An home now, this was written from Narita Airport and the plane:
At my gate at Narita Airport waiting for the flight. Today we were the first at Naha Airport, so I checked in and then helped translate for the other YFU students. The translation was very fun; in fact some students thought I was a YFU helper/volunteer as oppose to an exchange student. A group of high school students who had come to see off their friends asked me of I was a resident of Okinawa! It was very fun. However, while I was doing that I realized how many exchange students had no idea how to travel, have everything in various places, have the wrong priorities in terms of baggage safety and other stuff such as shopping, etc. I am really glad I have travelled so much and with such experienced travelers, and I am pretty sure the airport people were happy too!
BTW after arriving in Narita today I noticed for the first time complete silence in a transportation vehicle (my roommate and I were talking and suddenly we realized we were the only ones talking; now that I think of it maybe the monorail was also silent and Otousan and I were the only ones talking, but I didn't notice it then.). Also I noticed for the first time everyone standing on one side of the escalator, I mean they have that in America also but they had told us about it in our orientation, so...BTW in Tokyo they allow you to and it is normal to take a cart on an escalator (like stair escalator.). I don't have wifi here so I will probably upload this at Dallas or SFO.
BTW I ate the Obento Okaasan has very kindly made for me on the flight to Tokyo and it was delicious. The flight to Dallas (about 45 minutes from landing) actually had decent vegetarian food dinner was Indian, rice with a paneer sabzi (though I am pretty sure it was tofu) and a tomato sabzi, naan, salad, and a sweet. The second meal was so-so, sandwitches, and the last meal was actually quite good, cold pesto/cheese/vegetable pasta.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Tues July 24
Today was a great day! In the morning we went to the airport to help out with the nine YFU students leaving today. I actually had a very good time, because I helped with translation between the YFU volunteers and the students -- there were a lot of problems in terms of weight of bags and what some kids had packed to take back, so I ended up being very useful. Then we went up and waited till half an hour before boarding before the kids went through security (there was separate security per gate so that was fine) and then the YFU volunteers and I had a glass of coffee (I had mango juice) and talked. Afterwards, Okaasan and Otousan took me to a very nice Japanese restaurant where I had Soba, salad, tenpura, etc. then we returned home, and I packed.
After a couple of Hours Otousan and I went to a museum exhibit by Ohno Katsuhiko, who lost his hands in an accident some years ago and now paints paintings with very deep (but sometimes depressing) messages on them with his robotic hands. It was very very nice. I could not read the majority of it so Otousan translated for me. After that, we returned home, and I finished packing.
Ok, goodnight! 24+ hours of travel tomorrow/day after!
After a couple of Hours Otousan and I went to a museum exhibit by Ohno Katsuhiko, who lost his hands in an accident some years ago and now paints paintings with very deep (but sometimes depressing) messages on them with his robotic hands. It was very very nice. I could not read the majority of it so Otousan translated for me. After that, we returned home, and I finished packing.
Ok, goodnight! 24+ hours of travel tomorrow/day after!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday July 23
Today was a great day! So, in the morning I got picked up by my old Host Family, and we went to the Imperial Hotel in Okinawa, where the current king had once stayed. We ate lunch at a fabulous buffet where they also had a lot of vegetarian food, such as Tenpura, Salad, rice and Ume, a Japanese plum, etc. anyway, then we went to an Ikebana, or the Japanese art of Flower-Arranging, exhibit in the hotel which was amazing. It was very coincidental, because I had done a report in Geography last year about Ikebana, and in fact I had wanted to see some in Japan but had forgotten. Anyway, it was beautiful, the way they very skillfully placed various flowers and stems together to achieve a very beautiful paradisiacal look. It was interesting how many different approaches there were in the exhibition -- some flower arrangements focused on matching colors or colors that work well together, others focused more on the shape, orientation, and curvatures of the stems to give various different impressions, others seemed to try to mimic nature, with a lake-theme, a swamp-theme, and evergreen forest then, etc. and it was amazing that everything, down to the size, shape, and color of the pot was chosen to perfectly complement and balance the piece. It was truly beautiful!
Anyway, after that we came home and I played Go with my old Otousan on the largest, 19x19, Go Board. It was actually very very fun!!! In the first game, where I had an advantage of 6, I ended up losing 70 territories to 10 (roughly), but then we played again where I had an advantage of 9, and I won 60-50. I definitely felt I was playing better and understood it wat more the second game (I had a better grip and understanding of the game) but I also think 9 may have been too much, similar to how, both the times I played with Otousan and Okaasan on the 9x9 board with a 5 piece advantage I won. I think the magic with those numbers is that you not only get the corners but also the center, which gives you influence all over the board and also the ability to connect pieces. Anyway, I am really beginning to get the hang of and like Go!
After that Okaasan taught me how to make the very unique and cool Japanese sponge I had seen. It was interesting that while it was mainly a knitting pattern, it also employed some crocheting. I had never really knitted before but I was able to pick it up really fast. I finished the sponge I started today but I think I may have messed up a bit at the bottom. I will try it again at home, but even if those pattern does not work for a sponge it is a great pattern for a hat!
Then we came home, had an impromptu piano/singing session with my host sister and nieces (it was funny because the same somgs I was singing in English, such as Do Re Mi and Silent Night, they were singing in Japanese.). Then we celebrated Okaasan's birthday, which was very nice, and now I am about to go to sleep.
BTW I think Shintoism, or at least the way Okinawans honor their ancestors, resembles Hinduism in many ways. They have a small shrine in their house for their ancestors, and today, since it was Okaasan's birthday, they lit incense that smelled very much like Agar Batti in the shrine (I was very surprised in the morning when I woke up to the smell of Agar Batti) and rang bells and prayed. I really felt there were some resemblances to Hinduism.
Anyway, goodnight!
Anyway, after that we came home and I played Go with my old Otousan on the largest, 19x19, Go Board. It was actually very very fun!!! In the first game, where I had an advantage of 6, I ended up losing 70 territories to 10 (roughly), but then we played again where I had an advantage of 9, and I won 60-50. I definitely felt I was playing better and understood it wat more the second game (I had a better grip and understanding of the game) but I also think 9 may have been too much, similar to how, both the times I played with Otousan and Okaasan on the 9x9 board with a 5 piece advantage I won. I think the magic with those numbers is that you not only get the corners but also the center, which gives you influence all over the board and also the ability to connect pieces. Anyway, I am really beginning to get the hang of and like Go!
After that Okaasan taught me how to make the very unique and cool Japanese sponge I had seen. It was interesting that while it was mainly a knitting pattern, it also employed some crocheting. I had never really knitted before but I was able to pick it up really fast. I finished the sponge I started today but I think I may have messed up a bit at the bottom. I will try it again at home, but even if those pattern does not work for a sponge it is a great pattern for a hat!
Then we came home, had an impromptu piano/singing session with my host sister and nieces (it was funny because the same somgs I was singing in English, such as Do Re Mi and Silent Night, they were singing in Japanese.). Then we celebrated Okaasan's birthday, which was very nice, and now I am about to go to sleep.
BTW I think Shintoism, or at least the way Okinawans honor their ancestors, resembles Hinduism in many ways. They have a small shrine in their house for their ancestors, and today, since it was Okaasan's birthday, they lit incense that smelled very much like Agar Batti in the shrine (I was very surprised in the morning when I woke up to the smell of Agar Batti) and rang bells and prayed. I really felt there were some resemblances to Hinduism.
Anyway, goodnight!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Sun July 22
Today was a great day! So, in the morning I went with Okaasan to Church which was very nice, and then we headed to a hotel for my farewell party (it was heals in the banquet hall of a restaurant inside the hotel, similar to Dadda's graduation party but on a smaller scale. There were 16 people overall I think from both host families, and after eating the fabulous meal (they had little vegetarian variety do Otousan ordered a special order for me again) we went around the table and people gave short speeches of farewell and their memories with me, and then I also gave a short farewell and thank you speech. It was all very very nice. Afterwards, we came home, and I had eaten so much I just collapsed on the bed and took around a two hour nap. Then I got up, and the rest of the evening was pretty normal; we talked watch TV, read, ate, etc.
So yeah I am going to sleep now, so goodnight!
So yeah I am going to sleep now, so goodnight!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Sat June 21
Today was a very exciting day! So, today after lunch Otousan and I played a game of Go on a larger board, 13x13, then since Okaasan came home Otousan and Okaasan played on the largest board, 19x19, so I could see their strategies, the I played with Otousan again and then we left for a museum. The museum was actually inside the US military base land, but the person who owned it was very rich so bought it back -- it was the site of his ancestral home and tombs. The museum was very nice, with art by budding artists not yet "discovered" as well as large multi-panel paintings with various scenes from World War 2. There was also a balcony which gave a fabulous view of the city as well as the military base (it was honestly a bunch of trees, nothing like what one sees in movies; Okaasan said on the weekdays there are a lot of helicopters and such.). But leading up to the balcony/terrace there were two sets of stairs, one with 6 stairs and the second with 23. That represents June 23, the end of the Battle of Okinawa, Memorial Day, and the summer solstice in Japan (I am really losing my English Okaasan and Otousan asked me what the longest day of the year was in English and while I knew what they meant I had forgotten the word!). Anyway, I also saw how close the military base is to civilian house -- literally ten feet away! It is like having a military base in your backyard! And given all the helicopters and such, the noise must be awful! (So far in Okinawa I have heard two military helicopters fly overhead and they were deafening, I cannot imagine how bad it would be when they are landing!)
Anyway, after that Okaasan and I went shopping to Kokusai Street one last time. It was truly very fun, I got great discounts thanks to her (though it's funny how in all the other countries in the world to bargain you state what you will give them and are very pushy; in Japan you merely ask them very nicely.). And it was also funny how much prices for the same items varied in different stores. One store would be selling a shirt for 5000 yen, and another the same shirt for 2000!
Anyway after that, we came home, had dinner, and Okaasan and I played Go until now, and I am definitely learning some very good strategies. I think Go, being one of the simplest yet at the same time most complex and open-ended games ever, requires one to play with an expert to truly appreciate it. I had played with a friend before in California, but 1) He got the rules slightly wrong, and 2) neither of us really knew the game so it seemed like there was no point to it or skill involved.
BTW I have not posted pix for a long time so these and pictures of the tenpura I made (batter, frying, and fried), the cookies I made before they were baked, and this morning Okaasan had made pancakes, and since I couldn't find maple syrup and no one was home I ate it with Nani's jam, do a pix of that!
Anyway, that's all I think, goodnight!
Anyway, after that Okaasan and I went shopping to Kokusai Street one last time. It was truly very fun, I got great discounts thanks to her (though it's funny how in all the other countries in the world to bargain you state what you will give them and are very pushy; in Japan you merely ask them very nicely.). And it was also funny how much prices for the same items varied in different stores. One store would be selling a shirt for 5000 yen, and another the same shirt for 2000!
Anyway after that, we came home, had dinner, and Okaasan and I played Go until now, and I am definitely learning some very good strategies. I think Go, being one of the simplest yet at the same time most complex and open-ended games ever, requires one to play with an expert to truly appreciate it. I had played with a friend before in California, but 1) He got the rules slightly wrong, and 2) neither of us really knew the game so it seemed like there was no point to it or skill involved.
BTW I have not posted pix for a long time so these and pictures of the tenpura I made (batter, frying, and fried), the cookies I made before they were baked, and this morning Okaasan had made pancakes, and since I couldn't find maple syrup and no one was home I ate it with Nani's jam, do a pix of that!
Anyway, that's all I think, goodnight!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Fri July 20
So, yesterday (it is past midnight here) was truly an amazing day! So, I took my cookies and walked to school. When I got there, I found, on my desk, the Kumi shirt I had asked the class leader if there was any way I could get. Zeroth Period was English, in which I asked the English Teacher to sign my shirt. Then during the 15 minute break before home room I told everyone it was my last day, and asked them to sign my shirt and a picture of the class on the first day, which I passed around. I then gave them the cookies, which they loved. At first I asked them just to take one (or actually, they politely only took one,) and then since there were leftovers and they LOVED them I said they could take seconds if the want, and almost everyone in the class raised their hands and I didn't want to have to choose so I left the box in the front of the classroom and they all ran up and finished the cookies in about five seconds. Anyway, first period was math, followed by World History where we learned about the Mughal Empire, Islam and Hinduism, the Taj Mahal, etc., and Japanese. Lunch was a pretty normal lunch, and after lunch we had English again, but since the Sensei had a meeting she had given us a worksheet to do. Then it was time for my speech. So, first went some of the teachers, discussing mainly safety over summer vacation (it's funny how concerned they are about safety in one of the safest places in the world,) then the ALT's (Assistant Language Teachers,) who were going back to their countries, and then the two exchange students. On the request of the other exchange student, I went second. And honestly, I would say the speech went very well, I got quite a few laughs, actually a lot of laughs, and after the speech everyone was very impressed with my Japanese and surprised I had only studied it for two years. And the best part is it came straight from my heart.
After the assembly we had a Long Homeroom, in which our Honeroom Teacher very kindly showed us all the pix of the Taikusai (Undoukai, Sports Day) he had taken (he has a tablet and connects it to the TV, even during class.). Then, I had to give a goodbye speech to the Kumi on the spot, and I had not prepared anything, didn't want to repeat stuff, and couldn't get my thought together and into Japanese fast enough. Anyway, I would say I started very strong, with a memory from the first day, and then withered down. After that, our class leader gave a good-bye speech for me, and then we all took pictures! It was a wonderful day, and I honestly really loved it.
I also realized today the importance of naming specifics when thanking people. Initially in my speech I had briefly mentioned Track, but when I was typing it up at home yesterday I really though I should thank them more, because I really loved running with them. So, I added about half a paragraph about it (which actually got the most laughs, because I recounted a pretty funny Track and Field experience.). Anyway, after the speech one of my friends who is also in Track had been so touched by my talking and thanking Track that she gifted me a self-made fan, in Shoudo, about Track! In addition, initially I had only briefly mentioned the Taikusai, but Okaasan suggested I lengthen that section, so Kokusai as a whole would really feel they helped me enjoy myself. (And they were honestly my true feelings, so it was completely fine.). Anyway, after hearing that my homeroom Sensei very graciously gifted me a USB of all the pictures he had taken at the Taikusai, which was more than amazing because they were only pictures of people from our Kumi. It was truly great!
