A morsel of fluff

Long jump since my last post again, but who cares! There are hardly any people who read this crap anyway! :D So I'm just writing it for myself so that I wouldn't forget the details of my PERFECT year in Japan (you just wait... I'LL BI BAK TU SKUUL).

So it's been almost a month. I've done a lot. Most of the 'a lot' will be put up as photos in the Book of Face. But to say it short in words, I've had a weird long running struck of luck.

First, I got to see kyogen (an interval play between Noh performances = the oldest Japanese stage comedy) FOR FREE, which is unbelievable considering and also it was through my own school. They organised a culture lesson of sorts - we all went to the city hall where the kyogen/Noh introductory session took place. We got to see 2 performances and learn about many rules and mannerisms of the art. It really 'brightened' my day. After leaving the hall I also saw a double rainbow perhaps for the first time ever and ever so clearly.

Also school life is going smoothly like creamed.

In other words - dreamy.

That was quite some time ago.

As for recent events, I got to go for a short family trip to Iwate and Miyagi pref due to my host dad's friend meeting. Hail all you coppers! I got to enjoy such a feast because of you! By feast I mean table full of delicacies all for myself in a traditional ryokan. (Refer to the Book of Face for pictures.) And afterwards all hour onsen hot water baths. It was heaven to say the least. We stayed there for a night and in the morning we had yet another delight for our tummies, but fortunately not as big as the night before.

The meal finished we head to Miyagi's and also Tohoku district's capital - Sendai. My mum and sister had some businesses to attend to so me and dad had quite some spare time in our hands. So we wandered around the city. Because my dad is a policeman he has had to travel around Tohoku quite a lot so he has lived here and there separate from his family. And of course he had stayed in Sendai too, quite near the city centre. He also took me there and we talked about some nostalgic stuff and wandered back to the station area. And wandered. And wandered. Wandered for about 4 hours (it was anything but boring) until the female part of the family finished their doings. We were quite starving by then so we all went to eat some famous dishes of Sendai. Which meant beef tongue and cream custard in roll cake pasty. Separate of course. It was all (unbelievingly) delicious! Says a person who dislikes eating something that has been in the mouths of others. Maybe I just didn't think about that at the time. Heh.

Then we drove home for another 4 hours. In other words I went on a tour as big as my home country in 2 days. Lilliputians we are, yes.

And this will sadly be my last entry as a child, because tomorrow I'll turn 18 and fly out of my nest. In a way. And also go to a concert of a band I recently found. They're uber awesome so I'm quite giddy right now. It might also be because I'll be having my Japanese exam on Sunday, for which I'll be going to Iwate again. This time to its capital Morioka.

Stating these things really makes me feel the END of things. Sighing ensues.

But that doesn't mean I'm sad. Just (overly) thoughtful maybe.

Anyway, merry tidings to you who have accidentally find your way here and may the coming holidays be white and fluffy!

Mine will be vivid. For years to come. :)

Soon I'll be making New Year postcard's for all my friends here and there (nengasho in Japanese, a traditional thing) so look forward to it, if you care.

Sails hoy! Kachin!

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!

Crimson blazed spirit in a crimson blazed wind

Oh, hello again! It has been a while.

So on to the blogpoint and first things first!

I'm fresh out of my now over kendo tournament and HYPED to the unbelievable max!!! Still!!! And it's already 7 hours since my match. (I show no signs of cooling down and I have school tomorrow... whaaat?!)

All the feelings I experienced these last two days were like sum ups of everything through my life through a veil of a Japanese spirit. Yesterday were the team matches, which our girls won, but there were some mishaps, dissatisfaction and other more personal (team) emotions piled up, which made it almost 'magically' human. And it was my first time experiencing such atmosphere, also being part of that sphere. I can't really put it into words (the counter for this saying is running high). It was just so. Human. Without all the negative. Just that.

And so today was my first kendo match! During the singles.

