Tomarrow and the next day

Screaming towards the finish line

So tomarrow is our last day, we ship out the day after early in the morning. There's so much to cover I'm simply going to have to wait until after I get home to post it all. However, we are safe, everything's under control, we are home sick, we are stressed, and it's going to be quite the reprieve to get on that airplane and know that we managed to get through Japan without any catastrophies.

There's so much stuff that couldn't make it up on the blog, and probably wont, but if you are interested I'd be glad to recount the stories and share the pictures and videos with anyone interested enough to sit through something like that.

I think I've only got one post left (probably) and it'll be a recounting of the entire trip and impressions as well as some of the stuff that I've missed but is too important to not throw up here. Overall I've taken about 20 Gigabytes of pictures and video of this trip. An amount I believe that lives up to my dad's suggested strategy of "take three steps and then take a picture".

I want to thank all of you for giving me a solid reason to keep this blog going as prolifically as I have, the written record of it all will be an excellent help when I start trying to sort my pictures and realize I've given none of them names and I'll look at them and not know what they're of.

Next post will likely be coming from Stateside.

さよなら、　日本

-Mack
-マック

It's Snowing

Winter

So three days ago it started snowing



and it kept snowing



and it's still snowing . . .




We're looking at about a foot of snow in 3 days, and it doesn't show signs of letting up anytime soon. The snow, however,is white and fluffy and awesome!


-Mack

Juggling in Japan 2: Otedama

The Entertainer
In my time here in Japan Jessi and I have performed for an audience about 4 times. I've performed a solo act for an audience twice, and have spent a good deal of time doing little tricks here and there for elementary school. As I've talked to a even greater number of people about Juggling, I've heard otedama come up more and more.

When I visited my host family for the first time, I brought my juggling balls to show them. After I showed them a little bit of juggling, my host mom brought out a bunch of otedama that she had made from kimono fabric. They were absolutely gorgeous, and not filled nearly so much as a western juggling ball, so they make a bunch of noise when you use them. She knew a little otedama, but hadn't done it since she was a little girl.

When I met Hiroko my host sister recently, my host mom made me a set of otedama made of kimono silk. They're bright orange and filled with azuki beans. The stitch on them is actually quite amazing. They are really well made.

It wasn't until we went to Jessi's host family house that we were really schooled in Otedama culture. When I showed her host parents the otedama that my host mom had made me, Jessi's host mom was really excited and nostalgic. She hadn't done it much since she was a little girl, but she got the balls flying nonetheless after a little bit of practice.

Otedama looks like what everyone expects juggling to look like, it's the circle pattern. Toss high ones over with one hand, and make small quick passes with the other hand. Looks just like when Bugs bunny shows off juggling. They also do two with one hand. The interesting thing is, that there are songs associated with otedama, which is why the balls make so much noise; it's to keep the beat of the song.

"Don don pan pan, don don pan. don don pan pan, don pan pan. dodopan dodopan don pan pan"

This was the chorus that her mom had us learn. It was an Akita folk song, and it's incredible to think that we were able to learn it.


-Mack

My Dorm Room 3 Months Later

Its self explanitory.


Swine Flu update: Still not sick, seveal people released from quarantine who weren't actually sick. Doesn't look like they'll close the school.

Swine Flu and Final Weeks

Winding Down

December is upon us, which means only 17 more days of Japan. My feelings are mixed. There is still a lot left to do here in Japan, but as we approach the end of the semmester final projects and tests are begginging to bind my hands. There's a sense of constant urgency among everyone who is leaving, and it's stressful.

I plan to see the ocean again before I go, and I want to make some daytrips by train to see the cities and towns around Akita. I also want to spend a good deal of time playing arcade games. Those things feel very doable within the time frame, and I think if I accomplish them I should be able to leave Japan feeling satisfied. The full experiance of Japan has truly been something I'll remember the rest of my life. Even if I don't manage to really do much in these final weeks it'll have been a truly incredible experiance.


