Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Santa for a Day / 一日のサンタクロース



This happened a little while back, but because it was the highlight of my year, I want to share it. In late December, I got to dress up as Santa Claus and visit a day-care in Seika, and it was fantastic.

これがちょっと前の話ですが、一年の一番楽しかったイベントでしたから、皆に教えたかったです。12月下旬、私はサンタクロースの衣装を着て、精華町の保育所に訪問しました。本当に素的でした。

Admittedly, the day started out with me visiting kids under one year old, who upon seeing me promptly started crying. Though I felt bad about that, the teachers assured me that they cry when they see anyone new, so it’s kind of a given that a large bearded man wearing only red would freak them out a little bit. The older kids, on the other hand, were practically screaming with excitement when I (Santa) walked in the room. I sang them a few songs, answered their questions, and gave them presents that the teachers had helped prepare. I also got to pass out cards from kids in Norman, Oklahoma, Seika’s sister city. The kids were great, and it felt good to be able to make their day.

まず1歳下の児童と会いに行きましたが、児童達は私を見ると泣き出しました。気分が悪かったが、先生によるとその児童は知らない人を見たら泣き出します。体が大きくて赤い服で白ひげを生やした男を見ると、ちょっと恐がるのは当たり前ですね。しかし、サンタさん(私)が入った時に、年長児は興奮にワクワクしていました。子どもにクリスマス歌を歌って、質問を答えて、先生が準備してくれたプレゼントを渡しました。そして、精華町の姉妹都市オクラホマ州ノーマン市の生徒達からの手紙も渡しました。子どもたちは本当に凄くて、喜ばせるのはとても嬉しかったです。

When I got to work in January, there was a pile of cards from the kids at the nursery school on my desk. Sure, they were all addressed to Santa, but I was still touched.

1月に仕事に戻ったら、保育所の児童からの手紙は机のうえに置いてありました。もちろんサンタクロース宛でしたが、本当に感激しました。






2 comments:

  1. What a sweet story! The little picture that the kids drew is really cute, too. Did you sing in English or in Japanese?

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  2. Santa-san apparently can't speak Japanese, so it was all in English. Also, truth be told I feel bad for the kids having to listen to me sing

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