Ichu School Anthem

This is a clip of my 2nd graders singing their school anthem. It seems that each junior high school has a similar anthem with just the schools name slightly adjusted.

Extra ciricular school activities

Alright kids,


This blog will be an attempt at updating you all on the extra curricular activities that have gone on in the almost 5 months I have been in japan. Some of the pictures and events, I have referred to in previous emails.


This a picture at the Ashikaga English speech contest. The preparation for this contest consumed all my lunch time breaks and even after school, where I would have to coach the kids in being more believable in speaking English, a task which was not so easy. Task such as pronunciation, volume, eye contact, emotion, pausing, tone ... my kids struggled a lot with emotion. Although, the 2nd grade girl (the one next to me) did win 2nd prize. I thought she should have won honestly. I was still like a proud popa *tear*. My English teacher is the one on the right.

The next few photos are of the Ashikaga junior high school Iki Den, Its sort of a long distance relay running event. The sign above is Daichi Chugako's (my school or "Ichu" for short) slogan for this year's Iki Den. Yeah! "Never give up" that's what I'm talking about!

One of my girls running the second leg of the 6 leg race. At this stage, they were coming first.

The change-over from 4th to 5th runner. By this stage, the girls had dropped to third

Yeah! My girls claimed third place in the race. Good on ya girls!

All is ready for the thrilling boys turn. My school has enough runners to enter two team, as do many other schools. They have an "A" team (stacked with all the best runners) and a B team (other 6 boys that didn't ran as fast). One of my boys is to the far right in the green. Bright green is pretty easy to spot.

And we're off and running, pace yourselves boys, pace yourself, its a long race

This is a fitting picture, the 2nd runner, running against our slogan. We had just taken the lead. This kid actually did the best time of all runners in the end. Yeah! Never give up

A change over on the boys B Team

Some of my girls supporting their school and classmates. Notice how excited they get over photos being taken.

Yeah! We are the champions my friends ... da da da dah! Yes, the boys won the relay marathon. Not bad for a school of only 120-odd students. Claimed 3rd for the girls and 1st for the boys. Its kinda like Australia beating the US (population wise). Hehehe, I know John would love that comparison.

All the competitors line up from all the Junior high schools in Ashikaga in readiness for the medal and trophy ceremony. Once again, notice the bright green uniforms ... yep, my school.

The next set of photos of of the Bunka Sai (School festival) which only occurs once every three years for junior high schools. So the kids only ever experience one Bunka Sai during their time in Junior high. This is a picture of the Welcome sign.

The theme of our school festival was "Beautiful Heart". No idea why they chose this.

The school captain making a speech at the opening ceremony of the Bunka Sai. Notice the flag of Japan and next to it on the right is the flag of Ashikaga. Sorta looks like a "cat" doesn't it.

One of the 1st grade classes putting together some games for the kids. This particular is how many beans can you transfer from one plate to another in 30 seconds. I could only get about 4, those small slippery suckers.

The 2nd grade class, out together a hunted house setup. Notice the fear in the faces of the kids waiting .... NOT! Due to my lack of Japanese, I wondered through the hunted house, where clues were presented to me ... but this was useless as I could read them. So, don't really think I got the full experience. To be fair, some of the kids were screaming while walking through.

One of the third year classes decided to go with a "maid cafe" setup. If you've never heard about maid cafe's, let me enlighten you. Maid cafes are cafe's where the (mostly) waitresses dress up in maid uniforms to serve you your food and drink. More recently in Japan, the staff have dressed up in your favourite Manga wench. Yep, low cut tops and high hitched skirts ... not the level of bustiness often seen in the manga cartoons though. This class also put on a dancing show for their patrons.

Here's one of the wenches serving you. I did say mostly females are engaged in this role

The Choir club singing angelically to the audience.

This is a group of kids putting their musical talents to work. Most of the performances were by the 3rd year students. Since the these students are not allowed to participate in sporting club activities for fear that it might interfere with their high school entrance exams, most of them take up music.

This is where all the kids are dancing a traditional Dance called the "Yagi bushi". This particular version is the new yagi bushi. The coats they are wearing are called "Hapi". They all made them, themselves. I have excellent video footage of this and will put it on at a later date. It was really cool. Some of the kids were doing flips and all kinds of acrobatics.


This is a picture at the chorus contest (or the konkuru kontesto as the Japanese called it). This is one of all the 3rd graders singing a song together

Finally we have my kids all excited about "Clean up day". Now on one particular day, the kids had volunteered (or been roped into volunteering) to clean around the the schools area. Picking up trash and raking all the leaves. They were seriously trying to pick up every leaf. I mean a task that would have even been difficult for paid cleaners let alone some very unenthusiastic kids.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this program brought to you by Tung Dinh productions.

Later

Experiencing a Japanese Christmas

Minasan Meri Kurisumasu,

Ototoi wa Sano shoppingu outoreto e ikimashita. Watashi wa reggo to Gundam o kaimashita.

Ok, thats enough of my Japanese, Basically said that the other day I went to the Sano Shopping outlet and I bought some leggo and Gundam figurines. Pretty lame, buts its coming along.

Anyway the last few days in good old Ashikaga has been lots of sitting in my apartment, watching movies I've downloaded and engaging in my new hobby of putting together gundam robots. All that in a three day weekend, courtesy of the Emperor's birthday.

