A long weekend
Wow, it's been over a week since I let my fingers do the talking.
Last Thursday was the Seta Region English Speech and Spelling Contest. Each school in the region (all 5 of 'em) select students to represent the school in both competitions; 2 kids from 2nensei and 2 kids from 3nensei for the spelling test and 1 from either or both for the speech contest. Azuma JHS is the smallest school in the region (I asked one other ALT how big her school is at the contest, and she said "Oh, not very big...only about 500 students." She nearly died when I said I had 80.) so we only had one kid go in the speech contest. And he gave it his all, he really did, but didn't manage to get an award. Also the kids in the spelling contest didn't manage to come away with any prizes either, but I'm still proud of them all for actually having a go.
So, after the speech contest, I jumped into my car and drove to Isesaki, left my car there and headed into Tokyo. Arrived at the hotel at about 9:30, grabbed some yakisoba from the 7-11 down the road, and then tried to get as much sleep as possible. Friday was my much anticipated (or should that be dreaded?) Electone Concours. I had to be up at 7am in order to meet my teacher at 8:30am. We met at the station and walked to the hall for my rehearsal, which was at 9:12:45am. I kid you not. Twelve minutes and forty-five seconds past 9 was my rehearsal time. And it lasted 2 minutes and 15 seconds. There was a lady on the microphone announcing when each person's rehearsal was over.
I was done by 9:15:00 and, being number 20 on the programme, had a wait of about four and a half hours until my actual performance. I was so tired, thanks to the speech contest the previous day and waking up 5 times during the night, and didn't feel like eating. And I was incredibly nervous because all the other competitors are students at music universities in Tokyo, and I was the lone foreigner, the English Teacher from the mountains. Everyone had to play their two pieces in a row, and when I was playing the set piece, I managed to forget some of the left hand part in the middle. But instead of making me more nervous, it helped me relax enough to be able to enjoy playing my own choice piece. The results for the competition aren't released until 20th October (a whole month) but I know I won't be selected, so I can relax again now, and not have to rush home every day after school to practice. Phew.
So it was an early night that night, and then up at 9:30 to meet old and new friends in Ginza. We wandered around, went to the Nissan Gallery, took a new Nissan Murano for a test drive (I drove), went to Meiji-jingu, out for dinner, and then to the ryokan in Ikebukuro.
Sunday was sumo. I had never seen sumo live before, and it was hilarious. We had awesome seats (2 booths worth about A$1200 each) with all you can eat and drink, plus we got presents on the way out. Had an absolute blast. That night was an all-night dance party in Shin Kiba. Met up with a few friends first at a bar in Tokyo, made some new ones and then headed to the party. The venue for these parties is crazy! There is a pool, a beach, a tent, a huge dance floor, a smaller dance floor, VIP rooms, dark rooms.... so much fun. Thanks to the gang for making it a great night. Got the first train back to the ryokan at 5:30am, went to bed at 6:30, got up at 10, showered and then we were out of there and on our way back home to Gunma. Ended up getting back to my house at 6:30pm and managed to find the energy to play the Electone for fun for the first time in a long time. Felt sooo good!!
And that was the weekend.
Another long weekend coming up this one too. The JHS sports festival is this Friday with a drinking party afterwards, Saturday is the Nursery School sports festival and then, weather permitting, Sunday is Disneyland. Yay! And Monday is a holiday where I plan on catching up on all the sleep I haven't had these past few weeks. Finally.
For more pictures, check out my Photo Homepage.
Last Thursday was the Seta Region English Speech and Spelling Contest. Each school in the region (all 5 of 'em) select students to represent the school in both competitions; 2 kids from 2nensei and 2 kids from 3nensei for the spelling test and 1 from either or both for the speech contest. Azuma JHS is the smallest school in the region (I asked one other ALT how big her school is at the contest, and she said "Oh, not very big...only about 500 students." She nearly died when I said I had 80.) so we only had one kid go in the speech contest. And he gave it his all, he really did, but didn't manage to get an award. Also the kids in the spelling contest didn't manage to come away with any prizes either, but I'm still proud of them all for actually having a go.
So, after the speech contest, I jumped into my car and drove to Isesaki, left my car there and headed into Tokyo. Arrived at the hotel at about 9:30, grabbed some yakisoba from the 7-11 down the road, and then tried to get as much sleep as possible. Friday was my much anticipated (or should that be dreaded?) Electone Concours. I had to be up at 7am in order to meet my teacher at 8:30am. We met at the station and walked to the hall for my rehearsal, which was at 9:12:45am. I kid you not. Twelve minutes and forty-five seconds past 9 was my rehearsal time. And it lasted 2 minutes and 15 seconds. There was a lady on the microphone announcing when each person's rehearsal was over.
I was done by 9:15:00 and, being number 20 on the programme, had a wait of about four and a half hours until my actual performance. I was so tired, thanks to the speech contest the previous day and waking up 5 times during the night, and didn't feel like eating. And I was incredibly nervous because all the other competitors are students at music universities in Tokyo, and I was the lone foreigner, the English Teacher from the mountains. Everyone had to play their two pieces in a row, and when I was playing the set piece, I managed to forget some of the left hand part in the middle. But instead of making me more nervous, it helped me relax enough to be able to enjoy playing my own choice piece. The results for the competition aren't released until 20th October (a whole month) but I know I won't be selected, so I can relax again now, and not have to rush home every day after school to practice. Phew.
So it was an early night that night, and then up at 9:30 to meet old and new friends in Ginza. We wandered around, went to the Nissan Gallery, took a new Nissan Murano for a test drive (I drove), went to Meiji-jingu, out for dinner, and then to the ryokan in Ikebukuro.
Sunday was sumo. I had never seen sumo live before, and it was hilarious. We had awesome seats (2 booths worth about A$1200 each) with all you can eat and drink, plus we got presents on the way out. Had an absolute blast. That night was an all-night dance party in Shin Kiba. Met up with a few friends first at a bar in Tokyo, made some new ones and then headed to the party. The venue for these parties is crazy! There is a pool, a beach, a tent, a huge dance floor, a smaller dance floor, VIP rooms, dark rooms.... so much fun. Thanks to the gang for making it a great night. Got the first train back to the ryokan at 5:30am, went to bed at 6:30, got up at 10, showered and then we were out of there and on our way back home to Gunma. Ended up getting back to my house at 6:30pm and managed to find the energy to play the Electone for fun for the first time in a long time. Felt sooo good!!
And that was the weekend.
Another long weekend coming up this one too. The JHS sports festival is this Friday with a drinking party afterwards, Saturday is the Nursery School sports festival and then, weather permitting, Sunday is Disneyland. Yay! And Monday is a holiday where I plan on catching up on all the sleep I haven't had these past few weeks. Finally.
For more pictures, check out my Photo Homepage.
posted by GrantPGranthm | 4:23 pm
3 Comments:
so how many semi-naked men did you see on the weekend?????
cheers for a fun wkend, tokyo rocks.
Also wanted to say thanks for a fun weekend! Good times were had by all.
But, er, are you sure that you have Monday off? Unless the mountains have different holidays than the rest of the country, I believe Monday is (sadly) a work day. *shrug*
Yep things are done differently in the mountains. Nah mate, it's because I have my sports festival on the public holiday Friday; we get Monday off in lieu.
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