High School in Japan

We are visiting the local high school in Tajimi. High school is from grades 10-12. Grade 10 is grade 1, 11th is grade 2, and 12th is grade 3. There is tremendous pressure to pass the tests for college admissions and today the seniors are taking this test. Tests definately dictate the direction of your career. If you pass the national test you get admission into the national colleges, which are free. This provides an expeptional education but it isn`t easy to get into. Many students have to repeat a year of high school just to be able to retake the exams. Private schools are costly and are most student`s option if they do not pass the national exam. Apparently, the greatest pressures on students are during the high school years, college is more of an experience for learning and is considered a time for fun.

The students are wearing uniforms. Suits for the boys and skirts and blazers for the girls. Different colored ties designate which class you are in. Just like back home the girls hike their skirts up very, very high and the boys pull their pants down very, very low. They look better than our students but they are still typical kids trying to look cool. The kids here are really friendly and are anxious to try out their English on us. We will be eating lunch with them. These students do not prepare the school lunch but they do clean the school like all the other grades. It was funny to see the boys outside this morning sweeping the driveway.

Tomorrow we will be meeting our Japanese host families. We will spend Saturday and Sunday with them. Everyone was very nervous about this stay but now we are all really looking forward to it.

The weather was very warm and rainy due to the typhoon off the coast of Japan. On Tuesday the storm blew over and left us with beautiful, crisp fall weather. Unfortunately the leaves have not started to turn yet. So far I have only had to wear a jacket at night. Air conditioning is not common (but I`m loving it). When I show my pictures of snow in New Jersey they are in awe, this region has a rather mild climate. They love to see my folliage pictures and also the ones of the Japanese cherry blossoms from Branchbrook park.

It is time to walk around and observe the students. I will send phots at another time.

Love from Japan,
Barbara