Party/Soccer/Roadtrip Guchi Style
There is yet another typhoon today, we are lounging around in our pajamas watching movies ripped off the internet and then tomorrow I'm working at my favourite elementary school for only 2 hours. Just as well I'm having a weekend mid-week cos I had a bitchin' weekend. It was time for the big bad ALT Soccer Tournament.
Everyone met after work on Friday to load into the hired vans (the one I drove was really nice, 11,000 kms on the clock and a GPS screen, ouch) and mished it for 5 hours + to Awaji Island. We had two teams plus supporters, 32 people representing half the 'guch! We arrived at the ryokan (trad Japanese style inn) at 2-3am and not a whole lot of sleep was had. Most of the talk was about one of our vans that got stopped on the way up for going 150kms/hr. Luckily Amy pretended not to speak Japanese and was let off the fine...that's her story and she's sticking to it!
Next morning we were all up in our sexy Yamaguchi soccer uniforms ready for battle. We are the team that pretty much drives the furtherest to get to Awaji, and the team that usually comes away with the least amount of points on the board. Last year we came in last :( However, with 2 teams this year, subs available and a killer supporters crew we knew that it was going to be different. Yamaguchi B (me and Dan's team) didn't end up winning a game but we did win one of the halves and we gave it a really spirited go. More importantly, we had a fantastic time on the field. I tell you it was bloody electric out there, all the nerves of going into battle like Braveheart, veteran Jimmy holding the team strong with his "pressure that" leadership, and the constantly screaming encouragement from our sideline crew. No other team played "Livin' on a Prayer" when they were down at half time, or laughed at the haughty serious teams by playing MC Hammer's "You Can't Touch This" on the ghetto blaster. When Yamaguchi A won a game on the Sunday 5-1 we sang til we were hoarse to "We Are The Champions". I was disappointed that I didn't get to catch up with more than two kiwis (both guys), the other teams don't really include girls much as usually they are so serious and all about winning. Our crew was easily over half girls, and we just didn't care about ability. We were all there to feel included and have a go.
And onto the important stuff, the Sat night party. We had a few drinks at the ryokan before we headed to dinner and then the pub. Dan and I did't stay for too long as we were exhausted and the smoking in the pub kinda ruined it for me. We did however catch some dance-floor action, Yamaguchi bought the party and ripped it up. Seems some of our team mistook a wee table for a stage and decided to work it. It's hard when you are an impressionable first year and the 2nd and 3rd years set the standard. Suddenly I understood why Rei's email address is ghettobooty. Unfortunately for some there was photographic evidence of misdeeds.
After finishing up on the Sunday avo we headed for home, exhausted but bonded like never before. It was such a good opportunity to get to know people we hadn't talked to much, and little did we know the bonding had only just begun. One word = onsen.
An onsen is a Japanese style relaxation spa/pool. There is one pool for men and one for women, and everyone just strips off and goes naked, no togs in this country. So you go in, strip off, put all your stuff in your locker and head to the pool. There is a little shower area where each person has a stool and a washing station with soaps etc. So everyone rinses off and then heads into massive spas, there are also cold pools, warm pools and hot pools. It is a bit like Roman baths meets a sauna. Its a really relaxing experience once you get over the socialising naked bit. For our battle-scarred bodies it was the perfect way to end the weekend. I've heard some onsens are outdoor and have the most amazing views overlooking scenery.
So after that we loaded back into the vans and got yet more conbeni food (convenience store, like Star Mart) and made the long, long journey back. After dropping the vans back an hour late, having a crash course in how to fill up the tank at a self-serve gas station in Japanese, and then driving back to Hagi in our own car, Dan and I arrived home at 10pm sore, dazed, confused, knackered and heading for the general direction of our futons. Next weekend we're going to stay with Ellen on the other coast and we are heading to Hiroshima for shopping on Sunday. Good thing it's pay day tomorrow. Hehe.
