Piczo

Out Like A Lion

When I was an elementary school student, the teachers used to describe the month of March with a pretty funky analogy. In like a lion, out like a lamb. I never quite understood how the month of March could go from the a beastly ferocious lion to this little softy nothing lamb. I still don't really understand the quote, but I like it alot of other reasons. Change it around a little bit and you'll get the following. In like a lamb, and out like a lion. This quote single handily describes my tenure as a Japanese student. More importantly as a Japanese student at Tosajoshi All Girl High School in Kochi, Japan. It all started in September 1, when I had my first day as a Japanese student. For more information, read 'First Day of School.' In short, I did a speech in front of 2,000 girls, my future classmates at Tosajoshi, in Japanese, a language I could barely use to say good morning, let alone introduce myself. But it wasn't just about the speech. I was a shy American exchange student, who once upon a time had been good at large scale speeches, but had since not been able to do even an English speech in front of a group larger than a class. I was also bit embarrassed and annoyed at being lavished in compliments of kawaii and glares of wonder. I was 15, and in a country I knew very little but about, in a school that was 100x stricter than the one at home, with teachers hawking over my tiny flub-ups even on the first day. I was thrown onto the stage and asked to do a welcoming speech with next to no preparation. But I can't be too hard on myself during that time. Because there was one thing that I tend to overlook. I did it. I came to Japan, even in it a lamb like fashion, quiet, shy, and ready to get pounced on by a wolf or get turned into a sweater. I still made it here, and I still stood on that stage and did that speech with pride and excitement. Nearly 10 and half months have passed since that first speech. 10 and half months filled of days where my sanity was truly dripping out ear. Tosajoshi is an All Girl school, which is a fabulous institution in one sense, and a bit unhealthy in another. In the first few months I watched as my classmates plucked their own arm hair, nose hairs, lifted theirs skirts in class to pull out a wedgie, come to school with no makeup and not even think twice about it. Other times they'd run through the hall, at about 17 and 18 years old, screaming like Monkeys and acting like the typical American toddler. I often found myself wondering if I'm actually a Koukou Ninensee (Junior) or a Sho Ninenesee (2nd grader) And yet, on the other hand, there is no place on earth I would have rather been. Being surrounded by only girls allows you to develop and prosper in different ways. In the homeroom, you are only competing against other girls. And with the ab sense of boys, no cliques have formed. Everyone is friends, and there are almost no outsiders in the school. Everyone belongs, which is the intention of an all girl school. What 10 and half months of servitude at Tosajoshi has done is brought out the real Julie. The happy-go-lucky, energetic, and adventurous girl who had always existed but just needed a little help from a group of silly, yet exciting Japanese girls. And now it was time to say goodbye. My farewell ceremony was to take place on July the 17th. As usual, when it comes to preparation and knowing what exactly I'm supposed to do, the Tosajoshi staff failed to tell me anything. It no longer bothers me anymore like it used to, when they would show up to my class 3 minutes before the English speech contest and tell me I had to judge, or how they would come 5 minutes after the bell rang to give Paula and I the papers we had to work on. Disorganization is a bit of an understatement, but once you can get used it, it no longer causes many problems. However failing to tell me about a speech in front of 2,000 girls, is a bit out of hand. I was SO lucky, in that, a few weeks before the closing ceremony, a different Gaijin teacher, and good friend, Craig, tipped me off. Mostly the tip off was to do everything the former exchange student did NOT do. He told her speech was 1 sentence in Japanese, when she burst into tears and then switched into English. This mere statement annoys me. After the good majority of a year, how could you not speak Japanese? In addition to this, she had her legs crossed allowing her underwear to be exposed to all the girls. The speech has sort of become something of a legend at my school. Now the girls kind if fight over what color she was wearing and who had a better view. And this is the same school, that I claim to have helped me become a different person. Anyway, after Craig told me about the speech, I began to sketch out some ideas. I had over a month to decide what to do, but I wrote the speech pretty quickly. My only problem was that I didn't have much time to practice it. I kept telling myself I would make sure to practice it the week of testing. The week of testing came and went, and I only practiced for a 5 minutes. It wasn't until 3 days before the big ceremony that I began to take it seriously. First, I went through a period of self-doubt about the speech. The real clincher was that I thought it was much too boring, and then remembering all the other speeches I had been subjected to, and I worried it wasn't