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!

トンガクラブ Night Out At Tonga Tranny Bar!

Does this really need any explanation?!

The boys...
The girls...

Student comments of the day

The question: Tell me something interesting about yourself.

The answers:

My left toe has 6 pieces of nails
My charm points is blue glasses
I am a book
My body is stiff
I like bogs
I am a gentlewomen
I like sing a song in a bath
Winnie the Pooh is my pet

I'm sure my Japanese sounds just as strange at times.

To balance it out here are some of my best quotes in Japanese

はい僕はマークさんです　　(Yes I am mister Mark)
Referring to yourself as 'san' in Japanese is very inpolite and one of the first things you learn not to do. I got into the habit of listen and repeat - ie many people asked: you are Mark san? I replied: Yes, Im Mark san (this may not sound too bad, but in Japanese this sounds like baby talk and is inexcusable after being in Japan a month!) I knew immediately after saying it that it was wrong, but it was difficult to correct.

あなたは急がしですか　　(literally - are you busy?) Having used this several times with no comment one day I said it to my Vice Principal who laughed out loud. A better term is ちょっといいですか　　(Do you have a minute).

彼は果物です　(he is a fruit!) I was supposed to say - he is a child.
Fruit > kudamono Child > Kodomo

先週僕のかそう日本にきました　　(Something like last week my dressing up clothes came to Japan) What I meant to say was last week my family came to Japan! .... Whoops!

I am sure there are more but the worrying thing is that Japanese people are so polite that they are unlikely to say that you made a mistake. I will be sure to post more when I find out... Please check back here.

Visit from the Old Peoples Prefecture

Last weekend Matt and Nick drove up to the Guch (Yamaguchi Prefecture) from Saga Prefecture (aka 'the old peoples ken'). Saturday night we sampled Onoda's best snack/hostess bar and sang badly with some Japanese businessmen. Sunday we headed up to Akiyoshidai (caves), Hagi (where we met Matt D), Senchojiki and then on to Tsunoshima along the coast road before heading down to Shimonoseki. This has become my favourite tourist route for visitors. These guys are mad. I really enjoyed the weekend.

Matt as Freddie Mercury...

The beautiful beaches in Hagi on the coast road to Oumijima.

Senjoujiki wind farm.. the best coffee shop in the world can be found at the top of this mountain.

'Jack... I Love you.... King of the World!!'

22km School without pictures!

On Tuesday morning I arrived at Tabe High School feeling a bit tired from another late night (I really should do something about my caffeine addiction and insomnia). I like all of my schools because they all have very different characteristics, but Tabe is unique in that about 90% of the students are girls. The girls at Tabe are usually very genki (active/happy) and always seem happy to see me which makes Tuesdays enjoyable. When I visit Tabe I am made to feel very welcome and I am like a special guest in the school. My supervisor always thanks me for coming and the students go wild when they see me.

Not long after I arrived at this school last year I became good friends with the geography teacher, Miyake Sensei (who sadly left during the annual re-shuffle this year). Miyake Sensei once described the school environment to me. I will never forget his words 'Tabe High is like a zoo, the girls are like wild lions and the boys are passive zebras'. You couldnt describe the school better. For me in class it's often like Daniel in the lions den, but it is always a lot of fun and I have a great team teacher Kuboi Sensei.

Anyway, back to the point of today's post...

So I arrive in the morning at the usual time and I am met by supervisor in a tracksuit walking out of the door. I muster a genki 'Ohayo Gozaimasu' (good morning) and I am again thanked for my presence. This always seems a little strange that someone should thank me for turning up to my job, but it's nice to hear and it makes me feel welcome. My supervisor follows me to the genkan (entrance) and before I take off my shoes he tells me that he has an apology to make as he forgot to mention that I have no lessons because today is the students annual 22km walk. He seems quite excited and says 'the students would really like it if you walked with them, but you dont have to if you dont want to. You can come with me in the minibus if you like.' I love hiking and to me the idea of a walk in the mountains on a lovely sunny day is bliss and the best bit is that I'm paid to do it! However, many of the students were less than thrilled at the prospect of walking 22km in the heat.

I set off with the 3rd years at 9.30am. The whole school took part in the walk, but I was the only teacher. This gave me a great opportunity to get to know a lot of the students on a one to one basis as there was plenty of time to chat. The conversations along the way went something like this (in Japanese and in English since some of them refused to speak English despite my best attempts): How are you? ... I'm tired ... It's hot... I'm hungry... Is it far? It's hot.... It's really hot! How old are you? It's hot... Do you have a girlfriend? I'm tired... Do you have any brothers or sisters? I'm tired...

I told the students they had to give me 200 yen for everytime they complained they were tired and 100 yen for every time they complained it was hot. I would have been a very rich man had they of all paid up at the end! Some of them learnt to use 'I'm knackered', 'I'm done in', 'I'm shattered' and I really enjoyed the more in-depth conversations with those students with better English skills, but even for the students that refused any English (mostly the 1st year boys who didnt think it was cool) we had fun and they were able to laugh at my formal un-cool Japanese!
Tabe is set in a valley surrounded by mountains and the views are amazing. We saw lots of butterflies, flowers, dragonflies, birds and a few small snakes. We also passed through forested areas and lakes. Surprisingly, despite none of the teachers walking the route, I think almost all the students managed to complete the course - most of which didnt have a map. I returned at 1407 but when I left for my bus at 1630 many students were still walking back. Having stopped at 7/11 for a coffee break and regular toilet breaks (which I later found out was strictly forbidden for the students - whoops!) I came in 3rd place with 2 large blisters due to a lack of suitable shoes and prior warning! Despite that I had a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to meeting my new 1st year students in class.

Damm losing my camera!