A thin line

A good friend sent me an email yesterday morning telling of some terrible and sad news. Three students at the school I taught at before coming to Japan had recently been shot in their home. Their mother and older sister died, and a two-year-old boy was shot, as well. I did not know any of the children personally, but I remember one of the boys because he was in the same grade I taught (2nd grade). I know he had a lot of problems then; his mother was often in the school to help. And now she is dead. I cannot imagine what those children and that family and school is going through. My heart is grieving with them. How on earth would you go about telling your class that one of its students had been shot and was in the hospital? Those are the kinds of things you don't learn in college.

Many things have happened recently that remind me of just how thin the line is between life and death. The second week of January I walked into a junior high ichi-nensai classroom where one of its students had just died two days prior in a car accident. Wow, that was a sobering experience. The class was as quiet as a mouse. The desk where the girl used to sit seemed to be the most empty desk I have ever seen, and on top of her desk sat a simple flower arrangement in her memory. It is really easy to say things like, "Life is precious" or "Life is short" la la la. But situations like walking in that ichi-nensai classroom and the shooting have a way of hitting you in the face and making you all the more aware of the truth of those cliche sayings.

On a different note, today was a lovely day at elementary school. I go to this school once a month. Today was my last day of the school year, and I received many presents. This school has a really intelligent and capable faculty. It is a joy and pleasure to come there. Thanks to the kids and teachers today for keeping my mind off the shooting.

1st and 2nd grade.


3rd and 4th grade


This was taken three weeks ago at the same school. It is my only kindergarten class. They are super genki and attentive and have the most beautiful pronunciation. Next time I see them they will be first graders. What an exciting time in their young lives!