boring enough. One night, after Yosakoi practice, Michiyo listened as I gave her the speech. She was honest with me, because that is exactly what I wanted her to be. She said the speech was not perfect, and yet, it was amazing, in every sense of the world. For someone who had only been here 11 months, having studied no Japanese before hand, there were only 2 grammatical mistakes. Plus my pronunciation was superb, compared to most English speakers attempt at Japanese. But what made me feel happiest, was that she told me what I really wanted to hear. My speech came from the heart, and even though it was nothing like what the Principal and the speakers at a Japanese school talk like, the speech was Me. On Monday, Japan celebrated Sea Day, and thus, we students had the day off from school. That night Craig, invited Me, Ruth, the new Gaijin English teacher, and Paula Fabian, up to his home for a barbecue. I practiced my speech in front of them, and found that I had an incredibly difficult time. There was only Craig, his wife and son, Paula, and Ruth, but I was incredibly nervous. I later figured out that I was so nervous because everyone could speak Japanese, as well as English. They all agreed that the content was nice, and much better than Zahra's but all commented on that I wasn't ery relaxed. Paula also came up with some giid ideas, which would later come out during my speech. Back in Mama, Kochi, my host family saw my speech, considerably less nervous, and agreed that it was great. I suppose this should have been relieving to me, but it wasn't. That night, while everyone slept soundly, I sat awake nervously watching the clock ticker by. Every so often, in an effort to ease my nerves, I would stand on my bed and practice the speech. I did eventually fall asleep, but then woke up especially early. Sometime, after I threw on my uniform, and completed my morning routine, the nerves seemed to dye away. And instead were was replaced by a massive and heavy amount of sadness. This was the last time in my ENTIRE life that I would have to be doing this. Though it is true, I have to go to clubs a bunch of times over the next few weeks, school would not truly be in session. This day was not about my speech, it was about saying goodbye to all those who had given me the best year of my life at Tosajoshi. And I began to feel foolish for wasting my time and being nervous. I departed the house, for that last time as a Japanese student, with my held high and a feeling in my heart screaming that this speech was going to be easy. I arrived at Tosajoshi 40 minutes early, which I planned. I wanted to walk through my classroom one last time, just by myself. I didn't want my classmates tailing me around and shouting at me to not be nervous or sad. Girls arm in arm talking about the latest drama, cellphone companies, arm hair, Disney, and other innocent jargon. I just wanted to be alone, for the first time, in a room filled with memories. After I put my belongings down at the chairs, I walked along the wooden desks, laughing at their miniscule size and thanking god that there was no major earthquake this year. I would have been crushed because I was much too big for these desks. I also skimmed through Chiake's textbooks, and found myself laughing out loud at her terrible English grammar testing scores. Not that I should really be laughing, I did really poorly for someone who is fluent in the language. I write my name is Japanese on the green board, and remembered the cleaning duties Chiake and I had at this board. The same duty that got me known around the school as the girl who tried to throw the chalk erasers out the window. I highlighted the date, July, 17, 2007, and thought of all the days I had been here in this room. All of those days, filled with a roller coaster of different feelings, sadness at feeling left out because of a language barrier, excitement at the feeling of truly being one of the girls, hunger at lunchtime with the piggy Japanese girls, laughter at getting back my poor English tests, and love when people who you have just only met are hugging you and making you feel like the luckiest person in the room. I had only a few moments of this strolling down memory lane, when White Eyes came in the room. She and I talked for a little while, remembering Yano-homeroom time with arm plucking Aimi, Crazy Shoko, Christmas, and Valentines Day. She told me that she considered herself to be one of the luckiest girls in the school, in that, she was able to be in the same class as me from the moment I arrived to the day I left Tosajoshi. Sometimes you are just too astounded to reply, which is how I found myself. A few moments before the bell rang, I decided to do a quick stroll throughout the school. As I passed along the halls, the stares and pointing became a little more obvious than usual. When I passed along the teachers room, I noticed the daily schedule, given out to all the teachers and announced to each class before the day began, was posted on the door. I read it, and found myself in shock. From 9:40 to 10:50, the closing ceremony was to take place. But it didn't just say the Closing Ceremony, it also added the Exchange Student Farewell Ceremony. The nerves were back, but not about screwing up and what not. This time I was nervous about failing to say an appropriate goodbye to all my new