http://www.city-cost.comWed, 17 Jun 2026 09:26:13 +0900I am a kindergarten teacher, wife, and mother. I love living in Japan!enCopyright © 2015 - 2026 City-Cost All Rights Reserved.webmaster@city-cost.com (CC Team)http://img.city-cost.com/static/blog_campaign_icon.pnghttp://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/wrEqG-living_educationThere have been times since moving here that I've felt disillusioned about the Japanese way of life. It's definitely not a perfect country and I've grown to accept the "that's just the way things are" mentality... for the most part. I've put off writing about this for a while now because it's a touchy subject, but I believe that it is very important and should be discussed. My newest student, "Stick Kid", has had a lot of trouble adjusting to his new environment. He has difficulty concentrating, he has violent outbursts, and he just seems very apathetic about most things. This is normal for most new students. They often test their boundaries and see how far they can push their teachers and classmates. Usually this period lasts about a month before the new child adapts and becomes part of the fold. Stick-kid, however, still is experiencing difficulties. I was having trouble getting answers from the Japanese staff until it was time to make Mother's Day crafts. It was then that I found out that Stick Kid, "Doesn't have a mother." At first I thought that his mother died, but was informed that this is not the case. Rather, it seems like his father took him and his older brother away from their mother. Their mother is from South Korea and after getting a divorce, the father took the boys and came down to where their grandmother lives. While I'm not exactly sure of the situation that led to the father taking the children from their mother, I do know that Stick Kid frequently talks about his mother and how much he misses her. In my opinion, this is probably why he is acting out. This leads me into a major problem that I have with Japan: The complete removal of one parent after a divorce. In Japanese culture it seems like after a couple divorces, one parent completely disappears from the lives of the children. One of my recent graduates, Wa-chan, changed her last name from her father's to her mother's maiden name. Once that happened, the father stopped coming to all of the school events and when we made Father's Day presents that year, I was told that Wa-chan doesn't have a father anymore and that she could make a present for her grandfather instead. When I asked why the name changed and why the father was completely cut out of Wa-chan's life, I was told, "That's just how it is here." This makes me really sad. As a child of divorced parents, it would have killed me to have been told that I couldn't see one of them ever again. I realize that this may be a cultural "norm", but it still makes me feel really sad. I feel sad for the parent who is cut out and I especially feel sad for the child. I've been giving Stick Kid extra hugs and head pats. He is a sweet boy and I hope that he adjusts to life in his new school soon. sad stick is sadTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/wrEqG-living_educationThu, 22 Jun 2017 13:35:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/wrEqG-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/MpqYz-educationWith both graduation and entrance ceremonies behind us, the kindergarten I work at has returned to normal. The new students are adjusting to their new environment and the returning students are adjusting to their new teachers. I usually spend the first few weeks of a new school year teaching procedures and rules and getting the kids used to my classroom. Things were going great... at first. Now, it isn't uncommon for new students to join a few weeks after the new year has started. So when I saw an unfamiliar face peering into my classroom, I knew that I would be getting a new student soon. The school's principal came in and introduced me to said strapping young lad and his father. I said the normal "hajimemashite" and continued on with my class. The kid seemed okay. He looked a bit overwhelmed and didn't understand any English, but this is common and easily resolved. The principal directed the student and father into the office to fill out paperwork. Since my class was over, I walked down the hallway and noticed that said child was currently hitting his father with a rather large bamboo stick while the father tried filling out the paper work. I tried to engage SK (stick kid) so that his father could fill out the required documents in peace, but my attempts were in vain. While trying to communicate with SK, two of my students passed by. They tried to be friendly by giving their blunt object wielding classmate a grand, "hello"! Uninterested in the other children, SK continued with his life's mission: hitting his father with the stick. My students continued to say, "hello", but SK wouldn't even give them the time of day. Feeling defeated, they began to walk away, but not before So-kun exclaimed loudly in Japanese, "He must be a baby. He is so rude." While most children object to being called a "baby" by telling the teacher or yelling back, SK reacted in what I can only describe as a fit of pure animal rage. He proceeded to stand up on the chair and jump down, all while waving the stick and shrieking. My students, fearing for their lives, ran away screaming as fast as their little legs could carry them. Luckily the school secretary was able to grab him before he could hit either of the other kids, but this earned her a few jabs in the behind with the stick. I stood there stunned and terrified. I made sure that the principal and secretary knew that I don't allow sticks in my classroom and to make sure that the father understood this. I then walked away shaking my head and questioning my career choice.My new wine glass...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/MpqYz-educationTue, 25 Apr 2017 17:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/MpqYz-educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/MEoPG-living_educationThe Japanese are known for their punctuality. The trains come at exactly the time they say they will and leave exactly when they say they will. If you have a meeting scheduled at 9:00, it's going to start at 9:00 and if you aren't ready to start at 9:00, you're considered late even if you are in the room. So, why is it that (at least at my school), I'm always being told about events at the last possible minute. This morning I was asked to prepare a presentation about Hina Matsuri. In English. 10 minutes before it was to start. I frantically printed off a Wikipedia page, but I don't think I completely pulled it off. I don't know anything about Hina Matsuri except that it involves dolls. I don't mind doing presentations like these, but I wish I had more time to prepare. This isn't the first time that this has happened. It occurs frequently and even though I've talked with the staff about giving more notice, it doesn't seem to work. Is this a Japanese thing or is it just at my school?I frequently look like this...