So I really had a wonderful day! After dinner I practiced Go! Again with Okaasan and best her the second game, but with a 5-piece advantage. We will keep playing tomorrow.
Okay that is all for today, I had a fabulous day and really wish I were not leaving, Goodnight!
After the assembly we had a Long Homeroom, in which our Honeroom Teacher very kindly showed us all the pix of the Taikusai (Undoukai, Sports Day) he had taken (he has a tablet and connects it to the TV, even during class.). Then, I had to give a goodbye speech to the Kumi on the spot, and I had not prepared anything, didn't want to repeat stuff, and couldn't get my thought together and into Japanese fast enough. Anyway, I would say I started very strong, with a memory from the first day, and then withered down. After that, our class leader gave a good-bye speech for me, and then we all took pictures! It was a wonderful day, and I honestly really loved it.
I also realized today the importance of naming specifics when thanking people. Initially in my speech I had briefly mentioned Track, but when I was typing it up at home yesterday I really though I should thank them more, because I really loved running with them. So, I added about half a paragraph about it (which actually got the most laughs, because I recounted a pretty funny Track and Field experience.). Anyway, after the speech one of my friends who is also in Track had been so touched by my talking and thanking Track that she gifted me a self-made fan, in Shoudo, about Track! In addition, initially I had only briefly mentioned the Taikusai, but Okaasan suggested I lengthen that section, so Kokusai as a whole would really feel they helped me enjoy myself. (And they were honestly my true feelings, so it was completely fine.). Anyway, after hearing that my homeroom Sensei very graciously gifted me a USB of all the pictures he had taken at the Taikusai, which was more than amazing because they were only pictures of people from our Kumi. It was truly great!
So I really had a wonderful day! After dinner I practiced Go! Again with Okaasan and best her the second game, but with a 5-piece advantage. We will keep playing tomorrow.
Okay that is all for today, I had a fabulous day and really wish I were not leaving, Goodnight!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Thurs July 19
Tomorrow is a huge day! So, I found out this morning that I would have to make a speech in front of the whole school, in a pre-summer-break assembly. So, at first I was surprised and nervous but I wrote a speech that I would say came together really well and I had my friends check it and later my host parents, and I would say it is very strong now. And it truly comes from my heart. I types it up but made a few edits on paper after that, so I will change it on the computer sometime tomorrow to post on the blog, in case anyone is interesting in a good laugh Google Translating it :) the real translation will have to wait until after I come back -- I am planning to request my home room teacher to take a video of the speech.
Then, I also found out today that tomorrow would be my last day of school, not Tuesday like I thought. So it was really good I had planned all my goodbye's in advance -- I have already nicely presented teacher's gifts and taken them to school, taken San Francisco souvenirs to school, and today I baked the Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies (which I realized were sooo easy -- I made them in ten minutes. The only thing that took a long time was the baking because since I was making 50+, for my host families, classmates, and teachers, I had to make many batches. However they also came out very well. While it is sad, I do have all my goodbyes planned for tomorrow and am looking forward to my speech!
Don't even ask me what we did today it has been forgotten in the excitement for tomorrow and anyway I did not participate in much of what the class did today because I was busy writing my speech. But I am very excited for tomorrow, and should probably sleep now. Goodnight!
Oh wait I remember a bit of what we did today (this is about 20 mins later.). We had PE, in which I did tumbling again. We did cartwheels, and such, which I could not do every well and got all B's. But one of the really cool things that was a challenge excessive was a cool foot movement where they jump up and touch both feet together, side to side. Imagine pogo sticking diagonally along a line, side to side, except on your feet. Looked very much like hopping bunnies and was very fun to do. We also had a Vocabulary quiz in which I got a 65/100. Ok I should really sleep now, wish me luck tomorrow. BTW, RIP Rajesh Khanna, I have been mixing you up with a lot of Bollywood actors lately but you acted in my favorite song of all time, Chingari Koi Bhadke!
Then, I also found out today that tomorrow would be my last day of school, not Tuesday like I thought. So it was really good I had planned all my goodbye's in advance -- I have already nicely presented teacher's gifts and taken them to school, taken San Francisco souvenirs to school, and today I baked the Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies (which I realized were sooo easy -- I made them in ten minutes. The only thing that took a long time was the baking because since I was making 50+, for my host families, classmates, and teachers, I had to make many batches. However they also came out very well. While it is sad, I do have all my goodbyes planned for tomorrow and am looking forward to my speech!
Don't even ask me what we did today it has been forgotten in the excitement for tomorrow and anyway I did not participate in much of what the class did today because I was busy writing my speech. But I am very excited for tomorrow, and should probably sleep now. Goodnight!
Oh wait I remember a bit of what we did today (this is about 20 mins later.). We had PE, in which I did tumbling again. We did cartwheels, and such, which I could not do every well and got all B's. But one of the really cool things that was a challenge excessive was a cool foot movement where they jump up and touch both feet together, side to side. Imagine pogo sticking diagonally along a line, side to side, except on your feet. Looked very much like hopping bunnies and was very fun to do. We also had a Vocabulary quiz in which I got a 65/100. Ok I should really sleep now, wish me luck tomorrow. BTW, RIP Rajesh Khanna, I have been mixing you up with a lot of Bollywood actors lately but you acted in my favorite song of all time, Chingari Koi Bhadke!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Wed July 18
Today was a very fun day! In school we had A math test, Health, World History, and English (in which we got our Vocabulary Test back we had taken last week -- I got an 85 which is a drastic improvement from my other Vocab Tests and I think it's pretty good, given most of the points I missed were related to specific English-Japanese translations I didn't have the vocabulary to answer.)
Anyway, after that we had two periods of Computer, but since the teacher wasn't there (there are no substitute teachers here) we had some in-class homework which no one really did. After that, we had Japanese and then cleaning.
Anyway, after that, I went to my old Host Family's house, where I learnt how to make both veggie Tenpura and Sweet Tenpura Desert (it is honestly so easy to make! Amma, when I come back get ready for some frying! (Although I heard from my actual Host Family that it is not the making that is hard, but the cleanup afterwards, which I did not get to participate in Today. Anyway, I also made them Pulyodre, which they loved (though I feel the powder is much tastier than the paste.). Anyway, then I taught the grandchildren English and then went with one of my Host Sister's family to eat ice cream -- this time I tried Okinawan Salt Cookies, which was very good (it was sweet not salty.). Then I came back and now I should really go to sleep. I had really wanted to learn crocheting from Okaasan (actually a slightly different form of knitting, not crocheting) and play Go! with Otousan (he suggested it today, but we did not have time. However, their board is huge -- 19x19, whereas I have only played on 13x13 or 9x9. Oh well, anyway I will probably go back on Sunday for all those things.
Okay, it is late, so goodnight!
Anyway, after that we had two periods of Computer, but since the teacher wasn't there (there are no substitute teachers here) we had some in-class homework which no one really did. After that, we had Japanese and then cleaning.
Anyway, after that, I went to my old Host Family's house, where I learnt how to make both veggie Tenpura and Sweet Tenpura Desert (it is honestly so easy to make! Amma, when I come back get ready for some frying! (Although I heard from my actual Host Family that it is not the making that is hard, but the cleanup afterwards, which I did not get to participate in Today. Anyway, I also made them Pulyodre, which they loved (though I feel the powder is much tastier than the paste.). Anyway, then I taught the grandchildren English and then went with one of my Host Sister's family to eat ice cream -- this time I tried Okinawan Salt Cookies, which was very good (it was sweet not salty.). Then I came back and now I should really go to sleep. I had really wanted to learn crocheting from Okaasan (actually a slightly different form of knitting, not crocheting) and play Go! with Otousan (he suggested it today, but we did not have time. However, their board is huge -- 19x19, whereas I have only played on 13x13 or 9x9. Oh well, anyway I will probably go back on Sunday for all those things.
Okay, it is late, so goodnight!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tues July 17
Today was a regular day. We started with Japanese, then had World History, English and Math. During lunch I brought out the Bhujia I had brought from CA and shared it with everyone. Some loved it, but they all, including me, found it spicy. After lunch we had two periods of Home Economics, during which I almost (or did, I don't know) fall asleep (everyone was exhausted today, being the first day of school after a three day weekend. I literally felt like sleeping in almost every period, and at any one time about a third of the class would have their heads on their desks.)
Anyway, after school I came home and then went to Kumon for about an hour. Yeah, I think that's it, I am going to try to go to bed by 10 tonight, goodnight!
Well actually I started reading Otousan's book and learning more Go! And I started playing by myself and then Okaasan came home so I started playing against her and I can definetely feel myself getting better! Although I did have a 3 piece advantage (it's part of the rules of Go! That the stronger player always has a handicap of some sort.) at the beginning of the game the first game I tied Okaasan and the second game I lost by one point, which I would say is pretty good! There is still a lot to learn but I am loving it!!!
Anyway, after school I came home and then went to Kumon for about an hour. Yeah, I think that's it, I am going to try to go to bed by 10 tonight, goodnight!
Well actually I started reading Otousan's book and learning more Go! And I started playing by myself and then Okaasan came home so I started playing against her and I can definetely feel myself getting better! Although I did have a 3 piece advantage (it's part of the rules of Go! That the stronger player always has a handicap of some sort.) at the beginning of the game the first game I tied Okaasan and the second game I lost by one point, which I would say is pretty good! There is still a lot to learn but I am loving it!!!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Mon July 16
Today was a very fun day out with Otousan! It was a national holiday, the Day of the Sea, so in the morning I went again with Otousan to the Okinawan Prefectural Museum, because it had a new exhibit that looked very interesting and I wanted to see. I had seen the pamphlet of the exhibit, and while I did not understand the Japanese I knew it was about various masks, based on the pictures. The masks seemed very interesting in the pamphlet, which is why I wanted to see it. I had initially thought they were all made by one person, but I realized today they are actually vary old artifacts from various country's national treasuries, brought to the Prefectural Museum for an exhibit.
Anyway, the masks were even more splendid than I expected! They were truly from countries all over the world, including India, Thailand, various prefectures in Japan, Pacific Islands, Congo, Nigeria, America, Canada, Mexico, etc. (It's funny, now, looking back, there were no masks from Europe -- the closest place to Europe was Greenland. And coming to think of it, I have never even heard about cultural masks is Europe; did they even exist?). Anyway, the exhibit was four huge rooms, and must have had way over 100 different masks. I loved noting the various cross-cultural influences in various masks -- for example, the Dragon in the Thai masks definitely resembled Japanese -and/or Chinese dragons, but the gold ornamentation on and around it's face definitely resembled Indian crowns. Such influences and inter-relation (despite castly different times of creation) were visible in all the madks, though I do not know enough about most of the ither cultural arts to determine where specific influences were from.
Also, the range of materials the masks were made out of really surprised me. There was wood and stone, of course, there were also some of metal, and some even of tree bark and/or dried leaves! Also the range of styles of paint, from the shiny glazed paints to much more dull, natural colors.
At the end of the exhibit they had a bunch of various masks drawn my elementary and middle school children, and then they had replicas of some of the masks to try on. I tried them all and took pictures, which you'll get when I come back. It was very fun.
Anyway, after that we also went to the actual museum (in the prefectural museum building there is a regular museum about Okinawa, an art museum, and then various rooms for temporary exhibits,) because last time we were kid of rushed and did not see everything. I learnt a lot about the biology of Okinawa, as well as more about the history of the Ryukan Kingdom, which was very interesting.
Anyway, after that, since the Museum Cafe had no vegetarian food, Otousan and I headed to Naha Main Place, across the street, where we ate amazing Soba and Tenbura. The Soba had Bhindi, Egg, Spinach, Mushrooms, and Seaweed on various sides (and we poured soy sauce in as the liquid base) and I actually had many different kids of Tenpura I had never had before, such as Tenpura of a certain leaf that I still don't know the English name of, and Potato Tenpura. Anyway, after that, since there was a Cinema in the mall Otousan suggested we watch a movie and asked which interesting movies were running now, and I, of course, said Spiderman! (BTW, Avengers doesn't release here till mid August!). So anyway, we went to see Spiderman in English 3 D (English because Otousan can understand English very well, and the English one has Japanese subtitles while the Japanese one didn't have English Subtitles.). Anyway, it was amazing. I don't remember much of the first Spiderman but I am pretty sure it is not a remake of the first one in that in that the story was different (like Peter's life story was the same but I am pretty sure the villain and the conflict and such, the action-plot line, were all different.). Anyway, I really enjoyed it -- I felt the old Peter Parkers did a better job than the new one, but the new Gwen did a better job (is it just me or did she act in either the old spiderman's or the batman's?). But I am pretty sure they are trying to start a whole new series separate from the old one, especially based on the ending which definitely foreshadows a pending sequel! I did not feel the story was lacking in any way, and the 3D was amazing at certain parts (though, like any 3D movie, most of it is just average, there are maybe one or two scenes where it is really good.)
Anyway, after that Otousan and I walked to the Monorail Station and rode it to Otousan's bookstore, where he bought a couple of books. The Monorsil was very very cool, and the Bookstore was HUGE! We then walked back home (again, city vs. suburb; in a city you can walk to a bookstore -- in Fremont even if there were one it would not be walking distance!)
After returning home, we had a fabulous dinner. I had also gotten a mail from one of Otousan and my old Okaasan's sibling, which had a CD and was a belated birthday present. She had sent in a fax about my birthday to a radio station, and they wished me happy birthday in front of the whole of Okinawa (or whoever had been listening to the radio at that time) which was VERY, VERY nice! After that I spent about an hour playing Go! Against myself and reading an English book Otousan had got about Go! -- it is really a very interesting and mind- requiring game! There are so many possible moves and such and being able to see the consequences of the various possibilities requires a lot of skill! And you also must keep the layout of the whole board in mind, and cannot focus only on one area!
Anyway, that's all for tonight. It was a very, very fun day. Goodnight!
