スポーツ大会(キャロル先生)

School Sports Day

 

Yesterday was the school sports day in Mitaka. It was a fun-filled day for all the students whereby they competed in a game of dodge-ball, mini basketball and rope jumping among others. Even the teachers competed in the relay race, which was a lot of fun to watch. I used to compete in athletics when I was in school, so it brought back a lot of fond memories for me. I competed in the Irish championships in the relay race and eighty-meter sprint. I would have competed in the egg and spoon race and the three-legged race with my schoolmates during the school sports day events. It was always a lot of fun and a good way to de-stress before the summer exams. It’s also a great way for the new students to bond with old students and to get to know each other better. The stadium was very close to my house, it was only a thirty-five minute walk from my apartment and it was lovely not to have to get any public transport. The weather was very humid however, so I was particularly sweaty by the time I reached the stadium. The stadium had a proper running track outside which looked very impressive. The weather was good apart from the few odd showers, but it was still quite warm so the rain was refreshing. It’s nice to be able to go to these events and see students outside of the usual school environment. I look forward to attending the next school event.

スポーツ大会（ミーシャ先生)

It was a different experience watching Sports day here. The Musashino Sports Complex was truly beautiful. The sporting activities were very different from what I am accustomed to seeing at a Sporting event.  The students seemed to have enjoyed all the activities as they tried to score points for their teams. The teamwork was very impressive. It gave me an opportunity to see some of my students doing things that they like to do. They are very talented and they gave of their best in every event. 

沖縄旅行 （キャロル先生)

VISIT TO OKINAWA

Last Sunday I went to Okinawa with my friend Yoko San. We rented a car and drove from the south up to the north, staying in the south for a night, the middle for a night and the north for a night. In Naha, we met some friends of Yoko San for dinner and I tried some mimiga which are sliced pig’s ears and umi budo which are sea grapes along with some taco rice. It was all so delicious. We were also lucky enough to see a Dragon Boat Race festival, which happened to be on for a few days while we were there. Afterwards we went to see some traditional Okinawan musicians sing some old folk songs. The singer has been singing in Naha for over thirty years and is very popular amongst the locals.

In the north, we visited many beaches where the water was green and the sand was white, it looked like paradise. We visited Heart Rock, which is a rock in the sea that vaguely resembles the shape of a heart. The rock is a popular photo spot for couples looking to take a romantic photo together. The weather was hot but cloudy which was really nice as I find it difficult to walk around when the temperature is too hot. I was so sad to leave, saying goodbye to the beaches was particularly hard as I always feel at home when I’m beside the sea. As Ireland is an island, I was never too far from the sea growing up.

ゴールデンウィーク （ミーシャ先生)

 It was great to have experienced the much talked about “Golden week”. As I walked through my neighbourhood, I noticed a number of banners hoisted along the walkway. These banners had pictures and information about the Emperor’s ascension to the throne. I enjoyed the break immensely as it gave me a chance to enjoy Tokyo.  It also provided an opportunity for me to learn more about a part of Japan’s history regarding leadership and governance.