Cross-country means we crossed a border?

We're into our second year of having a middle schooler at CAJ. That means that we're into our second year of out-of-school hours inter-school sport. Our eldest son is a restless chap. Since he was very young he's needed to get out of the house and get his energy out (yes, this is a boy-thing, but having had other boys, his need to move has often been higher). So, the opportunity for him to be involved in school sport is very welcome.

But as I noted in this post earlier this year, inter-school sport in an American-type school is quite different from our Australian experiences. For starters, they do more training and everything is extra-curricular. Hence, meets are after school or on Saturdays.

On Saturday we went to the first cross-country meet. It is held on an American Military recreation base. Therefore our passport numbers and identification were required to enter. It was well worth the early start (6.50 leaving), drive through Tokyo traffic and the security check. Actually we're pretty jealous. These facilities are lovely and you can camp there too . . . presumably if you are American and with the military!

Top of "Gut Hill".

Anyway, it was like a day-camp. We set up our camping chairs in this lovely level clearing in the midst of forest and watched the kids run. Oh, we did do a bit of exercise ourselves. When the middle school boys were running (this is another difference, they aren't classified according to age, only middle school or high school), we walked along the gravel road to the top of "Gut Hill" as the cross-country runners nickname it and cheered on the kids as they climbed this amazing hill at a run (most of them). It is about 300m long and I wouldn't like to guess its gradient, except that I'd not like to drive or ride down it!

It is a beautiful setting to go and watch inter-school sport, if the weather is favourable. Thankfully it wasn't raining, but it was pretty hot and humid. This is only a relatively small piece of hill-country. It is hard to imagine when you are in the middle of it that there are big roads and buildings near-by, for it is surrounded by Tokyo.

One attraction for the foreigners, especially the Americans, is the little shop. It sells American stuff, particularly food. This holds less interest for us, for actually much of it is more foreign to us than Japanese treats now! 

The funny thing is using the restroom at the shop. The shop is actually in the entrance to a small fancy hotel. When I went to use their toilets, I couldn't reach the hook on the back of the door to put my bag on. So I figured I really had left Japan and made a short visit to America without even hopping on an aeroplane!

If we choose, we can go back there next Saturday. Despite the early start and the long drive home (going there is okay because it is early, but later it is a bit tedious), I think I might just go and set up my chair and take a good book.