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/MEoPG-living_educationFri, 03 Mar 2017 16:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/MEoPG-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/w5yrw-living_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shiOne of the "strangest" things that I've encountered is how the Japanese deal with cold weather and how my students dress during said weather. Every morning my students enter school dressed for the polar regions. They wear jackets, sweaters, coats, mufflers, hats, gloves, etc. But, as soon as they get into the classroom, they change into their play clothes and go outside. Their play clothes consist of shorts and a long sleeved shirt. They proceed to go outside to play in only this. Then, they stand around shivering and bemoaning their situation while the Japanese teachers encourage them to run around to stay warm. This boggles my mind. I can't imagine this happening in America. Parents there would throw a fit. I understand the reasoning behind this tradition, but I still feel bad for the poor little ones shivering while I wear 7 layers of clothing. Me. Every. Day.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/w5yrw-living_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shiMon, 27 Feb 2017 20:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/w5yrw-living_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/wmlgG-living_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shiI don't get sick very often. Even when I do, I can work through most things. This is probably due to my obsession with perfect attendance. I loved getting that certificate at the end of every school year that congratulated me for not missing one day. There were times when my mom suggested that I stay home for my birthday, but I would always refuse because the certificate meant more to me than a shopping trip or going to the zoo. #nerd My desire for this prestige is only quelled by a stomach virus or food poisoning. It's really hard to work or study with your head in the toilet (trust me I've tried). So when I call my Japanese boss and tell him that I can't come in because I am sick, I am truly sick. A normal response would be, "I am sorry you're sick. Get well soon." In Japan, however, my admission of illness is met with, "Yes, but do you have a fever?" It doesn't matter the illness. It doesn't matter that I have just puked up the yakitori that I ate two years ago. No fever = ganbatte. Okay boss, but I might just "ganbatte" all over the floor while doing the Hokey Pokey.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/wmlgG-living_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shiSat, 25 Feb 2017 11:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/wmlgG-living_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/z1doM-living_education_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shiOne of the most rewarding things about living and teaching in Japan is seeing how much progress your students are making and how proud they get when the can communicate with you effectively. With that being said, there are...times... when things don't quite make sense or words that you don't normally use every day are thrust at you with so much enthusiastic force that it makes you pause a bit. Here are some of my favorite phrases that my students have come up with.1. "It's 3 hot outside."It was a hot summer day and my students were changing from their swim clothes into their uniforms. I made the comment, "It's too hot today," while wiping the perspiration from my brow. My quietest student Ko-kun looked up at me with a deadpan face and said, "No Banana-teacher. It's 3 hot today."2. "My an*s hurts."One of the requrements for my upper level students is to write a weekly journal. I let them choose whatever topic they want. This gives them an opportunity to tell me things that they normally don't have time to tell me in class. Ma-chan decided that for her weekly journal she would tell me in vivid detail that, "My an*s hurts because I diarrheaed all night." It was definitely unexpected.3. "You are a boss queen."I was reading a story to my kindergarten class when the word "boss" came up. I explained to them what a boss was and how it is an important job. Yu-chan looks at me and says, "Banana teacher, you are a boss queen." Yes, yes I am Yu-chan.crown + power suit = boss queenSituations like these always add a little extra fun to my day. Have your students ever said any interesting phrases?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/z1doM-living_education_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shiFri, 24 Feb 2017 08:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/z1doM-living_education_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/GOxbw-living_education_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shi I think I'll call him Fred!One of the biggest downfalls of living in Miyazaki prefecture is the lack of snow. It gets really cold here, but we never see the white stuff. Snowball fights, snow angels, and snowmen are only distant dreams. This year was different. This year we built a "snowman". It snowed! Not down in the valley where I live of course, but up in the mountains! So, what can you do if it won't snow where you are? You bring the snow to you! Our school has this super sweet old man who drives the bus to and from school. He went all the way to the top of the mountain and brought down a box full of snow for the kids to play with. It was so much fun to see their happy faces. We had a snowball fight and made a snowman. Well, I made a snowman. The kids made some sort of snow creature. It wasn't perfect, but they sure were proud of it. It's amazing how something as simple as snow can bring so much happiness! My name is Elsa!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/GOxbw-living_education_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shiThu, 23 Feb 2017 13:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/GOxbw-living_education_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/G0dZG-living_education_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shiI love being a teacher. It's what I've always wanted to be (unless you count ninja princess as a profession). When I first came to Japan, I spoke zero Japanese. I literally knew nothing about their writing system or pronunciation. I figured that I'd work it out and that it wouldn't affect my everyday life, but boy did it ever. What I didn't know, but I am very well aware of now, is that there is no "V" sound in Japanese. So my name, which starts with a "V" got changed to "B". When my boss introduced me to my first class of rowdy 2nd graders, he said, "This is Banesa-sensei," which sounded to the kids like "Banana-sensei". They, of course, thought that this was the best thing since sliced bread and I forever became known as "Banana-sensei" or "Banana-teacher". I've learned to embrace it and now I turn it into a joke when I meet new students. It has become a way to bond with them though humor.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/G0dZG-living_education_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shiThu, 23 Feb 2017 08:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Aluma/G0dZG-living_education_miyazaki_miyakonojo-shi