Aftermath...
Jun. 22nd, 2007 03:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sechan19...in which a very long (and long overdue) blog entry is posted. For everyone's convenience, I have split the entry into a number of segments that can be read at your leisure.
The school BBQ was a resounding success. The weather could not have been better if we'd ordered it from a JC Penny's catalog - sunny and warm with the barest hint of a breeze. I took my umbrella but forgot to pack the sunblock and as a result wound up with one of the worst sunburns I've had in years (on my shoulders and back). I was in good company, however. With the BBQ wedged in between chunks of dreary rain, everyone was shocked by the sunny, cloudless day and consequently showed up to school the next week with varying degrees of sun-warmed skin.
Over the course of the day we grilled an ungodly amount of meat, eating it with cool, crisp lettuce, and some kind of Korean red chili paste that was strong enough to melt rubber but divinely delicious for all that. One of the girls brought along homemade kimchee that was to die for. The school organized a number of activities that had us walking down to the pier to wander by the water (where I caught a glimpse of jellyfish a short distance from where we were standing, its iridescent body billowing through the gentle waves of the bay) and sauntering over to an open area in the park to perform an eight-man jump-rope contest.
During our periods of leisure, the girls in my class taught me a number of competitive games (word games and so forth) that each had dire consequences for the loser. At one point, I had my hands smacked so hard that they stayed red for twenty minutes! But it was a lot of fun to goof off with them.
Plans were formalized during the BBQ to go out as a class (teachers included) and drink. In an amusing twist of fate we ended up at the same place where the first portion of my birthday party had been held, and a bunch of my friends in the American program were there as well hanging out (also with teachers) and having a gay romp. One thing I loved about the Japanese language teachers is how they would come out after school with us and drink.
At the bar, I talked zombie flicks with Tae-hyun, swapped caps with Jae-sung, and debated Gansta rap with Min. We also played a series of drinking games (but of course) with dire consequences for the loser. I eventually scored major points by setting Ujige-sensei up to lose and take a shot. The shots were all weird mixtures of everyone's drinks - beer, cocktails, sake, etc. They could be quite strange.
The best moment of the evening, however, came after Anraku-sensei joined us. The students were so delighted to see the kibishii sensei (strict teacher) cut loose and hang out. We ordered her food and beer and every nice thing, and I managed a snapshot of her double-fisting her beer - a glass in each hand and a big grin on her face. The KCP teachers are so cool.
The next morning, I was up early for the final culture class. We had a lecture in the morning and then made our way to the Tokyo-Edo museum, which is a museum of the history of the city during the Edo period. There were a number of interesting exhibits and some very fine pieces of art, but being on a guided tour made it a little difficult to stop and look at the things I was interested in.
There was, however, a very intriguing model setup to demonstrate kabuki special effect techniques. The play represented in the model was Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan, a personal favorite that tells the immortal story of the vengeful ghost of Oiwa (the prototype character for Ringu's Sadako). I did extensive reading on the special effects involved in producing that play in the 1820s in order to discuss them in my senior thesis, but watching the presentation at the museum really brought the concepts home to me. I can't wait to get back home and dig out my old sources to re-read them with a sense of familiarity.
When we were done there I headed back to Yamato-shi with my friend Liz, who was joining me for a girl's night in at the homestead. Our friend Radhi showed up later. The slumber party was exactly what the doctor ordered, providing me a jolt of companionship and fun at just the right moment. We stayed up until four in the morning, watching goofy clips on the internet (and three Japanese films with varying degrees of seriousness) and eating junk food (like pizza, popcorn, jerky, chocolates, and red vines).
In the morning we lounged around the house, watching more movies and just generally enjoying not doing anything until about 5pm when we disbanded and wandered off into various plans for the evening. I headed out to Shinjuku to meet up with my friends Aki and Lars again, and we wound up in a very nice restaurant where I tried horse sashimi (which I absolutely loved) and vanilla ice cream with baked rice and mochi syrup (which I also absolutely loved). Not together, of course. (I don't think I would have loved that.) Another evening of fabulous conversation and laughter followed, as we whiled away a few very peaceful hours while the patrons in the room next to use got more and more drunk and became more and more in danger of knocking over the shoji-screen dividers.
