Tuesday, July 08, 2003

Honoury Envoy to Toyama

Yesterday I had a ceremony whereby I was presented with plaques bestowing the honour of special honoury envoy to Toyama. Keeping in mind that this title can be revoked at any time if I have behaviour that is unbecoming of this title. Not sure what kind of behaviour that is...perhaps if I say that the water in Toyama in not Oishi or the fish not fresh.

Oshii = delicious

Honorary Envoy= Friend of Toyama

All done with my exams

Regardless if it is grading exams or if it is writing exams, the feeling of relief when you are done with them is the same regardless.

I finished grading today, over 300 exams in the span of one week. I am a machine....

Sunday, July 06, 2003

Two balls....

Last Friday I was sitting on my desk, when the captain of the boys volleyball team came up to me. He said they were having a practice game on Saturday and if I was free I should come. Of course being the dedicated ALT, I would show up to school on Saturday.

So I drag my butt to school, literally dragging it seeing how I was out until 1:30 the night before.
Anyways, I was on the second floor of the gym, (we have a indoor track above the gym where you can watch from), when the captain sends one of the players up to get me so I can sit on the bench beside the coach. I walk in there and everyone bows.

So, they finish the game and everyone comes over for the aisatsu (greetings and thank you to your coach, usually the coach gives them advice or something). So it being Japan, they did it to me too. It is a sign of respect for your elders, yup I am an elder alright.
Saying something about well "your blocking was off and that the take off for the tandem play should have been the center hitter going up then the off side hitter going up, the third hit in the second play should have been from the power side and not the off side"......hmmm...yup, my days of competitive vollyeball is over.

So, I get up to walk out of the gym, when the captain says wait. So, he comes out with two volleyballs, one a practice ball that I can use to play with, the other a official "daiichi high school ball, with all their names signed on it.

I was all choked up, tears formed and I had to struggle to hold them in, my boys...I cannot believe it. It was so sweet....

Making a difference......my goal for my second year....perhaps making the difference in me....