It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

During the festive period I decided to do a variety of Christmas-themed lessons with all of my grades, varying dependant on what they had just been learning.

At my junior high, thanks to the wonderful Hannah Lynn, I’ve managed to set up a Christmas card exchange with Wye School in Kent. My 3^rd graders have been writing Christmas cards which I will be sending over shortly, and the LRU (Literacy Response Unit) now set up at Hannah’s school, especially for this, will give them to their lower level ability students to help with their grammar and English.

I’ve been overwhelmed by the response I’ve had from my 3^rd grade classes, with students spending their lunch breaks and finishing them after school. I was especially surprised by the amount of boys who have got involved too, as I honestly thought after the lesson was over they’d throw them straight in the bin. Some have turned into proclamations of love to me, or to unknown school children in England. Nevertheless, here’s a few of my favourites for your enjoyment.

I also got my special needs class involved too, however since this is a more manageable class size of 15, I’m sending those cards to my cousins back in Liverpool, who, along with a few friends, can pen some responses.

In my elementary schools, I decided to make Christmas decorations, and it’s safe to say I will definitely not be doing that next year! I had a selection of gingerbread men, Santa hats, reindeer, candy canes and snowmen; of which I must have cut out at least 2,000 during the course of the month. I have to say, it almost pushed me over the edge, but I refused to let a paper snowman be the cause of a mental breakdown. I’ve been covered in “kira kira”, or glitter, for the majority of the month and genuinely think it’s embedded in my skin. I wouldn’t be surprised, my tatami back home has a wonderful festive sparkle now that I’ll never be able to get out.

Despite the pain and hate, my little munchkins seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, having little chats with me, and especially loved when I’d sprinkle glitter in their hair... I’m sure their parents love me for that one. I took pictures with all of my Christmas classes too, and only realised now the true scale of how many kids I teach in these elementary schools. This comprised of only 22 classes from 5 schools, meaning around 600 students (not including the other grades I usually teach, but didn’t on that visit).   

All I want for Christmas is the ability to remember their names.

Magical Miyazaki.

Yet another prefecture down, and this time it was nearby Miyazaki. It must be something to do with the surfer vibe of the prefecture, but even in December there is a chilled out atmosphere that I can only compare to that of Okinawa.

Aoshima Shrine is now my most favourite sunset location I have discovered thus far. The crashing waves of the incoming tide juxtaposed with the serenity of the tori gate on the beach perfectly. We couldn’t have timed our arrival better, and the pictures really don’t do the wonderful pink and orange sky justice.

Takachiho Gorge was absolutely stunning with all the autumnal foliage, and I’m really hoping I get to return during sakura season. It was a shame the weather wasn’t on our side this time, but I’m looking forward to dragging my parents on a row boat there when they come to visit in a few months’ time.

Both locations were so calming they gave me a much needed therapeutic break I needed to just sit, undisturbed by my own thoughts, and watch the world go by. I had the most delicious chai latte, azuki bun and cheese manjuu I could have wished for too, all helping me whisk myself off and pretend I wasn’t returning to three more weeks of school before Christmas break.

I’d like to say the entire trip was wonderful, but the windy mountainous roads, combined with my car sickness, were perfect factors in creating a not-so-genki Caitlin. A small price to pay though for the wonderful places we visited. Granted, we had some mishaps too, like getting locked in a car park after hours and having to play the “I’m a stupid foreigner” card and bow profusely to the poor guy who came to the rescue.

On the bright side, I managed to find some more elusive gotochi Hello Kitty’s to add to my collection; my map of Japan is coming along quite nicely. This was also a rare opportunity allowing the Okinawa “awesome foursome” of Sheridan, Clare, Ellen and I to reunite, something which is becoming increasingly difficult to organize lately. It was also lovely to spend some time with Willem before he headed to back home to Australia too, and we have many a candid “we look happily in love” photo to look back on.