...and what`s really new...

Hahahaha no posts for 10 days and now two in one! Good luck ever keeping up with this blog. All the same, I had an experience this afternoon that was surreal enough that I thought I would share it quickly.

First, it is worth noting two things: my "outside shoes" that I wear to work on any given day are actually pretty nice black leather shoes, but since they have been outside ever they are prohibited for indoor useage in Japan.

Second, One of the great strengths of the American psyche is the ability to wing it. Certainly other countries have this MacGyver-like ability as well, but Americans have it too. Conversely, Japan`s strength seems to be having a rigid social system and massive advance planning such that there are no surprises. For example, all my JTEs (JET lingo for Japanese Teachers of English) speak pretty good English (other JETs have not been so lucky), but I have still had to teach them all the word "improvise." One who speaks better English still I taught the phrase "flying by the seat of your pants."

Now, today on the schedual was a "marathon"- which is Japanese for any kind of race at all (this one turned out to be 3k and 5k for the girls and lads, respectively). I had seen it, and assumed that as the ALT my duty would be to cheer the kids on in English. Not that I mind my usual duty, but it`s not terribly exciting.

The plan changed when I was approached by a pair of 3nensei girls (in America- high school freshman) who invited me (in English- they had probably worked on it for a bit with a dictionary) to run with them. On the one hand, I was wearing my shoes that were designed to withstand the rigors of the office carpet, or maybe even floorboards, as well as nice pants and a button-up shirt. On the other hand, here was an opportunity to do something spontaneous, slightely stupid, and good for rapport. Also, they went to the effort of figuring out the invitation in English. I decided to run 3k wearing my nice work clothes (although I did lose the tie beforehand), and it was big fun.

I`m not sure whether this has some sort of moral or pithy conclusion- it`s just one of those things that happens over here (to foreigners). I`ll leave it at that for now.