Moving

Moving was surprisingly easy. Each day I took over one carload and slowly everything disappeared from Pasadena and appeared in Claremont. Everything save two particular items: the 5 keys to the various building to which I have access at UCR (my office, the mailroom, the Comp Lit library, and two buildings) AND my master's diploma. That's it so far...

Updates

I have safely returned from Japan and spent a wonderful month in Boston with family after attending Priya's wedding in Colorado! Knowing that I would be spending the month of August with family at the beach was the only reason leaving Japan was not too difficult. Moreover, I hope to return to that engaging country next year. I flew back to Cailfornia on Sept 1 and spent the first three weeks moving to Claremont from my beloved Pasadena while entertaining 2 guests from Japan. I just had a wonderful weekend in Chicago with a new friend and saw Eri - who is pregnant and looks great!

Now, school has started this past Monday with many long but good meetings. Classes began just yesterday. I am teaching French (again!) and am auditing a creative nonfiction writing course, which is my inspiration for starting this blog once again. Please check out my Flickr website for lots of pictures from Japan, and more recent ones too.

Blood Types

As in America, one might ask "What's your sign?", in Japan one is likely to hear "What is your blood type?" It is a popular way of discerning someone's general character just for fun. Roughly translated from the Japanese, they are as follows:

A - "nervous" These people are serious (majime), keep a very clean house, worry a lot, are perfectionists, and like to care for others.

B - "going my way" （自己中心的）These people are easily absorbed into different matters, are excited about various hobbies, can be rather selfish, and are often artists' blood types.

O - "optimist" (大丈夫）These people are very open and easily befriend anyone, they are often the leader of the group; however, their attitude and mood can change frequently affecting those around them.

AB - "has many faces" They have two sides to themselves: cold and friendly; excitable and quiet; enjoyable and boring. They can be rather confused people.

So... what is your blood type? Interesting many Japanese people are A; while I think many Americans are O, isn't it so?

Rainy Season

The rainy season officially began, according to the weather report, a week ago Thursday. It is hot and terribly humid and raining. A steady heavy misty rain. One that drenches you completely while you barely notice it falling from the sky. Everyone's mood seems a bit heavy these past couple of days.

Die Hard 4 and other comments

Last night (Tuesday) I went with my friend Ayano to Oosaka to see Die Hard 4 before it is released to all other theaters in the area, which will occur on Saturday. I suppose last night was a premier showing, although it may have already opened in Tokyo? Regardless, Ayano had entered a contest and won two free tickets to see the movie in a theater in Oosaka, so off we went. Interestingly, neither of us had ever seen 1, 2, or 3, nor, if we were in the States, would we have planned to see 4. Yet free tickets and Oosaka are quite alluring.

This was the first movie that I have seen on the big screen in a long while. Because of my exams, I truly had not seen a movie in a long while. Moreover, daily life in Japan is more quiet, less intrusive, and more tame than life at home.

This movie was so loud, in your face, action-packed, violent, and crazy, I could not help but laugh and jump and shriek the whole movie through. What an experience! Normally, I would probably not really like this type of movie, but Die Hard 4, I loved! It was excellent.

However, I could not believe that all the Japanese people in the audience (Ayano and I were the only two people in the entire very large theater that were not from Japan) did not move a muscle the entire movie through. How they sat there ever-so-still while cars were flying through the air and blowing up helicopters, I will never know.

Moreover, after seeing this violent, action, end-of-the-world movie, I can only wonder what impression they must have of America.

If anyone has seen the movie, please let me know what you thought!

Paying Bills

While often a dreadful topic at home, paying bills in Japan is the most easiest of experiences. All bills: water, gas, electricity, cell phone, land line, etc. are paid at the konbinis (at the convenient stores such as 7 eleven, family mart, circle k, etc. The paper bill arrives in the mail. One walks to the closest konbini, and there is literally one on every corner. They are more common than all coffee shop chains combined in the States. At the konbini, one hands the cashier the paper bill and then one hands the person in CASH the correct amount of money. The cashier, in return, gives a receipt and the whole process is finished! Moreover, most all konbinis are open 24 hours a day everyday so there is little worry about being late. No checks, no money orders, no stamps. It makes paying bills (except for the dishing out money part) quite simple.

