THIS week my junior high had a cultural festival or bunkasai and during one of the days they had a school wide chorus festival at a music hall. This involved all three grades traveling to the hall by bus, which in itself was no mean feat. There were over 700 students to be shipped off and this took a fair amount of time alone. Once the students were all situated in the concert hall the festivities could finally begin. The day was set up such that all three grades would sing a certain song together and then each grade would have a type of competition within itself. This consisted of each homeroom class singing a predetermined song and and one additional song which they had selected themselves. They were judged by a panel of three people and then a winner for each song was selected from each grade and this finally brings me to my true point of interest for this blog.
IN Japan, as I believe I have mentioned before, people tend to become extremely emotional in competitive events. This applies to both men and women and it is not uncommon to see the most hardened athlete break into tears at the drop of a hat. This also means that the students cry ALL of the time whether it be during a game I am playing in class or during this festival I attended. As I stood outside of the hall waiting for all of the students to leave a good third of the girls who had lost were teary eyed or in full blown sob mode as they exited. I mean honestly is losing a singing competition enough reason to lose it?
THE correct answer is no.
ALSO I would like to take this moment to have everyone pray for my Uncle, we'll call him 'Paul', because apparently after attempting to paint a simple flower with watercolors the doctors were able to determine he suffers from grade 3 autism and is mainly blind. His outlook is bleak at this point and we can only hope for the best :P
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7 comments:
Well, I suppose that's healthy that they are not afraid to show their feelings over there. However, it is very odd nonetheless. We all are concerned about Uncle Paul, I always knew there was something funky going on with him :D Love you infinity times infinity!
Dear Grasshopper - I don't know your wonderful Uncle Paul - but I'm sure that a majority of his problems would have been caused by a gaggle of drooling and flatulent children running their bikes into his knee and crying when receiving Barney underwear at Christmas. He sounds like a saint.
OG
OK...I'll give you credit for recognizing Paul's lack of drawing ability (but he has all the tools and gadgets, if you need some). However, the man has a long memory and a rapier wit, so careful where you tread...Is Ayuko weepy as well, or is this behavior comfined to competition. I don't see them cry on the plane..or speak...or do anything but hand gestures and nods....hmm.
I would agree with Aunt Mary about Uncle P - his memory is long, as evidenced by all the tales of his childhood and his oldest sister (who also is a saint, I might add). Were the boys crying also? Do they cry during your b-ball games? How do the adults react to all those tears? I always thought the Japanese to be a stoic people. I thought Uncle P wanted to learn to draw clouds - he always likes the ones we see on the way to the Snowy Range. Do you think clouds are easier than flowers? Ruth and I were wondering if you were starting to cry also, so you fit in? We are all enjoying your blogs. Speaking of artistic things- how is the rose coming?
love,
Mom
Since everyone is defending Uncle P, I shall defend Chris. I think Chris is more than capable of taking on Uncle P in a match of wits, either in person or over the two comments a week rate they are at right now. That is odd that they all cry after competitions they lost, but to each their own I guess? I didn't know you were playing basketball, or are you just coaching/refereeing? Are you drawing a rose? Can we all put in requests for artwork now? We should skype soon!
glo
Glo I appreciate your vote of confidence. I feel the older generation is beginning to feel a herd mentality as they feel threatened by their own waning mental faculties and the burgeoning power of our own youthful mental capabilities. However it is inevitable that change is feared, so one can only empathize with their feelings of loss and confusion. However enough of that, yes we should skype soon.
Chris-
I'll let you know when I find my mental capabilities waning; until then, know that I am ALWAYS one step ahead of you. And you should be so lucky as to travel in the herd that I am in!
love,
M
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