Kois of Summer

Japanese Word of the Day:

English: Cell Phone
Japanese: Ketai  (ケータイ)

I know the timeline for this blog is kind of funky since I keep hopping around. I wanted to touch on two more events from my first week of being in Ujitawara that I didn’t get to in my 3 part intro. As I recall, the last bit of that entry ended with my getting free stuff from the bank (my first Friday in town). The first thing I want to tell you about it a neighborhood festival that I went to on Saturday evening, though the story actually begins on Friday. Woo timelines!

Becca had told me that she was a member of a local Taiko (traditional drumming) club and that they were performing before she left. She had invited me to see them practice before the performance on Friday at their usual time. Unfortunately, I had a bad case of the ‘felt-like-shits’ that day courtesy of a throbbing headache that mostly incapacitated me. So the prospect of watching people drum loudly for two hours was practically a war crime and I had to back out with my apologies. Ever the awesome person, Becca invited me to go with her and Andrew to the festival to see them perform on Saturday and get to experience a bit of local flair. She said that the festival was a little far to bike so a taiko friend was driving them and assured me it was fine for me to come.

So as 6:00 approached on Saturday I was headache free and ready to see some cool drumming as I met Becca and Andrew out front of the apartments. The only problem? It had been raining off and on all day and was drizzling now. Becca expressed her concerns that they might not be able to perform since the drums are large and hard to shelter properly. Regardless, our ride showed up and we all climbed inside with me rather awkwardly in the front passenger seat next to a lady I didn’t know. I was quickly introduced to the nice lady whose name I can’t remember (seriously, you guys have no idea how many names I was told in my first week) and we started down the road.

Along the ride, Ms Taikolady (as I will now call her) told Becca that the drumming had in fact been cancelled but they had already gotten tickets for food so they figured they should go ahead and enjoy their food anyways. This was all said in Japanese, by the way, with Becca translating for my benefit. Ms Taikolady tried to engage me in basic Japanese and Becca helped out allowing some introduction and pleasantries to be passed. At some point in the ride the cd in the car changed and Ms Taikolady said that this was a cd that Becca’s predecessor Sarah had given her (Sarah was also in the taiko club, apparently).  I wondered what type of American music Sarah might have given Ms Taikolady when – wait a second, that’s totally Allison Kraus. Yeah, my dad had her live cd and played it a bunch. Huh. Interesting cultural exchange. During a trip with Namba-san later in the timeline he was playing a Coldplay cd, so I guess American music is pretty accepted over here (based on these 2 cases of anecdotal evidence, and really what more do you need?)

This was also the trip that I mentioned earlier where Ms Taikolady had to navigate an incredibly tight road and did so incredibly well in the rain and dusk. Seriously, everyone here is an insanely good driver.

The festival itself was a small neighborhood event in what seemed to be a neighborhood park space. It was set up with a stage area, benches for seating, and a horseshoe of small stands of food, games, and children’s toys around the stage and seating area. Again, I dearly wish I could share pictures but there were a crapton of kids running around and I felt uncomfortable taking pictures. You’ll just have to imagine the red paper lanterns strung along the stands casting a soft rose tinted light on everything as dusk began to fall. Some of the children had been dressed in yukata for the occasion, often in shades of blues with flowers or koi dancing across the fabric.

The taiko group was gathered and dressed plainly in black shirts with white kanji and plain black pants. I felt right at home among their sense of fashion. You know, minus not understanding a single word anyone said.

Ms Taikolady called everyone to a huddle to confirm that they were not performing and say some other things. She also had everyone say farewell to Becca (who was leaving the next day) and also introduced me to them as many were my future students. I bowed awkwardly from my corner of being distracted by shiny lanterns and lack of Japanese competency. I am an impressive teacher.

The group divided up their food tickets and broke to enjoy the festival. I was just contemplating what I’d cook for dinner when we got home when Becca came over and handed me a set of tickets as well. She assured me that they were extra and it would be a waste for me to not use them but I was still really grateful. I was certainly not expecting to be provided food from all of this! Speaking of the food, let’s talk about festival food!

