Seriously...there are some lessons in life that, even though being the mature, relatively intelligent adult that I like to think I am, I forget. Why do I do that? The only thing that makes me feel just a tad bit better is that today....I am not alone. I know for sure of 4 other people who were at the same party as myself last night....that feel pretty much the same way.
Hoojie....yes, I was feeling a bit hoojie most of the day (possibly still am--and it's after midnight!). I was going to take a picture of myself today to use as an example when the definition of that particular word (an original, I'm thinking) was questioned. But, in my extended state of hoojiness, that goal was forgotten. Sorry.
The occasion last night was a sayonara...farewell....adios....party for a couple that we are incredibly sad to see leaving. She has accepted a position at a university far, far away in the northern part of Japan. She and her husband will be leaving in a few weeks....the farewells have begun. The one thing that makes this a bit better on our emotions is that the Internet...with its blogs and Facebook and whatnot...has made it so much easier to keep in touch, which I'm sure we will do.
So, last night, a party for our friends Mel and Tatsuro was held....(I'm blaming the way I feel today on them because, well....it was their party...so...there.)
The couple we all gathered together to celebrate.
(and my good friend, Karen)
Mel had on a beautiful dress that was made from an old kimono...it was quite stunning.
There was lots of food, good stuff to drink....and bingo. Every good party has a bingo game. Actually, the prizes were things from Mel and Tat that they didn't want to have to pack up and take with them....videos, household items, different kinds of booze....I won a bottle of sake...but, I don't think I made it home with it. Hmmmm...oh well...I might have given it to someone (maybe the taxi driver on the way home??) or the Master of the place found a nice "thank you" for such a great party.
This was our table....Karen and myself with her husband (the charming man in the tie!) and another teacher from Mel's university.
There was country line dancing.....our friend, Tomoko (in the vest and hat), has been doing this for quite a few years and she gave a demonstration and then
almost everyone joined in.
There was samba dancing.....Rie and her husband Nigel have been doing ballroom dancing for many years and they performed for us! They were awesome!! (And yes, I know, the photographer got a great shot....there should be a contest for the "best caption"!!)
There was also.....some hula.
I decided that after 5 years of doing this, it was time to be brave and dance for someone other than women who were also doing the same thing. Actually, Karen was the only person there last night to have seen our group perform....and as I have never danced alone before in front of an audience, it was quite comforting to know that she was there.
A party for two good friends seemed like a good time for a debut....and I think I did okay!
The party was a raging success....starting at 7 and lasting until after midnight. There was a great mix of Japanese and non-Japanese from many different countries....wonderful entertainment...and of course, dancing karaoke toward the end. I kept giggling today thinking about one guy's rendition of "Dancing Queen"....too funny!! (Or at least I
think it was Dancing Queen...things start to get fuzzy around midnight...I am pretty sure it was ABBA.)
So....to Mel and Tatsuro....we will miss you terribly and think of you often....but, we wish you the best as you move on to the next stage in both career and family. God speed, my friends.
***************
Now for the latest entry in the "Holy Hell! Are you kidding me???" portion of Life in Japan.
There was a young Japanese man that sat at our table for a bit. (And by "young", I mean early 30's or so). His English was impeccable.....which really, you don't find too terribly often. Since I was nervous (before dancing) and had drank a couple glasses of wine, you know...to calm myself...I ended up being quite the Chatty-Cathy asking him all sorts of questions to get the low-down on him.
(The fact that he was incredibly nice and really, quite cute didn't hurt one bit!!)
His name is Ty. Yes, I know....interesting name for a Japanese man...Karen's 16-year-old daughter and I thought the same thing...plus his whole manner was just not that of a typical Japanese man.
Come to find out....he had quite an interesting childhood having spent some time in Germany with his parents and then moving to the States to go to high school when he was 17. I think that he said that he spent ten years in the States...finishing high school and university there.
He said that after spending some time near Washington, D.C. he then went to Colorado where he graduated from high school. ERRRRRRRRRRRRCH!! (sound of screeching brakes)
Me: Colorado? I'm from Colorado. Where did you go?
He: You're from Colorado? That's cool. Actually, I was in a really small town.
Me: What a coincidence....I grew up in a really small town in the southeast corner.
He: ..............................................................
What's the town's name?
Me: Springfield. It's down there almost Oklahoma-almost Kansas.
He: ..........................Get...............out..................of.................here.
I was in Pritchett.
Me: ---------------------------------------No-----Way-------!!!!!!
He: WAY!!!
I truly wonder what the odds are of an American woman, who grew up in a place that people from her own state don't even really know very much about.....meeting a Japanese man in a bar in Japan who went to high school about 20 miles away from her hometown????
That was just too terribly freaky and both of us were a bit weirded out about the whole thing. We know the same people. The family he stayed with? I know them.
The principal of his high school? Yep...knew him, too.
He graduated in '91....I came to Japan in '91....which means that there is a great possibility that we saw each other some time while he was there....maybe at the grocery store (the town he was in doesn't have a grocery store...yeah, I know...small town!!)...or maybe at the bowling alley or one of the convenience stores getting gas.
We decided that it was some really wild karma that brought us together and we will be friends...good friends....forever. I think I'll see if my mom would adopt him....a new little brother would be fun!!
Debbie and Ty....new best friends...because fate brought us together!!
**Photos not belonging to me were borrowed from GoogleImages and Danny L..thanks, man!
