Wednesday 7 April 2010

and the saga continues....

yes, the yochien saga. We went to the explanation day yesterday where we were given yet another big pack of papers, sat for an hour whilst they explained it all, I understood about 10% of it all. There was another list of bits and bobs that we need to get WHY couldn't they put it in the first lot so you can get everything in one go? They do this hoo-haa every year they could just put everything in together grrrrr. I understand that things like the bus schedule being more of a last minute thing but all the rest? So at least we know what time his bus will arrive, 7.53am at the door but because the bus door is on the other side, we have to stand on the other side of the street and wait for it! He hasn't had his class cap yet but we are hoping it will be green, Ebi-kun is adamant that he will not be having a pink cap, luckily a friends kids went to the same yochien so I am pretty sure he won't get pink, phew!
We also met his sensei (teacher) and given the yearly schedule, it is not surprising that few yochien moms work, it would be virtually impossible to find a proper job to fit the schedule - unless you worked at the yochien! Ebi-kun had fun though, whilst we were being tortured in the main hall he was off with the other kids playing in the sand pit. It is a great sandpit, massive and they have wheelbarrows and proper spades instead of little plastic shovels and buckets.
There are lots of cherry blossom trees in the yochien grounds it looks so pretty. This is a shot of the shrine, when the kids arrive in the morning, they have to go and say a prayer and thank the god. They also have to go to the veg patch and thank the gods there for the food and then to the resident parrot to thank the animal gods.
We are not a religious family but I do like the way that respect for all things is expected of the kids. So we are off to buy the missing items today and to get his polio vaccination - what a fun day...

5 comments:

  1. What's on the new list? Will he be taking the kitchen sink with him as well? haha

    ReplyDelete
  2. not quite but it did include two Japanese style cleaning cloths and two towels!

    ReplyDelete
  3. It was like this for us too Jo - and it continued through the year. One or two days before something is happening they will tell you!!

    Start talking to the other mums as soon as you can since the schedule is the same every year, they will know what's coming up.

    We were caught by surprise by the swimming gear - we needed a plastic pool bag, togs, cap, goggles, towel and slip-on sport's jandles within a couple of days. I and no idea where to get all that stuff - and it cost me an arm and a leg.

    What I have found now is that right before the big season it all appears at Aeon/Jusco/ big department store type supermarkets. Keep a look out.

    Another one was the yukata for fireworks festival ...
    the spade for sweet potato picking ... leisure sheet for the spring fieldtrip ...

    And time, yes, every week there was something to attend. Yochien is a full time job for most mums and it's impossible to work unless you have a very flexible schedule or really helpful grandparents nearby.

    It's also incredibly expensive.

    He will love it but you will have a steep learning curve. Next year you will be an old hand!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I totally understand how you feel about too many meaningless items for Japanese youchien. I'm kind of disappointed by somethings I disagree for the Montessori school that my kids are going to. They are a Japanese school after all.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, here "I" was complaining about all the paperwork "I" had to gather to register MD for Kindergarten! Really.. do they really need a copy of my property tax to verify where I live?! CRAZY! But looks like you are having to pack your entire house -- and you probably need to work in the classroom too? Phew!!! Good luck to you!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you!
I love hearing from you and if you haven't joined us in Moms That Rock, come on over!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/momsthatrock/

Pin It button on image hover