From: chriskern99@gmail.com   
      
   On Sat, 18 Nov 2006 11:51:51 -0500, Phoenix    
   posted the following:   
      
   >This episode gave a really interesting perspective on after-school   
   >activities in Japan. All the girls are very enthusiastic about joining   
   >the various clubs.   
      
   One thing that may not have been clear from the episode is the way   
   that extracurriculars are exclusive in Japan.  Generally, you are   
   expected/encouraged to join only one club, and remain in that club for   
   your entire middle school and high school time (the senshi did not   
   apparently do clubs in middle school but that's somewhat unusual   
   except perhaps for juku-obsessed Ami).   
      
   The club essentially defines your identity at the school -- you tend   
   to hang out only with people from that club, and the connections you   
   make there can follow you for your entire life (although college is   
   much better for that).  Even if it's a seasonal thing like soccer, you   
   will remain in the club and still do activities in the off-season.   
      
   -Chris   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)