Organized Chaos!

A few Japanese girls in their Kimonos

Tarps marking someone's terriority!

Japan continues to amaze me...I went to two different festivals this past weekend, and have come to the conclusion that Japan has the most organized chaos I have ever seen!  The highlight was attending an hour long fireworks show along the river with 350,000 people, many dressed in kimonos or yukatas, traditional Japanese outfits.  The fireworks are such a big event that people headed to the river early in the day to put a tarp down to hold their spot!  Luckily, I was with a group who had secured a spot at 10AM so our view of the fireworks was great.  The show itself was pretty spectacular, with incredible fireworks in different shapes such as Hello Kitty, smiley faces, hearts, etc.  There was even a little replica of Mt. Fugi lit up with fireworks exploding out of it!  The fireworks were impressive and non-stop for the full hour, and the Japanese sure like to do a lot of oohing and ahhing. :)  It definitely made for a fun atmosphere!  

Takoyaki being made

Me and two elementary teachers from school

Food booths everywhere!

Okonomiyaki being made

Besides the fireworks, the food booths were amazing, with such a selection of Japanese food.  I tried a couple of different things,  Takoyaki (fried octopus in dumpling batter) and Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake with cabbage, bacon, egg) and have yet to be       disappointed by Japanese food!  The booths were everywhere and I was continually amazed at how the Japanese politely form lines; they simply find the back of the line and wait their turn.  The thing that makes it work though, is that EVERYONE does it, there are no pushers or shovers to make people get aggressive and that's the beauty of this culture.  These lines go everywhere, wrapping around things this way and that, but they even form lines like this at the metro and the porta potty!  Leaving the fireworks was an adventure in itself because there were thousands of people trying to leave.  They plan in advance for these types of things and have roads blocked to traffic, security guards everywhere directing people, and as I said, is such organized chaos!  Luckily for me, the fireworks were within walking distance of my hotel so I was able to have a nice leisurely walk back, with my towel of course, to catch the dripping sweat from the heat and humidity!  

People everywhere!

Festival #2!

On Sunday there was another festival, with traditional Japanese dancing and more Japanese food.  :) I was out with the Irish girls and just happened to come across the festival...it seems like there is ALWAYS something going on here!  I liked the bright colorful kimonos, and the Japanese music with the live drummer!  

View of drummer

Today was my first official day of school with kids and the girls are GREAT!  I'm teaching at a Catholic all-girls international IB school for those of you who didn't know, and am enjoying my experience so far.  The girls are from all over the world, much the same to the school in Lux, but there is definitely more of an Asian influence here.  I will be coaching the middle school volleyball team here, and start try-outs bright and early at 6:45AM tomorrow!

Michelle, me, Nadine

I'm in the process of packing up my hotel luggage and can't wait for my moving day...FRIDAY!  I'll be at school when the keys are available, so thankfully someone from school is taking care of it for me.  Even better, is the fact that the maintenance men from school will be moving all of the furniture I bought from departing staff AND my bags from the hotel to my apartment while I'm teaching! Hopefully by the time school finishes, all of my stuff will be in my new apartment and then unpacking will begin!  I'm thankful that one of my best friends from Luxembourg is arriving here in Tokyo on Thursday to visit, so she will be able to help me decorate and get things settled while experiencing Tokyo and the Japanese culture!