Dawn of Victory

Sports Day has come and gone, and what an exciting day it was. It’s much easier to just show the photos than try to describe it. If you’re wondering why there’s no photos of the boys’ races, it’s because I was impromptu drafted, along with Kyoto-sensei, into participating in the first race (for fun, not really competing), and then I sat in the middle of the field with the kids until the boys were done. Overall, it was a lot of fun.

Sports Day ‘08

No pictures of the enkai because I forgot my camera. After a long and treacherous drive up the side of a mountain, listening to sensei’s engine howl like a banshee, we made it to the hotel, Kassel. It was done up like a German hunting lodge, but with tennis courts and (inexplicably) a huge picture of a Highlander in the foyer. We had dinner out on the terrace, with little grills and huge plates of beef, seafood and veggies. The food was pretty good, and I ended up eating some things I wouldn’t have tried otherwise. I ate whole ika (squid), tentacles and all, and most of a fish on a stick. I just couldn’t eat the head; some lines I’m not ready to cross.

Then of course, there was the drinking. To excess. Again. Shochu (potato liquor) is pretty good, but I still prefer saki. Many of the teachers seem to be impressed by my alcohol tolerance. Even one or two beers seem to knock them pretty loopy. After 3 or so pints of beer, a big glass of shochu and about half a bottle each of red and white wine, we retired to the lounge for chatting. I’m not exactly sure, but my Japanese comprehension seems to increase as I have more to drink. Some of us then spent the night at the hotel, which I don’t really remember. And the morning was pretty rough too. I forgot that wine always seems to make the next day worse.

I’m not sure either, but I think one of the teachers challenged me to a foot race later this week. As out of shape as I am, I think this is a forgone conclusion, but we’ll have to see.

With your holy armour, the steel in your hand
Fly, angel of bloody revenge!