Re: Escaflowne movie questions

>Is it normal for Japanese high school students to go to school on
>Saturday?

Up until this school year it was, for a half-day. Sunday was the only 'free
day' public school students had.>Between those scenes, we see Hitomi standing
in some
>doorway by herself at sundown. Where is she?

This was a "Flashback" scene that was repeated several times, alluding to what
triggered Hitomi's depression.  There were scenes focusing on Hitomi's watch
after she arrives in Gaia, too.  I believe the intended idea was that the
entire story takes just that one Saturday afternoon-Earth/Mystic Moon time.
Clue- note that quite a bit of time passes from her initial arrival on Gaia,
until her waking on the landship(change of scenery), and lighting, yet Hitomi
is not hungry, just thirsty!>Finally, where are Hitomi and Yukari sitting
before Yukari leaves?

>What's that stadium or track or whatever that Folken is sitting in?
>

A sports stadium, separate from the school.  In the TV series, Hitomi was in
love with an older classmate, who was on the male track team of her school. 
She is heartbroken to learn that he is leaving the country before the next big
regional track meet, and feeling guilty, when she belated realized that Yukari
was in love with him too.  Possibly, the flashback is to the scene where Hitomi
realizes these things. "A useless girl who hurts her friends"