A great BBQ

The BBQ last night was like nothing we’ve ever experienced before (except for Bill and Terri). We arrived back at the elementary school parking lot – the same place we had lunch – to the sight of a beehive of activity. Tables and BBQ grills everywhere, and off to one side, a long chute of overlapping large bamboo halves linked together in what looked like a water slide, complete with water running down it. And indeed, not 5 minutes after we arrived and kids started lining up on either side of the chute holding paper cups filled with a sauce/water mix and holding chopsticks. Mr. Sakamoto was standing in the bed of a pickup truck at the top of the water slide and he began dropping bunches of cooked noodles onto the slide, and the kids used their chopsticks to snare some as the noodles slid in the water slide, dipping their catch in the sauce! In a matter of seconds, the adults joined in for a riotously fun noodle appetizer. Oscar, a huge smile on his face, moved right to the highest point, proclaiming that being tall has its advantages, and this was one of them – being the first in line to snare noodles! Still, there were plenty of noodles for all, even the smallest kids. Eventually, we all took turns dropping noodles onto the chute, but soon there was another commotion as the Sanvino parents began placing all sorts of goodies onto the six or so grills – thinly sliced meats such as bacon, chicken, beef and shrimp; and vegetables including two kinds of mushrooms, pumpkin (my favorite), cabbage (just as good), a seaweed that was yummy, squash and corn on the cob. We just walked from grill to grill, picking up pieces of whatever you wanted to eat, or adding uncooked items to a grill as room became available. Then there was the table of noodle dishes and an onion and potato (?) pancake that was the Japanese version of a latke (but even better). Dessert was fruit, including watermelon that was opened in the Japanese version of piñata – kids were blindfolded, handed a broom handle, spun around, and then told to find the watermelon laying on newspaper and give it a whack. (No more candy-filled piñatas for us!) Oh my goodness, it was all fantastic, and the best part of all was that in standing around the grills, the connections between Sanvino and Treble grew stronger, conversations taking place over the hot coals as everyone helped cook – Thanks to Bill for diving right in and showing us Americans the way to participate in this uniquely Japanese BBQ event. There was universal agreement among parents and players that we need to try to recreate this BBQ back home for everyone who didn’t come with us. (Terri knows where to get all the necessary sauces).

But the festivities didn’t end with eating and talking – when it got dark, Coach Yamada called everyone into a circle and announced the winners of the bowling tournament and handed out prizes. Oscar finished first, Peter ranked up near the top, but as Coach went down the list it became clear that everyone was going to be a winner, and with each prize came cheers and clapping, right through the entire list of Sanvinos and Trebles. And after the list was complete, some of us were called up for a second prize – I figure mine came for best grimaces. LOL.

When all was done at just after 9 PM, Trebol parents helped Sanvino parents stack chairs and tables, and then it was back in the cars, kids headed to host families, parents to the hotel for a good night’s sleep before the next day’s beach soccer tournament. We’re leaving for the beach at 7:30 AM (it’s a 2.5 hour ride – less if Coach Yamada is driving – on a karaoke bus! That ought to be a riot.

Felisa had this to add about the prize ceremony:
Let us not forget the prizes for bowling. You know how we might give out prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places? Maybe if we're feeling generous and unusually egalitarian, we might assuage ourselves by going to 6th or 8th and then giving out some prize for good sportsmanship? Well, apparently we are chintzy and self-serving. In the case of our Japanese hosts, EVERYONE WHO PLAYED WON. And I mean everyone. Coach Yamada awarded at least 48 prizes. That was the last number I can remember being called. They made sure that every single person who bowled was called up and given a gift. These ranged from t-shirts and pens to chimes and a purse. Oh ho, and there were five MORE PRIZES for good sportsmanship (Mr. Matino led this group). All you hyper-competitive sorts must be asking yourselves who REALLY won. I mean, who had the high score at the bowling alley? Because it really matter, right? Well, I guess I can let the cat out of the bag. . . . It was Oscar!! But Kayla swears she can beat him on the soccer field so it's just a thing!

Tomorrow is an early day. We leave by bus at 7:30 a.m. for a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to the beach for a beach soccer tournament. Then we visit Kumamoto Castle. We'll be on a tour bus complete with karaoke machine for 5 hours tomorrow with your girls. Think of that and remember to thank us.