Comparison of the Marathon and Track and Field

The Marathon

Yesterday was Gonan’s marathon. In America, high schools do not hold a marathon. I think there would be a riot if students were told to run a marathon. I thought about why this may be, and I think it may have to do with some specific cultural differences. However, my analysis is completely speculative and probably way out in left field. First, I am going to rely on the stereotypical difference when comparing Asian culture to Western culture: collectivism vs. individualism. The collectivism of running an event together seems to enforce the bonds of school pride and strength. The ceremonies and procedures play almost as important role in the event as the actual run. However, in the US, I think running is based more on the individual level. If a student wants to run, they join track and field, and if they do not want to run, they join another club.

Additionally, the differences between Japanese and American work ethic play a role. I remember in high school we had to a run a mile during one P.E. class. Most of the girls in my class were so angry. Almost half barely ran at all and just started walking the majority of the mile. In American high schools, if a student does not want to do something, they either will not do it or put in as little effort as possible. However, in Japan, I think students wish for success of the group or entire school, so they try to do their best for the school. Americans try to do their best for themselves and work only at the goals they want to achieve.

Additionally, I do not think half of the people at my high school would have even been able to run a marathon due to weight and diet. Many high school students in America are extremely unhealthy. A lot of students do not participate in clubs either. Since they do not participate in clubs, they do not exercise, so they would not be healthy enough to even run a marathon. Basically, I just made a bunch of generalizations that are probably wrong, but I guess all I can do is give my opinion.

Track and Field Club

I am sorry, but I do not have any pictures on my computer of track and field club or anything else from high school. All these pictures are at my house in America, but I can maybe get my mom to send me some.

In American high schools, you can join many clubs. Just as an example, I’ll list all the clubs I did, but I was in a lot more clubs than most people. Most people only do between one and three clubs. I was a member of Performing Arts Club, History Club, Beta Club (Honors Society), Basketball, Students Against Drunk Driving, Youth for Community Betterment, Student Council, Track and Field, Spanish Club, and the Junior/Senior Play. Also, in America, choir, band, and yearbook are classes during school time. I took band class from age 12 to 16. I took choir class for two years in high school, and I was the yearbook editor during my senior year. The system for clubs is very different in America. Many of the culture clubs only meet once a month or every two weeks. However, sports clubs often meet every day of the week. I think it is good because you get to participate in many things. However, the downside is that you do not get to practice one thing as much. Sorry I am rambling on about stuff. I feel like I have been writing for ages, and I haven’t even started talking about track and field.

Ok....now onto track and field. I was a member of track and field from age 12 until age 18. Track season lasted from March until May. There was about a month of training, and then track meets started. We had between one and two track meets every week for about two months. After school, we would have a track meet either at our school or take a bus to a neighboring school. All the track events were ran on the same day, and girls and boys ran the same distances. These consisted of sprints, hurdles, relays, long distance, shot put, discus, and jumping. My events were the mile (1600 m) and two mile (3200 m). At the end of the season, we had a major competition. The first event was districts. If you place in the top two, you advanced to state and competed there. I was able to place in the top two my junior year, so I was able to go to state that year. Now, I am very sad because I am out of shape and slow. I want to be fast again. I hope basketball will help me get back into shape. I will fight hard!

Tokyo

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera this weekend when I went to Tokyo with Julie. The first day in Tokyo, we visited Yoyogi Park. There were some people there dressed similar to Elvis. I was super disappointed though because someone had recommended watching the Elvis-like people dance, but it was totally lame. After this, we discovered Harajuku with the wonders of Topshop, H&M, and streets with cute little random shops. I was beyond happy to discover that there was a Pizza Express there, but it was booked for a party. I'm definitely going back for some food though on the next trip. That night, we wondered around for a while in Shinjuku. We met some really nice people. A girl at a restaurant kept talking to us and helped us improve our Japanese. There were also some really creepy people on the streets though. Some older man kept talking to us at a street-crossing and kept trying to buy us a coffee. It was slightly strange. The next day, we visited Sensoji Temple and Akihabara. I'm not all that into electronics, so it was kind of boring in Akihabara. There were like 100 people standing outside the electronics stores playing their Nintindo DS too. I think I need to explore Akihabara more because I feel like things a bit farther away from the station would be cool. This weekend, I'm going to Yokohama for a Shimizu S-pulse game, so I'll try to talk loads of pictures.

Daidogei 2009

Daidogei is a street performance festival in Shizuoka. I thought the performances were interesting, but a lot of the performances were more comedic than acrobatic. The best part was just wondering around and people watching. All the food stands smelled delicious. There were some comedians, who interviewed my friend and me for TV. I'm not for sure if it was put on TV, but it was really cool to get interviewed. Also, I think dog baby carriages are the best thing ever. I wish there were these dog carriages in America because it makes my day every time I see one. Also, I did purikura for the first time. The photo booth goes so fast. I had no clue what was going on half of the time.

