Aug. 10th, 2008

aide: (Bitch slapped)
As great as it is to be able to watch the Olympics LIVE, I am sorely missing Canadian coverage and I can't even watch it online on CBC!  FUcking server blocks the video, "not available in your region".  D<  What the shit! 

Gymnastics
The men's gymnastics team failed to qualify.  I'm disappointed.  Although, Shewfelt did break both his legs last year so you can't really blame him, I suppose.  At least he made it to  Beijing.  I don't think I'll be able to see any of the Canadians in competition until the finals, if the girls make it... although I don't think so because they do every event at the same time.  Although I seem to remember seeing other countries on CBC.  Maybe Japanese TV isn't like that. 

Aquatics
I saw Kitajima Kousuke win his heat (or did he come 2nd?) and he's made it to the semi's in the men's 100m breast stroke, but Brown didn't cut it for Canada.  In Kitajima's interview he was rather... haha funny?  He just kept saying his performance was まぁまぁ even though he won his heat.  I had never heard of Brown before so he might be a newbie.  Granted, I've been out of the swimming loop for a while since Brad quit.  The women's freestyle relay team rocked and have made it to the final.  I wonder when that's on, and if I'll get to see it?  The only name on the team I recognize is Tanya Hunks but I'm not exactly sure why.  Did she swim with Brad?  I'm trying to look up her profile but the internet is not cooperating.  I need to check the diving schedule to see when Alex Despatie is on.  I don't know if Japan has any divers so I might not even be able to see that.  D:  If he makes it through they should have clips on CBC, but even that isn't working right now.

Edit:  Gave up on CBC because that site is so stupid to navigate and went to the official Beijing Olympics site.  Alexandre Despatie made it to the men's 3m synchro springboard finals!  I thought he was doing 10m platform but he's only doing springboard this time.  He took silver last time in the 3m springboard event but I won't get to see it because Japan sucks at diving so they won't broadcast it.  I'll just have to check the results on Wednesday and see how he did. :3

Kayak
I'll need to watch for kayaking news.  Van Koerverden, make me proud!  I want a repeat performance of Athens.  Although, I don't think those events start until next week?

What the shit is with all these technical issues?  I don't live in China!  Or maybe THAT'S the reason it's not working -- the video feed is from China?  I don't know.  I don't really care, I just want it to work.  CRY.
aide: (Default)
I went to Osaka last weekend for a 5 day trip and it was amazing.  We got back on Thursday morning but I haven't had a chance to sit down and write up a sufficient post about it.  I spent all of Thursday uploading pictures and anotating things but I need to sit down and write a proper entry... tomorrow I'm busy, so maybe on Tuesday.

Until then, you can see my pictures and Justin's pictures

Tonight [info]shourai & company came over and we dressed up in yukata to go to my neighbourhood bon odori taikai!  Obon is one of the main holidays in Japan; its in the middle of August and people pilgrimage back to their ancestral home and pray to the ancestors and Obon dances remember and appreciate their sacrifices. Yuka's mom taught me how to tie an obi properly so it was my first attempt to wear a yukata out in public.  I think it went alright, actually.  Nothing came undone, so that's a good thing.  They came over around 3pm and we got dressed and left around 4.  It was being held at Asahi Higashi Elementary school but the school yard was empty when we got there.  It's an evening event so we went and sand karaoke for a few hours.  There was this bunch of grannys going to karaoke and one of them felt us all up!  She tapped all our boobs... which isn't really weird for me because Asian people don't have boobs and are therefore fascinated with them... but then she was like "Sorry, I'm really drunk" and then kind of tipped over.  XD  I love old people sometimes.  It was hilarious.

After singing we went back to the school and enjoyed the taikai!  It was so fun~  They set up a tiered stage in the middle of the field, on the top level were drummers and musicians, and in the middle were dancers.  There were a few more drummers on the ground and tents around the field selling food and drink and some festival games as well.  There was even a fireworks display.  We saw one of the grannies from karaoke there and some other lady came up to us and complimented our yukata and told us to dance.  We ate and drank a bit before joining in.  It was so fun!  It's a bit tricky at first but you just dance in a circle around the stage and follow the ladies on stage or the person next to/in front of you.  And its all repetative anyway.

It was such a great experience.  I remember going to a bon odori taikai in Singapore with Yoko and some friends but this was so much better.  Kids, parents and grandparents just dancing together, it was a really communal feeling.  I saw a girl from my school too but she was too shy to say hi to me.  And I didn't say hi to her... maybe I should have.  I took some video on my phone, I wonder if it will work.  Please to be sharing photos/videos when you get a chance to upload!




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