The Genocide Prevention Ritual web site!

As mentioned earlier, I'm organizing an interfaith event for April as Genocide Prevention Month. Today I put together a web site for the ritual. Check it out! (and please consider participating!)

ONE GOOD DEED: Make a web site to further the Genocide Prevention Ritual charity project.

PET caps from friends

As always I'm collecting my PET caps for my school, which donates them to charity. This time I remembered a friend who goes through something like five bottles a day (!). I don't know why I didn't think of it before. I got her caps, and another friend's too.

ONE GOOD DEED: Be a collection point for PET bottle caps for charity.

Graduation rice cakes

Today's graduation ceremony at junior high school was especially moving. I'd taught these students since they were in fifth grade elementary. What's more, since I will be leaving come next July, it felt a little like my own graduation. Memories arose not only of students but also of everybody in the town that I will have to say goodbye to. I was more tear-eyed than usual. Meanwhile, the students were bawling.

I never felt much for graduation ceremonies before Japan. I hated my hometown school and felt no connection to anybody but my small circle of outcast friends. And my university was so gigantic and anonymous that a graduation ceremony felt thoroughly, thoroughly meaningless. When I look back at my whole school career, it's amazing that I can only think of teachers who were jaded, insensitive, neglectful, or mean. Most people I know have at least a few memories of teachers who touched them. Somehow I just don't.

But here in Japan I feel different. Working as a teacher, I have much more emotional investment. I love my students, even when they are naughty or unresponsive. So graduation ceremonies are meaningful for me now. I can't remember one where I didn't tear up at least a little.

I hope my students will remember me better than I remember my teachers.

In any case, everyone got to take home some mochi (rice cakes filled with sweet red bean paste). Back at the office, I took them out and was about to bite into them when I had a better idea.

ONE GOOD DEED: Give away my graduation rice cakes to a coworker.

War Child and the Iraq Foundation

Today I found two new charities, both aiding children affected by war. I raised awareness by posting them to the group Polytheist Charity.

War Child International - works to help children caught up in the horrors of war

Iraq Foundation - raises awareness for the suffering of Iraqi people and raises funds which are then given to institutions and organizations in Iraq to aid children, refugees, and widows

ONE GOOD DEED: Raise awareness for charities for children affected by war.

March for Babies

A friend of mine is doing a March of Dimes walk to aid motherhood and infant health. I was more than happy to oblige.

ONE GOOD DEED: Sponsor a friend in the March for Babies walk.

Carpet repairman

While strolling around for something to do at school between classes, I noticed the carpet was coming up in the media center. It was a small thing, but something I could do.

ONE GOOD DEED: Fix the carpet coming up in a school room.

Sure I will

Today was yet another day at school with little to do, while other teachers were overloaded with graduation preparations. I always ask what I can do to help, but it's just one more bother to find something that the gaijin can do. So I just keep my eyes open. Today I saw the teacher next to me fumbling to draw cherry blossom decorations. He turned to me and didn't even have to say anything. I just said, "Sure I will," and took over for him.

ONE GOOD DEED: Help a teacher with his graduation preparation work.

image: photograph by Nathan Wright