Also . . .
As far as plans for these couple weeks go, the decisions may be made for me. So far 50ish kids have been quarantened for swine flu (or the likelihood of swine flu). No one should worry though, the ony reason swine flu's been in the news is because there isn't much of a vaccine for it, not because it is particularly terrible. I've met a few people that had it a while before they came to AIU and it pales in comparrison to the regular flu.

As far as quarantene goes, if they find out you've been closely associated with someone who has Swine flu, you're quantened for 3 days in a special quarantene room. If after that they find out you have swine flu, you're quanatened for another week. Thing is the capacity for sick people isn't very large on campus, so there's talk that if too many people catch it, they'll shut down the school. Possibly even quaratene the entire campus and just keep the virus from spreading. I'll keep you guys updated.




(A journey through our trip to Kyoto will happen, untill it does here's the raw video)
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAuthorM#p/u/20/5bvSv8u7Dzo

Jasso Scholarship

Luck is a Lady with a Sack full of Money

It's possible that people who know me wont be suprised by this. I've been known to be a very lucky person at times. Right-place-right-time, what-are-the-chances-of-that, couldn't-do-that-again-if-I-tried sort of stuff. I don't expect it, and it certainly doesn't mean that I don't put all my effort into what I do anyway. However, it's nice when things tend to work themselves out. To quote my Uncle, "I'd rather be lucky that good anyday."

So about 5 days ago, I received an e-mail from the office, not anymore detailed than "someone cancelled their scholarship, you've been nominated for a Jasso, come to the office so I can explain". I thought to myself, "awesome, but I'm leaving Japan in less than a month."

A few of my friends here at AIU have Jasso scholarships. From what I'd heard they have a pretty hefty monthly stipend asscociated with them. However, like I said, I only have something like 3 weeks left in Japan. While I'm not going to refuse a months worth of scholarship, I figured that it was more likely that they'd simply missed that fact in the paper work, I'd tell them I was leaving, and they'd apologize and give the scholarship to someone who is here for a full year.

Apparently that is not the case. I went to the office to get the whole situation clarified. A slim Japanese guy with pretty good English informed me that I was more than nominated, I was selected for the Jasso and would be receiving the scholarship. Not just for this month, but the Japanese Government was going to retroactivly fund my entire trip to Japan, at $800 a month for 5 months, with an additional $800 scholaship on top. The man asked me for my bank information so that they could transfer close to $5,000 dollars into my account.

Flabergasted is a good word, because suprised simply wont do. The best I could do was ask "wha?". Most often Jasso scholarships are awarded either before you come to Japan or in your first month of being here. However, one girl that had received her scholarship before coming to Japan had cancelled her trip. Which left an open scholarship open for someone else. Apparently I was nominated for that scholarship, and now, 3 months later, the paperwork is just beggining to finish up. Why me? A writing major who has as much bussiness in Japan as he would in any other country? Apparently it came down to grades, my 3.7 at Ithaca impressed someone I guess.

So on December 11th, 11 days before I leave Japan, five thousand dollars will drop out of the sky onto my head. If you don't include room and board at AIU (which is cheaper than Ithaca) I have spent roughly five thousand dollars in Japan (including Air Fare). Which would mean that (if I didn't plan to go out and buy lots of shiny things with this money) I came to Japan for a semester for free.

Course it's not like I intended to come to Japan for free, so this means that everyone's souvenirs got a whole lot better. Additionally just because I got lucky doesn't mean I'll slack off. If anything it's taught me that hard work in school does actually pay off. Though, like my uncle says, "I'd rather be lucky than good anyday."

-Mack

Return!

We're safe back in Akita, pictures and video to come

Safe in the Osaka Hostel

Jessi, myself, and our friend are safe and sound in Osaka.

Our journey was long,
our bags were heavy,
our tummies our empty,
our wallets are lighter,

but we are safe, we have shelter, and will sleep very well tonight.


