Going to Branden's high school orientation...

I have been very vocal on my blog and informative about our JHS in Japan experience. And I have received 2 emails from foreign mom's over spring break because their kids will be starting JHS in Japan tomorrow. And they had a couple questions. And good thing they did have my email address beforehand. But I do like to help out, if I can. And while I did answer their questions. I will be writing a few posts regarding my thoughts regarding JHS in Japan... as an American mom who has experienced the entire JHS experience from start to finish...meaning all the way through having a child graduate from a Japanese JHS. So having gone through it and having experienced it first hand. I will be posting quite a few posts about that topic soon. However.... just like I shared our yochien experiences. Elementary school experiences and JHS experiences. I will now begin to write about our journey into high school in Japan too. So that will be the focus of today's post. Again and although it should not need to be said...again these are *our* family's experiences. you may have different feelings and experiences then we do and if you do fantastic and wonderful. However as this is *my* blog....these are our experiences. So please respect that too.

March 18th was Branden's high school orientation. Branden's high school is broken up in 3 sections. There is general studies. These are just "regular kids" in the regular courses. Then there is a course for the super smart and we nicknamed their course "the genius course." So only the smartest of the smart can enter the genius course. And then we have the English course. And only kids with the highest level of English will be allowed or admitted into this particular school's English course. For the English course... there is no ALT (assisted language teacher) The white teachers here are not assisted by a Japanese translator helper teacher. The white teachers are their main teachers. Even their gym teacher is white. So the English course kids, are in their own part of the school in an English bubble. The genius kids are off doing genius-y things in their part of the school. And then there are just the regular kids and they're around their part/wing of the school.

There are no boys....zero boys allowed in the regular course. The only boys that are allowed in this school. Are boys that meet the requirements for the English course or the genius course. We liked this fact... very much. Because if general or regular boys were allowed here...then there would probably be a billion boys attending this school. This school only allows genius boys in here or English speaking boys in here. So...in a nutshell. They only want *good* boys here. No Shady Mc Shady boys are allowed here. For the freshman 2017. Branden's year. There is only 1 genius boy entering this school this year. And there is only 3 English course boys entering the school this year. Branden being 1 of the 3. So, in a nutshell. The entire school all 3 grades only has about maybe 15-20 boys total. In the entire school. And they're all either very studious (the genius course kids). Or very English-y. So no riff raff boys. No bully boys. It's also an *extremely* expensive school. Branden's first year of high school will cost Noboru US $15,000 the first year. About $8-10 thousand the second year and a little less the final year.  High schools here start from the 10th grade and go all the way up to the 12 grade. So...the sheer cost of this school also means. Only upper middle class kids/wealthy-ish kids will be attending this school obviously. So no riff raff here at all. And probably just 15 boys total for the entire school which is nice. It's basically...what we in America would call a prep school. It's extremely fancy shmancy. In Japan there are public high schools, I have mentioned this before and they are rated and ranked by smartest all the way to the dumbest (eek sorry) it's all available online. There is an actual website that shows the worst high school in Chiba prefecture... all the way up to the best public high school in Chiba prefecture. And then there is also private high schools. Private high schools can range from cheap in price private high schools. All the way to the very *very* expensive and fancy private high schools. It just depends on what you are looking for. Branden will be going to college in America. So for us...we wanted the absolute best English program there is. So that's why we picked the school we picked. We also liked the fact that there are so few boys. That means we won't have to worry about possible bullying. Not that we worry too much anyways...because #1 Branden is nice and gets along with everyone.. but also because Branden is huge! So bullying has just never been a problem for us. So yep...only 4 boys entering our high school this year and only 3 will be English boys. LOL. So back to the orientation. March 18th.

