I remember when I sang this song at a kindergarten to a backing track that me and my good friend T.Y. put together in his home studio in Tokyo. I was dressed in a Santa Claus suit, and was singing with a chorus of Japanese children with about over 100 parents and their babies looking on at one of my favourite kindergartens. I taught there for about a year or so. I worked for a company called E.S. Consulting that connected EFL teachers to an organization that had English-language programs at kindergartens. The organization was called J.A.C.P.A. Don't ask me what the abbreviation means. It's the experience I can talk hours and days about.
I worked for this one kindergarten (among several others) and they took really good care of me. The headmaster, his wife, and their gorgeous son were really supportive and encouraged the kids to practice their English with me. They would bring me a cup of green tea every morning before my lessons started. All the teachers would participate in my lessons with their kids and they'd help me get the kids into all the English-learning activities and songs. There was one student who didn't speak a word when I was there...but she participated and received love, care, and support from the staff, and the other kids. She responded diligently to all my prompts, pointing at that picture or the other, and taking part in the movement exercises.
For Xmas, the kindie kids held a concert for all their parents. One after the other, each class took its position on stage and sang some lovely Japanese songs. Then it was my turn! They gave me the mic, and I stepped out in my Santa dress, black fishnet tights, and high heels, long curly hair streaming out from underneath the Santa cap. The backing track began and I started singing! I was actually in tune this time because my friend T.Y. made sure that we recorded the instrumental in my key!! And the kids on the stage chimed in. It was a lovely moment!
I have to thank T.Y. for taking the time to help me put the backing track together. I did the keys, and his brilliant musicianship took care of the rest. As a matter of fact, T.Y. helped me find my voice at that time. I wasn't much of a singer then though, but he had faith in my potential. And that was enough.
I miss those days in Japan. There were so many wonderful moments like the one above. I met new people almost everyday. I loved the warmth and friendliness of the communities I interacted with, not just Japanese! I met my own country people there - Bangladeshis, Canadians, and then Scottish, Brazilian, English, Australian, African, North African, Indian....so many amazing people!!
Thank you Japan. The city, the country, and its people sure gave me a lot to be thankful for, including the opportunity to find my musical voice, even though it wasn't quite polished! Thank you for your warmth, hospitality, friendship, and love. It was a most beautiful of Winter Wonderlands to walk through.