Everyone met after work on Friday to load into the hired vans (the one I drove was really nice, 11,000 kms on the clock and a GPS screen, ouch) and mished it for 5 hours + to Awaji Island. We had two teams plus supporters, 32 people representing half the 'guch! We arrived at the ryokan (trad Japanese style inn) at 2-3am and not a whole lot of sleep was had. Most of the talk was about one of our vans that got stopped on the way up for going 150kms/hr. Luckily Amy pretended not to speak Japanese and was let off the fine...that's her story and she's sticking to it!
Next morning we were all up in our sexy Yamaguchi soccer uniforms ready for battle. We are the team that pretty much drives the furtherest to get to Awaji, and the team that usually comes away with the least amount of points on the board. Last year we came in last :( However, with 2 teams this year, subs available and a killer supporters crew we knew that it was going to be different. Yamaguchi B (me and Dan's team) didn't end up winning a game but we did win one of the halves and we gave it a really spirited go. More importantly, we had a fantastic time on the field. I tell you it was bloody electric out there, all the nerves of going into battle like Braveheart, veteran Jimmy holding the team strong with his "pressure that" leadership, and the constantly screaming encouragement from our sideline crew. No other team played "Livin' on a Prayer" when they were down at half time, or laughed at the haughty serious teams by playing MC Hammer's "You Can't Touch This" on the ghetto blaster. When Yamaguchi A won a game on the Sunday 5-1 we sang til we were hoarse to "We Are The Champions". I was disappointed that I didn't get to catch up with more than two kiwis (both guys), the other teams don't really include girls much as usually they are so serious and all about winning. Our crew was easily over half girls, and we just didn't care about ability. We were all there to feel included and have a go.
And onto the important stuff, the Sat night party. We had a few drinks at the ryokan before we headed to dinner and then the pub. Dan and I did't stay for too long as we were exhausted and the smoking in the pub kinda ruined it for me. We did however catch some dance-floor action, Yamaguchi bought the party and ripped it up. Seems some of our team mistook a wee table for a stage and decided to work it. It's hard when you are an impressionable first year and the 2nd and 3rd years set the standard. Suddenly I understood why Rei's email address is ghettobooty. Unfortunately for some there was photographic evidence of misdeeds.
After finishing up on the Sunday avo we headed for home, exhausted but bonded like never before. It was such a good opportunity to get to know people we hadn't talked to much, and little did we know the bonding had only just begun. One word = onsen.
An onsen is a Japanese style relaxation spa/pool. There is one pool for men and one for women, and everyone just strips off and goes naked, no togs in this country. So you go in, strip off, put all your stuff in your locker and head to the pool. There is a little shower area where each person has a stool and a washing station with soaps etc. So everyone rinses off and then heads into massive spas, there are also cold pools, warm pools and hot pools. It is a bit like Roman baths meets a sauna. Its a really relaxing experience once you get over the socialising naked bit. For our battle-scarred bodies it was the perfect way to end the weekend. I've heard some onsens are outdoor and have the most amazing views overlooking scenery.
So after that we loaded back into the vans and got yet more conbeni food (convenience store, like Star Mart) and made the long, long journey back. After dropping the vans back an hour late, having a crash course in how to fill up the tank at a self-serve gas station in Japanese, and then driving back to Hagi in our own car, Dan and I arrived home at 10pm sore, dazed, confused, knackered and heading for the general direction of our futons. Next weekend we're going to stay with Ellen on the other coast and we are heading to Hiroshima for shopping on Sunday. Good thing it's pay day tomorrow. Hehe.
posted by Rosie at
2:09 pm
1 Comments:
your comment section is looking lonely so i thought i would say a little ditty. ummm..couldn:t think of anything clever...tell my "boyfriend" i said HI and that i can't wait to dance with "him" or should i say "it" again...later.........sarah
By
Sarah, at 2:43 pm
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