ジェト・プログラムのジャスティン

２００７年９月１５日

今週の漢字: 映画

Movie:
I went to see the new Evangelion movie. Although it isn't a very good film as it is just a rehash of the first few episodes (except for the last 30-40 minutes), the experience was great. I went with some AET friends and only one out of the four of us had an advanced level of Japanese. I didn't know that there is assigned seating, so we didn't decide where we wanted to sit. We decided to pay separately, so two people bought their tickets together (one of them being the girl with the advanced level of Japanese), and then it was my turn with the clerk. The fourth person went to the clerk next to mine. At first it went well with an 「エヴァンゲリヲンをひとつお願いします」(Evangelion o hitotsu onegaishimasu – One for Evangelion please). Then the clerk showed me the seating chart. When I turned to my friends who already bought their tickets, I was told to pick the bottom left. The problem with this answer was that I didn't know if she meant the bottom left of the theatre, which would be the top left of the chart, or the bottom left of the chart. I didn't know the verb "to sit," so in all my wisdom I said, 「一緒に」(Issho ni – together). The clerk took this to mean that I was paying for the four of us. This prompted the fourth person's clerk to clear her cash register. Confusion ensued for a good few minutes. The girl who knew the most Japanese didn’t know what to say as we were all just confused. I ended up just saying, 「すみません。ひとつ」(Sumimasen. Hitotsu – Sorry, one). I got my ticket and hoped for the best. Of course the clerks are not stupid and put us together. So, all was fine in the end.

Along with my ticket, I got a magazine on current and upcoming movies. It felt like I got a playbill, and I was about to see a show. When we arrived on the correct floor, we immediately noticed the merchandise stand. There were many things related to the currently playing Japanese films. We continued walking around until I noticed that the concession stand was selling a very cool popcorn combo set consisting of a tub of popcorn (equivalent to the large size in American movie theatres), a soft drink, and a cup lid that doubles as a stand for an action figure. I could choose caramel, strawberry, or cheddar flavored popcorn. I got caramel, and I am glad I did because I tried the strawberry and thought that it tasted like medicine. For my soft drink, I got oolong tea (yes… that is a choice for soft drinks). For you Eva fans reading this, I could either choose the Rei or Unit 01 action figure. Of course I chose Unit 01, while my friends chose Rei. When we were inside the movie theatre, we put on our special cup lids and action figures. I noticed that many other people in the theatre also bought the special combo (those who buy it get either a blue or red straw), but we were the only ones who put on our action figures. Maybe we are just total nerds…

At Mito High School, it was a very good week. Everyone was busy as the culture festival and sports (field) days were held this past Wednesday and Thursday respectively. The students have been preparing hard for both of the days since summer vacation with this past Tuesday entirely dedicated to preparations. I was a little surprised that the students practiced the events for the sports day. At home, students would probably be ecstatic to have an extra day off to do the field day activities before the real deal. Next week I will talk more extensively about the culture festival.

Stay tuned next week for another update!

今週の写真: JET BBQ in Okazaki and something small…

Higashi Okazaki

From the JET BBQ site of Okazaki

Some JETs

More JETs

Me on the bridge to Okazaki Castle

Bridge to Okazaki Castle (red color accent)

Before the Okazaki Castle Shrine

Wash before Okazaki Castle Shrine

Okazaki Castle (left) and Shrine (right)

SURPRISE, it's Unit 01

=)