Changes

Calluses are developing just below my kneecaps. I had not realized how much time I spend kneeling in Japan!

Day-to-day life

Each day passes so easily, almost too easily. Quickly the moments are filled when I planned to spend the time studying or taking a walk around the little side streets of Kyoto. However, I have decided to be more aware of my time for at least this week.

Orion and I meditated yesterday morning (Sunday) at the same temple (Shokokuji) next to campus. Again it was excellent and we are still searching for a place to go to every morning.

Cathryn cooked Ayano and I lunch yesterday and then Orion took the three of us to a little kimono/yukata store to by the most loveliest yukatas at a reasonable price. (We have been all wanting to get them for the Gion matsuri on July 17.)

This week, I have most of my afternoons free and plan to prepare for a serious grammar test this Friday. As I realized that today is my two-month mark in Japan, it is clear to me that four months is simply too short a period of time. Everything is no longer so scary or so foreign; however, it is still so new. It feels fresh and exciting as at the start of a new relationship. To truly assimilate to a new place, it is not necessary to reach a place were day-to-day life feels less crisp and a little more soft and comfortable like a warm winter sweater and a cup tea? However, before that time, the happiness I feel and the beauty of this new culture is certainly enchanting.

My birthday!!!

I had such a wonderful birthday weekend! Mom and Anne took me out to cake in the afternoon and then a delicious dinner on Thursday before they left. I had parfaits with Ayano, Cathryn and my EWS friends Friday afternoon. Saturday morning Rachel and I went rice planting What a unique experience!

And Saturday, I threw myself another birthday party. We had a pot luck dinner with about 15 people in my tiny room. Everyone cooked such delicious food and there was even a pile of Mister Donut donuts with birthday candles and singing. Everyone gave me a little Happy Birthday card with a personal message, pretty hair clips, and a lovely navy summer sweater! After dinner, Orion helped me with a tea tasting: genmaicha, puhyr (sp?), macha, and the homemade sencha mom and Anne and I had made the week before. Afterwards, a smaller group of us headed to a club called "World" on Kiyamachi were we danced for many hours into the night. It was a bit of an odd club but we had a good time since we were all together.

On Sunday, we went to Arashiyama to a boat matsuri (festival). We actually rented boats (Grace, Orion, Cathryn, Ayano, and Rachel) and we rowed around this wonderful river while certain special boats were performing Heian period dancing and playing koto music. It was a wonderful day out in the sunshine.

Lastly, on Monday, at EWS, my subarashii Japanese friends bought me a cheesecake, made me a string of paper garland, and sang happy birthday! After class ended, we went to sing karaoke, which I love!

Perhaps it is because we are so far away from home, but friends have become quite dear here in a very short period of time. I believe it was the same in Paris. The thoughtfulness of those I have surrounded myself with here is so striking, I find myself in a sustained state of happy awe.

Rice Planting (taue)

I took Rachel on a crazy adventure with me to go rice planting! This activity involves wading knee deep in muddy water and sinking well past our ankles in mud while planting little stalks of rice into the mud. A very unique and wonderful experience! Although I found out about the event from Japanese students on Doshisha campus, there were mostly Japanese families there with lots of children. It was great to see how the families interact and participate in a family oriented event. They prepared us a delicious vegetarian lunch as well. A good morning.

Our EWS Circle

Being part of this EWS circle in Japan has been such a rewarding experience. We regularly go out with our Japanese friends and speak an odd mixture of English and Japanese. Friday, after mom and Anne left, Ayano, Cathryn and I ate delicious parfaits at tsujiri, supposedly the most famous parfait mise in Kyoto, with Taro, Marie, Daiki, Hama, and Maya.

Afterwards, Hama, Maya, and the three of us went bowling! and to dinner at a good pasta house. A good day.

Mom and Anne's trip

Mom and Anne were here in Kyoto with me from Tuesday evening 5/8 until Friday morning 5/18. We had such a wonderful time together! and I think that they really enjoyed Kyoto. (I hope!) 　While I was in class each morning, they toured a different temple and then we would meet for lunch and an afternoon adventure. Each day was better than the last and mom said that she would not be able to pick the best moment. In brief:

5/8 (Tues) arrived.

