Piczo

Class Matches and Swimming Lessons

The days till I head home are decreasing. My parents back home, are probably really happy about this. But everyone here in Japan, including myself, is sad. I want to get going home, but at the same time I never want to leave. The last week of school was marked by various events, including the always exciting Class Matches. I wrote about the Class Matches back in March, when the Tug-of-War team of KouKou Ichinensee kicked butt. But now a few months later, one grade higher up, a Koukou Ninensee of Fukumoto homeroom, and happier than I have ever been in my entire year abroad, I participated in another Class Match. Class Matches are probably one of the most fun things Japanese schools have over their American counterparts. But not all schools have them. And if they do, it will only be once a year, as opposed to the twice a year that Tosajoshi has them. Basically what happens is that the entire school is broken down in to two schools, the Middle School and the High School. Each school has 3 separate grades, each with 5 or 7 homerooms. During Class Matches all the classes in their separate school battle each other in a series of competitive athletic sports. The whole point of the vent is to bring together the students of their respected classes. For instance, the winners of the Volleyball game will suddenly become really close friends after they have won all their games. In Japan, they also believe that a little healthy competition is not a bad thing either. However, Japanese girls don't believe in just a little competition. If you are given the choice to play a game of basketball with a Japanese girl pumped on kicking your butt, or to enter a room with the sum of all your fears, spiders, aliens, ghosts, axe murders, the Carpenters, or whatever. I bid you you to take the room of fear. It is probably a lot of safer. That being said, I do very well in Japan, because I'm a little over competitive when I want to be. A few weeks ago, Fukumoto-sensei wrote out all the activities for the class matches on the board. She needed 10 girls for Badminton, 5 girls for Basketball, 12 for bother Dodge ball and Tug-of-War, and 5 for Ping-Pong. Last year, as a Kou Kou Ichinensee, I didn't get o pick what sport I would get to for the Class Matches. I sort of got stuck on the Tsunahickey (Tug-of-War) team with all the misfit girls. And that turned out to be the greater time I had that week (See Class Matches column in the archives) I decided to take a similar approach to this Class Matches, by letting someone pick for me. I would have been more happy if I got to do something with Chiake, but she and Nao had already made a pact to do Badminton. As the spots quickly filled up, Chiake noticed I hadn't written my name down for everything. She assumed that I was not going to do anything because she had found another partner. So she asked Nao if she could find a new sport and partner so that she could get me to do Badminton. I was more upset with her that she had done this, than happy she had thought about me. But I signed my name next to Chiake's, all the while profusely apologizing to Nao, who didn't seem to mind at all. Chiake, on the other hand, seemed a bit gloomy. I reminded her that it was her own fault that she volunteered to take me on as partner, and she smacked me and told me that it wasn't that at all. But it was the fact that after class matches, I would only have to come to school for one more day. Then I would be done as a Tosajoshi student. I had been full aware of this fact, but it had not upset as much as I would have suspected. I had been trying really really hard not to think about it. I figure the less I make it seem real, the less sad it will be when the time comes. But hearing it again from my best friend here in Japan, tore open a hole in my heart. On the morning of July 12, the Fukumoto-home girls assembled into their classroom. After Fukumoto-sensei took attendance and gave us a few notes for our parents, we all were ordered to put on our Gym uniforms. The Summer uniform is really quite cute. It is white with the Tosajoshi Plum Blossom flower over out Heart with our name right below it. My uniform has belonged to the past exchange students, thus it says Urete, which is the name of the exchange student from 3 years ago. I also have 2 pairs of uniform, which came in handy when Haruka realized her pants couldn't fit her. I was more than happy to lend her Urete's old pants. When we were all finished, Fukumoto-sensei handed us all our own head ribbon to distinguish what class we were in. We got probably the cutest on in the school. It was light Orange with white stripes. We all write out our homeroom and our number. When we were finally finished, Chiake, Nao, Mai, Booby, and I headed to the Gym/ Auditorium. My homeroom class was supposed to sit on the second floor while the opening ceremony began. The principal came out and said a few welcoming words and cheers for the students to do their very bests. Then we all sang the song of Tosa, or the Kochi anthem. When we were finished the games had begun. Chiake, Mai, Jack Bauer, and I decided that we could really use some Badminton practice, so we headed into the courtyard and began the practice. The weather was beautiful but it was July, so within minutes the 4 of us were covered in sweat from