summer vacation

the last day of school. the day students look forward to all year. the beginning of freedom. going on vacation, to the pool, playing with friends, staying out late because it's lighter later, catching lightning bugs in the backyard...

that day was today. this morning we had the "closing ceremony" for the first term of school.

what, first term? you say?

that's right. in japan, the school year starts in april. and ends in march. aka year round school. we have three terms: april-july, september-december, january-march. that means that summer vacation falls between the first and second term.

the japanese school system has a completely different understanding of the word "vacation." the students have summer classes for the first and last week of summer vacation and they have club activities like sports practices/games, band practice/competitions, etc. nonstop.

when do they play? when do they spend an evening with their family, not burdened by the idea that they have homework to finish? when do they get to be kids?

i'm merely just a big kid because i am taking my full summer vacation: starting today. ending when the "opening ceremony" happens on september 1st. i'm going home. and i'm going to act just like i did when i was in middle school: sleeping in, going to the pool, eating fresh fruit and vegetables, spending time outside, eating dinner on the patio with my family, etc.

...and i'll probably spend more than one night out in the backyard, chasing after lightnings bugs.