Our Personal Memoirs Volume 1 Written and edited by the students of 5B, Tokyo International School
The students of Tokyo International School have been investigating historical fiction in their Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop lessons. In this book, they write their first attempt. The aim of the students was to recall a lifechanging or life-altering moment whilst employing figurative language and keeping the interest of our readers in mind. It’s important to remember that all but two students use a language other than English at home. We hope you enjoy our memoirs!! Travis Classroom Teacher iontravis.com
When A Soccer Ball Hit My Stomach When I was 7 years old I was outside enjoying recess. I was running to my friends like a cheetah running from a enemy. But then suddenly somehow middle schoolers were outside at the same recess time. I was amazed but before I could think about that more a middle schooler kicked a soccer ball and it ended up hitting my stomach. It hurt so much like someone kicking you so bad, but I was as strong as a lion that that I didn’t cry. I didn’t even go to the nurses office. After that strong kick from the middle schooler I felt a little sick but I was all right. So I learnt after that to be careful. Alex, Sri Lanka/Japan
When I Fished With My Dad Almost every Saturday I went fishing with my dad in a fresh water lake. Often when we got there it was warm and sunny with some cool breezes. You can just hear the sound of fish fins splashing in the water. But the rest of the lake is as silent as if no one has ever been there But this time it was just pouring rain. Just the second I left the car, I changed my mind. After a lot of protesting from me we finally made it out to the wide open lake. It was raining so hard as if thousands of rhinos were stamping on the water. But it didn’t take to long before we got our first fish. It wasn’t too big but it was about three centimeters long between the eyes. I think we came in to a school because we got as many fish as a bee that collects nectar gets in a field on a warm, spring day. When we finally returned to the car, my dad and I were as wet as a fish in water. But the fish thad been in the bag all the time and were as dry as us before we had left the car earlier. When we came home we grilled all 14 fish. They tasted so good. I was already thinking about the next time.
Axel, Sweden
When I Scraped My Lip On The Bottom Of My Pool A few years ago it was an extremely warm summer’s day. I had just finished eating lunch that was horrible because it was a plain old butter sandwich and I couldn’t wait to go for a swim. As usual I ran into my room, put my Speedo togs on, then raced my sister to the shed. We got out our new exciting toys as well as my favorite toy called The Sinking Long Stick then jumped into the pool. It was super warm! We threw the toys in and they sunk like bricks. We dived in like professionals and got them. After that my little sister hopped in with us. We all decided to play tag. I was it. I swam as fast as a shark and tagged my older sister. Soon after it got really boring. N early as boring as doing nothing for three hours straight. So we raced to the trampoline and started bouncing. My older sister and I jumped as high as planes can fly and bounced at the same time. My little sister went flying. She nearly squashed me but luckily I jumped like a cricket out of the way just in time. A few minutes later my mum came out and told us we only had a few minutes left until we had to go grocery shopping. So we ran as fast as Usain Bolt back to the pool. My sisters and I had a contest of who could do the most backwards rolls without breathing. My older sister tried and she did it three times. Then I tried. I swam down near to the bottom and started spinning backwards. Suddenly my lip scraped the bottom of the pool. I stopped spinning then and swam to the side of the pool. It felt like millions of jellyfish had stung just below my lip. I jumped out and ran to my towel. There was a big graze just below my lip and blood was gushing out everywhere. Once I got inside I looked and saw I had a huge blood splatter on my towel. I had a graze for a long time after that. So I have decided not to try doing that again. Charlie, Canada/Australia
