NEW SPORTS AND BLASPHEMY

It’s Thursday, so I’m back at the Elementary School. Despite being tired I’m happy to be around the kids. The energy is great. Today I’d three classes. Grade 5, 6 and Asunaro (special needs/slow learners). At break and lunch time the fourth grade gang called me out to play sports. Not content with introducing me to frisbee/dodgeball, they wanted to show me another hybrid sprort; baseball/soccer. It’s baseball rules, but you kick a soccer ball (football) instead of hitting a baseball. As usual it was a lot of fun and nice to be outside on this hot autumn day. Initially I was reluctant to show my real power. Naturally I’m afraid of hurting any of the kids after that incident last year.....(joke). But eventually my confidence rose and I kicked a homerun. Boy, did they go mad. I was so happy. All those years of being picked last for lunchtime football at school were washed away with a single kick. High fives all round and my childhood scars were healing quickly.

Shortly after my homerun, Yuta, one of my favourite fourth-graders came running over and said ‘You are God’. I laughed, thinking he was trying to say ‘You are good’. I corrected him, but he was adamant. ‘You are God’, he said again. I enquired further to which he said 'kamisama' which is the Japanese word for God. It was hilarious. I don’t even know where he learned it. Sure, I’ve taught that class ‘You are............’ followed by many flattering adjectives. But I’ve never taught them about God or even that word, so it was really funny. Then again, maybe little Yuta is smarter than I think and he’s taking the Mickey out of my long hair and beard. Photos: The Grade 4 Trouble Makers(bottom), Soccer/Baseball(middle), A big PEACE from Grade 2's Ami Chan(top)