-Mack

A Trip to Kyoto and Osaka

With very brief planning and time in Japan running out, Jessi and I found ourselves with few chances left to see the South. I`ll let her explain the how and why, but for now we are on our way to Kyoto.

As in right now. Our bullet train leaves at 7:00 tomorrow, which provided a problem. There is no transportation to Akita from AIU so early in the morning. Our solution is elegant and simple. I write this blog from an Internet cafe in Akita city, where we each have a tiny tiny room rented for 6 hours. Enough to sleep and make the train with plenty of time to spare.

I say internet cafe because it is the only english equivalent. I type this from a closed wall cubicle, next to all the free drinks I can down, surrounded by a library of manga. A literal library of manga, comics, and magazines. Food is available, and so is internet access. All this for about $15. We couldnt rent a cab for less than this.

Pictures will be forthcoming, but it is late and we begin the long part of our adventure tomarrow.

Akita City

From the reconstructed Guard Tower
of the ruins of a castle on a hill
we see the city of Akita
laid out before us



Also it is windy and cold.

The Last / Best Bit of our Happy Halloween

Halfway through November and I'm still trying to wrap up Halloween


From last we left our Heroes, they had left the party at the AIU student center. Mack had doubts in his heart about how they would manage to get to Round One. It was already close to 10:00 at night, and there were those that planned to leave Round 1 by 2:00 AM.

The proposed mode of transportation was bus, train, and walking. Would we get to round 1 before 11:00? Would 3 hours at this fabled land of adventure be enough to merit the journey? Mack quelled his fears and followed his friends, for he knew that Jessi at least knew something he didn't, but it was a blind trust that Mack was unaccoustomed too.

The bus driver might have been confused as maybe 10 foreigners in costumes boarded his vehicle. If he was, he didn't show it. Several Japanese people on the train gave quick hurried looks at the kid in the black mask and cape, and at the student in a rabbit suit and tie. The streets of Akita City were nearly empty as a strange procession wandered down the quieter residential area's alongside a river. Like Alice, once upon a time, we followed a rabbit who seemed to know where he was going.

Lo and Behold we arrived at Round 1 with no problem at all. We bought our tickets and gathered around a table before festivities began. In fact we paused for a while, I was about to ask why we hadn't run screaming into the fun, when Sarah, the scottish girl interrupted me.

"Now that we're all here, me and Elle have a song we would like to sing, if you know the words I'd like you all to sing along." A traditional U.K. halloween ballad? A song to celebrate a successful bit of travel? Maybe something to remind us we were in Japan?

Nope, the song was none of those things, and as dense as I am I wondered who they were singing to when they started singing "Happy Birthday". Jessi came out from behind everyone with a cake for me, and candles. The most amazing cake I had ever seen.

A Totoro Birthday cake just for me. Now imagin how silly I felt for all the doubt that I had. I felt like I was being dragged around as an acessory to some Halloween venture that may not have worked out, when in reality it was a suprise Birthday Party for me. I can scarcely remember a time where I have felt more honored than when a group of new friends decided to suprise me with cake and a party. It was an incredible feeling, and the cake was delicious. Jessi and elle had been working on it all day, and the completed creation was a true taste treat. I was overwhelmed and the night was only just begininng. EDIT: Jessi would like to note that she is completely aware that the cake was pretty freaky looking. But given that its creation included an oven fire, and constant declarations of "As long as it's edible...", I think it turned out alright. Also, the whiskers are Pocky!

Round 1 is filled to the brim with all sorts of fun and excitement, and just past the entrance is a mechanical bull.




It wasn't working. . . but you can't tell that from the pictures.

They had a huge section devoted to Chuck-E-Cheese style playgrounds. With sections that were just filled with ballons.


