Last Day of School

On my last day of school (Wednesday, July 15th) I got to school early. At 8:05 I had to give a little speech to all the teachers in the teachers' lounge. I had prepared really well by jotting some ideas down on my palm that morning before I left the house. It wasn't supposed to be very long anyway. In the middle of that I started crying... and I knew today was going to be a long day.



I ran upstairs to my classroom and quickly changed into my sport's uniform before my class started at 8:15. It wasn't just a normal day of school. No, I had to have my last day be even more hectic by throwing in a sport's day. Kyugitaikai-- ball-sport's festival. A school-wide competition of volleyball, badminton, basketball, and Japanese-style dodge ball.



I was on the volleyball team. My games were right away in the morning. I had a fun time playing even though we lost both of them. They were pretty close though, if that makes a difference. Luckily, the other High School 3rd Grade volleyball team got second overall, so we still got points. Then it was my duty to cheer for my classmates as they did their sports. Which I did.



After lunch, my very last obento (-.-), I went to find my teacher about getting my scrapbooky album that I was making for the school done. I still needed to print and insert a few pictures. I was almost done getting that taken care of when my teacher decided that I need to get back to class (cheering for classmates). GAhhhhh!



As I was cheering (not very enthusiastically because of my rather stressful last day worries) I somehow got roped into playing in the last game of dodge ball. Now, for those of you who have never played Japanese dodge ball, it is a bit different than the dodge ball you know. You have to worry about a basketball(ish ball) slamming into your face and getting trampled by your teammates all at the same time. The rules are pretty hard to explain, but you have people from the other team around the whole perimeter of your side and only one (hard, painful) ball being whipped back and forth between them as they try to get you stuck in a corner so they can hit you. I wasn't very good at it.



After dodge ball was over we had the closing ceremony. Our class had won the festival! :) Everyone insisted that I go up and accept the trophy for the class. It was the first time that I have ever accepted something like that for a big group; it was nice. Then our class did our closing prayer for the day. The girl who said it thanked that I could have been in their class for the year. Well, I think that was where she was going with it before she started crying. Then (surprise!) I started crying too. It was really sweet of her.



But that was too early for tears. Next we had a Senior 3 girls vs. teachers dodge ball game. It was a lot of fun, actually. After that was over we all got juice or tea to drink as we quickly changed back into our uniforms. As I was running around like crazy trying to make sure my speech and stuff was ready all the other girls besides 2 of my friends, who were taking their sweet time with me, disappeared.



I walked into the auditorium where my speech was going to be to see all the girls applauding as I walked in. There were a few girls from the orchestra playing the graduation music in the corner. I took my seat and then the principle called my name just like they do at graduation and gave me my diploma. I started crying again. My classmates wanted me to graduate with them, but since I will be gone, I graduated early.



I gave my little speech and then they gave me gifts. They must have put so much work into all of this, because it was amazing. I got pictures and albums and, my personal favorite, a Japanese flag that all of my friends signed. That will be going up in my room as soon as I get home. They also made a video of all the teachers being interviewed about me.



After that was all over I took pictures with people. Then I finished my album for the school. Finally, I gave the teachers and principal one final thank-you and left St. Joseph's High School.



My friends waited for me as I did this whole process and we went home together. In the bus we all started crying like crazy. I cried pretty much all the way home, saying goodbyes to people as they got off the train at stops before mine.



It was a tough day because I think it was the first time that I really realized that this year is ending. School was an important part of my year. Of course it was. I made so many friends and learned a lot there. There was also a lot of school-related stress. Having school be done was a mixture of emotions. I am so relieved to be done. I can start focusing on really getting ready to go home. At the same time, however, it was the first big "sayonara" I had to make. I am glad that I got to go to the school I did go to. It was way more strict than what I am used to, but I had a good experience there.