The note said...only bring 1 parent. However...we came all 4 of us. And I wasn't worried But Noboru who always obeys the rules. Was nervous about it. However...honestly? About half the kids brought both parents and there were many younger siblings there too. As in extremely loud 2nd or 3rd graders running all over the place, type kids. @_@ lol. Noah is quiet and well behaved, so he just quietly sat. Good boy that he is. : ) #1 go early. I am always early. Noboru is always 5 minutes late or right on time. This drives me absolutely bananas. Started at 9. We walked into the gym at 8:20am and Noboru was like...omg we're so early...we look like freaks. And ummm there were about a good 10 people/families in front of us. And I turned around and whispered..."hmm seems we're right on time"...the guy opened the doors immediately. And I had the entire family bring inside shoes or slippers. Branden wore his JHS inside shoes so did the rest of the new kids. And Noah brought his from shogakko. And I brought my slippers. We went to the wall/board of names and it told us which table to go to. He went to the far right table and gave his student number. And they obviously made a stamp in his name already because his pamphlet had his name on it. And the lady showed us to seat #1. The parent must sit on a specific side of the child in the gym.

Oh....the paper we got in the mail... also said. Make sure your child knows his own size of shoes and his own size of gym uniform. @_@ This was a little scary for me...because I *always* take my kids to buy their uniforms.... always have always will. I even went with Branden to buy his high school uniform at the department store. So...the note saying make sure your child knows his own sizes. Made me wonder...will us parents not be allowed to decide? I mean...it's not that I am overly pampering at all. Don't get it twisted. It's just....do you have any freaking idea how damn expensive uniforms in Japan are??? Hello??? And add the fact that this high school is...fancy Italian designer *everything* not brand X. So it's even quadruple more expensive. So...umm. #worries. #momisgonnahaveaheartattack, #letmomspickthesizes, #weknowbest. So we waited until everyone sat down. Noboru whispered to me...and btw he is the loudest whisperer on the planet. So he loud whispered...THIS IS THE ENGLISH SECTION!!! @_@ Bless his heart.

The guy, head teacher? I don't know anyone here at this new school yet. Goes up and talks for a bit. About 20 minutes. And then he says...the JHS kids will leave now and go and pick out their own shoes and gym uniforms. I had meanwhile been regular whispering the 30 or so minutes before it all began when we had to wait..."Branden remember...whatever you do don't pick shoes freakishly too big...but also don't pick too small either...you don't want deformed toes." @_@ Yes I said that, lol. I then added..."now you know you're about a 28cm but...some shoes run small and some can run big. So start at a 28cm as your starting point and then go from there." I then said..."don't pick a too small gym uniform either. I'd like you to wear it a full 12 months. If you get it just fit...it won't last the summer." He's all..."okay mom. I know. Don't worry. Okay okay." : ) Yes...ya'll know I am a worry wart. Nothing new here. : ) I literally also thought...should I go with him, even though parents aren't allowed.. to try on his outfit? Then I said...hell to the no! We would be famous and I mean in a bad way. Nope, no way. I will *not* do that to my son. So...I let my son go off and buy 3 pairs of extremely insanely expensive shoes without me. For a person who wants to handle everything herself, this drove me bonkers. And 1 gym uniform. @_@ And 1 school bag. And yes...in Japan...in yochien my kids had 2 pair of shoes. 1 for outside for their private yochien and 1 for inside. But...I have *never* seen a school in my entire life...need 3 pair of shoes!!! OMG. Super fancy shoes. So the JHS kids...or I guess future new 10th graders...future high shcoolers were gone for about a solid hour. And we meanwhile...went page by page...about the rules...and dos and don't. It was so boring. And because I was sitting in the first row...I had to look wide awake and flip pages and the whole shebang. Then the kids came back. I was so happy to see Branden. You would have thought he was gone for years. He gave me his order form. Which I read immediately. I asked him...did you pick the right shoes? Did you pick the right gym shirt? How was the sizing? He said...since there was just 4 of us boys. We all went to a classroom to try on our boy stuff. And the girls...there's so many girls they took the longest in a different part of the school. He also said...1 of the boys picked a gym uniform in size small. And the other 2 picked gym uniforms in size medium. Branden picked his gym stuff in size LL (fwiw that's just an American sized large, but a Japanese sized extra large, but the size is the same, Japanese sizes run small). And no... he's most certainly NOT fat...but he's no toothpick like Noah is. Bran was chubby as a 5th grader in elementary school... but that's because he was ready for height. He also said...the boys all picked shoes in 24 and 25cm. And Branden asked for a 28cm shoe...and they had none...so the 2 teachers had to run to the storage room to find a 28cm. @_@ umm apparently no boy... in this school has big feet or what? They did find a pair and so with the trial shoe...he found his sizes and then ordered what he had to order. He said...my shoes took the longest...all the boys had to wait. And...the Japanese teacher helping Branden is of course... way tinier and shorter than Branden. Hmm, in fact Branden is also taller then 2 of the English teachers too... but there is 1 extremely tall English teacher and that's the super nice head teacher and he's about 6 foot 5. So anyways about shoes and stuff...poor Branden....but...he did find his right stuff and it has all been ordered. Also...in JHS...we could use any bag we wanted. But at this high school. all bags must be bought at the school and they must all be the same. Same for the gym shoes...inside shoes and outside school shoes. @_@ Everything must be the same. @_@

