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I participated in the ED Kite Festival today. This involved waking up at an ungodly early hour (for Saturday) and trekking over to Daimon, where I was handed a kite and about 60 elementary school kids and told to have heap big fun with them (or at least that's the Cliff's Notes version).
I walked over to Daimon (the informational email said to meet at the red bridge) and was almost late because the red bridge area is huge, and I had no idea where to go after I got there. I was really, really wanted to be on time, because the elementary kids announce you with trumpets and angelic choirs, and they're really disappointed when someone's late.
I turn a huge circle and notice, in the distance, a huge multicolored jellyfish flying in the sky. Then I notice two matching pufferfish, and an octopus, and a bunch of smaller kites. Ah. Found it.
Wend my way down the slope to the river bed and arrive in time. I should note here that this festival is a big deal for Daimon. They flew in seven kite masters (laugh, but I'm not kidding) from France, and had all their school kids lined up and waiting for us, as well as several government officials to make speeches, and full color nametags for the foreign volunteers.
...Three of whom didn't even bother showing up, because they'd decided to go drinking the night before. One of them was supposed to be paired with me, so I ended up handling 60 kids by myself. That's just shitty. We signed up for this event over a month ago, and how hard would it be to sacrifice one Friday night of drinking to go play with some kids on Saturday morning? Evidently too much for some people.
Anyway, I managed to further mangle this situation by sitting down with and introducing myself to the wrong group of kids after my name is called following the uncomfortable ten minute silence while we waited for my no-show partner. Realised my mistake, righted it, and then before I know what's going on there's a woman behind me tugging on the waistband of my jeans as if she wants to give me the wedgie from hell. Ah, yes, the wardrobe malfunction. When I sat down, a strip of skin was apparently visible between my shirt and jeans, and this was just horrendous as far as the woman was concerned. I wish I could convey how utterly freaked out she was. Lady, it's just some skin, and since I was sitting facing the students, none of them were able to see it!
Then we go fly our kites. They were all homemade and the kids put an unbelievable amount of work into them, with absolutely gorgeous illustrations. Of course, this is English hour, so before they could fly the kites, the kids had to introduce themselves to me and tell me about the illos on their kites. Because I had to go through all sixty kids, many of them never had a chance to fly the kites before the hour was up and it was time to put them away. Thanks, absentee partner. Some kids had a great time not flying kites today because you couldn't be bothered to wake up this morning.
Then it was time for English games. My group played London Bridge is falling down, an Ultraman mime game, an Oni in the middle game, and some weird versions of duck duck goose and tag, which I didn't understand because the sensei couldn't get the megaphone to work, and only the fifteen or so kids close to her could hear her directions. But the kids had a great time - lots of running, shrieking, and tearing around the park. Japanese kids are adorable, especially before they've had all the originality and individuality flogged out of them by middle school. We ended on a jankenpon caterpillar game.
Then we did the Bunny Hop (again, laugh, but it's true), which I had to learn on the spot, although all 400 or so participating kids were already pros. I though Jessica was joking when she told me we'd have to do this. The Bunny Hop tough when you're well over five foot, and both kids on either side of you have yet to reach past four. But adorable nonetheless.
And then the festival was over. Honestly, I wish it could have gone on longer. My kids were just getting over their shyness and starting to really talk and interact with me, and they were just ADORABLE. These kids were so cute and eager to play more games. They all clustered around me to shake hands and say goodbye until their teachers pried them away for lunch. Some of them were crying because they didn't want to go. Sometimes Japan really sucks, but then other times, people are so grateful that you've just shown up. I spent over half an hour after the 'end' of the festival signing autographs for these kids. (I drew each of them a little picture and wrote my name in katakana as well, so they'd have something a little more substantial.)
Then we got paid. Lunch, 30 bucks, and a Daimon kite festival bath towel. To be honest, that's what originally compelled me to sign up for the thing in the first place, and now, I feel really whorish about it. I barely had to do anything at all. I would have happily spent another few hours with those kids. I'll definitely be signing back on for the festival next year.
