Seiza; a crime against humanity

Right-o. So today was the big kindy concert. All the parents rocked up and fought each other in a wonderful display of passive aggressive conversation in order to win the best spot from which to take 2000 photos of their little darling. The trouble with filming concerts and taking photos is that you don't get to enjoy it as much cos you always have a half a mind on the camera. I'm now on about 100 family videos making a little speech about how much fun the kids have learning English (all lies). The principal told me afterwards that I had two white spots on my arse the whole time, which is great beacuse when I was directing the kid sI of cousre had my back to the audience. We figured out it was from sitting down seiza style (when you fold your legs underneath you) and the bottom of the slippers had dust on them which rubbed into the back of my black pants. Nice one. Another reason to just wear your own shoes wherever you like and not to sit in seiza. Hey, another reason not to sit in seiza would be that it is bloody uncomfortble. You all try it tonight. Fold your legs under and sit on your feet - see how long you can do it for before your ankles start hurting from being pressed into the floor by the weight of your upper body, or your knees start feeling like they might split in two. When I was in high school I came over here and had to participate in a traditional tea ceremony. There is little more tedious and mind numbing than this ceremony, a situation which is compounded by the fact that you get very little gratification for participation since real green tea is a foul green broth and as for the "sweets" they serve with it, I'd rather eat brussel sprouts for dessert. We had to sit in seiza the whole time and by the end of it my legs had gone completely numb. I couldn't stand. I had to kind of fall over sideways and push my legs out with my hands until the bloody could get back in, endure the agony of pin and needles five times worse than any I've ever experienced before, and eventually I could walk again. These days I am much better at seiza. I could do it for a half hour and be fine, a little sore, but able to walk. I thank my ground dwelling lifestyle at home for this. When you don't have anywhere to sit but on the floor while you are watching tv and eating tea your flexibility tends to increase.

Well, the kids did OK today. They were very quiet during the first song but managed to get some genki going for the second one. So now I am just back at school trying to figure out what to do with my kids for next week's classes. Revision time. That's good cos it means I can reuse old games, but I have to remember which ones they liked. Only 3 weeks of classes left at this school!