So the kids were now back inside the gym. And we again listened to the endless speeches. This was about an hour and a half by the way. And then...the guy said...all English students and English parents please get up and go upstairs...there is a special meeting for you parents and a special meeting for you English kids. All the other kids and parents stared at us all... super hard. It's a little nerve racking when you see about 200 faces all staring. You just smile and push forward. So we went upstairs. And the English kids went into their English classroom with their American and Canadian teachers. And we English parents went into a separate room. They forced all us parents to buy our kids a lap top computer. There were order forms on each table. Noboru was annoyed and loud whispering. Its' practically normal speaking which is why I am using all caps. So he loud whispers. "THIS IS CRAP...WE ARE FORCED TO BUY THE MODEL THEY WANT? WHY CAN'T I BUY ONE ONLINE THAT'S NEWER AND BETTER AND FOR A BETTER PRICE?" People are turning around. Wondering who is speaking. I'm just beet red. Hahaha. Did I agree with Noboru? Yes. But did he have to loud whisper it inside the classroom? I mean hello...these parents obviously freaking love and respect English otherwise they would *not* be sending their kids to this absurdly expensive fancy English program in the first place. And ummm more than likely most people in this class understand exactly what we are saying. @_@ So there! I said not one word. Except for a soft..."well, if they say the kids need one...we wouldn't want Branden to be the 1 lone kid without one, would we?"...my sentence was so quiet that Noah didn't even hear the whole sentence. Then Noboru loud whispers again...YES I KNOW AND I WILL BUY IT... BUT THEY"RE SCAMMING US ALL...I JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW. I softly say...Honey I now think everyone knows how you feel now. Let's just talk about it in the car. : ) I mean der...do you want to give the folks in your kids future class...this first impression? I mean...omg. : )

By the way...if it wasn't obvious...the most expensive course for this school, is the English course. No other course...not even the genius course gets a lap top.

So...we now leave the parent room... where we were all just forced to order the lap top. And I am meanwhile people watching. Parent watching. Looking around the classroom. Oh and also...1 other father was having a fit about the lap top too. And lucky for us we were sitting at the back of the classroom. My observations. These parents look super uber fancy. And while we do have a fantastic income and all. I am really not fancy shamancy at all. I mean like *at all* EXAMPLE... If there is 1 girl who likes to show off...look how expensive my coat is or look how expensive my bag is. I'm the total opposite. I like to show off how *cheap* or how *discounted* I got my plaid bag for (30% off btw, haha). Or what a good sale I got. I'm also obsessed with Target. I now live in very rural Japan. Where I  legit... pass cows daily. I see clumps of dirt on the street because of the farmer trucks driving down the regular roads. Meanwhile at this high school...everyone has designer bags. One lady is legit wearing a fur coat I catch this as she's ordering her child's lap top. Everyone has this air of snooty-ness. Hmm. I hope I change my opinion. But that's my opinion as of March 18th. @_@  Oh...what was I wearing? I wore really cute jean gauchos, like super wide leg capris...and black tights under my jean gauchos. A super tight fitting ballet neck top and a black cardigan and a Burberry scarf. However I have had said scarf for a billion years. I was wearing a ballet pair of inside slippers. I'm wearing minimal makeup. My eyebrows were on fleek though. And a MLBB lipstick.