Anyway, the masks were even more splendid than I expected! They were truly from countries all over the world, including India, Thailand, various prefectures in Japan, Pacific Islands, Congo, Nigeria, America, Canada, Mexico, etc. (It's funny, now, looking back, there were no masks from Europe -- the closest place to Europe was Greenland. And coming to think of it, I have never even heard about cultural masks is Europe; did they even exist?). Anyway, the exhibit was four huge rooms, and must have had way over 100 different masks. I loved noting the various cross-cultural influences in various masks -- for example, the Dragon in the Thai masks definitely resembled Japanese -and/or Chinese dragons, but the gold ornamentation on and around it's face definitely resembled Indian crowns. Such influences and inter-relation (despite castly different times of creation) were visible in all the madks, though I do not know enough about most of the ither cultural arts to determine where specific influences were from.
Also, the range of materials the masks were made out of really surprised me. There was wood and stone, of course, there were also some of metal, and some even of tree bark and/or dried leaves! Also the range of styles of paint, from the shiny glazed paints to much more dull, natural colors.
At the end of the exhibit they had a bunch of various masks drawn my elementary and middle school children, and then they had replicas of some of the masks to try on. I tried them all and took pictures, which you'll get when I come back. It was very fun.
Anyway, after that we also went to the actual museum (in the prefectural museum building there is a regular museum about Okinawa, an art museum, and then various rooms for temporary exhibits,) because last time we were kid of rushed and did not see everything. I learnt a lot about the biology of Okinawa, as well as more about the history of the Ryukan Kingdom, which was very interesting.
Anyway, after that, since the Museum Cafe had no vegetarian food, Otousan and I headed to Naha Main Place, across the street, where we ate amazing Soba and Tenbura. The Soba had Bhindi, Egg, Spinach, Mushrooms, and Seaweed on various sides (and we poured soy sauce in as the liquid base) and I actually had many different kids of Tenpura I had never had before, such as Tenpura of a certain leaf that I still don't know the English name of, and Potato Tenpura. Anyway, after that, since there was a Cinema in the mall Otousan suggested we watch a movie and asked which interesting movies were running now, and I, of course, said Spiderman! (BTW, Avengers doesn't release here till mid August!). So anyway, we went to see Spiderman in English 3 D (English because Otousan can understand English very well, and the English one has Japanese subtitles while the Japanese one didn't have English Subtitles.). Anyway, it was amazing. I don't remember much of the first Spiderman but I am pretty sure it is not a remake of the first one in that in that the story was different (like Peter's life story was the same but I am pretty sure the villain and the conflict and such, the action-plot line, were all different.). Anyway, I really enjoyed it -- I felt the old Peter Parkers did a better job than the new one, but the new Gwen did a better job (is it just me or did she act in either the old spiderman's or the batman's?). But I am pretty sure they are trying to start a whole new series separate from the old one, especially based on the ending which definitely foreshadows a pending sequel! I did not feel the story was lacking in any way, and the 3D was amazing at certain parts (though, like any 3D movie, most of it is just average, there are maybe one or two scenes where it is really good.)
Anyway, after that Otousan and I walked to the Monorail Station and rode it to Otousan's bookstore, where he bought a couple of books. The Monorsil was very very cool, and the Bookstore was HUGE! We then walked back home (again, city vs. suburb; in a city you can walk to a bookstore -- in Fremont even if there were one it would not be walking distance!)
After returning home, we had a fabulous dinner. I had also gotten a mail from one of Otousan and my old Okaasan's sibling, which had a CD and was a belated birthday present. She had sent in a fax about my birthday to a radio station, and they wished me happy birthday in front of the whole of Okinawa (or whoever had been listening to the radio at that time) which was VERY, VERY nice! After that I spent about an hour playing Go! Against myself and reading an English book Otousan had got about Go! -- it is really a very interesting and mind- requiring game! There are so many possible moves and such and being able to see the consequences of the various possibilities requires a lot of skill! And you also must keep the layout of the whole board in mind, and cannot focus only on one area!
Anyway, that's all for tonight. It was a very, very fun day. Goodnight!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Sun July 15
Before I start the blog for today I would like to classify the anti-American sentiments, which I had mentioned earlier and meant to clarify in yesterday's blog. So, the only negative sentiments regarding America I have seen here are anti American MILITARY sentiments (there is a huge debate going on about whether America should be allowed to have Ospreys, very high-tech war helicopters, at Okinawan bases. Okinawans really do not want it, because even though America guarantees it is safe, it has had a lot of accidents.
So, now onto my day. I went to Church with Okaasan and Otousan this morning, which was very nice. Okaasan was helping to make lunch today do we stayed for that and she made a special vegetarian Udon (I am 99% sure it was Udon, not Soba) for me. Anyway, then I returned home and then headed to McDonalds, where I was meeting my friends to go to Karaoke.
So, probably because in America only Karaoke Bars exist, my vision of Karaoke was (of course not a bar) a large room with a stage and dance lights and people crowded together and a line of people waiting to get on the stage to sing; a similar atmosphere to a rock concert, the event after the Undoukai I had described earlier, and/or a high scho dance. Boy, was I wrong! So, the Karaoke place we went to had about twenty rooms, each a bit smaller than a college dorm room, with a karaoke machine, TV screen, and hand-held touch-screen devices that allowed you to pick songs and such. Since we were ten people, we split up amongst two rooms -- the cost was 550 yen, only $7, per person, and we ended up using the room for 5 hours! And we got unlimited drinks! Anyway, after one of up filled out a form and gave them something valuable, the lady gave us our microphones and glasses for drinks, and we went to our rooms.
BTW, about the unlimited drinks, they had a huge variety! Hot Chocolate, which I drank a lot of, Green Tea, Icees, various Cokes and Sodas, etc. I was amazed that it was all so cheap!
Anyway, over the course I sang all the Japanese songs I knew, and many American songs such as Imagine(VERY popular in Japan -- after my visit to the Peace Memorial I can definitely see why), The Sounds of Silence, Viva La Vida, Rolling In The Deep, etc. I also sang some Japanese songs I had heard before but did not exactly know, together with a friend (unlike what I had though, we were not with a bunch of strangers but in our own room.). It was really really fun, and surprisingly not embarrassing at all! I really loved it!
Anyway, we were switching between both rooms, and suddenly the lady came and told us we were not allowed to do that, and since we had we had to pay for ten people in each room, namely double the price (which was still quite cheap.). Anyway at first we spent a long time discussing (which I did not really understand) and then one of my friends went and argued with the lady since we honestly had no idea and they had not given us a warning or anything...I had really wanted to do that but couldn't because of my limited language skills -- had it been the US though I am pretty sure I would have argued with the lady and probably ended up either walking out or paying the extra price and then never coming back there again. Anywsy, however, he argued with here and finally she agreed to go back to the regular price.
BTW, I was impressed at the various age groups that were in various karaoke rooms (I did not go in, of course, but saw them from the hallways.). There were elderly people, families, and other high school/college kids like us. Apparently on average the Japanese go to Karaoke once a week, according to my friends, but since Kokusai Koukou is apparently a very hard high school they do not go very often.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed myself there and then walked home part-way with a group of friends and part-way by myself, at 8:00, after the sun had set. Even though it was completely safe, I still walked faster than usual and avoided the park I usually go through -- however I was surprised by the number of people out a d about at that time!
Okay, I think that is all for now, goodnight!
So, now onto my day. I went to Church with Okaasan and Otousan this morning, which was very nice. Okaasan was helping to make lunch today do we stayed for that and she made a special vegetarian Udon (I am 99% sure it was Udon, not Soba) for me. Anyway, then I returned home and then headed to McDonalds, where I was meeting my friends to go to Karaoke.
So, probably because in America only Karaoke Bars exist, my vision of Karaoke was (of course not a bar) a large room with a stage and dance lights and people crowded together and a line of people waiting to get on the stage to sing; a similar atmosphere to a rock concert, the event after the Undoukai I had described earlier, and/or a high scho dance. Boy, was I wrong! So, the Karaoke place we went to had about twenty rooms, each a bit smaller than a college dorm room, with a karaoke machine, TV screen, and hand-held touch-screen devices that allowed you to pick songs and such. Since we were ten people, we split up amongst two rooms -- the cost was 550 yen, only $7, per person, and we ended up using the room for 5 hours! And we got unlimited drinks! Anyway, after one of up filled out a form and gave them something valuable, the lady gave us our microphones and glasses for drinks, and we went to our rooms.
BTW, about the unlimited drinks, they had a huge variety! Hot Chocolate, which I drank a lot of, Green Tea, Icees, various Cokes and Sodas, etc. I was amazed that it was all so cheap!
Anyway, over the course I sang all the Japanese songs I knew, and many American songs such as Imagine(VERY popular in Japan -- after my visit to the Peace Memorial I can definitely see why), The Sounds of Silence, Viva La Vida, Rolling In The Deep, etc. I also sang some Japanese songs I had heard before but did not exactly know, together with a friend (unlike what I had though, we were not with a bunch of strangers but in our own room.). It was really really fun, and surprisingly not embarrassing at all! I really loved it!
Anyway, we were switching between both rooms, and suddenly the lady came and told us we were not allowed to do that, and since we had we had to pay for ten people in each room, namely double the price (which was still quite cheap.). Anyway at first we spent a long time discussing (which I did not really understand) and then one of my friends went and argued with the lady since we honestly had no idea and they had not given us a warning or anything...I had really wanted to do that but couldn't because of my limited language skills -- had it been the US though I am pretty sure I would have argued with the lady and probably ended up either walking out or paying the extra price and then never coming back there again. Anywsy, however, he argued with here and finally she agreed to go back to the regular price.
BTW, I was impressed at the various age groups that were in various karaoke rooms (I did not go in, of course, but saw them from the hallways.). There were elderly people, families, and other high school/college kids like us. Apparently on average the Japanese go to Karaoke once a week, according to my friends, but since Kokusai Koukou is apparently a very hard high school they do not go very often.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed myself there and then walked home part-way with a group of friends and part-way by myself, at 8:00, after the sun had set. Even though it was completely safe, I still walked faster than usual and avoided the park I usually go through -- however I was surprised by the number of people out a d about at that time!
Okay, I think that is all for now, goodnight!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Sat July 14th
Today was a jam-packed and very fun day! So, in the morning both Okaasan and Otousan had stuff to do, so at first I was home alone but then my host nieces came over -- we were watching TV and I was crocheting and one of my host nieces was really enthralled by my crocheting so I taught her the crochet basics, which was very fun. After lunch, for which we had Yakisoba (the actual name for what I had called Hakka noodles), sandwiches, and leftovers, Okaasan, Otousan and I left for the 平和祈念公園 (Heiwakinen Memorial Park, literally "Peace Prayer.").
So, on the way I asked Otousan about Japanese license plates, and realized that they give a lot more information about the car than American licenses do! First of all, the number, as oppose to American 7 character license plates, starts with the first Hirangana letter and then a number (at first one digit.). So, the first car registered would be あ1. It goes through 1-9, then to the next Hiragana letter, and once all those are done it goes back to the first letter but this time 2 digits, namely あ11. Anyway, apart from the number each license plate has a color, which signifies the purpose of the vehicle. Green is commercial busses/taxis/trucks, yellow is the average-person's car, and white is a private (I am assuming that mean's company owned) car. On top of that, on the top of the license plate there is the prefecture name, Okinawa, and then a number, which is a ranking of the size and likely other attributes of the car.
So, anyway, the Memorial Park has many parts to it, so we went to the Peace Hall first, and then the museum. So, first of all, the whole Memorial Park is built on top of Hill of Mabuni, the final front of the Battle of Okinawa and also the place from which many Japanese soldiers committed suicide by jumping into the ocean, as oppose to facing American gunfire, capture, and/or torture. And it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, a large, vast, very well-maintained park with trees, grass, and a fabulous view of the ocean (though I did not find out about that until later.)
Anyway, the Peace Hall was very nice; it had many AMAZING works of art dedicated to peace, and in the center of the room had twenty painting by Japanese artist Keiyu Nishimura, many of them centered specifically around certain WW2 events, all expressing a true passion for peace and a desire that none of this gets repeated again. In the center was a huge, 12 m tall statue of a person with his/her hands joined in prayer, representing human peace, despite race, religion, etc. above it were tiny lights representing the cosmos, where all the war's dead rested, and around it were many many various posters, Origami and other forms of art made by schoolchildren representing peace. The statue was made by a 72 year old after he lost two of his sons in the war. It was made out of pure lacquer and took him till he was 90. Oh, and the Peace Hall itself it built as a regular septagon, representing the seven seas, and in such a way that it resembles hands praying.
After that, we went to the museum, which was very very nice. It started in the Ryukan period and went through the history of Okinawa, focusing mainly on WW2 and post-war life. Anyway, one thing I found today was that the Ryukan Empire, in addition to having no army, also had no samurais or any such thing in the past. Except for the monarchy, there were no major class distinctions, and everyone was largely equal. Which astonished me because in the Peace Park, one could definitely feel the Okinawan's (or those who believe in the park) passion for peace, and in the past they had actually participated in a practical expression of peace, aka equality! Anyway, the exhibits were actually very very jarring, and the destruction of WW2 and all the atrocities were unimaginable. During the Battle of Okinawa, many civilians hid in Gama Caves, Stalinists caves all over Okinawa. Well, US soldiers brutally shot flamethrowers through the caves, frying everyone inside. And not just US soldiers, even Japanese soldiers were hugely brutal -- they would kill crying kids on the spot (because civilians and soldiers were intermingled in the chaos of the war) so as not to reveal their presence to US soldiers, and they would kill anyone speaking Okinawan, because they may be spying for the US. It was all very very sad, not the cruelty of any one side, but the destruction caused by the war.
Anyway, after the exhibits, we came out into a very open, large, white, tranquil room with huge windows (actually no walls, only windows practically) showing the beautiful Okinawan sea. And I though "What a better way to end a Peace Museum than a view of tranquil nature!". But that 気持ち (I am sorry, this is one Japanese word that truly describes my feeling and I have no idea how to translate it into English, probably good, satisfied, pleasant feeling) was short lived because Okaasan told me this was the very place people jumped off to commit suicide (and the last view they ever saw.). And that is when I realized the room was so tranquil and peaceful but underlied with the wounds of war -- it made me realize the true depth of the Okinawan's/Japanese desire for peace. The wounds of war may not have healed, and will never heal, but they are channelling the sadness of those wounds into a very positive hope for the world, and there is no better way to represent that than having the most tranquil place in the world (the view was probably the most beautiful and tranquil one I had ever seen) be the same place of all those deaths, murders, suicide, pain, sadness, and loss?
