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
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
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!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, October 23, 2009
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.
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.
Box Curry
Now in a variety of designer colors
So I mentioned box curry sometime before. It's curry that comes in a box, when you want to eat it, you take it out of the box (it's in a metal bag) and boil it in the bag, then place it on food.
Easy. Inside the bag is curry, potatoes, meat, and carrots. All of it is precooked, and the packet is nonperishable (apparently). For a fast food fix they beat the hell out of TV dinners.
What's the difference
"1" Curry. The mildest curry, it was like beef stew. Good but very lackings, it has excellent uses in bolstering otherwise boring sauces. Having pasta but want more than a jar of tomato sauce of it. Curry "1" will make it into a hearty bolonaise with potatoes.
"2" Curry. Slightly more spicy than 1, this curry begins to still taste like curry, but is in no way spicy. When I made this curry Jessi was pleasantly suprise at the taste and texture of it.
"3" Curry. Three curry actually begins to have the curry taste as well as a bit of the spicy taste asscoiated with curry. For many people I would probably suggest the "3" curry, it's great by itself on rice.
"4" Curry. "4" Curry was my favorite out of the five, it's got a good kick, but it's mild enough so that you can enjoy the flavor. Jessi had this one with me, and agreed that it wasn't so spicy that you couldn't eat it, but was still spicy.
"5" Curry. So at the outset I figured that none of the curry's would reach a level of spicyness that would deter me. After finding "4" so delicious, I figured "5" wouldn't be much hotter. I was suprised, "5" curry is very spicy. I can handle very spicy, but it begins to just taste like black pepper to me after a while. After a few bites, I defrosted some corn and added a bit of butter to it, and it came out just splendid.
When I leave Japan I will severely miss box curry. I think I will just have to make a whole lot of curry from scratch.
-Mack
So I mentioned box curry sometime before. It's curry that comes in a box, when you want to eat it, you take it out of the box (it's in a metal bag) and boil it in the bag, then place it on food.
Easy. Inside the bag is curry, potatoes, meat, and carrots. All of it is precooked, and the packet is nonperishable (apparently). For a fast food fix they beat the hell out of TV dinners.
What's the difference
"1" Curry. The mildest curry, it was like beef stew. Good but very lackings, it has excellent uses in bolstering otherwise boring sauces. Having pasta but want more than a jar of tomato sauce of it. Curry "1" will make it into a hearty bolonaise with potatoes.
"2" Curry. Slightly more spicy than 1, this curry begins to still taste like curry, but is in no way spicy. When I made this curry Jessi was pleasantly suprise at the taste and texture of it.
"3" Curry. Three curry actually begins to have the curry taste as well as a bit of the spicy taste asscoiated with curry. For many people I would probably suggest the "3" curry, it's great by itself on rice.
"4" Curry. "4" Curry was my favorite out of the five, it's got a good kick, but it's mild enough so that you can enjoy the flavor. Jessi had this one with me, and agreed that it wasn't so spicy that you couldn't eat it, but was still spicy.
"5" Curry. So at the outset I figured that none of the curry's would reach a level of spicyness that would deter me. After finding "4" so delicious, I figured "5" wouldn't be much hotter. I was suprised, "5" curry is very spicy. I can handle very spicy, but it begins to just taste like black pepper to me after a while. After a few bites, I defrosted some corn and added a bit of butter to it, and it came out just splendid.
When I leave Japan I will severely miss box curry. I think I will just have to make a whole lot of curry from scratch.
-Mack
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Juggling in Japan
I've currently taught one international student how to juggle, and put three more on the path of juggling. Once taught these students have gone on to try and teach other students. If I were here for a year I'd start a club.
And now for something completely different
Currency in Japan
So a noticible difference between the American and the Japanese Currency Manufacturing Bodies is that the Japanese make no Cents.
The exchange rate rougly translates to 100 yen to 1 dollar. Honestly from a practical perspective this kind of makes sense. It's simpler. Why have two systems of currency dollars and cents when a dollar is really only 100 cents. It's semantics of course, but Jessi an I have been coping fairly well with the difference. The main difficulty comes up when we see bigger numbers when talking about something in class. 100,000 yen does not immeadiatly translate in my brain. 100 yen is a dollar, 10,000 yen is 100 dollars. Etc Etc. Fortunately I'm not doing a huge amount of business in Japan. Though at one point I nearly withdrew 3,000 dollars worth of yen instead of 300 dollar worth of yen (Thank goodness for "Are you sure" statements.