When I Went To Club Med When I was a cute 6 year old, I went to Club Med. First we went on a boring plane then on a rocky boat trip then onto a bus. I felt like I was going to throw up but then my dad came back with candy for me so I felt much better. When we got there I begged my dad to go to the pool but like any dad, he said “I’m to tired”. When we went to dinner it was a buffet. There was so many chicken dishes, I was in heaven. So the next day I begged my dad again to take me to the pool. He replied “Fine, but only for a bit.” with a smile on his face. I guess my dad lost track of time and we stayed in there for a good 4 hours. I was getting bored of my dad carrying me around so I asked if I could go in by myself. He replied ok but be careful. Then I counted to three and then I jumped and made a small splash and started to kick like the fans on a speed boat and I started to move like how planes start, and I swam to the other end. I felt like a hero. One night my uncle said he would take me and my relatives to the pool. When we got there he grabbed me and called out, “Launch off in 3, 2, 1!” and then I took off like a rocket! I went to where birds fly and came down with a bigger splash then before. But sadly it was time to leave and then we went back on the bus for the long trip home. David, Australia
When I Got A Brother I came into the hallway in the hospital and prepared to open the door where my mom and new baby brother were. Before I opened the door I heard a horrible sound, worse then a fork scratching against a plate. When I came in I saw a red haired baby as red as fire, in my moms hands. When I got home I did my homework. After I finished I asked my mom if we could do something. She said, “No. I’m too busy with your baby brother. maybe later.” I was angry as a bull staring at something red. I went straight to my bedroom. I only wanted some time with my mom. At 6:00 pm the whole house was as silent as a clam. I went out and my mother told me that my brother was asleep. “Yay” I thought to myself and asked “Can we do something now?” But all she said was, “Maybe tomorrow.” The next day at 6:00 pm I asked again but she said “I’m as tired as a sloth. I can’t do any thing with you.” I was frustrated. Soon my step dad came home but he only had time to eat with us before he went to a meeting. I didn’t have enough energy to be angry. I went to bed early, I put on my music player and tucked myself into bed Fifteen minutes late rI fell asleep, I slept as tight as a tree. Hampus, Sweden
Jump Off The Cliff It was my 8th birthday party when it happened. I was even more excited than a puppy which had finally found their owner. At the party I played many games, for example, Bingo! I was the 3rd one to get a prize! I was so happy that I almost screamed! We ate pizza, sandwiches and super delicious strawberry cake that me and my mom especially ordered for my birthday party. When I ate the cake , a smile melted down my face like warm honey on strawberry short cake. When we finished the exciting party, Liam, Charlotte and I went out of the restaurant and went down two long, tiering stairs to get to the lobby. Then we went into the yard to wait for Liam’s dad to come because Charlotte’s mom was already here. We were thinking of playing something, so Liam decided we should play “Jump Off The Cliff”. First, Liam jumped off he did it so easily I felt like I could also do it. I was pretty confident. But that was the start of my bad luck because he (Liam) asked me to jump down after him because I was the birthday girl! So, I did it like it was a piece of cake. But, when I landed, it actually wasn’t I fell instead of my feet, I landed on my hands and knees! It hurt like crazy! That was when I decided not to do that game ever again.
