fuyu fubar

Jim had his 3rd annual fuyu fubar party at his swanky pad. Fuyu is spring in Japanese and fubar is an acronym for getting drunk that I will not relay at this time. Anyhow, basically a big potluck to celebrate the end of winter and beginning of spring. I decided to make taco salad which turned out surprisingly well except I had to crush up taco shells because I couldn't find taco chips and you can't find cheese graters in this country so Scott and Noriko shave blocks of cheese by hand. God knows I was not going to do it. I decided I was going to bring my educator skills to the party and teach the Japanese (and Americans) some good ol' fashion Saskatchewan drinking games. It has been a long time for me but I dredged my memory for the rules to pyramid. The Nihonjin were not very good at lying or catching others in a lie which made for much drinking on their part. Aiko is almost purple in this picture. There is apparently a medical explanation for why Japanese people get so red but I won't bore you with it. Next we moved on to quarter bounce. Unfortunately it was not completely authentic as we used an American quarter but it was still good fun and of course I rocked it.

James finally caught on in the end.

I also made my Japanese version of rice crispy cake which is any cereal I can find and marshmallows. They don't eat much cereal here because breakfast is exactly the same as other meals with rice, miso soup and fish so rice crispies are very difficult to come by. I also added chocolate chips for some extra flavour but many of the Japanese people said it was too sweet (they don't like much sweet food). I was slightly insulted and then I tried it and thought the same. Misael and a few others loved it so perhaps I will make it again.

Dad you should be proud of me I introduced them to the Lemon Hart Rum. There is a foreign food store in the city where you can buy any alcohol and so I brought this to the party as well. Tsubo really enjoyed it and shared the bottle with me.

Iwan and Misael both decided to shave their heads, perhaps for the onset of sweat season. Iwan unfortunately had a mishap and shaved a chunk almost completely off in the back. To the great amusement of others he didn't realize this and was visiting the local izakaya before someone pointed it out to him.

These pictures are from the Tsubo and if you think I was taking pictures of my food for arrogance sake, I was not. Japanese people, for whatever reason, love to take pictures of food.

shaker

Yesterday I experienced my first real earthquake. There had been a tiny aftershock earlier this year but this was the first I could really feel. It occurred in the Sea of Japan near Ishikawa prefecture and killed one person, injured 170. I was at a friends house at the time and it was an interesting sensation. His light (a chandelier type) started swaying wildly and then the whole house was swaying slightly. It was not so serious that anything fell but the building strangely felt like it was made of jelly. There were a few aftershocks that I felt later that night, as well. It was a pretty interesting experience somewhat like a carnival ride. I feel slightly bad saying that because a person died but having lived in the middle of a tectonic plate my whole life I have never experienced anything of the sort. Quite a few building were destroyed and some roads were cracked in Ishikawa. Ishikawa is approximately 250 km away from Niigata.

country roads

Well I had my elementary graduation today and I was somewhat looking forward to it because I assumed it would be less formal and slightly more interesting. wrong. It was almost exactly the same as the junior high one except for a small portion at the end where the other students yelled out memories and encouragements to the 6th graders. That would have been really sweet and all but they have practiced it more than ten times so I am sure they are sick of listening to it.

Switching slightly - Japan has an obsession for the song Country Roads by John Denver. Before coming here I knew who John Denver was perhaps because of the plane crash but I had no idea he sang this song (and I had no idea I even knew it). Country Roads is what passes for country music in Japan and inevitably they will mention it if you are from North America. I have been prompted to sing it a few times at karaoke but I think Jimmy must have the words down pat.

Switch back - there I was enjoying my 6th grade graduation ceremony (almost sleeping) when they finally start the procession out of the gym. The song was an instrumental and sounded familiar but I could place it until I began humming it and I realize...yep you guessed it Country Road. I almost laughed but it actually was kind of nice performed with a guitar and harp. Crazy Japan!

nother eventful weekend

The musical is finally finished! We had our last performance in Shibata last Saturday with a makeshift black plastic curtain and minimal lighting but it is OVER! After we had a final fundraiser for Papa New Guinea at Immigrants. It was an early St. Patrick's day party because those going to P & G would miss the actual day! Almost everyone was decked out in green wonderfulness and there was green beer in abundance!

