So today I got to take part in a Okinawan Oban ceremony. I and all the other teachers went to king Shoens (famous ryukan king from Izena) and there joined all the other prominent members of team Izena for the ceremony. I as I reached the top of the steps leading to the tomb/shrine I noticed on the left people sitting on tatami type matting and people standing on the right, a member of the BOE motioned me to the left so I joined the sitting people. I think this was something of an honour as all the other teachers stood to the right, and among the other seated people was the mayor if Izena and descendant of king Shoen. It is also possible I misread her direction and just waltzed in all gung hoe like. I was dressed in bright red running trousers and a blue t-shirt while everyone else was in a black suit, c'est la vie. I did sit seiza (legs under you while sitting on feet) for the whole thing though, causing some small pain and stood and bowed and sat and bowed (repeated several times) when everyone else did. Afterwards we all ate typical Japanese food; omochi, some seaweed I don't know, tofu and other things I don't know, all washed down with ocha of course. It was all very nice and I got to meet some of the new shogakko teachers (elementary school), one of which speaks good English, subarashi ne!
In other news I now have my own little garden. I bought some seeds a while back and planned to plant them in the garden of my own house, but then I decided it might be better to do it at the school. They grow allot of plants and have all the bits and bobs one needs. So I asked and they said how many? and I said oh just one! So now I have a smallish raised bed to play with. Today I weeded and dug half of it and planted; tomatoes, carrots and some flowers (Cosmos Versailes).