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