My favorite area though was a kind of arena filled with NERF balls and air powered machines and guns. You pick up a ball from the floor, shove it into an opening, and it comes rocketing out of some other section of the arena. There are also two rows of guns set up facing each other for NERF style cannonade combat.

I really got into it.



Following our battle from the NERF stadium we went through the tubes and slidess of the Chuck-e-Chees style jungle gym. Till we came to the ball pit. Fun of prehistoric proportions.





Edit: Jessi would like to note that she loves her egg :)



The pictures are pretty self explanitory, except for how heavy those dinosaurs were. The were soft, but if they had been filled with sand I wouldn't have been suprised. I managed to lob one across the central bouncy area and it knock Jessi clean off her feet and into the ball pit. Safely, of course. It was incredibly tireing, so afterwards we required a break.



At Round 1 they have strategically placed massage chairs. Sarah remarked that they felt like they were filled with touchy little gnomes. Which was mildly terrifying.



After the brief rest, I was ready to strap on some roller blade and go to town. the sort of music they were playing felt very much like the sort of music that they played at roller rinks back when I was around twelve. Off beat bublle gum pop knock-offs and occaisonal 70's 80's hits. I felt a little unsteady with wheel strapped to my feet, but it didn't take me long to remember the basics. Edit: Jessi would like to note that she did not know Mack could rollerblade, and stood on the sidelines wonderfully impressed! She herself did not and cannot roller-anything.






After skating we came to the Arcade. There is an arcade that you can pay per play on the first floor of Round 1, but after you get onto the "wristband level" they have free play arcades. We spend a good 2 hours in there.


Elle and Dan played this racing game, where your speed was determined by how fast you could hop. the man in Bunny suit refused to play.


By now we had certainly passed the 2:00AM mark, but I had left my watch in my bag, and refused to pay attention to the time. I think everyone had a similar philosophy because noone made moves to leave. We we're having to much fun.

I even played a little tennis against the computer, to the laughter of everyone around me.





We ended the night with some karoke, exhausted, weak, our voices cracking. We called it quits about 6:00AM, grabbed a taxi, and made our way back home. An incredible day, one that taught me a valuable lesson, that I can trust my friends, that sometimes I don't need to have my hand in everything. Not to say I wont be proactive when it's required, but that I don't need to be at all times.

The Next Day

All of Round 1 happened the night of the 30th and the morning of the 31'st. For my actual birthday, Jessi and I went to a nice dinner, just the two of us.




We drank sake to celebrate my 21'st birthday, and ate abundantly. I was truly satisfied, it had been an amazing day, and when we returned there was a halloween party with Yatose, I was excited about. Tired but excited.

When we got off the bus however, Yatose was waiting for us. And they had some sort of cake. And they started singing Happy Birthday. Another complete suprise, the Halloween Party was a small gathering for my Birthday. The leader of Yatose baked a cheesecake into a pumpkin for me.



Yagi, Fuyonake, and Juunko


We laughed and disscussed Halloween Traditions, and I was wished a happy birthday until I was red in the face. They were great friends to have done this for me. Again I was honored and amazed that people would do this for me.

Afterward Jessi and I curled up together in a warm blanket and watched anime, ate milano cookies, and drank Sangria untill we both passed out. Edit: Jessi would like to make one last not that we did not pass out because we were drunk >_> Rather, because it was about 4 AM before we really considered going to bed.


To everyone involved with my Birthday, a million thanks. And to everyone who sent me well wishes through e-mail, facebook, cards, thoughts, and prayers, I thank you too. It was an icredible day that I will never forget.

Heating and a Reasonable Conclusion

Differing Personalities

So I had at one point decided to not write any entries about my roommate, because these blogs being moderately public I did not want to make myself a gossip. Additionally, I try to adhere to the policy that if you have nothing good to say about a person, say nothing at all. I have some good things to say about him, but additional bad things to say about him, so perhaps the adage can give me some leway.