With only a handful of days left in the program, me and a few other friends began to finalize our plans for the week of vacation we had available. After a number of suggested locations (and suggested participants) we finally narrowed our search down to the hot springs resort town of Hakone - which features several exciting attractions (in addition to the dozens of natural hot spring baths you can visit) which include views of Mount Fuji, art museums, ancient shrines, a large segment of the old Tokaido Highway that can be hiked, and the chance to ride a full-scale replica of a man-of-war pirate ship on Lake Ashi.
I got elected to call the potential hotel to make reservations ("Level Three GO!"), which I managed with something resembling grace and aplomb - although, granted, with a fair share of "ahno... sumimasenga"s peppered throughout. I booked two rooms for four people for two nights and everything seemed to go along just fine. Sharing the hotel with friends is going to be a new and interesting experience for me. I suspect there will be much merry-making in the Bed and Breakfast.
For most of the last few days of the term I was consumed with study. I did go out on the Friday night before the last week with friends, but only for a short time. I spent the weekend engrossed in the incredible amount of homework assigned, as I tried desperately to carve out extra space for review study. The weather was glorious both days of the weekend, which made staying in a shame, and on Sunday I couldn't take it anymore.
I wound up going out for a walk and wended my way back to Hikichidai Park - where I had gone one fine weekend at the beginning of term - to see how the park had weathered the change of seasons. The walk was very peaceful, as was the half-hour I spent sitting under a beautiful, twisted, old tree watching the passage of children and families here and there across the sun-dappled park.
Before I left I took a picture of a tree that had been covered in cherry blossoms when I arrived, but was now bursting with the glorious green of summertime, and reflected on my journey. I simply could not believe that the time had passed so swiftly; that my stay, which at first seemed so indefinite, had revealed itself so altogether impermanent. I felt the sadness of leaving Yamato-shi, a little burg I have come to love, very keenly in that moment. I feel it still.
The final exam was murderous, but I have hope that I acquitted myself decently on it. I won't know until my grades arrive and have promised myself not to worry about it until then. I worked as hard as I could, and I put in my all. There's nothing more to say. I'm on V.
In addition to preparing for the final, I also found myself running around like crazy, trying to get an assortment of farewell and thank-you gifts together. I elected to give Yagino-sensei a package of California Red Vines and a handwritten note of appreciation, in thanks for his kindness to me in culture class. I also brought packages of chocolates for the program coordinators and my teachers. Although I did my best to leave the present for the teachers anonymously, they knew it was me and came in during the final exam to thank me for them so I guess that's alright. I gave my classmates each a packet of Quaker Instant Grits, and explained - in brief - how to make them and what they were. I have no way of knowing if they'll be tried, but I like to imagine that they will be.
When the exam was over the school held a Completion Ceremony for those of us who were leaving, complete with a certificate of achievement. We each then had to make a speech, and I gave one that was grammatically correct, if halting in places, and somewhat amusing. Well, the teachers all laughed anyway. There was a small spread of food that included "Chocolate Sand Biscuits" (which were undoubtedly meant to be "Chocolate Sandwich Biscuits"). I had the chance to speak with a number of the teachers, who all wished me well and congratulated me on my progress during the term.
I then went out to dinner with Liz, leaving my certificate in a public phone booth (long, long story) for a couple of hours. I discovered this about halfway through the meal and elected to wait. When I went back later it was of course still there. This is Tokyo we're talking about, after all. Japanese people don't take random things they find in public places. They just don't.
At home, I began packing and kept packing and organizing and planning until about four in the morning. When I got up again at seven, I really felt it. So I suspect tonight will be an early one. But I got everything done: got the bags packed, got my things set for Hakone and for the rest of my vacation (which will include a stay in Nasu-Shiobara with my old Japanese tutor, Takako-sensei, and her husband), got the room cleaned up and aired out, etc.
