Boat Rides in Japan

My son and I went to a little island off the coast of Fukuoka the other day. I used to work on this island teaching elementary and JHS students, so I am very familiar with the place. It`s called Himeshima, there is a more popular "Himeshima" elsewhere so don`t get confused. This island is just a small fishing village, basically. Hope you enjoy the video. Some of you might be asked to work in small schools like this one. I had a blast working there!

Tour of a Japanese Junior High School: The Entrance

I think it's about time for me (The Yank) to give you a tour of a Japanese Junior High School.  Over the next few weeks or so, depending on my ability to get good pictures, I will introduce you to a J-JHS. 

This is one of the students entrances. It's the first grade students one. Each grade has their own entrance at  the current school I work at. Japanese JHS's are three grades: first, second, and third.  Where I went to school in the USA we continued the count 7th and 8th and we only had 2 years of Junior High School. Japan starts the count over for both JHS and High Schools. 

The students put their "outside" shoes in spots with their names and the put on their "Uwagutsu" or sometimes they are called "Uwabaki". Basically indoor shoes that are white with an accented color based on their grade. They also write their family name and student number on them. 

For gym class students have another pair of shoes that they only wear in the gym, and of course a PE uniform too. 

Related Japanese Vocabulary:

1st Year Student - Ichi Nen Sei   一年生

2nd Year Student - Ni Nen Sei　二年生

3rd Year Student - San Nen Sei　三年生

Junior High School - Chuu Ga Ko  中学校

Note: I will try to get some pictures of the indoor shoes (Uwagutsu) soon and update the post.