Shoot! Yum! Snip! Dance!
Like most of the other weekends this winter, this one has been pretty low-key. First, let me begin by sharing with you my time in Kishira Junior High on Friday. Usually a few times a year, a group of students prepare some kind of original game for the students and teachers to play. Last time it was a combination of arm wrestling and some kind of cap and chair game. This time it was paper-plane football. You are probably wondering what the heck is paper-plane football. (Actually, you’re probably not but I am going to pretend you are and tell you anyway.)
Basically, there are 4 teams. The teams face each other two at a time with the victor going on to the next round. One member of the offensive team has to make a paper plane and throw it into the gym. The other members of the offensive team have to catch the plane with a large piece of bamboo with a garbage bag stretched out like a basket at its end. The entire defensive team runs around with fans trying to blow the plane in the wrong direction. It was actually quite fun and humorous. Our team was definitely not the favorite because our plane didn’t exactly go very far like the others. However, it was our team – kira kira -- that won with good strategy. I was really excited and I got some highlighters and a Mickey box out of it. I have some pictures that will hopefully help you imagine it. No teams actually ever made it to the goal, but our team made it closest and made the most baskets (or downs).
Friday night I met with Cristina at her neighborhood’s recreation center/meeting room to watch some of her practice and meet with the men (who had apparently been asking for me). It was really funny because after practice ended all the women and children left and it was only me and about 20 Japanese men and Cristina. I told Cristina that it was weird how they regarded her more different than the Japanese women because she was foreign. It was almost like if she was there for their entertainment like a geisha of sorts. I would be more worried if there weren’t men from her office there that were so protective of her, not that these men were not respectful. I think they just wanted to treat the foreigner to some snacks and shochu. However, since we do not drink shochu, they actually ran (since they could not drive) to a store or vending machine to buy some beer for us. By the time Cristina and I made it home, we literally passed out because of how drunk we were off of only 2.5 beers. Cristina says it’s because we’re turning Japanese (she really thinks so).
Saturday all we did was relax and do some shopping in Kanoya. Cristina also made some Tiramisu for that night’s dinner at Jill’s. She figured out how to use the microwave/oven/toaster apparatus as an oven and made some lady fingers for the Tiramisu. She experimented with a different recipe than she usually used. I liked this one better than the other because of the sweetness factor.
Anyway, at Jill’s we ate some great lasagna. Osa and Laura were also there. We watched some Family Guy, which I had never seen before. However, the highlight of the evening was probably when I got a haircut from Osa. I had mentioned how I had wanted one and asked Osa if she could do it. She said sure and that she had brought her scissors with her. So, we decided not to prolong it any longer and do it right in Jill’s bathroom. Needless to say, I have short hair now. I actually surprised my office by coming in today clean shaven and with short hair. They taught me like 8 different words for handsome and kept on saying good boy and nice guy. I think I got the hint.
Sunday, Cristina woke up at 7:00 AM and went to the Kawanishi Rec Center to get dressed for her dance. I woke up at 10:00 AM and tried to contact her to meet her but she didn’t take her phone. I drove around trying to look for big groups of people dancing, but I couldn’t. This surprised me especially because Higashi-Kushira is not that big. However, around 4:00 PM I heard chanting outside the house and looked outside the window. It was the troop dancing at the neighbor’s house. I hurried outside and then they stopped outside Cristina’s house and did it for me. All the people were in order of height but the men moved Cristina and her group up to the front so that I could see her well (I presume). She says she messed up in front of me but I could not tell. When she finished, she said she was really tired and kept on moving to the next house. At the end of the whole thing, Cristina got $100 and explained to me the gist of the thing. She said that people split up into groups and do it for the whole day in front of several hundred houses and a main shrine. In exchange they get treats and shochu and money for their efforts. It is a cross between Christmas caroling and Trick or Treat-ing. They asked her if she would do it again next year. She said yes.
Sunday night, we made some mimosas and watched some 24. Kaz came over and we just relaxed and spoke about each other’s weekends. She had gone to a hike in Kirishima organized by Miyazaki Jets that we were told was too full to get into. Kaz told us that not enough people went and they even had to cancel a room. Oh well, we are going to go the weekend after next with other Kagoshima Jets. It doesn’t seem as well organized as this past trip, but it will probably be just as fun.
