Throwback Thursday. Branden's Elementary School Entrance Ceremony...

Since this is April and for those of us in Japan, we know April means Entrance Ceremony season. : ) I thought April would be a fantastic time to show some Entrance Ceremony's that our kids have had. So I think this month's TBT's should have an entrance ceremony theme. Or "starting school" theme at least. : )  And I think this sounds fun and like a really great idea, especially for those of you, living outside of Japan. Back to the picture. : ) Branden started the first grade in April of 2008. 

Branden now days towers over the kid in the shorts and white socks on the right of Branden. Our right when looking at this picture. The other kid in capris and Branden are pretty much head to head height wise now days and he and Bran are really good friends, the kid in capris. : )  

What did I know about elementary school entrance ceremonies? Not much back then. However from all the shopping malls and suits on kid mannequins. Basically what Noboru said was, every little boy wears a mini version of a "salaryman" suit. Shorts, pants or capris. but think mini "salaryman" suit and you get the idea. I thought that black outfit was really umm. Funeral-y.  Or, I'm not sure how to put it. I didn't really care for it. I wished he would have been able to wear a different color or something. And it turns out for the most part Noboru was right, every boy wore the same boring thing basically. The girls wore really cute different colors and styles of pretty dresses. And then there was Genki. He wore this, this is him from the back. His outfit was so cool. So different. I whispered to Noboru, "I thought you said every boy needed a mini black suit?" He said "they do." I said "apparently not." I said, "I wish I would have known this. I would have dressed Branden differently or at least in a different color." Last thing I said was "Noah's going to wear something different when his time comes, than a boring old black suit." Yep, I was totally in awe of Genki's cool outfit. And the bright side is, I bet he got more than the 1 time only...usage out of it too. : ) 

Noah waiting for the kids to come into the room escorted by a 6th grader. Noah needed to be quiet for the ceremony. Check, he was totally quiet! Good Noah, good good Noah! : ) And yes all the kids were staring, as were all the new first grade parents except Genki's family who knew us already. @_@ OMG! Little story tidbit. The year I first moved to Japan. There was a foreign wife in Japan and was on a group I used to belong to, anyway she was dearly wanting and ready to move back to her home country. I was a Japan newbie. And I had no advice to give, but I have never forgotten her or how nice she was. Her one thing she hated most and why they did move back to her home country the year I moved to Japan... was as a western woman. She could not stand the constant staring. She was shy and the unwanted attention was driving her nuts. Understandably so. Again, I was a newbie. So, never commented on the staring issue, because I had no advice I just moved here. And I at times... years later...every now and then. Think about her, think about how wise she was, she had so much more Japan under her belt at the time, than I did...but yeah..I think of her every now and then fondly...and wonder, how's she's doing. : ) But yes, she is/was totally right. The stares never end, if you are a western woman in Japan. They are just endless. 98% of the time, I don't even notice anymore. But yes, it's never ending. And if you have hafu kids that sort of amplifies the stares to the extreme-o. Especially with Noah who looks super western.   

Hi kiddo. You're doing a good job! Are the kids still staring? Let me see.  Yep, they're still staring. I feel your pain kid...I feel your pain! : (  Oh and that's my MIL right next to Noboru. : )

All family's got a school packet... months before school started of what was needed on the first day of school. With diagrams and drawings. You need 2 cleaning rags that have to hang at the back of your child's chair and they should look like this. You need so many little bags and they will have to hang on the side of their desks. I honestly put more pressure on myself then probably any mother at the entrance ceremony that day. Why? Because if we lived in America, I know how to do things, or at least the playing field is level, since the language there is my native language. Plus I went to school in the US and I know how to handle and do things there. However with living in Japan with  the majority of everyone here being Japanese. My biggest worry and fear is that I'll do something wrong, since I am not from here. Screw something up and my kids will get the short end of the stick for it. Does that make sense? I just don't want a gaggle of Japanese mom's whispering..."oh he didn't bring such and such? Awww that must be because his mom isn't...Japanese." In a "poor kid" sorta tone. Do you feel what I'm saying. So, because that is sort of my biggest fear and worry.....I put more pressure on myself. Huge enormous loads of pressure on myself. I never went to Japanese school. Things that might be obvious to the other mom's in my son's class... might not be obvious to me. You know? So, I tell you...I studied the crap....out of that "everything you need to know before starting the first grade at our school" handbook. I mean I stared and studied and took notes.... on each page. I used color highlighter markers. And when the time came, the day of the entrance ceremony... all us parents went into the classroom and the mothers instinctually knew to put all their kids seat cushions/safety headcovers on the chairs. Slide their trays into their desks, etc etc. And thank the lord, I started to do the same...yay!  So studying endlessly...that crazy booklet, writing notes in English on each page for stuff really important that I needed to remember helped. Because, I started doing Branden's right away. Hanging the handmade bags in their spot on the side of the desk, put his coupy and crayon and scissors and pianica in their spots. Placed everything in it's rightful place. Under the watchful eye of my mother in law and all other mom's in the classroom. I did it. The stress was real people, the stress was real! Hahaha. : ) Again though...I just don't want to mess something up and someone think..."well she's a foreigner what did you expect?" So yes...I put unnecessary amounts of stress on myself. practically "stress heart attack" types of amounts of pressure. Branden had forgotten nothing that day or should I say *I* forgot nothing. He brought everything. Shoot...I even brought 2 extra clips that hang the cleaning rags, in case we lost one along the walk from the car to the school. : ) Yes that is SO me. And seriously...I didn't want to take any chances. : ) Our elementary school gave out free child alarms, pictured on all the desks in this pic. That if you sense trouble you pull it and it emits a screeching high pitch sound. A stranger danger alarm. 

