Enkai (work party)

Dear Mike,
Next time you're rip roaring drunk on a Monday night and your boss says "shall we have a second party?", politely decline. You will save yourself a lot of Panadol and liver.
Regards,
Sensible.


Dear Sensible,
No.
Regards,
Mike.

As you've probably guessed, last night was my welcome party with the Board of Education staff. They said it was going to be "a bit formal" and that a lot of important people would be there, so I erred on the side of caution and popped on a waistcoat and suit. I needn't have worried really, at least after we had finished the toast and ordered another round of drinks.

It was true - a lot of important people were there - but they were nice as pie. As the night wore on, a couple of them expressed surprise at how fun everyone was, presumably having only seen their firebreathing office persona. The "enkai" is a cornerstone of Japanese society in this way - it's an (almost) no holds barred social pressure valve where everybody can do and say silly things to their higher ups without fear of reprisal. What happens at the enkai stays at the enkai, and everyone shows up the next day as if nothing happened, even if people were dancing on the tables naked (which they thankfully weren't in this case).

It was a touch strained at first, but tongues loosened up pretty quickly and before long everyone was chatting away happily. They made us feel very welcome and wished us well for the year which was very nice of them. Then, everyone abruptly stood up and left. This just turned out to be the intermission, and once I had enthusiastically agreed to the aforementioned second party, we started walking over to a little bar.
"It's very Japanese, I hope that's okay," one warned.
"No problem."
"No, it's VERY Japanese. Even Japanese people think it's too Japanese." I looked at Lisa blankly and she did the same. Fortunately it was really nice - a little hole in the wall with big bottles of beer and giant plates of sashimi. We sat there roaring with laughter and out came more beer bottles. Then the hot sake, then big beer mugs full of hot shochu (Japanese whiskey) mixed with water. Oh dear. It was probably the loudest, silliest Monday night I've ever had and unfortunately I have to get up at 6 on Tuesdays. First period was very subdued.

I'm not sure whether it's Japan itself, just being in a new place or something else entirely, but there's a certain electricity and giddy excitement in the air when we go out that I don't get at home. If going out was always like this, I'd do it all the time. Given that we've got 2 more welcome parties coming up in the next week or 2, I think I'll have the chance to.

I'll try to keep my clothes on when I get up on the table.

edit: I almost forgot the surreal compliment I got at the second party. I have a "nice beard" and a "good neck", apparently. You can't make this sort of stuff up.