Red Tape...

Hi everyone -

I hope all is well with you and yours...

A bit of annoyiong news from Maki, but it has been decreed by the higher-ups that all blogs must not contain pictures of students/teachers. This means that I will be removing pictures with these types o' folks very shortly. I'm very sorry about this, but it's a safety/privacy issue that (although annoying and labor intensive) makes sense.

I will do my best to provide some decent pictures and will follow the old, "All names have been changed to protect the innocent," school of thought in future posts.

It's too bad, because I was just about to post about a Kendo tournament I attended last week -- great action shots!!

As a concession, here's a picture of me getting ready to surf! (Getting permission to post this shot was a pain in the neck.)

Keep surfing!
Brendan

'Nuff Said...

Looking for that Stride to Hit...

Hi all -

Once again, I apologize for the lapse in posting recently. School is really kicking into gear right now and I am finally being exposed to last minute lesson plans, test preparation, and printers in my apartment breaking down during the wee hours of the morning. As a result, things have pretty much been a blur; I am hoping life will settle down a bit so I can observe and report with some regularity.

Outside of school, I have been fortunate enough to take in some cultural events recently. A coworker at the BOE is a member of a local dance team that participated in a festival in Niigata over the weekend:

The festival lasted for three days, featuring dancers, crafts, and many delicious foods such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki.

People of all ages participated which added a lot of viewing enjoyment for onlookers. Granny strutted her stuff along with some younger folks: All in all a great experience. This website provides infomation about all of the groups (sorry folks -- It's all in Japanese). I'll try to dig something up in English...

Gotta run right now, but I'll post something more substantial soon.





In the meantime, some of the Nishi kids wanted to say "hi!"
Keep surfing!

Brendan

Let the Games Begin

Greetings all -

All apologies for the recent neglect.

I have just completed my first full week at the JHSs; one that was filled with self introductions and undokai (Sports Day) preparation. Both Maki Nishi and Higashi have scheduled their day-long competitions for September 10th as I have mentioned in earlier posts. I will be splitting my time between the two schools in an effort to support all 900 of my students.

Here is a shot of Maki Higashi's prep:

These folks are members of Higashi's red team, which is quite the force to be reckoned with. A large portion of the day's events is dedicated to team cheering, where students choreograph a 3-4 minute long dance / singing numbers. Their efforts are all the more impressive due to the conditions in which they must perform. Practices are held for hours on end outside on the fields under Maki's blistering sun and amidst it's unforgiving humidity. Heavy rains and thunder offer no reprieve as, under these circumstances, the students are corralled into the gymnasiums which feature little or no ventilation.

Here, Maki Higashi's blue team drills their dance number for, what seemed to be, the 20th time:


But torrential downpours and humidity with the consistency of pea soup have nothing on the tongue-lashings that come from up on high; referring to the teachers whose personalities seem to flip with almost Sybil-like "swiftness." The colleagues of mine who appear to be the most docile and kind-hearted have proven at times to be the most ferocious and unrelenting with students whose minds seem to drift from the task at hand.

Exhibit A:
Great blokes, but wouldn't want to show up late to one of THEIR meetings...

That being said, these kids have earned my respect.

Sunday will feature not only the much anticipated undokai, but an endokai (drinking party) which will be held during the evening hours at an onsen on Mt. Kakuda, just 10 minutes by bus from Maki station. If my understanding is correct, these types of parties are an opportunity for the Japanese to let their hair down and -- during this one in particular -- pepper the new guy with a WIDE array of questions; some of which are probably best not mentioned on this website (^^).

More later...

Keep surfing!

Brendan