friends and teachers. Back in the classroom, my heary was beating at an unhealthy pace, and sweat poured down my far head. When Chiake spotted me, she asked me if I was sick, to which I pointed to the class schedule. She laughed, and told me not to worry about. Much easier said than done, buddy. Our first task of the morning was the obligatory cleaning at the end of all the terms and before the closing ceremony. It was my final cleaning, which is something I'm actually NOT going to miss. With my luck, I expected the group to be assigned to the toilets at the very least, but we got lucky. instead the 7 of us were given a light sentence to the Meeting Room. Chiake and I just scrubbed some windows and the floor. CHiake tried to cheer me up, but I was freaking out. After out cleaning, we returned to the classroom at around 9:30. With these extra 10 minutes, I had my really close classroom friends sign their names on to a giant red heart, to be used in the speech. I also used the bathroom, though I didn't puke, like I suspected I would. I don't want you to get the wrong idea, it wasn't nerves about how I was going to do this speech, like it had started out originally. But now it was a different type of nervousness, one that I have only experienced once or twice in my life. The only other time I can remember is just before the Koto concert. I wasn't nervous about playing, but I was scared to screw up and make the others look bad. The others, who had spent hours helping me and putting effort into making this performance special for the audience and for my own memory. Now it was feeling nervous for screwing up and not being able to say what I wanted to say. All the thank yous and the memories that were held in the words of speech. Perhaps I am a people pleaser, but this speech was not about me. It was about showing all the girls at my school that I had appreciated beyond words the incredible year they had given me. At 9:40, Chiake and I, arm in arm, walked down the 4 flights of stairs and across the courtyard, drink machine hall, and dance team practice room. We didn't speak, because she knew how nervous I was and she knew that silence was the best she could have given me. But she stuck with me anyway. When inside the Gym/Auditorium, my friends all gather around me before we parted. I received a giant hug and warm words of support. They knew I could do it, I knew I could do it. Then why was it so hard? Matsuoka-sensei, my school counselor seated me in one of the main seats, right next to another Noukou Ninensee class filled with girls from my old homeroom, Yano-homeroom. They asked me what I was doing, and I told them I was going to give my farewell speech. Most of them couldn't reply, but those that did were in awe at how quickly the year had flown by. Kaho snickered about how my first speech, although incredible for a girl who had only just started speaking Japanese, was very funny. At exactly, 9:45 the ceremony began, in a very Tosajoshi manner. I Gym teacher said good morning, and then began screaming at the girls for not sitting in Japanese saza position, the politest of all positions. He made them all stand up and sit in the position 3 or 4 times, before finally accepting the girls attempts. Somehow, nothing really surprises me anymore with Tosajoshi. Except one thing. This Closing Ceremony for me, became more of a Graduation. After the Gym teacher's student heckling, the Principal began. He called me onto the stage, and I walked up, clueless as to what I was supposed. I looked like a big fool, when I sat down in a chair, and then had to be yelled at in in Japanglish to stand up in front of the principal. And in a moment, of complete role reversal, I was no longer nervous. The look of fear spread on my face, turned into a big smile and burst into laughter. The whole auditorium, filled with stiff girls sitting in uncomfortable leg positions in a room not air-conditioned, witnessing a ceremony that was promised to be incredibly boring, smiled as well. I stood before the principal, my back facing the crowd, as all students do when they graduate from a Japanese High School. The only problem is that most students are quite short, allowing the principal to speak out onto the entire crowd. However, I'm a few inches taller and wider than the principal, so just before he began, the serious faced man stared at me, trying to figure out how this was going to work out. The principal also could not ignore my smile, and suppressed laughter. He, too, let out a smile, furthering the calmness in the room. He let out a comment, only I could hear, though he thought I could not understand. 