Archive for June, 2006
I have been asked by half of my readership (that’s you, Sarah) to post something from our Kyushu road trip last Golden Week. Alas, I don’t have those pictures on my computer at the moment, so here is something from our previous Kyushu road trip from Golden Week the year before last. Yes, we’re quite original when it comes to trip planning. I must say, though, that I’ve seen more of this island than probably 99% of the residents here, which earns me a little respect when they ask me where I’ve been in Japan. It’s interesting how all of our travels somehow revolve around wild monkeys. It seems to be a prerequisite for any location we consider vacationing in– abundance of wild monkeys. Some people go for the beaches, others for the food, and then there’s us; we go for the semi-domesticated wild animals. I will post evidence soon. Until then, please enjoy this large-costumed employee at one of Beppu’s “hells.” These are intolerably hot onsens, so instead of bathing in them we stand around looking at them. I’m not sure what the costumed man has to do with onsens, but I’m sure it had something to do with the cute factor, marketability, and the problems surrounding exactly how to make a keitai jangle out of a pool of water.
June 30th, 2006
So today I left Takeuchi Elementary School for the very last time. It’s strange to know I’ll never be back, after spending two years with these kids. The school had a really sweet goodbye ceremony for me, involving songs, speeches (almost cried, but kept replaying the moment when I was jump-kicked by a sprinting fourth-grader just moments before the ceremony), a giant boquet of flowers, books of hand-written letters from every student, and an A4-sized framed sketch of MY FACE. Drawn by the principal of the school. Freaky, definitely, but an incredibly thoughtful gesture. Makes the store-bought tub of chocolate I gave to the teachers and staff in return look pretty laaaame.
June 29th, 2006
Or then again, don’t. I love how Japan has dances that everyone seems to know and everyone looks good doing. What have we got in the US? The chicken dance? It’s well-known but certainly doesn’t count as graceful or tasteful, nor does the electric slide, macarena, or those adorable little routines the Backstreet Boys used to do (way above my level of dancing anyway). I suppose this could be the reason why summer sends fatty Americans to the backyard with a beer instead of to the streets to dance– because we’ve got nothing better than the chicken dance! Although, it would be hilarious to see hundreds of grandmotherly-types waddling like hens and flapping their elbows.
June 28th, 2006
Awful form, sure, but he got bonus points for the quantity. And one can never forget the most important criterion in the Japanese educational system: Was properly dressed for the task at hand! Ankle zippers securely zipped, white T-shirt not visible, shoelaces tied. Well done! B+!
June 27th, 2006
I have heard, from the educational source that is the Discovery Channel, that part of the reason sumo is declining in popularity among students in club activities is because of the uniform, or lack thereof. Kids in baseball club as early as elementary school get the whole little get-up with button-up jerseys, school team caps, knee socks with fake little stirrup thingies, and even I must admit they’re very becoming. Sumo kids, though, practice in a mawashi and jump around in the dirt carrying bowling balls. In junior high especially, this is not the best way to impress the ladies. And so it goes, the kids choose the “cool” sports over the traditional ones. Every spring, though, the schools force tradition upon the kids as all students take part in a sumo tournament. It is an absolutely adorable experience to watch all the skinny little kids duke it out on the dohyo, trying to pick off their classmates in order to win a plastic baggie full of crusty mochi. Here are a bunch of my junior high boys, maintaining their modesty by wearing the lovely combination of gym shorts and mawashi.
June 26th, 2006
Sure, our apartment is tiny, the floor nearly gives out if you stand in a specific spot in the kitchen, it reeks of dead fish from the fish market below, but man has it got a fantastic view! Being on the third floor takes us above the majority of town (sad, I know), so we can see pretty much everything. I’m definitely going to miss the mountains when I get home. (I have been told by people who live near “actual mountains” that Takeo is surrounded by hills, but to this Iowa girl they’re beautiful, majestic mountains.)
June 25th, 2006
Ah, back when Japan had a chance in the World Cup. These dudes came out to the racetrack with about half the town on Sunday night to cheer on Japan during the match versus Croatia and watch the game on a giant screen TV. It was a crazy atmosphere with the young and the drunk chanting “Nippon! Nippon!” in front of so many TV camera crews and spotlights that it was impossible to actually focus on the soccer game. The mayor appeared trashed and was prancing around in his black crocs waving the Japanese flag, embarassing himself by trying to dance (I blushed on his behalf). Sadly, though, we were all disappointed and amazed with Japan’s suckitude when we neither won nor lost (but obviously it was enough to lose in the end). How pathetic, Japan. I will also note that since I am American, it was the first real soccer game I had ever seen from start to finish. Pretty anticlimactic, but the cheering was good! It should also be noted that I have no idea who these guys are, but since I am leaving the country and the hemisphere in a matter of weeks, I’ve become quite bold and have taken to doing whatever I please whenever I wish to. It’s very liberating!
June 24th, 2006
When it comes to cute, every ALT believes that he or she has got the cutest. Not so, my friends, because mine are the cutest out there. The Board of Ed rounded up the adorable ones, stuck them in four selective elementary schools, and gave them to me. It’s true. I’ve spent a long time nurturing and encouraging The Cute too, so I believe I can be thanked for part of it. For example, I have taught them all how to high-five. When I walk down the hall it’s like the end of a giant peewee soccer game– kids are high-fiving left and right. I’ve also taught them that shoving their fingers up my butt (ah, the kancho) detracts from The Cute, so with the exception of one somewhat unique child, I have curbed that behavior completely. Nothin’ but cute left over.
June 23rd, 2006
I’ve been given some pretty weird things here, but I’ve got to say that fresh picked seaweed definitely ranks near the top. This batch was given to me by my eikaiwa (English conversation) student and great friend, Etsuko. Etsuko and Yuka have been my students for nearly three years now, and together they make the best stand-in mother a girl could hope for. It’s a rare week when I don’t come home from class without my bag stuffed with goodies: a bag of fresh onions Etsuko got from a friend, fresh loquat from Yuka, and then of course the seaweed. Etsuko actually went to the beach, stuffed half a year’s worth of wakame in shopping bags (for a Japanese person this is a LOT), and stuck it in the hotel refrigerator. Apparently this is normal. She recommended that in the off chance we couldn’t finish the fresh wakame in a week’s time, we should hang it out on the laundry line to dry it so we could save it for later. Um, we’re still saving it… (September 2004)
June 22nd, 2006
Who would have thought that so many people wanted to run for office in Takeo! Forty-three candidates for what I believe to be city council and two for mayor. I was rather torn when it came to the mayoral race, as I had bonded (read: gotten drunk) with the past mayor of Takeo. The competition, though, Mr. Hiwatashi, was our upstairs neighbor. Oh, the dilemma! Well, the ballots were cast and counted, and our young friend Mr. Hiwatashi emerged the champion. He’s the best (and youngest) mayor ever! Sometimes he brings us food! We played ground golf with his adorable wife! Either way, it’s good to be connected to the rich and powerful of town, especially in a yakuza neighborhood.
June 21st, 2006
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