渋谷と川崎でハロウィーン！ （キャロル先生)

This year was my second time to spend Halloween in Tokyo. I didn’t get a chance to visit Shibuya Crossing last year, so I made it priority to visit it this year. It didn’t disappoint, it was so busy but so much fun! My friends and I dressed up in costumes and walked around Shibuya, meeting new people and taking photos of all the different kinds of costumes on display. There was such a great variety of costumes from people from all over. It really was something special.

The next day, I hopped on the train and travelled to the Kawasaki Halloween Parade. This is world famous and I didn’t want to miss it. I stood at the front of the crowd with my camera and managed to take some brilliant photos of the participants in the parade. Some of them saw me taking photos and posed for me, which I really appreciated. It was so busy there but I managed to take many photos to add to my Halloween collection. The make-up and costumes were out of this world and I can’t imagine being able to see anything like it anywhere else. Being Irish, I am a huge fan of Halloween and I am very lucky to be living in another country that celebrates this occasion just as much as Ireland. Halloween originated from Ireland and so it is very close to my heart.

秋到来 （ジーアン先生）

It’s already November, which means that autumn is here and winter is near. It also means that I had to buy many sweaters and cardigans because it’s really cold! I had never experienced this temperature before, so I was quite unprepared.

 

I was also excited to see the changing colors of autumn: yellow, orange, and red before the leaves fall. Recently, I joined a hiking trip to Mt. Takao. I saw many people there: small children, married couples, young men and women, and even the elderly! I also saw a woman carrying a baby on her back. I was so amazed at their determination and endurance.

 

It was hot while climbing the mountain, but when we got to the top, I felt cold! And there, I also saw trees with scarlet-colored leaves. It was such a beautiful sight. I imagine that it’s only going to be more beautiful as the weeks go by.

 

Several teachers have also told me that nearby Inokashira Park will be quite a sight to behold when the red and yellow leaves start falling.

 

Before November came, the country witnessed several Halloween parties. At Fujimura, we also had Halloween lessons, which was a great way to learn how different countries celebrated the event.

 

Now that Halloween is over, Japan is gearing up for the Christmas season. I’m very excited to celebrate the holidays in Tokyo, and I have already seen colorful lights and Christmas decorations outside shops and in malls.

 

Despite the cold, I’m looking forward to autumn and winter in Japan!

2度目の文化祭 （キャロル先生)

I went to see the school’s Bloom festival at the weekend. I was so excited to see the students act out the plays I wrote for them. Their acting was great and they memorized their lines very well. There was so much to see at the festival that I found myself staying until nearly five thirty. The Haunted House was a real treat and I entered it with two students just in case it got too spooky for me. Afterwards I attended a tea ceremony; this was my first time to attend one. It was very relaxing and the tea and sweet I received were delicious. I managed to buy some cake and a curry dinner for lunch too. I basically ate my way through the school festival which was fantastic!

I was also highly impressed with the rhythmic gymnastics show. It amazes me how gifted and dedicated the students are and how lucky I am to have been able to see the school festival twice.

初めまして、ジーアンです （ジーアン先生)

I witnessed my first ever Mass Games on Sept. 11, 2019 in an arena in Hachioji, and it was fantastic! For me, it was an event that celebrated the school’s dedication to discipline, excellence, teamwork, and most of all. . . fun!

 

When I first learned that I would be teaching at an all-girls’ school with a focus on sports and other active clubs, I was very nervous because I wasn’t athletic at all! I came from Cagayan de Oro City, which is located in the southern part of the Philippines. Since the weather in my country was hot most of the year, I usually spent my weekends reading books at home.

 

But when I came to this school, I realized how lucky I was. I got to witness a very lively and friendly community. The teachers are busy, but they do their work with joy, The students work hard, and they’re always up for anything.

 

In the Philippines, we have “field demonstration” where each grade level will present a dance, with costume and props. The Mass Games of Fujimura Girls’ Junior and Senior High School reminded of that yet also showed me more!

 

This weekend will be the school’s bunkasai, and I’m looking forward to experiencing all that Fujimura Girls’ High School has to offer!

夏休み （キャロル先生）

                          Summer Vacation

For my summer vacation, I travelled home to Ireland for three and a half weeks. It was lovely to be back home with my friends and family. I ate food that I had been missing over the past year, foods like curry cheese chips and a morning fry. I ate so much food I will probably need to exercise more and eat less now that I am back in Tokyo. I was treating myself to all the treats Ireland has to offer, which has to be done when you go on holidays! I was also able to spend some valuable time with my family and friends, such as bringing my nieces to the park and helping my mother at home.

The weather wasn’t so bad, it usually changes from sunny to rainy weather pretty quickly but the rain stayed away for most of my holiday. Irish summers can be very unpredictable but I was glad to escape the extremely hot and humid summer in Tokyo. I have heard that the weather has cooled down a bit since I arrived back which I am very pleased about. I am looking forward to beginning another year here in Fujimura.

日本での交流 (ミーシャ先生)

The best part about my time here has been my interaction with the students. They are very interesting. I enjoy their sense of humor and their friendliness. My interaction with them has helped me to learn some Japanese phrases and I hope they were able to learn even more English words. I have always loved teaching because I believe teachers teach students but students can teach teachers too. These students have taught me about their culture and their interests in sports, music, the arts and studying abroad. I truly appreciate their sincerity, kindness and genuine interest in wanting to know about me and my country- Jamaica. I wish them all the best in their endeavors.

梅雨 （キャロル先生)

                            Rainy Season

It is the rainy season in Tokyo now and it is so humid. Even though it is cloudy and rains a lot, it is really humid which makes it difficult to walk around and exercise. It has been a while since I went for a jog and instead, I have been doing yoga and exercises at home with the aircon on, instead of outside in the humidity. The weather tends to get humid in Ireland too but it is not as extreme as Tokyo. I will be travelling home to Ireland near the end of July for one month and I’m expecting it to be quite cold with lots of rain. Irish summers are very different from summers in Tokyo and I will have to make sure I pack my coat and warm clothes. Sometimes, there are four seasons in one day in Ireland. In the morning it might be sunny, in the afternoon it might be cold, in the evening it might be raining and at night time it might be frosty. Therefore, it is very difficult to know what clothes to pack and how to prepare for the Irish summer. Because I will be in Ireland for so long, I will miss most of the scorching, hot summer in Tokyo. When I arrive back, it will be late August and the rainy season will be upon us again.