Reality: the aftertaste: Maiko Festival

It's my favourite time of the school year again. Besides the holiday and enakai seasons, I was really looking forward to the school's festival.

The first day kicked off with the grand final homeroom singing contest and a performance by the school's brass band.

This year's festival theme: "Big Smile"

A few weeks before the concert, some brass band members asked me to sing with some other teachers as part of their performance. Always up for a laugh and to get more involved with my school, I happily agreed. Now, singing outside the privacy of my own bathroom, car or apartment is not cool. But with a group of teachers, I thought it shouldn't be too bad. That is until I got speaking with some other teachers who explained exactly what I had to do.

I could see all my hard work and effort in gaining the "cool, young teacher" status melt away as I was told I had to sing by myself. On stage. In Japanese. Enter panic mode.

They gave me the lyrics written in romaji so I could learn it phonetically, accompanied with a tape of the band playing the song. The performance was a medley of Pink Lady (Japanese female duo famous for their songs and dancing in the late 70's/early 80's) songs and each teacher had a bit to sing. We all wore pink and the other teachers were hilarious, especially judo-sensei's dance moves! I swear everyone nearly wet their pants or had tears in their eyes.

With the help of the other teachers and loads of practise, I did okay. My hands were shaking as I was so nervous I'd stuff up the pronunciation or rhythm. But it was all in good fun and the teachers and students said I did great. But then again, what are they going to say? "Boo! You suck!" haha

Then the festivities began...