When we exited the parent room. We were to stand there and wait for our kids. To my utter complete shock and surprise. Here comes Branden and a new friend. A boy from the English course. The shocking thing for me was....I see 2 boys walking and talking in English with one another. At the same fast speeds, I speak to my kids and they speak back to me. They are both speaking to each other. As fast as you'd see 2 native English speakers speaking to one another. And then Branden walks to me and turns to his new friends and says..."catch you later"....and the boy says..."alrighty see you" I am now waiting for Rod Serling from the Twilight Zone to enter. Because I know...I must have just entered the Twilight Zone.

I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor. And we are walking down the stairs. To leave the building.

So when we were buying the lap tops. Which the kids will get on the first day. The kids were seeing each other for the very first time. Also...omg I forgot this too. One of Branden's yochien classmates will also go to this English course. And her older sister is currently in the English course but is 1 grade older then B and the girl from his yochien. Branden does Line her sometimes...because there is a special LINE group for kids from Branden's yochien year. And then Bran is in a LINE for his JHS too. So he does know 1 person. And she is luckily a girl since this school has tons of girls, it will be nice to know at least 1 girl.

Since March 18th, when the English kids were in the class together. They all made a freshman English course LINE group already.

Also apparently there is a LINE group just for the boys all high school wide, which is just for genius boys or English boys. All 12 or so of them. And because Branden is friends with his former yochien classmate. Her older sister knows some other boys And so they Lined their Line codes and invited Branden into the boys only Line group too. Thank goodness she has an older sister. They live in the small city nearest our town. So Bran is in the English high school Line group and is also in the boys only high school Line group too. It's greatly matters who you know. Who is connected to who. Word of mouth. Again...all this stuff is happening because the kids now days network for themselves.

Anyways....Today, Noah started his first day as a 6th grader. It was just a half day today. Tomorrow Noah has a full day. And Noah's new teacher this year is the same exact man teacher... he has had for the last 2 years. So Noah will have had this teacher for 3 years straight. LOL.

Branden does not start school until next week. But tomorrow we have Branden's entrance ceremony into high school. So I'll be wearing a ceremony outfit tomorrow. I hate having to dress up, but I will. Noboru will be in his entrance outfit too. Because Noah will be at school tomorrow. We will have to take the highway there and back. To make sure we make it back to our tiny town by the time Noah gets out at 2:50pm tomorrow. We will be going out for a celebration dinner tomorrow night to celebrate Bran officially entering high school.  You know...I have said it a billion times. Japanese JHS sucks!!! There's no way to pretty that fact up. It's true. It's study study. They try their best to turn you into a borg! A mindless robot. But the silver lining is high school in Japan!!! High school in Japan is going to rock so much!!!

Branden spent 9 years from 1st grade through middle school. Where kids thought speaking English was not interesting. English? So what!!! Who cares. Not important. I always told him. I know how important English is!!! Everyone world wide *knows* how important English is. Your classmates might not care about English, in a rural farming town of 5000 residents. But believe me...you will thank me in the end!!! And now he's in a high school....where speaking English is....encouraged. Speaking English is seen as beautiful. Speaking English is a wonderful thing. Speaking English is a plus *not* a minus. Speaking English is an advantage never a disadvantage. He is now in an environment where people say...sugoi. Meaning...wow wonderful. You speak English. And my kid can finally flourish. And grow and just bloom. Branden is blooming and he's shining. And IF you have a hafu in Japan who grew up going to regular schools and your kid also is a native English speaker... then you will understand what a beautiful thing to go to a school where they celebrate speaking English. Because believe me. Speaking English has never been a disadvantage (us parents knew this all along). It has always been his strength and his advantage. So...yes. Just get through JHS in Japan. The best you can. High school will be better, I promise. If we are still living in Japan, when Noah is high school aged, Noah will attend this high school too.

