The Welcome Party

Last night, the welcome party for the new teachers was held at the usual place, a fish restaurant relatively close to school. Since there is really zero tolerance for drinking and driving over here (which is one of the better things about Japan), two mini-buses transported most of us to and from the party, as is standard procedure for such events. (Teachers who drive to the parties stay far away from alcohol.)

These parties aren't all that exciting, mostly because they have set start and end times. (The buses inevitably get us to the venue with plenty of time to spare, but when the parties are over, we invariably have to make a beeline for the buses.) Not cool.

Also, we always sit on the floor, which is anything but comfortable, especially for a foreigner with long legs like me. What's more, the fish restaurant is one of my least favorite places to eat, primarily because the trays that our food is served on are less than one foot off the ground. Need I say more?

Every year I am jealous of the few lucky souls who avoid the torture by getting to sit where there is a pit for their legs. You see, when you get to the party, you pick a number, which determines where you sit. I was especially unlucky this year, because I didn't even get an end seat, which would have at least allowed me to put my legs off to one side.

Lucky for me, I kind of put up a stink about it right away, and that actually paid off! One of the second-year teachers who was in charge of organizing the party (I owe you one, Mr. Eastgate) felt my pain and ushered me over to the pits! Yes! I guess the pits isn't always the pits!