#returning jets
The strangest thing just happened.
I was cooking dinner when the doorbell rang.
Outside (with my neighbor) was one of my 6th grade boys. At first I thought that my neighbor must be his mother, but after a few sentences she checked her mail and left.
He came all by himself just to talk to me!
Today I had my last visit to his homeroom before I finish my time on the JET Program. We played some games, took a picture, and said goodbye.
Standing outside my door, we had a deep conversation despite my poor Japanese skills.
He asked me what message I would like to leave behind for him and his peers. I said that they should be kind to each other. It is one of my biggest regrets that I was not a kinder person in grade school.
He pointed out that when other teachers leave, it is likely that the students will see them again around town. But since I’m moving away, he’ll probably never see me again.
He was a little sad to hear that the next ALT will be a girl. “It’s always girls,” he said. I asked him to help her out at school when she gets here.
He also wondered why his classmates were not as upset as him about my leaving. He said that when other teachers left, they all cried. But not for me. Secretly, that was how I planned my departure. No tears, just smiles. Once I start crying I can’t stop. I told him that losing me was not all sad because that meant they get to make a new friend with the new teacher. If I have to make a speech to the school at an assembly before I leave though, there will definitely be tears.
He was happy that I could remember his name. So was I :D
Finally I told him that I will see him again next week because I will be teaching the 5th graders their last lessons. He promised to come visit me again to talk.
I love that he came to see me, because more than their formulaic thank you letters that they all have to write, it tells me that at least one student was affected by my work.
I had to write this as soon as he left so I wouldn’t forget. I will treasure this memory always.
