The Land of Many Festivals

It turns out that school is all about festivals. Sport's Day is basically a big track festival complete with music, decorations, a competitive spirit, and a party for the teachers to get drunk afterward. Now its time for bunkasai, the cultural festival. As far as i can tell the bunkasai is basically a festival to celebrate the talents of those less coordinated and atheletic, although in the end, as reminds me of middle school and high school, the same kids who won the 100 Meter dash or long jump are now starring in plays and leading dance groups. But still, the main festival elements are there - a competition between classes involving tons of preparatory work, lots of canceled classes and rearranged schedules, and a general atmoshphere of fun among the students.

The teachers on the other hand seem more stressed than normal, running from building to building (the theater is in the Hearty Center across the street), shouting at students in rehersals to face the audience or memorize their lines or speak louder (i'm assuming anyway), learning to operate the sound and light equipment for the theater, organizing the painting of scenery, creation of props and sewing of costumes. Of course i'm pretty immune to all these responsibilities, and to be honest a little sad. I have to particular class to help with or root for. I watch whatever rehersals i can and paint when i'm free and help with cleaning or sewing or anything, but i'm really not invested in any of the plays (and dont even understand all of them). Maybe by next friday i'll get the gist of more than just the renditions of Pinochio and Snow White (which they have renamed Princess Ono for the head english teacher).

My main involvement in the bunkasai preparations has been choir rehersal. Next friday i will sing two japanese choral numbers with a group of about 35 adults - largely mothers of students but also a few teachers (and only 4 men). Its actually gone really well now that i've written in the syllables in english, not just hiragana, so i'm excited. Other than that i spend my days wandering between groups of students and chatting, generally about boys and who they think i have a crush on at school. So far they have been wrong, for which i'm quite relieved :)