misumi visit

this morning was my first visit to kindergarten. i walked in to see the precious children all wet and with swim caps. it quite possibly was one of the cutest things i have ever seen. then i met with the kind principal who was overly concerned with me being able to experience, see and eat my way across japan- why cant my junior high have that same mindset? then it was time to start, in the back classroom were seven very nervous children sitting in a straight line. i was told one child was hyperventilating with the thought of my coming and could not calm down all morning. i am still trying to process exactly how i feel about that, regardless she was smiley by the end of our eigo hour. we practiced colors, numbers 1-7, danced, danced, danced, danced, danced, danced, danced, and i sang. after class the students went to "shower" before lunch. the "shower" consisted of the teacher spraying them with the water hose. at lunch the students were seated ever so cutely. the youngest at one to the oldest at four. the three two year olds were extremely distracted by my being there and could not stop staring and making strange noises. they did however ask me back! most of the students who were not in eigo hour were still weary of my presence and couldnt bring themselves to come close to me. it was really interesting. i cant imagine how strange it really must be for them to encounter a gaijin for the first time. it is something as an american i can not fathom. we are exposed to so much diversity that it seems almost wrong for them to be afraid of me, but it is all they know-- which hopefully will change in the future and from being here i can say there is a large chance they may always dislike foreigners. that is why i am here, to internationalize and broaden views and mine in exchange are broadening. there is so much to learn about japan.

tomorrow i will visit another kindergarten. this time with forty students in eigo hour. i think it will be a bit overwhelming but nonetheless fun! then it is off to tokyo for the summer sonic music festival and back to kumamoto on monday.