Sorry for the late post, I have been super busy these past couples day of the beginning of the week.
So a recap of last weekend amazing adventures begins... now!
Friday:
I had to take one hour nenkyu. It was weird doing that as I only left at 2:45 PM. I left and rushed to Mutsu only to find that Mike was not at his home yet. I knew Amy was there, so we ended up just talking for a bit whilst waiting for Mike. It was not long and we got all our stuff together to go! Mike ended up driving and it was a tiring drive to Aomori Minami SHS. We stopped at Sunkus to grab some food before the long trek up on the bus. We left from the bus stop at Aomori Minami at 6:30 PM, making stops in Hachinohe and another place I forgot. We then made a final stop at Morioka and their huge shopping center! It was really cool, it reminded me of the US and their huge shopping malls. After that, it was the long drive down to Nagano-ken to Sugadaira! I think it was around 11 hours or so from Aomori-shi. Soooo looonnnng!
Saturday:
We arrived at the 7-11 in Sugadaira or outside of it around 5:30 AM. It was a long drive and I was ready for more sleep. I got some fruit, a vitamin water and some vitamin C pills. I was starting to have cold sores from the lack of vit. C in my diet. Ahh, the wonders of scurvy! We got to the hotel and they allowed us to check in early. So we got in and our room just ended up sleeping until about the time we had to go for our first game of the tournament. We got up and I was ready to go and play! I was really excited for the tournament and at that point had high expectations for the team! We got there and immediately three of us had to ref a game prior to our first game. I didn't like how it was set up, but we had to take it. I reffed for a game of Nagoya against Nagano and it was a bit edgy throughout the whole time. The Nagoya team was from Brasil and they are always a little complaint heavy on the referee at times. We finally finished the game and the three of us had to rush to our game. I was unprepared and it definitely took me longer to get accustomed to the game speed. I can't remember the score now, but I think it was like 2-0. I thought for a team mixed of people whose skill range was from college play to never having touched a soccer ball in their life, it was OK! I looked forward to the next game! We played again a couple hours later and unfortunately got spanked by the next team, I think it was 4-1. I scored our only goal of the game and tournament by getting the ball at about 40 yards out. At the same time, my calf cramped and I decided to play it out. I took on three players and then had the keeper to get past. My last touch let me down and the keeper smothered it. I thought it would end there, but he lost control and only had one hand on it and I took my opportunity and kicked it out of his hand. It went out a little bit and I chased, turned around and shot, scored! It was a very hard worked goal and it was very sloppy, not the goal for the highlights, but it was something that the guys enjoyed and I did too until the pain in my left calve forced me to the ground! I limped off and then collapsed on the sidelines and Hideo helped me stretch it out. I know my left calf was due for a cramp as it had been bothering me at home too. Oh well! One more game to go and I didn't think I was going to make it. On game days, I don't usually eat a lot, so an apple juice and Snickers bar held me up through the day accompanied with Calorie Mate before the games for extra kick of energy. The last game was kind of frustrating for me as the team really showed its lacked of communication and how we had never practiced before. The second half went better, but we still got flakked 6-0. The team was a good team and basic organization. It also seemed like their players all played before. We got back to the hotel and we were all just exhausted. Playing three games of soccer plus the fact of 11 hours of traveling made it very difficult. I made my way to the onsen as many of the players did the same. It was nice and relaxing, also to get a shower in was amazing. After that, I headed down to dinner and didn't know who was down there. I saw a bunch of people and ended up sitting next to Amy and Mike. They had already started eating dinner, but I had no trouble catching up!! I was starved and the food and portions were perfect for the occasion! Afterward, Amy and I went up to their room and we wanted to nap for a bit, but everyone came back and it was just a good time hanging out with people from the ken! I felt like a lot of people did that before the party anyway, it is hard to break away from what you are comfortable with to be with new people! There were drinking games and massages going on! It was nice! Amy and I ended up going to the captain's meeting and found out who we would play for the next day. The girl's team did very well and were in the championship round and the men's team.... did not do so well and we were in the plate round or the consolation bracket. We got back and then I headed to bed early. I was the third person in my room and others were already fast asleep! It was a good, but exhausting day!
Sunday:
I got up early on Sunday and took advantage of people being hungover to hit the onsen. It was so relaxing and it really gave me genki for the rest of the day! I made my way to breakfast and was the first one there from our ken and just sat and enjoyed the meal they had given us! Soon, some of the people from the ken slowly trickled into breakfast, some of the girls had the same idea and hit up the onsen before hand! The guys left first and played our first game. That day we ended up winning one game and losing the next two! It was a little disappointing, but it was OK! The girls took third and we took the bus back to the hotel to get a quick shower and onsen! We ended up leaving at around 4:30 PM and got back to Aomori at about 2:30. Then the long drive up to Mutsu, which Amy was good enough to do and then I got back to Oma around 6:00 AM! I saw my friend at the Circle K and one of my eikeiwa students! Weird!
