Seika Opening Ceremony

Today was Ian's first scheduled day of school.  The Opening Ceremony at Seika Yochien.  It is a true right of passage in Japan and taken quite seriously!  Eric was obscenely underdressed (think business cas) because I never read the "what to wear" sheet that got sent home in the packet of info.  Yet again, I am behind the learning curve!  But I am consistent...

Ian enters in the Year of the Dragon

For us, this was a trial run in getting Ian into a uniform and getting three uniformed kids out the door and off to school.  Phew!  The pay-off?  I mean, beyond the whole all-the-kids-are-out-of-the-house-for-an-amount-of-time thing...  The pay-off is...  these kids look great!!!

The Entrance Ceremony is for the kids just entering or having entered Seika this past year. It consists of introductions to teachers, staff and, more importantly, the bus drivers!

Dougie FAVORITES - in the middle, Osawa Sensei (current teacher) and Jana Sensei (first teacher).  Can you say "CRUSH" ?!?!? X O X O X O

Ian's sensei: Kamei Sensei (she is the one who always helps Dougie with conversational Japanese - she is wonderful!)

They sing some songs - many with accompanying hand motions.  Eric and I wondered if they had been teaching the kids these songs during Cuties (babysitting we have used a couple of times at Seika - like during my driving marathon with the gals...)

 

 

The Ear Plugging was uniquely Ian's...


Notice he is the only one sans jacket-o?  Newly acquired skill: doffing jackets.


Nice work Ian!


Not very Onagi... (same) - A quality admired and encouraged by the Japanese.  He is his own person.  And proving it!


The boy to the right of Ian is named Meu (Mae-oo).  He and Ian got on as thick as thieves.  His mother and I were the only ones nattering at our kids the entire time.  Then I realized that he and Ian were the only two boys in the Pony class... aaaaahhhh...


They taught us the prayer that the kids say everyday...  Ian prayed :)  Perhaps for us to take him home?

The Oldest Class was the entertainment - the band played!  Dougie was on cymbals today.  To fully grasp this, you must understand that Dougie is one of those kids that flip his wig (or at least duck and take cover) over loud noises (think public restroom toilet flushing...).  It was truly the most endearing performance.  EVER!!!

CLANG!

READY...

CLANG!!!!! (notice the face?!?!?)  I love that :)

A ride on the Shinkansen completes the whole initiation

Ian is hunkering down in front of the beautiful girl in yellow

Notice Ian?  Remember my remarks about Dougie?  Yeah... I think it is genetic...

Feet on any surface other than outside is utter taboo in Japan.  It really makes sense, if you think of cleanliness.  So, when the kids on the train want to look out the windows, off come the shoes!  So, the parents all make the scramble to re-shoe the kids just before their stop 

A sweet older lady (with wild PURPLE HAIR!) gave the boys a treat.  This is not uncommon in Japan, to give gifts to kids.  Often it is whatever goodie has just been purchased at 7-11.  That, or they carry around extra pastries...

Our train stop has a small shrine, a kitsune (fox) shrine.  If my memory serves me, the kitsune shrine is dedicated to children.  Our kids left a donation of their own...

We took advantage of the beautiful Sakura trees (cherry) for some photo ops.  Because, really, an English school-boy uniform is as cute as can be!!!

At the school...

And at the park.  Beautiful day for celebrating!

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