Bottomless 4 oz. Glasses of Beer
Wednesday was when the personnel changes were announced. An official looking person came with the envelope from Kagoshima City to announce who would be promoted or relocated. I am not quite sure why the Japanese do this, but it seems that those who work for the Board of Education only have temporary contracts. So, usually after 3 years, they are transferred somewhere else with their children and spouse. It’s the same case for teachers. Because of the municipal merger between my town and Kaz’s, we lost our superintendent of schools. He will now be a school headmaster in Kagoshima City (not so bad if you ask me). However, he is a bit frightened about the idea of not being able to smoke. Although I don’t see why the headmasters are not allowed to smoke yet the teachers who interact with the students on a much closer level are allowed to do so with them. In any case, he is quite the character and I cannot see him in that role. Perhaps, it’s because all the principals I know are constantly gardening, visiting the children during lunch or hosting tea parties for visiting guests and unwanted salesmen.
During lunch at the Katos, Yu-chan received a phone call from an organic farmer that I had met during the Korean dancers’ homestay party. Yoshi-san is now hosting an American ALT from one of the prefectures near Tokyo. She is doing this as part of a non-profit organization type-thing where she works on his farm in exchange for a hospitable weekend in a different place. I met her yesterday during lunch. She seemed nice.
Wednesday afternoon, Cristina and I went to the Kanoya gym for our introduction to weight training safety. It went well except I still got the intimidating feeling every time I used a machine that faced the free weights. There are actually some Japanese people that are really muscular. Many of you wouldn’t believe it, but it’s true. However, I did not let it get the best of me. After Cristina and I took showers (separately), we had 100-yen sushi on the way home.
Thursday I had to go to Uchinoura Elementary School for their graduation. I really wanted to go to Kishira, but they made me go here because no other ALT has done so. (Do you see pushover written on my forehead too?) I had only met the 6th graders that were graduating once. Also, it was not as sad as the junior high ones because everyone will be moving together next year to junior high. My favorite part of the ceremony was when the graduates said their last words to the school. They shouted a long message bit by bit in small groups of 3 or 4. Then in the really heartfelt parts (i.e. sayonara = goodbye, sensei arigato gozaimashita = thank you teachers, tanoshikatta = I enjoyed my time here), they all repeated it together in unison. That really did almost make me break, but I held it together. The really cool part about this one, was that I sat at the very front of a very official looking table with a some labels and everything. I have never felt so important (that’s a lie, but you get the idea).
After the graduation, I had to change and run to Uchinoura Junior High for Shiraishi-sensei’s last class ever. She is retiring and moving up to Kumamoto to spend time with her new husband. Since it was her last class and it was with the first graders, we played basketball, volleyball and dodgeball in the school gym. Unfortunately, I didn’t score any points. After basketball, I was told that there would be a drinking party at 6PM for the superintendent’s farewell.
The enkai (drinking party) was interesting. Like most of these, everyone sat along long tables and drank out of small 4 oz. glasses and spoke Japanese. I was not very social this evening, so I just kept on sipping on my 4 oz. glass. In true Japanese fashion, it was refilled nearly after each sip by a willing neighbor at my table. I think without these 4 oz. glasses people may freak out that there will be nothing to do at the party and they may be forced to relax. Because I was a bit out of it, I was not as attentive as I should have been about refilling my neighbor's glasses. And may God help you if you try to refill your own. I livened up a bit after the party moved to the superintendent’s house. It ended at about 10:45. I managed to escape this one without being asked any rude questions. However, people did comment on my short sleeves on such a windy day. I explained that I was cold outside, but since we were inside during the party, I was not cold. So, I took off my jacket. They didn't seem to understand because they just kept on asking if I was cold. Who knows? Perhaps that was there way of telling me my nipples were showing, but I doubt it.
