One day behind...

Sorry about not posting a blog last night, the internet in my room was in and out and I was quite tired.  I know.  I know.  NO EXCUSES, these are our kids here.  I can assure that they are all still in one piece and they are having a great time.

Now for yesterday... The visit to City Hall to meet the mayor and then to middle school visits with a pinch of the beach right at the end.  We all met at City Hall at 8:00 AM with our Junior Wings polo shirts and smiling faces.  This was going to be our first whole day together in Nanao and we were all looking forward to that.  I was, I assume that the kids were, but I what happens when you assume.  But that doesn't really matter right now.

Anyway,  the chaperones had a little talk about how to behave in the mayor's office and we were off to the chambers.  Our kids were great, once the mayor arrived it was as if they weren't middle school students for the briefest of times.  The mayor of Nanao gave a speech which was interpreted for our English ears and then Kim gave a speech for all the Japanese ears.  Shaden then stood and delivered her speech with no hint of nervousness in her voice.  Everyone was then given pins and the mayor his gift and then he went off to run the world and we were off to see it.

After City Hall we went to the first of our two middle schools:  Toubu Middle School.  We arrived to the school and were amazed at the size of the place.  It was like Colton was hanging out with Barry Bonds a few years ago.  Too soon?  So we went inside and exchanged our shoes for green rubber slippers.  For some this was a perfect fit.  For others, the shoes felt like we were playing reverse dress-up.  Dress down?  No, that doesn't make any sense.

We went into a room and were addressed by one of the English teachers and then were introduced to the principal.  After that brief encounter, we were led throughout the halls of this massive school.  With a little over 600 students, it felt like it would be impossible to find them in the maze of classrooms and hallways.  We did see them though and the classes were all disrupted by those American schoolchildren running amuck in the school.

We went to an art lesson and were taught how to paint Mt. Fuji.  It was awesome and the art teacher spoke English very well.  He told us that he loved art so much that he named his son Art.  Ha.  He gave a lecture on traditional black ink water painting and then modeled how it is done.  Luckily he gave us a practice sheet of paper first because it is not as easy as he made it look.  After rigorous practice, we were ready for the big game.  We painted these awesome paintings on very expensive paper and then were given the stamp of approval from our teacher.


The students were then taught how to play a song on a koto.  Sort of a harp on wood.  I don't know.  The music teacher said that the instrument was supposed to resemble a dragon.  I couldn't see it.  No imagination I guess.  Each student was put into a group with three Japanese students and the plucking of strings began.  They all did a great job.  It was music to my ears.  Ha Ha, get it.  After our students completed their miniature symphonies, everyone was put to shame by the music teacher herself.  She played and sang like the first light of morning.  It was very pretty.

After that, we went back to our holding room, ate some food, laughed about whatever we laughed about and then were off to another middle school.

***Okay, so here's what is happening.  The internet in my room seems to be breathing in an out and on each intake, I disconnect.  I am trying to add pictures and finish writing, but I must save every other sentence in order to not have to start over and over.  So, I am going to end here for the night.  I am sorry, but I have a sudden urge to throw the computer out of the fourth floor window.  Since this is my girlfriend's computer, I think it wise not to do so.  Also it's late.

I will pick up where I left off next time.  Once again, I am sorry.

BBQ Day

Hello there again.  One day off and it's like I don't even know where to start...

Here's a quick word on what the chaperones did on our days(ish) off.  We had some amazing food, met some great people and bought some fantabulous items.  Alex has been having meetings with people, so Kim, Jennifer and I have been doing some shopping and we even had a bike ride around our hotel neighborhood.  There are seven Buddha statues around our hotel, so we had to ride around and find them to take pictures.  It was a lot of fun

After the bike ride, we all went to the Elderly Olympics.  This is basically just like the regular Olympics in that it happens every four years in a different (Japanese) city.  It just happened to be in Nanao this year!  We watched the 60+ soccer tournament.  These old dudes could move!  They were running to and fro like cockroaches in New York.   It was amazing and inspiring.  I better start training now if I want to be in that kind of shape at 60.

Then we finally saw the kids again.  I almost forgot what they looked like it had been so long.  Seriously.  We had an awesome BBQ put on by the JCs.  There were two BBQs going, one with meat and one without thank you very much.  All the host families trickled in bringing our students with them and once we were all together we started to eat.  Noodles, hot dogs, beef, tofu, soda, donuts and not in that order.  It was great.
  

After the last bowl was chopsticked clean, the games started.  The kids played hide-and-seek, but it didn't work so well because I'm not sure that everyone was staying put once they hid, so True and Megan had a tough time finding everyone.  So then they decided to do a variation of hide-and-seek where one person hides and everyone looks for them, whereupon finding them, each person hides with them until everyone is hiding together.  I believe that it was called Sardines or something like that.  Anyway, Jason was way too good at hiding and nobody found him.  At all.  We had almost given up on ever seeing him again, when he rounded a corner smiling like a Sears family portrait.  So we tried again...This time True and Riko went to hide and apparently it all worked out because everyone finally found them.

By this time it was dark, so the students started to pose for pictures for the end of the night.  Here are a few from the party.  I hope that your students took more because it was a really awesome time.  Enjoy...

Kyoto and Nanao!!!

We woke up this morning to rain.  It didn't seem to bum anyone out though.  We did sell out the hostel's supply of umbrellas.  After a nice buffet style breakfast at the hostel, we were off to the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji Temple).

What is there really to say about the awesomeness of being in the presence of such an amazing place.  One just sits back and mumbles to themself, "am I really here?"  "i this really happening?"  I know that's what I did.  We jostled for the perfect picture placement and I think that we did a pretty good job...

