This time last year and the year before I was spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, trying to get my students enthused in the traditions of Turkey day. I remember once in my classes at 並木 高校, I showed them pictures of the Macy's parade online, trying in vain to get them excited about big balloons of cartoon characters they didn't know. As I clicked on each picture, while they were sitting quietly at their desks, looking at their screens, I tried soooo hard to be excited about Rocky & Bullwinkle! The Turkey! Some Random Marching Band! Oooh, Oooh, Spiderman~~ you all know the new Spiderman movie, right?!
Although, every year we have the parade on in the background of our Turkey day preparations, that's not enough to feel that, hey, it's Thanksgiving. You have to be at home with family, wake up to the spicy smell of pumpkin pies baking and listen (however passively) to the somewhat cheesy, but oh so requisite parade sounds.
(Right now Elmo, Big Bird, The Grouch and all the Sesame Street Crew are singing!)
Happy Thanksgiving!
11.25.2004
11.24.2004
I Could Eat You!
I just read Kaori Shoji's piece , in The Japan Times, about Japanese food, language, and culture. She always has the most interesting articles connecting the language to the values in Japan.
I guess I was hanging out with "crude circles" in inaka (country) Ibaraki as I always called rice balls, onigiri not omusubi. Oops!
Food in Japan is totally connected to relationships. And often words aren't used when the meals are there to show the sentiment. It is a sad thing when a child or a husband arrives at school or work without a bento.
Early on in my stay in Japan I devised my own "bento-check." If I wanted to discreetly find out if a man was married or not, I'd check to see what he brought for lunch. If it was a bento it almost always meant he was married or seriously attached OR a mama's boy! If he brought bread things (oh the horrors!) or 7-11 snacks, he wasn't happily married or was single.
Now, this was just a fun game for me to pass the time away in the shokuinshitsu and I'm sure that there are exceptions (well, of course!) I just like being nosy.
I do know that one of the biggest compliments a Japanese man gave give you is that your food is umai (or oishii -- for the non-crude bunch)!
I guess I was hanging out with "crude circles" in inaka (country) Ibaraki as I always called rice balls, onigiri not omusubi. Oops!
Food in Japan is totally connected to relationships. And often words aren't used when the meals are there to show the sentiment. It is a sad thing when a child or a husband arrives at school or work without a bento.
Early on in my stay in Japan I devised my own "bento-check." If I wanted to discreetly find out if a man was married or not, I'd check to see what he brought for lunch. If it was a bento it almost always meant he was married or seriously attached OR a mama's boy! If he brought bread things (oh the horrors!) or 7-11 snacks, he wasn't happily married or was single.
Now, this was just a fun game for me to pass the time away in the shokuinshitsu and I'm sure that there are exceptions (well, of course!) I just like being nosy.
I do know that one of the biggest compliments a Japanese man gave give you is that your food is umai (or oishii -- for the non-crude bunch)!
11.16.2004
A Highly Commendable Mention.
The Preacher
Okinawa
He could have hailed from Texas with all his gospel.
He approached us--
we, stretching bodies on this Miyako Island sand, hair in the perfect breeze.
He's a retired man, stepping pristine sneakers into pristine sand.
He points to my friend, "you're American." And to me, "you're half."
He used this time to speak with foreigners--practice his English he acquired at Texas
Christian University. "I am a Christian" "I am a hater of sinners" "I believe in God, the son
of God and the holy ghost" "I believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins"
( I was waiting for the war question, the Bush question)
Here we were just hours after President Bush, in the name of America,
began the bombardment of Iraq.
This island--Miyako-- with its turquoise stillness, soft sand, green sugar cane fields
could not feel real.
This war-- miles away, endangering people I have never met--never will, information filtered so much, what can feel real?
Am I allowed to feel lucky?
The preacher declares he wrote a letter to Bush denouncing this war.
"If he was a believer in God, he wouldn't have started this war."
I won't pretend that I know the travesties of war. For the sake of the souls who do have
this knowledge, I won't pretend I know.
The preacher, done with his gospel, we three-- still in half womb position,
knees dug into sand, arms outstretched above us--
said little, smiled, and continued stretching.