As we were waiting for Noboru to come out of the restroom at the high school and after the boy and his dad greeted us and left. Branden's future classmates....were passing us and 1 girl in particular she and her mom...the lady in the fur coat...anyway her daughter pointed and said in Japanese to her mom..."look that's the cool boy, who speaks English (she meant Bran) and look at his foreign mom (me) and his little brother, aren't they so cool?" And fur coat mom said genuinely..."wow they are very cool" ....Seriously ya'll? Coming from rural Japan. Where I wear an apron sometimes when I pick up Noah from school. Because most mom's do too. And we're not about putting on airs in the countryside. It's not uncommon to see 5 or 6 little white K farmer trucks pick up grandkids or kids. For folks to come pick up their kids wearing muddy rain boots to pick up their kids (protection from wet rice fields and snakes too.)  I was actually thinking...do they seriously think we're cool? Us? Like seriously, us? My kids don't even think I'm cool! Ha! : )  So anyways...that's it for now regarding high school orientation. Tomorrow is the entrance ceremony. I'm not nervous or scared at all. I'm just happy for my son. Excited for the years of fun he will be having. High school is going to be a blast for him. So, I am just so happy for Branden. Sorry if this post is a mile long. Sorry if my picture I drew sucked, again I'm not a professional artist or anything. anyway...that's enough for now. : )

Branden's celebration dinner...

Preparing for Branden's high school entrance exam. That already happened and he got in, but I think for those of you with younger kiddos than Branden, this information could be useful. In Japan kids are only guaranteed an education until the end of middle school. High school is much like university or college in the US, in the fact you must apply and the schools decides if they want to accept you or not. This is an *extremely* stressful time for JHS kids in Japan. I once read one time... on a blog by a foreign mom that she thought Japanese JHS was "soul sucking" You know meaning...sucks the life right out of you. And I would have to say, I agree with that statement 100%. Also know there are private high schools and public high schools. Also in Japan high schools are ranked. There are actual websites for Chiba prefecture at least... that show, this school is the #1 ranked best high school with the smartest kids and test scores. All the way down to the worst high school with the worst test scores in all of Chiba prefecture. I am sure other prefectures have such an online list too. So public school or private school really depends on...is it a good school? Are there goods kids going there or bad kids? Horrible test scores? Best test scores? There are also high schools that steer your kid a certain way. Meaning there is a baking high school in Chiba because my friends daughter went there. The "Professor" for example is going to a science type of high school that will be focusing on science and that is because he wants to be a doctor and most super smart kids... hoping to be doctors in the future who live in Chiba will want or aim for that school. It really just depends on your kid. Your kids test scores. We're lucky in the fact that we live bordering Chiba and Ibaraki. And because Bran has a...what in Japan considers a "special skill" meaning his English is good enough to be in the English program. So he can go to a school....even out of his prefecture. So his choices were between 2 prefectures. And from there... we just researched which high school focusing on English was the best. Nicest teachers. Seems fun. High test scores. Meaning good kids. We don't want Bran in a school of thugs, iykwim. So we found a very nice ranked school. And it met all our requirements. Also another factor is cost. Public high schools are free for the most part and private school costs. And it can be a bargain cheaper private school... all the way to a fancy private school. So cost is also a factor too. And like I said... there are study books for each school. We bought ours.. for the school Bran was aiming for... from Amazon.jp. But they're also at local bookstores too. For example...if your kid is hoping to get into John F Kennedy high school...just for example. There will be an actual JFK high school book with all the entrance exam test questions for the last 5-6 years. That is SUPER helpful because it helped Branden know...and us know...the school seems to always ask math questions like THIS. Or this school seems to always ask English questions like THAT. This helps you prepare! You could see some sort of pattern after a while. And Branden would go through that booklet and test himself and Noboru would mix up year 26 and 27 (Japanese years) and Branden would answer them. And if Branden got 1 wrong Noboru would go through it with Branden. So while I am not an advice giver usually. I would say...buy the study book for whatever school your kid hopes to get into. Also interview...everyone gets an interview. Even with a principal recommendation they still had an interview. The positive is...there are also interview books to buy specially for JHS kids about to take their entrance into high school. This was so helpful. Noboru told Branden...those poor interviewers are probably so sick of the same...robotic answers! Word for word... from these interview books. So he said...study the books be prepared for the question yes *but*...give an original answer! Be an original. Give an answer they haven't heard for that day 9 thousand times already! And I agreed. So Branden went and knew every question...possible question and he knew his own original answer... for every question. Also last year 1 girl from our JHS took the test for Bran's high school and she got in, she will be an 11th grader when Bran starts. Our JHS had her write down all the questions she got during her interview. And they also photo copied her test questions from last year (they did block out her name for her privacy). Our JHS gave a photo copy to Branden since he was trying for the same school except 1 year after. And they did the same for Bran too. They had Bran bring his year 2017 test questions in for the entrance exam, which they photo copied and they had Branden write down his 3 questions that this specific high school asked of him. And then whoever...in the future tries for this high school they will be getting Branden's photo copy of test questions. And interview questions. It's just our JHS tries to help this way, which is so nice. The high school before the entrance exam day...sent us and everyone a letter... it said what to bring. It said...bring a few HB pencils. Same for us in America they won't let us take exams without a #2 pencil because the machines won't read them otherwise. And the note said to bring an eraser and pencil sharpener and a watch. The note also said to bring your own obento/lunch. There would be none offered and the drink machines would be turned off... so to bring your own drink too. I bought the HB pencils from Yacs drugstore. And the rest of the things came from the Daiso. Because Branden uses mechanical pencils... for regular school life. We also dry cleaned his JHS uniform during winter break. And I also bought a lint brush for 100 yen from the Daiso. So he could de-lint the morning of test day.  

