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I had another interesting meal with the Sogas, who kept encouraging
me to eat everything and laughing when I dropped food with my chopsticks,
and then went to Shimokita Cultural Hall, where we met Mayor Sugiyama of
Mutsu, and all were introduced. Gifts were exchanged between our Mayor
and their Mayor, and a bunch of photographers took pictures at every angle.
We also met our interpreter, Senoe (Sah-noy), a very nice, tall, classy
lady. The Mayor and co. showed us around the hall, The auditorium of which
was made entirely out of hiba wood, a local product, and very flammable.
Senoe told us that the hall had a rather extensive sprinkler system. A
huge weaving hung over the stage, depicting various scenes around Mutsu.
I was unable to get a picture, but it was something to behold! They demonstrated
the siding and ceiling that came down as a sound shield during classical
concerts and such, which was quite interesting.
Following the demonstration we departed for Tanabu High School, Port Angeles High School's sister school. After exchanging our shoes for slippers (I brought entirely the wrong kind of shoes for the constant "take on - take off" that's required) and a bit of green tea, we were given a tour of the various facilities by one of the English teachers. As we passed by the classrooms the students would stare wide-eyed at us, and we looked curiously back at them. The equipment in the school was way above anything we have in Port Angeles! Absolutely incredible technology. I found the keyboards, with Japanese characters as well as the roman alphabet, quite interesting. We took a look at the new gym, where a bunch of girls in pink gym suits were playing volleyball and badminton, and then were guided to the entrance of the school auditorium, which resonated with a sort of low din. Suddenly, music started playing and we walked down the center of the room, with the entire Tanabu student body sitting on both sides of us, and as they cheered, we marched up to the stage, ascended the stairs, and sat in chairs facing our audience. We might as well have been celebrities! I honestly had never felt so important in my life. The uniformed students below waved and giggled and we sat a bit embarresedly in front of them. The usual speeches were given and we all stood up in turn and gave our introductions. I was so nervous about this part that I was shaking! As we mentioned our ages, the students gasped - I suppose we look older to them. They presented us with t-shirts, then their brass band, which was sitting above the entrance, played "Angeles High" (our school fight song) for us, and we came off the stage. The Port Angeles high school students did a slide show presentation of our hometown in Japanese. The final three slides, all of a sunset, brought roars of laughter - we later found out that the word we'd used for "sunset" was antiquated and not used much in modern Japanese. We filed out of the auditorium, waving to the students. It was an amazing and strange feeling, as if we were royals or something. We ate lunch in the cafeteria and mingled with the students, who surrounded our tables. Dan-san was very popular with the guys as well as girls. :) |
I talked with a group of students who struggled with their English until
finally calling out "sensei!" Their teacher came over and relayed their
questions to me. They asked me if I had a boyfriend ("no" - giggles) and
if I could introduce them to someone. ^^ They said my hair and outfit were
"kawaii" (cute) ^_^ One girl explained the pin on all of their uniforms,
how it was a symbol of Tanabu High School, and then removed it from her
lapel and gave it to me as a gift, which I thought it was very sweet. They
invited me to their nursing class - they were all nursing students (they
made a "shot" motion :) - but alas, I had to go with Tad and the Stevens
Middle School staff to visit some of the middle schools.
We went to Odaira Junior High, which was a bit strange because we were sitting around by ourselves a lot of the time, but we got to view a cheering practice, which was neat. Afterwards we jetted for Ominato Junior High, where a very sweet English teacher (not too great English :) gave us a tour. She was 25, and thought I was older than she! We went through rooms and she explained things, and she took us to the teacher's room (they all have desks in one big room instead of small offices like in the States) and her desk, with a great view of the mountains and the ocean. She, Lucy, and I exchanged email (she gave me some peanuts :) Our tour concluded, and we waved goodbye. She was quite touched. "I don't know what to say to you," she said, her hands over her chest, "please write!" We returned "home," took some pictures, I had food with the Sogas (as always), and around 6:00 Akira took me to a gym where the middle school students were doing their introductions. (The Japanese students were doing them in English. :) At 6:20 I was whisked away to join the adults in our delegation for the welcome party, set in the Mustu Grand Hotel, which sat atop a commanding hill and gave one a great view of the surrounding city. I think I was the youngest person there! Everyone kind of looked at me strange when I asked for Coke instead of a drink, and I explained that I was underage ("19".... :) In Japan the legal age to drink is 20, but I still had 2 more years to go. I met and sat down next to a very nice Japanese girl, Sayuko, and we chatted and laughed. The Mayors gave speeches, which I think they did at every event we went to, and then we just ate and blabbed to each other. They served this interesting dish of what at first appeared to me to be brains, but it was just beef wrapped in cabbage or some other leafy thing. The Japanese people at my table were all very nice and relaxed, different from how I expected them to be. For some reason I thought they'd be stiff and quiet, but they were very polite and hospitable and full of laughter.
After dinner, I rode the elevator down to the lobby with Sayuko and went
back to the Soga's house. They tried to stuff me full of food and looked
worried when I didn't eat, even when I explained I'd just come back from
dinner! They must think Americans like to eat constantly. (I think a lot
of us do, but I'm not one of those. :) The Soga's son came home (he worked
at the hotel) and I talked to him for a while. His English was quite good.
As I was leaving to shower he said "Take a shower with me? - A joke!" Ha
ha. But he said I could try his shampoo. "Very good Japanese shampoo! You
must try!"They all like my hair, for some reason. :)
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