I lost! :D And I'm proud of it. Why? Because I didn't lose in the first couple of seconds or even minutes! One match lasts for 4, just so you know. And I can tell that my opponent didn't have it easy with me either, though our experiences were 5 months against at least 5 years (probably more, but for literary reasons, let's keep it that way). Anyway, I feel greatly awesomely magnificently hyperly human! Just almost exploding! But the part I'm most proud of is that I really gave it my all. Whilst dueling I experienced the real kiai spirit, the Real, real thing. I couldn't stay put after the face-off until the end of the day about 5 o'clock. (I got a banana cake from the mother gang, or the usual cheerleaders of Japan after that :) )

I was and still am and will be really touched by everyone's almost feverish support they showed my during my match. I didn't see anyone besides my opponent, but everyone's voice and advice reached me like a stainless steel filet cutter. Only focus on what you need, let your body do the thinking and just 'dance' with your opponent, eyes and senses wide open. That's kiai for you. I definitely have a new addiction now, so all of you beware! Adrenaline kiai rush, woohoo!

Even our usually extremely harsh teacher looked proud after my duel, even though I didn't make it out of the first rounds. And he's the type of person who doesn't tolerate losing. I'm really grateful for his kind words and understanding before and after that too. :)

Also my host mum and sister with her friends came to watch too. I tried to search for them in the balconies, but with no result. But they said that they saw me, so I'm happy. Having got home we had a little feast to celebrate my memorable day. :) Just so, so sweet of a life! Everything seems so simple and clear and possible now for some reason. Maybe it's KIAI!!! :D

So tomorrow, I'm going to the dojo to return my tournament gear and give everyone some 'thank you' doughnuts (sounds... strange. Simply put). Then I'm on 1 month vacation to study in depth for my Japanese exam in December. After that I'm going back to kendo till the end of my exchange year. You can't believe how painful it is to write these two words.

And speaking of endings, my friends today were in a near panic and some asking with tears welling up 'You aren't leaving for good, are you?!' When I succeeded explaining them my situation the next thing was 'After returning you must come everyday until you're too tired to go home (country).' What a persistent bunch. But that's the reason why I love them to death. And the reason I'm not feeling like going home. Where I 'belong', because I feel currently that I must have belonged here all the time. There are many upsides and downsides in leading double lives (which necessarily doesn't mean a spy. Every exchange student would know what I'm talking about. The meaning of the feeling changes with the time spent in your destination country. Been there, still doing that.)

But besides kendo, over the past blog apsent month I've been slowly but steadily preparing for my exam, going to school diligently, also traveling around Akita pref with my mum and sister (as you might have seen in my photos on FB) and enjoyed the changing seasons. Autumn really is the best. One whiff of that cool earthern damp air made me feel like I was reborn, literally. Just one day, PUFF!, a different person. Just cleared up the clouds in my head. Not to mention the Japanese shun (seasonal) cuisine. Currently chestnuts, potatoes, fresh rice, delicious fish and fruits. I'm living in a treasure chest! :D

So how's autumn over there? Still curious about the outside world, because believe it or not Japan still is quite a closed society outside the metropolis. :)

For now, toodles! I'm going to sing my lungs out before bed, so I could sleep soundly tonight. Even when just for an hour. Anyone care to share some really efficient ways to cure temporary hyper activity? (shivers)

Hails hoy!

Love you all :)

PS If anyone wants to see my kendo match, send me an e-mail and I'll post you the video.

Jab of Autumn

Hello, hello, hello one and all!

First off, a little musing for you.

Since about June, as I'm diligently walking to school early in the morning, I've noticed a single Japanese maple tree. It was bright red in midsummer.

When I pass it now, it has turned green, bright as spring. Have I found the fountain of opposite aging? Born elderly and dying as a newborn?

I have no clue, but it feels like a damn movie to me.

On a lighter note, I also saw my first pomegranate tree right next to that. Well, I always saw it, but without the fruit I didn't know what I was actually looking at. What a fine example of human ignorance. :)

So, onwards!

About the 'Jab of Autumn' - summer is now completely (and FINALLY I must say) over. There are chilly winds and flowing leaves and as of tomorrow all of us Kitako students are going to change into our winter uniforms, also we have finished our mid-term school exams (I made great effort with maths and Japanese mind you) and now has begun my final 3 months in the land of the rising sun.

I mustn't think like that! Snap out of it! Good. :)

And now 'my Jab' - I decided to take the 1st level JapaneseLanguageProficiencyTest. Oh my dear lord. I'm actually going to do it! In two months! And kendo tournament in a month!

