How is American middle school and high school going?

One of the most common questions that I get from absolutely everyone is, "how are both Branden and Noah doing in school, now that they're here in the United States?" My Japanese friends back in Japan want to know. My "fellow foreign mom friends" back in Japan are wanting to know too and will email me and stuff with questions. Long time blog readers who still remember how to get a hold of me before my email address changed... but if you and I emailed/talked often then you were most likely one... who got my new email before it changed, so the handful or two of you who have my new email... have also...sent me a message and asked, "how are the kids doing in school?" My family in Colorado are curious and even Noboru's family is curious too. I usually just keep it short and say "they're doing great" and leave it at that. But, I do also understand most of you have literally watched the boys grow up. And so, I'll be a little more detailed about it in this post. That way you all can just read it here. Then you will be all caught up and know. : ) I snapped this picture  May 4th, 2018. I receive emails from both Noah's middle school and Bran's high school here in the US, the same way I used to get the school emails in Japan too. That way any events that happen, I'll know immediately and I can make sure that I'm there. That, I show up. For any event, I will 100% be there. On a Thursday, I got an email inviting all us mom's of this middle school to attend and enjoy coffee and donuts with your middle schooler. It landed on a Monday. This was Noah's first event and he was a little nervous and truthfully, I was a little bit nervous too back in May 2018. But, rain or shine. Come heck or highwater, I will be there. And so I woke up, showered at 5:30am that Monday morning. Put my makeup on, did my hair. Got dressed by 6:20am. And we were both there by the 7am,  donut start time. Krispy Kreme donuts and Starbucks coffee. Kids were given milk. All for free, I might add. I gave Noah, my donut because it was just too darn early for me to eat anything. Coffee on the other hand, I am always ready for. So, I enjoyed a hot cup of coffee. Spoke with Noah's teacher. Another school person came around and took our picture. It was just from 7am until 7:30am. I'm so glad, I showed up.  I will *always* be there to support both my kids. 

This picture was taken at B's high school. After we got back from Japan, we had to be at B's school twice. Once for schedule pick up and school pictures were taken the same day. About half of the kids brought their parents. Which made me glad I showed up. Plus, I had to pay for the pictures and pay some yearly school fees anyways. Noah went with us. And like 2 days later, we 3 needed to go back to B's school yet again. Notice Branden's school is so brand new looking and nice and modern.

This day also at Bran's school, this was a "parent meeting" a mass meeting held in this auditorium, kids were invited too. And this was also the day your high schooler picked up their laptops/Chromebooks. Also, important to note. In May/June. The wrestling coach wanted Branden on their team, he had spotted Branden in a gym class wrestling around with his friends before class started and he thought Branden would be a perfect fit for that. However Bran, was also considering joining the boys swim team too for the new school year, Fall semester. I told Branden he can join whatever he likes, as long as his grades stay strong. He has since joined the swimming team for his high school. Not the wrestling team, sorry wrestling team. I think it's a good idea he chose swimming, because both my kids have been swimming since they were age 3 (Noah) and 4 (Bran). So, they've swam forever. I did tell Branden it would be a great idea for him to join student council/leadership his senior year. And he agrees. Because I personally was in student council all 4 years in high school and I also was a cheerleader in high school. So, American high school stuff, I know.  

We also had to go to Noah's middle school twice too. Once to pick up Noah's class schedule and for him to take his school picture. And once for an evening "ice cream" and Open House night that followed. I snapped this picture of Noah around 4:50pm, the evening of the ice cream party and open school. School lets out at 2:25pm 4 days a week. 1:25pm Fridays. And the icecream party started at 5pm. This gave us time to go home, I made dinner. And then we went back to the school for ice cream and the Open School.  

Inside Noah's middle school. Such a fantastic middle school. 

There were so many huge variety boxes of ice cream from Costco. Noah had 2 ice creams. And Bran had 1 ice cream. I had no ice cream. I just didn't want any. : ) After that, we 3 went from class to class, following Noah's daily schedule and each class lasted 10 minutes and we heard from each teacher and what the kids will be learning this year. Again, I firmly believe... it is so important for the teachers to see firsthand which kids parents are active participants at the school. In one class there was only 2 families present. Us and another family. And in English class there were just 3 families, us being one of them. And in science class... a ton of families showed up. And in gym class a huge amount of families showed up. In math class about 6 families showed up. Etc. It varied.

