Halloween

The most American and (coincidentally? you decide…) my least favourite holiday of the year. I’m not even sure what this festival is about. It was probably conjured up by American pumpkin farmers in order to shift some old stock. Or perhaps that’s just my pessimism at work.

I had been asked about how Halloween is celebrated in Australia by one of the teachers and I think I painted a not-so-rosy picture of smashed bottles, shaving cream, toilet paper, broken windows and axe wielding teenagers in pursuit of strangers with lollies. Again there may be some exaggeration and bias here, but I take my role as a cultural ambassador seriously and knowing my own view of the world to be vastly superior to everyone else’s I’ll depict it accordingly.

None of this stopped me from attending a Halloween party in Shirakawa recently though. I’m not exactly sure why but all the ALTs (foreign teachers of English) in the area were invited, and it was free and included booze and some food, so I managed to squeeze it into my busy schedule.

The party seemed to be held for the benefit of local school kids, and some of my students were there, but I think it was mainly for the benefit of our hostess (although I’m not really sure how she profited from the whole exercise). We (Phil and I) were on a table that the cool, surly teenaged boys were sitting at, determinedly avoiding eye contact and not speaking to us. The younger, primary school aged kids seemed to have fun though, despite the way that the games were organized down to the letter. (We had received emails with the instructions and schedule for each of the games about two weeks in advance of the party).

The organizer of the party, whose motives are still a mystery to me, also sent me an interesting “thank you” email. Part of it follows:

Dear Damien,
I thank you soooo much for your attending.

Kids seemed to be happy to be with you.
Especially students of junior-high told me that they enjoyed talking with you.
MS, kanazawa, the writer of "Happy Halloween" was inspired with your hospitality, and told me that she wants to speak in English because she wants to communicate with you all.
Also some adults told me English teachers made splendid atmosphere.
I definitely agree. So I really thank you for your cooperation.

Didn't you find any troubles on your way home?

If you have any opportunities to come to Tokyo, please stay with us.
I thank you again.