Hello friends, family and internet stalkers! Here’s a quick rundown on my activities for
the past few weeks to help you feel up to date in touch with your Japanese
side. Today was the Jumangoku festival,
which the Ogaki city website translates as “festival of 10,000 stones”. It features a big parade where people march
through the streets carrying ornate mini shrines attached to poles that people
put on their shoulders to carry the shrines in the parade through the
city. You get the idea. In the past there was a group of Americans
that carried a float, but I was unable to find anyone who was doing it this
year, and didn’t see any foreigners in the parade. I did get to participate in Mochi-nage for
the first time though. This is a fun
event where men on 20 foot high platforms pelt crowds of spectators with Mochi
(hard sticky rice balls). I caught one
and ate it. It tasted like rice. The other participants, from children to old
people, showed no reservations about diving between my legs and scrambling on
all fours to get their Mochi. Luckily
there was plenty for all.
Last weekend I had a fun time visiting an organic farm run
by a Chinese family on the outskirts of town.
The mom took us out in the fields and four of us picked about 12 cubic
yards of herbs and peppers and potatoes.
It only cost $10 but I have no idea how to cook with most of the plants
I picked. I am enjoying the spicy
peppers but remain perplexed as to how to use 4 pounds of basil.
Next weekend we have a Halloween party for the kids. I am going as a lunch lady to fulfill my role
in a play we are putting on. The play is
about zombies that eat PB&J. Then I’m
doing a game that involves racing plastic spiders by blowing them with straws. Should be fun, although I’d enjoy it more if
my students were invited.
Work has continued to present problems, the most recent of
which is that all the branches are closed the week after next, except for
one. The single renegade branch boss may
cause me to have a one day work week instead of a week off. Really I wouldn’t care, as no one else I know
has time off that week and I obviously haven’t had time to plan anything. The reason for this situation is that Shimon
is taking a 5 day company trip to Hawaii (with over 100 staff!) It’s cool that the company would offer
something like that, although I’m not sure if it makes up for the required 14
hour days most staff work over summer break.
Alright, rather than stressing about work, I’m going to go eat spicy
pepper and read the 500 page comic book that I bought for $4. Until we meet again!