There were 4 other toddler babes same age as Noah, that would eventually become Noah's first grade classmates, in the classroom that day, years down the road. : ) The boy sitting next to Branden that first day would end up becoming one of Branden's closest good friends. They were like best friends all through elementary school. He lives in our housing community however he goes to a different JHS. That is the future "Jimbei boy" hahaha. : ) However at this first meeting. They didn't know each other yet. They weren't friends yet. That year they ended up becoming the very best of friends though. And his mom is "awesome sauce", she's a real cool lady, the Jimbei boy's mom. : ) Noah always wants to be right next to Branden. With Branden around, he always feels really safe and part of the club, as long as his big brother is near. We had Branden's randoseru made especially for him from a company in Chiba. Quilting on the sides and really nice blue and silver stars on the front. Our yochien handed out many randoseru catalogs in Branden's final year of yochien. And that coupled with my amazing good "mama friends" from yochien they told me, everything I ever needed to know about randoseru. All or like 98% the kids at our particular yochien bought "made to order" handmade handsewn... randoseru. They helped me a lot... my kind girl friends. We would look through catalogs when we'd go to our mother's luncheons and so their help with the Japanese backpacks was so nice to have. I was really lucky to have such helpful wonderful good friends from our yochien. And heck, by the time Noah needed one. I knew pretty much everything about that already. Chalk that up to experience. : )

Some family shots! Thank you grandma Mitsuko for coming all the way from Osaka, you rock! : ) Everyone ready for an early lunch? : ) Branden's pick since it was his special day. His entrance ceremony. : ) 

Branden was holding my hand super tightly. : ) Noah and his orange high top Converse. And I love that grandma M is so in love with her grandson... that she can't even take her eyes off him, while walking towards the parking lot. 

Branden picked Coco's. Perhaps he was in love with the drink bar. : ) My mother in law ohhed and awed over Branden and Noah during lunch, she was just so happy being able to spend time with them. And Noboru and I meanwhile were like...phew! Aren't you glad we survived today? Yes...we did it! We were like high 5-ing each other once or twice... during lunch. Huge feelings of relief. Oh and funny thing is....so many other family's were also at the small city... nearest our town eating at Coco's too. Hahaha. Perhaps because our town has no actual restaurants? Hahaha. : )  How was I during Noah's elementary school entrance ceremony? Absolutely zero nervousness or anxiety. I felt calm as a cucumber. I felt really zen that day. Complete calm. Branden's first grade entrance ceremony...I was at...more like an almost stress heart attack, type level, ykwim. Meanwhile, Noah's ichinensei ceremony? Complete serenity. I guess...it's just...after going through it once...the 2nd time.. was honestly no big deal... stress wise... at all. No fear of the unknown... because nothing was...unknown anymore. Does that make sense? : ) Anyway...that was this weeks TBT. Branden's elementary school entrance ceremony. : ) 

Getting ready for the 3rd grade and getting ready for junior high school

At the start of March, we went online and ordered Branden and Noah's name labels. They arrived way before Branden even graduated and Noah went on Spring break, so I was glad to have ordered them when we did. Just name labels for pencils, stapler etc, they came in different sizes.

While picking up socks for the boys, I picked up myself these 6 pair of socks. 