Most of the boys I usually hang with are out of town. Clarence and Mike and gone home to the US and England respectively. John's girlfriend came on the weekend, so they were in Tokyo. Babs also went home too America and even Holly was holidaying in Guam. Even Ray, who I usually rely on was in Tokyo.

Anyway, I made it through and really looking forward to going to Osaka and spending a week there. I'm not looking forward to the overnight bus that get us there though. Its going to take about 10hrs, this was the cheaper option than Shinkansen.

Last week the boys and I went to visit the flower (or "frower" as the Japanese say) park in Ashikaga as they had decorated the parks trees and flowers with Christmas lights. Miss out on seeing all those crazy people back in Oz lighting up their houses, so this was as close as I was going to get.

Teaching on Christmas day was interesting. They kids only had classes in the morning and they were then on their winter vacation. I brought a santa hat to school and made them greet with Merry Christmas instead of the customary "Goodmorning Tun". They got a kick out of it. Also bribed them with Christmas stickers so that they would participate and volunteer more. Some of them will do anything for stickers.

Before they left, there was a end of term assembly. Principal made a speech (no idea what he was saying and freezing my balls off in the gym). Did pick up some things, like to the 3rd year students to study hard and do well for the high school entrance exams. There was also a set of rules that the students had to abide by. Like, "No" going to game centre's or amusement parlours (pinnies - to those of us that used to hang out at the joints - Japan's ones are sooo much better though). Yep, junior high students are banned from these places. Something about being careful on their bikes and not zooming around like hooligans. Finally, something about mobile phones (no idea).

Anyway, hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and not spending too much on the boxing day sales.

Here's some Christmas pics.

This is the crew that participated in the Volunteer Christmas party for the little kiddies. From left to right, you have; Dan, Babs, Clarence, Katherine, Mike and yours truly

This was our basic set up of the Christmas/Australian game we did for the kids. They had to line up in family group. We would whisper one of the names on the pictures shown, and they would have to throw balls into that basket. Simple really?!?!

As you can see, they had a blast. Could get a picture of myself but for Australian Santa, I was wearing the red coat, beard, hat and board shorts ... hehehe

The skinniest, scrawniest looking Santa's you'll ever get. Well, they are from England!

The big lit Christmas tree at the frower park

The crew that visited the frower park

Cinderella, your chariot awaits

Its just like the X-files - spooky

My Christmas board at school, sorta lame, but the best that I could do! Imagine it without the tree, even more lamo!

Happy holidays all.

Kendo Screaming match

G'day all, this is my first video post. Its a clip from sports day for all the junior high kids a few months back. This clip if of two girls in a kendo match. They scream pretty loud as its all part of the match. Its so loud that you can even hear it from outside the building.

Enjoy

Cheers

Christmas in Japan

G'day kids,

Unfortunately my promise of keeping up with regular posts haven't really materialised. But here's another one.

So as winter sets in, Japan is getting colder and colder. And I've been told that February is the coldest month ... great! Something to really look forward to.

Well Christmas in Japan is certainly different to back home. I don't think its as in your face as it would be back home. Your not constantly reminded of it here. I mean their really just into the commercial side of Christmas, like Chrissie lights down the street and also big Chrissie trees in front of the shopping centres. But their not really realising that it was the day Jesus was born ... hence that fact that I will be working this Christmas and boxing day (there is no boxing day in Japan).

Alas, never fear I get some days about 4 days off after New Years as their public service holidays ... woo hoo. During that time, will be heading to Osaka. Looking forward to it.

One interesting thing that I observed last week was while I was at school, when a mild earthquake tremored (yep another one). While I sitting there holding onto my desk ... all the teachers continued to do what they were doing and didn't even notice. I guess they've gotten so used to it.

Anyway, here's some more pics.

Halloween was a while ago but here's some pics sure to elicit some laughs

Me and John, bug brothers at karaoke!

My fellow ALT's here in Ashikaga.

I carved the pumpkin in the middle

Some Scary costumes

Who let that cow inside????

Anyone see who stole my face.

OK kids, later

Samui desu yo!

Ashikaga Wine Harvest

Minasoma Konbanwa,

Hi kids, finally another post on my blog. Unfortunately, my posts will be all out of order but the first one will be about the Ashikaga wine harvest. Ashikaga has a winery called Coco's winery, which also sporns Coco's restaurant and Coco spoon (sandwich bar). Coco's winery has an annual wine harvest in November where guests come and sit amongst the vineyards, drinking and eating. Its a pretty big event, with people even from Tokyo. The wine is ok, not as good as some aussie wines. Coco's winery is situated on the side of a mountain and people can sit amongst the vineyards.

The other cool thing about the winery is that its staffed by people with mental disabilities, giving them a place to belong and feel useful. They are involved in harvesting the grapes and then in the wine making process. At the winery there was even a portable bread oven that they brought to bake fresh baguettes for people. It was a wait, but the wait was worthwhile.

It was pretty cool, sitting around and drinking wine all afternoon. We should really have something like this is Australia, but I have a hard time believing that they'd let anyone sit amongst the vineyards.

Check out the pics

The trek to the vineyards, you can see the side of the mountain here

Ahh, the entrance

Off to find a spot for the afternoon of drinking

Some of the workers at the wine harvest

Local wildlife enjoying the wine too

View from our spot

Me and Holly

Alright, more pics on facebook soon!

Later

Tung