...which translates to "What is your job (work)?" Lately I feel like my job has been full time yochien (kindergarten) mom. As I look at my calendar over the last month most of the days have been filled with something to do with yochien. Don't get me wrong, it's not all bad. Some of it has been really fun, like the lunches with the moms. There has been the walking group mom's lunch, the lunch for the moms in Bryant's class, then another one for Cailey's class. I have had fun getting together with some of the moms for language exchanges. One girl named Emiko is helping me with Japanese and in return I am helping her start running. But then there are other things, like going to observe them in class. It really is interesting to see what they do, but after 30 minutes I feel like I have seen enough. And then when every other mom stays for hours you feel obligated to stay so that your kid isn't the only one in the class whose mom isn't there. There have been two observation days in the past month. One was for PE (with a special PE teacher...now that was interesting, I couldn't believe some of the things they made them do, I swear there would be lawsuits if they did those things in the US) and another day to watch them during the day in the classroom. But times that by 2 kids and that is 4 observation days in the last month. I took a few videos and pictures so that you can see a day in the life of a yochien student in Japan.
This is Cailey's class singing a song together in the morning.
Here is Cailey working on an art project.
This is a video of Bryant singing the song that they sing right before they eat lunch. They sing about being happy about eating lunch."Obento, obento ureshii na..."Obento" is the lunch they bring to school in a lunch box (not that you can understand what they are saying...)
I was trying not to laugh while Bryant was doing this art project, because they gave them these pre-cut faces and they were supposed to draw on the eyes, nose, mouth, etc. Notice how nicely Bryant's class mates have done theirs and he was just happy to use every color in his marker set on his "face."
Oh yes...I do have a third child and Isaac has been a really good sport joining me for all of these Yochien activities. There have been a few days when it has just been Isaac and me at home, and oh how nice those days are.
6 comments:
What a crack up -- I couldn't help thinking how "weird" school will be to your kids when they move back! :-)
we are laughing at the videos. they are so funny. it's interesting to see how school is there. we like bryant's face....he's just a creative mind.
How cute! You are such a good mom. I never know what is going on until it is too late. I love the face Bryant did. He is just not conforming. A true gaijin.
it's funny! i could barely hear what they are saying in the videos. i heard "oshiri furifuri" & "obento obento ureshiina" though. i can't imagine how different it is in america.
Anna! I didn't even know that you had a blog until you made a comment on ours a couple days ago, which, by the way was VERY funny. Uh ... when I become anyone's running partner, I will fly over to Japan, take over your class observations, sing about how happy I am to be eating sushi for breakfast, and blend in with the locals. I'm so excited to see your family and read up on how you are doing!
My favorite line, "Oh, yes, I do have a third child." Hahaha! :) You're a good mom! I hope there aren't too many more observation days in the future!:)
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