2 Weekends; Happy children, creepy theater, and Nuclear power

It's been a while since my last update, so this may take a while. Bear with me though, as there is a lot to talk about!

I woke up at 8am on a rainy saturday to drive an hour to Diazen city with a few other students. We got to hang out with a massive group of Japanese children, maybe 150 or more, and their parents at this father's day assembly. I had forgotten how amazing little kids are, just seeing them run around aimlessly makes me so happy. I spoke with a few boys and girls in Japanese, asking them how they are, how old are they, what grade are they in. Sometimes they even answered in English, which impressed me and also reminded me of how bad I am at japanese. I'm still a toddler! We did group exercises together; it was like being on an episode of The Wiggles.

After all the shenanigans were over and the kids were dismissed for lunch, I handed out stickers for them all to enjoy. When the first few airplanes, helicopters, and racecar stickers were handed out, I had little wide-eyed Japanese kids surrounding me, eager for a cool sticker of their own. Ah these little kids; they are like the toys that I will want in 10 years (after a few pets and a few jobs I suppose haha).

Me and the other AIU students visited the children's school and playground next. They have so many cool things; pet turtles and fishes, TVs, posters with Pokemon to help them learn Hiragana letters. All of us were invited to come back, and I will be so happy to hang out with kids in a classroom environment. I want to teach them little kids games, like Simon Says and Duck Duck Goose. Maybe I'll modify these games a little bit... it would be good experience for me as a game designer hahaha.

To contrast with this exciting day, my Sunday evening was one of the most depressing experiences of my life. I went to see a traditional Japanese theater production, called Noh, that took place on top of a large hill. It was raining that night (which seems to be the customary every year), all of the audience that was in the outside seating had to wear many plastic ponchos.

The performance itself was terribly creepy; the motions of the actors were robotic, their voices somewhat monotone with extended vowel sounds, and the music (drums, flute, chanting) made me recollect native american tribal rituals. I had to stop and think to myself... was the Japanese upper class that REALLY that boring in the 16th century? Thank god I live in modern times, with such wonderful distractions as video games, anime, and rock music.

Jump forward one school week: I find myself on a bus heading to Rokkasho village, home of several nuclear facilities. If you really want to know more about this place, feel free to ask and I'll tell you everything I know about nuclear energy, disposal, fusion, and storage. However, my brain was so full of information from that day... seriously, I discussed the use of radio isotopes as a way to measure cell propogation, with a real-live Japanese scientist! Perhaps later I'll make known my personal opinions on the use of nuclear energy as a viable energy source for mankind.

We spent one night at a lavish onsen hotel. Ohmygod I was in heaven; the meals were dynamite, the rooms were traditionally made, and the hot baths were all nude. It was sex segregated, and there was a hot bath outside that offered a wonderful view of a majectic waterfall and the surrounding nature. While soaking in the warm waters and emptying my mind of thoughts, my awareness soon fell on the large divider that separated the male and female baths. Curiousity took hold, and desire soon won over morality as I snuck over to have a peek at the ladies. There were some older ladies (bleh!), but fortunately there was a nice view of some well-bodied japanese ladies, soaking in the steamy night. Say what you will about right action and right intention, but I had to indulge my childish curiousity (not to mention ninja sneakery) in that moment.

I took a japanese robe as a souveneer, which is actually socially appropriate to wear all around the hotel. I saw many japanese, young and old, wearing these like casual wear. It will certainly make for a nice bath robe back in the U.S... by the way, I've been missing home like CRAZY and I can't wait to return with stories and being able to express myself in a full english vocabulary, not to mention catching up with friends, eating fast food, having the freedom of driving a car, and finding out what Metal Gear Solid 4 updates are available.