I am angry, I am embarrassed, and as I sit here on Saturday night, I am not looking forward to going into work on Monday.
As some of you are aware, I helped the Aomori International Volunteer Association (AIVA) publicize their Michinoku Bus Tour, which was held today, 26th September. 21 JETs signed up for the tour, 7 cancelled the day before, and 7 simply failed to tun up at all.
On Monday, I have to face the volunteers who organized today's trip. I have to explain why 7 people couldn't get out of bed on Saturday morning, and didn't bother to telephone to cancel. I have to explain to the lady who went to the trouble of convincing a chef to cook vegetarian food, why that meal remained uneaten. I have to explain to the lady who called the chef again to order a pork-less meal, why the person who ordered that meal didn't show. Or call. I have to tell the volunteer club accountant, why they had to spend 1500 yen per person on 14 uneaten lunches. And why they bothered to hire a large bus, when they could have got by with a smaller and cheaper coach.
I am at a loss. What should I tell them? Is this the way in which we want to interact with the local community? You tell me. What would you say in my position?
Don't sign up for an event or activity if you are not going to come. That goes for JET organized events, AJET events, AFFAIR events, or town and city events. If you sign up, go. If you make a commitment, honour it. To some of you, this is simply obvious. To those who blew out my volunteer colleagues today, I am ashamed to be associated with you.
Tim Morey
Aomori City
Welcome to one thousand and one summer festivals! Now most of you have been to the Nebuta festivities in Aomori and some few of you have attended the Neputa activities in Hirosaki, but how many of you have pulled a float for the Sansha Taisai Matsuri (Three-Joint-Shrines-Festival) in Hachinohe? No, you say. This is not surprising, since I only saw about 4 other JET's involved in the physical display.
Now your image of floats most likely revolves around Nebuta, where the floats are quick and agile. People swing their floats around like tops, from their positions in front and the rear, all the time sheltered from the elements. Sansha Taisai Matsuri goes one step larger, bringing in floats that ride on semi-maneuverable trailers, pulled by throngs of children and varying classes of adults. They achieve this gargantuan task through the aid of two long ropes. While the concept seems sound, it does not truly encompass the extra effort needed to pull the float and the hordes of children who, by about half way, are being pulled and supported by the rope. The child in front of me was getting ready for a nap and the one behind me was doing pull ups as we marched.
My words appear bitter only due to my circumstances, which are in cases trivial.
The floats are all year in the making and can take up whole streets, when they extend outward and upward. That's right, they expand these floats as they move down the road and retract them when too many telephone wires impede their progress. The floats are truly majestic and, in my opinion, far surpass the smaller floats of Nebuta, but then again I may be biased since I pulled one.
One of the truly unique parts of this festival is that there are countless numbers of children involved, making this a family affair, as opposed to the alcohol induced trance of the mad dancer. Each has its place and serves as a spectacle for the eyes.
The day was perfect with a nice rainless sky and subtle
breeze to cool the toils of the many float laborers. Aside from the occasional
sore hand, gained by gripping a rope for two hours, this was a fabulous
event, not to be missed in coming years. I am sure that each festivity
looks slightly different from the outside, but such things will have to
wait for future years when such privileges are afforded to a mere peon,
such as I. I hope to see you there next year!
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