These are Branden's grades and classes he's taking this semester, as of right this second. Branden, has straight A's. He currently has a 4.0 GPA. This is the highest GPA in America to have. I have asked Branden to bring up that Geometry grade from an A- to a A. His dad has mentioned that too. But honestly? His grades have always been straight A's whether he's in Japan or in the U.S.

These are Noah's grades. He has straight A's except 1 B. We are not too thrilled about the B. But having a 3.8 GPA is actually pretty freaking amazing. I did ask Noah to ask his history teacher, for extra credit homework already. She asked Noah why? He said, because my parents watch my grades daily online (you can do this is America now) and they're wanting me to bring up my B to an A. He said, she smiled and said there's still plenty of time to bring up his B to an A between now and December. At least she knows we're watching his progress daily and we care quite a bit about their grades. So in a nutshell how are both Branden and Noah doing in American school? Honestly? They're crushing it! Because my kids are 100% true bilinguals. Native English speakers, same as me. And I sent them to English Kumon since age 3 in Japan, because I wanted them to get English from me at home, plus an outside place too, where they could study English near others studying English and working on the technical stuff too. Plus, I bought those American school...whole year curriculum books from Amazon USA and had them sent to Japan and they did those since kindergarten, all the way until the end of 6th grade. They were cheap in price and useful. Plus I would have THEM read to me daily. Mama (me, I already know how to read) I would have *them* read to me. For practice. So, I always knew they were basically right up to their grade level in the US. And believe me! That didn't happen by osmosis or by itself. Hafu kids being raised in Japan are NOT automatically bilingual. And are not automatically native English speakers. It takes diligent hard work. They (my kids) heard Japanese language the second they left our front door in Japan. So we kept this English insulated bubble inside our house. And that just happened to work for us. You know, I often have had deep discussions with my fellow foreign mom friends, the ones I'm really really close with. The question we have dove into while at Starbucks many of times is.... What qualifies as a true 100% bilingual. Or native English speaker? We all have very different opinions on what *we* feel qualifies. What we would discuss over coffee... is accent. We would have lively fun debates "that if your kids have a thick Japanese accent, can you still be considered a 100% bilingual?" or a native English speaker? I say, absolutely not. But then I'm more so... the honest Simon Cowell or Gordan Ramsay of the group. Having raised 2  100% bilingual kids in Japan, (2 native English speaking kids in Japan) I find I am very opinionated on the subject. I'm not going to "Emperor's New Clothes" anyone. And my group of foreign mom friends were split meaning half said no too, and half said yes.  Again this deep conversations were fun and it was always great to see our respectful but varying opinions. What about "what if you... have to translate English that your friends or family is saying to your hafu child...can you still call them 100% bilingual?" Again, I say, absolutely no way! Nice kids, but 100% bilingual?, I don't think you can call them that. And again, this particular question mostly every person agreed and said no! They would not consider that kid a 100% bilingual either. And most certainly not a native English speaker. It was always nice meeting up throughout the years and chime in and talk about something important to us all. In a supportive manner. And get food for thought, from each other. What, I personally consider 100% bilingual and also a native English speaker... is when an American person who has zero connection to my family (meaning they're not going to say it to be nice)...such as a flight attendant or a person working at Target, can have a 100% conversation with Noah or Branden. And they, meaning the person, can't detect any Japanese accent from my kids... other than a strong American accent. And they don't realize my kids came from Japan. If you can blindfold yourself and hear 3 American teens speaking and not be able to tell *which* kid came from Japan. Then I would consider your kid, a 100%  true bilingual. And also a native English speaker. And if you blindfolded yourself...seriously... you could not tell the difference between *my* kids speaking and any random kid in the U.S. So when I say my kids are true 100% bilinguals, and native English speakers, that's what I mean. The only accents my kids have are American ones. Meaning they can have a 100% fluid conversation with my kids. You don't need to dumb down the conversation for my kids or the vocabulary. To me...that's what I personally consider a true 100% bilingual. And native English speaker. And my kids have always been that. You don't have to dumb down the Japanese or the English. My kids speak Japanese as much as Noboru does and English as much as I do. My kids didn't need to join any ESL class or remedial classes at all, when we moved here. Because of their native English level, they were able to join regular classes according to their grade. Which is kind of really remarkable really, when you think about it. Also if you see the schedule, they don't call English class...English anymore. Like they did in the old days. Doh! They call it Language Arts. And because Noah is a 7th grader, he's in LA 7. And advisory you don't get a grade, you go there, before first period every Friday. 

Here is a pic, that I snapped one morning to send to Noboru on LINE. Just Noah getting his Jansport all packed up before school. Super stylish hair.

