Long time no post (sorry!) ... tonight's enkai

Sorry, it's been a long time since I updated you on things, but since the transvestite night there hasn't really been much of interest to report!

Tonight I went to another office party which was a lot of fun. I only go to the school once a week, but none the less it was good to see all the teachers in a relaxed social setting as they always make me so welcome at school every Monday. As with all Japanese enkais (parties) we arrived at 6pm and it started around 6.30pm. I was late because I was still in the onsen (Japanese bath) where the clock said 6.15. It was a bit embarrassing being the only one to walk into a room of about 30 people late when I was one of the special guests. Anyway, the onsen is an interesting story because of course being in Japan I am used to taking baths in the nude now with strangers, but this time was a bit different. We arrived early so some female teacher friends asked if I'd like to use the onsen. 'Sure' i replied and headed off on my own. Little did I know that I would bump into 3 teachers once in the bath. It's kinda strange bathing nude with your colleagues, but I guess I've become accustomed to it now and it didn't really phase me until after when I thought about it.

As I couldn't find a towel I took the nearest one in the changing room which turned out to be another teachers'! In my defense all onsen towels are the same small towels with the hotel logo and I thought this was free for me to use. When I realised my mistake I avoided getting out of the bath because really there was nothing I could do sitting in the bath naked with a fellow teachers towel! I dont know what was said behind the closed doors, but maybe I wasn't too popular!

Throughout the night I learn't some new rules of Japanese etiquette. I didn't know that you are supposed to cover the label on a beer bottle when pouring a drink for a fellow colleagues. I also didn't know that it's rude to pour sideways - you should sit up and hold the bottle with 2 hands. Etiquette is a nightmare! You should receive the drink holding the glass with 2 hands in a bowed position. I don't know how many people I've offended in the last year, but I wish people would tell me sooner. Luckily one fellow teacher (not an English teacher) was quite up front and used the words 'bad manners' so I'm guessing his English is much better than he lets on!

The enkai was a lot of fun and I was made very welcome. The atmosphere was different to what I had experienced before with other schools but it was very friendly. After obligatory karaoke we finished around 9.30pm. They asked me to sing my national anthem, but in all honesty 1) I was too drunk and 2) I'm ashamed to say I cant remember the words!! I was also asked to give a speech during which I became tongue tied in Japanese which was a nightmare after a few beers. I wish I had been warned earlier so that I could have prepared.

Of course there was the usual comments on my great ability of using chopsticks because no enkai would be complete without at least one compliment. And the usual question - can you eat sashimi (raw fish)? I love sashimi - in fact it's probably my favorite Japanese dishes much to most Japanese people's amazement. I know people are only being polite, but after the 100oth time of hearing these questions, it's a bit frustrating.

That said, it was a great night. Especially when my fellow English teachers who are both great decided to give all the other teachers English names like Percy, Henry, Thomas, Stewart, Sally, Susan etc. It makes my life a lot easier!

Thomas - thanks for being a great karaoke partner. You are an awesome tennis player too.
Susan and Sally - you are both great even though after a year of teaching together you forgot my name??? how many self-introductions have I done?!!! I'm not Robert or Antonio and you werent even drunk at that point!
Katherine - You're English is great

I will post more when I get a moment. But for now, I'm off to bed!