I just finished a lovely 7-day work week! WOOT! I survived (barely). Yesterday and today I had to go to undoukai or sports day. Definitely not what you'd imagine sports day to be.
Tossing bean bags into a basket tied to a stick is not a real sport.
Because my schools have so few students, all of the surrounding neighborhood folk come to sports day to participate. It's like a giant day of picnic games and a relay race.
Old ladies racing to fill up water jugs. Note lady with the cane...hardcore.
But the old people come out to the sports day. Today I learned (from the principal) that the old people come to get the prizes.
This was my winnings from yesterday. From left to right: nori (seaweed), laundry detergent, toilet paper, instant kabocha (pumpkin) soup, and 5 boxes of tissue paper.
Today I won 8 boxes of tissue paper, a bottle of canola oil, 2 travel-size tissue packs, 4 coasters, and a tube of saran wrap.
The principal told me he hasn't bought tissue since he was a kid because of these sports days. I gave 5 boxes of tissue paper to Pegleg because I don't know what to do with 13 boxes of tissue paper (not to mention the ones I already have in my spare room). Now I too will never need to spend another yen on tissue paper.
I used to think it was weird when I played in Asian American golf tournaments and would get a case of Top Ramen, a loaf of Kings Hawaiian Bread, and a sack of rice as a participatory gift. But now I get it. Asian prizes are just practical. Extremely practical prizes. And I'm thankful for the cooking oil, tissue boxes, and toilet paper.
yes, prizes you will actually use! the bean bag game looks kinda fun, and the old people are super cute as always. we missed you at the mag crew hangout yesterday. met the bf, and he and v held hands the entire time..driving, sitting at cafe, putting coins in meter..cute and gross :p oh and we decided that in order to live up to our name, at some point we must produce at least one issue of the dream mag. you're covering travel and sports and whatever else you wish :)
ReplyDeleteDood-- they should have more of these types of 'sports days' here!!! I <3 the idea of practical prizes, not those shiny metal trophies that get packed away into your garage a few years after you win them...
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