This weekend my elementary schools had “Sports Day”. They had been rehearsing for it for weeks, marching, learning their town’s traditional dance, practicing cheers, and training for the big relay race. I was invited to 4 schools’ events so Scott and I hopped around to schools all day.
The kids and staff were very welcoming and happy to see us which was nice. Some schools even gave us V.I.P. seats and some tea. We felt like celebs at the Kentucky Derby or something!
On Sports Day, the whole community comes together to celebrate. People set up tatami mats and tents and bring a picnic lunch. Family members are also invited to join in some events. Grandparents joined their grandkids in a game where they toss bean bags into a basket, and parents joined their kids in an obstacle course race. Most of the time, parents have such obligations for work that they don’t get much family time together. On Sports Day though, families get to spend the whole day together playing games and having fun.
I was asked if the U.S. has an equivalent to Sports Day. I don’t think we really do. There are picnics and festivals but not any so organized where the whole community comes together. It’s nice to experience that kind of close knit environment here in Kunimi.
Some of the events that stood out were one where one kid rides on top of 4 others and they fight to take off each other’s hats. It was kind of like that game “chicken” that you play in a pool only this was on solid ground so it was kind of frightening to watch kids teetering off shoulders and almost falling off. It was super fun to watch though! Each school also performed a traditional Japanese dance that was specific to their town. It was cool to see this type of dancing being carried down to a new generation.
The relay races were the big finale. The kids had teams of 1st-6th graders, first all boys, then all girls. Then the PTA and staff member raced against each other. It was pretty funny watching adults racing around a tiny track and running their hearts out. I was just glad they didn’t ask me to run! They also had the PTA relay race while balancing a tennis ball on a racket. That was great. One guy even tripped and fell dramatically into the finish line!
It rained a little in the morning but otherwise it was a nice, cool day. We had a blast at our first Sports Day. Scott also got to see my students and staff which was nice. We got to know more people and Scott even got to practice Spanish with one teacher who lived in Venezuela for 3 years. He was so happy to have someone understand him!
3 comments:
Ah, the "Undo-kai"... good ol'days. I used to be one chubby kid so it wasn't the most exciting event for me, but I loved the fact where you get to see all families of your class mates, share foods and laughter.
Also glad to hear Scott met a Spanish speaking friend!
scott says: as a former fat kid, it was nice to see, even the chubsters had their day in the sun and if they could only see your (kaz) blog to know that someday they could wear those sneakers and actually pull them off. no sleep til brooklyn, i'm still looking for that magic pair of Japanese Adidas that will make me feel bigger than I am. BASSISTS UNITE! Low end against the world.
Traitor! I consider the Camellia Festival as uniting and life-changing as anything they've got on the other end of the Pacific Ocean, and that's not just because all the crap they put in my hair before sending me down Las Tunas seeped through my scalp into my brain. Yeah, these people have tennis balls on rackets, but do they have a ferris wheel or parents helping them cheat at carnival games? Do they have PRIDE?
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