Anyway then we went outside to the actual Memorial, which was rows of monoliths engraved with the names of those who were killed in the Battle of Okinawa, regardless of side or nationality, one whole column is those from Okibawa, separated by village, then next is those from the rest of Japan, separated by prefecture, and the next is those from other countries, separated by country. They also have a separate area where they add names every year of those who died in the war and were finally found, identified, and named by the families. (Not the bodies of course, but the fact that they died in the Battle of Okinawa.)
After that we went to have ice cream. So, today I had Sugar-Cane ice cream (Sugar Cane is one of the largest exports of Okinawa.). I am trying to have as many unique flavors of ice-cream as I can have here -- so far I have had sugar cane, ube, which is a kind of sweet potato grown in water, and shiqwasa, a citrus-type fruit (I think.)
Anyway after that we went to another famous war memorial nearby which was actually two still existent Gama Caves, which were actually turned into hospitals by high school girls and guys caring for the wounded.
Anyway, after that we came home, and then Okaasan and I went to Kokusai Street. Now, initially I had thought I would have been fine on my own, and while I still think I would have and do intend to walk there again by myself later and shop ( because we went in the evening today and a lot of the stores were closing, ) I am glad I went with Okaasan. She had a good eye for cheap stuff and had connections, which gave us even larger discounts. It was, or stall, very nice shopping and a very nice day. Goodnight!
So, on the way I asked Otousan about Japanese license plates, and realized that they give a lot more information about the car than American licenses do! First of all, the number, as oppose to American 7 character license plates, starts with the first Hirangana letter and then a number (at first one digit.). So, the first car registered would be あ1. It goes through 1-9, then to the next Hiragana letter, and once all those are done it goes back to the first letter but this time 2 digits, namely あ11. Anyway, apart from the number each license plate has a color, which signifies the purpose of the vehicle. Green is commercial busses/taxis/trucks, yellow is the average-person's car, and white is a private (I am assuming that mean's company owned) car. On top of that, on the top of the license plate there is the prefecture name, Okinawa, and then a number, which is a ranking of the size and likely other attributes of the car.
So, anyway, the Memorial Park has many parts to it, so we went to the Peace Hall first, and then the museum. So, first of all, the whole Memorial Park is built on top of Hill of Mabuni, the final front of the Battle of Okinawa and also the place from which many Japanese soldiers committed suicide by jumping into the ocean, as oppose to facing American gunfire, capture, and/or torture. And it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, a large, vast, very well-maintained park with trees, grass, and a fabulous view of the ocean (though I did not find out about that until later.)
Anyway, the Peace Hall was very nice; it had many AMAZING works of art dedicated to peace, and in the center of the room had twenty painting by Japanese artist Keiyu Nishimura, many of them centered specifically around certain WW2 events, all expressing a true passion for peace and a desire that none of this gets repeated again. In the center was a huge, 12 m tall statue of a person with his/her hands joined in prayer, representing human peace, despite race, religion, etc. above it were tiny lights representing the cosmos, where all the war's dead rested, and around it were many many various posters, Origami and other forms of art made by schoolchildren representing peace. The statue was made by a 72 year old after he lost two of his sons in the war. It was made out of pure lacquer and took him till he was 90. Oh, and the Peace Hall itself it built as a regular septagon, representing the seven seas, and in such a way that it resembles hands praying.
After that, we went to the museum, which was very very nice. It started in the Ryukan period and went through the history of Okinawa, focusing mainly on WW2 and post-war life. Anyway, one thing I found today was that the Ryukan Empire, in addition to having no army, also had no samurais or any such thing in the past. Except for the monarchy, there were no major class distinctions, and everyone was largely equal. Which astonished me because in the Peace Park, one could definitely feel the Okinawan's (or those who believe in the park) passion for peace, and in the past they had actually participated in a practical expression of peace, aka equality! Anyway, the exhibits were actually very very jarring, and the destruction of WW2 and all the atrocities were unimaginable. During the Battle of Okinawa, many civilians hid in Gama Caves, Stalinists caves all over Okinawa. Well, US soldiers brutally shot flamethrowers through the caves, frying everyone inside. And not just US soldiers, even Japanese soldiers were hugely brutal -- they would kill crying kids on the spot (because civilians and soldiers were intermingled in the chaos of the war) so as not to reveal their presence to US soldiers, and they would kill anyone speaking Okinawan, because they may be spying for the US. It was all very very sad, not the cruelty of any one side, but the destruction caused by the war.
Anyway, after the exhibits, we came out into a very open, large, white, tranquil room with huge windows (actually no walls, only windows practically) showing the beautiful Okinawan sea. And I though "What a better way to end a Peace Museum than a view of tranquil nature!". But that 気持ち (I am sorry, this is one Japanese word that truly describes my feeling and I have no idea how to translate it into English, probably good, satisfied, pleasant feeling) was short lived because Okaasan told me this was the very place people jumped off to commit suicide (and the last view they ever saw.). And that is when I realized the room was so tranquil and peaceful but underlied with the wounds of war -- it made me realize the true depth of the Okinawan's/Japanese desire for peace. The wounds of war may not have healed, and will never heal, but they are channelling the sadness of those wounds into a very positive hope for the world, and there is no better way to represent that than having the most tranquil place in the world (the view was probably the most beautiful and tranquil one I had ever seen) be the same place of all those deaths, murders, suicide, pain, sadness, and loss?
Anyway then we went outside to the actual Memorial, which was rows of monoliths engraved with the names of those who were killed in the Battle of Okinawa, regardless of side or nationality, one whole column is those from Okibawa, separated by village, then next is those from the rest of Japan, separated by prefecture, and the next is those from other countries, separated by country. They also have a separate area where they add names every year of those who died in the war and were finally found, identified, and named by the families. (Not the bodies of course, but the fact that they died in the Battle of Okinawa.)
After that we went to have ice cream. So, today I had Sugar-Cane ice cream (Sugar Cane is one of the largest exports of Okinawa.). I am trying to have as many unique flavors of ice-cream as I can have here -- so far I have had sugar cane, ube, which is a kind of sweet potato grown in water, and shiqwasa, a citrus-type fruit (I think.)
Anyway after that we went to another famous war memorial nearby which was actually two still existent Gama Caves, which were actually turned into hospitals by high school girls and guys caring for the wounded.
Anyway, after that we came home, and then Okaasan and I went to Kokusai Street. Now, initially I had thought I would have been fine on my own, and while I still think I would have and do intend to walk there again by myself later and shop ( because we went in the evening today and a lot of the stores were closing, ) I am glad I went with Okaasan. She had a good eye for cheap stuff and had connections, which gave us even larger discounts. It was, or stall, very nice shopping and a very nice day. Goodnight!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Fri July 13
Today was a very relaxed and fun day! First of all, for whatever reason we only had 50 minute periods (Wednesday's schedule,) so it was shorter than usual. Anyway, zeroth period was English which is always fun. Then we had World History, but since the Teacher was absent today we basically had a free period (theoretically we were supposed to be doing World History Homework.). I brought out my Khakhras and shared them with everyone and they were a huge hit and finished very quickly! After that, we had our Cross-Cultural Understanding class, in which we played the games Human Knot, 2-Word Taboo (you had to trick people into saying yes and/or no), Heads Up Seven Up, and Fruit Basket, which I had played before but never knew the name for. So, that was very fun. Then, we had lunch, and after that we had a long home room (apparently they have one every Friday) but our home room teacher, the world history teacher, was absent to instead we played 人間のバスケット, the exact same thing as Fruit Basket except in Japanese. BTW, in Fruit Basket everyone sits in a circle and one person stands up, and say something, and everyone who that applies to stands up and takes a seat, and the last person standing is in the middle. So, in the Japanese version, in addition to the fact that it was all in Japanese, instead of sitting in chairs we had to pair up (it only works with an odd number of people) and if the pair breaks (AKA if the statement applies to either person in the pair) both people have to find new partners. If someone ended up in the middle three times in a row, people got to ask them questions and they had to answer honestly (like who do you think is the cutest in the class -- I got asked that because at the end we just had an open session of asking questions.). I guess part of this game was like the American Truth or Dare, without the Dare.
Anyway, after that we had two periods to do a mass clean out of the whole room. Everyone changed into their PE clothes, put everything either into their bags or lockers, and piled their bags outside the class. We then took out the doors and moved all the desks out into the hall and piled them up neatly enough that there was a small aisle way to walk (and remember, all kumi's were doing this, not just ours, so it was pretty cramped.). Anyway, after that we kind of inherently spread out, with some people sweeping the floors and others wiping the windows (inside and outside, washing the balcony out with water, cleaning the blackboards, etc. (BTW we also moved out the bookshelf and teachers desk, so the class was literally empty.). I helped with the high up windows, even though even I had to climb onto the ledge to reach them. And boy, were they filthy! The silks were black with cakings of dust! I was surprised it had been cleaned only 6 months ago! (They do this kind of cleaning half way through the year snd at the end of the year.) After that, we got huge buckets with soap and water and started scrubbing the floor with sponges to get all the black dirt streaks out, which was, honestly pretty hard. After than, we all moved out into the narrow hallway while three students waxed the floor. We left the desks out since the wax had to dry, so we will bring them in on Tues (Monday is a holiday, the Day of the Ocean, all over Japan!)
BTW, I was explaining to some kids in my kumi today how in America kids do not do school cleaning except as punishment, and they said, "But cleaning is so fun!". I realized then that not only is cleaning very very fun, but it is such because the kids enjoy it, see it as an opportunity to socialize while working, and, most importantly, take pride in how their class looks! They do not do it because they are for Ed to, but because they want to (I mean they have no choice in doing the cleaning, but they do have a choice in the quality of the cleaning.)
After we had finished cleaning, which took about two hours, I went to Teack again, which was very fun. We had a much easier day today, kind of like a recovery run (which was interesting because they hadn't run at all yesterday.). Basically, we ran (jogged in lines) around the park behind the school for 40 minutes, and then ran two sets of 5 100 meter sprints. It was very fun, and we played a Japanese Game called Shiritori while running, which is a word chain game where you have to make a word starting with the sound the last word ended with, without repeating a word. It was very fun, and I was able to play pretty well! (I only got stumped a few times but the other students gave me hints.). Oh and they were all shocked that the drinking/smoking age in America is 21 (right?) but the driving age is 15.5 in CA :)
So yeah overall it was a great day. When I came home we had a fabulous dinner of a corn-soup sort of thing, regular soup, salad, rice, etc. it was very very yummy!
BTW, about superstitions, I just realized that today is Fri the 13th which Americans would have found unlucky. It was funny because today during our run I picked up a 5 yen coin from the ground, and everyone told me how lucky I was, because a 5 yen coin is great luck (but terrible luck if you step on it.). So yeah, widely different superstitions...
Ok, goodnight!
Anyway, after that we had two periods to do a mass clean out of the whole room. Everyone changed into their PE clothes, put everything either into their bags or lockers, and piled their bags outside the class. We then took out the doors and moved all the desks out into the hall and piled them up neatly enough that there was a small aisle way to walk (and remember, all kumi's were doing this, not just ours, so it was pretty cramped.). Anyway, after that we kind of inherently spread out, with some people sweeping the floors and others wiping the windows (inside and outside, washing the balcony out with water, cleaning the blackboards, etc. (BTW we also moved out the bookshelf and teachers desk, so the class was literally empty.). I helped with the high up windows, even though even I had to climb onto the ledge to reach them. And boy, were they filthy! The silks were black with cakings of dust! I was surprised it had been cleaned only 6 months ago! (They do this kind of cleaning half way through the year snd at the end of the year.) After that, we got huge buckets with soap and water and started scrubbing the floor with sponges to get all the black dirt streaks out, which was, honestly pretty hard. After than, we all moved out into the narrow hallway while three students waxed the floor. We left the desks out since the wax had to dry, so we will bring them in on Tues (Monday is a holiday, the Day of the Ocean, all over Japan!)
BTW, I was explaining to some kids in my kumi today how in America kids do not do school cleaning except as punishment, and they said, "But cleaning is so fun!". I realized then that not only is cleaning very very fun, but it is such because the kids enjoy it, see it as an opportunity to socialize while working, and, most importantly, take pride in how their class looks! They do not do it because they are for Ed to, but because they want to (I mean they have no choice in doing the cleaning, but they do have a choice in the quality of the cleaning.)
After we had finished cleaning, which took about two hours, I went to Teack again, which was very fun. We had a much easier day today, kind of like a recovery run (which was interesting because they hadn't run at all yesterday.). Basically, we ran (jogged in lines) around the park behind the school for 40 minutes, and then ran two sets of 5 100 meter sprints. It was very fun, and we played a Japanese Game called Shiritori while running, which is a word chain game where you have to make a word starting with the sound the last word ended with, without repeating a word. It was very fun, and I was able to play pretty well! (I only got stumped a few times but the other students gave me hints.). Oh and they were all shocked that the drinking/smoking age in America is 21 (right?) but the driving age is 15.5 in CA :)
So yeah overall it was a great day. When I came home we had a fabulous dinner of a corn-soup sort of thing, regular soup, salad, rice, etc. it was very very yummy!
BTW, about superstitions, I just realized that today is Fri the 13th which Americans would have found unlucky. It was funny because today during our run I picked up a 5 yen coin from the ground, and everyone told me how lucky I was, because a 5 yen coin is great luck (but terrible luck if you step on it.). So yeah, widely different superstitions...
Ok, goodnight!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Thurs July 12
Today was a great day! (I have a feeling all my posts are beginning to start with synonymous lines.). So, we had math, Japanese, English, and PE today. In English, we took a school-wide English Vocab competition/test. I think if the teachers grade my translations leniently I will do fine (English to Japanese , Japanese to English were mostly multiple choice) but considering it is a competition I doubt they will.
