Y-kun? Y-kun is insulted that I blur out the pictures of him on my blog... So yesterday I asked his grandmother if I could post his pictures here and she happily told me to go ahead.
Last week Y-kun arrived with this "object". He made it himself out of a section of bamboo he found on the ground and two sprouts of a maple tree, also found somewhere in the forest. And he topped it off with moss from the forest too. Now I think that is very innovative! A work of art right there! (Unfortunately the "object" did not survive the week as my cats ate the maple tree sprouts.)
When I praised Y-kun, he made a bee-line for the door and wanted to go gathering MORE sprouts to plant in my garden. As he had come an hour early for English we headed out to the fields.
So here is an un-blurred picture of Y-kun. We played around with my camera and took pictures of each other.
Me being photographed by Y-kun. It was getting pretty dark by this time and he didn't seem interested in my instructions to NOT shoot against the light.
Let's see. Y-kun showed me buckwheat sprouts and pointed out edible leaves. Along the roadside Y-kun pulled wild onions for Tetsu to have with that night's dinner (Hmmm. The onions are growing about where Choco pees every morning.) And he also dug up an acorn sprout from the forest. We carried it home in the shovel and Y-kun planted it in my yard.
Yesterday Y-kun arrived with vegetables and...
"What is this?"
"It's a rice plant! You can grow rice in your house!"
He has got a flooded rice field right there in the plastic bottle.
"Y-kun... the cats will just eat it." (or knock it over... I imagined all that mud on my table and floor.)
"Let's put it in the bathroom. The cats can't knock it over if the door is closed."
So now I'm growing a stalk of rice in my bathroom...
12 comments:
I burst out laughing at your last line, Tanya. Your kind and patient relationship with your student, Y-kun, will leave an indelible mark, I'm sure.
Oh, but he loves that you pay attention to his doings and try to see things his way. And the stories he is gathering - when I took English......we did this that and the next thing.... his kids will get an earful one day.
Y-kun is a fun guy!
Protecting that rice stalk from the cats may be an even bigger challenge than entertaining Y-kun. I loved the little bonsai maple.
What a wonderful child! To find such enthusiasm and kindness is rare indeed.
I love that kid...he's handsome, too!
Best regards from Gail in Wa State
I laughed to at the last line. I don't think there are many children who have that knowledge of what is being called 'survival craft'. Maybe he will be Japan's answer to Bear Grylls - look him up. I can't imagine he sat still very often either!
Sandy in the UK
Y-kun. I just admire that child and his energy!
Y-kun is a very special little boy and you have forged an unforgettable bond with him.
Y-kun is one handsome little man. Thanks for sharing.
cindy
Seriously, is there a methodology for detecting and nurturing Asperger's peeps in Japan? Might help him to meld if someone could find a pathway for him.
Meanwhile, your adventures with him are heart touching.
I wonder if he will become a farmer when he matures? He certainly has a passion for plants!
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