Well it was a little difficult for me to come
up with some kind of title that would incorporate the different stories
I'm going to tell...but then I remember that no one reads the Subject
line so why worry? ÝÝÝ So at school, in my classes, we start up
with some kind of warmup activity.Ý Most of the time I ask my students
a question or they ask me one.Ý This day I was going to ask them
some.Ý That day was also the day the floor was unusually waxed...I
mean it's waxed everyday which would explain why my knees are so
bad now from constantly slipping... but this day it really was slippery.Ý
I took to asking my students various questions as I leaned against
a book cabinet.Ý How many people are in you family?Ý What color do
you like?Ý So I was getting bored and I asked one of the guys, "How
many girlfriends do I have?" He responded, "2,000" and with that
my feet slipped from underneath me and the fight to maintain my balance
began.Ý Ever see a slapstick comedy show and someone is trying his
best not to fall?Ý There are times when the legs and arms go way
up in the air only to gain balance.Ý That man was me.Ý The process
took 5 secs but it felt like a 30min show.Ý Just when I thought it
was regained I fell the opposite way as my legs went high up into the air
in front of me and my head hit the floor.Ý Everyone was stunned or
laughing.Ý The teacher asked if I was okay...and I said..."I have 2,000
girlfriends?Ý What do you think?" ÝÝÝ In my adult class I normally start
out with asking everyone how his/her weekend went.Ý Sometimes I'm
stunned and kick myself when someone says, "Well my mother died and
we morned for her the whole time."Ý Or stunned but grateful for the
cultural insight when someone responds with, "Well, a friend of ours
died 7yrs ago and it is custom to get together every 3 yrs, 7yrs,
15yrs, 17yrs, 23yrs, and 33yrs on the anniversary of the death to
drink and remember."Ý Well this one time in January I should have
known that the topic might be the mandatory health check that Japanese
workers have to get.Ý This one guy started out with "Friday I had dinner
with my family.Ý Saturday I drank a camera."Ý "Drank a what?" I responded.Ý
"A camera."Ý "You mean something else right?" "No, I had health test
and drank camera.Ý Looks for cancer." "Oh, is that common for the
test?"Ý He said, "I volunteered because I wanted to know."Ý With
that, another man chimed in with, "I do that every year and sometimes in
my anus."Ý There was a 10min description on how the camera made it
up there in the presence of women...and that with me doing my best
to limit it.Ý Let's just say the Japanese talk about these things
pretty openly.Ý A topic one day might be someone's constipation...no
big deal to discuss it all here. ÝÝÝ So two weeks ago was the graduation
ceremony.Ý The 3rd years (9th graders) left and for two weeks only the
1st and 2nd years had class until Springbreak, which there is a closing
ceremony for because that is the official end of the school year
and the 1st and 2nd years advance.Ý Let me just describe a little
of the ceremonies here that I find interesting.Ý The students all
sit on the floor in perfect lined rows.Ý A man yells out for everyone
to stand and bow.Ý Then he says, "The Vice-principal will now give
the opening speech to this year's closing ceremony.Ý Vice-principal,
please."Ý The Vice-principal bows to the teachers, bows to the principal,
walks upÝon the stage, bows to the flag, makes his way to the microphone,
bows to the students, and with all that pomp says, "This is the opening
speech for the closing ceremony of this year.Ý Thank you."Ý He then
bows to the students, bows to the flag, walks off the stage, bows
to the principal, and finally bows to the teachers.Ý I look around
like, "Are you kidding me?Ý That was it?"Ý Turn around time of 4mins
which I might add is scheduled to the exact minute in the program..."Vice
Principle's Opening Speech:Ý 9:47 to 9:51am.Ý So after the other parts
of the ceremony, sure enough the guy says, "Now the Vice-principal will
give the closing speech for the closing ceremony of this year.Ý Vice-principal
please."Ý Bow, bow bow, bow..."This is the closing speech for the closing
ceremony of this year.Ý Thank you."ÝÝ Bow, bow, bow, bow.Ý Then everyone
notices that the ceremony didn't end at exactly 10:28am and there
will be a committe to adjust next year's ceremony to make sure it
does.ÝFunny funny stuff.Ý ÝÝÝ