Volleyhikingbasketbeque!

Friday-

Classes went really well... and I had lots of fun. I think I've basically found a niche in that school... especially with the students, which is always awesome.

Afterschool I joined different club activities. They involved jogging and drilling with the basketball girl clubs, watching the baseball club, and then practicing with the volleyball boys club. I especially enjoyed the volleyball practicing since the teacher was eager to incorporate me with their drilling and practicing. Though I can hold my own in volleyball... I've realized that I have to specific control of where the ball goes... which is what practice focus on. I can hit the ball in a general direction... but, yeah... that's about it. Hopefully I can get better at it.

After clubs, I went to the grocery store to get something to eat... and ran into two students who were doing the "I'm Great!" gesture that I do in class. It was funny... and good to know that I'm leaving a mark. They then approached me and did the very weird, and a bit uncomfortable thing that people tend to do to me whenever I go shopping. The same exact thing happened when I ran into a teacher. They don't just look at my basket to see what I'm buying... but, they practically put their heads all up in my basket and look at everything I'm buying. It's just weird that they do that... I get all like... "Dude... back away from my basket... heh heh..."

Luckily, the two times that it happened were not my fatty grocery visit... and I actually had water, orange juice and fruits... heh heh. Not like other times when I'm like pillaging through the chips and candy aisles... -_-

Saturday-

Rob and I wanted to hit up the Goishi Coast which is very close to Ofunato. I was actually hoping to see the coast and possibly a take some far away shots of the famous 3-arched rock formation... but, we ended up somewhere else instead. It was cool anyway, since it was a hiking trail along the coastal cliffs of the Goishi Coast. The 1.1 km sign was very misleading... as the hiking trail would go down and up frequently, making sure I was well aware of my out of shapeness... X_x

It was all very worth it though and I managed to get a lot of good shots. Only negative thing really... which is a big deal for me... is that the spiders had no control of where they were allowed to build webs. Some of them blocking off the trail and building their webs directly on the trail. I freaked a couple of times... and after nearly killing Rob, I made sure Rob would lead to keep me from freaking out. Luckily the time that I did lead and ran into a spider web, it was not at the place with the very steep incline. Because, yeah... I just threw myself backwards and knocked Rob back a couple of steps. Had that been the steep incline, well... I just don't think a "Sorry I killed you..." greeting card would quite cut it. I apologized profusely and yeah... that's more proof that I am an arachnophobe... the fact that I irrationally risk others' and my life in order to avoid spiders and contact with spiders... ::sigh::

But, other than that... it was awesome!

Sunday-

Today we were invited by our IC (the lady who helped us set up when we first got to Ofunato) to an 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. Rob and I agreed to participate... after repeatedly stating our lack of skill in the sport. Yup... we sucked.

The worst part of it... a bunch of my students were there... and once they saw me getting ready to play, they all flocked to watch me play. I did as bad as I expected (especially since the team we played would make it to the final four). The three of us each scored 1 basket... in the 15 minute game we played... 0_o

The shame...

We then played another game. I guess it served as a wildcard game to get a team that lost to still be able to make it to the finals. We played against some of Rob's students... so, I guess it wasn't as bad as having 20-ish students watch me... heh heh. We each managed to score a basket each again... so, at least we were consistent.

After that we went up to our IC's bar and had a barbeque. It was a lot of fun and we got to make some onigiri (rice balls). I thought it was really cool! I then manned the barbeque and had some great food.

It was a fun day... and I just think it's awesome that... even though we were a bit worried about our IC not speaking English... we have been very lucky having her as our IC. She invited us to the Saitou Festival last week and today to the basketball tourney/barbeque. These are all things she's not forced to do... so, it's nice that she's been getting us to be involved in different events around Ofunato.

Now... if only there is like another sports tourney... most likely volleyball or baseball... where I can find some sort of redemption.

Basketball and I have never quite figured out how to establish a civil relationship... and after today... I believe we should just stop trying and let it be... heh heh...