  ...in a lot of small ways. I spent most of my day out of the office with Miki-sensei. We went to a community centre where we were met by a large group of older women (some incredibly old looking, like you imagine a stereotypical wizened Japanese woman) attired in variously decorated aprons, and a few retired men. Most of them were sitting on the floor lined along low tables, and the women were all sitting seiza - for real. (Seiza is the traditional way for women to sit, on their knees with their feet tucked under them. It has relaxed so that you can sit with your knees to the side, but I suspect that for some of these women it is almost a sign of honour to sit properly.
) We were there to make flower stalks in preparation for the matsuri (festival) in Ikegawa the weekend of the 14th. They were a lovely group of people, very interested to meet me, some of them going off in long stories about family they have in Canada, a visit they took to Vancouver, Victoria (mile one! ), Banff and Niagara Falls... I guess those are the hot spots! It's funny, I just noticed yesterday, but it happens a lot, that although people know I don't speak or understand Japanese, for some reason they still think it is a good idea to talk to me for a long time, not slowly, not using hand gestures or any other sort of mime, just talking. I think that they have a hope (irrational, though it may be) that at some point I will miraculously just start to understand them. IF ONLY it were that easy!!!! It's endearing until it starts to become irritating, though I am doing my best to just be patient and enjoy everything I am presented with.
So these were the main events that made yesterday big: #1 - I made my first real Japanese faux-pas, at least that I am aware of. I sat cross-legged on the floor... Like I was ready to play duck duck goose, or something... In a skirt . I realize this is frowned upon even at home, but anyone who knows me well is aware that although I frequently wear skirts and dresses, I am not the most conscientious person when it comes to propriety.
I don't know how long I had been sitting like that, but one of the women subtley pointed it out and I immediately remedied the situation and paid a LOT more attention for the rest of the day. #2 - I almost tried octopus and shrimp, if you can believe it. I am making an effort to be as easy as I can with seafood. I have told them I won't eat beef, chicken or pork, but with seafood I will make concessions. And I keep thinking that I am ready to try actually eating some, rather than picking around it. I came close with the octopus when all I could see was a chunk of white, but then I picked it up and there was a suction cup and I was done. Ah well, maybe next time. #3 - The dancing, oh the dancing. After lunch many of the women got in a large circle and two of the men picked up microphones and one of them got a large drum out. The women danced for a 'year of plenty' and it was beautiful and graceful and ageless. I was almost in tears. They looked like they had been born doing these movements, and the two oldest, my favourites, often had their eyes closed a look of pure bliss on their faces.
It ended, there was a rest, and then they got ready for another round. And I was pulled into the circle. Gone was the grace and beauty, marred by my awkward, uncoordinated attempts. I was embarassed, but they were so delighted with my attempts, big smiles and nods of their head, I couldn't keep feeling like an idiot and sort of basked in their attention for a few minutes. #4 - Apparently next week I will be joining Miki-sensei for dance class with a group of young men.
Ummmm... this should be an adventure!! So, despite the fact that the hanna (flower) making got tedious, they were some of the cutest, sweetest elderly people I have ever encountered, and I had a lot of fun while I was there. Maybe if I am lucky I will get to go back when I have a bit more skill in Japanese and can say more than my name and where I am from. And my age, of course. Everyone wants to know how old I am... I have a meeting all day today for the English camp that Ikegawa and 3 nearby towns are having at the end of the month, and it will be nice to see some other ALTs and compare our first week and a half. I think there might be some social events on the weekend, which will be fun, so I will update on Monday. Have a fabu weekend. Big love... I am missing home a bit today, so extra hugs to you all. 
