Three Tales

I can't help feeling that my friend Philip, from Way-yels, is putting a great deal more effort into his blog that I have. Yet, much like an arms race, we're both developing greater and greater 'arsenals' of material for your consumption. You being about four people (one of which is Phil).

Anyway, being unable to provide you with a step by step walk around my house and neighborhood (although if you wish to see such a post, visit a site not too far from here), I thought I'd share three tales from my topsy-turvy week at Shonan. Be warned, these tales didn't so much spring to my attention, as have to be dug out of relatively minor events and made into what are not-so-fascinating stories. But also remember you have interesting polls, fascinating features on Japanese women and turtles, and pictures of me as a Vampire, to amuse you.

Also let me say that, much like Crimewatch, I'm using initials for peoples names from now on, as sometimes people get arsy about blogs.

1. Y-Sensei and His Great Sense of Humour

Y-sensei is one of my favourite colleagues at Shonan. As the title suggests, he has a great sense of humour. He held a random meeting today, cackles a lot, and in the middle of otherwise quiet meetings answers his keitai in what can only be described as a Trigger Happy TV style. When asked if we had a meeting today he responded to me "Meeting!! Yes!!! I come to school for the meetings! Teaching is no fun but I love the meetings!", followed by a spell of ironic cackling. He also declared the other day that "Japanese Love Rice". Which is true, of course, but the line was delivered in such a way that it felt like he was imparting great wisdom to me. He also speaks to himself a fair bit, though quite a few teachers do that.

2. Festival Preparation

At the moment everyone is preparing for next weeks festival, which I can only assume will be a feast for the eyes and ears. M-sensei's class are preparing some mysterious treat, Y-sensei's class are making Udon, and a group of female students are practising a dance by a Japanese transexual band. These girls demonstrated some of the dance to me, as well as offering to paint my phone. It seems the fashion amongst 'youngsters' is to get a shiny, nice cellphone and cover it in acryllic paint and nail varnish, as well as stickers and any other tack they can get their hands on. I saw the monstrous results on a phone that was originally the same as mine the other day. Anyway, I have two days of Seishi festival (weds, thurs) and two of Shonan (fri, sat) next week, before a three day trip to Kyoto (sun, mon tues).

3. The TV Cameras Finally Track Me Down

On Friday I had to give two demonstration lessons at a local Junior High. Different Senior Highs were trying to persuade students to come to them next year, and Shonan had chosen me and O-sensei to showcase our school. I couldn't help feeling that Shonan were pimping me out- the sight of a 'gaijin' in their school made our particular lesson an instant attraction, and a group of students assembled at the end of the day to say goodbye to me specially! The lessons went really well, and apparently we were even on cable TV news briefly. It made me think it'd be way more fun teaching in a Junior High- for one I could actually play sports and have an outside chance of matching some of the 13-year olds!