'Well I best begin, since no one can see me anyway.' I snorted and he looked really embarrassed that I could understand what he said. In Japanese graduations, the Principal reads off all that is said on the Diploma and then politely hands the paper to the representative student, who must face the Principal and not the crowd. The student bows and then returns to her seat, carrying the diplomas on the side in a straight and orderly manner. I had two diplomas, one in Japanese, and one in English. The principal read off the Japanese one and then looked at the English one. The look he gave it was that of someone staring a piece of rotten cheese. It was obvious that he was supposed to read the English one, but I sent him a look saying that it wasn't necessity. I knew I probably made his day. But I think if he did read it, I would have been roaring in laughter from the terrible pronunciation. I was just in one of those moods. He gathered the papers in his hands, and handed them to me over desk in a bow. I think I finally did the correct thing, as I grasped the papers and bowed back. I turned around and walked to the seat on the stage. The principal, still at the main desk, waited until I was seated and then began his speech. Now normally I love being pampered by people in speeches, for one of the following reasons, my good Japanese, my obedience to the rules, how I am nothing like the previous exchange students, how I have made more friends and joined clubs and gotten the most involved in the Tosajoshi community... the list goes on and on. This particular speech was filled with all of this stuff, and yet, the speech was so boring that it could have put anyone in a coma within seconds. The girls, who had really perked up after watching me whisk around on stage and receiving my diploma, were put back in their hot coma's. Even though the speech was all about me, I wasn't even listening. It was just that bad. I'm not complaining though, because, this is exactly what happens at school graduations and other ceremonies. It was as authentically Japanese, as a Magarou Sushi with a side of Miso Soup, Nato, and a bowl of Rice. I tried to keep some of the girls awake. I was sitting on the main stage, with the spot light on me, and even though a normal human being would have been nervous, I was not. I was no longer nervous, maybe because I was so preoccupied with trying to stay awake. But I was also excited. I was ready to do this speech, and I knew in my heart I was going to do great. I looked up at Chiake, on the overhanging balcony, and she flashed me a thumbs up. So when, the principal was done, he called up the school presidents to give me a gift from the girls at the school. A few weeks ago when Matsuoka-sensei asked me what I wanted, I told him nothing. The girls at this school had already given me all that I ever needed. But after some more haggling, we decided on the uniform. Still costed the school nothing, because the one I chose belonged to a former exchange student and was paid for my Rotary. Some other teachers, knowing this clause, pitched in and bought me an expensive fan set and a Japanese cook book in English. The school president, my good friend, Arisa, stood on the stage and did a brief speech about what good friends were and what a great year this has been. It inly lasted for a few moments, until Cranky Gym Teacher asked everyone to sit down. Then as soon as I was down, he called me back up for the speech, a surge of excitement pulsated from my heart. As I stood up, over 4,000 brown eyes followed my movements, and a a big smile spread across my face. At the podium, I stood and looked out onto the crowd, and performed the obligatory bow. Then, instead of heading straight into the speech with the microphone, I took a deep breath, and reached into my front pocket. I was full of sup rises, when I removed my Kamaekaze headband. The white strip with the Japanese flag's sun, and the Kanji spelling out Japan, went on my head. The girls were all shocked, until I was finished tying it around my head. Even though I looked like someone who was about to drive a plane into an American aircraft carrier, I was taking in every second of the silence. When I smiled and opened my mouth to begin the speech, the students burst into an exuberantly loud applause. It was the final pat on the back in Good Luck. Even though the teachers were scowling at my act of comedy, I couldn't care less. And I began. ((The way I typed this out is a little bit confusing. I typed first Japanese, followed by the English translation. Occasionally I added some commentary and reactions from the crowds.)) "Minna-san Ohayou Gozaimasu!" [Everyone, Good Morning!] Kyonen no Kuugatsu Tsuitachi o obawachuu? [Do you remember last year's September the 1st?]" Instead of answering, mostly everyone laughed, including many of the sullen faced teachers. I intended for this to happen because I used a form of Tosa Ben, the Hick-like language spoken only in Kochi. "Watashi wa Werucomu Supechi o shimashita. Watashi wa 'Julie Garner deSUE. 15 sai deSUE. HajimemshiTAY. NihOnGOU o suKOshi o wakarimaSU' to imashita.' [I performed my Welcome speech. I said, making incredibly noticiable pronounciation mistakes, My name is Julie Garner. I'm 15. It's nice to meet you all. I understand a little bit of Japanese.' "Nihon ni kurumae ni, Nohongo o benkyou shimasen deshita. Dakara, Supichi no mae ni watashi wa sugoku choi totemo metcha kincho shimashita" [I didn't study any Japanese before I came here. Therefore, before the speech, I was super very really (all slang terms) nervous.] "Watashi wa ima wa faruweru supichi o shite imasu. Watashi wa kincho shimasen USO! Demo totemo totemo sabishi desu yo." [Now I am doing the Farewell speech. I'm not nervous, which is a big lie, but I am very very sad.] The girls cracked a few smiles when I called myself a liar. "Amerika ni Hachigatsu juusannichi ni kaerinakeraba narimasen. demo kaeritaikunai. Tosajoshi to atarashi tomodachi to hosto famiri to nihon no saikatsu ga daisuki desu yo." [I MUST return to American on August 13th, but I