Anyway, then after the Our 4th Period (we have 0 period, then home room, 1-3 before lunch, 4-6 after lunch, then home room, then cleaning time) we watched another speech contest, this time in English. The speeches were all very interesting. The two I thought were the most powerful did end up winning, though there was one I did not feel was too good but it also ended up winning. I think they are actually looking for different criteria than I would, namely English Speaking confidence, pronunciation and enunciation, etc.
Anyway, after that I came home and went to Kumon, which was pretty tedious but I can definitely feel myself getting better at Japanese.
BTW, in Tumbling we done flips today, only 3/4 which I could do. It is actually a pretty difficult tumbling class.
Oh, and I had gone to the library yesterday after school which was pretty nice (the school library, although on the weekend I had also gone to the prefectural library and the city library.). The school library interestingly enough had many of the same popular teen books as in the US, such as Eragon and Deltora. However, I noticed they were about twice as thick as the American versions. I don't think it's because Japanese uses more words, however, but because their novels tend to have huge margins!
Oh and I don't know if I said this already but every morning the Vice Principal and another staff member are out by the front of the high school greeting kids! I think that it very nice.
And one thing about Japanese culture I can definitely see and feel I have very deeply internalized is Giri, or always giving and receiving gifts (giving thank-you gifts continuously.). I can see it in terms of food, and small gift items, and I honestly really like it. I have also begun giving return-gifts -- you don't actually call them return gifts but they are in appreciation for previous gifts. I really feel that is quite nice.
Ok, goodnight!
Anyway, then after the Our 4th Period (we have 0 period, then home room, 1-3 before lunch, 4-6 after lunch, then home room, then cleaning time) we watched another speech contest, this time in English. The speeches were all very interesting. The two I thought were the most powerful did end up winning, though there was one I did not feel was too good but it also ended up winning. I think they are actually looking for different criteria than I would, namely English Speaking confidence, pronunciation and enunciation, etc.
Anyway, after that I came home and went to Kumon, which was pretty tedious but I can definitely feel myself getting better at Japanese.
BTW, in Tumbling we done flips today, only 3/4 which I could do. It is actually a pretty difficult tumbling class.
Oh, and I had gone to the library yesterday after school which was pretty nice (the school library, although on the weekend I had also gone to the prefectural library and the city library.). The school library interestingly enough had many of the same popular teen books as in the US, such as Eragon and Deltora. However, I noticed they were about twice as thick as the American versions. I don't think it's because Japanese uses more words, however, but because their novels tend to have huge margins!
Oh and I don't know if I said this already but every morning the Vice Principal and another staff member are out by the front of the high school greeting kids! I think that it very nice.
And one thing about Japanese culture I can definitely see and feel I have very deeply internalized is Giri, or always giving and receiving gifts (giving thank-you gifts continuously.). I can see it in terms of food, and small gift items, and I honestly really like it. I have also begun giving return-gifts -- you don't actually call them return gifts but they are in appreciation for previous gifts. I really feel that is quite nice.
Ok, goodnight!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Wed June 11
Today was truly an amazing day! School was normal, we had Math, English, Japanese, Health, and Computer (which I use to read BBC World News and get caught up on events.). In health we did a strange test to see our alcohol tolerance for the future -- we took cotton balls with rubbing alcohol and taped them to our arms for seven minutes. If your skin became red, you had a weak tolerance. I am not sure if it is s legit test, but my skin remained unchanged, which means I have a high tolerance level...
Anyway, after school I went to my old Host Family's house to teach my Host Mother how I had crocheted the Hot Pads (both styles) and to learn from her how to do a lot of the cool Japanese crocheted works I have seen (BTW, the Japanese mostly crochet, not knit. Even their two-needle work is done with long crochet needles. But they also do a lot of needlework with their fingers, which I realized skimming through the books Okaasan had borrowed from the library.). Anyway, Okaasan didn't know how to crochet the unique Japanese stuff yet, so we are going to meet again next week in Wednesday, which is very convenient because my New Host Family is busy every Wednesday, to learn Japanese crochet styles as well as how to make Tenpura -- and I am going to teach them how to make Pulyodre!
Anyway after the crocheting we had a fabulous dinner of spaghetti, sushi, tenpura, and salad, and then I helped the grandkids with their English. It was all a lot of fun -- I also gave them my camera pics and put theirs on my USB.
Okay I know there is more but cannot think of it so goodnight!
Anyway, after school I went to my old Host Family's house to teach my Host Mother how I had crocheted the Hot Pads (both styles) and to learn from her how to do a lot of the cool Japanese crocheted works I have seen (BTW, the Japanese mostly crochet, not knit. Even their two-needle work is done with long crochet needles. But they also do a lot of needlework with their fingers, which I realized skimming through the books Okaasan had borrowed from the library.). Anyway, Okaasan didn't know how to crochet the unique Japanese stuff yet, so we are going to meet again next week in Wednesday, which is very convenient because my New Host Family is busy every Wednesday, to learn Japanese crochet styles as well as how to make Tenpura -- and I am going to teach them how to make Pulyodre!
Anyway after the crocheting we had a fabulous dinner of spaghetti, sushi, tenpura, and salad, and then I helped the grandkids with their English. It was all a lot of fun -- I also gave them my camera pics and put theirs on my USB.
Okay I know there is more but cannot think of it so goodnight!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Tues July 10
Today was a great day! We had all our regular periods today (in PE we had to pick between swimming, track, and tumbling and I picked tumbling.) Then, after lunch, we had Shoudo -- sadly, the last class before summer vacation. I practiced many Kanji and then Sensei gave us all Uchiwa, or Japanese fans, to write or draw whatever we want on it. Many people drew pictures/people or wrote ancient phrases. I wrote my favorite kanji. It was a great class, I am quite sad that it is the last.
Anyway, after school I went to Track Practice, which was somewhat tiring but very very fun. Now, first of all, the sports teams here are completely student-run and honestly treated more like clubs that school-sports. I mean they play for the school and have school sports attire but there is no coach or such. The students also come up with their own exercise routines. That is good, because it requires them to be excessively persevering and often ends up making the practices harder than a coach would, thereby training better. However, I feel at the same time they may lack done of the expertise snout injuries and training and such that coaches have. But they do all look out for each other -- after the main run, when we were going to do sprints, the question they asked was not "Will you do it," or "Do you want to do it", but "Can you do it,"/"Would you be able to do it," which I feel is a very different and much more caring and pertinent question to ask.
Anyway, after doing a warm-up and stretching (some stretches I had never seen before like a knee-twister stretch) we went to the beginning of the roundabout we run it. One lap of the roundabout was 3 kilos, and the student-created plan was that guys would run 3 laps and girls would run 2 (we also don't have different workouts based on gender in America.). Anyway the first lap (we were running on street sidewalks and such, a huge loop around shops and such. I felt it was pretty bad since we ended up breathing much car exhaust and smoke -- the fact that streets and cars and, overall, busy life is everywhere is, I would say, one of the downsides of city life.). Anyway, the first lap I was able to keep up with the guys except I started falling behind at the end. Back at the beginning, I stopped to drink some water -- they actually drank while running but first of all, that is very hard and probably very bad for you, and second of all there was no way, given how out-of-shape I am/was, I could have run 9 kilos without stopping. Anyway, after that since I didn't know the route I waited for the next girl to come and ran with her, which was at a slightly slower, much more doable pace. (And we we're able to talk while running -- I mean I had been talking with the guys while running also but as I fell brhind I couldn't.). Anyway, then, after 6 kilos we went to a nice path along a river and ran 300 meter sprints -- everyone did different amounts; I did 4 but the fastest guys did either 5 or 6. BTW, in Track and Field here, like in the Taikusai (Undoukai) and regular PE where the kumi has a huge bucket of water, the Track team has a huge thing of water and bottles that everyone waterfalls out of. Anyway, at the end of the sprints we went back -- it was 7 and the sun was about to set (and apparently we HAVE TO be out of school by 7:30 so I exhaustedky walked home.). I immediately jumped into the shower (my shirt was so soaked with sweat it felt like it had cone out of the wash -- that should give you an idea just how hot and humid it is here.) We then had a fabulous dinner and I did Kumon homework with my host nieces.
Oh and I forgot to mention this yesterday but the rain has restarted yesterday it was drizzling as I walked to school started pouring afterwards, today again drizzling as I walked to school, died down later but still very cloudy.
BTW, I am 99% sure it is safe to walk here at night. Not that I would do it but based on what people say it is safe and common to walk here at night...
Oh and gender separation is not only in Track but also in the Kumi -- in terms of numbering, first it is all the guys alphabetically by last name (according to the Japanese alphabet) and then all the girls alphabetically. (While I am actually the last number, 42, I line up at the end of the guys.). So yeah, I though that was interesting.
BTW, I realized that the Japanese school year starts in April and ends in March -- Summer Break is not the end of the year but rather the middle, very much like our Thanksgiving or Winter vacations! I did not realize that! Spring Break is the end for them, but even so they have HW, and move up as a whole kumi (or the international, ninth kumi at least.)
Yeah, goodnight!
Anyway, after school I went to Track Practice, which was somewhat tiring but very very fun. Now, first of all, the sports teams here are completely student-run and honestly treated more like clubs that school-sports. I mean they play for the school and have school sports attire but there is no coach or such. The students also come up with their own exercise routines. That is good, because it requires them to be excessively persevering and often ends up making the practices harder than a coach would, thereby training better. However, I feel at the same time they may lack done of the expertise snout injuries and training and such that coaches have. But they do all look out for each other -- after the main run, when we were going to do sprints, the question they asked was not "Will you do it," or "Do you want to do it", but "Can you do it,"/"Would you be able to do it," which I feel is a very different and much more caring and pertinent question to ask.
Anyway, after doing a warm-up and stretching (some stretches I had never seen before like a knee-twister stretch) we went to the beginning of the roundabout we run it. One lap of the roundabout was 3 kilos, and the student-created plan was that guys would run 3 laps and girls would run 2 (we also don't have different workouts based on gender in America.). Anyway the first lap (we were running on street sidewalks and such, a huge loop around shops and such. I felt it was pretty bad since we ended up breathing much car exhaust and smoke -- the fact that streets and cars and, overall, busy life is everywhere is, I would say, one of the downsides of city life.). Anyway, the first lap I was able to keep up with the guys except I started falling behind at the end. Back at the beginning, I stopped to drink some water -- they actually drank while running but first of all, that is very hard and probably very bad for you, and second of all there was no way, given how out-of-shape I am/was, I could have run 9 kilos without stopping. Anyway, after that since I didn't know the route I waited for the next girl to come and ran with her, which was at a slightly slower, much more doable pace. (And we we're able to talk while running -- I mean I had been talking with the guys while running also but as I fell brhind I couldn't.). Anyway, then, after 6 kilos we went to a nice path along a river and ran 300 meter sprints -- everyone did different amounts; I did 4 but the fastest guys did either 5 or 6. BTW, in Track and Field here, like in the Taikusai (Undoukai) and regular PE where the kumi has a huge bucket of water, the Track team has a huge thing of water and bottles that everyone waterfalls out of. Anyway, at the end of the sprints we went back -- it was 7 and the sun was about to set (and apparently we HAVE TO be out of school by 7:30 so I exhaustedky walked home.). I immediately jumped into the shower (my shirt was so soaked with sweat it felt like it had cone out of the wash -- that should give you an idea just how hot and humid it is here.) We then had a fabulous dinner and I did Kumon homework with my host nieces.
Oh and I forgot to mention this yesterday but the rain has restarted yesterday it was drizzling as I walked to school started pouring afterwards, today again drizzling as I walked to school, died down later but still very cloudy.
BTW, I am 99% sure it is safe to walk here at night. Not that I would do it but based on what people say it is safe and common to walk here at night...
Oh and gender separation is not only in Track but also in the Kumi -- in terms of numbering, first it is all the guys alphabetically by last name (according to the Japanese alphabet) and then all the girls alphabetically. (While I am actually the last number, 42, I line up at the end of the guys.). So yeah, I though that was interesting.
BTW, I realized that the Japanese school year starts in April and ends in March -- Summer Break is not the end of the year but rather the middle, very much like our Thanksgiving or Winter vacations! I did not realize that! Spring Break is the end for them, but even so they have HW, and move up as a whole kumi (or the international, ninth kumi at least.)
Yeah, goodnight!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Mon July 9
Today was a pretty fun day, except for the fact that it was school again do I had to get up at 6:15...
Anyway, today in the morning we had a 2 hour speech/lecture about the Battle of Okinawa, WW2, peace, etc. I am sure it would have been very intriguing, except I did not understand a word of it! Anyway, after that we had a Biology class and then lunch, where I brought out my TJ's banana chips and shared them with everyone--they were a big hit! After lunch, we had out Home Economics class, in which we cooked some sort of chicken dish and a soup w/ fish. I helped out with the salad, cutting the veggies, beating the eggs, and washing the dishes. It was quite fun -- when it was time to eat I just had rice, salad, and a very yummy barley tea.
After that we had a Math class and then school was over. After school, I went to the supermarket and Hundred Yen stores, the nearby ones, and to my surprise did not find any nail cutters with a special pocket to collect the nails! But I will keep looking.
Then I went to Kumon for an hour and did a lot of Kanji Practice.
I think that is all, goodnight! BTW I showed the kids the handout of 37 rude ways to use your chopsticks we got at the YFU orientation, and they were shocked because no one followed most! Anyway, goodnight!
Anyway, today in the morning we had a 2 hour speech/lecture about the Battle of Okinawa, WW2, peace, etc. I am sure it would have been very intriguing, except I did not understand a word of it! Anyway, after that we had a Biology class and then lunch, where I brought out my TJ's banana chips and shared them with everyone--they were a big hit! After lunch, we had out Home Economics class, in which we cooked some sort of chicken dish and a soup w/ fish. I helped out with the salad, cutting the veggies, beating the eggs, and washing the dishes. It was quite fun -- when it was time to eat I just had rice, salad, and a very yummy barley tea.
After that we had a Math class and then school was over. After school, I went to the supermarket and Hundred Yen stores, the nearby ones, and to my surprise did not find any nail cutters with a special pocket to collect the nails! But I will keep looking.
Then I went to Kumon for an hour and did a lot of Kanji Practice.