My roommate is a fellow name Artjiom, a Russian who goes to school in Germany. He is friendly, and pursues friendship in an unassuming way. He and I, however, are not the best of friends. He thinks very highly of himself, and I find that very abrasive.

The Hurdle

As winter approaches, the temperature has dropped a few degrees. Not enough for me to really want to crank the heater yet, but it is cool out. Artjiom appears to be freezing, and requires the room to be hot enough for him to walk around in his boxers. He has said himself that he is a terrible Russian for the cold, especially since the Californian is faring much better than he.

I have no problem with the heat, as long as it is done in a smart manner, and as long as it doesn't run up the electric bill. In Global Village we pay for our electricity ourselves. I try my best to be slow to anger, but I was frustrated as Artjiom's usage of the heater became wasterful. The heat was left on while noone was in the room, the heat was turned up to 30 degrees celsious, and he would leave the window open. I don't mind him using the heat, but I would prefer not to heat an empty room, a sauna, or the whole of bloody Akita out the window.

Rising tension from registration problems back at Ithaca made for tension I could feel in my shoulders. Struggle was my first reaction, anger and hate the second reaction, finnally I decided to resolve the issue.

A Proposal

Arjiom has come to Japan funded by the German Government, if he had a room to himself he could heat it ten ways till tuesday. Sharing a room, means sharing a bill, and I don't appreciate spending money on heat the way he does. Both of us our legitimate on our philosphies on how to heat the room, so I came up with a compromise.

In October our power bill was $43, and that was reasonable. I'm willing to pay half of that because I believe that October was a fair shake in terms of mutual power usage. Therefore, if our bill for November is $43 I'll have no problem. If it's any more, I'll pay half of $43 and he'll pay the rest. In return he gets to play with the thermostat to his heart's content. We shook on this agreement, we'll see how it turns out. Honestly I'm glad we came to a conclusion, because it's tough to live with someone with whom you constantly struggle over some menial task. We'll see if this agreement lasts come bill day.

Up next the rest and best of the Halloween story.

A Happy Halloween is not, without Michael Jackson

Thriller

When I heard the intro music I knew it was truly Halloween.

Happy Halloween

The Halloween Party in Pictures

On our last post you saw what Jessi's and my costumes looked like, our friends were likewise attired. At our school we saw a good many people in awesome costumes. As we prepared for the party we showed off our costumes.

We found Waldo


But our Gilligan and Marianne couldn't find the Skipper.


Ondene played a puesdo-medieval fantasy pirate rogue very well.

Once at the party we found a great many more interesting costumes.





And met up with our friend Dan who was dressed as an emo kid. Aw emo kid why so sad?

Our Can Can girls tried to cheer him up, which was hilariously ironic.


The Queen of hearts made a guest appearance







These guys did an awesome job as gummi bears

And far from her native land was Vegemite Girl


There was a great deal of performances including an awesome redition of Aqua's "Barbie Girl", pictured below "Ken"


Black board girl led the gummi bears in an awesome J-Pop Song

There was a lot more to the party, but my camera batteries were low. I great time was had by all. Especially when we found this big carved pumpkin, not having carved ones ourselves.



Before we left the party to go to Round One, we met up with some of our Japanese friends, who were awesomely dressed. It's good to have strong friends on the other side of the language barrier.


More to come.

-Mack

Snow

The Weather Outside is Frightful

It snowed today, and hailed, and rained. It was waves of wintery mix, though it never came down all at once. It refused to stick to the ground, but was really coming down for a while.

So much for Fall.

Happy Halloween

After the movie and lunch Jessi returned to her costume making and I to my room. I desperately needed a shave and had forgotten to get to it before going to see the elementary school children. Though where I had thought facial hair would frighten then a little, they actually seem fascinated by it. My beard has received a fair share of tugs since coming to Japan.

I may not have mentioned this, but there is no electrical outlet in my bathroom, and I use an electric razor, shaving therefore is a task for a hand mirror and a plastic bag while on the floor. Still it is a simple pleasure I enjoy.

