The Sandwich Witch (me)

Greetings!

I thought I'll create a little Ham Sandwich effect (which means stuff something between something) to lighten my usual all out emotions about my Japanese experience blabberings and talk about some small fluffy stuff. Snickering ensues.

First off, I finally got myself to watch the 2008 Oscar winning film 'Okuribito' and I'll say it straight - if you haven't seen it, then DO IT NOW. Really, it's beyond words and redefines the human drama genre with it's calm and soft yet deep, dramatical yet sometimes comical touch on human relationship and also it is unbelievable eye opening in many ways... I can't find a better word for it. Makes you respect everything around you more and care for even the smallest things you do. One of the little things - 'Think before you say.' A saying I have thought of quite a lot recently due to the Japanese culture of 'undertsanding what is left unsaid' I'm living in.

Damn it, yet again went the old 'emotional experience' way! Sorry!

But the film is awesome and no wonder why it snatched the prize. A piece worth watching.

To make things up, on a lighter note, I'll talk about my hobby - getting off my usual bus at a different from usual stop. Then wonder about. That way I have discovered many small but hugely peculiar things around my seemingly usual hometown.

My latest find is an apartment complex near the elementary school my sister goes to. The building is called 'Gryffindor'. How cool is that?! You can actually live the life of magic in this muggle world! Haha!

Other things are for instance buildings of odd shape or style, for example a Japanese sweetshop covered entirely with moss making it look like a huge green stuffed toy, unbelievable narrow snake like winding alleys and small parks in the most cramped of spaces. You know, for the kids to play in. To keep them of the streets. ;)

Also, just last week I got off the bus about 5 stops before my usual place and took a little walk home. On the way I suddenly noticed that there was a small group of elementary school students running after me shouting 'Konnichiwa! Hallo! Hallo!' After I turned around they caught up with me looked at me from every angle (of course commenting on my eyes, round and huge xD) and followed me home while asking various questions about where I'm from and why I'm here. I had some questions for them too so we had a small friendly chittery chat until we parted ways. They were all my neighbourhood children, some living right next to me.

Needless to say that this kind of thing is unusual in here. Why? Firstly, it's more of a countryside here, but moreover isn't it well known that the Japanese are more on the timid side? They usually might just nod to you when your eyes meet in the street then scatter away, but when the girl who seemed to be the leader of the bunch started talking to me, I really sensed that Japan is changing. In every sense. Also the old generation being replaced by the next. Japan really is in the middle of the biggest change it has ever faced. Bigger than Meiji. It may seem small from the outside, but the biggest changes always happen on the inside, where it isn't easily seen. Only when you're part of it. But every change has it's ups and downs so I'll be looking forward to see what will happen to Japan and overall world as I keep living on this ball of mud and imagination.

That is all of my little foundings. I hope you found them entertaining even though I still ended up being too serious. Gomen ne! :)

Until next time!

Hails hoy!

The Floating World

It's been a while! Bonjour!

About school - can anyone say what is Japan's usual level of seriousness in studying? I've got a feeling that my host school is really high grade. We had a really huge meeting about the students future and universities, some speeches about international diplomacy and so on. It wasn't the first, nor will it be the last.

In Estonia it's just get-out-of-here-and-see-what-you're-capable-of-kind of attitude after high school. And speaking about Estonia, I might not be the first Estonian to land in Akita, but damn sure I'm the first high school exchange student here. PIONEERS FOREVER, BANZAI! Hahhaa!

Overall, school has been calm. Everybody's leading their usual chattery school life in which I've happily been included. :) Soon, after the tournament, I'll be able to enter my longed kendo club too. Finally! Also, I'll be going to a electric guitar class in the city centre. FINALLY! :D It's been a while since I've really been busy. I found out that I can't lead a life like that after all. :)

Have I mentioned that my school trip will be to South Korea?

Anyway, I will not go there. It's a bit sad, however I might have the chance to go somewhere I like in Japan during the time. I'm aiming for Kyoto, but nothing is sure at the moment. There are also some concerts that I'd like to attend... we shall see. :)

(I've also begun preparing my costume. There's a soon ending contest in the net with good prizes so I'd like to give it a shot. :) Tomorrow I'll start with the hat, which I can't wait!)

Sadly though, there's no feeling of summer nor late spring in Akita. Only rain (although I somewhat like that sort of weather too). But fortunately for me, I found some things that really cheered me up.

I found primulas, the usual spring flowers of Estonia in many people's gardens, also lily of the valley, another sign of spring. The flowers were seen some time ago, but today I stumbled upon my first Japanese wagtail [link]. It's a bit different from the pied wagtail [link] in my home country, but nonetheless dear to my heart. I just became unimaginably happy when I witnessed these small treasures around me. Definitely, all the small and all the grand things in the nature of Japan will never be forgotten by me. Everyday I happen to take a wrong turn in the streets but always I come upon something miraculous. Something beautiful. I just love everything in my home city. In my surroundings. Wherever I am. It isn't bound to any place.

As always, I never want to grow up. I'd be too tall to see the small wonders around me.

秋田より愛を込めて

From Akita with love

st. spl

I also put up some photos that I forgot to upload in April. Sorry for that!

PS Massive Attack's Heligoland is a must! Be sure to listen!