on projects
such as the MTP one. They can't wait to have some classrooms back home to
share and work with, which is exciting stuff. I am thinking that more
consistent web postings will be the thing to work on back at school, in
addition to hooking up corresponding classes and collaborators. My mind is
working overtime so I better start unwinding a bit. The weekend is coming
and I think I will get a chance to go to the city gym and train with the
Aikido class in the morning. Keiko sensei and her family have invited me
out to dinner, which will be fantastic. Maybe I will get a tour of a local
sake brewery on Sunday. What a weekend I think I have ahead of me. There
is also much to prepare for a big week coming up.
Sayonarra!
July 15, 2003
Editor/Publisher:Eileen Potts Dawson epottsdawson@madison.k12.wi.us
Webmaster: webmaster@madison.k12.wi.us
