Another Farewell Speech

Good morning everyone.
皆さん、おはようございます。

So far I have been in Japan for two years and have been teaching here in Minami Junior High School and I find it very enjoyable.
今まで私は二年間日本に来て羽生市立南中学校で教えていました、大変楽しく過ごしました。

I am grateful to all of you for welcoming me so warmly.
皆さん、暖かく迎えて下さって心から感謝しております。

I am quite saddened that I am leaving this school again but I know that students exerted their efforts in studying and it was indeed fun and interesting.
元気な生徒達の居る南中を去る事になり残念ですが南中の殆どの生徒達は一所懸命でしたので教える事が楽しくてとっても面白かったです。

Over the last year I've learned a lot, and I hope that the students have enjoyed my lessons and maybe even learned a little.
この間に沢山習いました。生徒達は私の授業を楽しんで多分少し得る物があったかも知りません。

I have already taught in Minami Junior High for two years but it is my desire to come back and teach next year in this school.
もう二年間南中で教えましたが来年この学校でまた教えられる事が私の望みです。

It’s because I want to see the present 2nd year students to graduate next year.
今年の二年生の卒業式を見たいですから。

By all means, let’s do our best in our studies and living life to its fullest.
是非皆さん、勉強する事と日頃の生活を頑張りましょう。

Thank you very much.
皆さん、真に有難う御座いました。

Human Kanji

Last week commemorates the 30th founding anniversary of our school. Students and teachers partook by forming a huge kanji on our athletic field the word 創立３０周年羽生南中２００９ (SOURITSU 30 SHUNEN HANYU MINAMI CHU 2009) or Hanyu South Junior High School 30th Founding Anniversary. On our weekly memo (稟議 / ringi), it reads 30周年航空写真撮影 (30 SHUNEN KOUKU SHASHIN SATSUEI) or literally means 30th Aerial Photography. I never imagined that this was the human kanji formation which will be photographed over a cruising airplane. On that day, many students were cleaning the grounds by removing excess water from the heavy rain from the previous night. One person was putting some white powder on the ground which read the theme of the event. On the signal of the 3rd period, all of us went outside and carried a green plastic folder individually in order to somewhat superimpose the characters clearly on the resulting photograph. Everyone was excited as I was even more excited than the students since this was a memorable experience for me. First, as a foreigner, events like this are never done in my home country. Second, a rare occasion to be a part of this momentous 30th anniversary since they only carry out this aerial photography every 10 years or so. And lastly, since I was wearing my favorite red-striped polo shirt, I can easily identify myself among the sea of white and blue people within the picture, to which made me more excited. It was slightly drizzling that morning and winds slightly swept the horizon. The small plane circled the horizon for four times. It took several pictures from different angles. All of us stood still while raising our green-colored folders within our chests. After that all of us formed a huge square block on the grounds and took two different pictures exhibiting serious and funny faces. I had so much fun during this day and this is one of my most memorable events in my life as an ALT in a Junior High School.

Below are the pictures. These are some samples since 1. Each of these pictures costs around 1,000 yen or 500 pesos. 2. We were barred from photographing the picture on display in our faculty room. 3. The pictures take time to be delivered. 4. and... I have not decided yet if this is a worth investment.

View of Hanyu City. On the center is Minami JHS.

I'm on the top-center most wearing a red stripe polo shirt.

View of the school with the adjacent rice plots.