busy busy busy

Over the past two weeks school and social obligations have been so demanding that unfortunately I have fallen behind with updating my blog. This week has shown to be just as busy as the previous two, but thankfully I have time this evening to catch you up with what has recently been keeping me occupied in Japan.

First of all, for the last month it has rained nearly every single day in Kagoshima and no matter how promising the sky looks in the morning it never seems to last. Since the start of the rainy season I have yet to successfully hang my laundry outside to dry. When I am actually able catch a few rainless hours of the day the humidity is so high that it might as well be raining. In efforts to cope with Mother Nature I have been competing against everyone else on the island for a place in line at coin laundry.


Two weekends ago the teachers of Nagashima competed against one another in the island’s Soft Volleyball Competition. I teach at all of the 16 schools on the island so to try and keep things as fair as possible I joined the Takanosu Middle School Team since they were short on members. Later I found out that several of the teams were short on members so despite my best efforts to keep neutral relations between each of the schools it just didn't work. Our team actually ended up doing really well and we lost for the first time in the final round. To celebrate our second place victory we went out for sushi after the tournament.

Speaking of victory, later that same day several of the teachers and I came back to my place for a little workout with Billy Blanks. Upon receiving my Billy Bands in the mail I have been going strong with Billy and his Boot Camp. I haven’t been going it alone either. Nearly everyday someone different has joined me in the back tatami room of my house for a work out session with Billy. To date I have had 17 people ask if I could order them a pair of Billy Bands from the website where I ordered mine. Billy just finished a 10 day tour across Japan where he was busily appearing on various TV shows, on the radio, and even stopping by several schools across Japan. According to one source, Blanks has reportedly sold over 500,000 copies of his DVD series in Japan!

After our workout with Billy we headed for a quick visit to the onsen and then we all gathered at my place for dinner. Together we made both takoyaki and temakizushi and as always a good time was had by all.

I celebrated my 24th birthday last week and thanks again to everyone for all of your birthday wishes! I haven’t actually had an official party as the date for that has been moved for the third time to this Friday. I did, however, receive an awesome birthday present from my friends here in Nagashima. Curtis had everyone chip in and together they bought me a telescope. Apparently, you can even take pictures with it so as soon as the sky clears up and I figure out how it all works then I’ll try and post some pictures. Oh, and check out this cookie that my neighbor Nagisa made for me. The Kanji says "congratulations!"



*Garden Update* My garden continues to produce vegetables faster than I can eat them. Tonight, I cooked some pumpkin, Yesterday, I pickled some cucumbers, and over the weekend I bought a mixer so now I can make fresh tomato juice.

Last weekend in Kagoshima I attended my first Hash House Harriers Run and had quite an enjoyable time. I had no idea what I was getting into before starting the run and I can honestly say that this run was by far my most interesting run do date. Wikipedia explains the Hash House Harriers Run as follows:

The Hash House Harriers (abbreviated to HHH or H3) is an international group of drinking/running clubs. The template for a hash run is for one or more hashers to lay out a running trail, which may include false trails, short cuts and trail breaks. These features are designed to keep the pack together regardless of fitness levels or running speed. The 'hounds' follow the trail to a cache of beer. Hashing has frequently been described as 'a drinking club with a running problem'.

Let me try my best to explain how the Kagoshima race worked - There were two “hares” that set the course long before anyone showed up to run. When the race started the two "hares" began the race 10 minutes ahead of everyone else. As they ran they threw cooking flower on the street so that those competing in the race would know which way the should run. With the goal of the course already predetermined the two leading runners sometimes ran together, but sometimes they also spilt up taking separate paths. Eventually, their paths would come together again, but no mater where they ran they never stopped throwing a trail of cooking flower. In short, the object of the race is to try and catch the two leading runners before they make it to the finish line. However, it gets a bit more challenging.

Even though the trail of flower is a trail, it isn’t always a “true trail.” When the “hares” spilt up and run separate legs of the course, one always runs the real leg of the course and the other runs a “trick trail.” Staying on the true trail all the way to the end is possible, but not likely. It is easy to accidentally run the wrong trail.

How do you know which trails are true and which are not? Chalk markings. In addition to following the trail of flower on the ground runners must also be cautious of any chalk markings they find. The chalk markings play an essential role in the run and they also help guide you through the trail. Periodically, runners come across an arrow (--->). This marking represents a “true trail” which means that you can be certain that you are not running the “trick trail.” You know you have been tricked when you see three dots (…). This marking represents a dead end and it signifies that you should turn around to the last place you were before the “true trail” and the “trick trail” split. Another marking you will come across is the (X). This will be seen at a 4 way stop and means that any of the 4 ways could possibly be correct. For example, perhap you decide to turn right, but you can not find and markings or any cooking flower. This means that you should go back to the four way stop and try another direction.

Other markings are (BN) and (BH) which stand for “beer near” and “beer here.” Yes, that is right, beer is hidden in coolers at several stopping points along the course. Because we ran thorough Kagoshima City, the coolers were technically in open range for anyone to take from them. Luckily for us, it's Japan and people are typically quite respectful of others belongings, even if it is a somewhat random and oddly placed cooler of beer on the sidewalk. Lastly, If no one catches the “hares” then everyone meets at the end for more celebrating and then a secret closing ceremony.

If my explanation confused you and you still aren't sure what the Hash House Harriers is all about then do a Google search and you might be surprised to find that there is a Hash House Harriers Run taking place somewhere near you. I suggest you try it out for for yourself ~ Go for it!!