It's an early night for me now, as the next adventure begins tomorrow in the early morning when I catch the first train out of Yamato-shi for my week-long ramble through parts heretofore unknown, and I'm raring to go. I'll see you all on the other side.
EDIT: I was going to post the rest of the photos that I've taken so far for you all to peruse, but sadly flickr.com is a miserly little bitch that only allows 200 photos unless you want to pay them for space. Boo hiss. So you can check out this link to browse through what I managed to get uploaded before they shut me down. The rest will have to wait until I get back to the states and have time to iron things out with an alternate provider. So it goes.
The school BBQ was a resounding success. The weather could not have been better if we'd ordered it from a JC Penny's catalog - sunny and warm with the barest hint of a breeze. I took my umbrella but forgot to pack the sunblock and as a result wound up with one of the worst sunburns I've had in years (on my shoulders and back). I was in good company, however. With the BBQ wedged in between chunks of dreary rain, everyone was shocked by the sunny, cloudless day and consequently showed up to school the next week with varying degrees of sun-warmed skin.
Over the course of the day we grilled an ungodly amount of meat, eating it with cool, crisp lettuce, and some kind of Korean red chili paste that was strong enough to melt rubber but divinely delicious for all that. One of the girls brought along homemade kimchee that was to die for. The school organized a number of activities that had us walking down to the pier to wander by the water (where I caught a glimpse of jellyfish a short distance from where we were standing, its iridescent body billowing through the gentle waves of the bay) and sauntering over to an open area in the park to perform an eight-man jump-rope contest.
During our periods of leisure, the girls in my class taught me a number of competitive games (word games and so forth) that each had dire consequences for the loser. At one point, I had my hands smacked so hard that they stayed red for twenty minutes! But it was a lot of fun to goof off with them.
Plans were formalized during the BBQ to go out as a class (teachers included) and drink. In an amusing twist of fate we ended up at the same place where the first portion of my birthday party had been held, and a bunch of my friends in the American program were there as well hanging out (also with teachers) and having a gay romp. One thing I loved about the Japanese language teachers is how they would come out after school with us and drink.
At the bar, I talked zombie flicks with Tae-hyun, swapped caps with Jae-sung, and debated Gansta rap with Min. We also played a series of drinking games (but of course) with dire consequences for the loser. I eventually scored major points by setting Ujige-sensei up to lose and take a shot. The shots were all weird mixtures of everyone's drinks - beer, cocktails, sake, etc. They could be quite strange.
The best moment of the evening, however, came after Anraku-sensei joined us. The students were so delighted to see the kibishii sensei (strict teacher) cut loose and hang out. We ordered her food and beer and every nice thing, and I managed a snapshot of her double-fisting her beer - a glass in each hand and a big grin on her face. The KCP teachers are so cool.
The next morning, I was up early for the final culture class. We had a lecture in the morning and then made our way to the Tokyo-Edo museum, which is a museum of the history of the city during the Edo period. There were a number of interesting exhibits and some very fine pieces of art, but being on a guided tour made it a little difficult to stop and look at the things I was interested in.
There was, however, a very intriguing model setup to demonstrate kabuki special effect techniques. The play represented in the model was Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan, a personal favorite that tells the immortal story of the vengeful ghost of Oiwa (the prototype character for Ringu's Sadako). I did extensive reading on the special effects involved in producing that play in the 1820s in order to discuss them in my senior thesis, but watching the presentation at the museum really brought the concepts home to me. I can't wait to get back home and dig out my old sources to re-read them with a sense of familiarity.
When we were done there I headed back to Yamato-shi with my friend Liz, who was joining me for a girl's night in at the homestead. Our friend Radhi showed up later. The slumber party was exactly what the doctor ordered, providing me a jolt of companionship and fun at just the right moment. We stayed up until four in the morning, watching goofy clips on the internet (and three Japanese films with varying degrees of seriousness) and eating junk food (like pizza, popcorn, jerky, chocolates, and red vines).