Branden brought home a booklet about junior high at the end of February, it said, what type of shoes to buy, where to write the name on said shoes. What type of socks are acceptable. Our school has a "must cover your ankle" rule for the boys. Your hair must not be longer then your eyebrow, if you are a boy. What bike is allowed. What type of junior high school bag is acceptable, our school rule for bags is nothing too bright or colorful. @.@ Again, we have had many things to read through, many things to learn. So we bought these 2 pack of socks for Branden. The socks on the left will cover his ankle for sure, but do they mean the longer yochien length, sort of like the ones on the right? Again, we have never sent a child to junior high in Japan before, so we are also learning. So we bought both packs and sure, in a month we'll know more and in a years time, we'll be old hats. But for now, again we're still learning, so we bought both lengths. But the bright side is, both do cover the ankle. : )  So 9 packs of socks for Branden for junior high school to start with. Not a bad number.

Under shirts. Last time, I bought Branden undershirts, I bought them at Nishimatsuya and he got Thomas ones and Ultraman ones. lol. Both my boys wore under shirts in yochien because it was expected since it was a yochien uniform, but they haven't worn them in elementary school. Now Branden needs a men's L. Lol, how funny. But again we use the dryer a lot for underwear and stuff like this and so we considered shrinkage of the undershirts too. So 6 undershirts for Branden. Again, not a bad number to start off with. 

The booklet said, all boys must wear a belt. Luckily these are found easily, at just a local country type shopping mall, it says for students and the price was very fair. Around $8.90 US.

Branden's uniform we ordered a while back at elementary school was ready, at the start of March and we went and picked it up. 1 school uniform which consists of 1 pair of winter pants, 1 blazer, 1 tie, the summer uniform pants we'll pick up when it gets warmer. The dress shirts we can buy anywhere we want, which is nice. His inside shoes had to be bought from the local uniform shop. And Branden also got 2 short sleeve gym shirts, 1 gym shorts, 1 long sleeve gym outfit (think sorta like a sweatshirt and sweatpants) with zip-up top. The junior high shoes you wear to and from school, according to our school, must be pure white, as in not 1 dot of color at all on the shoes, we bought Branden's from, ABC Mart. So around 6,000 yen for the inside shoes, 6,000 yen for the white school shoes, that's about $120 US just for the 2 pair of shoes alone.  For all of Branden's uniforms, shoes, gym clothes etc, if I were to guess and I also just asked Noboru, he says the cost for the clothes (uniform and gym clothes, 2 sets of shoes, under shirts, socks etc) and Adidas school bag, about 1 thousand US dollars. Or 100,000 yen for you in Japan. Not counting buying a bike. And if for example you take up Kendo in club that's another 40,000 yen or so on top of that at our local school. So again, maybe someday one of you will have a child entering junior high here and hopefully this information can at least give you a round about idea. Again each school is different, has different costs, different uniforms, I think that goes without saying. But this at least gives you a round about idea at least. Can you imagine having twins, or having kids 1 year apart. Wow, the cost! : )  Anyways....

Us one evening in March going through everything. making sure we had everything before Branden's graduation. Do we have this? Do we have that? Going off the list one by one, another one of us checking it off.  In this pic, you can see the belt, the socks, undershirts. The box on the right is the dress shirts.

My senpai mom friends, who have daughters in junior high school already, kindly told me last summer, to buy Branden's dress shirts form Cecile. I order both Branden and Noah's summer shorts and jeans from there, so I did not forget. They told me, that the quality is great and the prices fair and they have a place for the name tag on the dress shirts. Again, this info I got from them, was priceless. A man's dress shirt for example, wouldn't have a spot for a name tag like these would. So, I made sure to order these for Branden in January from Cecile. 

The one far left has buttons on the collar and the 2 on the right don't. The mom's leaving comments online at Cecile seem to like the ones without collar buttons, so again we have no experience either way, since this is our first time sending a child to junior high here, so we bought 1 with the buttons on the collar to see what we also think and 2 without. 3 dress shirts to start with, and we have a washer and dryer here at home and an iron, lol. And this is just my opinion, but I feel these shirts run a bit on the small side. I ordered these in size 160cm and I can see they won't last, size wise Branden in the Fall for sure, and I hope they last until June or whenever he switches to a short sleeve. Again it could be because Branden is muscular but they seem a bit small. Next ones I order will be in size 170cm for sure. Again, just an info share, if you can use the info great... if not, no worries. I do think these run a tad small though.

His inside shoes are on the left. And his school shoes are the plain Nike ones, on the right. Again, it could be just us, but Branden is a 26cm in shoes, Adidas, sandals, anything. And the inside shoes on the left again 26cm with a bit of room to grow. We bought the Nike ones on a day Branden was at school, in 26cm and figured it would be no problem because he's a 26cm in shoes. When we tried them on at home, they were small, like not even 1 dot to grow. Bursting out like the hulk, would be a fair description. Good thing we bought these shoes a week before graduation, because the 4 of us, went back to ABC Mart and the lady working there said, the Nike in these run small. We were like, you're right, we think so too. So, Branden's Nike's are in 26.5cm. 