I dawdled in my room until dinner time where everyone was to meet, and after dinner ducked into an empty room to change into my Halloween outfit. A super hero costume of my own design, complete with a 80's sentai scarf seeing as it is Japan. I hid a small speaker up my sleeve and hid the control for it in my glove, and thus had my own theme music which was on a loop of "I Need a Hero", "Kryptonite", and "Thriller".



As I waited for Jessi, I noticed a damsel in distress, a girl was frustrated at a dull eyeliner pencil. "If only someone had a pencil sharpener". Being a writer major, I natuarally had one in my bag and was able to save the day. It wasn't long before Jessi arrived, and her Can Can girl outfits really knocked everyone's socks off.


Truly outstanding costumes, complete with garters.



The entirety of the campus seemed done up in awesome costumes, which you'll see next time on . . . my blog.

-Mack

Happy Halloween

Halloween descended upon AIU on October 30th this year. My roomate left on a trip to Tokyo, and my beautiful girlfriend had class Friday morning, and I was left alone in my room to sleep in, as I have Friday's off. Alone in my thoughts I pondered how the day would proceed, how the following days would proceed. I had no engagements untill noon, where Jessi, myself, and a group of exchange students would go to a local elementary school to explain Halloween to the little kids. We'd return in time to watch Porco Rosso in my Manga Mania class, one of my favorite Miyazaki films. Later, there was a Halloween Party to attend followed by a wishy-washy conglomeration of plans.

It was going to be a good weekend. The 31st is my Birthday, and Halloween. Jessi was up to something so I decided to go with the flow. Whatever was going to happen would be a suprise though, I felt a little left in the dark, but trusted to let things play out according to other people's plans.

As I got into my costume perhaps I overly brooded on this feeling that thing might collapse without my intervention, but going to the elementary school melted those brooding feelings away.

The group was given bags of candy and we followed the Principal around the school. Our leision from AIU would explain some parts of Halloween to the kids. Mostly that you go up to strangers, say "Trick or Treat" and they will give you candy. So we each had some candy and would go up to the kids. Some would yell "Trick or Treat", while others were so afraid they barely murmoured. It was adorable. I was dress as a super hero, and Jessi was in her witches outfit. I had also brought my juggling balls, and when our liason would prompt me I would put on a little show for the kids. There were 6 grades in all. After we had gone to every classroom and given out candy, the principle gave us each two huge Akita apples. Honestly given a choice between the apples and candy I'd go with the apples, I made apple fritters a while ago and they were delicious. I have delicious plans for those apples. As we waved good bye to the kids they leapt onto their unicycles and showed off in the gym, because the Japanese government says that every elementary school child should be able to ride a unicycle, apparently.

We returned to AIU in plenty of time for the movie, however Jessi had work to do, work that I needn't necessarily worry about she told me. I watched the first hour of Miyazaki's sea plane story piece and marvalled at it potency. Jessi came to my side as we watched the daring escape of Porco through canals in Milan, I could tell that she had been hard at work, I was curious, and I would continue to be curious for the rest of the weekend.

You'll see why soon.

Note Pad

To ensure I don't forget anything I need to make a few notes. A lot has been going on these past couple of days and I just need to free form the ideas. This will be coming up later. Also looking at the number this should by blog entry #68 not bad for 65 days in Japan, definately not a post a day, nor consistant length, but Jessi and I both are pretty proud of what we've been able to share with you guys. Thanks for reading!


Coming Soon
host family, road trip, plane otaku, homemade sushi, so much mochi flour, vegetables, a mountain of vegetables, people just handing them to me, ranch near chokai, fresh milk, ice cream, CHEESE SUKIYAKI, full kitchen, Halloween coming up, halloween costumes, sharing customs, little children, trick or treater's, Japanese conversation friend, Chess rules, zazen? no wait did that, new chair, new pillow, halloween party, arcade trick, manga soko, new clothes, did I mention costuming, roomate is going away for the weekend, bills to be made, plans to be made, a good book, tests and mid terms, Porko Rosso, procrastination and Miyazaki movies. All this and more, on upcoming blog posts, plus pictures and videos.