An American high school football game, that Branden went to. They're both settling into their American lives really well.

Bran had a hot dog during the game.

This is Branden and V at their high school football game, 2 weeks ago. She is really interested in Japanese. She reads Japanese and speaks Japanese. I'm so impressed. I feel she is a good girl and quite pretty. So how are both my kids doing in school here? They're having zero problems. They have tons of friends. They have excellent grades.They're so truly deeply happy my kids. Branden is about to start driving school soon. This part scares me!!! Ha ha ha! : ) By mid November Branden will be a licensed driver! Yikes!!! LOL. : )

Isn't she pretty? This is V, again. I will be coming back here tomorrow and take down the girls pics. 

Meanwhile, Noah's just barely in middle school. But a group of boys hang out from time to time. His good friends, all made a plan to go and buy a dozen donuts and some drinks and go and kick it...middle school style near the school. Noah asked me 2 days beforehand. He said, "mom can I go?" "I really want to go" LOL. I said, "of course you can go Noah!" And so, he snapped this pic for me, as 2 of the bunch rode their bikes to the donut spot. A few others walked, it's about a 2 minute walk from the school. 

Noah sent me this pic, I blued out his friends face, so this pic can stay. He gets off school at 2:25pm. I told Noah he could stay until 3:20pm. But he messaged me at 3pm and said..."mom please pick me up" LOL. Middle schoolers don't stay out so late! Ha ha ha! A lot of kids in America are drinking this ICE drink. This was Noah's drink.  Bran says his high school friends do too. @_@ I have not drank one yet. They went on a Wednesday to get donuts. Noah was invited 2 days later on Friday to meet up back at the donut place. They made that plan on Wednesday, I told Noah, he could go too. : ) 

This time a girl from the 7th grade joined them too. Hence her pink girly sweatshirt and girly Jansport backpack. : ) And of course a group of boys went too. They went and had some snacks. Hung out for about 30 minutes before they all had to be home. I was there and picked Noah up. : ) So how is Noah doing? Noah's doing so well. He has so many friends, I  told Noah too. I want Noah to join student council next year too. For his final year of middle school. And I want him in student council in high school too and the swim team too, same as his brother. So how are they doing? They fit in extremely well here.

This picture has a sorta funny story. I was in my car picking up Noah one afternoon. And I heard a girl as she was about to get on the yellow school bus..."byyyeee Noah!!!!" And just her stare. Made me think. Does she like my son or what? LOL. Again, my kids are only with me temporarily...until they grow up and leave me after college and jobs. I know that. But yeah...She popped her head out the window and watched Noah get into my car. And then the next day...as Noah was walking to my car...I again see this very pretty slim girl approach Noah and hand him something. He got in my car and I said..."what did she pass you?" He said these fruit snacks. LOL. I asked Noah, "does she have any classes with you?" He said nope. She seems to wait for me sometimes but always tries to talk to me in the halls between classes. @_@ I told Noah, she likes you. Hahaha. 

For Branden's English class, the kids needed to decorate their comp book. He was told on a Friday. And Saturday, we went and found this magazine and Bran decorated it himself. This is the front of his English comp book.

And the back. He got an A on this. : )

On Open School night at Noah's school, the English teacher said she wants her kids to do 10 minutes of quiet reading every Wednesday before class starts. She said this will foster a love of reading for her class. I agree. So, I went to Target with Noah the very next day. We went to the middle school section for books and Noah is now reading the Hunger Games. LOL. : )

Anyways, I am writing this post not to show off. I'm not like that and ya'll know that. It's just since April. I have been asked honestly about 15 different times..."how are my kids doing in school." Just saying..."they're fine." Really isn't saying much. They're both doing *extremely* well. One kid has straight A's, that's Branden. My other kiddo (Noah)... has straight A's with 1 B. And a 3.8 GPA and a 4.0 GPA is actually quite amazing. Considering they have had no schooling in America before that. Socially, they have zero problems, they fit in immediately. They both have tons of friends. Bran's in the swim team. Both kids will be joining student council next year too. Bran is having a hard time deciding between which beautiful blonde he will invite to the homecoming. Noah goes out with friends sometimes after school... because I know friendships are really important. And Branden attends high school football games often. He attends 2 a month. So about half the time. If he's not at a football game, he's out to the movies with friends too. Hanging out with friends at Dairy Queen or wherever. And he's about to start driving school.

Anyway, Noboru has just landed in Sea-Tac. So, he's in America right now. He will be here for 3 long weeks. Until October 16th. Which is so important for us as a family to spend time together.