Entering and exiting middle school is, I guess, a big deal. I remember when I entered middle school there was nothing to welcome us and we got some lame recognition thing at the end where a lot of students didn't even bother to dress up. In Japan, the graduation ceremony is like that of a high school graduation ceremony in the states (a rather big deal), and there is a formal entrance ceremony that is almost as big.
It seems a little silly because the whole thing is SO structured it's ridiculous. After going to the stage and doing whatever, students have to walk to a certain spot before making a 90 degree turn to walk back to where they came from. Also what's really funny is that there is a person who announces that something will be announced, for example:
School coordinator（教務主任）: And now the announcement of the beginning of the ceremony.
Vice principal（教頭）: The ceremony will now begin.
Each segment has to be completely separate as well. For example, the principal will walk up to the stage, give his opening remarks, walk off the stage, sit down, stand back up and walk right back on the stage (after the announcements of course) to hand out awards. He couldn't just stay up on the stage between segments even though he's going to be doing the next one too.
Also, the teachers have a random chance of being shipped to different schools at the end of each school year, which begins in April (as opposed to North America's September. Not sure about other countries). Each year some teachers leave and new ones from who knows where come in. Most seem to get transferred after 4 or 5ish years, and some can stay as long as 10. They think it's funny that teachers in North America stay at the same school their whole life usually. There are good and bad things about both systems, but for whatever reason, the teachers who are leaving and staying has to be kept a secret until the official meeting, even though it doesn't really affect anything if people know beforehand. When I say teachers have a random chance of being shipped off, I guess I should say that anyone who works at the school. Accountants and even janitors could be shipped off to some other school. One teacher I have came from a city 2 hours away, and other teachers could be moved even further. The only exception is the ALT (except for special circumstances), most likely because the max period of employment for JETs is 5 years anyway. So glad I'm not a teacher in this country.
Taking the driving test for a THIRD time tomorrow. I am going to shoot a damn monkey if they fail me again I swear.
三度目の正直【さんどめのしょうじき】(san/do/me/no/shou/jiki) Third time's a charm
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