Japanese Jeans!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

By this point, I was already on mental vacation because I was done teaching for the week. Not done with work, mind you, but done teaching. Today was a cultural festival at Kogyo.

I showed up to work and started lesson planning and researching when, an hour and a half later a teacher came by and politely hinted that I should be at the gym watching the students performances. I assume this was information given out at the morning meeting, however, I couldn't understand that. I wrapped up my stuff and headed over, taking my coat with me, because it was a cold, blustery day.

I'd never been in the gym, but I followed the noise and made it just fine. I also found several boys outside in tight fitting spandex costumes with obviously stuffed crotches. I eventually made my way in, where I was recognized immediately by my supervisor, an older woman named Eve. Eve grabbed me a seat near her and we put our heads together laughing and enjoying the students' perforamnces. There was a chorus that sang along to a CD (and was outsung by the CD – none of my male students have soprano voices, though those were clearest.) There were some dance routines (featuring the boys in the odd costumes) and such.

Eve eventually checked the schedule, saw this was going to last another half hour and asked me if I wanted to see the photography. So, we slipped out. The photography room was locked, but we grabbed another teacher and went and looked around. My favorite picture was one of a few dozen kites all on one string extending vertically out of the frame. There were some others of monkeys. I inquired and yes, there are monkeys living in the mountains in Shiga. I need to see a monkey. My teachers were shocked that I'd never seen one in the wild before.

We then went to look at individual classroom displays. Each class put together something and it seems the theme was optical illusions, many copied directly from books. Several classes had one where a slanted floor and careful lines on a wall made a ball appear to roll upwards. My favorite room, though, was the one with magic eyes on the wall. These are the pictures that, when you cross your eyes (or stare closely) the image pops out. Eve had never seen one and, despite all my prompting, couldn't get it to work. I used to be much better but was still fast enough and good enough for the teachers to be awed. It's the little tricks that get me the farthest here.

We eventually had to rush back to the classroom because I was meeting with two students to give practice examinations for an English test they were taking. I had been give the booklet last weekend and brief introductions as to how to do this but, never having taken the test, I was a bit in the dark about how to do it or what was expected. I read the information on grading criteria carefully last week, meaning I didn't remember much this week.

The first student was very late. I managed to get all the pages photocopied and he still wasn't there. Finally, a teacher came down and told me he was waiting for me upstairs. Apparently something got lost in translation. So I went upstairs and we started in on it. He was testing for level 3 and doing fairly well. I gave whatever feedback I thought could be helpful with the caveat that I know nothing about the exam.

After him, the second boy (testing for level 2, the next higher one), came in. He wasn't quite as good, so I worry about him taking the test. I gave what feedback and practical advice I could (saying “your free narrative section was terrible” isn't constructive and is probably beyond fixable this close to the test; its best to keep him relaxed.

I did some lesson planning and blog updating, then left shortly after my contract ended. I had plans for the night.

At home, I dropped off my stuff, then headed to Uniqlo, a clothing store that is cheaper and will sometimes fit an American body type. I had a few goals in mind: I wanted more HeatTech (a thin material that, according to the label uses your body moisture to trap heat using Japan Technology. Yay Japan!) which, yes, is quite thin, but does seem to do something. It's not MAGIC or anything, but it helps. And it's not expensive, so, yay! I also wanted to see about jeans. The tighter of the two pairs I came over in is sagging off me in an appalling manner.

As I was browsing, a friendly sales clerk checked on me in very good English. So, I asked her advice. Eventually, I decided to just get it over with, grabbed the biggest pair of jeans I could find and went into the changing room (got gently scolded – you're supposed to take of your shoes before entering the curtained-off area) and tried them on. They fit! So, this was happy news! I might even be able to go a size smaller, maybe, depending on how they stretch.

I also grabbed a fleese turtleneck and a fleese zip for work. My total came to about $100, but I need to stay warm. As I walked out, I took one last look at the drop-dead gorgeous man on the front door modeling Uniqlo clothes. He's got dark curls and is gazing off while snowflakes fall into his hair. Honestly, it's a brilliant marketing scheme, as I just dropped $100 here today. Wonder if I can get a copy of that for my wall... Drop dead gorgeous, I tell you.