don't want to. I love Tosajoshi, my new friends, my host families, and my Japanese life.] At this point I looked to my homeroom, and saw CHiake burst into tears. "Toshajoshi de kuugatsu kara Sangatsu made koukou ichinensee ni imashita. Yano-take homu!!! haha... Judii wa nihongo o amari shabarimasen deshita demo saito o kamaimasen deshita. minna sugoku yasashikata. watashi wa yokata to omoimashita. undokai to bunkasai to disni on isu to harroween to kurisumasu to baretines dei to curasu matchi o shimashito. minna arigatou." [From September thru March, I was a High School first year in Yano-home! I didn't really speak Japanese, but the students didn't care. They were all so nice, and I thought it was good. We all participated in the Field Day, CUltural Festival, Disney on Ice, Halloween, Christmas, Valentines Day, and Class Matches. Everyone, thanks!] The girls in Yano-homeroom from my time as a Hogh school 1st grader, all cheered throughout the entire speech. "shigatsu kara kyou made fukumoto homu no koukou ninensee ni imasu. minna, gomen nasai demoy fukumoto-homu wa tosajoshi no ichiban subarashi homu. mainichi wa tanoshimidata.' {From April till today, I am a Fukumoto-homeroom High School 2nd grader. I'm sorry everybody, but Fukumoto-home is Tosajoshi's best class. Everyday was exciting...] "Bukatsu ni hairimashita. Rekujoubu wa Judii o takusan nihon no joku o oshiermashita. Aii! Obaka!" [I entered clubs at school. The track team taught me many Japanese jokes. *Makes a fool of one self as I perform the jokes, which involve joke slapping the principal over the forehead*] Even the girls from my homeroom, who had begun sobbing in the last section, were roaring in laughter. The track members were trying not wet themselves, and even the principal who had just gotten faked slapped over head was fighting to not laugh. By this part even the truly down trodden teachers were cracking a smile. I had made a completet fool of myself, and the result was everyone seeing me. The goofball American exchange student. "Shigatsu de Koto bukatsu o ookii hapyukai o shimashita. Judii wa sugoku Kinchyou shimashita, demo minna wa 'Judii ganbarimashou!' to imashita. Koukou Ninensee to ishoni wa Sakura 21 o hikimashita. Tanoshikata desu yo." [In April, the Koto club had a huge concert. I was so nervous, but everyone kept saying, "Let's just do out best!" The High School 2nd graders and I played Sakura 21, the song. It was so exciting.] "Minna, anata tachi wa mainichi wa bai bai to sayonara to imasu. demo bai bai to sayonara wa sugoku muzukashi tango desu. kono supichi wa watchsi no saigou no bai bai." [You all say bye and 'formal' bye everyday. But these words are very difficult. This speech is my last goodbye." The girls who had been laughing had suddenly become quiet at these words. Eyes were starting to get watery. "Anata tachi no goshinsetsu ishou wasaremasen." [I will never forget all of your warm kindness] Then I pulled the red heart out of my shirt and faced it to the crowds, which began cooing. "Kokoro kara oreo moshi agemasu!" [Thank you from the botton of my heart ((the politest way to say thank you, used by Samurai towards their keepers.))] I beated the beart against my chest twice, and made a polite thank you quote cute. Then I bowed for 3 seconds before facing the crowd for a final time. I knew I had just performed the best speech that Tosajoshi had ever seen. The girls, who had been not to clap until asked to do so, were hammering ut the loudest of applause and pushing aside their tears. Not one gilr was in a coma, but everyone was alive and proud of me. Even perhaps more proud of me, than I was. I had done it. I had delivered the perfect speech to help them all remember me for the rest of their lives. Because I know I soon won't forget them. The applause continued, with the strong sounds from the principal, breaking his own rule of not clapping until asked to do so. My homeroom was on the second balcony standing up for me, shouting and whipping away their tears at the same time. I stood, looking out at my life, in 2,000 girls dressed in Sailor uniforms and said goodbye quietly. These girls who, maybe not knowing it, changed me in a million ways. I was once scared and would have refused to do a speech in front of 2,000 girls in a different language, now I relished the chance. But that isn';t a quarter of what these girls have goven me. No these girls have showed me how to be me. And that I think is the best thing in the world. I didn't need to cry, I skipped the tears, but I went out in style. Like a lion. I was the month of March flipped inside out. FInally the Gym teacher ordered the girls to sit down and stop clapping, and then ushered me off the stage. Back at my seat, I gathered my belongings and walked off the stage. As I walked along, the girls ignoring the cranky Gym teacher continued with their clapping until I reached my seat among my fellow students. Still feeling like the luckiest person in the world, I sang the words to the TOsajoshi school song, for that final time. And when it was finished, Matsuoka-sensei had picked up my stuff and began pulling me towards my homeroom. In the seat with my name in it, back with my classmates, the only place that at the moment in time, I truly belonged. The principal, retook his microphone, and instead of putting the girls back in the coma, the first