Junior high school bag. This has been the #1 question most of Branden's classmates asked each other at the graduation dinner. Even last month. Even the mom's were curious. Everyone wanted to know, what sort of bag did you get and what does it look like. Hahaha. We bought Branden's online at Amazon.jp. Our school, you can use a backpack, or this type of bag. A sport's bag. I asked my girlfriend's/mama friends a lot of questions on the bag. What they said was, most mom's pick bags like this, because they are waterproof (if it rains no worries). So again info like that, greatly helped me decide. Also, they told me, to be careful that these bags are sold in size small, medium and large. And to be sure to buy Branden's in size large. They told me this again last Summer. Ever since then, I have looked at junior high kids bags in Japan and yes, they do seem to be a size large. Again, if they didn't mention it, I might have bought the wrong size (again though check with your school and see what's allowed, though this size Branden has, is the usual/standard size we see most places.) Branden brought home a stack of books today....like a heavy big amount of books and thank goodness he has this large size bag. Plus imagine weekends when he has to carry his giant 26cm inside shoes home in the bag as well. Again, thank goodness for informative friends. And I am blogging this info, because if it helps at least 1 person, then it was worth me spending my typing this all out. I hestitate telling you this, but, this morning, we saw the boy next door, getting on his bike for the 1 hour pick up book day. His bag is a Puma one (black and white) but it's most definitely a size small. : ( Branden told me, the boy next door could not fit all his books inside his Puma bag, poor kiddo. : ( It was so small, you guys, like Noah sized. : (  I'm not sure if his mom maybe didn't know he needed a bigger size or what, I don't know. : (  Every body's bags, I saw today, Genki's, K's, Saya-chan's every one's bag is the same type of style and size as Branden's. The large size. Again, if you can use this info fantastic, if you don't need the info, truly no worries. Just trying to help. : ) 

Noah meanwhile needed a new pencil box. He got a new one in ichinensei (first grade), it was still fine in 2nd grade, but bit the dust around December 2013. I asked Noah to hold out, until the end of the school year and then we'd buy him a new one. True to my word, we bought him this one. : ) A nice yellow Mario one. : ) 

Noah needed new cleaning rags, since kids at our local elementary clean the school themselves. And he needed a new paint tray. I tried cleaning it, but, it was beyond cleaning and this was 150 yen about $1.50 US, so we just replaced it. This one better last, a good long time. Branden never needed a replacement. So we'll see. 

Noah's note said, he needed 5 pencils and 1 red and blue pencil, so we bought him these. Sharpened them and put name stickers on each pencil. And a piece of tape over the name sticker, so the name sticker stays put. 

A new hat for Noah. Branden won't be wearing a red and white hat anymore, they wear red and white hachimaki (like a headband). : ) 

I also washed Branden and Noah's shoes (Branden still needs clean regular shoes too hahaha) and Noah's inside shoes, though I did have a new pair already upstairs, these can be used when he does shuji or as an emergency pair (Branden told me once someone got shuji ink all over their inside shoes so maybe Noah should take this old pair just in case, hahaha, I'll think about it, couldn't hurt. 

This day was gray overcast and it did rain around 4pm, that day but everything was dry by then. Noah's gym clothes, gym bags, school bags, seat cover and disaster cover, plus their swim towels and the striped Ikea mat for the sink/bath area. I washed this all yesterday/ Sunday, the day before Noah started back at school. 

Branden meanwhile needed new batteries for his watch, cleaning rags and tape. I name stickered his tape. :)

I bought this bag at the Daiso, it's a huge navy blue bag for Branden's inside shoes, so he can carry his shoes back and forth on Fridays and Mondays. It looked huge, but it fits his size of inside shoes perfectly. Perfect size. 

Noah's school books for the 3rd grade. 

Branden received a ton of books today. Here's 3 of them...

Shosha on the left and math on the right...

Here's a few pages on the inside of his math book...

Math, Geography and musical instruments book..

His English book, they use a Sunshine book in elementary school too, but this is for older kids. The book next to his English book, is his history book.

Another look inside another book.

Music.