After the temple, we went back to the Kyoto train station to board our train to Nanoa.  Three more hours in some form of transportation.  The train was full of laughs, the sharing of Bento Box contents and the hushed whisper of welcome party speeches being recited almost inaudibly below the breath.   The ride didn't feel so long.

When we arrived at the station we were greeted by our Japanese hosts and then whisked away to Fisherman's Wharf for our welcome party.  It was still raining by the way.  We were all introduced and the kids were handed formally handed over to their host families.  Well, all of them except for Jason.  His family was not at the welcome party because Kanta was still pitching for his baseball team.  Don't worry though, they showed up at the end to take Jason home.  All is well.

We then ate and Alek gave his speech.  He did a great job and walked off the stage to the sound of applause.  Always a nice way to exit.  After the food and speeches, our students performed their songs. Anpan Man was a huge success.  They sounded great.  The acoustics were much better in that room versus the gym.  Most of the crowd joined in on the last verse!

We then played a giant game of musical chairs.  Both Junior Wings groups and some younger siblings competed for the crown of best of the best musical-chair-type-winner-thing.  I believe I got an action shot of one round...

But ultimately there can only be one, just like Highlander.  And who was that one you ask...Meer.  And what did he win you ask...fireworks.  Don't worry parents, he will have to detonate the lot before he can even come close to America.

After the game, we all grabbed our bags and were driven off into the raining night to various destinations throughout the Noto Peninsula.  Chaperones were taken to the Aenokaze hotel where we had an amazing 11-course meal.  That's right.

And now this is where I leave you all for a few days.  The students are with their host families for the next two days, and as there parents, I can only assume that you want to hear about them and not me and the other chaperones.

Here is the Golden Gate Bridge.  Catch ya' later USA.

 Some mountain flying over Alaska.

Team Urchin throwing up our urchin sign!  Jason came up with that one.

 Finally in Japan.  Well sort of, had to go through customs.

 Somebody is excited about not being on a plane anymore.

 Waiting in the Kyoto station.

 Waiting again.  Brent looks like he is out.

Kyoto Tower Hotel right outside the Kyoto station.

It's raining today.  BOOO!!!!  But I guess these things happen.  Nothing new to report except that sleeping was amazing.

Kyoto Youth Hostel

What 17 people have been awake for roughly 24 hours?..Yes, you in the back...did you say the Junior Wings students and chaperones?...well, you are correct sir.  We are all running on empty.

Here is our long day in hours:  Wake up at 4ish.  Drive for a few hours to one airport.  Wait for a few hours there.  Sit for 11 hours.  Walk and wait for another hour or so at a new airport.  Take a train for an hour or so to another city.  Walk around the train station for about an hour.  Take a bus for close to an hour.  Wait for pizza (yes pizza) to be delivered.  WOWSER!

Some students have thrown in the towel.  Katrina and Cassi have decided that trying to bite through dough and cheese is just way too much effort when sleep is so easy.

Now let's go back in time a bit.  The plane ride seemed relatively painless.  I believe that close to all of the students slept on Jason at some point over the Pacific.  Neglected Skittles lined the aisles and half-hearted groans of "I'm bored" could be heard faintly over the roar of the engines.  We did see Alaska and some islands.  The plane followed this sort-of half dome up along the Canadian coast then near the Palin state and down to Japan.  I guess making the plane ride longer by being semi-close to land makes more sense in the event of an emergency.

Once we arrived in Osaka there were "Ooohs" and "Aahhs"that would put any 4th of July firework display to shame.  "I want to look at that" and "can I go over there?"  Later and not right now.  Bathrooms were in order then food.  After looking around the airport and not knowing what nor how to order, most students just waited.  Jackie and Meer decided that Subway was the way to go.  Eat fresh.  And they did.

By this point the students were broken into "teams" with each chaperone heading the team.  Kim's group consisting of: Kassity, Megan, True, Shaden and Jackie adopted the name Cooper's Troopers.  Jennifer's group consisting of: Alek, Meer, Anna and Victoria call themselves Team Awesome.  And my team: Brent, Jason, Katrina and Cassi are dubbed The Urchins.  It is a competitive battle and it will only get worse from here.

We finally got on the train to Kyoto and it started raining.  Someone working on the train told us that we needed to quiet down and our students didn't really need telling twice.  At that point, quiet down meant go to sleep.  So that's what most of us did.

We walked around the Kyoto station finding our bus and a place to eat.  We never found the phantom ramen corner, but we did walk through a crazy big mall.  10 stories!  We finally got on the bus and were off to our last destination.  We saw McDonald's and 7-11 along the way amidst the countless other shops.  Meer fell asleep sitting up and Jason took comfort in his shoulder.  Both waking up only briefly to ask how much more we had to go.

We got to the hostel.  Got our towels.  Those of us who are shower-at-night type people showered.  We ate pizza and now most of us are in bed.  We wake tomorrow at 7:00 to eat at 7:30 and then off to the Golden Pavilion and Nanoa.

WHAT A DAY.

Airport

Here we all are, sitting in this airport.  I had no idea that basically each student has an itouch.  It's like the outside world doesn't exist.  Did you forget that we are going to Japan?  I guess SFO doesn't really lead to excitement or nervousness.  Except for Victoria and Kassity... first plane rides.

We made it all through the security check and this is really happening now.  Everyone seems tired.  Probably that ridiculous plane ride that is looming close outside the window.  Yeah, not really excited about that.

Jason is excited though.  "In Japan, I'll be the average height!"  Keep on dreamin' man.

8 DAYS!!!

It's almost here.  GOODBYE AMERICA!  HELLO JAPAN!