I think that is all, goodnight! BTW I showed the kids the handout of 37 rude ways to use your chopsticks we got at the YFU orientation, and they were shocked because no one followed most! Anyway, goodnight!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Sun July 8
So, a slight observation before I actually start the blog. When the students at my high school sing English songs, their pronunciation is impeccable, perfect! However, when they speak their pronunciation is slightly limited by the sounds in the Japanese language, notably less that the phenomena in the English language. I am pretty sure it has something to do with the areas of the mind related to singing versus talking -- probably something related to tone and melody that makes it easier to speak foreign phenomes...
So now to my day :) in the morning, I went to the Okinawan Prefectural Museum with Otousan, which was pretty amazing. We first went to the Archaeological Museum part of it, which had some amazing artifacts and models and told a very intriguing history of the Ryukan Kingdom. I had no idea it was so interesting! I would say that after the Mughal Empire, the Ryukan Kingdom would definitely be my favorite ancient monarchy. Anyway in addition to painting a very rich picture of the Ryukan culture it also told the more Modern history of Okinawa; WW2, American Military rule, and annexation with Japan. It is really sad how much Okinawan history got destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa: Shurijo Castle, the capital of the Ryukan Empire (the Shurijo Castle I went to was actually a modern recreation precisely on top of the ruins of the old castle, but a few feet above so as to keep the ruins intact. In fact, it even had a glass floor for viewing the ancient ruins!) Urasoe Castle, which I will talk about later, and much much more.
Anyway, then we went to the art section of the museum. And once we entered the first gallery, I found myself thinking " Is this art?". The first gallery was honestly many many framed 4x6 pictures of various things; people smoking, drinking, sunbathing, etc. they were all pictures of makes, and honestly do randomly taken even I could have taken them. And some were quite explicit...I did not at all understand that kind of art...
Anyway, the other two exhibition rooms were quite amazing. There were some amazing huge landscape pictures (panoramic) and some very good paintings. But then again there were a few of the paintings that were honestly just splotches of color or very geometric 2-color alteration that looked like a five-year old could have done them (paintings of that type lie in a certain aunt of mine's house, who shall remain unnamed), which I did not get. But the rest was all very beautiful.
Anyway, then we came back and went, with Otousan, my old Okaasan, and my old Okaasan's daughter, to celebrate Tanabata. Now I was not exactly sure how we could celebrate it, because all I had seen were people writing their wishes and hanging them on trees, but anyway I was excited. So, we went to the house of an elderly lady who, every year at Tanabata time, hand makes hundreds of Origami ornaments and hangs them all over her backyard. It was truly beautiful! I had never seen so much color, so much Origami, so much hard work, etc. Anyway, we took a lot of pictures, enjoyed the garden, and then went on our way. BTW, after Tanabata, the person who makes all these ornaments invites classes from the nearby elementary school to come and look, and gifts the ornaments to them.
On the way back, we stopped at Kokusai Street, which was absolutely amazing. We stopped there for ice cream but while walking up and down I peeked into the shops, and honestly, it is like the Camden Locks of Okinawa! I loved it! Unfortunately, we were in a hurry and I had not brought much money, but I definitely intend to visit Kokusai Street again, maybe next weekend (on Sundays the street is officially closed to all traffic.) And honestly, the stuff there was honestly very reasonably priced (compared to the mall.). Kokusai street is a very long street but it is close by to the house, so I may go/be able to go by myself!
Anyway, then we stopped by the house to drop Otousan off, and my old Okaasan and my Host Sister taught me how to fold a Yukata and Tie an Obi!
Anyway, then we headed off to another Art Museum. We got there a bit late (4 PM) and it was closing, but since Okaasan was related to the painter whose exhibit they were doing at the time, they let us into the museum but not the exhibit room :( So all we saw was the gift shop, but based on the postcards there the art was AMaZING! That museum had what looked like much more traditional Japanese works, whereas the other one had had quite modern/other culture-influenced works.
Anyway, after that we headed off to Urasoe Castle which was nearby. We first went to the Tomb of the King, which was quite a climb down but in a very beautiful location. Then we went to Urasoe castle which was directly above where the tomb was (on top of the cliff/mountain). However, the whole Urasoe Castle had been destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa! I mean it was still very nice to visit the location and see some of the ruins, but it is so sad that the whole castle was destroyed!
While there we also saw a small monument which had been erected after the 8km path from Shuri, the Ryukan capital (Shuri was the monarchical and cultural capital, which Naha, the main port, was the economic capital) and location of Shurijo Castle, to Urasoe castle was completed. It was interested because in front of the monument there was a stone slab for horseman to mount and dismount their horses--I had never seen such a slab before!
Anyway, after that fabulous day and the visits to all those fabulous places, we headed home.
And then it was time for me to cook. Well, first of all, to be completely honest this was my first time cooking an Indian meal. Anyway, I started by chopping and slightly sautéing the potatoes and bell peppers and throwing them into a pot. I then added water, Shaan Biryani Powder, and onions and put that to boil. Then I made three packs of Maggie (I only used two packets of masala), and but the TJ's bags of Palak Paneer and Dal in boiling water. Meanwhile the rice was cooking and I put the water to boil for chai. BTW I added onions and onion leaves to the Maggie, which was a very delicious touch.
Anyway, I then served the food and we sat down to eat. Since I had put less spice, I brought extra spice to the table in case anyone wanted it. Anyway, Otousan tasted the soup (Rasidaar Sabzi) and started coughing and said it was spicy. I tasted it and indeed it was quite spicy (which was funny because I had tasted it while cooking it and it was fine -- I have a feeling at that time all the masala was at the bottom.). Anyway I offered to add more water but they said it was fine because although it was spicy it was delicious(which was truly genuine -- they finished it all and I could tell they truly lived it!). The Maggie was also a big hit as was the Daal (which was somewhat bland.). I had wanted to make Pulyodre but asked Okaasan if they would prefer plain rice and she said yes. I can understand that, because in Japanese cooking if there is a taste I am not used to it helps to have plain rice to lessen it, soo... Anyway they also really liked the Palak Paneer, so I would say overall the meal was a success! They also loved the ginger in the tea, although it was a bit sweet for them -- after the first batch finished my Host Sister boiled water for a second Batch of Tea, and when I told her I had put two packs of powder in the last tea she was surprised and only put one. That was definitely an example of Japanesifying Indian food. As oppose to putting the traditional Indian amount of spice, which is a lot, they put just a little of it. During dinner we talked about India, the Ganga and Gadgi, Thai food, etc :) I showed them my Dandiya video, SatyaDevi violin performance, and Karaoke Performance.
Anyway, I would say overall the meal was a success and the day was wonderful! On another note, they have their own soap operas here; while Indian TV may have Chotti Bahu and Pavitra Rishta, they have the same idea in different settings; a samurai setting and a doctor setting. However the ideas are the same, as is the enthusiasm with which such drama's are watched.
Okay, it's late and I have school tomorrow, goodnight! BTW I gifted the rest of the Chai ka Masala to them and promised to teach them how to make chai from scratch soon.
Oh and I also showed them Outliers, which my Host Sister had read in Japanese (she is now reading Blink, which I also want to read.). Otousan highly recommended reading Affirmations, a book about the metaphysical world, which seems very interesting!
So now to my day :) in the morning, I went to the Okinawan Prefectural Museum with Otousan, which was pretty amazing. We first went to the Archaeological Museum part of it, which had some amazing artifacts and models and told a very intriguing history of the Ryukan Kingdom. I had no idea it was so interesting! I would say that after the Mughal Empire, the Ryukan Kingdom would definitely be my favorite ancient monarchy. Anyway in addition to painting a very rich picture of the Ryukan culture it also told the more Modern history of Okinawa; WW2, American Military rule, and annexation with Japan. It is really sad how much Okinawan history got destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa: Shurijo Castle, the capital of the Ryukan Empire (the Shurijo Castle I went to was actually a modern recreation precisely on top of the ruins of the old castle, but a few feet above so as to keep the ruins intact. In fact, it even had a glass floor for viewing the ancient ruins!) Urasoe Castle, which I will talk about later, and much much more.
Anyway, then we went to the art section of the museum. And once we entered the first gallery, I found myself thinking " Is this art?". The first gallery was honestly many many framed 4x6 pictures of various things; people smoking, drinking, sunbathing, etc. they were all pictures of makes, and honestly do randomly taken even I could have taken them. And some were quite explicit...I did not at all understand that kind of art...
Anyway, the other two exhibition rooms were quite amazing. There were some amazing huge landscape pictures (panoramic) and some very good paintings. But then again there were a few of the paintings that were honestly just splotches of color or very geometric 2-color alteration that looked like a five-year old could have done them (paintings of that type lie in a certain aunt of mine's house, who shall remain unnamed), which I did not get. But the rest was all very beautiful.
Anyway, then we came back and went, with Otousan, my old Okaasan, and my old Okaasan's daughter, to celebrate Tanabata. Now I was not exactly sure how we could celebrate it, because all I had seen were people writing their wishes and hanging them on trees, but anyway I was excited. So, we went to the house of an elderly lady who, every year at Tanabata time, hand makes hundreds of Origami ornaments and hangs them all over her backyard. It was truly beautiful! I had never seen so much color, so much Origami, so much hard work, etc. Anyway, we took a lot of pictures, enjoyed the garden, and then went on our way. BTW, after Tanabata, the person who makes all these ornaments invites classes from the nearby elementary school to come and look, and gifts the ornaments to them.
On the way back, we stopped at Kokusai Street, which was absolutely amazing. We stopped there for ice cream but while walking up and down I peeked into the shops, and honestly, it is like the Camden Locks of Okinawa! I loved it! Unfortunately, we were in a hurry and I had not brought much money, but I definitely intend to visit Kokusai Street again, maybe next weekend (on Sundays the street is officially closed to all traffic.) And honestly, the stuff there was honestly very reasonably priced (compared to the mall.). Kokusai street is a very long street but it is close by to the house, so I may go/be able to go by myself!
Anyway, then we stopped by the house to drop Otousan off, and my old Okaasan and my Host Sister taught me how to fold a Yukata and Tie an Obi!
Anyway, then we headed off to another Art Museum. We got there a bit late (4 PM) and it was closing, but since Okaasan was related to the painter whose exhibit they were doing at the time, they let us into the museum but not the exhibit room :( So all we saw was the gift shop, but based on the postcards there the art was AMaZING! That museum had what looked like much more traditional Japanese works, whereas the other one had had quite modern/other culture-influenced works.
Anyway, after that we headed off to Urasoe Castle which was nearby. We first went to the Tomb of the King, which was quite a climb down but in a very beautiful location. Then we went to Urasoe castle which was directly above where the tomb was (on top of the cliff/mountain). However, the whole Urasoe Castle had been destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa! I mean it was still very nice to visit the location and see some of the ruins, but it is so sad that the whole castle was destroyed!
While there we also saw a small monument which had been erected after the 8km path from Shuri, the Ryukan capital (Shuri was the monarchical and cultural capital, which Naha, the main port, was the economic capital) and location of Shurijo Castle, to Urasoe castle was completed. It was interested because in front of the monument there was a stone slab for horseman to mount and dismount their horses--I had never seen such a slab before!
Anyway, after that fabulous day and the visits to all those fabulous places, we headed home.
And then it was time for me to cook. Well, first of all, to be completely honest this was my first time cooking an Indian meal. Anyway, I started by chopping and slightly sautéing the potatoes and bell peppers and throwing them into a pot. I then added water, Shaan Biryani Powder, and onions and put that to boil. Then I made three packs of Maggie (I only used two packets of masala), and but the TJ's bags of Palak Paneer and Dal in boiling water. Meanwhile the rice was cooking and I put the water to boil for chai. BTW I added onions and onion leaves to the Maggie, which was a very delicious touch.
Anyway, I then served the food and we sat down to eat. Since I had put less spice, I brought extra spice to the table in case anyone wanted it. Anyway, Otousan tasted the soup (Rasidaar Sabzi) and started coughing and said it was spicy. I tasted it and indeed it was quite spicy (which was funny because I had tasted it while cooking it and it was fine -- I have a feeling at that time all the masala was at the bottom.). Anyway I offered to add more water but they said it was fine because although it was spicy it was delicious(which was truly genuine -- they finished it all and I could tell they truly lived it!). The Maggie was also a big hit as was the Daal (which was somewhat bland.). I had wanted to make Pulyodre but asked Okaasan if they would prefer plain rice and she said yes. I can understand that, because in Japanese cooking if there is a taste I am not used to it helps to have plain rice to lessen it, soo... Anyway they also really liked the Palak Paneer, so I would say overall the meal was a success! They also loved the ginger in the tea, although it was a bit sweet for them -- after the first batch finished my Host Sister boiled water for a second Batch of Tea, and when I told her I had put two packs of powder in the last tea she was surprised and only put one. That was definitely an example of Japanesifying Indian food. As oppose to putting the traditional Indian amount of spice, which is a lot, they put just a little of it. During dinner we talked about India, the Ganga and Gadgi, Thai food, etc :) I showed them my Dandiya video, SatyaDevi violin performance, and Karaoke Performance.
Anyway, I would say overall the meal was a success and the day was wonderful! On another note, they have their own soap operas here; while Indian TV may have Chotti Bahu and Pavitra Rishta, they have the same idea in different settings; a samurai setting and a doctor setting. However the ideas are the same, as is the enthusiasm with which such drama's are watched.
Okay, it's late and I have school tomorrow, goodnight! BTW I gifted the rest of the Chai ka Masala to them and promised to teach them how to make chai from scratch soon.
Oh and I also showed them Outliers, which my Host Sister had read in Japanese (she is now reading Blink, which I also want to read.). Otousan highly recommended reading Affirmations, a book about the metaphysical world, which seems very interesting!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Sat July 7
So, today, after waking up at 8:30 and skyping with Dada and Sangi Foi, I went out for a run in the park. Now, granted it was quite hot, but it was still an amazing run. I was, however, out of shape, and after one broken lap (each lap = 850 m) I needed water. At first, I looked near the toilets, and there were no water fountains (BTW, the men's urinals are not inside a legit building, while the women's bathroom is.). Then I remembered there had been one in the playground about half way home, so I decided to look in the playground in the park. None. I was wondering how on earth they could have a park with no water fountains; granted, there were vending machines everywhere, but still...Anyway, I was very thirsty so I went to the one half way home. Then, on the way back to the park, I happened to stumble upon a nice little shaded seating area with a water fountain. As I walked back to the park, I realized such sitting area were everywhere (2 pix attached.). It's not that there were not water fountains, I was just looking in the wrong places (I was looking where American water fountains would be...)