This is a big stack of books, not even counting he'll need notebooks for writing for many of these subjects as well. Tomorrow, Noah will be in school until 3pm. Meanwhile, tomorrow is Branden's junior high school entrance ceremony. Imagine parents wearing formal outfits again, with cameras and camcorders in hand. Both town elementary schools are merging into the 1 junior high school. I think 40 are coming from our school, since 2 transferred to different schools. And I believe 15 are coming from the other elementary in our town (don't quote me on that yet, I'll find out for sures tomorrow). I know that Branden is a chugaku ichinensei (junior high school 1st grader) in America we'd just say, he's in the 7th grade, lol.) He's in the ichinensei class A. Genki is in ichinensei class B. But Saya-chan is in class A with Branden. : ) The boy holding the flower straight up in the graduation pic, who was also in the swim team, is also in Branden's class. Branden's teacher/sensei is a man and Branden said he seems really nice.  : ) Tomorrow for dinner we are having yakiniku on the grill outside in the backyard, first bbq for us, for the 2014 season. I think a good way to celebrate! : )

Back to school for both of the boys and Branden’s science project this year

This picture was taken last week. Last Monday, first day back at school, September 2nd. 

This was Branden's science project for this summer 2013. Branden made a volcano that could ooze out "lava"

Close up! The white plastic holder actually came from the Daiso/100 yen shop. It is/was a bottom piece of a dish drying thing.  We bought 1 square of fake grass also from the Daiso and cut it to give his project a little something extra, you know what I mean, I hope. : ) People running for their lives cut outs and a sign that reads "dangerous" dundundun.... came with the volcano kit. And the dirt came from the empty/vacant lot next door and Branden also took a few rocks to add. Branden's project won first place for his entire school this year so he was pretty happy about that. : )  And besides the $12.99 kit, everything else either came from the Daiso or the empty lot next door. And he did work hard and he did it entirely himself, though, Noah and I watched and gave our opinions on his "lava". : )

In September we worked on what combination made the most foamy type "lava" and he worked that out pretty good. While Branden was washing his hands, I also did quickly jot down on the ziplocks what he finally came up with, that way if he needed to perform this in front of his class, which yes he did. : ) Branden could do it no problem. Also after watching a few volcano eruptions on Youtube, we all decided it was best to add the coloring to the vinegar beforehand, that way it was already done. Some videos we watched they added the food coloring after and we saw lots of white foam and the color came out after the foam. So, after running a few experiments and run throughs, Branden did think it was best to add the coloring to the vinegar and I totally agreed. It came out like real lava, by added the food coloring beforehand.

Baking soda. 2 scoops, hahaha. : ) 

We really enjoyed this kit and the next time I go to Guam, I will buy a few extra different kits to keep handy. I know Noah will need these for his elementary school summer projects also. : )

All of the instructions are/were in English and both the boys have no trouble reading English at all, so I just sat and watched. Kinda of exciting actually, to watch. : ) 

About to start painting.

It wasn't difficult at all and he actually had a great time making this. 

A close up of Branden's new glasses they're sorta like tortoise shell frames. Sorta cool. : ) 

Volcano is looking good Branden! : )

Let's see, what else. Both Branden and Noah needed to show up with 2 new cleaning rags. I buy the 3 packs from Daiso and since neither of them would dare take the pink, : ) I always keep the pinks for cleaning the house hahaha. : ) Also name writing pens, they need for school. And the other pack I keep for home use for writing their names on their inside shoes, etc type stuff. And tape. 

I also made sure all of Branden and Noah's stuff was freshly washed and dried. Seat cushion/disaster cover. School bags and gym clothes got a refreshing. 

Inside shoes were washed and sun dried. They were ready, come September 2nd! 

Pencil box was filled with new pencils. Gari gari glue and Noah needed a few extra paints. And that was it. September 2nd we were ready for you! : ) 

The first week back to school has been good for the boys. Thankfully, uneventful. They were happy to see their friends, the ones who don't live near us. Oh yeah, Branden brought this order form for sewing class home. All kids in his class with be sewing gym bags, this Fall! They had to pick one of these. The kids were excited which to pick. Branden picked the Piko one in this picture. And so that's been ordered. So the teachers wants every child to sew a gym bag. But also she asked them to choose another item on the order form and that choice was entirely up to you and your parents of course. Genki is making a pillow pictured here. And he will sew it at school all by himself. So he's excited. So 2 sewing projects for each of the 6th graders this year.

Branden meanwhile picked an apron pictured here. He picked the blue Piko apron. Because our school cooks a lot. And there are so few boy aprons for older boys. So I think he picked a great 2nd project. So now the 6th grade class is awaiting their sewing materials to come in. The boys also had English again their first week back at elementary school also. And that's about it. On the starting school front for now. We're in the swing of things now. : )