It’s been awhile since my Hiroshima trip. I would like to say this past month has been jam packed with activities, but I’m afraid this month has mostly been work related. However, it’s not to say I haven’t done anything.
School hasn’t really been all that exciting. A week after I came back from Hiroshima, my Uonome Junior High school had a major observation day. That day had people coming from the mainland to watch our classes first hand. I think the only ones they observed where the PE and Science classes. I had free time during those demonstrations, so I decided to watch the PE class.
The first year kids were used as the observation class. They’re supposed to show a normal, daily routine of the gym class. However, they prepared a special class for the observation day. It was actually somewhat organized! Usually when I watch, they do some running, stretching, main activity (which consisted of the teacher deciding what game to play then), then cool downs. This observation class had stuff written down on the board and timers to decide exactly how much time is dedicated to an activity.
I think there were more observers than students. The school has 63 some kids in it, while 100+ observers came to watch. I was lucky enough to catch the date of this observation day so that I came in a nice shirt and tie. The days are cold enough that I just throw on khakis a regular sweater and just go to class with my jacket on.
The weekend of December 1st was relaxed compared to my normal weekends. This particular weekend was the first time I went up to the cemetery in my town. The cemetery is located on a hilltop overlooking Aokata. It was a beautiful view! During the Obon festival, people would come here to light firecrackers to celebrate their departed loved ones. I also got a lot of exciting things done like get a haircut, grocery shopping, and cleaning the apartment. I know, I live on the edge. The Sunday of that weekend, the ALTs went to an orphanage near Tainora to do a Christmas show for the kids. They had the guys wear Santa suits and me playing the trombone again. Yes folks, I started playing trombone after 8-9 years of not playing.
The group that involved us in the orphanage outing is a music group called First Step. The band consists of a saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet, keyboards, drums, and a synthesizer. We were the “singers” for the event. We did Christmas carols for the children.
I’ve never been in an orphanage before and was pretty surprised at the number of kids occupying it. I was told that some parents left the kids because they couldn’t support them. It really saddened me but their cheerful faces made it more bearable. They weren’t afraid to get to know us either. They asked us to play with them as soon as we finished and even sat around when we were talking amongst ourselves.
The following Tuesday was another school event, making mochi. The only bad thing about the whole event was the weather. We were outside inn 40 degree weather with nothing more than my work clothes and a spring jacket. Luckily one of the processes of making mochi is to make fire to steam it. It wasn’t surprising that it was everyone’s favorite process as they all huddled together by the fire. I found myself standing there most of the time only leaving to cough up my lung from the smoke. The mocha making took up most of the morning.
The following Friday was the day of the end of the year party for my adult conversation class. We had it at a restaurant in Aokata. I wish I remembered the name of the place, all I know that it was across from the Arcadia Bar. Everyone had a great time and the students even gave us teachers Christmas presents. I think I got the coolest one with my dragonball towel and a nice black scarf. Joe sprained his ankle the night before, so we had him hopping around with a sprained ankle. After the party, some of them wanted to go drinking more. However, I had my fill of alcohol for the night. Also, I had to take care of Joe and Andrea as we all piled into Mrs. Mizorogi’s car and drove us to my apartment. That night we watched “Naked Weapon” and “Street Fighter w/ Sonny Chiba”. Nothing like watching B rated kung fu flicks drunk. I don’t think any of us made it to the end of Street fighter as we all fell asleep.
The next morning we took Joe to Arikawa hospital to get his ankle checked out. He got out with a bad 1st degree sprain, a crutch, and a cool bracer for it. Urahama sensei, Kimi-san, and Miki-san came by the hospital to make sure everything was ok. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen the first two, and was nice to somewhat catch up on things.
The next Tuesday (December 11) was my elementary school Christmas party at Kita Uonome ES. Although it was only 45 minutes, it was so much fun. They had me MC the event. The first game we played had us do a chant and dance in front of the kids. After that I would yell an English word (animals) and they would see how many letters that word has. They then would try to get in groups with the same number. I had no clue what they did on the second game, only that they were doing janken and forming human trains.
On the 16th was the Christmas party with the neighborhood kids near Kita Uonome ES. It was the same group that we did Halloween in.
Today is now the 18th and I’m finished with my classes for the day. I’m looking forward for the Christmas parties in the next week. Hopefully I’ll be able to remember enough to write it down.