Kasumi, Japan
My Dad Locked Out I can’t remember further back than that one, extremely cold winter. I was 1 but since I could crawl as fast as a 3 year old, adults called me Sunday Child. I was as bright and as happy as a light in a room where all the doors, curtains and windows are closed. My dad, who was a teacher, had taken a day off because the baby-sitter was on vacation. Without worrying to put on his jacket he sprinted outside with the awful smelly trash in his hands. Just in time since the garbage truck was ready to go. Even though I was on the other side of the gigantic living room I had just enough time to crawl to the door.......and lock it. I had made the hugest mistake ever. I had locked myself up in a house where even a giant could lose it’s way. When my dad wanted to come in he first thought the door was stuck. It wasn’t long until he saw me laughing my head off. Immediately he knew what had happened. He didn’t grin but stood there hitting and kicking and asking people to help. I finally understood it wasn’t funny but serious. My dad saw me starting to cry and knew he wouldn’t be able to open the door without help. Finally there was an overweight women who called the police. They opened the window while telling my father our house was very well secured. Inside I stopped crying as my dad lifted me into his arms. I hugged him while he hugged me. Nymke, The Netherlands
When My Eyelid Got Stuck In A Gas Station It was a dark and rainy afternoon. It was about five o’clock and I had just turned four years old. We had guests coming to visit in an hour. I was very excited and that made me jump up and down and run around like a crazy clown. So here it is, me and my brother were playing with his toy cars on the green carpet. There was also a gas station for the cars. It was very tiny so I thought that I couldn’t see it very well. I looked very closely at it from about one cm away. On the side of the gas station there was a thing that could spin. When I was going to use it, I was very close to it, maybe a little bit too close....so I began spinning it fast (very fast)...and....KAPOOW....it was stuck in my eyelid! I can still remember how much it hurt. It felt like someone were punching my eyelid with a hammer all the time. I tried to roll it back but I just rolled it the wrong way. It was very annoying having a gas station hanging from my eyelid. I went to the hospital and the doctor said “it will be better soon” and the doctor was right. I got better...I can still remember it very well and exactly how it felt. Olivia, Sweden
When I First Knew I Was Coming To Japan It was a sunny spring day and it was the end of my awesome third grade year in sunny Saudi Arabia. I was having my mom’s delicious hand cooked meal, I was so excited I felt like I was a chicken hatching out of it’s egg. Unfortunately my dad came in with disappointing news, He said “Would you guys like to go to Japan,China or India.’’ I was shocked as if I touched a telephone wire because my dad would never take my family out of the Middle East unless it was for work. So I replied to my dad cheerfully “For a vacation I’d love to go to Japan. My dad told me quietly “Saad I mean for like 3 years”. I stood there like a giant statue except smaller. After that I told my dad with fear in my eyes ”Dad I can’t leave my family and friends here in Saudi.” As usual my dad told me you’ll make new friends there. But I was too sad to argue anymore. I went up to my room to play some video games trying to forget everything but in my mind it was like a tiger trying to get out of a cage. But my dad was right I did make new friends and here in Japan they’re like family.
Saad, Saudi Arabia
Scuba Diving Today, I woke up so early even the sun wasn’t up. It was still so dark I thought it was night. At 6:30 am, around when the sun was shining its face to the sky, my parents woke up. After I ate breakfast my dad drove me and my mom to the harbor and I waved to my dad. I got on the boat, while getting on the boat I saw some fishes in the water. The fishes were maybe going to say “welcome” in the water silently. Under the water, the light reflected like lots of fireflies in the sea. Then my mom said, “Stephanie can we get out of the water.” Her voice was freezing as if she had touched an ice berg. ]We got out, my wet suit was sticking to my body as a bubble gum was sticking all to my body. After few minutes is was lunch. It was BBQ. I had hotdogs and my mom had hamburgers and it was delicious. After we ate lunch we went in the sea again. I looked in the water as often as possible. The coral reef was so beautiful. Few minutes later I saw a photographer that was on my same boat as me. He took a picture of me and my mom. Then the photographer said something but I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I didn’t have a snorkel so I was almost out of air so I went up. I wanted to take a picture of lots of coral but it was too deep and I didn’t have the right equipment. I wanted to take more pictures but it was time to go. Stephanie, Japan