Today is the last day of school. However, I am not scheduled to teach so I am only sitting in my office typing away and surfing the net. Tonight I am driving to Kishira for their farewell enkai starting at 6 PM and then driving to Kanoya for Uchinoura Junior High’s farewell after-party (karaoke) at 9 PM. Cristina’s school’s farewell party will be in Kanoya tonight as well, so perhaps we will be able to meet up and take a daiko (taxi driver that takes you back in YOUR car for very little money) back to her house.
Saturday, we are heading to Osa’s house in Miyazaki for a secret mission (and so that Cristina can see a dentist). Easter Sunday we are going to have dinner at the Katos.
During lunch at the Katos, Yu-chan received a phone call from an organic farmer that I had met during the Korean dancers’ homestay party. Yoshi-san is now hosting an American ALT from one of the prefectures near Tokyo. She is doing this as part of a non-profit organization type-thing where she works on his farm in exchange for a hospitable weekend in a different place. I met her yesterday during lunch. She seemed nice.
Wednesday afternoon, Cristina and I went to the Kanoya gym for our introduction to weight training safety. It went well except I still got the intimidating feeling every time I used a machine that faced the free weights. There are actually some Japanese people that are really muscular. Many of you wouldn’t believe it, but it’s true. However, I did not let it get the best of me. After Cristina and I took showers (separately), we had 100-yen sushi on the way home.
Thursday I had to go to Uchinoura Elementary School for their graduation. I really wanted to go to Kishira, but they made me go here because no other ALT has done so. (Do you see pushover written on my forehead too?) I had only met the 6th graders that were graduating once. Also, it was not as sad as the junior high ones because everyone will be moving together next year to junior high. My favorite part of the ceremony was when the graduates said their last words to the school. They shouted a long message bit by bit in small groups of 3 or 4. Then in the really heartfelt parts (i.e. sayonara = goodbye, sensei arigato gozaimashita = thank you teachers, tanoshikatta = I enjoyed my time here), they all repeated it together in unison. That really did almost make me break, but I held it together. The really cool part about this one, was that I sat at the very front of a very official looking table with a some labels and everything. I have never felt so important (that’s a lie, but you get the idea).
After the graduation, I had to change and run to Uchinoura Junior High for Shiraishi-sensei’s last class ever. She is retiring and moving up to Kumamoto to spend time with her new husband. Since it was her last class and it was with the first graders, we played basketball, volleyball and dodgeball in the school gym. Unfortunately, I didn’t score any points. After basketball, I was told that there would be a drinking party at 6PM for the superintendent’s farewell.
The enkai (drinking party) was interesting. Like most of these, everyone sat along long tables and drank out of small 4 oz. glasses and spoke Japanese. I was not very social this evening, so I just kept on sipping on my 4 oz. glass. In true Japanese fashion, it was refilled nearly after each sip by a willing neighbor at my table. I think without these 4 oz. glasses people may freak out that there will be nothing to do at the party and they may be forced to relax. Because I was a bit out of it, I was not as attentive as I should have been about refilling my neighbor's glasses. And may God help you if you try to refill your own. I livened up a bit after the party moved to the superintendent’s house. It ended at about 10:45. I managed to escape this one without being asked any rude questions. However, people did comment on my short sleeves on such a windy day. I explained that I was cold outside, but since we were inside during the party, I was not cold. So, I took off my jacket. They didn't seem to understand because they just kept on asking if I was cold. Who knows? Perhaps that was there way of telling me my nipples were showing, but I doubt it.
Today is the last day of school. However, I am not scheduled to teach so I am only sitting in my office typing away and surfing the net. Tonight I am driving to Kishira for their farewell enkai starting at 6 PM and then driving to Kanoya for Uchinoura Junior High’s farewell after-party (karaoke) at 9 PM. Cristina’s school’s farewell party will be in Kanoya tonight as well, so perhaps we will be able to meet up and take a daiko (taxi driver that takes you back in YOUR car for very little money) back to her house.
Saturday, we are heading to Osa’s house in Miyazaki for a secret mission (and so that Cristina can see a dentist). Easter Sunday we are going to have dinner at the Katos.
posted by Jesse Montano at
9:47 AM
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