Archive for October, 2005

Apparently the Tokyo Olympics of 1964 began on October 10 in order to avoid the Japanese stifling summer humidity. It has been touted by the Japanese media as Japan’s coming of age and being reaccepted as part of the global community, after the defeat of WWII.

October 10 is now a public holiday, and is called taiku no hi roughly translated to sports day. SO what happens now on this day, or around this day, is that all the schools have their particular sport festivals at this time. It is usually held on a Saturday or Sunday (weather permitting – as the tail end of the typhoon season can sometimes cause havoc).

Since Rina started at her pre-school recently, she was also involved in one of these days. We arrived at the sporting ground around 20 minutes before it was due to start – and were very late. It seemed like some people had camped out all morning, with their food and all… in order to get the best spot. Have to remember that one for next year. Every little event is turned into a huge deal here… and this was no exception.

There were well drilled performances for the parents by the different year groups… one with five and six year olds building their own nine person human pyramid. Running around with parachutes. The youngest class danced with their parents. There was also a tug-o-war competition between the parents of the different classes. Rina’s class lost their only outing. Everything was greeted to quite appropraite applause. Parents moved for the best photographic position.

This moves onto the next minor topic cameras… I’m sure that the Olympics, the World Cup Football final or any other major world sporting event has nothing on the ratio of cameras and video cameras that were at this event. BUT that’s something else.

Rina seemed to have a good day, though she was a little confused at times to what all the fuss was about. I think that she was glad to leave just before midday when the threatening rain finally materalised and opened up on the event. It was an interesting eye opener…. now to make sure we get the place next time.
Take care….

Well almost a month has gone since the last entry and there are things a plenty happening here, keeping us away from updating this too.

Rina’s right into her new pre-school. She asks both mum and dad every morning that she wakes, is she going today – not in those words – but more like Panda bus iko. Which basically means, lets go to the Panda bus. Panda ? You are possibly thinking. The bus is a 24 seater bus that has a panda design on the outside, hence Panda Bus. She also gets really excited when she gets close to the busstop. As soon as she sights the other kids at the bus stop, she yells out konnichi wa and tries her hardest to run there. Not very shy at all.

Today we were out and about the place… and Rina runs up to a boy around her age and yells out his name. Neither Mum nor Dad knew this kid. It turns out that she goes to the same pre-school as him and they had a little two/three year old discussion, only in the way that two/three year olds can.

Apparently it is supposed to be Autumn, however the weather is trying to show the last strains of summer. It was 30+C today. But it has definitely become a lot cooler and looks like that time of the year is slowly hitting us. Ahhh for the summer days. Though it’s been kinda good not sleeping every night with the fan on to keep the temperature down.

That’s about it for now. Until the next time, which will hopefully be a little more consistent.

Take care…..