Two Mountains, One Day (Part 2 – Nagi-san)

After our awe-inspiring journey above the clouds (Ok, I know its just fog), we got a call from a friend who was climbing one of the other nearby mountains. I had been wanting to try to climb this one for a while as I've heard its a good climb and has great views on a clear day. So, we decided “What the hey” and set off for our second mountain of the day.

The weather was perfect, sunny but not too hot. The climb wasn't so easy, the path was steep and while well marked covered in small unstable rocks to help get some traction on the mud. I am unfit and my asthma doesn't like me climbing mountains, but I persisted with the climb. At about the 1000 metre point, there is a large rock call Okami-iwa. We sat on the rock to take a rest and watched the valley sprawled out below.

When we finally made it to the top we were all pretty exhausted, but the view was our reward. The valleys, hills and mountains seemed to stretch on for as far as the eye could see, blurring off into the haze of the horizon. All in all, a memorable Saturday.

Two Mountains, One Day (Part 1 – Oyama-san)

At the moment the nights are really cold, but during the day the temperature goes up to 25 degrees and each morning we have thick fog. I heard that if you were to go up to a nearby mountain early in the morning, you pop up above the fog which settles in the valleys. So Maki and me set off early last Saturday morning to see if it was true. As we drove up the mountain a hazy sun started to come into view. Suddenly there was blue sky above and a sea of fog beneath us, like we were on a white, fluffy cloud. Small islands of hill tops dotted the white horizon and the trees near their base blurred into the whiteness. It was rather odd to see as we are so used to see clouds above us, when you see them below, you feel like you're not sure which way is up anymore. Its one of the views that will stay with me forever. We stayed about an hour as watched as the white dissipated and cleared, revealing Yunogo town below.  

How I met God!

Lunch with the Junior High School is always hit and miss depending on who I end up sat with. Some students revel in the opportunity to have a one-on-one with me, to test there English or ask me odd and personal questions. Others resent having to sit with their teacher, for fear their peers might consider them 'square' and give me a stoney-faced silence. The other day was interesting. I was having a lively conversation with the class clown about why I wasn't going to give him my pudding, when the girl next to said in perfect English “I am God!” I was a little taken back, I must admit. It certainly wasn't expecting that. I thought I'd misheard. “What?” I said. She repeated “I am God!” She looked calm and honest, not like someone saying something for a joke. Was she really God?!? Had God returned to Earth for the second coming as a small Japanese school girl!!?! I said “You are God?” “Yes,” she replied. It was clear but I was still confused. “God” I said pointing to the sky to confirm she understood what God meant. “Yes”, she said, “I am God”. “No you're not.” I returned, testing her will. “Yes, I am,” she calmly replied. “I am God!” I was getting no where. I asked her “Why?” She said “My name is God”. The answer I'm afraid is a little mundane in comparison the all might returning to Earth an announcing him/herself to me during lunch. Her name in Japanese is Kami. This means god.

Yet Another Festival

This festival was Kintokimatsuri, a festival to celebrate the Japanese folk law of 'Kintaro' or golden-boy. The legend goes that Kintaro was a child of abnormal strength. There are various routes the story about his life take. Some say he is based on the Samuri, Sakata no Kintoki; some say he was an orphan left in the wild and others say he was the son of a wealthy-man. They all, however, agree on the point he was a active and indefatigable, plump and ruddy, wearing only a bib with the kanji for "gold" (金) on it. He is meant to have been born and also buried in Shoo, where I am living, and is often depicted riding on the back of a black bear he has meant to have fought and tamed in the wilds.

The festival was a mishmash of stalls and vendors, with a stage for dancing, singing and so on. It didn't seem to be as traditional as I had thought. The traditionally dressed dancers in Yukatas actually danced to a modern piece of composition called “Kintokun – Samba”! How samba has reached its was into Japanese folklore, only the composer knows. But sometimes, it does look as though Japan does have problems bring the traditional into the 21^st century, even though I do sometimes preach about how well Japan melds its heritage with the modern World.

Chocolat de Tomato?

I did a cartoon style double take when I saw this on the supermarket shelf. Really? Tomato flavoured chocolate? I will have to try it and let you know how bad it is. 

Kids Say the Funniest Things

I was doing a lesson on “I can ...” “Can you …?” and reviewing a few of the words from the previous lesson using my flash cards. There is this handicapped girl in the class who loves English. She does quite well and enthusiastically yells answers out with great gusto and confidence, even if she's wrong. The words were simple like “Baseball. I can play baseball.” “Swim. I can swim.” and I get the students to repeat after I say them. Then it came to “Cook”, at which point this girls begins yelling out at the top of her voice a distinctive “COCK”; repeatedly. The 'home room teacher' (HRT) I was working with doesn't have an amazing level of English, but judging by his reaction, I had a far idea that he had understood as well. She was still saying it. “Cock, cock, cock!” It took me a little longer than usual to regain my composure. I tried to re-pronounce the word without drawing attention to her as if I let on to the rest of the class this is a bad word, they'll then want to know what it mean and I'm not digging myself in to that hole (Again). So I repeated “Cook. I can cook.” Unfortunately she didn't grasp the subtle difference and I was hit with another flurry of “Cock!” I turned to her, my HRT now in a fit of giggles, but also a little perturbed; “No, coook.” “Cock.” “No, cooook. I can cooook.” “Cock. I can cock.” Needless to say this went on a while, but its hard to describe that bizarre feeling of a small Japanese child shouting 'cock' in a classroom.

The same day, I had my lunch with a very energetic first grade elementary school class. I had finished my school lunch and one or two other kids had finished by that point too. They went to the teacher to ask for dessert. I was a little confused as there was no dessert today. It turned out they were stickers, awarded to children who eat all their lunch before the bell. As I had finished I was apparently also eligible for a sticker and so I obtained myself a doughnut for my polo-shirt. The kids were then showing me all the stickers they had collected over the last few weeks. One cheeky little boy came up to me and presented his sticker of a hot-dog. He said “Frankfurter” point to the sticker and then to his gentleman parts with the cheekiest, proudest smile on his little face. I thought, I have to diffuse this now. So I thought the best thing was to correct him. “No, thats a 'sausage'” pointing at the sticker. To which he said “Sausage?” pointing at the sticker. “Yes”. He then shouted “SAUSAGE!!!!!!” point again at his crotch, running off to tell all his classmates. I should have seen that one coming really.