5/9 (Wed) Toji temple, lunch on campus, Philosopher's walk and Ginkakuji temple; dinner at home in my room.

5/10 (Thurs) Botanical gardens in the only rainy day, lunch at a little cafe, dinner with Ayano and Cathryn in Porta.

5/11 (Fri) Mom and Anne spent the day on rented bikes touring the city. (Ryoanji, Kinkakuji, Kamogawa)

5/12 (Sat) Tea picking, tasting, making with a delicious lunch in Wasuka near Uji!

5/13 (Sun) Spent Mother's day in Hiei near Yase with Rachel - hiking, outdoor flower garden/museum, temple; dinner at home in my room.

5/14 (Mon) Nanzenji temple, lunch on campus, Candy Museum, shopping, dinner at Hamac de Paradis

5/15 (Tue) lunch on campus, Fushimi-inari. Hiked up a long mountain underneath a bridge of Toris. It was excellent!

5/16 (Wed) Shopping in the morning, touring Higashiyama with Anne's student's mother's friend from Kyoto. Dinner on the 11th floor Isetan departo!

5/17 (Thurs) Shopping, lunch on campus, cake at Lipton cake store, more shopping, dinner at a lovely Japanese traditional restaurant near Kyoto eki. Anne and I were in a bit over our heads but we ate it all!

5/18 (Fri) かなしいいいいい！ I took mom and Anne to the bus terminal to Kansai Kukou before class began and they departed.

It was a very full and fulfilling trip. Because we took several trips to the outskirts and outside the city, it was refreshing for me to be around so much greenery, and was in some ways similar to Koyasan.

Visitors

Mom and Anne arrive today! うれしい！！！

New Purchases

In addition to A LOT of new clothes and shoes, I made a very important (although expensive) purchase - a denshijisho. This is an electronic Japanese-English dictionary and I can also draw the kanji onto the screen making reading books in Japanese a possibility for the first time!

Jazz in Japan

Last Friday and Saturday I spent exploring the jazz scene in Japan. On Friday, a friend and I went to an outdoor jazz festival in a small nearby city (Takastuki). For 7 hours, we wandered from cafe, to temple, to bar, to park listening to the most wonderful jazz, bossa nova, blues, and fusion music. Saturday night we had a girls night out in Kyoto and spent the evening sipping delicious drinks in a tiny basement jazz piano bar we all decided that we would be frequenting much more often.

Golden Week - Ikebana

Before Koya-san, Ayano, Cathryn, myself, and several others spent a day in Oosaka. In addition to much shopping, we saw a wonderful ikebana show in the Takashimaya department store. Ikebana is such a beautiful art. Moreover, it was striking to see how it is being modernized in Japan with electronics, odd colors, and certain artificial elements.

A first

On the way to Koya-san we ate at a fast-food, stand-up noodle restaurant. It was such an interesting experience to be slurping noodles alongside business men and other travelers while standing. I must admit I prefer to dine sitting down.

Golden Week - Koya-san

This past week was "Golden Week," which means all students have a week off from school. Many of the UC students traveled to Tokyo. Friends Cathryn, Rachel, and I took a different path, and traveled to a small, magical, mountain village called Koya-san. To arrive there we traveled first by JR, then chikatetsu, next train, followed by a cable car, and finally a bus! There, we spent three days and two nights in a Shingon Buddhist temple where we were served the most amazing dinners and breakfasts in our room by monks-in-training. They also laid our futons out for us at night and prepared tea for us as well. We awoke early in the morning for service from 6-7:15 am. The monks chanted the entire time and we gave symbolic offerings of tea and incense while another monk prepared a fire. Afterwards the head monk asked us back to his quarters for tea and mochi. We chatted for sometime with the other monks and I made several connections and received some recommendations for my dissertation research. Excellent!

Koya-san is such a gentle place. The people there are incredibly kind, gentle, and welcoming. This village, three thousand feet into a deep green mountain, brought such a peace and quietness to me and the busy, city life we lead in Kyoto.

We were fortunate and were able to participate and in special mandala ritual that only occurs twice a year. We were inside a large temple, in the dark, blindfolded, our hands twisted in a mudra linking body and spirit on a lotus leaf, and chanting "omsamaeosatobun" over and over again, while we dropped flowers onto a mandala. It was quite powerful I must say and supposedly we are all one step closer to becoming a monk!