When I forgot the way home It was a very hot day, a day when even birds couldn’t fly. I was walking back from school, however I forgot which way I should go. So I kept wandering between two big apartments. I couldn’t work out which one was mine. I thought for a while. I still couldn’t work it out. So I called my mom as quick as I could. But mom didn’t get the call. The sky got dark. I got as cold as cold water. Finally mom answered the phone call. She said “It’s the black one.”. So I went in as quick as wolf running for meat. But the problem was I forgot which floor it was! I got angry as a kid who had lost his rainbow candy. So I pressed every button I could press. I checked if it was the right floor. I shouted as loud as thunder! With that shout I could go into my house. After this incident I remember every way I go. By Sungyeon, Korea
The Day I First Ran The day I first ran was when I was a little 2 year old. My mom and dad said I was always a bright and active child. They said I slept like an angel. They made me feel special. I first ran on a beautiful day in Hong Kong. There was also a nice calm breeze. I thought it was the perfect day to do something amazing. When I first ran my mom and dad were happy but only for a few minutes because then I started to run away, but to me it was hours before I started to run away. The only reason my dad was chasing me was because he didn’t want me to leave the apartment. He made sure that didn’t happen but unfortunately he left the kitchen door open. I ran through the door as fast as a rocket. When I was in the kitchen I started to run around the big table in the middle. Even then my dad kept chasing me. When he was about to stop me I ran straight into the chair that sat beside the table. It hurt but I kept running. Unluckily for me, the next time around, I crashed into the table. It stopped me for only part of the day though... After a delicious lunch of sandwiches me and my dad went to the park. He let me have a long run around I felt like a horse in a field but in the end my dad had to chase me yet again. By that time I had learnt to control my running. I weaved between huge oak trees that stood still as statues in a park. My dad was gaining on me fast and as I looked back at my dad I crashed into an oak tree in the middle of the park! When I crashed into it, it felt as hard as a rock and set my head ringing like bells in a church. While I was down my dad swept me up into his arms and took me home. I thought that my crying to him was a sad, sad tune.
Thomas, Australia
When I Broke My Leg Skiing Crash! I smashed in to it. I was out but I fell down and cried. It’s not because I failed, its because my leg hurt. My leg hurt like a metal pipe hitting my leg 10 times. The teacher who was with me said, “Try to stand up”. So I tried to but I couldn’t. When I tried to do that I hard a voice from the back. I had no idea who said that but the person said, “Can you get of the road now!” so I got frustrated with that so I got a ball of snow and threw it at the persons’ ugly face. During that time somebody rescued me with a huge sleigh. The sleigh was as big as my height. I was still crying in the sleigh. I went to the hospital by my friends car and in my friends car I watched “Ponyo”. It took about 30 minutes to go to the hospital. At the hospital the doctor said that I broken my leg. I was kind of shocked and kind of happy. I was shocked because the doctor told me that I had to sit in a wheelchair for almost a whole day. Also I was shocked because I had to skip my hula lessons. I was happy because the doctor said to me that I had to skip school. I don’t want to go to school because there was so much work to do every day. Also I was happy because I got to stay in my house almost a whole day. One thing I didn’t like is that I had a cast around my leg and because of that it itched so much. It itched like a mosquito biting my leg many times. Because of that, I never want to ski again. Yume, Japan
When My Brother Half Drowned Me When I was three years old, my brother flipped me over in a swimming pool. About seven years ago, my family and my cousin's family went to ‘Ryu-GuJyou’, a swimming pool, onsen, and a hotel place. Me, my cousin Yuka, my brother and my mom were swimming in this really big pool. My mom and I were floating in the deep side of the pool and my brother & Yuka played at the shallow end of the pool without floats. My mom called but they couldn’t hear what my mom said so it was too late. My brother walked slowly to the deep side. Only half of my brother's head was above the water. He looked as weird as the weirdest platypus you’ve ever seen! He went deeper and deeper. Finally his whole head was in the water and he panicked so he grabbed my floats! I flipped over so I half drowned and of course I cried really loud because I was really young. For a few seconds, everyone froze like a statue. Then, Yuka’s dad noticed so he dived into the pool and swam as fast as a shark. When he got to the place where me and my brother were screaming like 1million people cheering, he helped both of us up and did the superman pose! My brother and I were so creeped out but after a few minutes, we both went back into the pool. I forgot everything about what happened while I was in the pool but afterI got out, my face was like a squirrels’. My brother and Yuka put floats on after that so the same thing wont happen again. From then on, I didn’t trust my brother. Reo, Japan