Leaving Parties

Everyone is gutted I'm leaving. I'm not surprised, it's only natural ;-). But the number of leaving parties I'm gonna be attending between 4th-31st July has just hit ridiculous.

I know (and appreciate) that people want to give me a send off and I'm grateful for that. But these are working out to be really, really expensive! I have 5 schools that want to have a サヨウナラ party at 5-7000 yen for each one! 3 of the schools I would happily pay but for 2 of them I just don't want to go! A lot of teachers changed and I haven't really gotten to know them that well save for the ones that I've worked with (who have pretty much stayed the same for 2 years). Although I ADORE the kids, I just don't wanna fork out for the enkai with the teachers. But I can't throw the gesture back in their face - they're only trying to do something nice for me before I go. So I've had to reluctantly agree.

And then I've got 2 BOE Leaver's parties. God knows how much the Karatsu one's gonna be. Thank god ouchi is more sensitive to my busy schedule and thinning wallet! I was allowed to choose the date and the party is gonna be a BBQ at someone's house. They haven't mentioned money yet but I can't see it being too expensive. There are only two people in my BOE now that were here when I first arrived. And I don't even like the others! But I will go - a BBQ sounds fun anyway. Do you know what I think it is? I'm just embarrassed by all the attention. I hate giving speeches and everyone is gonna be fussing and asking me all these things about Tokyo. I know they`re interested but I won`t be able to palm the attention off onto someone else! It`s gonna be the same questions over and over again at all 5 enkais. I guess i should be working on my leaving speeches.

I got told today that this Friday will be my last 6nensei class at one particular school and I could do anything i want. Thanks for the notice! Any other week I could easily pull together something awesome in 2 days but I`m absolutely SHATTERED this week and I just don`t have the energy to create an amazing last class. I`m sure I`ll be able to come up with something. I always do. And even if I think it`s shit, they still think it`s awesome!

Wow - last classes already???? This is going so fast!

1 more month to go.

:-(