They grow up so fast...

Today I had my last lessons with my two classes of 3rd year students at Hosshoji (the equivalent of 9th graders in 'merica) and it was saaaad. I actually choked up and cried in the first one, because they gave me a gift and I wasn't expecting it. I held it together for the second class.

Oh, the 'gift' was a little book of things they wrote about me. Some gems:

"I think Ms. Jessy's voice is very beautiful. I don't like English because it is very difficult for me to study it. But your English class was very happy for me. Thank you." (This guy is one of the 'class clown' types, always made me smile.)

"I think your smile is very cute!! I want to speak with Jessy sensei motto(more)"

"I was glad to talk with Jessy sensei. Thanks to you, I came to love English. You are very kind to us. I think you are nice and a good teacher. I want to be like you. I had a nice time with you. Thank you very much." (From one of my speech competition kids. A great girl. Tears in my eyes when I first read that, for sure.)

"I meet Jessy sensei when I go to school. Then, I said "Good Morning!" to Jessy sensei. Jessy sensei said "Good Monring!" to me. I'm very happy. I like your smile."

"Thank you! Jessy sensei. I hope we meet again soon. I don't want to say goodbye."

"Thank you for Ms. Jessy. I enjoyed English class. I talked to you but I can't speak English well. Sorry..!!" (this girl is adorable.)

"I live in Hosshoji. You live in Hosshoji. I live near your house. English class is a lot of fun. I enjoyed speaking, reading a lot. I want to talk with you more!! If your free let's talk with me in English." (awww...mini stalker! :D )

"I'm very very happy to study English with you. Thank you for your class. Studying English became very fun. I will remember you. Please don't forget me." (This kid is so great...he's the son of the science teacher at my other school. I love my motivated smart kids, probably most of all.)

"We studied English with you. It was a lot of fun and interesting for me. I sometimes talked to you in English. But we couldn't sometimes change words well. But I like talking with you! And you are very cute. I'll never forget you." (My other speech competition girl. This girl has been so wonderful to me. She came and grabbed me and taught me the Sports Festival dance way back in September when I was brand new to Japan and didn't have a clue what to do at school. Love this kid.)

"She speaks Japanese very good." (haha...the secret that couldn't be kept!)

sniff...sniff.

One more totally unrelated thing: I don't like purple rice. Or purple pickles. The only purple things I will happily eat are grapes, and that's not the same kind of purple!