Anyway the running was great. And one of the characteristic things about Naha in the morning is the cicadas -- see attached pix of their shed skin :)
Anyway, after that I came home, bathed and had lunch (Hakka noodles again and I have figured out the recipe, very simple), and then worked with Otousan to complete his Morse Code device (soldering the wires.). He also explained to me the theory of Morse Code and how you communicate with people around the world and Morse Code's own version of "Text Talk". It was very interesting!
Anyway, since we had until 5 to go to the concert, I went to the mall (that is the huge benefit of city life -- everything is SOOO close -- I honestly walked to Naha Main Place! Anyway I was just planning to look around and buy cool stuff that caught my eye, but it was hugely overwhelming. First of all, the pathway between shops was very narrow, but more importantly, unlike American Malls where there are shops along the perimeter and a lot of space in the middle, this literally had shops everywhere! Much more like some sort of market or bazaar! It was pretty hard to figure out where one shop started and another ended! Anyway, in my wanderings, I found a toy store and bookstore, which were the only places I spent money in. I looked at all the various clothing stores and honestly, even for good quality, the clothes were rip offs! $50 for a half sleeve collared shirt with a floral design! $200 (minimum) for a blazer! And even the few sales barely helped! So yeah I didn't end up getting any clothes, but I did just wander and look around for quite a while. There were Tanabata-Bamboo-Trees all over the mall where kids could write their wishes and hang them from the trees! There was a theatre there also showing Spiderman!
Anyway, after that we came home and went to the concert, in which, contrary to my beliefs, Otousan did not sing. Anyway, it was an Opera concert. I had never heard legitimate Opera before in my life, and boy, are their voices amazing! Not only can they manage very high and low pitches, without mikes they were able to project through the whole gigantic concert hall! It was really really incredible, and the singers were very talented. I really enjoyed myself :)
However, I am more enthralled by how huge of a cultural melting pot Japan is -- there is ancient Japanese culture, Italian culture, Ballet (which I am not sure where it originated from but I am pretty sure the specific dances I watched had some Middle Eastern influence), Indian (Curry and Rice), etc. it is amazing, especially for a nation that stayed isolated for so long! I would definitely say it is much more of a cultural melting pot (not ethnic because there are not many foreigners here) than US. US is much more of a salad bowl -- there are many many micro cultures but they do not coalesce into one. Or maybe thats just the Bay Area, "Little Asia", point of view :)
For dinner we went to the same udon and tenpura place as last time -- it was delicious. I would have offered to cook but it was really Kate and I would have taken a lot of time. Anyway though I am supposed to cook tomorrow do that's fine. Meanwhile tomorrow Otousan and I are going to the Prefectural Art Museum in the morning, and then off to celebrate Tanabata! Goodnight!
Anyway the running was great. And one of the characteristic things about Naha in the morning is the cicadas -- see attached pix of their shed skin :)
Anyway, after that I came home, bathed and had lunch (Hakka noodles again and I have figured out the recipe, very simple), and then worked with Otousan to complete his Morse Code device (soldering the wires.). He also explained to me the theory of Morse Code and how you communicate with people around the world and Morse Code's own version of "Text Talk". It was very interesting!
Anyway, since we had until 5 to go to the concert, I went to the mall (that is the huge benefit of city life -- everything is SOOO close -- I honestly walked to Naha Main Place! Anyway I was just planning to look around and buy cool stuff that caught my eye, but it was hugely overwhelming. First of all, the pathway between shops was very narrow, but more importantly, unlike American Malls where there are shops along the perimeter and a lot of space in the middle, this literally had shops everywhere! Much more like some sort of market or bazaar! It was pretty hard to figure out where one shop started and another ended! Anyway, in my wanderings, I found a toy store and bookstore, which were the only places I spent money in. I looked at all the various clothing stores and honestly, even for good quality, the clothes were rip offs! $50 for a half sleeve collared shirt with a floral design! $200 (minimum) for a blazer! And even the few sales barely helped! So yeah I didn't end up getting any clothes, but I did just wander and look around for quite a while. There were Tanabata-Bamboo-Trees all over the mall where kids could write their wishes and hang them from the trees! There was a theatre there also showing Spiderman!
Anyway, after that we came home and went to the concert, in which, contrary to my beliefs, Otousan did not sing. Anyway, it was an Opera concert. I had never heard legitimate Opera before in my life, and boy, are their voices amazing! Not only can they manage very high and low pitches, without mikes they were able to project through the whole gigantic concert hall! It was really really incredible, and the singers were very talented. I really enjoyed myself :)
However, I am more enthralled by how huge of a cultural melting pot Japan is -- there is ancient Japanese culture, Italian culture, Ballet (which I am not sure where it originated from but I am pretty sure the specific dances I watched had some Middle Eastern influence), Indian (Curry and Rice), etc. it is amazing, especially for a nation that stayed isolated for so long! I would definitely say it is much more of a cultural melting pot (not ethnic because there are not many foreigners here) than US. US is much more of a salad bowl -- there are many many micro cultures but they do not coalesce into one. Or maybe thats just the Bay Area, "Little Asia", point of view :)
For dinner we went to the same udon and tenpura place as last time -- it was delicious. I would have offered to cook but it was really Kate and I would have taken a lot of time. Anyway though I am supposed to cook tomorrow do that's fine. Meanwhile tomorrow Otousan and I are going to the Prefectural Art Museum in the morning, and then off to celebrate Tanabata! Goodnight!
Fri July 6!!!!!!
Today was an amazing day! There is sooooo much to write about!
So, I got up in the morning, ate breakfast, and left for school. When I arrived, there was a sign on the back blackboard saying "Amal, HBD!.". The kids wished me and sang for me, which was very nice. (The English Sensei and Homeroom Sensei also wished me.). Anyway, then we started the day, beginning with English, then Math, Japanese, an English Vocab Test, World History, Cross Culture Understanding, and a long Homeroom. In Math we got the test we had taken earlier back and I got a 40/100 -- they were really silly rushing (I felt there was not enough time) or misunderstanding mistakes. For example, there was a question asking me to add two decimals with dots over certain digits. At first I was confused, and then figured it must be some sort of indication of Significant Figures, so applied those rules to it. Today I realized those dots are the Japanese version of our "Bar", which indicates repeating decimals. But the class average was 30, and it was just really a test to see where we stand, do it didn't count.
Also, for the Vocab Test I got 60/100, again not an amazing score, but better than last time. It was on what they called idioms, but I would really just consider common, confusing expressions, such as "let alone," "take in," "put an end to," "help out," etc.
Anyway, during lunch many of my friends gifted me snacks, which was very very nice! I had a delicious Shekwesa Tea, which was so amazing I want to bring some back if I can find it, and great pudding. I was honestly stuffed. For those of you who thought I would lose weight here, I am pretty sure I am doing the opposite. There is such amazing food (wait until I tell you about tonight's dinner) I am pretty sure I am gaining weight! I wore my convertibles today, which's belt I had adjusted and not touched since CA, and it was right across my waist! I am pretty sure I have put on a few pounds :)
Then, in our Cross Culture Understanding class we made cards to the new ALTs coming for next year -- even though I would not be here I still made a card welcoming them.
Anyway, in the evening, after a long phone call with Amma and Baba and Nani and a VERY long Skype w/ Dadda and Nellie (till 2 in the morning) I went to my old Host Family's house for a small party. It was AMAZING!!! We had an amazing dinner of Curry-Rice, Salad, Sushi filled with Natto which was honestly very good, rolled up Omelets with mircha (Chilly Peppers,) and some delicious vegetable tenpura and fried sweet potato. There were slso amazing fresh fruits: pineapple, watermelon, pear/apple, grapefruits, and various grapes. Then, we had some musical performances -- the Sanshin played by the granddaughter, a Karate performance by the grandson, some songs we all sang together, a piano piece by the son, etc. I also tried the Sanshin, and it seems hard but very interesting. Then we had a cake, which I am pretty sure was homemade and was absolutely delicious, and they gave me presents. All were wonderful, but I truly loved a photo book handmade (like computer-hand-made) by Okaasan logging my trip so far, and with empty pages for the rest. That photo book really meant a lot to me!
Afterwards, we went outside to burst Hanabi, or sparklers/firecrackers. It was really really fun, and while perhaps not as explosive as the ones in India, it was very safe and amazing. We lit a spinning wheel at the end which changed colors! It was truly amazing.
Also Okaasan was very interested in how I crocheted the hotpads so I will show her next week and she will show me how she had made many cool things around the house!
BTW, during our long Homeroom after school we did a mock Tanabata celebration (Tanabata is tomorrow.) We wrote our wishes down on small decorative pieces of paper and tied it to a paper bamboo tree in the class. Oh, and also there is actually school tomorrow for all the other students, but since they are taking exams it is a holiday for me.
Anyway, after that amazing party we came back to my new host-families house and had a small birthday celebration here also. It was truly amazing, and I can honestly say this has been my best birthday ever.
BTW, my old Host Families grandchildren are in love with Amelia Bedilia -- they had to do a bit of research to get the pins but they all loved it!
Also, I realized just how lucky I am! First Bday in Yellowstone, 2nd in New Jersey (right?), fifth in Yosemite (I am sure there was something in between 2 and 5), 15 in Paris, 14 in Pennsylvalia, and 16th in OKINAWA!!!! I don't remember any more at this time of night but I am sure there was more (did I have a Bday in Greece?)
Anyway, I really have to go to sleep, so goodnight! I am absolutely loving it here!!!
So, I got up in the morning, ate breakfast, and left for school. When I arrived, there was a sign on the back blackboard saying "Amal, HBD!.". The kids wished me and sang for me, which was very nice. (The English Sensei and Homeroom Sensei also wished me.). Anyway, then we started the day, beginning with English, then Math, Japanese, an English Vocab Test, World History, Cross Culture Understanding, and a long Homeroom. In Math we got the test we had taken earlier back and I got a 40/100 -- they were really silly rushing (I felt there was not enough time) or misunderstanding mistakes. For example, there was a question asking me to add two decimals with dots over certain digits. At first I was confused, and then figured it must be some sort of indication of Significant Figures, so applied those rules to it. Today I realized those dots are the Japanese version of our "Bar", which indicates repeating decimals. But the class average was 30, and it was just really a test to see where we stand, do it didn't count.
Also, for the Vocab Test I got 60/100, again not an amazing score, but better than last time. It was on what they called idioms, but I would really just consider common, confusing expressions, such as "let alone," "take in," "put an end to," "help out," etc.
Anyway, during lunch many of my friends gifted me snacks, which was very very nice! I had a delicious Shekwesa Tea, which was so amazing I want to bring some back if I can find it, and great pudding. I was honestly stuffed. For those of you who thought I would lose weight here, I am pretty sure I am doing the opposite. There is such amazing food (wait until I tell you about tonight's dinner) I am pretty sure I am gaining weight! I wore my convertibles today, which's belt I had adjusted and not touched since CA, and it was right across my waist! I am pretty sure I have put on a few pounds :)
Then, in our Cross Culture Understanding class we made cards to the new ALTs coming for next year -- even though I would not be here I still made a card welcoming them.
Anyway, in the evening, after a long phone call with Amma and Baba and Nani and a VERY long Skype w/ Dadda and Nellie (till 2 in the morning) I went to my old Host Family's house for a small party. It was AMAZING!!! We had an amazing dinner of Curry-Rice, Salad, Sushi filled with Natto which was honestly very good, rolled up Omelets with mircha (Chilly Peppers,) and some delicious vegetable tenpura and fried sweet potato. There were slso amazing fresh fruits: pineapple, watermelon, pear/apple, grapefruits, and various grapes. Then, we had some musical performances -- the Sanshin played by the granddaughter, a Karate performance by the grandson, some songs we all sang together, a piano piece by the son, etc. I also tried the Sanshin, and it seems hard but very interesting. Then we had a cake, which I am pretty sure was homemade and was absolutely delicious, and they gave me presents. All were wonderful, but I truly loved a photo book handmade (like computer-hand-made) by Okaasan logging my trip so far, and with empty pages for the rest. That photo book really meant a lot to me!
Afterwards, we went outside to burst Hanabi, or sparklers/firecrackers. It was really really fun, and while perhaps not as explosive as the ones in India, it was very safe and amazing. We lit a spinning wheel at the end which changed colors! It was truly amazing.
Also Okaasan was very interested in how I crocheted the hotpads so I will show her next week and she will show me how she had made many cool things around the house!
BTW, during our long Homeroom after school we did a mock Tanabata celebration (Tanabata is tomorrow.) We wrote our wishes down on small decorative pieces of paper and tied it to a paper bamboo tree in the class. Oh, and also there is actually school tomorrow for all the other students, but since they are taking exams it is a holiday for me.
Anyway, after that amazing party we came back to my new host-families house and had a small birthday celebration here also. It was truly amazing, and I can honestly say this has been my best birthday ever.
BTW, my old Host Families grandchildren are in love with Amelia Bedilia -- they had to do a bit of research to get the pins but they all loved it!
Also, I realized just how lucky I am! First Bday in Yellowstone, 2nd in New Jersey (right?), fifth in Yosemite (I am sure there was something in between 2 and 5), 15 in Paris, 14 in Pennsylvalia, and 16th in OKINAWA!!!! I don't remember any more at this time of night but I am sure there was more (did I have a Bday in Greece?)
Anyway, I really have to go to sleep, so goodnight! I am absolutely loving it here!!!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Thurs July 5
Today was a great day! At school we had Math, which was fine, Japanese, Biology, and Computer. In the Computer class, the kids started on a group project in which they had to make infomercials, or information packed commercials, in English. (They have one English class, a Language Lab/Computer class, and a Culture Understanding class, all of which they have to use English in.). Anyway then after lunch the rest of the day was spent watching (projected live on the TV of our classroom) the school Speech Competition, and the school's version of MSJ TV, their own high school's TV broadcast. That was quite interesting, though I didn't understand much. Afterwards, on the way home, I stopped at the Hubdred Yen store to look at stuff and got some pretty cool stuff. I also stopped at a clothes store but none of the clothes really stood out to me and they were very expensive (I know they are good quality, but since I didn't exactly like any of them...). Either on Sat or next week I will go to the mall nearby and look for clothes and other cool stuff there.
