School has been moving along at a normal pace; however, midterms are coming up for the students so I spent the past week preparing test questions for my classes. The students are hilarious, although you can't really tell in class most of the time since they are always so sleepy. They often talk to me outside of class, and I have had some fun conversations with quite a few of them. Two girls in the English Club I help with, spent the entire club time teaching me Japanese slang, which I suppose defeats the purpose of English club... but I don't really think so since they spend much of the time attempting to talk to me in English, and I teach them new words and how to explain things in English.
A fun event my school just had that I believe most, if not all, Japanese high schools have is the Sports Festival. The students are divided into color teams, one homeroom from each grade level (1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year). They then compete in various events over the course of the day (and believe me, it is a LONG day - it reminded me of a track meet). The teachers also competed in the 800 meter relay, well, the young teachers and the principal. I got the fun job of running 100 meters, (one other teacher did 100, the rest did 50 meters). Now, it has been some time since I have been in any kind of running shape, let alone sprinting shape. I have been running the past week and a half to try to get into some kind of shape, but today I am so sore it really hurts to do anything and everything. The students were all so excited to see me though, as they started the race (we ran with the girls, and they all beat us). I was standing on the opposite side of the track, in my lane, waiting just like old times for a baton pass - and all the students were exclaiming in surprise "ASHURII?????" since I was running. One girl asked if I was nervous, and the funny thing was, I actually did feel a bit nervous (a conditioned response to races I reasoned). The two girls from English club yelled from the sidelines and did a slang term and hand motion they taught me, so I responded in kind. Another girl got really excited and was saying "FIGHTO FIGHTO!!!!" (Translation: fight, fight). I think in my entire running career never have I felt like such a celebrity.
Now, the events the students do are pretty crazy. I will have pictures posted in my web albums, but along with normal running relays they had a strange relay where at every interval, the students have to spin around a bat (their head on the bat) until they are dizzy and then do whatever activity they were at. First, potato sack, then tire roll, then, stick their face in a bowl of flour and dig something out with their mouth, then crawl under a fish net, push a wheelbarrow full of athletic balls, and finally, the last student has to become dizzy and jump up and grab a piece of food hanging from a long stick with their MOUTH. Oh my, I had a good laugh watching as students surged from spinning and then start weaving all over the track and falling and tripping over each other. Another event required students to throw these sock/beanbag type things into baskets suspended into the air, yes akin to basketball - but it reminded me of popcorn popping watching all these white things flying in the air, up and down. Something I found incredibly interesting, was an event where they take a bunch of tires and pile them up in the middle of the field. Then, 3 or 4 teams of girls race to the middle and try to get as many tires to their corner as possible before time is up. Of course, they all are going crazy and watching them fight over the tires, where you've got 5 girls from two different teams both pulling on a tire and trying to drag it to THEIR side.
Jump rope. A LONG rope. The entire class jumps with two guys swinging the rope. I actually had a chance to do this at our prefectural orientation a couple months ago... and it is very hard, and we only had 10 people jumping... the students' classes are about 40 kids each. So the point is to see how many times they can jump without stopping. Oh and, not to forget tug-of-war either, where a decent chunk of the class all gets on one side of the rope and pull against another class and tries to get the front person to step over the line. There are probably some events that have slipped my mind... but the principal and some teachers came up and asked me if they did things like this in America. I laughed, and said not in high school. At least, I've never seen some of these events done anywhere at all, but who knows, those people in Kansas or some mid-western state might have nothing better to do. (And if you are from Kansas or some mid-western state you can correct me if I'm wrong on this).
I had the chance to go to an art and craft fair in Hamamatsu last weekend. There were so many amazing crafts I was completely in awe just walking around and looking. I came up with all these ideas for when I do actually have a house someday... but I especially loved the wood dishes, as they were so beautiful and simple. There were also very beautiful ceramic dishes and I am just sorry I did not take any pictures. Of course, since we aren't sure where we'll be living or for how long for the next year or two, I have to hold out on buying much of that kind of thing. I did however, get some nice wooden chopsticks (no not like they kind they give you at Asian restaurants) and some chopstick holders that look like kitties. (I couldn't resist!)
Today was my adventure to a dentist in Nagoya, since I need to have a crown replaced. I'm still a bit nervous about all that but more or less I was excited today that I was able to get there just fine. I have never used the subway here before and had to use it, but all went well, no hang-ups, and I was quite proud of myself. I then had to wander for awhile trying to find the office, and was actually feeling rather relieved that I didn't find it, and considered going to cut my hair instead. Well... then I basically ran into the office, just there in front of my face, and I told David (since I was IM'ing him on my cool phone) "Crap, I actually found it." Then, the dentist runs out to greet me, so, there wasn't time to reconsider or turn and run away. They also had really cool water things on the chair where you take the cup and rinse and spit while the water is running (automatically turns on when you pick up the cup) and then when you set the cup back down it fills up again. I was astounded, and had to rinse a few times just to entertain myself.
To add to my excitement, I was able to purchase Shinkansen tickets without writing the information down today. Yes, that means I was able to communicate in Japanese without stuttering through things or forgetting things or awkward pauses and filled-silence-gestures... I honestly feel that being here really is just improving my Japanese without even trying... and since I spend most of my time around Japanese people, I think it really sinks in, especially listening and understanding, since that is what I struggle with the most.
In conclusion, the bugs have decided to wave the white flag for now. Although there are these giant moths outside that look like freakishly large leaves, but they seem to just stick to the wall and never move. I'll try to take a picture one of these days so you can see what these beastly things look like. I have the slightest feeling though these bugs are all plotting an invasion, and it could happen at any moment... so, I must keep quiet about this for now, and if you have a good defense plan, please be sure and e-mail me.
The good, the bad, the amusing, the interesting - what else can I say? Oh, Japan....
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