He has his regular Mono eraser, this brand is so popular for kids in Japan. But, I also bought some mini Mono erasers too before his big test. I guess I kept thinking, what if he lost one on test day? Also, our JHS said to not have name stickers on anything during the entrance exam because they (the test guards/officials) could wonder what the sticker says and even if they went to look and it's nothing it could look bad. So our particular JHS urged no name stickers on entrance exam test day. So, I made sure to send Bran with these 3 pencils, I also threw in an extra of Noah's pencils (a Qoo one)...so Bran took 4 HB pencils. 3 Mono erasers. I put pencil caps on the pencils and the pencils were sharpened by our big sharpener at home. But he did take the mini one in case the lead broke. Branden has a GAP watch. Noah has a cool orange watch. And I would have been happy to lend him my Rolex. He's mine son so of course I would lend it to him. But...I figured for the test...it's best to send him with a plain black Daiso cheapie. Therefore nobody has to wonder...if the GAP logo is some sort of hidden math formula or anything... plus his GAP watch has a beetle design and it could make someone come and look and I didn't want that, so plain was best. Yes he'll probably never use the plain black test watch again... but it suited the day of the test and that's all what matters. 

JHS belts are best to buy at Pasceos. They are usually 980 yen. I bought Branden a new belt from there... every April, start of the new school year. However...his belt looked like it could use a replacing...and given the entrance exam was such a huge day. I went back to Pasceos right after New year's and was shocked to see it... THIS cheap. 980 yen. Yep, a fair cheap price for a school belt. But 499 yen? Holy smokes what a great deal. The belts and the whole store was on a huge New year's sale. And I was happy to score such a fantastic bargain. 

One nice new black belt. And he was ready. 

The day before Bran's exam his teacher gave the kids testing first.... some "good luck on your entrance exams" Kit Kats. I am quite fond of Branden's JHS teacher. I think she is amazing! Best teacher ever ever ever!!! But this...just made Branden so happy and me too. I thought...what a kind gesture. And she did that.. too for the larger group testing later in the week too. She is very thoughtful. Anyways....being American and having only ever gone to school in America, my experiences are American experiences. However having 2 kids in Japan. I can say...I find Japanese yochien very fun for kids and for me too. I enjoyed meeting "mom friends" and I have them as friends even to this day. Best nicest ladies ever. I find Japanese elementary school really nice too. My kids loved Japanese elementary school. Our elementary school in particular is so fun. They cook. They sew. They go on many field trips. They go hunting crawdads/crayfish. They collect pine cones in winter and make Christmas trees out of them and paint and decorate them. They decorate Christmas cake. And do all sorts of fun stuff. In fact Noah is on a class field trip right now as I type this. I found Japanese JHS on the other hand...*extremely* stressful for my son. He studied every second of his life while being in JHS. And that final 9th grade year. He studied more his 9th grade year... then he studied in the 7th and 8th grade combined. And that says a lot... because he studied tons in 7th and 8th grade too. And I hear this high school we picked is FUN. The 12th graders right now...50% of the current 12th graders are...either hafu, total foreigners, returnees (Japanese who lived in an English speaking country longer than 3 years)...Branden is going to enjoy going to this high school because he will be going to a good school with such an open minded diverse bunch of kids. So Branden's high school years are going to be fun. He's so lucky. 

