Welcome to another edition of the Deskwarming Diaries. Today’s post features canceled plans and a depressing graduation, with a much needed guest appearance from lasagna. LASAGNA!!! Let’s jump in!
Surprise! Taiwan is canceled.
I knew it was a long shot anyway, but literally the day after I posted Deskwarming Diaries #7, Taiwan imposed a two-week quarantine for all incoming travelers. So no Taiwan for us! We were able to cancel everything and get refunds (the airline gave us points to use on a future trip), which is good, but it looks like Hunter’s only option now is to return to America and hope the borders stay open long enough for him to get back. On the bright side, we now have a good idea of what we want to do if we get the chance to go to Taiwan after all of this is over! Trying to stay positive.
Graduation: Social-Distancing Style
Graduation in Japan is a very drawn-out affair, much like in the US. First, the entire student body enters the gym. Then, the ninth graders enter. Everyone sings the national anthem. There are speeches from the mayor, superintendent, principal, and the head of the PTA. Next, each student receives their diploma from the principal as their name is announced. The students have to take a lap around the gym so everyone can get pictures before returning to their seats. Once everyone is sitting again, we sing the school song. Last, all of the graduates leave the gym while everyone claps. All-in-all, it takes around 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.
Because of Covid-19, last week’s graduation was only 30 minutes (which I was secretly very happy about). However, it was the saddest graduation I’ve ever seen in my life. Japanese graduations typically are solemn occasions on the best of days, but this was just downright depressing. When I entered the gym with the other teachers, 5 minutes before graduation started, the ninth graders were already there. All of their chairs were about a foot-and-a-half apart from each other, and all of them stared forward, masks on, their eyes dead. Some of them glanced at each other or around the gym with looks that showed their disbelief; their last year of middle school was suddenly and abruptly ended, and now their graduation ceremony was abridged and silent.
I felt so bad for all of them, my wonderful, dopey students, who’d worked so hard to get here. This feeling got even worse when it was time for the students to leave. All of the teachers made a path for them to walk through, but we couldn’t clap, cheer, or wave, so it was just an awkward tunnel of teachers watching the graduates walk past. Many of the students looked at their feet or looked away, their eyes tearing up. This is usually my favorite part of graduation, because I can high five students as they pass, say encouraging things, and have one last chance to cement their faces in my brain, but it was just too sad this year.
Today’s Lunch: Lasagna
Now for something positive! This literally made my month. I went to a local restaurant for lunch with my fellow English teachers, and while browsing the menu, saw lasagna. Instantly, I knew that’s what I wanted. There were other pastas, as well as a whole section of pizza, but my heart said, “Nope, that’s it.” All of us ordered a salad to start with, then our individual entrees. When our salads came, everyone gasped and exclaimed in amazement — the salads looked gorgeous! They also tasted fantastic. I honestly don’t know what everything was that was on the plate, but dang was it good. I think my favorite part was the giant glob of mozzarella cheese. Man I miss cheese.
I could hardly contain my excitement when the lasagna arrived. They set it down, still hot and bubbling, and I couldn’t help but smile. I never really liked lasagna growing up, but now, it was something familiar and comfortable. So much cheese, pasta, and meat; I couldn’t stop eating! The teacher sitting next to me also got lasagna, and while she was complaining about how hot it was, I was devouring bite after bite. Hours later and I still have a nice, warm feeling in my stomach <3