our fierce competition. I think all of us, after seeing each other play, were a little bit worried. We were truly terrible. Not that we were really all that surprised, because after all, we were all members of an A class. The A class are always the smarter kids in the school, while the B class are, well, not. And according to the Physical Laws of the Universe, which states important things like the how E=MC2, gravity is what keeps us on the ground, and most importantly that all smart kids just can't be all that good at athletics. After some more, eye opening practice time, the 4 of us gloomily headed into the gym, where our first match was to begin. We were first versing Yamasaki-homeroom, a B class, of younger students. We met up with the other girls on our team, 10 in all, and discussed our losing strategies. Sure, we had no hope, but no one really cared. Instead we spent the moments before for our first match laughing and joking around. We watched the teams before us and made fun of ourselves. We cheered for people in our grade, and booed the younger kids after the whooped our favored teams. It came almost as a shock, when the announcements came on and called our class up to play. The 10 of us, arm in arm, skipped up to the court laughing and not worrying about the upcoming matches. What happens is that 5 games are played, with 2 people to each versing team. Whoever wins 3 of the matches advances on to the next round. After a round of Rock-Paper-Scissor to decide who would be going in what order, in which CHiake lost and got us stuck as the last team. That became a pretty crucial factor in the final round. Mai and Jack Bauer played the first round, and to every one's surprise, won. The only reason that they won though, is because the opponents had never played the form of Badminton that the High School kids play. So that when they served they kept getting fault's. In the end, we won, and didn't even have to lift one racket. Even more surprising, we won the second round. Yet again, we didn't even have to lift a racket. The Yamasaki-home girls still could not figure out why the ref kept giving points to the opposing team. During the time that my team members stood out on the court, trying hard to suppress laughter at the stupidity of the Yamasaki-home girls, CHiake and I had turned into the Cheer leaders. I was embarrassing myself by screaming at the top of my lungs and jumping around like a Mexican Jumping Bean, while Chiake was attempting to stomp out the We Will Rock You song. We must have looked like the biggest fools in the whole school, but we didn't care. After all, we had each other. Finally, someone came and explained to the Yamasaki-home girls the rules of Badminton. And thus, we Fukumoto-home girls girls lost the next two matches. The score was 2-2, and the final match which held Chiake and I verses two beefy Butch B-classes girls. Suddenly, the insanely stomping Chiake got quiet. I peered over at her and I saw her hands shaking and a fear of losing appear in her eyes. I asked her what was wrong, and she replied, "We must honor our teammates. We can't lose this match." I really hate when they do this. And it seems to happen quite often when you associate yourself with a Japanese person. They get all uptight and bent out of shape about losing and dishonoring and disgracing ones team. Me? I'm competitive, but I know if I lose it isn't about dishonorment, it's about being the worse of two teams. Annoyed, I smacked her on the back, and told her to cheer up, after all, I was the best Badminton player in America. She laughed and said, "well then Americans must really suck at Badminton. Remember I just practiced with you." How is that for a compliment? Chaike and I played VERY well. So it came as no surprise, when we won. Winning wasn't the best moment of the whole match. I think, for me at least, the best moment was when the score was tied and for the final point, we had the serve. The Birdy was in my hands and I could serve it when I was ready, but I wanted to make sure CHiake was ready. I looked over to her, and met her eyes. She no longer had the look of fear, but more a look of, "Okay let's kick the a** of these little punks." When she realized I was looking at her, she smiled, the warmest and most eager smile I had seen in a long time. It was then that I knew just how much I meant to these girls. I'm not just the exchange student, I'm one of them. Chiake is my best friend, here in Japan, and I hope to god that doesn;t change when I head back. When I served the Birdy, the other team volleyed back to Chiake for a few rounds. Then it was hit to me. Taking a chance, I lightly tapped the Bird over the net. We got the point, and the win. The other 8 girls ran out onto the court, screaming and cheering. They tried to lift Chiake and I into the air. But Chiake and I are about twice the normal weight and height of the other girls. The teachers, foreseeing a few broken arms, put a stop to it. But we didn't need to be lifted anymore, Chiake and I were already on a high. Knowing that we only won, because of the stupidity of some B class girls not knowing how to play Badminton, the 10 girls all decided that we needed some more practice. So for about an hour, we practiced volleying and serving in the courtyard. The sun was scorching our skin, and we were all moaning about