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sayonara's and sitting still for 4 hours with no bathroom break

the band is awful-the wind instruments rush to finish their parts and everyones either sharp or flat and the whole thing makes Auld Lang Syne sound like a Merry-go-round playing funeral durges...

The gym is ringed with red and white striped paper, a japanese flag and a fujisawa flag and a school flag adorn the stage...flowers line the steps...and the teachers of the graduating students wear either a kimono, if they happen to be female, or a white tie.

the graduating students enter amidst the clamoring noise and take their seats at the front. they are bigger than the other students in height as well. they swagger or walk resolutely... a few seem to flow to their seats,their bodies limp and their faces blank.

the ceremony begins with bows of different lengths and depth-everyone bows on their way to and from the stage and while on stage if their is someone to bow to.
there are speeches from the new president of the student council and from the graduating one, from the principal and vice principal, and from the head of the local PTA. the speeches are written on long pieces of paper folded like fans and, when completed, they are offered upon the altar-like table in front of the flags.
there is never a pledge of allegiance, but eut they do bow to the flag before speaking and they sing the national anthem...though one teacher turns and faces the wall-refusing to acknowledge the song. i, who dont know the words, look at him and his frowning visage. he looks my way, then down.

there is a short video...titled "memories" that shows all of their trips-skiing first year, kamakura the second and kyoto the third... the pictures are greeted with cheers, laughter, eventually tears.

the ceremony ends with songs from the graduating students...the boys are even crying now and a sob, now and again, peels like a bellin the midst of their final number. the staff and the other students, either eager to leavealreadydamnit or sniffling, answer with a final song.

the band attempts another song and the 9th graders leave the gym.

then the distinguished guests, then the 3rd year teachers and then the rest of the teachers...


this is a japanese junior highschool graduation.

Comments

Pura said…
a letter two weeks ago and two days later it was "mailed" back to me, I hate it when people can't read the mailing address, even when it say to:
Miss you, we should talk soon.
5:48 PM
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