FA+
Shop
Sports Day at School, 2006 (aka Heisei 18)
19 years ago
(Copied and pasted from Notepad. Hope it looks OK.)
No furry stuff yet. I'm about to go drinking with some of my coworkers, so I'll upload another inking from Shane... either in a few hours (when I'm tipsy), or tomorrow my time (probably the evening, your time) when I'm fully sobered up again --:=)
Sports Day at School, 2006 (aka Heisei 18)
OVERVIEW
The HORSE-TYPE'S RACE (that's just me: no horses --:=P )
JAPAN'S FLAG and ANTHEM
OVERVIEW
The school year starts in spring in Japan, and not during fall. The first week after summer vacation, however, is dedicated in preparation for something called undokai (usually translated "Sports Day", although it's not really about the normal team sports). Every student in the school participates: for example, the art club members make flags and banners for their homerooms, as mentioned here:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/211781/
Although, in the end, it's the track and field kids who really shine on this day.
Throughout Sports Day (from about ten to four, with breaks in-between) there are various footraces and dances in which the students perform. There are some activities where individuals are noted, but for the most part, it's a team effort, and thus for the most part it's the homerooms that are evaluated and get awarded.
As always, I was very proud of all our students. I talked to the girls who got minor injuries from doing the 100-meter (about 30-yard) dash, but fortunately, no-one was hurt too badly. Concerning the activities, I wasn't as involved as I'd have liked to have been, but at least I put in elbow grease during the set-up and clean-up.
The HORSE-TYPE'S RACE
There was one part in which I participated, though: Toward the end of the day we had a relay race, piting the teachers against the different home rooms. (We teach ages 11 through 14.) Unlike most participants, I volunteered to go twice -- there are fewer teachers to begin with, and we were a little short, anyway. The first time, I shot ahead of everyone and waved proudly as a drama queen. The second time, I already had to pass a student, and was just about to... when another overtook us both!
I'm glad it worked out that way, really. Most Japanese kids are in school clubs, and they practice for insanely long lengths of time in whatever field (or clique) they have chosen. So, as it worked out: I had my moment, at first. The second time around, two of those hard-working students were able to show up their cocky, long-legged English teacher. A teacher who eats a -lot- of Japanese food, both healthy and unhealthy --:=P
JAPAN'S FLAG and ANTHEM
As you can imagine, Japan has a much different history with its Hinomaru (Circle of the Sun) from what the US does with its own Stars and Stripes. At civil ceremonies everyone must stand and face the flag while it is raised and the anthem is played. However, since the war, there has been no saluting the flag; and singing the national anthem is strictly voluntary.
(It's not a long song. While I do know the words, I don't sing it... largely because I don't care for such things anyway, and more specifically I'd feel strange singing what is basically a Japanese analogue to God Save the Queen/King.)
A while back, the government tried to require all civil servants (including teachers at public schools) to sing the anthem. This, as you can imagine, met some resistance. Last year, the top administrators sang. This year, I heard the instrumental, and -no voices- whatsoever. Even here in the countryside, where people support the ruling party and tend to be more conservative.
Also, the school flag was flown larger than the national and prefectural flags. A little subversive, maybe, in an indirect, very Japanese way --;=)
No furry stuff yet. I'm about to go drinking with some of my coworkers, so I'll upload another inking from Shane... either in a few hours (when I'm tipsy), or tomorrow my time (probably the evening, your time) when I'm fully sobered up again --:=)
Sports Day at School, 2006 (aka Heisei 18)
OVERVIEW
The HORSE-TYPE'S RACE (that's just me: no horses --:=P )
JAPAN'S FLAG and ANTHEM
OVERVIEW
The school year starts in spring in Japan, and not during fall. The first week after summer vacation, however, is dedicated in preparation for something called undokai (usually translated "Sports Day", although it's not really about the normal team sports). Every student in the school participates: for example, the art club members make flags and banners for their homerooms, as mentioned here:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/211781/
Although, in the end, it's the track and field kids who really shine on this day.
Throughout Sports Day (from about ten to four, with breaks in-between) there are various footraces and dances in which the students perform. There are some activities where individuals are noted, but for the most part, it's a team effort, and thus for the most part it's the homerooms that are evaluated and get awarded.
As always, I was very proud of all our students. I talked to the girls who got minor injuries from doing the 100-meter (about 30-yard) dash, but fortunately, no-one was hurt too badly. Concerning the activities, I wasn't as involved as I'd have liked to have been, but at least I put in elbow grease during the set-up and clean-up.
The HORSE-TYPE'S RACE
There was one part in which I participated, though: Toward the end of the day we had a relay race, piting the teachers against the different home rooms. (We teach ages 11 through 14.) Unlike most participants, I volunteered to go twice -- there are fewer teachers to begin with, and we were a little short, anyway. The first time, I shot ahead of everyone and waved proudly as a drama queen. The second time, I already had to pass a student, and was just about to... when another overtook us both!
I'm glad it worked out that way, really. Most Japanese kids are in school clubs, and they practice for insanely long lengths of time in whatever field (or clique) they have chosen. So, as it worked out: I had my moment, at first. The second time around, two of those hard-working students were able to show up their cocky, long-legged English teacher. A teacher who eats a -lot- of Japanese food, both healthy and unhealthy --:=P
JAPAN'S FLAG and ANTHEM
As you can imagine, Japan has a much different history with its Hinomaru (Circle of the Sun) from what the US does with its own Stars and Stripes. At civil ceremonies everyone must stand and face the flag while it is raised and the anthem is played. However, since the war, there has been no saluting the flag; and singing the national anthem is strictly voluntary.
(It's not a long song. While I do know the words, I don't sing it... largely because I don't care for such things anyway, and more specifically I'd feel strange singing what is basically a Japanese analogue to God Save the Queen/King.)
A while back, the government tried to require all civil servants (including teachers at public schools) to sing the anthem. This, as you can imagine, met some resistance. Last year, the top administrators sang. This year, I heard the instrumental, and -no voices- whatsoever. Even here in the countryside, where people support the ruling party and tend to be more conservative.
Also, the school flag was flown larger than the national and prefectural flags. A little subversive, maybe, in an indirect, very Japanese way --;=)
Now for the wolven hotness I had promised everyone --:=P