Oh, by the way, the work was completed in my house. It looks great and where there is rotten wood there is now formica type stuff. It may have just covered the rotten wood, but hey, at least I don't have to look at it and see it rotting underneath masking tape. Now, for some lunch at the Katos'...
Basically, there are 4 teams. The teams face each other two at a time with the victor going on to the next round. One member of the offensive team has to make a paper plane and throw it into the gym. The other members of the offensive team have to catch the plane with a large piece of bamboo with a garbage bag stretched out like a basket at its end. The entire defensive team runs around with fans trying to blow the plane in the wrong direction. It was actually quite fun and humorous. Our team was definitely not the favorite because our plane didn’t exactly go very far like the others. However, it was our team – kira kira -- that won with good strategy. I was really excited and I got some highlighters and a Mickey box out of it. I have some pictures that will hopefully help you imagine it. No teams actually ever made it to the goal, but our team made it closest and made the most baskets (or downs).
Friday night I met with Cristina at her neighborhood’s recreation center/meeting room to watch some of her practice and meet with the men (who had apparently been asking for me). It was really funny because after practice ended all the women and children left and it was only me and about 20 Japanese men and Cristina. I told Cristina that it was weird how they regarded her more different than the Japanese women because she was foreign. It was almost like if she was there for their entertainment like a geisha of sorts. I would be more worried if there weren’t men from her office there that were so protective of her, not that these men were not respectful. I think they just wanted to treat the foreigner to some snacks and shochu. However, since we do not drink shochu, they actually ran (since they could not drive) to a store or vending machine to buy some beer for us. By the time Cristina and I made it home, we literally passed out because of how drunk we were off of only 2.5 beers. Cristina says it’s because we’re turning Japanese (she really thinks so).
Saturday all we did was relax and do some shopping in Kanoya. Cristina also made some Tiramisu for that night’s dinner at Jill’s. She figured out how to use the microwave/oven/toaster apparatus as an oven and made some lady fingers for the Tiramisu. She experimented with a different recipe than she usually used. I liked this one better than the other because of the sweetness factor.
Anyway, at Jill’s we ate some great lasagna. Osa and Laura were also there. We watched some Family Guy, which I had never seen before. However, the highlight of the evening was probably when I got a haircut from Osa. I had mentioned how I had wanted one and asked Osa if she could do it. She said sure and that she had brought her scissors with her. So, we decided not to prolong it any longer and do it right in Jill’s bathroom. Needless to say, I have short hair now. I actually surprised my office by coming in today clean shaven and with short hair. They taught me like 8 different words for handsome and kept on saying good boy and nice guy. I think I got the hint.
Sunday, Cristina woke up at 7:00 AM and went to the Kawanishi Rec Center to get dressed for her dance. I woke up at 10:00 AM and tried to contact her to meet her but she didn’t take her phone. I drove around trying to look for big groups of people dancing, but I couldn’t. This surprised me especially because Higashi-Kushira is not that big. However, around 4:00 PM I heard chanting outside the house and looked outside the window. It was the troop dancing at the neighbor’s house. I hurried outside and then they stopped outside Cristina’s house and did it for me. All the people were in order of height but the men moved Cristina and her group up to the front so that I could see her well (I presume). She says she messed up in front of me but I could not tell. When she finished, she said she was really tired and kept on moving to the next house. At the end of the whole thing, Cristina got $100 and explained to me the gist of the thing. She said that people split up into groups and do it for the whole day in front of several hundred houses and a main shrine. In exchange they get treats and shochu and money for their efforts. It is a cross between Christmas caroling and Trick or Treat-ing. They asked her if she would do it again next year. She said yes.
Sunday night, we made some mimosas and watched some 24. Kaz came over and we just relaxed and spoke about each other’s weekends. She had gone to a hike in Kirishima organized by Miyazaki Jets that we were told was too full to get into. Kaz told us that not enough people went and they even had to cancel a room. Oh well, we are going to go the weekend after next with other Kagoshima Jets. It doesn’t seem as well organized as this past trip, but it will probably be just as fun.
Oh, by the way, the work was completed in my house. It looks great and where there is rotten wood there is now formica type stuff. It may have just covered the rotten wood, but hey, at least I don't have to look at it and see it rotting underneath masking tape. Now, for some lunch at the Katos'...
posted by Jesse Montano at
10:03 AM
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