That will be all.
I walked over to Daimon (the informational email said to meet at the red bridge) and was almost late because the red bridge area is huge, and I had no idea where to go after I got there. I was really, really wanted to be on time, because the elementary kids announce you with trumpets and angelic choirs, and they're really disappointed when someone's late.
I turn a huge circle and notice, in the distance, a huge multicolored jellyfish flying in the sky. Then I notice two matching pufferfish, and an octopus, and a bunch of smaller kites. Ah. Found it.
Wend my way down the slope to the river bed and arrive in time. I should note here that this festival is a big deal for Daimon. They flew in seven kite masters (laugh, but I'm not kidding) from France, and had all their school kids lined up and waiting for us, as well as several government officials to make speeches, and full color nametags for the foreign volunteers.
...Three of whom didn't even bother showing up, because they'd decided to go drinking the night before. One of them was supposed to be paired with me, so I ended up handling 60 kids by myself. That's just shitty. We signed up for this event over a month ago, and how hard would it be to sacrifice one Friday night of drinking to go play with some kids on Saturday morning? Evidently too much for some people.
Anyway, I managed to further mangle this situation by sitting down with and introducing myself to the wrong group of kids after my name is called following the uncomfortable ten minute silence while we waited for my no-show partner. Realised my mistake, righted it, and then before I know what's going on there's a woman behind me tugging on the waistband of my jeans as if she wants to give me the wedgie from hell. Ah, yes, the wardrobe malfunction. When I sat down, a strip of skin was apparently visible between my shirt and jeans, and this was just horrendous as far as the woman was concerned. I wish I could convey how utterly freaked out she was. Lady, it's just some skin, and since I was sitting facing the students, none of them were able to see it!
Then we go fly our kites. They were all homemade and the kids put an unbelievable amount of work into them, with absolutely gorgeous illustrations. Of course, this is English hour, so before they could fly the kites, the kids had to introduce themselves to me and tell me about the illos on their kites. Because I had to go through all sixty kids, many of them never had a chance to fly the kites before the hour was up and it was time to put them away. Thanks, absentee partner. Some kids had a great time not flying kites today because you couldn't be bothered to wake up this morning.
Then it was time for English games. My group played London Bridge is falling down, an Ultraman mime game, an Oni in the middle game, and some weird versions of duck duck goose and tag, which I didn't understand because the sensei couldn't get the megaphone to work, and only the fifteen or so kids close to her could hear her directions. But the kids had a great time - lots of running, shrieking, and tearing around the park. Japanese kids are adorable, especially before they've had all the originality and individuality flogged out of them by middle school. We ended on a jankenpon caterpillar game.
Then we did the Bunny Hop (again, laugh, but it's true), which I had to learn on the spot, although all 400 or so participating kids were already pros. I though Jessica was joking when she told me we'd have to do this. The Bunny Hop tough when you're well over five foot, and both kids on either side of you have yet to reach past four. But adorable nonetheless.
And then the festival was over. Honestly, I wish it could have gone on longer. My kids were just getting over their shyness and starting to really talk and interact with me, and they were just ADORABLE. These kids were so cute and eager to play more games. They all clustered around me to shake hands and say goodbye until their teachers pried them away for lunch. Some of them were crying because they didn't want to go. Sometimes Japan really sucks, but then other times, people are so grateful that you've just shown up. I spent over half an hour after the 'end' of the festival signing autographs for these kids. (I drew each of them a little picture and wrote my name in katakana as well, so they'd have something a little more substantial.)
Then we got paid. Lunch, 30 bucks, and a Daimon kite festival bath towel. To be honest, that's what originally compelled me to sign up for the thing in the first place, and now, I feel really whorish about it. I barely had to do anything at all. I would have happily spent another few hours with those kids. I'll definitely be signing back on for the festival next year.
That will be all.