Japan has some really good ‘on the go’ type festival foods. As I have limited experience with festivals I haven’t had a lot but one I am familiar with is takoyaki. The prefix “tako-“ means that it’s an octopus based food, by the way. Basically, it’s little balls of fried octopus. It’s quite tasty as long as you eat it in one bite and don’t nibble and make eye contact with tiny suction cups. Incidentally, I don’t really eat takoyaki anymore.

Om nom nom?

The food I got at this event was (left to right) karage, a choice of soda, and a box of food I didn’t catch the name of. Karage is the greatest homesickness food ever. It’s basically super delicious boneless fried chicken bites. Out of my choices for soda I chose Calpis because I like to giggle at the name it is tasty and has vitamins and stuff. Yes, it is pronounced in English just how you’re thinking it is. Good thing it isn’t yellow, huh?

The other stuff… I genuinely have no idea what most of it was. I discovered that the round thing was an egg and that was my only breakthrough. I did try each of the 4 other things and found them all strangely chewy and rather unappetizing. For the record, that yellow stuff is spicy mustard on the gray triangle. The karage was delicious though!

Food aside, the festival was a fun chance for me to interact with some of my future students. At this point I was still really nervous so the only things I really managed were hellos and nice to meet yous. It was fine though since the children all treated Becca like a celebrity and flocked to see her before she pointed to me and let some of the celebrity status rub off. Apparently one of the younger girls told Becca I was “beautiful” which was both flattery and somewhat baffling as I was in a videogame tshirt and cargo shorts with wild humidity hair. But I’ll take it!

There was also a band of 3 women in what looked like blue shiny prom dressed performing songs on stage (2 singing and one playing keyboard on occasion). I mention them because they performed… “Let it Go”. I really, really need to memorize the lyrics to that song. If I was keeping a counter of times I’ve heard that song out in the world in Japan I’d be up to around 4-5 times.

So the festival was entirely fun though a bit disappointing that Becca didn’t get to perform a last time with her group. The other event I have to share happened the following Tuesday; my Welcome Ceremony!

On the Friday of that horrible headache before the end of the work day Inaho-sensei told me that my welcome ceremony would be happening on Tuesday and that I would need to write a “speech”. At this point I was horrified and alarmed and immediately asked if it needed to be in Japanese. Inaho-sensei told me English was fine, that he would translate it, and that it should be a “medium length speech” when I inquired about length. What in the hell does that mean? Baffled, I began trying to think what about myself was interesting enough to talk about when Inaho-sensei gave me one more suggestion; say something about tea. …Seriously? Oh freaking… I’m pretty sure “Hi, I’m your new ALT Madeline and I can’t stand bitter tea” would not be a good way to introduce myself. This was going to take a deft hand. Ok Madeline, time to impress.

On Monday I brought Inaho-sensei my finished speech to be perused and so he could have it translated for the next day. He read over it and smiled happily and told me I had done a very good job. Awww yeah, professional schmoozer Madeline strikes again.

On Tuesday I arrived to work dressed up (minus my suit jacket) and ready to be welcomed. Alas, my ceremony wasn’t until 10 (I come in around 8:15) so I had to try to be productive a while until it was finally time. At like 9:57, right as I was getting worried, Inaho-sensei came to collect me. Times are very precise here. Not to digress too much, but if I stay until 12:01 at lunch time Inaho-sensei stops what he’s doing to tell me to go eat. Times are pretty on the dot.

So by 9:59 we are standing outside the room apparently waiting for some cue to enter. Apparently that cue came as Inaho-sensei instructs me to walk in and sit in the middle chair before gesturing me on my way. The room was arranged with 3 seats in the middle front and 3 rows on the sides facing the center (2 on the left, 1 on the right). I walked to the middle empty seat between the mayor and …middle school principal I think? I think I stood awkwardly for a bit and probably bowed a little while waiting for an idea of what to do while people clapped. After a moment Inaho-sensei showed up behind me and began giving me instructions. Sit down. Now listen to a welcome by the mayor. Now  clap. Now listen to a welcome by principal-man. Now clap. Now listen to a speech by a middle school student. Now clap. Now you give your speech.

