Well, I arrived a bit sluggish at 7:30 AM on a Saturday to find the place packed. Had a bit of trouble finding a parking space, but when I did, I happened to park next to the head of the Board of Education. For my attentive readers, this is the same lady that paraded the confused and uncomprehending me around at the Plus Evento. I should have known things would get interesting.
We enter the building together as it was raining and I was without an umbrella. After taking our outdoor shoes off(of course) and changing into our indoor shoes, the head teacher of the Kindergarten directed the two of us to the teachers' room for a cup of coffee. I didn't take any particular note and didn't think I was imposing as this was the protocol of my every visit to the school. However, as we chatted and the hour of the performance approached, one by one principals, board members, and vice principals from all over the area started filing in to the teachers' room. At this point, I started to wonder why I had been invited into what was becoming increasingly evident to be the VIP lounge of the Kindergarten concert.
Then, overwhelmed and feeling a bit underdressed( I had slacks and a blazer, but no tie as I thought it was just a Kindergaten concert) the VIPs and I were ushered into the main hall. The platform from where I often teach was decorated, and the 50+ audience members(keep in mind there are only about 25 students at this school) were seated on blankets in front of this stage. And that's when I saw the vacant tables to the right. The VIP/elderly seating. And you guessed it: I was strongly encouraged to have a seat. I tried to escape to less privileged seating, but the Board of Education Boss was having none of that.
It gets better. She turns to me and says two words (in English) that no one ever wants to hear, "You. Speech." She attempts to comfort my widening eyes with a smack on the arm and a, "small OK OK". I managed to subdue the panic enough to scramble together a small OK OK speech in Japanese. The kids sang about five songs including the Japanese versions of "It's a Small World" and "Under the Sea" and then put on a play which I marginally followed.
Afterwards, the VIPs were escorted back to the teachers' room for another cup of coffee. I was a popular topic of conversation at this point as I had surprised many with my unexpectedly coherent Japanese. I got a lot of the usual "and you've only been here four months?" "you're 23? That's so young! How old do you think I am?" "Japanese is difficult, isn't it?" ect.. But, one of the vice principals--Mr. Mahata--seemed more than passingly amused and began asking me more pointed questions like "why did you come to Japan" "what will you do after working here" and "what have you bought as souvenirs for your family?". This final question caught everyone's attention as I had purchased a souvenir relating to Sendai's most famous Samurai warlord. The Board of Education Boss said I should visit his castle. Mr. Mahata said that we should go together as he is also a fan of feudal Japanese culture. He said we could go tomorrow, for instance. The Board of Education Boss thought that was a great idea. And like that, I was going sight seeing with a vice principal I had just met.
As strange as the scene could have been, it was not only natural, but a great afternoon. Mr. Muhata had studied abroad in Hawaii and had lived in Chicago for four years. His family lives near Tomioka and despite going to a middle school in Sendai, his daughter is best friends with some of my students. We went to Date Masamune's mausoleum, museum, and Castle. This is a video of the city from the Castle's outlook. The statue is of Date Masamune with his characteristic crest.
If you find the wind distracting, let me tell you that it was just as much so in person. That morning, the wind blew so strong that I thought I was experiencing an earthquake. It was remarkably strong all day.
Anyway, after our sightseeing, we went to the Date noble family's second estate for a late lunch. Let me put it this way: when the emperor visited Sendai, he stayed here. Suffice it to say that it was my most authentic exposure to feudal aristocratic life to date. The garden was immaculate, the food was art, and the house was something out of a dream.
But the dream ended as I had to get home to lesson plan for the following week.
At school on Tuesday, Moppi (yes the same Moppi, as if there could be two) told me that she had a Kendo match on Sunday morning at Kawa Chuu. Glad that I was free and that she had invited me, I of course assured her that I would be there.
I show up Sunday Morning--again not wearing a tie-- to this:
The championship Kendo Tournament of the Region. And who do I see scurrying over to me as soon as I walk in the door, but the Head of the Board of Education. After a "look at you! You have a good heart for coming here to support your students" she herded me to the stage. The VIP seating. Only this time, the audience was in the hundreds and in addition to various principals and vice principals, the VIPs included Kendo Masters. There were two words I was dreading to hear. And I should have worn a tie.
This makes me laugh, more like a chuckle every time I read it. I can just picture the whole thing.
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