Wierd Japanese Potty Training Video

Wait for the end. It gets even funnier!

Ri-chan and Teri-chan in Gion

Finally I've got round to posting photos of my mum and sister in Kyoto. You can go to a studio where they dress you up as maiko-sans and let you wander around a shrine in the kimono. My mum was slightly reluctant to do it at first but with some " I'll never get to do it again" spirit she jumped straight in and loved it. Apparently having the make up put on is very relaxing and an experience in itself.

Hagi Weekend

Once again, Dan and Rosie kindly held a bbq and all hell broke loose. Politicians were actually called!! Anyway, it was a great weekend full of beer, fireworks, volleyball, swimming and skinny dipping. The most surreal moment was around 10 of us sitting on the wave breaker, stark bollock naked, listening to Nate rapping. Weird!

Katobasehagishoipatsukimerou!

Every year there is a huge baseball tournament and almost every school in Japan takes part. It is every High School baseball player's dream to win this tournament and they take it very seriously - and I mean SERIOUSLY. The team had been practising since they first picked up a baseball bat, the cheering squad and brass band had been practising for weeks and then the rest of the school had to spend 4 hours in total in a sweltering gym to practise songs and chants. What happened to just shouting "come on! fucking 'av it!!"? I decided to join in and managed to disrupt the orderly rehearsal and distract all the students. Oooops.


So the after all the rehearsals, the actual match day arrived and we all headed down to Shimonoseki to support the team (supposedly). We were all too busy concentrating on our cheering that we weren't paying much attention to the game!! the team lost, the other teams chants were better and then there were tears!! But I had a great time. I learnt far too much about my students on the bus ride down and they learnt far too much about me in return.

"Chin Chin"

Today I have a killer hangover and I almost spewed when they placed natto (fermented decomposing bean like shit) in front of me for school lunch. However, the night before made the hangover well worth it.

Yesterday I took part in a soft volleyball tournament with the teachers and the parents from my base school. It was far too serious - standing in lines, bowing, trophies, opening and closing ceremonies etc but it was still good fun. It was about to get a lot better....

The volleyball was followed by an enkai (party) with the parents and teachers. The students act and look exactly like their parents - it was soooo weird! Due to their similarities I soon found out that I got on really well with the parents of my favorite students. One got me started on the straight vodka and we soon got battered. He asked how to say "kanpai" in English and other languages so I taught him "Cheers" "Iechydd da" "Chin Chin" . WAIT A MINUTE - "CHIN CHIN"? Why did I say this? In Japanese this means "penis"!!!!! Well, before you know it, we were toasting "chin chin" to the whole room (including my principle, vice principle, heads of the PTA, and many housewives). Everybody got involved.

Then he felt my "chin chin" to see how big it was. He told everyone that it was like a "daikon" (big thick radish) and that his was tiny (all with hand gestures). Then other parents tried to set me up with their daughters from the school. They didn't think it was wrong at all and were actively encouraging me to persue my students. Well if they insist..... and then there was a fight - always a sign of a good party!

Talking to the students tomorrow will be interesting. I'm not saying anything but I wonder how much their parents told them. I think there should be more enkais with the parents. It's so much fun!!

Sayonara!

The time has come to say goodbye to all the people that are leaving. The AJET girls (Rosie, Setph and Anita) did a marvellous job organising locations, drinks and food for 60 rowdy foreginers. We couldn't have asked for a better send off. Goodbye to everyone that I didn't get the chance to speak to. Good luck in whatever you do. Could you not just wait 5 minutes Mark? The AJET girls. I'd do them all!! (you first Rosie!)Pretending to be friends -we hate eachother really.The pants pincher herself!! She didn't get them this time round.Rosie!!!! Aaaaah Takagi.
Kick his ass Steph!! "Mordoooooooooooorrrrrr desu"

God Bless America!! (I never thought I'd utter these words)

In November I celebrated my first ever Thanksgiving with Paul (ok, so it was KFC and a bottle of wine but it was the best we could do) and today was my first Independence Day. I feel almost like an honorary American (I even spell like them now! doh!). For all the bad press that they get in the U.K, the one's I have met are all sound as a pound and Independence day lived up to my expectations - Fireworks on a beach in the rain. Great Fun!! Paul, Mark and Saori enjoying fine weather, wine and negiyaki.
Is this this the coolest firework you have ever seen? It starts shooting sparks out of the canon!!

To become a fully pledged honorary American I need to make it onto a cheerleading squad. The training starts here!!

PS. Don't be worried. I don't actually want to be American. I'm quite happy shagging my sheep thank you very much.

'Guch Yukata Party

The wonderful Louise organised a Yukata party/ bender in the Guch. The girls looked spectacular in their yukatas (summer kimono) but the beer and fags soon made an appearance. It was all down hill from there as many fell victim to the 2 hour "all you can drink". Louise wanted me to take off my underwear, and as she had done such a good job organising it, I obliged. She then stole it the little minx! Great night!!