Thursday was more teaching but this time to the elementary students. They were fun because they are enthusiastic about everything. I met with the principal briefly as a final farewell and he gave me a beautiful Japanese fan. I presented him with an Illinois flag. This evening I took Yao and Nakakmura out to dinner. We went to a Japanese BBQ restaurant which was fun (grilling our own meat) and tasted good.

Friday I taught my last two classes. The English teachers had a little goodbye get together for the ALT (whose last day is today also) and I. It was very nice of them.

The 3rd year jr high students surprised me with letters and a picture of us all together that they had each signed. It was very touching.

Yao expressed that many teachers wanted to me to come to their classes and that all the teacher I had done was requested by them. I said that I was happy to have done that. But the one thing I was disappointed about was that I did not get to observe classes. I observed 1 whole class and about 60 mins of bits and pieces. So I still do not have any idea what teaching strategies happen in the classroom. Yao replied that I needed an interpretor. Which I said- no, I didn't.

I kept asking for observation time and said I just want to sit and watch that I don't need an interpreter. I even wanted to cancel the visit to the museum on Wednesday to add some observation time. However, they scheduled some in so we went to the museum. Unfortunately, all those observations were canceled for various reasons and nothing was put in its place. They tried but it is still frustrating and disappointing.

Overall, though the visit was a very good. The staff was wonderful and the students were a joy to meet and work with.
I am heading back to Tokyo tonight.