So You Want To Be A Rockstar?
Today may have been my best in Japan. Simply amazing.
The day began early. My host family was going to Kobe for the day to visit a temple, and I had a Rotary meeting and the school festival. I went to school around 8:30 and gave the ESS (English Speaking Society) my poster about myself and West Virginia. There were many displays set up in classrooms and around the school for different clubs. At 9:00 was the opening ceremony for the school festival. It was really neat, with dancers and drums, and was very exciting to watch. The principal spoke as well as some students, and then everyone dispersed for the day's activities. I left school, however, to drive with my second host mom to the Rotary meeting.
My second host mom is very nice. She picked me up in a Volkswagen wearing a Kimono, which looked very Japanese and lovely. The Rotary meeting was in Okayama city, which took about 30 minutes by car. We talked about her husband and son (the husband is a Petrochemical Engineer, she is a Pharmacist, and her son plays bass guitar). Her son, soon to be my host brother, is thirteen and going through puberty, and my host mother said that he is very hard to deal with. I know how that can feel. She also told me that we may go jet skiing in a few weeks if I would like.
At the Rotary meeting I met the two other inbound students. One is from Canada and the other from Virginia, around Newport News. They were both very nice and we got along just fine. I gave a small speech at lunch, and then the district governor spoke. He is very old and said that 40 years ago his son went on the first exchange to America, and then something about Woodrow Wilson that I couldn't understand. After he spoke, we played, of all things, BINGO. It was so much fun. I ended up winning a picture frame that was slightly feminine and a pen that smells like "soft cream" when you use it.
Around 1:00 I left the Rotary meeting so I could get back to school in time for my stage performance. My host mom drove me to the school and then the fun began. I dashed out of the car and into the back of the gym because I heard some guitars already playing. When I arrived I saw Wataru and he informed me that it was only a sound check. He had brought me an outfit to wear, some punk looking clothes, but I already had some threads picked out. I did use his belt, however, because it looked hardcore.
At 2:00 the first band played a few covers of the Ramones, and then some original stuff. Then Wataru's band HOOP played four songs, before announcing they had a "special guest." I was very nervous, but I knew the lyrics and probably more English than anyone in the gym so didn't think I could go wrong. I came out from backstage wearing a shirt that said "samurai" in Kanji and all the kids went crazy. About 50 kids formed a pit in front of the stage, and a bunch of kids who had been sitting in seats got up to move to the front. I was still nervous, but shouted a "Hello Tamano!" into the microphone in true Rockstar style. Wataru and Yasu started playing "First Date" by Blink 182, and then Kiyoto came in on the bass. I don't know if my singing was on tune, but between the crowd screaming and the loud guitars, drums, and bass it didn't matter. I was in a euphoric state when the song ended. I ran offstage to a huge standing ovation and Wataru started the next song. Around 3, HOOP finished their last song, and the crowd started to chant "samurai, samurai!" so I came back out and sang "The Rock Show," with a face melting guitar solo by Wataru which we sang back to back with Kiyoto jumping off amps in the background. Seriously, I couldn't believe it was happening. It was like a dream. I didn't even forget any of the lyrics.
After the show I was sweating like crazy, but went out to the plaza to see what was going on. I realized that there were a lot of people there from other local schools to see the festival. Some people wanted to take pictures with me, so I felt pretty famous.
I came home and told Shoko all about it. There is a new girl staying with us for a few days, one of Miyu's friends. Jittan comes back tomorrow so there will be 7 people in our house. Also tomorrow, I'm buying a cell phone! They are quite advanced here, much better than anything I have seen in America. At first I thought I wouldn't need a phone, but sometimes I stay late at school and need to call Shoko, and all of my friends have phones so it will be useful.
I still can't believe today happened. I finally got to live my Rockstar fantasy.
