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| Cheery Summer Camp at Saiko (West Lake) |
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| August 7-9, 2001 This was my first time joining the kids' summer camp. I thought it was going to be fun since I was paid for a 3-day trip in the tourist area near Mt Fuji. However, it turned out to be quite tough job! First, we had to wake up at 6am and work until 9pm or 10pm. When I say 'work', it means: 1. Playing badminton, soccer, and other vigorous sports (at least at my age I think they are vigorous!) 2. Answering the same questions from 300 kids; taking pictures with them; and signing autograph on their fans, notebooks and t-shirts. (Another foreigner teacher said after this experience he would never dream to be a superstar). 3. Dancing in thick costume and making ourselves to be ghosts on the ghost-hunting party. |
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| Of course, there were also funny times despite long hours of work. I enjoyed the nagashisomen the most where Japanese noodles dropped down from a higher end of a long bamboo tube and we all stood on both sides to catch the running noodles. On the second day where we had a festival playground, I was in charge of the crushed ice booth. We got so long line-up that I had no rest for the entire afternoon. |
| On the third day we went to an animal farm nearby and had bbq lunch there. I think the kids were more excited to buy souvenior than to see the animals. I am surprised that almost all of them bought something home - for their friends and teachers, but not for their parents! That's why it is not surprising to see Japanese tourists spend so much money on souvenior - they are trained since they are young - a very interesting phenomenon. |
| I didn't get anything from the store - at that moment I just wanted to go home and had a good sleep on my comfortable bed! |
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