Pre-party picture.

On the train! Nice thing about trains and Japan is you can drink on route to the party!

I think the theme for this photo was "tough" but Johanna was the only who got it right.

Whenever I encounter Shanna at a party her line is always "Let's take a Canadian picture" so here are a couple of interesting "Canadian pictures".

I had heard about many Japanese men being slightly perverted ie, stealing women's underwear from their clothing lines, grabbing bums on the trains and vending machines that sell used women's underwear. Personally I haven't encountered anything of the sort but this weekend was to be an exception. Now before any details don't worry for me I am bigger and stronger than most Japanese men and am not worried for myself in any way (mom... I take karate). Anyhow, the first encounter occurred the night of the party. We walked to Johanna's car and noticed the car next ours was slightly steamed up. Initially figured it was a couple and was prepared to ignore but someone noticed it was a solitary man enjoying himself in flagrant display. Not only was he highly visible but he was wearing fishnet stockings and a pink camisole? Courageous girls, liberally doused with alcohol decided to knock on the window but to our great surprise and amusement he must have been too involved. What can you even say about this?

Anyhow the next day we went to a giant phallus festival and more antics ensued. I am too lazy to write about it and Pamela summed it up nicely so here is the link to her blog.

http://youdswearihadnothinbettertobedoin.blogspot.com/2007/03/hodare-matsuri.html

graduation

This week my san nensei's (grade 9) graduated from junior high and it was an interesting affair. It was practiced numerous times before the actual day to look as mechanical as possible. The program consisted of the school song, Japan's national anthem, presentation of the certificates, speech by some old guy, speech by another old guy, speech by another old guy, speech by the principal, speech by a san nensei boy and a traditional Japanese song. It was so boring and formalized that not a single student cried and it seemed to be more about celebrating certain of the town's members than the actual students. We had a leaving party for the students earlier and it was much more like my graduation although coming from a small town I am sure mine was much different the most. Anyhow, the tears flowed and the student made me cry, it was great!

Some of the girls!

A couple of my favourite boys!

My optional English group. Sentaku!

The teachers had an enkai that night to celebrate the onerous preparations for graduation (please detect the sarcasm). It was at a beautiful old Japanese house where we were served French cuisine! It was pretty good if expensive but the last course was some of the most amazing steak I have ever had ( or perhaps it is due to the lack in recent days). However, I was getting annoyed because many were too worried about drinking to finish their delicious meat and much went to waste when I could have used a larger helping. Anyhow it was a good time and I was able to teacher a course on wine service!

snowy snowy snow

Well, we have finally had a decent snowfall and I thought winter was over for sure when a couple of days ago it got up to 15 C. I have been very disappointed with this winter because the people around here are constantly bragging how much snow they have and complaining about the THREE WHOLE months of winter. Thus far it hasn't even felt like winter with the temperature barely breaking -1 and no snow to speak of. That has changed with one night of snowfall measuring around 40 cm or 15 inches. All people large and small drag out their rubbery winter boots and wear them regardless of their outfit (many ladies were cleaning their cars in skirts and boots). Also the strange people walk around with umbrellas IN THE SNOW! Sure the snow is heavy but it is not that wet. I hadn't planned on the time it would take me to clean off my car and I was almost late for work! This is my car slightly visible beneath the snow.

With all the snow a couple teachers and I decided to have a snowball fight after school. The teams were made and given the glorious names of Anaconda (in Latin Eurectes which they thought we used) and Big Buddha. We only lasted a couple of rounds of capture the flag and we were beat but it was alot of fun. My team was victorious on both occasions! This is my kyoto-sensei (vice-principal) and I. Although it looks it, he is not taller than me.

The participants soaking wet with frozen fingers and wet flags.

boarding

After the wonderfully late night of karaoke I was able to drag my weary body to the slopes and get in some snowboarding since it was Wakabuna's last day open . Slackers such as Kristen, Pamela, and Kat kept their sorry asses indoors. Poor them because it was a beautiful day although the snow was slightly melting but good nonetheless.

Rosalynn, Evan and I

Looking quite a bit like a fish out of water. I am Canadian...I should be in my element. Everyone always assumes I should be a decent snowboarder and Iwan doesn't help since he's great but he grew up an hour from the mountains. It is hard to get through to people especially Japanese that the mountains are very very very far from Regina.

