Our party took place at a really fancy hotel in Hitachi. Last year we ate dinner and sang karaoke at the same hotel. The party agenda this year was a little different. The kampai (cheers) at dinner was followed by a Bingo game. Each teacher was given a blank Bingo sheet and a list of topics to choose from to write in the Bingo squares. All the topics had to do with our prefecture, Ibaraki. There were about 10 topics, and under each one was a list of items. For example, some topics were “Famous Ibaraki Onsens (public baths),” “Famous Mountains in Ibaraki,” “Good Date Spots in Ibaraki,” and “Famous People in Ibaraki.” The whole sheet was written in Japanese, so the teacher sitting next to me translated the topics for me and from there, I chose things I could 1) actually read 2) were easy to write. I guess that wasn’t a bad strategy. I ended up winning a 5lb box of hoshiimo (ほしいも), dried sweet potatoes, which I’m a huge fan of.
Later, I was asked to sing a song at karaoke. I ended up singing Celion Dion’s Because You Loved Me. After telling the lady sitting next to me how embarrassed I felt after singing, she comforted me by saying something like, “Marie’s song made me feel so nice.” I don’t know if she really meant it or was just trying to comfort me, but either way, I gladly accepted the compliment. Also, I was presented with a bottle of Umeshu, Japanese plum wine, for my karaoke efforts. Score!
And the party didn't end there. Japanese drinking parties are usually followed by nijikais (second parties), sanjikais (third parties), and so on. My night ended at the nijikai, at which I forgot my box of hoshiimo and bottle of Umeshu. I left the party with my kyoto sensei (vice principal) after singing White Christmas and Yesterday Once More (The Carpenters), in English, with another teacher.
I thought someone might bring my prizes to school for me on Monday, but I should have expected what actually happened: I found them sitting on my doorstep Sunday night. Overall, the party was exciting but a little exhausting. And now I have to figure out what to do with all this hoshiimo!