YAY!!! :D

I must admit that I'm definitely a northern person - the chill of autumn and the smell of leaves has brought me my energy back and I feel like my 'old boney self again'. (Just a quote, nothing to do with my figure really. Come on, it's hallowe'en soon!)

I feel like I can do anything! Wahoo! Wish me luck and backbone to keep it up! (everything)

So I'll set sails to sleepland before I blow the computer up with my chakra happiness.

Hey hoyhoy!

PS Does anybody like Ranma? Or at least has heard of it?

Lots of hugs fo yuu!

Where have all the crimson red leaves gone? (They're yet to come.)

Oh dearest me, I've been away for too long.

Hello again and sorry for the absence!

I'm back at school after an amazing summer break full of 'The Japan' (sounds like champagne in my head for some odd reason) and for the blast off the week before last we had a sports' festival over the course of 3 days, which was a first for me. Usually it's only 1 day in my 'home school', but triple it and it's a lot more fun. There were no grades, no teachers critiquing, but teachers running! Yay! Loved it. We had a lot of games, hurdles, races, team challenges and so on.

But after that began the usual (as usual as it can be for me under the circumstances) school days with kendo and Kumon language study (only K and L left!).

As of now, it's week 3 from the last half of my exchange year.

Oh my lord.

Which brings me to the topic about the big plans I still have, which I also wanted to share on this blog for a long time -

I'm going to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) on December 5th, which will probably be in Miyagi prefecture in the capital of Tohoku - Sendai city. I'm yet to decide which level I'm going to take, but currently I'm between the 1st and the 2nd one, the former being the highest grade. I didn't consider it myself (I was rather between 2 or 3), but my YFU rep suggested me to take the challenge, but I'm really uneasy about even just thinking about it. 2 sounds nice... so what would it be?

But as for kendo, my teacher is determined to put me in a competition for newcomers (read: novices) in the beginning of November. I'm going to a kendo tournament people.

*edit* (I got to know that it's an open tournament, in which anyone who wants can join (including pros, shivering!) and that it's on 2~3 November.)

When I first heard about his plan I was in a state of utmost shock. I didn't know what to say or in what language I should say it. My friends were almost the same. They just clapped their hands with their mouths opened in amazement. The only thing I heard them say was 'sugoi' (awesome) or 'arienai hodo rakkii da bee' (You're a unbelievably lucky little bugger, aren't cha?).

But it's decided and today I heard the news that their ordering the tare (name flap) for me and all the preparations for the gear are already running. I just need to make my name into kanji so wish me luck as to not make it have a seriously weird meaning.

What am I going to do?! I'm really fired up for the match, but there's still some inklings of uneasiness left about the whole ordeal. I only have about a month and a half left for training (add that to the time I've been in kendo so far and you get around 4 months of practice overall!) and soon after the tournament I need to start giving my all for the JLPT test.

What a life!!!

Also the test is going to be just around my birthday as you might know, which makes it some sort of a present. A peculiar idea for a gift I must say.

I've already ordered and received some guide books and example questions but I'm quite at a loss about the levels. Well, just need to make it quick and permanent. I have a lot of teachers kind enough to give me some advice about it so I think I'm safe in all aspects.

I also need to go to the photographer's, but I think I should polish up my Shaggy mop-hair before that, which has taken over my face over the summer. It's quite ticklish and I have unbearable nose itches recently. Why am I saying it? Just for laughs ;) I don't want to turn into a Wookie either. Growl!

So that's that and no harm done, I'm sure. Just wanted to give a small heads up about my upcoming doings over here and how I've been keeping up.

Equals = EXCELLENTLY.

Merry goings to those over seas and high lands and a happy new school year!

Tschau pakaa!

Lots of love from Japan!

竿燈祭り・Kanto festival

3 August ~ 6 August - and I went there every day.

So it might be best to talk about what Kanto actually is.

Firstly, it is a really old festival. It has a history of more than 3oo years, starting from the Meiji era and during that time it was celebrated to pray for a good rice harvest and the lanterns were to symbolize the rice stalks swaying in the wind. It was a small local celebration then with about 20 or more Kanto lantern pillars, but nowadays the amount of pillars has increased more than 10 fold and the festival has even caught the eyes of people overseas.

