Gradumacation

So as mentioned before, graduation has passed. It was on Sunday, May 1st. The whole thing was somewhere between an hour and half to two hours long (short, right?). And compared to my graduation, it was rather quite and serious. But there was a time where one of the second years read an essay to the third years. I didn't really undestand it all but apparently it was great. And then right after that, a third year read an essay (response is what they called it) to the underclassmen. That one, I heard, was written really well. I...yea...didn't really get it or remember it too well.

The thing I found most interesting was that they did not walk across the stage to get a diploma. Actually, I'm not sure if they get a diploma...but I imagine they get something of the sort.

After graduation, the third years had their final homeroom with their homeroom teachers and then the picture taking began (or continued really since some came into the teachers' room before graduation).

Here’s the real interesting thing: It’s past graduation day, and some of the 3rd years are still coming to school-to study!!!
o_O;

But it has to do with when their college entrance exams are. They get separated into groups and so although some of them took the exam the week before graduation (and are currently awaiting the results) there is another group that has yet to take the test. Also, the students who have taken the test and are awaiting the results, are also studying too! (But it’s a pre-cautionary measure incase they don’t pass and need to take the written exam on the 12th). So yea…they’re “卒業生” now…but they’re still studying…
[that word is “so-tsu-gyou-sei” = “graduated students”]

More things from graduation day:

*2 female homeroom teachers wore kimonos! They looked so pretty! ^^ (Later, on the way to the graduation enkai, one of my JTE’s said that I should try wearing one sometime. Possibly for opening ceremony. Hahaha)

*There is a lot of standing, bowing and sitting.

*校長先生(Principal) wore a kimono too

*I think only the parents came to the ceremony. Maybe a few younger siblings…

*The PTA also had an essay/letter to the graduation class. And the speaker wore a kimono too.

*There is a graduation song. The most repeated lyric being, “Now is the time to say good-bye.”

*All the second years were there and only the class representatives for each first year class attended (So most of the first year did not attend 卒業式(graduation ceremony).

*I got a special bento lunch

After this, I basically just hung out at work. Some students came to take a picture with me (and since I had my camera, I also took some with them. hehe).

Afterwards, most of the teachers went to the graduation enkai. (enkais are like business dinner parties). One of my JTE’s was nice enough to pick me up and help me to the place. ^^ Although I personally feel there wasn’t enough food, it was alright. I took many pictures this time. Well, I did take many pictures at last year’s 忘年会(end-of-year enkai) but this time I took many with me in the picture as well. Hahaha.

And thus concludes my graduation day.

Oh, on a sad note: on a fairly recent trip to Beppu, I had bought some hair pins. One of them being really pretty and sparkly and I had planned to wear it with my yukata in the summer. I decided to wear it for this occasion but sadly lost it sometime on my way back home after the enkai. T_T

Saaaaaaaaad…