SPORTS DAY Oct 2009

Sports Day began when Japan first held an Olympics in 1964. They decided it was a good time to start an emphasis on physical health.
Our event was held on a sunny day at the middle school's sports yard. This year, William got to march in the parade that begins it all.
Tom-tom drum it is, and he was doing a bang-up job of it, too!
He was so excited about being in the Olympic Torch relay. He's waiting for it...
... and he's off!
At speed, he's literally flying here, no feet are touching the ground. Or at least in this photo...
... and this photo. :)
... and this photo.
The next kid ran it to this cauldron...
And lit it up. It's amazing what detail they go to here. It was all safe and sane... paper!
This year, William got to be in the acrobat type stuff. Jowanzo, William and Michael make up a pyramid.
Another pyramid, of sorts.
And then there was rythmic dance. The white shorts get pretty dirty doing all of this.
Tug of war is a staple here in Japan. The Sumo got to be on one side, with all the kids on the other.
And then, there was the dance to music. William had told us about the torch relay. He'd told us about the gymnastic pyramid stuff. So, we were totally unprepared that he would be out there doing a dance with a sunflower on his head!
They marched in concentric circles. It was like synchronized swimming, without the water.
Really? A flower on my son's head? But, he did really well! Aha... more embarrassing pictures to pull out when he's older... :)
If you double-click, you'll see how the Japanese 'start' their races. It looks like they're getting ready to do archery, not run. But, William still makes this stand when he's about to start a race!
William didn't get a bad start on his heat.
But, he has this habit of looking at his running mates, which stops him from going forward fastest.
I now tell him to not look to the side, only the finish line!
They called this a show. A third place finish for William.
I'm in yellow, pinning on the winner ribbons. They were all winners!
This is what they call the calvary. I'm sure something's lost in translation. But, it is this: You try to take as many hats off the other team's heads as you can. If you lose your hat, you're out of the game.
Tim said his strategy was to keep running. If you stop, they can get you! Notice, William got one hat!
There were a couple of other tall dad's there, so it wasn't like there was a particular unfair advantage.
Keep running!
William and BFF Jowanzo got on opposing teams. J-zo's dad is tall, and a faster runner than Tim. They had decided to not try to get each other's hats. This is them shaking hands.

It was a fun day in the sun. I made lemon bars for the bake sale. They were ultra popular, and got rave reviews. A good time was had by all!

Christmas Pageant Dec 2009

They may be dressed like angels, but don't let them fool you. Michael, William, Jowanzo, and the kid I call the Japanese Millhouse. He looks just like his dad, right down to the glasses. And he hangs out with Jowanzo, like Millhouse does with Bart.
The older class walked in quietly in the dark with just their candles lit. Okay, it was a low-voltage flashlight, but you get the idea.
Then, they went to the front and were quiet. The moms came in quietly, lined the room and sang. I was never asked to do this. I'm grateful, because these Japanese women like to practice. A lot! I was already spending time getting together for the February teacher appreciation, so I'm glad I got out of this one.
We were prepared this year for the four and a half hour event. I mean, it's LONG! We're so impressed the Japanese kids can last that long!
They went amongst the people and collected money for the Red Cross. So cute.
Santa came, and they gave him a gift, before he gave them a bag with their gifts.
Every class performed. There were some pretty cute performances. The longest one was the entire nativity tale. With 28 kids in that class, and everyone having a part. It was LONG. Luckily, William's class danced. The girls did ballet, and the boys did a classic Japanese happy coat stick dance.

The background swayed from side to side, and the boys did all this great movement. I was so impressed how well they all did. It takes a lot to do things with your hands, feet, and sometimes the two lines doing different stuff.
Ta-da! The end! William is on the back riser. Isn't it always this way? the camera is on the other side of the room from the performer? Jowanzo is in the foreground.
I love this cymbal picture. He has a big ring going on!
There was Christmas music, and 'It's a Small World.' Yes, kindergarteners playing it!
Last year, we had a video. This year, due to a new camera, and taking just too much time to make it all work to get it onto the internet.... well, let's just say we enjoyed it much more this year!

