A time for harvest

Tomorrow is the start of a very exciting, activity-packed four-day extravaganza for me. I will participate as one of the judges for the our class chorus competitions. Each class competes against other classes in its year group. For example, class 2-1 will compete against the other 5 classes in the 2nd year group. The winners from these year groups will make a following final performance the next day, Friday, 10/19.

I've been practicing the song and dance for "Thriller" by Michael Jackson with one of my students from brass band since last week. Today, we had a rehearsal with the full band and my own back-up dancers, too. It's a quick set of steps, but I got it down. Now, to just make the moves flow seamlessly with my singing of the 3rd verse and chorus. Michael's voice is a bit high, but I'll do my best! Friday is our performance.

Also on Friday, the two students I've been coaching will give their first English skit performance before the actual competition on Saturday. These two ladies are very good and have put so much effort and time into making a very natural, lively conversation between friends into a stellar show. They make those 4 minutes feel like treasured memory, like we the audience are peeking in on an intimate conversation between close friends.

So, one of my fellow English teachers and I will escort these lady diamonds to their speech contest on Saturday. It'll be a formal, all-day event called the Mayor's Cup (Kurashiki). This will be my 3rd time in attendance, my first coaching a duo with a skit. The two previous students I coached did individual speeches, a very different animal altogether when compared to a skit. I envision the skit as a mini drama that uses no props, but only pure talent and force of personality. This year's young women duo make me so very proud.

Finally, on Sunday, I will head the Multinational Cheering Squad again for Kurashiki's International Friendship festival. This year's theme is "World Peace." I hope we relay how important and timely this message is in these days of war and isolationism.

Peace.