-Mack

Adventure to the "Other" (University)

Alert the authorities, Jessi is making a blog post.  But please, don't panic.  Mack is still alive, I swear.

Today I had one of my longest adventures "sans Mack".  While he was off doing who-knows-what with his host family (I don't know because he's not back yet), I travelled to Akita City for Akita University's school festival.

AU (not AIU) is the regular, Japanese university for Akita.  I don't even know if they have international students, but it would not surprise me if the number is few to none.  For those Ithacan readers out there, the comparison between AIU and Akita University is like that of Ithaca College and Cornell.  Bigger campus, developed campus, more crowded, better funding.

Anyways, I was to perform with my choir, as well as AIU's Yatose club.  So 10:00AM on this Sunday morning, I packed up my tambourine, saw Mack off to his own adventure, and hopped on the bus to the train station with my fellow choir members.

When we got to the station, we still had about 30 minutes until the train came.  I passed the time running through our songs in my head, while occasionally helping out some of the Japanese girls with reading English.  Apparently a group of them had a major test coming up based on a reading comprehension book, not unlike one we used in AP English classes.  As the single non-Japanese member of choir, I become the go-to person for English pronunciation and definitions.

One train ride to Akita city later, and the group splits up for lunch and shopping before we head to the festival.  After much deliberation (partially caused by my limited cash on hand), I am lead by a group into an alleyway and to an off-the-beaten-path restaurant.  I'm learning that in Japan, these are the best kinds...

In the resturaunt the six of us sit down (on the floor!) at a table and we get right down to ordering (by we, I of course mean them.  I merely supplied helpful phrases like "I don't eat fish." and "Yes, I like shrimp/cheese/etc" when asked).  

What we got was a bowl of stuff: cabbages, meats, veggies, and an egg.  Time to make okonomiyaki!!!  

Okonomiyaki is a food from Osaka (!!!!!) sometimes known as Japanese pizza.  But really it's nothing like pizza.  I'd actually say it's closer to a latke, but anyways...  I saw it on "No Reservations" once (Thank you Mom and Dad...), so I was really excited to try it!

As it was my first time, I was given the "honor" of mixing the ingredients, then dumping the resulting goop onto a hot iron grill built into the center of our table.  After a while, the other girls again gave me the honor of "flipping" the pizza, like a pancake.  They got a kick out of it when it preceded to fall apart on landing impact.

Anyways, what resulted was a horrifying looking, absolutely delicious fried mash-up of goodness, not unlike what you see below.  

We had a total of 4: regular(?), tofu, cheese, and shrimp, between the six of us.  I will definitely have to go to this place again, with someone who can read the menu...

Finally, the festival.

The choir performance went well.  The stage and the crowd were small.  We weren't on the main stage (if there was one, I'm not sure) like at the AIU festival.  But we got through all our songs and the crowd seemed to enjoy it.  I didn't screw up too bad on the tambourine, or my solo for that matter.  Yup, I had a solo.  (Apparently I had to leave the country to get one, but it was bound to happen if you sing long enough.)  I was very nervous, but it was short and I knew it well.  So all was well.

Sadly, I didn't realize the choir performance and Yatose performance overlapped in times until I got to the festival.  So I didn't get to perform with our Yatose group.  But there was a "free dance" period later on, where all the Yatose groups danced together.