How do you know if you made it? It seems the norm for all the different high schools Bran's classmates applied for...you will find out in 2 days. And how you will know... depends on the school. The "Professor's" school he applied for..he could find out via online. And our school. Bran applied for, they would mail the acceptance letter to our house and they would also mail something to the Junior high school too. However, Branden knew before I did. The high school Bran will be going to...called Bran's JHS and told them...he got in... when Bran was in 2nd period. They called Bran out of class and told him. But they said not to tell anyone. But he was beaming all day. I didn't know until the letter reached my house. And I did make this sign. Yes...meaning... yes you got in! I had it in my car. I was so excited. 

I was trying to read a magazine but I was too excited...so I kept reading the same crazy sentence again and again. Until I just put my magazine away. 

If other kids would have been walking, I would have kept the sign on the seat as to keep it on the down low...and not show other folks. But as luck would have it...Branden came out about 10 minutes earlier than the rest...he and the professor but the professor goes another route and wasn't near where I was parked and...nobody else was walking at all. So, I placed it in my front window. And he already knew but he smiled. And he said..."I knew since this morning." He also said..."thanks for the sign." : ) Awww. Love you kid! To the moon and back! : ) So proud of you! Phew...now Branden honestly doesn't have anything to do from now until graduation the first week of March. And as soon as he graduates first week of March... he won't have a thing to do again until high school starts in April. So from now...until graduation he is basically free. He has no homework or anything to do. He's just going to school and having fun now. He's free. : ) 

We took Branden out to dinner to celebrate of course! Getting into high school in Japan is such a major big deal! It's huge! So going out to dinner was totally in order! : ) We took Branden out to Caprcciosa for his celebration dinner in Narita City. Great big rice croquette with cheese inside. 

Their pizza is spectacular! Especially drizzled with that amazing chili oil. 

Bran eating some rice croquette. When you find out your child just got into high school in Japan! Needless to say...we had the happiest dinner of our lives! Hahaha. : ) Like all the stress completely gone! All the worry disappeared! Studying your brains out... totally done and over with! Like this huge weight just lifted. 

Spicy garlic tomato pasta. We ordered 2 large sizes of the pasta and we ordered 2 pizzas. We live a happy and good life around here. We enjoy going to restaurants twice a month or on birthdays or on celebration days like...your kid just got accepted to high school. You know...events like that. You know...like most normal people do! : ) A definite reason to celebrate. : ) 

The 2nd pizza they brought out. This one was beautiful and had basil nicely all around this one. Very pretty. 

So how are things right now? The school year for us in Japan is starting to wind down. It ends in March. Umm. Bran is just enjoying some down time..first time in 3 long years. So, I think he's earned it. : ) I think he said that he will start hitting the books in March to prepare for high school though. : )  We will be buying and ordering his high school uniform soon. As for Noah, he has another what...month and a half of being a 5th grader. He's doing so well in school. He plays with friends on his free time or over the weekend. : ) The weather here has been windy and bitterly cold. We did get snow the other day, but it only snowed for about 30 minutes before turning into the coldest chunky rain...followed by just regular rain after that. So we've just been staying home all nice and warm and toasty in the house. Today, Noah is on a class field trip. The bus will drop the kids who live in our housing community off first....and then make 2 extra pit stops along the way, until reaching the school. So if you live at one those places/drop off main spots....then you will be getting dropped off there, otherwise you can just get dropped off at school. Noah will arrive at our housing community at 5pm. And Bran meanwhile gets home at 4pm today and I will swing around and pick him up. I have a delicious hearty pork curry bubbling away on the stove as I type. I am making curry rice and also will make a side of pasta. The kids aren't too crazy about curry rice. But *love* curry spaghetti. Noboru loves curry rice. And so....I just make a huge pot of curry and rice and pasta on the side so whoever wants what...can have either way. Alright so....my treadmill is calling me, so I better end this post here. : )