I’ve had a brilliant couple of days. Yesterday was the school コンクルー which seems to consist of every class in the school singing a couple of songs. We took over the city’s civic hall and it was great fun. We all sat in the crowd but the classes took turns to take the stage, where they stood like a proper choir, and here is the most impressive bit, students played the piano and conducted the music. I enjoyed listening to the songs I liked, and watching my favourite students take the stage and do their thing. For the rest of the time I was sat with one of the first grade classes. The kids asked me questions about the songs and some of the English writing on the programme. We talked and listened together and I tried to give them some advice about coping with nerves. After that particular class finished their performance one of the girls cried for quite a while. I was concerned and didn’t know if she was happy or sad. For one, Japanese people bottle lots of things up and then let it all go in explosions of emotion at flagship events like this and there was the fact that she was probably nervous, but I thought she did great (she was conducting). So I assumed she was happy and relieved. My proof came later when, after all the classes had sung, she won 1st award for her conducting. Another girl from that class won for her piano playing. It was good to see them happy then. I had nothing to do with it, obviously, but I felt a little proud because she’s one of the children I like most; she always says “Hello!” to me in a cheery voice, every day I see her and she reminds me of Kiff from Futurama.

The singing did vary a bit that day, but most tried really hard and did a good job. One of the third graders really messed up his piano playing. It was amusing to listen to the chorus sing acapella for a while, but at the end of the song, the pianist’s attempts to get back in the swing of things were starting to sound painful. It seemed like the longest song. The third graders were amusing in their team cheers before each class began. There are some jokers in that grade (of course) and they made some funny chants that I didn’t get because I’m not Japanese.Still, they were amusing to watch.  I got to take my camera and document the whole thing. I took loads of photos, though they do tend to seem the same as it was the same set up every performance. I also recorded video of my favourite songs. I don’t think they would allow that at English schools anymore.

Today was even better. Where as yesterday we only just had time to break through that normality barrier and reach into that realm of experience where the time you spend together is unique and the rest of the world doesn’t seem to matter, today was a full day. The day was marred by one big problem though. My camera batteries were dying and the replacements were already dead. So I wasn’t able to take as many photos and videos today as I would have wanted (though it is amazing how long you can sustain power by wiggling them a bit). It was a real shame as, at the end of the day, some of the third graders did some comedy sketches. Despite not understanding half of it, some of the comedy was universal. For example, one sketch seemed to be about a group of boys who collapased to their knees when a beautiful, famous singer (some kid in drag, in actuality) walked by to her song playing. This was immediately parodied when the Star Wars music played and a guy dressed as C3-P0 robot walked onto the stage and off the other end. Then, at seemingly random moments the Star Wars music would play again during their scenes and the C3-P0 would walk on again, saying different funny things I didn’t get, but just the occurrence was hysterical.

Anyway, the day started with a performance by the strings section (with one song being the aforementioned teacher accompaniment). Then there were some speeches and the like, including my speech contest student re-enacting her performance from the contest. It was good to see as I didn’t get to see the competition itself, despite all the preparation. Then the third graders put on a play. I didn’t get it, but they did a good job. This was followed by the brass band. I was more than ready for lunch, and then the day changed a little. Suddenly, we were walking around all the classrooms looking at displays of students’ work. It was like a parent-teacher day back home. I got to see a lot of other material though, and it was nice. Some of them really get into the other subjects, which is to be expected. One strange thing that happened at this time, was that lots of people gathered around the running track. I wasn’t sure why until I went outside and looked. They were having a spitting competition. Yes, in complete contrast to their usual politeness and good manners, the students had gathered to see who could spit seeds the furthest. Naturally, I had a good go, and managed a respectable 4 m 20. It got a bit of a cheer, but it was so funny to watch. I had seen the teachers do it before though. One day someone had brought some watermelons into the teachers room. After beginning eating them, some people went outside and started spitting seeds as far as they could. Strange, in contrast to normal days, but fun.

After this tour of students work, we all went back to the main hall and waited for ages. Then some of the students did their comedy sketches. This was probably the best part. We were all tired, but they still managed to be so energetic and they really got into it again.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this time was how into it all the students got. When their friends were announced as winners, they really cheered hard. It’s such a change from the meek figures I see everyday slipping down the hall, hoping I won’t try and talk to them today. They really got a kick out of the second day when the teachers sang along to one of the songs. It was traditional Japanese, and only some teachers sang, but the cheers and laughter from the students was incredible. I wish they had that energy more often. It might be easier to connect with them. Though I did make some progress with another student. I took to hanging out on the balcony with one of the English teachers for half the day. Some of the students who were working behind the scenes would pop out every now and then to watch a bit of the act currently performing. With the English teacher’s help, I started talking to one of the girls who really tries hard to avoid me because she doesn’t know any English. I got her started on the whole “Matt Money” quest, so maybe I’ll hear more from her. Especially since I suggested she work together with her friends to pool the prize money.

The downside of today is that, for some reason, they completely blocked out all day light so I feel like I have been in a darkened theatre all day, and now it is naturally dark.  So I think my body is a little confused, but it’s nothing that a long sleep won’t soon sort out.