thing he said was, "there goes the best exchange student I have heard of." Back in my seat, surrounded by puffy cheeked Fukumoto-home girls, I got a few pats on the back. Nothing special because the strict teachers had taken the speech and began heckling the girls about the rules of summer vacation. I won't go into those, because Americans will think it is against the laws of freedom and normalcy. Instead of listening, I just sat and felt happy I was done with it all. And when the speech was all finished, the girls began to file out and to the classrooms. Chiake and I walked back, again in silence. Only this time it was her who needed it. She had cried so hard during my speech, and was fighting very hard to keep it all in. Meanwhile, girls who I had never seen or met before were coming up to me and congratulating me. And as soon as I was finished answering, the word Kawaii was thrown around. Some things will nevber really change. Back in the homeroom, Fukumoto-sensei took attendance and handed out a few papers for the summer holidays. She didn't really scknowledge me too much until just before the bell rang, when she asked me to come with her and speak about the speech. I somewhat suspected her to heckle me about the slight grammatical errors because she is a Japanese teacher. Instead, in the stair case on the third floor she congratulated me on the best speech she had ever seen. She has been here for 10 years, and seen over 15 students. She told me that even the Australian girls who had studied the language for years before coming here and becoming fluent, had not had a speech so personal and brilliant. Plus everyone of those girls had used a piece of paper. I told her that none of the teachers told me about the speech, so I thought I had to memorize it. She told me that I left a better impression because of it. She went on to say that the school has probably never had a student, Gaijin or Japanese to be able to get on stage, wearing a Kamekaze band, and making a fool of herself. And that I would never ever be forgotten. It was the only thing I really wanted to hear. Together, we headed back to the classroom. The bell had just recetnly rung, and since cleaning already took place, I expected the classroom to be somewhat empty. Instead, as I rolled open the sliding doors and stepped into the classroom, a burst of colorful streamers blasted me, and the warmest cheers and applause gently eased me back into the room. Everyone of my fellow 42 girls had stayed behind. All that bottled up sadness that I kept in from the speech, suddenly was let go, and I burst into bog fat drops of tears, as the girls surrounded me and gave me the biggest hug I could have ever asked for. My camera was whipped out of the bag, by Chiake, and in useage even before I could tell what was going on. Ri-chan, Nanae, Usami, and Chika had collected all the colorful streamers and were throwing them on my head. Some other girls stood by the other desks and began pouring juice into 43 cups, which I didn't understand. The rest gathered around crying old me, and continued cheering about my speech and most importantly the greatest year of my life. Soon everyone grabbed a cup, I grabbed a cup with Mikan juice (the Japanese attempt at Orange juice) Haruka and Mego began speaking and listing all of the wonderful things to happen while a member of this class. Then we all lifted our sups into the air and yelled, "Kampai!" Cheers to Julie. In front of the room, I stood, covered in colorful streamers, and surrounded by 41 other students, my best friends as they formed a large cirlce arm in arm. Then they beagn singing a famous song in japanese, sung when thanking someone for something. They were thanking me for giving them a good time. But it was I who was even more thankful. When they were finsihed, Fukumoto-sensei ushered me to give a big speech. Even though I was ready and prepared, one look and CHiake, and I lost it. She and I were soon in a huge hug, crying our eyes out. Two best friends on the last day of school...ever. My classmates then gave me some presents. Two thick cardboard notes with written thank yous. One note was from girls all around the school, while the other was Fukumoto-home only. WIth it I was given a bouquet of flowers, and a Hanco. I think, honestly, the Hanco was the most special present I could have received all day. A Hanco is a merely a stamp, with the name of the person. I already have one in Katakana saying Julianne. But this Hanco was glass with the Kanji name, 樹梨 I think I mentioned once that it would be cool to get one, though it is probably impossible to find out with those particular Kanji. I couldn't believe the girls went out and looked for a person to make one for me. Little things like this is what truly makes you realize how great you are loved. Unfortunately, like everything in this life, all good things had to end. Much of the class had clubs to run off to, and I was expected at the Masaki's. We took one final picture, everyone in the class. And when I look at it, I see only Japanese school girls. It has taken me a full year, but after today, I think I convinced everyone of that same fact. When I walked out of the school, for that last time, I was truly out like a lion. I was strong, determined, but most importantly loved and unforgettable. And now, I am no longer a Japanese student.