I approached the podium remarkably calm, possibly because I knew if I messed up a word only one or two people in the room would even know. I read my speech a line at a time after which I paused to let Inaho-sensei read a translation. For those curious here’s what my speech was:

I’m [name removed] from North Carolina, on the east coast of America. I first came to Japan 3 years ago as a student and found I loved your country and wanted to return. Now I am here in the beautiful city of Ujitawara excited to learn more about this town, Japanese (language), and of course green tea. I have not had much green tea, living in America, so I’m grateful for the chance to learn about it especially from its origin. I love taking pictures and I look forward to getting to see the town in all four seasons. I hope to show my pictures of Ujitawara with my friends and family back home and share what a great place this is. I have also enjoyed meeting the many children of Ujitawara and eagerly await having them in class and teaching them to love English. Thank you for having me as your assistant English teacher, I promise to work hard and do my best!

I tried to speak very clearly, at a slow pace, and look up and around the room as I spoke. As it happens, I have a few pictures from this event but I’m going to stick to pictures of me for good measure.

Yup, that's me all right.

Hey look, the backs of people's heads! Riveting.

After the speech a troop of nursery school kids came in who I now recognize as the kids I’ve been working with the last 3 days (5-6 year olds). They performed 2 songs with little dances while their handlers tried to keep them focused and from wandering off in between the songs. It’s kind of fun looking back at the pictures and knowing several of the kids personalities.

After their dances a girl and a boy were led up to me by the teachers. The girl presented me a necklace of paper flowers with a large paper medallion saying in English “Welcome to Ujitawara”.

They made me morning glory paper flowers :) <3

After that, a small boy was ushered forth and given a bouquet of flowers about as big as him to hand to me. He got super bashful when it came time to give it to me and couldn’t look me in the eyes and stalled until his teacher lightly pushed him forward. It’s kind of funny because after seeing him in class I know he’s a super energetic kid who’s always leading other kids but he just did not know what to do about me. A really excellent picture of him handing me the flowers got put in the local newspaper with an article about the event. Sadly, I don’t get the newspaper so  I don’t have a copy to show you (and I couldn’t anyways).

Now imagine a tiny, sheepishly smiling kid.

The kiddos were then arranged in 2 lines in front of me and the mayor/principal for a quick set of pictures before being ushered off to do more child things. I sadly did not get to go with the kids and had to hang around for pictures with all the teachers and other people in attendance (all of whom were education/city based jobs).

After a bit I was told I was free to leave and went downstairs to work another hour before my lunch break when I could arrange my lovely flowers.

Little did I know those roses hid a feasting caterpillar.

I actually struggled to find a container big enough for them.

That afternoon I went out to the local drug store in search of mosquito go-away spray and while trying to determine what was and was not lethal indoors I stood around while several people went by. One group was a mother and 2 of her little kids one of whom was a little girl I recognized from the Welcome Ceremony performance. She gasped at the sight of me and I smiled and waved back to show I remembered her. She absolutely melted and did not know what to do, it was pretty cute. Eventually her mother grabbed her hand and hurried her along, with a friendly greeting to me. Celebrity status obtained!

Post Writing Edit: If you’re wondering why the word of the day was ‘ketai’ it’s because I finally got my Japanese phone, yaaaay! As a longtime semi-professional Apple-basher I am slightly ashamed to admit it’s an iphone. What can I say, in this bizarre backwards world it was the 2^nd cheapest phone option (and the cheapest had an absolutely terrible design). So yeah, I now have 2 redheaded stepchildren Apple products. What this also means is (according to Allen) ya’ll American iphone users will be able to message me, so that’s pretty exciting. There are also an insane amount of cases available for iphone. Like my American phone was a Windows phone so I had literally 2 choices and now there are thousands.

Once I get the messaging thing set up I’ll let people know how to contact me, though I won’t be posting it here (for obvious privacy reasons).

It's green too! Also, I swear my desk isn't full of gummy worms.