And Evan is going in for the kiss!

Minori and I


Now I'll just hold a piece of lettuce by his ear because that is the cool thing to do.

busy weekend!

Another musical weekend but with two shows on one day! I think we pulled it off well and hopefully made a bunch of money for Papa New Guinea. Had quite a few limitations with the lights but made it work. Murakami theatre would not be anywhere close to safety standards in North America, though! I had to walk the catwalks to adjust some lights and the railing and safety bars were pretty much nonexistent. Luckily I am not afraid of heights. With a musical in Murikami comes nomihodai karaoke! We had the same large room as before and karaoked into the night!

Pam, Glen and I the blue eyed crew!

Play that guitar!

Not sure what we were singing but I think it was an oldie! Not my best angle, haha.

Had to include this one because Deccy looks like some strung out junkie!

hinamatsuri

Hinamatsuri falls on the third day of the third month and is a festival for girls. All Japanese houses that have daughters living under their roof display a set of ornamental dolls meant to represent the Emperor and Empress in the traditional dress of the Heian period (794-1185 CE). Apparently as long as a daughter lives these displays are set up. Traditionally the dolls would contain bad spirit and would be sent down a river or out to sea taking bad spirits with them. Now it is simply tradition although there is a superstition that if the doors to the display are not closed by the night of March 4th the daughter will marry late. This is the display of my Japanese tutor (which she said is very small) with her daughters Chihiro and Emiko.

The displays can have up to six tiers with different figurines on each level. First has the emperor and empress, second has court ladies with sake, third has five male musicians, fourth and fifth typically have furniture, trees and food. The empress wears a 12 layer kimono which although beautiful would make her look like a brightly coloured pillow when standing, I imagine. My tutor disagreed and simply said it would be heavy.

dodgeball

For many of my elementary English classes lately my JTE has us playing dodge ball. I am fine with this because it gets the kids excited and me out of a chair. Also, I think it is easier for them to learn when they have a motor association behind the word such as throw, catch, etc. However, they play with a few different rules here or perhaps some I simply have never encountered but new to me. Save the queen - one person is the queen and if they are hit the game is over. I like to think of the queen as the 8 ball although you want to sink it. Of course I have to be the queen every time and because there is only one of me one team has it worse than the other. Though, I suppose, I make up for it in the end because I am worth more points if I am not hit. Anyhow, being queen is a difficult and restricting role. Instead of the others who get to throw the ball and attempt to catch it and generally have fun, I must stay out of the way of the ball and avoid it. Also all the little girls attempt to protect me by throwing their young little bodies in the path of oncoming balls, like the secret service for the president, but they often just get in my way and do not allow me any freedom of movement. Conclusion dodge ball fun- being Queen not so much.

taiko

Taiko literally means fat drum. It is the Japanese art form of drumming. Initially the drums had been used in battle to muster troops and set marching beats but since the 1950's many taiko groups have formed and become popular around the world. I had seen an amazing performance by a group in Canada and was interested in trying my hand at it.

Evan and I have gone to taiko for the last couple of months in kamikawa. I don't believe we have learned anything because most of the time we just huddle around the kerosene heater while the other taiko members smoke but it has its interesting moments. The language exchange is always interesting! The sensei has it in his head that soft and slow are the same word so we often get confused as to what he really want us to do.

Sunday was our first performance with the taiko group and I honestly think the only reason we were there was to attract people with the foreign factor. We were stuck in the back and we really were only the beat keepers. Now don't get me wrong I know it is an important job but I think we could have handled a bit more. Anyhow, funny now that I am writing I realize I don't even know our groups name...but whatever it is we have ugly costumes. Evan's JTE had been coming to taiko with us but she quit because she did not want to wear the costume. It is not bad enough for me to quit but having seen other taiko costumes ours is kind of the computer geek of the taiko world. Oh well...the performance went well. Evan said he messed up but I didn't hear him so it was probably okay.

The beginning - we got to use the big drum!

Seiji is the one with the crazy hair and he is probably the best of the group.

Aren't we menacing.

It was a snow festival (without snow) and a group of ladies danced after us.