As by tradition, the lanterns are only carried by men due to the heaviness, but until the end of elementary school girls can also take part of the carrying (the smallest lanterns are about 5 kilos to 10). Afterwards they can be the taiko drum or flute players (most of the players actually are girls).

An essential part of Kanto - music. You can hear it from afar even not seeing the lanterns and already your hairs start to stand up. It's just so powerful. I can't really imagine the parade without the music. It just wouldn't be the real thing. But no can it be Kanto without the lanterns, now can it? Also the hayashi kotoba/kakigoe or the accompanying shouts to cheer the people on - 'dokkoisho, dokkoisho' is mostly heard, but the full-length version is actually 'dokkoishossho, dokkoisho, oetasaa, oetasa, nekko tsuita, oetasa' which of course is too long to say all the time (and has almost no meaning), but during today's last show it was shouted out in the speakers.

The usual festival hours were from 7 in the evening till about 9, but it sadly felt even shorter.

The towering lanterns over everybody's heads were so enchanting and magnificent that you just couldn't turn your eyes away. They quite scarily resembled people, walking slowly in the streets, bowing when the accidentally run into one another, scramble a bit and then slowly move on, gently swaying in balance of the people holding them on their shoulders, hips or foreheads.

Compared to the gentle lanterns, the people under them were running around like frantic ants on a hot summer day, which actually was true - it was hot and sweaty as in a sauna.

I can't say that it was a simple festival, but compared to all the complicated things in the world, it might have been the most clear example of the natural balance of everything - rapidness and calm, light and shadow, dream and awake... Yin and Yang in a really magical form.

But I most clearly remember today - the last of Kanto.

Different from usual, I didn't go far from the entry road along the pavement, but stayed near the crossroads where small children were gathering with their parents. Because there was a lot of space and a good view over the little heads I thought it might be the best place for me too to enjoy the show. Also concerning Kanto, it was the curve where the paraders turned around to go for the next round in the Kanto Road and for that there was a wide open agora (or in other words the fore-mentioned crossroads) to do the turn more easily. A lot of performing groups gathered there and it looked really crowded both on the ground and in the air. I arrived there during the end of the second performance and the beginning of the last. When the final whistle blew you could just see the flashing cheery eyes of the lantern holders, the stand-byes and the musicians. Whilst in air, the lanterns started to dance their gentle hypnosis for the last time, but then something even more intriguing happened. One person lost his balance and one of the Kanto pillars fell. So did the person next to him and his lanterns. And another. Then the next until most of the big lanterns on the curve fell down. It was like a blazing giant domino game. And I loved it! (How cruel, but I wasn't alone.) But that didn't mean the end of the show - they lighted the candles again and continued with all their might, but because they already had participated for 4 days, they seemed exhausted and the lanterns fell after that incident too. But they just kept on going.

Finishing whistle and everybody clapped and cheered. Finishing speeches from the mayor and another round of clapping. It was Fureai Kanto time - a chance to try to hold a kanto yourself, play the taiko and take photos of it all. Because it just might have been my once in a lifetime chance, I also grabbed hold of one of the pillars. It was the middle sized one, but still really heavy. If not mistaken, the middle one is about 30 kilograms. The biggest is about 5o and when decorations are added, it will be even more. I tried to hold it above, but of course I only succeeded in touching it correctly. Balance was a completely round zero.

God it felt great! Everything!

And adding to Kanto (or the time before it), I just spent the most magnificent day during my home stay so far. Because one of my sisters came back from Osaka for a home visit, we decided to go out to Nikaho city, me, host mum and the two sisters, to the more southern part of Akita prefecture past Honjo. We had a reservation in a place called Garden Cafe Time - a huge beautiful garden cafe where on a garden house veranda you can enjoy the healthiest homemade dishes in the world. Or so I believe. The place is just swallowed in a cloud of herbal aromas - mint, thyme, parsley, lavender, rosemary, all sorts of different flowers - everything was there. (The site is only in Japanese and there are no photos doing the place justice so I'll upload some pictures tomorrow. :)

Later we also went to a local small onsen, which had really rich baths. By rich I mean mineral wise. After that we went to THE BEACH.