This was likely the highlight of my day.  Over a hundred people of all ages, little girls to obaa-sans (grandmothers), men and women, a rainbow of colored costumes.  All dancing the same dance, for the pure joy and energy of dancing.  I was really excited when the first "free dance" was the same dance our group usually performs, so I was able to join right in.  The second dance, called "Power dance!" I didn't know, but I did my best to keep up.  Then, everyone was having so much fun, we did the first dance again!  I may have been the only foreigner in the dance, but I think I held my own. :)

All in all, an awesome day.  It was long, and terrifying being without Mack or someone to translate for me all the time.  But I think I will sleep well tonight and dream of dancing.  Dokai dokai dokaisho!

ZaZen

Darkness Falls
This evening I participated in a ZaZen meditation workshop. Before getting to the workshop I slowly discovered that there would be no transportation to this place. I knew where it was, about a 30 minute walk from campus. Normally this would not be so bad, but by 5:30 it was as dark as Midnight out. Jessi went out to dinner with her Tea Ceremony group, so I was a little apprehensive about walking 30 minutes in the dark without street lights to a place I kinda knew about alone.

I was considering not going, when I met an equally confused student, and as a team we decided to forge through the dark wildernesse, just for the heck of it.

I'm late for a very important date

We ended up getting to the workshop about 20 minutes late, so we missed pretty much all of the explanation of what the significance of ZaZen is, how ZaZen is different from normal Zen, and good practices for meditation. The two of us came in, pretty much when the master was saying "Let's begin".

So we went from being lost and confused, and not at all sure if we were in the right place, to sitting in a tatami mat room staying perfectly still and meditating. We followed everyone else movements. I managed to hold a basic lotus position for 20 minutes, which felt kind of good. As we meditated the sensei paced around the room with a stick. The stick's purpose was not menacing I found out. After about 15 minutes I began to slouch a little, and I suddenly found that stick against my back, with friendly hands pulling my shoulders upwards, thus aiding my posture.

Afterwards there was tea, sweets, and some arts and crafts. It actually felt very much like a church in atmosphere simply with different traditions and teachings, but it was still a community. I was glad I managed to go, and passing through the shadow of night was quite worth it.

Happo Cho

Last Weekend I visited the city of Happo Cho, AIU has set up a program to go an visit schools in the area to introduce their students to foreign visitors. I went with 6 others to visit an elementary school. The program only accepted a certain number of students into the program, and I got in but Jessi did not. On the way back to her though I bought cake, and all was well.

In this program, the students came to us. There were 6 of us foreign students and we sat in chairs inside this gym, and the Japanese elementary students came to us.



There were three "classes", where 1-2 students came, then 3-4, and finally 5-6. The all lined up in front of us, and they all brought their own chairs from classrooms. We introduced ourselves and the teachers led us on towards repeating some english phrases for the students. Which was followed by a kind of game.




We played Fruits Basket which is kind of like musical chairs. Everyone gets assigned a word of some sort, and is gathered 'round in a circle with chairs. There's enough chairs for everyone except for one person, who has to go into the center. That person calls out a word, and everyone who has that word has to move to a different seat. If you call "Fruits Basket" everyone has to change.


Also they had unicycles . . .



At lunch time us college students were seperated and had lunch with the kids. This was a great experiance. I had some conversations with the kids, and they dragged me all over the school to show me stuff. I couldn't always understand them but they were very talkative.

As the dragged me around, they showed me their stilts. . .


The group of girls who were using the stilts, gathered altogether and as I was trying to figure out how to use the stilts they would ask me a question every now and again. The asked me if I had a girlfriend, and when I said yes, they applauded. Wasn't quite sure how to take that . . .


These kids I spend some time with after lunch, during "reading time". Instead of reading I taught them basic juggling. I had brought my balls with me, and when I had made my self introduction I did a bit of juggling for the class. The kids really got into it, and many got the basic concept, pretty good but one kid nearly had it in under 15 minutes. I love teaching kids how to juggle.


It was sad to leave them, but on the way back to the university there was a beautiful sunset. I hope that I will have a chance to see those kids again, but even if I don't I hope I was able to have a positive impact on their lives.