Some JHS progress, maybe.

Today Yoshi and I were supposed to be going to my 3rd year JHS student's house. I'd called his mother to check a schedule thing, not being able to trust the teacher, and the whole no lunch and no friends thing came out. She checked with her son who is a lovely, really kind boy, and he invited Yoshi to play today. His mum invited me and Harry too, which was good of her. JUST as we were going out of the door, he got a phone call from a classmate, asking him if he wanted to get together. Yoshi was nervous about breaking a promise but I said that the 3rd graders mum just wanted him to have friends and of course if his classmate called him then he should go. I called her and indeed that is what she said, she's a very laid back person.

So Yoshi happily cycled off, only to turn up an hour later with about EIGHT kids in tow! I understand that it was mostly a freak show call to see what the gaijin is like, but they were very polite. They swarmed all over our house and exclaimed how big it was (more guilt at wanting to reform....) marvelled at his room and the classroom, ate an icecream each, then they all swarmed off again. I don't mind at all. If they come once as a pack and find it unscary then maybe one or two will come back for a more relaxed playtime. (Or whatever you call it when they are teenagers!) None of them were rude, in fact one boy kept apologising for the numbers of them which was cute. I said they could come back any time. It was a mixed group of boys and girls which was interesting as so far it's been very much the case that the girls shun the boys in case other people think they like them romantically. Much better this way. Anyway, it began to pour with rain not long after that so they broke up and went home but at least the ice has been broken and I do hope that this is the beginning of him having friends.

The homeroom teacher is still being a plonker. I think he simply is an plonker and can't change. Yoshi had a day off school on Wednesday because he was not well (not sure sick or stress but gave him the benefit of the doubt) but it was the day they were going to get told about their first tests, what to do and all that. I made a point of calling the school office to check if he'd get told anything at all if he didn't go to school or if I should send him sick anyway. I was teaching when the homeroom teacher called back and my office lady took the call. Apart from him being surprised that I was working (jerk) apparently he just launched into his spiel in the same "wakatta mama" manner as before, and when the OL told him that it was her and not me and that she'd take a message, (in polite, formal Japanese) he just carried on in the same rude way. She was Not Impressed.

Anyway, the upshot was that no, he didn't want Yoshi at school sick and that he promised to explain the test system to him the next day, which he did.

My OL is an ex JHS teacher herself and turns out to be good friends with Yoshi's Japanese teacher, who he likes. She quietly told him to go to that teacher if he has any trouble and circumvent the homeroom teacher, which he agreed to do. She has also primed the kokugo man to watch out for Yoshi and he's agreed. He said he knew who Yoshi is and thinks he's a nice kid who's having a rough time. So that was another good thing.

Then on Friday Yoshi came home half miserable and half hopeful. He said that he went to the broadcasting room as he has to do every day, being on the broadcasting committee. He likes doing that, but two of the bitchy girls from his class also joined and their nasty attitude has spoiled the atmosphere for him. Some of the older girls have copied their attitude which is hard.

Apparently the maths teacher goes to the broadcasting room to mark papers as it's quiet and people don't know he's there. He asked Yoshi to get a video camera for him, so Yoshi went off to get it, and when he got to the equipment room the bitchy girl there refused to give it to him, saying she didn't believe him and thought he was trying to steal it (Eh??). So Yoshi had to walk back to the teacher who sighed, gave him a note and sent him back again. He got the camera and brought it back but it was missing some cables, so he sent Yoshi back to the girl who yet again refused to give him it, if you can believe it. The maths teacher then lost his temper, went himself and reamed the girl out. (Good) Then he went back to Yoshi who said he gets this kind of crap from her and her cronies all the time. Apparently in one class she's the leader and collects homework. Yoshi collected his group's papers and she wouldn't take them from him. He says she does this all the time but on Friday he lost his temper and threw them on the floor in front of her. Good for him I say. The maths teacher says he's going to talk to her about it next week. Very nice but why isn't Mr lazyguts homeroom teacher doing his job??? The maths teacher also offered to help Yoshi with his maths at lunchtime or after school and Yoshi accepted gratefully, and which I am very grateful for too.

So in some ways things are looking up. I told Yoshi that many girls are bitches at this age and not to worry, they'll find another target soon. He said that at the moment all efforts are focused on him and the others join in. I said I think its because he's ally-less and that everyone is worried sick that if they react or help him, they will be turned on next, but to be sure someone will put a foot wrong in some way soon and then they will in turn be the target. I was proud of him when he said "And I will not be joining in, I can tell you." Good lad.