The biggest problem I've encountered with the Japanese currency system though it with coins. In Japan they use dollar coins, which I find pretty bad. This isn't so much unique to Japan, because the Europeans have dollar coins, and even 2 dollar coins. However what I find most horrifying is the 5 dollar coin,
and I'll explain why in a moment.
People who know me, may have noticed that I tend to lose things. I tend to lose important things, with absolutely no recollection of where or when I may have lost them. They're in my hand one moment and the next they've disappeared into the aether. Reverse Kleptomania I think is a good term for it, and I firmly believe it's possible for me to misplace something that was tied to me.
That being said distilling money into small metal circles doesn't quite work for me. In America if I manage to dump the contents of my pocket into a car seat without noticing, I may lose a buck fifty at the maximum in coins. If I keep my coins in a purse, and I keep the purse filled with quarters, I could lose 5 dollars on a very good day for myself.
In Japan, however, every time I pull my camera from my pocket theres a chance I could lose 3 dollars in coins and not even notice. When I get my change back from buying something, it's very likely for me to drop a dollar on the counter and forget it. My change purse (I don't use one in America, but they are necessary in Japan) is worth about 20 dollars on a good day, and I can fit about 40 dollars into it. Can you imagine having 40 dollars in a purse that's not much bigger than a match box.
It can be conveniant, sure, and for most people it's probably a pretty cool idea. But for those of you who know me well enough, you wouldn't be suprised if I managed to lose 50 dollars worth of coins in my time here in Japan. There've been no problems yet, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and knock on wood that I can keep my marbles altother for the duration of this trip.
So a noticible difference between the American and the Japanese Currency Manufacturing Bodies is that the Japanese make no Cents.
The exchange rate rougly translates to 100 yen to 1 dollar. Honestly from a practical perspective this kind of makes sense. It's simpler. Why have two systems of currency dollars and cents when a dollar is really only 100 cents. It's semantics of course, but Jessi an I have been coping fairly well with the difference. The main difficulty comes up when we see bigger numbers when talking about something in class. 100,000 yen does not immeadiatly translate in my brain. 100 yen is a dollar, 10,000 yen is 100 dollars. Etc Etc. Fortunately I'm not doing a huge amount of business in Japan. Though at one point I nearly withdrew 3,000 dollars worth of yen instead of 300 dollar worth of yen (Thank goodness for "Are you sure" statements.
The biggest problem I've encountered with the Japanese currency system though it with coins. In Japan they use dollar coins, which I find pretty bad. This isn't so much unique to Japan, because the Europeans have dollar coins, and even 2 dollar coins. However what I find most horrifying is the 5 dollar coin,
and I'll explain why in a moment.People who know me, may have noticed that I tend to lose things. I tend to lose important things, with absolutely no recollection of where or when I may have lost them. They're in my hand one moment and the next they've disappeared into the aether. Reverse Kleptomania I think is a good term for it, and I firmly believe it's possible for me to misplace something that was tied to me.
That being said distilling money into small metal circles doesn't quite work for me. In America if I manage to dump the contents of my pocket into a car seat without noticing, I may lose a buck fifty at the maximum in coins. If I keep my coins in a purse, and I keep the purse filled with quarters, I could lose 5 dollars on a very good day for myself.
In Japan, however, every time I pull my camera from my pocket theres a chance I could lose 3 dollars in coins and not even notice. When I get my change back from buying something, it's very likely for me to drop a dollar on the counter and forget it. My change purse (I don't use one in America, but they are necessary in Japan) is worth about 20 dollars on a good day, and I can fit about 40 dollars into it. Can you imagine having 40 dollars in a purse that's not much bigger than a match box.
It can be conveniant, sure, and for most people it's probably a pretty cool idea. But for those of you who know me well enough, you wouldn't be suprised if I managed to lose 50 dollars worth of coins in my time here in Japan. There've been no problems yet, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and knock on wood that I can keep my marbles altother for the duration of this trip.
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