This morning I had a mean hangover, and it wasn't a sore stomach one like what bourbon does to me, it's the full sore head one. This is a first for me. The culprit could have been the whole bottle of sake that was plied onto me last night by the old guy at the izakaya I went to. I feel sorry for that guy. He walked away with a shocked albeit bemused look on his face and a bill for over ¥12,000 (about $150) for the mountain of food I ate. I don't eat much at home as I haven't be bothered lately, but if someone invites me out, which I have been for three of the four nights I have been in Miyazu, I eat like like it's The Last Supper (or not. I think Jesus only had a bit of bread, a spot of wine and maybe some fruit. Maguro must have been out of season and his mates must have kept back the sake for the after-party). To elaborate, the old guy, Keita, was from the Miyazu New Zealand Society and he had come to make peace with the newly settled barbarian on the outskirts of town. Somewhere along the way at the izakaya, after I don't know how many cups of sake, I joined the Miyazu volleyball team and met some of Keita's friends that just happened to be at the izakaya at that time, one guy of which entered with his eight year old son, found his wife in there and immediately had to leave after making his introductions (to us) then his apologies (to his wife). After everyone was onto their fifth and sixth glass of shouchuu and getting overly touchy-feely (yes, I know you had an injury on your thigh, but you don't actually need to touch mine to explain that), I deemed it time to head home and for everyone to rest up for work in the morning, and amid some protests, everyone stumbled on home. This was just after 10pm. Keita vowed that he would never eat out with me again, but rather have home cooked meals whenever a meet up is necessary. Tonight however, is the meeting for the volleyball team I joined last night so it's time to unleash the unco power of the awkward foreigner. It's also time to clean the sheep shit from my shoes and step onto a court for exercise! Wow, I haven't said that word for many years. Although, it will be a bit sad to see that small greenish-brown bit of kiwiana disappear from the bottom of my sole, down the plughole.
Last night I spent several hours in a drunken stupor making little gift bags for my fellow workmates here at the BoE, with tea and lollies in them. I put them on everyone’s desk during the lunch break when most people were out, as such things are usually performed in secrecy, but unfortunately I was three short for all the the workers here in the office (I had only made 20), or from now on will be referred to as kindergarten. I made my two favourite playmates, the always happy and slightly odd girl, Nishihara-san and the leader of all the kids, the big and loud Kawahara-san, go without as I'll put together a better present for them tonight. And because I don't know any of the kids over the other side of the playroom, the other kid who went without is over that side. His usual hangout is marked in my mind so I can give him something tomorrow, too. Of course he didn't know that then and all afternoon he shot evil glares in my direction from across the playroom while whispering stuff about me to the kids around him. My first and hopefully only kindergarten enemy unwittingly made by denying him lollies. Looks like he may not play nice in the sandpit even after I give him lollies. I think Kawahara-san felt the same. He saved his favourite biscuit for me during lunch after he saw that he didn't get anything, although luckily he's just two beds down from mine so, before nap time I told him the story. He seemed a lot happier for it and may get Rumour-Spreading Kid to make peace. On another just as real note, in September I will start teaching at the local kindergartens so there I can learn from the pros how to deal with such situations.
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| Lollies! Tea! Lollies and tea! The staple of New Zealand society! The back drop could be a lovely painting, or just my wardrobe doors. |
Yes, you heard right. I am actually teaching at kindergartens as well as all of the local primary schools. And not only that, I just found out at orientation I'm teaching at a special needs school, too. It's just my luck I get put in with my mental equals with similar interests. Together we can talk about anime, Disney and Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty, while singing Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and playing with playdough. I'm looking forward to it. Seriously. Japanese primary schools have only 20 hours a year with an AET (that's me), while kindergartens and special needs schools only get about five hours. That means even with my eight primary schools, the workload is pretty small. I will be working in the classroom for three days a week, with a workday being only about three hours and after that I can go home. Of course I will be at different schools one week to the next, while on the two days I don't teach, I'll be at the BoE offices preparing materials for the upcoming lessons.
That's all for day four in Miyazu. I promise I won't make posts everyday of the year, just until I have no time to do it. It's the only thing that helps me keep my sanity at the BoE everyday!
Mata ashita~!
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