the heat and the sweat. Needless to say, practice didn;t go as well as we hopped. But it was fun, and that is all that really counts. AT one serve, White Eyes hit the Birdy into a tree. No one could get it, not even me, the second tallest girl in the whole grade. However, when I hoisted Minami on to my shoulders, we were able to reach the Birdy. It was really funny, but merited a good getting yelled at by the teachers. Well at leat, Minami and White Eyes, the teachers sort of ignored me thinking I couldn't understood them. That was until, I jumped in and told them it was my idea. They were far to shocked that I could speak Japanese, to do anything but stare at me in awe. By 11, when our second match, was to take place, the majority of us were sun burnt, sweat-covered, and exhausted to even pretend like we had a chance at the next match. We were versing a Kouko Sannensee B class, who had already dominated in the Volleyball tournament (our team got knocked out in the first round.) And as suspected, we got crushed in the first two matches. Mai and Jack Bauer actually had to move this time, rather than stand their laughing and thanking god for the rules of Badminton. The lost 5-1, while Minami and White Eyes lost 5-0. Even though, Chiake and I were meant to go last, the remaining girls all voted to allow me and Chiake to take the place of the third team. I think the girls still held on to a little hope, at least from a morale booster, which was Chiake and I. Luckily, as in the first match, since it happened so quick, the other students couldn't come watch the Gaijin play. In my first Class Matches, nearly half the Middle School insisted on watching me pull the rope. I'm getting really tired of being trested like a different species. But I'm lucky in the respect, that my amazing classmates don't treat me like this. Instead, I am just one of the girls. Chaike and I fought really well. Our opponents were former Badminton players, so it was unfair from the start. Nonetheless, we fought, and kept the score really quite even. Upon the final serve, in which, I hit it into the net instead of over, giving the other team the win, we had kept the score at 4-4. I felt horrible, and found myself being really Japanese. I ran off the court in tears (actual live huge drops of water) and bowed to each and everyone of my teammates, profusely apologizing for my failure. God, what has happened to me? CHiake stood beside me as we bowed and begged for forgiveness. The other girls all sort of laughed, I reckon it must have been pretty funny to see this big crazy gaijin begging for forgiveness for something as insignificant as a sports game. When we were done, we walked off the court with our heads held high and laughing it all off. And you know? It really didn't matter. As we exited the gym, we were met by Chika and Ri-chan, captain of the ping Pong team. They were cheering and laughing, and we all assumed they had won their match. Chika burst in laughter and admitted that they had gotten DOMINATED by Chu Ichinensee Middle Schoolers. And no one was surprised. For all of us, the matches were unofficially over. The afternoon was going to be spent with the winning teams advancing on the the final rounds until the championships. And then the following day would be spent watching Tug-of-War. We all headed back to our classroom, where we ate lunch together. Chiake fell asleep in her BEnto box filled with food, while other girls ate in just their bras. The air conditioners are only used when studying is going on. It is used as sort of a treat. Since Class Matches aren't study hours, the Air Conditioner would not be used. It was horrible. But I have gotten used to this scorching hot humid and terrible weather that Kochi is known for. I ate my Bento box, in silence, as did all the other girls. We weren't upset about the Class Matches, but we were just plain exhausted. It was only after I finished eating, that I realized this was my my last lunch time as a Japanese student. As the bell rang, to call the victors back to the gym for the final rounds, I stayed behind with Sleeping Chaike, Mai, Booby, Jack Bauer, and some other girls. We talked for 2 hours. Booby and I had a a telephone conversation in English, in which I taught her all the curse words and how to use them. We also played a game, in which I have discovered is alot of fun with the Japanese. Animal Sounds. The girls were in stitches and wondering how a dog sounds like woof woof, a frog sounds like ribbit ribbit, and a horse like neigh neigh. I felt the same when they all taught me the sound for a from. Gero Gero. Gero Gero. You can;t in good faith tell me that's how a frog sounds. Another friend from an unathletics homeroom came in and interviewed me on life in an American school. All of my friends sat around and listened in pure awe, occasionally making remarks like, "that's brilliant," or "how stupid!" After a long day of exhaustion from the heat, fun games, and competitive spirit, the bell for last period rang. Everyone returned to their homerooms, where we were given the summer homework. After about 40 minutes of going over what we were supposed to do and read, Fukumoto-sensei dismissed us all. Before I could return home, however, I was going for my first and only swim class at Tosajoshi...

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