I learnt how to make Japanese Aloo Tikki's today -- I will make them when I get home!
I also helped Otousan make a Morse Code machine (I helped with the wiring) and it was really very fun and stimulating. I didn't exactly remember my Physics so I just tried stuff out to see how it worked!
I think that is all, goodnight!
I learnt how to make Japanese Aloo Tikki's today -- I will make them when I get home!
I also helped Otousan make a Morse Code machine (I helped with the wiring) and it was really very fun and stimulating. I didn't exactly remember my Physics so I just tried stuff out to see how it worked!
I think that is all, goodnight!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Wed July 4th
I actually didn't realize it was the fourth today, but happy Independence Day!
Anyway, today was a pretty normal day. We had English first, then an assembly for the freshmen about their futures, then a math test, which I wasn't intending to take but ended up taking. It was not too bad, though I think I may have misunderstood two questions which I think were asking for a factorization but I completed the square. (I had asked the teacher and to demonstrate he showed me completing the square -- however, as I talked with students after the test I realized that in Japan completing the square and factoring are both the same thing. And I really only partially completed the square because that was all that was possible, so we'll see.). We also had Japanese, two periods of Computer, in which we are learning very simple stuff such as Excel graphs and useless stuff like making a collage in word (useless because all the computers have photoshop and there is so much more to do and it is so much easier in Photoshop.). Then at the end of the day (I realized they have this most days) we had a lecture, today's topic being stress.
Anyway, after school I stopped at the Family Mart outside of school to see what other cool stuff Japan had to offer, and ended up buying a really cool and yummy packaged ice cream. And as I was walking home, licking the Ice Cream, I realized it had been $3, which was outrageous! (We buy 12 Drumsticks for $6, this is one for half the price.). Anyway, then I started thinking about prices and realized that it is, honestly, quite strange here. Taxi's are very cheap compared to American taxis (I have ridden two do far for decent distances and it came to about $10 each time) but busses are very expensive, $5 each way! Whole meals are relatively cheap (I have had a salad and Curry/Rice for $10 and Tenpura and Udon Noodles for about $13) but small snacks are very expensive! It is a strange conundrum how some things can be so expensive in relation to the US while others so inexpensive -- probably related to what is considered important in Japanese culture compared to American culture.
BTW, I just found out that there is no such thing as a public high school in Japan, given the American definition of those words (not sure about elementary and middle schools.). Apparently all high schools have entrance exams and tuition fees, and theoretically you could get a job after middle school (9th grade) if you wanted to. That was quite a shock to me.
Oh and it's funny how the teachers, or at least one teacher, wakes up student -- s/he takes a pencil puts the eraser on its back on the kid's head and turns it back and forth. While I doubt it hurts too much, it is probably uncomfortable enough to get them to wake up, because it works!
Okay I think that is all for now, goodnight!
Anyway, today was a pretty normal day. We had English first, then an assembly for the freshmen about their futures, then a math test, which I wasn't intending to take but ended up taking. It was not too bad, though I think I may have misunderstood two questions which I think were asking for a factorization but I completed the square. (I had asked the teacher and to demonstrate he showed me completing the square -- however, as I talked with students after the test I realized that in Japan completing the square and factoring are both the same thing. And I really only partially completed the square because that was all that was possible, so we'll see.). We also had Japanese, two periods of Computer, in which we are learning very simple stuff such as Excel graphs and useless stuff like making a collage in word (useless because all the computers have photoshop and there is so much more to do and it is so much easier in Photoshop.). Then at the end of the day (I realized they have this most days) we had a lecture, today's topic being stress.
Anyway, after school I stopped at the Family Mart outside of school to see what other cool stuff Japan had to offer, and ended up buying a really cool and yummy packaged ice cream. And as I was walking home, licking the Ice Cream, I realized it had been $3, which was outrageous! (We buy 12 Drumsticks for $6, this is one for half the price.). Anyway, then I started thinking about prices and realized that it is, honestly, quite strange here. Taxi's are very cheap compared to American taxis (I have ridden two do far for decent distances and it came to about $10 each time) but busses are very expensive, $5 each way! Whole meals are relatively cheap (I have had a salad and Curry/Rice for $10 and Tenpura and Udon Noodles for about $13) but small snacks are very expensive! It is a strange conundrum how some things can be so expensive in relation to the US while others so inexpensive -- probably related to what is considered important in Japanese culture compared to American culture.
BTW, I just found out that there is no such thing as a public high school in Japan, given the American definition of those words (not sure about elementary and middle schools.). Apparently all high schools have entrance exams and tuition fees, and theoretically you could get a job after middle school (9th grade) if you wanted to. That was quite a shock to me.
Oh and it's funny how the teachers, or at least one teacher, wakes up student -- s/he takes a pencil puts the eraser on its back on the kid's head and turns it back and forth. While I doubt it hurts too much, it is probably uncomfortable enough to get them to wake up, because it works!
Okay I think that is all for now, goodnight!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Tues July 3
Today was a pretty normal day at school. We had two periods of math, two periods of Shodo (calligraphy) one period of Japanese one period of PE and one long home room. I really like the Shodo class (and the Sensei is very nice). Today I drew 永 and 空, the latter which is my favorite kanji, don't even ask why. Anyway, our PE was a free period, so we just played volleyball which seems very popular here (and in a circle rather than across a net.). Anyway, then in our long home room we changed seats, and I realized in Japan moving seats actually means moving your desk. (They are the type of desks we had in elementary school, where there is a compartment below the desk to store stuff. However, I for one think it would be much easier to take the stuff out of the compartment and move rather than move the whole desk...
Anyway then I went to Kumon and I actually legitimately did what the kids do (work with a teacher who assigns and corrects the work.). It was hard but I am learning new Kanji so that is good.
I think that is all, goodnight and happy 4th of July!
Anyway then I went to Kumon and I actually legitimately did what the kids do (work with a teacher who assigns and corrects the work.). It was hard but I am learning new Kanji so that is good.
I think that is all, goodnight and happy 4th of July!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Mon July 2nd
Today was an amazing day at the beach! I left the house at 10:00, headed for Naha Kokusai High School where I met my other kumi members (or the ones that lived close by.). We then caught the bus, headed for the beach.
Now, first of all, the water had the most beautiful blue I had ever seen. Like bluer than Rio Celeste. An the water itself was crystal clear. And while it was not as warm as Costa Rica, it was still quite warm. The only bad part? There were jellyfish in the water so we were only allowed to stay in a tiny little buoyed area (and there were lifeguards to enforce that.)
So anyway, I went into the water and at the deep end it was up to my waste, and I thought, "Okay, this is nice, but there is really not much to do here...". I stayed in the water for a bit and then got out. (BTW although I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to see anything, because I could already see the bottom and there were not too many organisms, I still put on my snorkeling gear and snorkelled, because I figured that since I had brought it, I might as well use it! All I could see was a tadpole before the lifeguard tapped me on the shoulder and told me snorkeling was banned -- don't ask me why, because people were in that little area with huge rubber boats that was impeding into everyone else's space, and snorkeling did not at all do anything to anybody...Anyhow, I took of my snorkeling material and went back up, while I did not really get to snorkel, I am fine because at least I used the equipment...)
Anyway, then the tide started increasing, and that was when it truly filled up with water (between 3-5). At first the water at the edge rose to my shoulders, but then it rose to deeper than me! It was really very fun swimming and back stroking and such in that water :)
BTW meanwhile we had eaten lunch (a fabulous Obentou Okaasan had packed,) and I realized that a very inherent Japanese cultural aspect was sharing one's food. If someone has multiple pieces of something and there are people around them, they share! Over the course of the day, I ate a lot of other people's food and shared some of what I bought, and initially I felt like I was taking more than giving, but then realized if there are 30 kids and each has 30 items and gives one to each person, while any individual would have only given once but received 29 times, it would still be equal.
Meanwhile, first of all I am beginning to like Pocari Sweat, it is definitely better than Gatorade and does give you energy...And secondly I had the best frozen food ever today, Ice Fruits アイスの実, which was so amazing you have no idea! It was basically frozen spheres of different fruits/flavors. Think frozen grapes but 10x tastier and various fruits as oppose to just grapes! It was really amazing -- I really want to bring it back but it would melt...
Anyway meanwhile we also played volleyball on the beach and made a sand-castle/wave-barrier. It was really amazingly fun! I am sure I have more to say about the beach but it is really very late and I have to sleep.
So, anyway, after the beach we left for dinner. (BTW the showers at the beach were 100 yen for 3 minutes which I thought was outrageous so I didn't bathe there.). We went to a Curry House for dinner, which did have vegetarian curry so that was good. However, I would like to point of that what the Japanese consider curry is one specific taste of curry (lots of cinnamon and Khara Masala) as oppose to the Indian many flavors. Honestly the menu had all the same curry, just different vegetables/meats in the same curry sauce. Anyway, after dinner was when I truly came to appreciate Amma's weight on knowing how one is getting to and from various places (arranging rides beforehand.). I mean I always knew that was important but today for the first time I experienced the opposite. I mean the plan was to go back by bus, and had everyone stuck to schedule it would have happened, but everyone took their own leisurely time and then we changed the plan to taking a taxi (most people do not actually live close to the school, just me and 4 other guys.) Well, no taxi was coming down the road at that time, 9 at night (and it was pitch black outside.). Then we decided to call a Taxi company. Now that would have probably worked out but luckily a friend's mom offered us all rides, which was VERY nice. But anyway it was pretty frustrating that we did not have concrete plans.
BTW, on another note biking is very common here but no one wears helmets.
This was such an exciting day I am sure there is a LOT more to talk about but it is very late do goodnight! BTW Amma and Baba will be happy to know that after I came back I ironed for the first time in my life (my school uniform and Eisa costume) and it honestly wasn't hard or too tedious! (I already knew how from watching Amma, Baba, Baa, and Nani.). Anyway I think if I did wear formal clothes in the US I wouldn't mind ironing them because honestly crushed clothes look so nasty (and my clothes get extra crushed because they lie in the hamper for 5 months...)
Now, first of all, the water had the most beautiful blue I had ever seen. Like bluer than Rio Celeste. An the water itself was crystal clear. And while it was not as warm as Costa Rica, it was still quite warm. The only bad part? There were jellyfish in the water so we were only allowed to stay in a tiny little buoyed area (and there were lifeguards to enforce that.)
So anyway, I went into the water and at the deep end it was up to my waste, and I thought, "Okay, this is nice, but there is really not much to do here...". I stayed in the water for a bit and then got out. (BTW although I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to see anything, because I could already see the bottom and there were not too many organisms, I still put on my snorkeling gear and snorkelled, because I figured that since I had brought it, I might as well use it! All I could see was a tadpole before the lifeguard tapped me on the shoulder and told me snorkeling was banned -- don't ask me why, because people were in that little area with huge rubber boats that was impeding into everyone else's space, and snorkeling did not at all do anything to anybody...Anyhow, I took of my snorkeling material and went back up, while I did not really get to snorkel, I am fine because at least I used the equipment...)
Anyway, then the tide started increasing, and that was when it truly filled up with water (between 3-5). At first the water at the edge rose to my shoulders, but then it rose to deeper than me! It was really very fun swimming and back stroking and such in that water :)
BTW meanwhile we had eaten lunch (a fabulous Obentou Okaasan had packed,) and I realized that a very inherent Japanese cultural aspect was sharing one's food. If someone has multiple pieces of something and there are people around them, they share! Over the course of the day, I ate a lot of other people's food and shared some of what I bought, and initially I felt like I was taking more than giving, but then realized if there are 30 kids and each has 30 items and gives one to each person, while any individual would have only given once but received 29 times, it would still be equal.
Meanwhile, first of all I am beginning to like Pocari Sweat, it is definitely better than Gatorade and does give you energy...And secondly I had the best frozen food ever today, Ice Fruits アイスの実, which was so amazing you have no idea! It was basically frozen spheres of different fruits/flavors. Think frozen grapes but 10x tastier and various fruits as oppose to just grapes! It was really amazing -- I really want to bring it back but it would melt...
Anyway meanwhile we also played volleyball on the beach and made a sand-castle/wave-barrier. It was really amazingly fun! I am sure I have more to say about the beach but it is really very late and I have to sleep.
So, anyway, after the beach we left for dinner. (BTW the showers at the beach were 100 yen for 3 minutes which I thought was outrageous so I didn't bathe there.). We went to a Curry House for dinner, which did have vegetarian curry so that was good. However, I would like to point of that what the Japanese consider curry is one specific taste of curry (lots of cinnamon and Khara Masala) as oppose to the Indian many flavors. Honestly the menu had all the same curry, just different vegetables/meats in the same curry sauce. Anyway, after dinner was when I truly came to appreciate Amma's weight on knowing how one is getting to and from various places (arranging rides beforehand.). I mean I always knew that was important but today for the first time I experienced the opposite. I mean the plan was to go back by bus, and had everyone stuck to schedule it would have happened, but everyone took their own leisurely time and then we changed the plan to taking a taxi (most people do not actually live close to the school, just me and 4 other guys.) Well, no taxi was coming down the road at that time, 9 at night (and it was pitch black outside.). Then we decided to call a Taxi company. Now that would have probably worked out but luckily a friend's mom offered us all rides, which was VERY nice. But anyway it was pretty frustrating that we did not have concrete plans.
BTW, on another note biking is very common here but no one wears helmets.
This was such an exciting day I am sure there is a LOT more to talk about but it is very late do goodnight! BTW Amma and Baba will be happy to know that after I came back I ironed for the first time in my life (my school uniform and Eisa costume) and it honestly wasn't hard or too tedious! (I already knew how from watching Amma, Baba, Baa, and Nani.). Anyway I think if I did wear formal clothes in the US I wouldn't mind ironing them because honestly crushed clothes look so nasty (and my clothes get extra crushed because they lie in the hamper for 5 months...)
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