As a final note, the most important aspect of the trip to me was perhaps less significant to the overall peace I felt while I was there and am attempting to keep with me now. The monks let me rake the rocks! I was overjoyed. Cathryn took several pictures and I will put them on Flickr as soon as possible. Honestly, I would be quite content in my life if I lived in a temple and was the "rock raker." So much for my PhD, I've decided to become a rock raker!

I plan to return to Koya-san again before these four months are over.

EWS Circle

Joining and being part of circles (or clubs) are a very significant part of college student culture. Ten of us interviewed and were selected to be part of a circle to teach English to Doshisha college students. My friend Ayano and I teach on Monday evenings. This group is so very much fun! For an hour and a half we play games and have conversations in English with other Japanese students. Afterwards, we go out for dinner or drinks and speak an odd mixture of Japanese and English. There are monthly parties for the entire group. This month was a nomihoudai (all you can drink) and next month is bowling! It is great to meet Japanese students and make friends. My Monday group all believe I look like the Japanese singer Angela Aki and so have started calling me "Angela" instead of Jane. It is quite amusing; however, in my quest to blend in and be more Japanese, it makes me quite happy.

Sitting Sazen

Two weeks ago with a sensei's help, I found a Rinzai Zen temple just next to campus, where twice a month the public can come and mediate. (every second and fourth Sunday morning from 9 to 11) This morning myself and a friend how also used to meditate in America went off to the temple. It was excellent and quite similar to the Zen center that I used to go to in Cumberland and Cambridge. I will definitely return.

Petit Sizes

I must comment for a moment on the small sizes of all doorways, tables, desks, chairs, ceilings, stairs, etc. I absolutely love it. At home, my feet rarely comfortably reach the ground when sitting in any given chair, frequently causing my knees to hurt, which then causes me to sit crosss-legged. Here, all tables and chairs are much lower to the ground. I can comfortably sit at any place with my feet squarely placed on the floor. I very much like this aspect of life here, although it may seem like a small thing. Interestingly, the staircases, although the width and depth of the stairs are narrow, the height from one step to the next is quite significant. I suppose having steeper stairs saves space. From all the walking and climbing, my legs and behind are receiving a great workout everyday!

My fabulous Japanese haircut!!!

Last evening for about two hours, I was in a hair salon. It was the most amazing two hours! After filling out a form with name, address, birthday, etc., I was escorted to the sink where first, my hair was prepared to be washed by subarashii person number 1. A blanket was laid on my lap, I bright yellow cloth was tied about my neck, and a vinyl black fabric was tied about my neck covering the yellow cloth. The hair washer helped me lie down in the chair and gently rested my head in the sink. My face was covered with a light white cloth to keep water from spraying on it. However, before I lay down, he prepared a bath for my hair testing the water for several minutes before it was the right temperature. Then he proceeded to wash my hair for at least 20 minutes! He used at least three different products, asked if the temperature was ok, and continually apologized every time he needed to lift my head. He massaged my scalp and rinsed and rinsed my hair. Afterwards he gently wrapped my head and a bright yellow towel and led me to the next person who would cut it.

Before this entry becomes much to lengthy, as it happens, the person who cut my hair has the same birthday as me - year and all! We discussed which style might work, what I wanted, what he thought would be nice, etc. (all in Japanese). After carefully cutting, my hair was then re-washed/rinsed by a third person who afterwards, brought me back to the haircutting chair where she massaged my head, scalp, temples, neck, and shoulders. WOW! After she finished another woman stared drying my hair and then the man that had cut my hair returned and helped her. I had two people blow drying my hair at the same time! It was heavenly. She left and he finished styling it.

In total, five people helped with the hair cut. It was as if I was at a spa and it certainly was the best 4,000 yen I have spent yet. (They had even given me a 500 yen discount.)

Two and a half week Kyoto top 5 Lists

LOVE
1. Warm moist face cloths that you receive in restaurants to wash your hands before eating.
2. Japanese cell phones.
3. Japanese WESTERN style toilets with heated seats, bidets, etc.
4. Ofuro - Japanese baths - delicious and relaxing.
5. Walking up a long flight of stairs from the subway into the sunlight. It feels renewing.