Comedians who interviewed us

Creepy Clown

Dog Baby Carriages

Purikura

Disney Sea

Disney Sea was quite different from how I imagined. When I was about eight, I visited Disney World in Florida with my mom, aunt, and cousin. I remember Disney feeling like a fantasy world, escapism from reality. I’ve always been obsessed with fireworks, and that night was what I remember as one of the best fireworks displays of my life. At the end of the day, I told my mom that it was the best day of my life. Disney is still great, but the awe stunning, jaw-dropping factor of an eight-year kid is gone.

The architecture at Disney Sea was one the best elements at the park. Each area was like a different world. You would walk from the Middle East into an underwater wonderland and then to science fiction mountainous terrain. The decorations were eye catching as well since it was Halloween time. The hour and half waits for each ride were no fun though. I ended up only going on two rides, a roller coaster and the Tower of Terror. I think the best part was just wandering around the park and watching people. I have always pictured Disney as stereotypical Americana. However, after visiting Disney Sea, my view of Disney was completely revolutionized. Being one the few Americans at Disney, I saw how the Japanese people have embraced Disney. Maybe even to the extent that Disney is a larger part of daily Japanese life than American. One thing that was quite different from American Disney was a few people asked to have their picture taken with me. I’m not really sure why, but I think they wanted a picture with an American at Disney. I would really like to go back to Disney Sea, but maybe not during a holiday season.

A girl who wanted her picture taken with me, me, and Julie, my best friend in Japan who teaches at Kambara.

Band member at the entrance of Disney Sea

Mickey

Me and a girl dressed up for Halloween

Mermaid Lagoon

Atami Festival

Sorry for these last two blogs being posted so late. During August, a group of ALTs and Japanese people went to Atami for its annual fireworks festival. It ended up being the perfect day. I love lying in the sun on the beach and getting a tan, and this is exactly what we did all day. A few of us decided to wander around the beach, and we discovered that Japanese people are very friendly. A group of Japanese people were playing a game where you are blindfolded and you hit a watermelon with a sword. They were kind enough to let us join in the game. Also, many Japanese people took pictures with us on the beach. The day was filled with beach picnic snacks, and finally, the day ended with a spectacular fireworks display. Also, I found one major difference between Japanese and American trains is that Japanese people can fall asleep on the train no matter how bumpy the ride or noisy the train. On the way to Atami, a man almost fell on me multiple times because he was sleeping. He seemed to know exactly when to catch himself though, right before landing on me. Also, I forgot to write that there was a really nice foot onsen outside of Atami Station. There were cute children playing in the water, and there is a really pretty waterfall beside the onsen.

The Sleeping Man, who almost fell on me, on the Train to Atami

A Foot Onsen with cute children outside Atami Station

Atami Fireworks

A Lighthouse at Atami

A Statue Thing at Atami

The Sunset at Atami

Atami Beach

Hakone

The next two posts I'm writing are out of order on the Japan adventure timeline, but I still wanted to include it on my blog. In August, a fellow teacher, Mrs. Tanaka took me to Hakone. Hakone is an area famous for its nature and hot springs. I am very lucky to have Mrs. Tanaka at my school because she is a very welcoming person. Also, she is very funny and has a good sense of humor. The first place we visited in Hakone was the Museum of the Little Prince. "The Little Prince" is a book written by French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The museum was like a microcosm of France in Japan. I had not read the book before going. However, I read the book after visiting the museum, and I would definitely recommend it. It’s a short read. Next, we visited a really beautiful lake called Ashinoko. Mountains surround it, and people fish there. Also, a massive pirate ship, which you can ride, sails across the lake. Finally, we went to Owakudani, which has active sulfuric vents and hot springs. The steam coming from the ground is really amazing to see. It looks like something in a movie. A hard-boiled egg, which turns black and smells from the sulfur, is available as a souvenir. I didn’t buy one, but if you visit, I think that you should definitely check it out.

Mrs. Tanaka at the Museum of the Little Prince

The Museum of the Little Prince

The garden at the Little Prince Museum was beautiful.

Lake Ashinoko

Lake Ashinoko

23 Kilometer Hike

For Sports Day in Japan, I decided to do a hike. Another ALT is training for the 100 km Oxfam hike in April. During this 100 km hike, you walk the trail shown in the picture below in 48 hours. I am considering doing it, but I will need lots of training. The walk I did on Monday was from point CP7 Fujimi Center to the finish Tokyo YMCA Yamanakako Center. Sunday night, we had a pre-walk dinner at a restaurant in Numazu called Bluewater. The restaurant is absolutely amazing, and the view from the restaurant is beautiful. The next morning, I took a train to Suruga-Oyama, where the hike began at 9. The actual trail was about 21 kilometers up and down mountains. There really wasn't a proper trail, and I think I would have gotten lost if I hadn't been with other people. It was really hard but very rewarding. Also, I got to meet a lot of other ALTs in the prefecture. We finished around 5:30 or 6 and got to see the sun setting over Lake Yamanaka. I hope that I can go back to Lake Yamanaka sometime soon because it is beautiful. After this, I walked about another 2 kilometers to the bus stop, so in total, the walk was around 23 kilometers. In November, another hike is planned for the Hakone section of the trail. I hope that I can join this hike too.

The view of Numazu from Bluewater

Lake Yamanaka