Culture

This year Colleen's school moved its Culture Day from Fall to Summer so we got to experience a third dose of culture via teen eyes. Colleen & "five pretty girls" (actual program description) made chocolate pudding that was a smashing success. I helped out a little, but mostly only in the providing jokes department.

"Are all Americans handsome?"
"No. Only me."

That one literally had the girl on the floor. I didn't even think it was that funny. I wasn't the only one making bad jokes though. Two teachers did a stand-up routine that had the kids laughing both with and at them. There was a band, some intense hip-hop (complete with English swearing - and i mean a lot of it - that apparently none of the higher-ups recognized) and the usual Culture items: model castle made of beer cans, giant Ultraman diorama.

The highlight for me had to be when one of the girls introduced herself as Kumi Shiflet, saying it was her real Japanese name. I was so shocked I didn't know how to respond. One half of my brain knew that was completely impossible, but she nailed the pronunciation so perfectly (not a Japanized Shi-fu-re-to) I almost believed her. Apparently the joke had been worked out the night before while making pudding. They really got me. I wish I could have seen the look on my face.


Putting the cream on the pudding, strawberries to follow


Mosaic of Japanese boxing celeb (and fraudulent champ) Koki Kameda


Just like "8 Mile"