So a recap of last weekend amazing adventures begins... now!
Friday:
I had to take one hour nenkyu. It was weird doing that as I only left at 2:45 PM. I left and rushed to Mutsu only to find that Mike was not at his home yet. I knew Amy was there, so we ended up just talking for a bit whilst waiting for Mike. It was not long and we got all our stuff together to go! Mike ended up driving and it was a tiring drive to Aomori Minami SHS. We stopped at Sunkus to grab some food before the long trek up on the bus. We left from the bus stop at Aomori Minami at 6:30 PM, making stops in Hachinohe and another place I forgot. We then made a final stop at Morioka and their huge shopping center! It was really cool, it reminded me of the US and their huge shopping malls. After that, it was the long drive down to Nagano-ken to Sugadaira! I think it was around 11 hours or so from Aomori-shi. Soooo looonnnng!
Saturday:
We arrived at the 7-11 in Sugadaira or outside of it around 5:30 AM. It was a long drive and I was ready for more sleep. I got some fruit, a vitamin water and some vitamin C pills. I was starting to have cold sores from the lack of vit. C in my diet. Ahh, the wonders of scurvy! We got to the hotel and they allowed us to check in early. So we got in and our room just ended up sleeping until about the time we had to go for our first game of the tournament. We got up and I was ready to go and play! I was really excited for the tournament and at that point had high expectations for the team! We got there and immediately three of us had to ref a game prior to our first game. I didn't like how it was set up, but we had to take it. I reffed for a game of Nagoya against Nagano and it was a bit edgy throughout the whole time. The Nagoya team was from Brasil and they are always a little complaint heavy on the referee at times. We finally finished the game and the three of us had to rush to our game. I was unprepared and it definitely took me longer to get accustomed to the game speed. I can't remember the score now, but I think it was like 2-0. I thought for a team mixed of people whose skill range was from college play to never having touched a soccer ball in their life, it was OK! I looked forward to the next game! We played again a couple hours later and unfortunately got spanked by the next team, I think it was 4-1. I scored our only goal of the game and tournament by getting the ball at about 40 yards out. At the same time, my calf cramped and I decided to play it out. I took on three players and then had the keeper to get past. My last touch let me down and the keeper smothered it. I thought it would end there, but he lost control and only had one hand on it and I took my opportunity and kicked it out of his hand. It went out a little bit and I chased, turned around and shot, scored! It was a very hard worked goal and it was very sloppy, not the goal for the highlights, but it was something that the guys enjoyed and I did too until the pain in my left calve forced me to the ground! I limped off and then collapsed on the sidelines and Hideo helped me stretch it out. I know my left calf was due for a cramp as it had been bothering me at home too. Oh well! One more game to go and I didn't think I was going to make it. On game days, I don't usually eat a lot, so an apple juice and Snickers bar held me up through the day accompanied with Calorie Mate before the games for extra kick of energy. The last game was kind of frustrating for me as the team really showed its lacked of communication and how we had never practiced before. The second half went better, but we still got flakked 6-0. The team was a good team and basic organization. It also seemed like their players all played before. We got back to the hotel and we were all just exhausted. Playing three games of soccer plus the fact of 11 hours of traveling made it very difficult. I made my way to the onsen as many of the players did the same. It was nice and relaxing, also to get a shower in was amazing. After that, I headed down to dinner and didn't know who was down there. I saw a bunch of people and ended up sitting next to Amy and Mike. They had already started eating dinner, but I had no trouble catching up!! I was starved and the food and portions were perfect for the occasion! Afterward, Amy and I went up to their room and we wanted to nap for a bit, but everyone came back and it was just a good time hanging out with people from the ken! I felt like a lot of people did that before the party anyway, it is hard to break away from what you are comfortable with to be with new people! There were drinking games and massages going on! It was nice! Amy and I ended up going to the captain's meeting and found out who we would play for the next day. The girl's team did very well and were in the championship round and the men's team.... did not do so well and we were in the plate round or the consolation bracket. We got back and then I headed to bed early. I was the third person in my room and others were already fast asleep! It was a good, but exhausting day!
Sunday:
I got up early on Sunday and took advantage of people being hungover to hit the onsen. It was so relaxing and it really gave me genki for the rest of the day! I made my way to breakfast and was the first one there from our ken and just sat and enjoyed the meal they had given us! Soon, some of the people from the ken slowly trickled into breakfast, some of the girls had the same idea and hit up the onsen before hand! The guys left first and played our first game. That day we ended up winning one game and losing the next two! It was a little disappointing, but it was OK! The girls took third and we took the bus back to the hotel to get a quick shower and onsen! We ended up leaving at around 4:30 PM and got back to Aomori at about 2:30. Then the long drive up to Mutsu, which Amy was good enough to do and then I got back to Oma around 6:00 AM! I saw my friend at the Circle K and one of my eikeiwa students! Weird!
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