Kimono Underwear 101

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

I biked to Kogyo and found a gate blocking my usual entrance. I was quite confused. So, I biked around to the other entryway and went in. I did not seem any students as I made my way in, which was unusual. Once I reached the staff room, I opened the door to find... hardly any teachers. I was confused. It's little things like this that throw me off. By not speaking Japanese, I am often out-of-the-loop on special activities, events, or rules. It means that any time something is not as I expect, I immediate start wondering if there is something special going on that day or if I missed some sort of instructions. As it turns out, I was early (!!) for school, so most of the teachers showed up in the next five minutes before the teachers' meeting started. As for the gate, I have no idea, but it was still blocked off when I left.

I spent all day when I wasn't teaching working on my directions lesson. As I predicted, I was asked about it and, though I didn't have my worksheets done, I was able to go over my basic idea, and show rough-draft examples of worksheets. One of these – a giant map – we printed out on HUGE paper using a GIANT printer. It was quite cool, although I'm embarrassed by how sloppy it looks, especially when blown up. In my defense, I colored as best I could with a thin, dried out black marker, which is all I had.

In lessons, I continued to do my self-introduction, which I've gotten good enough at to not have my lesson plan with me anymore. Once again, Bucky Badger was abused, with his shirt stripped off in several classes. And, still, no students have heard of the manga MARS, which makes me feel increasingly old.

As difficult as the classes can be, I've enjoyed my classes at Kogyo best. While it's nice that the students listen at Koko, I get kids with more personality at Kogyo and better stories. For example, after a team won, I was going down their row giving everyone a hanko (stamp) on their hanko sheets. Students are rewarded on (and I believe their participation grade is affected by) hanko sheets. A piece of paper marked with a stamp when they do something right – raise their hand with a good answer or win a game in class. So, I was stamping their sheets when I got to the end and realized (after stamping) that the student was merely crouching down at desk-level, not actually sitting in the row, meaning he hadn't actually legitimately won that stamp.

The class loved it.

So, I gave him a skeptical look, and took his notebook (with Hanko sheet) away and told him that to get it back, he'd have to answer my next question.

The class REALLY loved that.

When my first question came up in my slide show, I directed it to him. He did quite well and he got his notebook back. I think it was handled quite well – all in good humor.

I taught four classes and was quite worn out by the end. I worked as late as I could on the lesson plan, but I had to leave at 5:15 to get to kimono lessons at 6pm. I felt bad leaving, but with how late I work at Koko frequently, I don't feel that bad. The teachers were excited to hear about my kimono lessons, though. Thus far, all Japanese women say that they're quite interested in kimono, but don't know how to wear them and would love to learn.

I got to the Kimono school at 6pm and was promptly lead into the far side of the room, which is always partitioned off, so I've never seen it. There, I handed over a lot of cash and was presented with a a pile of stuff ordered for me last week. I'm suddenly realizing why the first level of classes is twelve weeks and why there are multiple levels of kimono wearing. To give you an idea of how much stuff I now have, one of the things included in my package was the special kimono suitcase to put it all in. If and when I come home, this thing is carry-on bag sized.

We started learning how to put on the kimono. Which, of course, starts by learning how to put on the: undershirt (which involved stripping off our shirts. Apparently I missed the memo that most Japanese women wear tank-tops under their shirts. Dully noted for next week.) underskirt, under kimono robe. This involves plenty of straps, cords, and pads. Also, I got to wear my tabi for the first time. These are Japanese socks with the big toe sewn separately so they can be worn with sandals. They actually have hooks up the back because they're close-fitting. I love them. The teacher was the one who decided the sizes for all of my clothes because, obviously, when it comes to Japanese sizes, I'm completely clueless, but I'm wondering if my under-kimono is slightly too small. I don't think she accounted for, um, bust, when sizing it.

I will probably pretty soon learn “right” and “left” in Japanese, because they come up all the time in regards to hands and side of the body. I kept messing up because I was watching the teacher facing me (actually, to make it even more complicated, she was ¾ facing me. We got to the point where the kimono is on. Next week, we get to learn how to start tying obi. It will be complicated.

We are also supposed to read our textbook – and actually spent some time reviewing and underlining (which is really interesting to see when text is written vertically) the key points. Me, I got to spend time peeking at the woman next to me's book to see what kanji she was underlining. I'm noticing that a teacher telling students EXACTLY what to underline seems to be very common here. I may be able to look at the pictures, but I certainly can't read the textbook, as I believe we were instructed to do twice before next class.

I'm supposed to sew this fabric onto the under-kimono's collar. But, recognizing that the American girl was only half-following, I have been told to NOT sew anything and to come next week with my sewing kit (yes, I do have one!) and sensei will help me. It does make me feel better.

I didn't get home until after 9:30 and was absolutely exhausted. But, for three and a half hours of Japanese community socializing, I'd say it was a good night.