Alex's Yochien Graduation

Alex graduated from Misawa Catholic Yochien a few weeks ago on March 21, 2010. It was so sweet. Here is a song that the children sang after they had all received their diplomas. I will post more photos and videos at a later date! This song was about saying good bye (Sayonara) to the school, and thank you to parents, teachers (Sensei), and friends (Tomodachi). There was a little girl in Alex's class with tears streaming down her face, and it made many parents get teary-eyed, too. The school has been one of the best experiences that we have had here in Japan, and I think we will all miss it! Alex and Ian are now fluent in Japanese, and can translate for me and their teachers at the school. Alex's Japanese piano teacher said he sounds Japanese--not foreign at all. In addition to piano lessons in Japanese, they also have soccer, swim lessons, and a tutor, each once a week. It's been so wonderful for them (and us!) to experience Japan in this way. On the was home from the ceremony, Alex cried. He said he was going to miss his Sensei, Noguchi Sensei. Luckily, although he has graduated, the school has agreed to let Alex return for the remaining few months we have left in Japan.