I just found out in an e-mail that I won (no money) but a nice acknowledgement and publication (if desired) in The Tom Howard/John Reid Poetry Contest for that poem right there.
I wrote it after visiting the lush Okinawa island, Miyako in April of 2002. Hiromi, Brenda and I had boarded the flight from Haneda to Okinawa literally minutes before Bush would declare war on Iraq.
Okinawa
He could have hailed from Texas with all his gospel.
He approached us--
we, stretching bodies on this Miyako Island sand, hair in the perfect breeze.
He's a retired man, stepping pristine sneakers into pristine sand.
He points to my friend, "you're American." And to me, "you're half."
He used this time to speak with foreigners--practice his English he acquired at Texas
Christian University. "I am a Christian" "I am a hater of sinners" "I believe in God, the son
of God and the holy ghost" "I believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins"
( I was waiting for the war question, the Bush question)
Here we were just hours after President Bush, in the name of America,
began the bombardment of Iraq.
This island--Miyako-- with its turquoise stillness, soft sand, green sugar cane fields
could not feel real.
This war-- miles away, endangering people I have never met--never will, information filtered so much, what can feel real?
Am I allowed to feel lucky?
The preacher declares he wrote a letter to Bush denouncing this war.
"If he was a believer in God, he wouldn't have started this war."
I won't pretend that I know the travesties of war. For the sake of the souls who do have
this knowledge, I won't pretend I know.
The preacher, done with his gospel, we three-- still in half womb position,
knees dug into sand, arms outstretched above us--
said little, smiled, and continued stretching.
I just found out in an e-mail that I won (no money) but a nice acknowledgement and publication (if desired) in The Tom Howard/John Reid Poetry Contest for that poem right there.
I wrote it after visiting the lush Okinawa island, Miyako in April of 2002. Hiromi, Brenda and I had boarded the flight from Haneda to Okinawa literally minutes before Bush would declare war on Iraq.
10.09.2004
Soon To Be Employed...
Next week I start my job scoring tests. I'm just happy that I'll be getting back into a schedule. I guess, the faster I can make some money, the faster I can fly to Europa. I'm really excited, so been reading guidebooks and what not.
Sometimes I feel like my whole Japan experience didn't happen. It is internalized in me, but my life is so different now, at this moment, than it was severals months ago. It is different in good ways, but it's strange, I guess, or human, I guess, how people can adapt so fully into new environments and almost have to move on from the past experiences. I keep in touch with friends in Japan, so I do still feel connected, but my whole diet, my whole day, what I see,what I hear, what I say is different.
Sometimes I feel like my whole Japan experience didn't happen. It is internalized in me, but my life is so different now, at this moment, than it was severals months ago. It is different in good ways, but it's strange, I guess, or human, I guess, how people can adapt so fully into new environments and almost have to move on from the past experiences. I keep in touch with friends in Japan, so I do still feel connected, but my whole diet, my whole day, what I see,what I hear, what I say is different.
9.26.2004
Japanese Story
I'm obsessed with the Aussie movie, Japanese Story, starring Toni Collete.
I felt a strong connection to the characters and obviously the Japan connection made me natsukashii for ol'Nihon, but I think that what resonated with me was how people who are strangers to one another at first, can change each other-- it is a not a defined relationship-- but something else outside what we traditionally call a relationship. It becomes an experience with a lovely human being and leaves a print on your skin forever whether or not you ever see that person again.
I felt a strong connection to the characters and obviously the Japan connection made me natsukashii for ol'Nihon, but I think that what resonated with me was how people who are strangers to one another at first, can change each other-- it is a not a defined relationship-- but something else outside what we traditionally call a relationship. It becomes an experience with a lovely human being and leaves a print on your skin forever whether or not you ever see that person again.
9.08.2004
5.13.2004
Mushi Atsui
It ended up being a good day. Driving home from the train station in my little Nissan March in the rain, the dark and listening to jazz-- oh, what serendipity-- to turn on the radio here and hear a lovely rendition of Good Morning Heartache. I forgot how much I love jazz-- haven't been listening to enough of it these days.
And just minutes before, standing on the platform in the station waiting for the train, the rain down on the tracks-- wet, and this is what Japan is-- that sultry wet warmness. And this evening it was wonderful. After a few glasses of red wine, splendid.