Could do without...
1. Smoking in restaurants.
2. In bathrooms: lack of paper towels, only cold water, the hole in the ground toilets.
3. Homogeneous society, being stared at.
4. Expensive fruit (which I have decided just to buy anyway.)
5. No napkins in restaurants.

Ryoanji

Myself and three friends went to Ryoanji on Saturday. It is a wonderful temple, with a very famous fifteen stone rock garden. Regardless of where you sit to observe the garden, one is always only able to see fourteen of the fifteen stones, and therefore, is never able to grasp the whole essence (of life). Although we arrived later than we planned, it was not too busy and we were able to sit for a while in relative peacefulness. We are definitely planning on returning early one morning. Moreover, since Ryoanji is far West, the area is much more residential and away from the busy (and noisy) downtown area. Nestled in the trees with the atmosphere of a community, I very much liked this part of Kyoto!

As we left the rock garden and tea house, we strolled off the main route through a landscape garden and paused to gaze at a lake. Here, a Japanese woman offered me fresh sweet strawberries. The fruit here is so juicy, sweet, and just delicious! She was very kind and wanted to share them with us. I wrote this haiku about the experience:

Choose a different
path and receive sweet berries
when sakura bloom.

Friday Night Kareoke

I love to sing! Singing songs that everyone knows with a group of friends in a small room in a foreign country is such a good time! the Beatles, Michael Jackson, the Foundations, Love Revolution, theme music of Orange Days, etc.

Shopping in Kyoto

The shopping here is very addicting. I have never been much of a shopper before... Supposedly, whenever one learns a new language and experiences a new culture, one often has a new personality. In Paris, for example, I was much more socio-politically minded. In Kyoto, I think I am becoming a shopper, or at least a window shopper! (Everything is quite expensive.) Moreover, if I accidentally buy a new wardrobe (especially shoes, pocketbooks, and other accessories), I might look more Japanese and fit in better. It is interesting that the way foreigners walk, talk, dress, behave, and hold and present themselves is simply somehow different than in the Japanese. I've decided that my goal is to study this and attempt to blend in. A friend and I went to a flea market/handmade craft fair last Thursday at a shrine, and I found a wonderful new handbag for only 500 yen!

じろじろ見る

生活になれましたか？　まだなれません。 "Have you become accustomed to life in Japan?" was the opening question of today's grammar class. Of the eight students in the class, half answered that they had become accustomed to Japan life and the other half (including me) answered that we had not yet.　

Of course, the follow-up question was either what was different from our homes or what was difficult with life here. My answer, which others in the program have felt as well, is that we are constantly stared at. Mite! Gaijin desu! (Look! It's a foreigner!) Moreover, it is not a kind stare but an interrogating or questioning one. We feel like we stick out. Yesterday, a few of us were discussing this feeling. I said that I feel like I am constantly in the way. I can't figure out which side of the sidewalk to walk on, where to move when a bicycle is coming at me, or which line to join at the train station. Comically, as saying this, I backed up a little and nearly stepped on someone walking behind me! I had to laugh. However, on explaining this in class to day, I used the word "misumeru," which translates as to stare. This "stare" is one of beauty or admiration I learned. The sensei told me I meant jirojiromiru (the subject of this entry), whose meaning offers a negative feeling along with the staring.

Interesting, upon starting a conversation with any Japanese person, 95% of the time, they are kind, helpful, and interested in having a conversation. Therefore, I said that overall I feel a bit confused here (tomadou). Japan is a very homogenous society and I think it is understood that I am trying to live here (food shopping, train pass, no huge backpack strapped to me) rather than just be a tourist, which creates some tension it seems.

The flower shop lady

Outside the supermarket that I like going to, called Fresco, there is a small flower store. Everytime I pass by it I wish to have fresh cut flowers like I always do in Pasadena, but I had yet to buy a vase. Finally, yesterday, I went to daisoo, a hyaku en store and purchased a flower vase and three futon cushions. Next, I went directly to the supermarket and after buying a few groceries, I walked outside to buy some fresh cut flowers. However, to my dismay, the store was just closing and the lady was putting all the flowers away. I asked if it was too late and she showed me the flowers that she still had out - they were little bouquets for only 150 yen! I purchased one with pretty yellow and pink flowers and upon doing so she gave me two roses to go with them that are in full bloom! I think that they had broken off longer stems and so she was going probably to discard them, but no! She gave them to me and doing so restored my faith in the kindness of the Japanese as I have been feeling a bit flustered living here lately.

