きれね！

Osaka Aquarium...dramatic entrance

Fushimi Inari Shrine, a little too much orange for my liking

Making takoyaki, perhaps more enjoyable than eating it (for Meg and Natalie)

Harbor in Kobe

Sorakuen Garden in Kobe

Meg, cable car up Mt. Rokko in Kobe

Natalie, photographing the cherry blossoms on OCC campus

Meg, atop Umeda Sky Building

[more pictures on my photo blog]

Meg and Natalie left yesterday after a crazy and intense, but somewhat rejuvenating, week. I have no idea where to start or what to include (so as not to lose my 2 or 3 faithful readers before the end of the post...). Let's just say it was so good to see them again, not to mention their diamonds. It was also great to be the one NOT taking all the pictures (they made my 400+ seem insignificant). These two girls are the perfect travel buddies...not only were they extremely eager to learn and to adjust, but they were like sponges when it came to observing and recording and analyzing their new environment. Given Meg couldn't quite master her r's or go-za-i-ma-su's and Natalie couldn't watch where she was going while looking through her giant camera lens, they adjusted well. They were excited about every little thing, like railroad tracks and potted plants. Like always, my guests' company and fresh perspective made me more observant and appreciative of where I am.

I am amazed and disappointed at myself for how often I forget that I am living in Japan. How does one forget they live in Japan, you ask? It's surprisingly easy. I become accustomed to not being able to read directions on the back of my food, jumping off the sidewalk when I hear rusty bike brakes squealing behind me, flashing the peace sign at cameras, and standing uncomfortably close to businessmen who reek of alcohol on the subway. I found it refreshing that Meg couldn't pedal straight on the crowded sidewalks or that Natalie took pictures of every single flower we passed (and given the cherry blossoms are blooming...that was often). They reminded me how lucky I am to be experiencing this. Even though it is hard being away from home and friends, how often can someone say they got to live alone on the other side of the world? I get to eat with chopsticks, ride my bike to class, take a subway (I'd never even seen a subway until college), and teach people about my country everyday. A boring day at work here is more unusual than my craziest vacation in America.

So once again, as I do after every visitor departs, I am vowing to appreciate my circumstances - not regret them or become too comfortable. I want to be stretched and tested and surprised and scared. I want to look back on this experience and be able to say that every day was an adventure and a lesson. If I'm going to live alone in a strange city for a year, I might as well have some drama.

Sorry this wasn't exactly the recap you expected. In a nutshell, we ate fried octopus balls and we bathed together in the nude. Who else can say they did that with their friends?

This is for ｹﾘｰﾁｬﾝ

Eri san...self-appointed prom queen, apparently.

hungry girls and kimonos should not mix

1nenseis gave 2nenseis a farewell card and hand towel :)

my temporary identity

Despite how completely immobile I've been since school let out, this past week has offered some adventure. It's a bit lame, but for those of you that insist I update my blog in spite of my circumstances, here goes nothing.

This past week I have been cat-sitting for my neighbors (they are in America for a funeral). It is incredible how much of a difference the presence of ANY life can make in a home. Even though they are too snotty to come near me, they still make me feel not-so-alone. Of course, Patch keeps getting into trouble and recently got trapped behind the microwave, so I am glad they're only here a week.

This week I also attended two graduation parties - an informal gathering for ESS members and the official banquet at a spiffy hotel for all students, faculty, and staff. Both were conducted in Japanese, so I was merely an observer. At the latter, we got to dress up and eat sushi. Most of the students wore a kimono, but a few sported lingerie.

After running home in the pouring rain, I finally shed off my heels to engage in some real Japanese art. Another teacher from OCC treated me to Noh Theater, a traditional performance that includes drums, singing, masks, dancing, and more - depending on the plot. Usually very long, we were lucky to only get a sample performance (I guess even Japanese speakers find it hard to sit through an entire Noh production) and then we went backstage for workshops. I learned (I use this loosely...I mimicked, rather) 3 types of drums, how to lift the curtain properly, how to enter through the curtain properly, how to put on and take off a Noh mask, and how to walk around stage in a mask. Let me tell you, it is no easy task. I chose to wear the mask of a man's ghost (all the masks represent mystical characters...normal human characters do not wear masks). The golden eyes are limited in scope, which sucks if you are already partially blind. I found it incredibly difficult to walk in a straight line and hold my arms just so, and found myself tensing up my body time and time again (just like everyone else who tried it out). When you remove the mask, it's said that you are supposed to feel lighter - like a burden is lifted (because of the nature of the character you are taking on when wearing the mask). I don't know if it was just being able to see again - like taking off sunglasses after a long time - but I definitely felt something lifted.

Later that night, Kelly and her mom showed up exhausted from complicated travel issues. They spent the day together in Nara, and then I got to enjoy them for okonomiyaki and yakisoba at my new favorite diner. They're leaving in the morning :(...but they will return in a week along with 2 of my best friends. Until then, I have a busy week ahead to distract me from waiting. My days of being a couch potato may be over...

one of my house guests, Sandy

Guys and dolls

the art of green tea

"Rie" with her future husband, musicians, and servants

green tea and red bean cakes...mmm

my class (all women, as usual)

So the other day I was sitting around feeling jealous of Jen because she has so many friendships here in Japan. I asked her how she was able to grow so close to students with the language barrier...and how the relationships had lasted so long. For instance, one night while staying here, she was invited over to one of her adult student's houses to experience this month's doll festival and eat chirashi. My adult students hardly speak to me once class time is done. She said that she didn't really do anything - it was really to the credit of a few students who reached out to her.

Well, wouldn't you know it...this past Friday my students wanted to go have lunch together after class. We went to a nearby place and had chirashi (apparently it's popular right now). Afterward, one of the women invited me to come see her doll display (since they're taken down before Girls Day on March 3 or else their daughters will have back luck in their love life). So I got to visit a real Japanese home, see the display and hear firsthand from her 38-year-old, single daughter about the pros and cons of this tradition (ex: these dolls were made by her grandmother as a special gift upon her birth to bring her a good husband and fortune...but, when her mom sets them out every February, she is reminded of how "late" she is).

So I got my wish and I got a chance to realize how lucky I am...sure, my mom has been pressuring me for grandkids since menarche, but in general we only feel pressure from ourselves to get married. Rie (the daughter) said that Japan has a negative view of women - that they must get married to satisfy men (which I knew, but it was nice to hear it from someone who knows what they're talking about). The poor girl doesn't seem to be interested (and she is doing fine on her own...she travels, has a variety of skills, she is bilingual, and she is one of few trained kimono makers). I forget how many rights we have. Seems like we want more and more, so we are constantly looking forward and never looking back to see where we've been.

In conclusion...Japan is rich with tradition, which I envy. But Japan is also rich with societal pressures, which I can do without.