Hello, folks. Yep, this is the first update in three weeks; unfortunately, it'll be the last update for another two or three weeks, as I will be sending my computer in to Apple Japan once again, this time because the screen is malfunctioning a bit. Drat. How am I going to watch my region 1 DVDs now?

So, graduation has come and gone. This year I went to the smaller of my two junior high schools, Kamiichiki. They had about 20 students in the graduating class, so there was lots of time for some interesting additions to the program. For example, they had a computer and projector set up so that, as each student went up to get his or her diploma, various candid photos would be projected on stage. While this was happening, a teacher would recite a poem that the student had written about their feelings about graduation.

Then, after the speeches were finished, the students presented a mini-concert. The first- and second-year students sang songs for the graduates, and vice versa, after which all of the students sang songs for their teachers and parents. It was quite moving.

Now, when I got to school that morning, as I was drinking tea with other "special guests" in the principal's office, the principal handed me a copy of the program for the day. I noted with interest that "Seishun no Ichi Page," the song that I conducted at contest back in January, was on the program. I then noted with some alarm that I was conducting it again. However, after a quick review of the score, all was well.

One of the interesting things I noticed this year is that schools keep very good track of how many students have graduated. Have you ever wondered what number graduate you were from your high school? At the graduation ceremony at Tsurumaru Elementary School, as the principal gave the last graduate her diploma, he informed her that she was the 3,245th student to graduate from Tsurumaru. That was the point where many of those sixth graders couldn't hold back tears anymore, although I don't think there's a causal relationship there.

So, next week, April 7th is the entrance ceremony for the junior high schools, and the 8th is the ceremony for the elementary schools. I'm looking forward to seeing it. But, until then, I'll be going to the school board office every day. One of my supervisors has actually started apologizing for the fact that I've got nothing to do there. (^_^) But, now that I can read enough kanji to be able to sort things by school, I've become a bit more useful than last year. You know, sorting handouts, filing paperwork, that kind of thing. That, plus I can converse at the elementary school level! Yaaay!

Of course, that's not too helpful when I have to write my bi-monthy article for the town newspaper. Well, I always end up writing the article in very, very, simple Japanese, and then Matsuo-sensei asks me questions about what I wrote, so she can add in the details that I don't have the vocabulary for.

And, there are still people who think I don't understand any Japanese at all, and thus direct all questions to my supervisor. They then are suprised when I can answer some things without waiting for a translation. On the flip side, many people who come to the school board office to ask questions about school lunch, register their children for school, etc. will walk up to my area and try to ask me to help them. Because of this, I have had lots of practice in saying the polite form of "just wait a minute."

I've been studying the oddest vocabulary lately. I bought a game for my PS2 that involves giving spoken commands to an on-screen character. Although some of the words I've learned are useful (jidohanbaiki, hikidashi, senmendai, modere, shiraberu), I kind of doubt that I'll be using the term kaenbin* anytime soon.

*in order: vending machine, drawer, (bathroom) sink, back off, examine, Molotov cocktail.

Bob Sapp lost a K-1 (boxing/kickboxing) championship match last weekend. Could this be the beginning of the end?

They've started showing American Major League Baseball on NHK again. This year, there will be three teams in the league: the Mariners, the Dodgers, and new for this year, the Yankees. And, I suppose, a generic team that they play against. (^_^) During spring training games, whenever the Yankees were at bat, there would be a counter in the lower left corner: "Matsui made ato GO nin" -- Matsui will be up after FIVE people.

Life is having it's ups and downs, as usual. I might be able to squeeze in one more update before Apple sends the delivery service to pick up my computer, but if not. . . see ya in a few weeks!