Command Performance Dec 2009

This is Command Hill on base. Admirals work here. The Captain that runs the base works here. And, there's a hall they host events in. Seika Yochien was invited to perform. It was an 'open base' event, which means that Japanese can come onto base to certain areas for whatever is planned. Normally, we try to keep away from base when it is that crazy.
Tim and I joked that these two Marines on guard really aren't enough if these kindergarteners stormed them.
I was amazed how orderly the kids kept. There are kids from the Yokohama Seika Yochien, as well.
I guess you have to double-click and look close. But this Japanese pine looks like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It was right there with us on the hill.
Inside was the festival of trees. This was PSNS's tree. It had white hard hats for all the codes, green apples, and an umbrella on top. Since it was right through the door, it got a lot of comments.
Captain Daniel Weed runs the base. William got to give him this gift from Seika.
Look at that low bow! Wow!
Of course, William aced the speaking in English part. The other kids had a bit of a harder time of it.
Then, they performed a concert. It was really well done. BUT... This year, they decided not to let the Japanese on base until an hour later than normal. What they forgot, is to change this performance time. So, there was hardly anyone present! Some folks had come all the way from Yokohama, and didn't get to see their kid perform! I have a memo to self to send an email to remind them not to make the same mistake this year. There weren't many Americans there, either. I was so embarrassed.
William is on cymbals. They rotate them through all the percussion. He was on bass drum for the October parade, snare for the sports event, and then cymbals in December. Double click to see him on the left, second down. He's singing his heart out!
These kids are playing the suzuki melodian. It's an amped up little keyboard. They sure can be loud! It's amazing how well William got on melodian. We had put him into percussion as an extra-curricular activity, or he'd have been playing one of these!
Mugging for the camera.
At least Santa and Mrs. Santa showed up for the event!
William and best-friend, Jowanzo.
Meeting Captain Weed after it was all done. Kate, Jowanzo and William.

Practice December 2009

When I heard that the parents had to do a performance for the teachers as an appreciation, I didn't fully understand what was wanted. I was to learn later what the Japanese tradition is.

What I found fascinating, is how the Japanese decide things. Now, this is my opinion, from what I observed.

Everyone put in ideas, and we'd all look positive about it, and nod and be nice. Then, there would be a little break and groups would be talking, and when the break was done, one of the Japanese ladies would say, "We're going to do X."
Where sometimes American's egos get too in the mix, especially when their ideas are turned down, what happens here, is the pecking order is known, and those people nicely decide. It makes it easier on the rest of us, who don't want to have to work too hard!

We chose to do 2 songs. One, the children had done during the year. The other was a re-wording of a popular song in Japan. The music was written and arranged by Jowanzo's mom.
When she left (before our performance), we held a going away party. Everyone brings food, and or chips in money. I was happy to throw money at the whole affair, and one of the on-base moms brought American pizza, which is popular. Japanese pizza is expensive and comes with corn and mayo on top... or at least a lot of them do!
You might notice that some of the ladies are wearing masks. This is common when they are ill, or going somewhere they think is not hygenic. They also wear them in the spring, when there is pollen all around.
I was told by a veteran American Seika mom, that this group was the nicest ladies she'd worked with. Some of the higher 'pecking order' people can be quite snooty. William's class moms were great! Second from right is Yuki. She was excellent with translating, and helping us out with notices and the like.
This is the whole group of us. We met in an old school. It can be rented for cheap to use for meetings. It had a small parking area. I am still in awe of how these ladies can nudge a van into one of the smallest areas I've ever seen!

BAZAAR Nov 2009

Seika hosts a Bazaar every year, mainly to raise money for donations to the Red Cross. It turned out to be a nice day in the midst of not-so-nice weather, and we had a great time. I love that the cotton candy is not colored.
While other people played Bingo for big prizes (I bought the cards to donate, but never played), we purchased a ton of Shinkansen ride tickets. That's all William wanted to do. The driver is Sato-san. He was William's bus driver the first year of school here, and the nicest man.
So, all I did was watch the train go around the track. It goes around their playground area. They have a little bridge and the like... nothing special, but it can be kind of fun.
Crystal is behind William, and Kate in front of him. Their moms are Japanese, their dads American. Cute girls!
I wanted to show the fishing pond. I don't know who makes all of these packets, but it has to take some time. Inside are items like small books, or pens and paper.
You get a fishing pole with a dull, plastic hook, and have to try and put it through a rubber band that is stapled onto the 'fish.'
They did this one in the swimming pool at the school. We were gone during the school's swimming lessons in August, so at least William got to use the pool!
He got the one he wanted, a Tsubame fast train.

Finally, the tickets for the shinkansen ride ran out. They were laughing at me because I had gotten so many. By the time I got inside, all the good stuff was gone, and there were a few expensive things left. Then someone told me it was HALF PRICE. So, I got a few really groovy things! SCORE! Good things come to those who wait... for shinkansen rides to be done!