A short and doughy businessman about my age, looking a little red in the eyes, asked me the time the train'd arrive. 11:25, the last train. Then he recognized me, that split second look, "moshikashite," "maybe, are you..." "Yes, I'm not Japanese." I said to confirm his doubt.
For the next 30 minutes we had friendly conversation in both English and Japanese. He asked me what Japanese actors I like, I told him, Watanabe Ken, the sexy samurai in The Last Samurai. He told me he liked Cameron Diaz. Then said, "Oh, you look like Cameron Diaz." I just had to laugh because I have brown hair, am not tall, am not skinny,.... Later he said he liked Beverly Hills 90210 and said I looked like Brenda. At least he got the hair color right this time and he said, No it's everything about you! "Brenda is beautiful, a pretty girl."
We didn't exhange names, and was relieved he didn't ask to become my language exchange partner, but even though he was uninhibited by the beers he probably drank after work, it was just a sweet exchange. That was cool that he had the guts to have a normal, friendly conversation with me in English. Most people don't.
And just minutes before, standing on the platform in the station waiting for the train, the rain down on the tracks-- wet, and this is what Japan is-- that sultry wet warmness. And this evening it was wonderful. After a few glasses of red wine, splendid.
A short and doughy businessman about my age, looking a little red in the eyes, asked me the time the train'd arrive. 11:25, the last train. Then he recognized me, that split second look, "moshikashite," "maybe, are you..." "Yes, I'm not Japanese." I said to confirm his doubt.
For the next 30 minutes we had friendly conversation in both English and Japanese. He asked me what Japanese actors I like, I told him, Watanabe Ken, the sexy samurai in The Last Samurai. He told me he liked Cameron Diaz. Then said, "Oh, you look like Cameron Diaz." I just had to laugh because I have brown hair, am not tall, am not skinny,.... Later he said he liked Beverly Hills 90210 and said I looked like Brenda. At least he got the hair color right this time and he said, No it's everything about you! "Brenda is beautiful, a pretty girl."
We didn't exhange names, and was relieved he didn't ask to become my language exchange partner, but even though he was uninhibited by the beers he probably drank after work, it was just a sweet exchange. That was cool that he had the guts to have a normal, friendly conversation with me in English. Most people don't.
4.17.2004
Kimochi Warui
Today it was nearly summer weather, yet I stayed in all day. I could have at least taken a walk around Doho Koen. I had the worst cough all last night and just felt like crap this morning, so I decided not to go to Tokyo for the Career Seminar. I'm really disappointed that I didn't go, but I don't think I would have enjoyed the crowded train for 2 hours, while coughing and hacking.
I think I needed some rest anyway after the first 2 weeks of school. The only place I went today was Kasumi to get some food for dinner. I only have 3,000 yen til pay day (I don't know how that happened-- maybe my shopping spree in Harajuku on pay day?!) I didn't buy any fun foods today. Just the basics-- carrots, onion, bell pepper, hamburger meat and avocado. I was feeling like eating something American tonight. In the meat section I saw the most interesting and disgusting thing-- an obasan who was serving sausage samples had made an animal sausage tree. It was a tree-- something you'd use to hang easter eggs-- and it had all over its branches cut up sausages connected together with toothpicks in the shape of dogs, cats and pinwheels. I couldn't help but say "sick" under my breath, a moment later another customer carted by, looked at the sausage tree and also said "sick," but in Japanese, "kimochi warui."
I think I needed some rest anyway after the first 2 weeks of school. The only place I went today was Kasumi to get some food for dinner. I only have 3,000 yen til pay day (I don't know how that happened-- maybe my shopping spree in Harajuku on pay day?!) I didn't buy any fun foods today. Just the basics-- carrots, onion, bell pepper, hamburger meat and avocado. I was feeling like eating something American tonight. In the meat section I saw the most interesting and disgusting thing-- an obasan who was serving sausage samples had made an animal sausage tree. It was a tree-- something you'd use to hang easter eggs-- and it had all over its branches cut up sausages connected together with toothpicks in the shape of dogs, cats and pinwheels. I couldn't help but say "sick" under my breath, a moment later another customer carted by, looked at the sausage tree and also said "sick," but in Japanese, "kimochi warui."
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