Supply Corps Ball

So I've gotten behind again on my posting. Sorry about that. The last weekend in March was the Supply Corps Ball. Since I've been here, I've discovered that the Navy likes to have balls. They're basically prom for adults. There's a ton of them. My theory is that this is because the guys are gone so often, that they have to have 200 a year to give them a chance to appear at one. Luckily, Zack was home for the ball sponsored by the Supply guys, so we got to get all dressed up and go.

The Supply Corps Ball, like every ball in this area, was held at the Harbor View (the only upscalish restaurant on base). It began with a cocktail hour, followed by speeches by various people about how wonderful supply types are. (And I don't mean that jokingly. They really are super important to the Navy.) This was followed by an excellent dinner of either chicken, pork, fish or beef depending on what you ordered ahead of time. (Zack got us the chicken.) The featured entertainment for the night was a high school taiko drum group. Taiko drumming is a traditional Japanese version of a drum line performance and this group was really incredible:

They were as good as any professional group in the States in our opinion. This was followed by some very traditional toasts with Sake. The important folks at the ball cracked open a barrel and we toasted to everyone important to the Navy in both Japan and the US starting with the Emperor and working our way down. We drank from wooden cups and wore these lovely headbands that were provided:

Once everyone was sufficently liquored up, we were all reminded that drinking and driving is a terrible idea and that the taxis would be happy to take us home. Then the dancing began. It was the first time I ever saw anyone in a kimono do the electric slide. Highly entertaining:

So a good evening was had by all. I'll get more up to date on the posting here pretty soon, I promise.