First day of classes

Classes today were good and I was glad to have them begin. The teachers are extremely kind and my class has only 6 students in it! Two Americans, one Canadian, one person from Mongolia, another from Switzerland (she speaks German, not French), and the last from New Zealand!

I have a good deal of homework, which is graded, I think. I must admit that everything in class today was pure review and VERY easy but that is fine with me. I'm sure that the pace will pick up soon and I appreciate how important review is just to make sure that everyone is on the same page and to solidify the ideas in our heads. Having a strong foundation is of utmost importance!

In today's Japan culture class, we visited a Zen temple near the campus. There is a beautiful dragon painted on the ceiling, who, if you clap at him, will answer your call by flapping his wings back to you! It was quite neat. They have sitting sazen mediation for the public on two Sundays each month, which I am planning to attend.

Japanese Cell Phones!!!

Japanese cell phones (keitai) are simply amazing! All come equipped with email, cameras, internet, etc. I love my new cell phone. It is a shiny metallic PINK of all colors. (Japan is a very color and gender conscious society: the floor of one women's bathroom I used last night was pink and grey while the men's was blue and yellow.) To receive another person's email address and phone number and other profile information, it is only necessary to put the two phones close to each other and "send" the information via infra-red technology. Very advanced and very exciting! The profile part of the phone stores information other than just contact info, such as birthday, horoscope sign, and blood type. Evidently, blood types are especially important in Japan.

On maturity

The Tokyo Study Center is a group of three very kind individuals who met us at the airport, helped us find our hotel, settle into our apartments, and guided us through our first three days in Japan. They manage all UC education abroad programs in Japan. They returned to their offices in Tokyo after those first few days; however, in one of their opening orientations, they gave us two definitions of maturity. In the United States, to be mature, they proposed is to be able to act independently and to be responsible for one's own actions and decisions. In Japan, a mature person is someone who is able to cooperate and get along well with others as well as someone who suppresses one's own desires for the sake of the group. "Otonashi" describes a mature person. Its definition means both "adult-like" as well as "gentle" and "submissive." Omoshiroi desu ne!

Saturday Night Sushi

Wandering from Shijo eki (station) to the river, through downtown and into the older, traditional area of Kyoto, five new friends and I found an excellent sushi restaurant right by the river. Two pieces of nigiri sushi were only 100 yen! I choose hamachi (yellowtail) and yaki-shitake (grilled mushroom) and a glass of light ume-shu (sweet plum wine). It was delicious and my first sushi in Kyoto! One thing I love about Kyoto so far is the size of the all the restaurants. Nearly all hold less than 10 tables. It is such an intimate and warm environment in which to dine. In addition, nearly all restaurants offer a warm cloth to wash one's hands upon sitting down to the table, (which well makes up for the lack of napkins!)

Orientation Friday Afternoon

Yesterday's orientation was frightening! After the placement test, which was extremely challenging for everyone, the Doshisha International Center staff gave an orientation of the program, all forms that need to be fill out and turned in, how to select classes, how to get an alien registration card, and other very important information. Uneno-san, the director, spoke extra quickly in Japanese for an hour and a half. Two people of the twenty-two who came from the UC's understood. (I was not one of them, in case you were wondering.) Although overwhelmed and a bit scared (as everyone was), it was almost humorous. He ended each set of long sentences filled with necessary instructions babbled especially quickly in Japanese with "iidesuka?" "Is that good?" No, of course that is not good! We were not sure whether to laugh or cry. Afterwards, I spoke with Uneno-san, and he is quite kind. Although he speaks little English, he is clearly very willing to walk through the process with me slowly and one-on-one. He also told me he would help me find a church or temple to go to each week!

Leaving for Japan

I leave for Kyoto, Japan on March 26th with the intention of living there for four months. Please check back after March 30th for new news. Thank you for visiting my blog!