YAHOOO! My kingdom! It was really awesome and fun and long waited, plus the water was so bright blue that it felt like burning in my eyes.

I just wish I had eyes coloured like so.

Lastly we yet again went to an onsen but a different one called Nemuno oka (ねむの丘) located at a road station. The building itself looked high class and when you entered the main doors there was a clear sign saying 'Baths on the 4th floor with a beautiful view of the sea.'

No kidding.

We just happened to arrive there during sunset.

Did I mention the water? Yeah, it was really rich. And it felt like burning my skin this time around. That might have been because of my sudden light sunburn. The sun in Japan is unbelievably strong - I don't go 'fried chicken' so easily...

Whilst driving back I sent my mate the Sun to the back of the horizon, spending some magical minutes constantly looking at the slow sinking of the orange melted sky and canary coloured clouds floating in a lavender purple sea. I almost felt like crying because of the sheer sight of all the beauty at that moment.

Only thing left to do now is to paint it by heart so that I could have a piece of the magic with me always.

Still being the luckiest bugger in the world. :)

Ta-ta and Hail hoy!

Hey ho an' a Pottle of rumm

Camp life = Park Life!

Yes people, I'm back from my adventures at the JRC camp! It was unfortunately really short but none the less really fun!

It was held at a youth centre quite near my home (about 15 minutes by car), but due to bad weather we couldn't do any outdoor activity which was a bit unfortunate, but didn't make the camp any less fun. There was plenty to do indoors too.

For example we learned how to do CPR, how to wrap bandages on different wounds and what to do during times of trouble etc. It was also called 'leadership camp', so there were workshops about cooperation and discussions about self independence and the like. We also did a bit of volunteer work by translating Japanese children books into Khmer and sent them off to Cambodia. I can't speak Khmer, and I never will, but the translating meant sticking Khmer sentences over the original lines and a label with your name on the last page. It was my first time doing that sort of work and I really think I'll start doing charity in the future (and not just stick stickers into books).

We were all divided into separate groups and I was actually put into the junior high school one, which meant a whole different environment for me, but everybody was really lively and childishly curious so I had a lot to talk about with them and really felt in the group. There were people from all around the prefecture so we got to mingle with many, many different people from different ages. I so missed events like that. Reminded me that awesome last year a bit. :)

Also I got the chance to meet two AFS exchange students there and hear about their feelings and thoughts about Japan. They were quite different from mine, but still we had a lot in common too and for that we stayed up quite late to talk and laugh. Quite loudly... I hope we were no bother for others... Honestly.

I also met a teacher who really resembled Miyazaki Hayao to me and I secretly took reference photos of him for my drawings. I have really sneaky schemes with those. Hahaha! :P

Overall it was a really fulfilling and eye opening experience, which helped me to understand even more clearly the reasons for me being where I am and also where I want to go. And all in really good company.

And speaking of where I want to go, Kanto is tomorrow! And that's not all - we might be going to Aomori too for the Nebuta festival, the big celebration with gigantic lantern monuments and definitely going to Oomagari in Akita for the might be biggest fireworks festival in Japan. And with my host sister that I haven't met yet!

I just learned these things today when I got back so I almost fell off my chair when I heard it all. I just might actually be the luckiest bugger alive. Oh, and there's Obon too...

But that would be the subject for my next post.

And lastly about my school - still on summer vacation, but before going to camp I said my goodbyes and 'good lucks' to my kendo mates who are currently in Okinawa (first day) already, getting prepared for the grand tournament. I'm really rooting for them because they have worked so hard for it all. They should win it. Definitely. That would be perfect. :)

But that means that I'm on a break from kendo too. It's somewhat a bitter sweet feeling but a good rest is always welcome.

There's also going to be a prefectural calligraphy contest in my school too on 10th but I don't know if I can go there because I'm going to see sumo then.

Yes. SUMO.

I'm going to see Baruto for goodness sake! I'm definitely going to yell something in Estonian. Just a 'hello' would be suffice. Ya~~hoo~~!

And in the end, I still don't get to rest. Damn me. Hehe!

I suddenly got an urge to draw sumfink... I wonder what it would be...

That calls for my urgent exit! Thanks for dropping by and reading my late night musings.

The little pirate sails again!

Ciao.