The day began early. My host family was going to Kobe for the day to visit a temple, and I had a Rotary meeting and the school festival. I went to school around 8:30 and gave the ESS (English Speaking Society) my poster about myself and West Virginia. There were many displays set up in classrooms and around the school for different clubs. At 9:00 was the opening ceremony for the school festival. It was really neat, with dancers and drums, and was very exciting to watch. The principal spoke as well as some students, and then everyone dispersed for the day's activities. I left school, however, to drive with my second host mom to the Rotary meeting.
My second host mom is very nice. She picked me up in a Volkswagen wearing a Kimono, which looked very Japanese and lovely. The Rotary meeting was in Okayama city, which took about 30 minutes by car. We talked about her husband and son (the husband is a Petrochemical Engineer, she is a Pharmacist, and her son plays bass guitar). Her son, soon to be my host brother, is thirteen and going through puberty, and my host mother said that he is very hard to deal with. I know how that can feel. She also told me that we may go jet skiing in a few weeks if I would like.
At the Rotary meeting I met the two other inbound students. One is from Canada and the other from Virginia, around Newport News. They were both very nice and we got along just fine. I gave a small speech at lunch, and then the district governor spoke. He is very old and said that 40 years ago his son went on the first exchange to America, and then something about Woodrow Wilson that I couldn't understand. After he spoke, we played, of all things, BINGO. It was so much fun. I ended up winning a picture frame that was slightly feminine and a pen that smells like "soft cream" when you use it.
Around 1:00 I left the Rotary meeting so I could get back to school in time for my stage performance. My host mom drove me to the school and then the fun began. I dashed out of the car and into the back of the gym because I heard some guitars already playing. When I arrived I saw Wataru and he informed me that it was only a sound check. He had brought me an outfit to wear, some punk looking clothes, but I already had some threads picked out. I did use his belt, however, because it looked hardcore.
At 2:00 the first band played a few covers of the Ramones, and then some original stuff. Then Wataru's band HOOP played four songs, before announcing they had a "special guest." I was very nervous, but I knew the lyrics and probably more English than anyone in the gym so didn't think I could go wrong. I came out from backstage wearing a shirt that said "samurai" in Kanji and all the kids went crazy. About 50 kids formed a pit in front of the stage, and a bunch of kids who had been sitting in seats got up to move to the front. I was still nervous, but shouted a "Hello Tamano!" into the microphone in true Rockstar style. Wataru and Yasu started playing "First Date" by Blink 182, and then Kiyoto came in on the bass. I don't know if my singing was on tune, but between the crowd screaming and the loud guitars, drums, and bass it didn't matter. I was in a euphoric state when the song ended. I ran offstage to a huge standing ovation and Wataru started the next song. Around 3, HOOP finished their last song, and the crowd started to chant "samurai, samurai!" so I came back out and sang "The Rock Show," with a face melting guitar solo by Wataru which we sang back to back with Kiyoto jumping off amps in the background. Seriously, I couldn't believe it was happening. It was like a dream. I didn't even forget any of the lyrics.
After the show I was sweating like crazy, but went out to the plaza to see what was going on. I realized that there were a lot of people there from other local schools to see the festival. Some people wanted to take pictures with me, so I felt pretty famous.
I came home and told Shoko all about it. There is a new girl staying with us for a few days, one of Miyu's friends. Jittan comes back tomorrow so there will be 7 people in our house. Also tomorrow, I'm buying a cell phone! They are quite advanced here, much better than anything I have seen in America. At first I thought I wouldn't need a phone, but sometimes I stay late at school and need to call Shoko, and all of my friends have phones so it will be useful.
I still can't believe today happened. I finally got to live my Rockstar fantasy.
4 Comments:
::proud::
By Kostya the Bear, at 11:32 PM
::proud::
By Kostya the Bear, at 12:06 AM
::proud::
By Kostya the Bear, at 12:07 AM
Ben--you're going to give Dave Grohl a run for his money. Rock n roll. ps did you know he's recording with Trent Reznor (nine inch nails). dream come true.
pss you looked awesome in your performance stills.
best wishes from your florida friends
By Anonymous, at 11:37 AM
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