School Festival & Other Things

Where to start...? I think the Halloween event Saturday afternoon is a good place, so Saturday it shall be. That morning Jesse and I met our friend Daniel and some other really nice people at Richards Eikaiwa (English conversation school), where we loaded into the van and headed to Minami Matsumoto for some Halloween fun. Jesse and I helped volunteer in the haunted house, and spent the good part of 5 hours scaring children and adults alike. It made me feel kind of bad that some of the children cried, but I guess that is just how things go. It was a lot of fun, and it was a great chance for the people of Matsumoto to experience what Halloween is all about. There was a little bit of everything for everyone. There was even a jam room upstairs where people could listen to music or help join in the playing. It was a wonderful chance to meet new people and help out in the community :)

Sunday was a day to experience an event of a different kind; the school festival. This is the biggest event of its kind throughout the year at Shinshu, and all of the circles (clubs) set up booths to sell all sorts of grilled meats, snacks, soups, desserts, and alcohol. It is nowhere near as big as Homecoming back home, but there were a large number of people out enjoying the beautiful weather and all the festival had to offer. The night before I received a text from my friend Miyuki asking if I would like to go there when she did at 11:00, and that sounded wonderful, so the next day I got ready, and took to off to the school. It was a great chance to see all that the school had to show, and see everyone out having a great time. My friend Daniel met up with us as well, and together we relaxed and took in all of the sights and sounds. I even tried a glass of sake, a paper cups worth for only 200円. It was not the most tasty drink in the world, take my word on that one, but it was an experience nonetheless.

After the festival, I helped Daniel, Richard, and his wife to move pumpkins out to their friend Heathers house just outside of Matsumoto City itself, so that she could use them as fertilizer in her garden. She and her husband own a beautiful old Japanese home that they have refurbished. It is very ornate and traditional. That was my first time to visit a home like that, and I really enjoyed it. They have fruit trees, grow wheat and barley, and will have a rice patch this year.

After we unloaded all of the pumpkins, Heather served us chai tea made on a traditional old wood stove, along with a delicious apple cake that she made that day. The warm food and drink really helped to warm us from the cold and rain outside that day. When we had finished, we loaded up and headed back home for the night. It was a wonderful finish to a wonderful weekend.

Oh yeah! I think I tore my first test apart.

Here is also a link to some music I recorded while at the festival:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enh866Ml1rc

Would you like to try a drink at the 信大(Shindai) cocktail bar? I'm not sure if that is who I bought my drink from, there were a couple of similar stands. This one had interesting signs though.

People wandering about the main square on campus.

Some stalls set up along the way.

My good friend and former 信大 student Daniel, two of Miyuki's friends, and me with my shades.