The Golden Ax

I teach at Yushu Elementary School one day a week. Since I'm not there very often, I usually teach one grade per visit. About once a month I also teach the school's special education class. Recently, however, I've been teaching the special ed class every week. This has helped me to realize many things.

When I was deciding what career path I wanted to follow, my dad and I talked about special education. I told him that I did not think I could handle it. I thought it would be too upsetting for me. I've always felt uncomfortable around people with special needs. At Yushu, there are 4 children in the class. I am honestly not sure exactly what special need each child has, but there is one in a wheel chair who has serious physical disabilities and mental ones as well. There is also at least one who has down syndrome. Their mental levels differ, but it is easy to tell that all 4 have serious disabilities. I admit that I was a little uneasy the first couple times I had to teach the class, but without me realizing it...it has become my favorite. The children are really incredible and they love English. They have such sweet dispositions and I think it would be impossible for anyone not to fall in love with them. When I think about eventually leaving Japan, it is missing these 4 students that makes me want to cry. They have taught me far more than I could ever teach them. It wasn't that I thought less of disabled people, it was that I didn't think I was capable of working with them without being emotionally wrecked. They have taught me that I am capable of more than I realize, just as they are capable of more than other people realize.

I found out that the reason they had scheduled me to visit this class more recently was because they were having their big festival for all the special education classes in Ise city. Each class had to do some sort of performance. The special education teachers at my school had decided they should perform the Golden Ax, a small play in English that we had been working on. So every week we practiced our 5 minute play. On the day of the festival, there were special needs children from all over our area there. Since I was the only foreigner, they were all very excited and interested in seeing me. I met so many amazing children. Their performances were so much fun to watch. I know I'm a little biased, but I really think my students had one of, if not the best performance of the day. They did such a great job! I was so proud of them and so happy that I got to be a part of their huge success.

I love you and miss you all back home!