In the morning we lounged around the house, watching more movies and just generally enjoying not doing anything until about 5pm when we disbanded and wandered off into various plans for the evening. I headed out to Shinjuku to meet up with my friends Aki and Lars again, and we wound up in a very nice restaurant where I tried horse sashimi (which I absolutely loved) and vanilla ice cream with baked rice and mochi syrup (which I also absolutely loved). Not together, of course. (I don't think I would have loved that.) Another evening of fabulous conversation and laughter followed, as we whiled away a few very peaceful hours while the patrons in the room next to use got more and more drunk and became more and more in danger of knocking over the shoji-screen dividers.
With only a handful of days left in the program, me and a few other friends began to finalize our plans for the week of vacation we had available. After a number of suggested locations (and suggested participants) we finally narrowed our search down to the hot springs resort town of Hakone - which features several exciting attractions (in addition to the dozens of natural hot spring baths you can visit) which include views of Mount Fuji, art museums, ancient shrines, a large segment of the old Tokaido Highway that can be hiked, and the chance to ride a full-scale replica of a man-of-war pirate ship on Lake Ashi.
I got elected to call the potential hotel to make reservations ("Level Three GO!"), which I managed with something resembling grace and aplomb - although, granted, with a fair share of "ahno... sumimasenga"s peppered throughout. I booked two rooms for four people for two nights and everything seemed to go along just fine. Sharing the hotel with friends is going to be a new and interesting experience for me. I suspect there will be much merry-making in the Bed and Breakfast.
For most of the last few days of the term I was consumed with study. I did go out on the Friday night before the last week with friends, but only for a short time. I spent the weekend engrossed in the incredible amount of homework assigned, as I tried desperately to carve out extra space for review study. The weather was glorious both days of the weekend, which made staying in a shame, and on Sunday I couldn't take it anymore.
I wound up going out for a walk and wended my way back to Hikichidai Park - where I had gone one fine weekend at the beginning of term - to see how the park had weathered the change of seasons. The walk was very peaceful, as was the half-hour I spent sitting under a beautiful, twisted, old tree watching the passage of children and families here and there across the sun-dappled park.
Before I left I took a picture of a tree that had been covered in cherry blossoms when I arrived, but was now bursting with the glorious green of summertime, and reflected on my journey. I simply could not believe that the time had passed so swiftly; that my stay, which at first seemed so indefinite, had revealed itself so altogether impermanent. I felt the sadness of leaving Yamato-shi, a little burg I have come to love, very keenly in that moment. I feel it still.
The final exam was murderous, but I have hope that I acquitted myself decently on it. I won't know until my grades arrive and have promised myself not to worry about it until then. I worked as hard as I could, and I put in my all. There's nothing more to say. I'm on V.
In addition to preparing for the final, I also found myself running around like crazy, trying to get an assortment of farewell and thank-you gifts together. I elected to give Yagino-sensei a package of California Red Vines and a handwritten note of appreciation, in thanks for his kindness to me in culture class. I also brought packages of chocolates for the program coordinators and my teachers. Although I did my best to leave the present for the teachers anonymously, they knew it was me and came in during the final exam to thank me for them so I guess that's alright. I gave my classmates each a packet of Quaker Instant Grits, and explained - in brief - how to make them and what they were. I have no way of knowing if they'll be tried, but I like to imagine that they will be.
When the exam was over the school held a Completion Ceremony for those of us who were leaving, complete with a certificate of achievement. We each then had to make a speech, and I gave one that was grammatically correct, if halting in places, and somewhat amusing. Well, the teachers all laughed anyway. There was a small spread of food that included "Chocolate Sand Biscuits" (which were undoubtedly meant to be "Chocolate Sandwich Biscuits"). I had the chance to speak with a number of the teachers, who all wished me well and congratulated me on my progress during the term.
I then went out to dinner with Liz, leaving my certificate in a public phone booth (long, long story) for a couple of hours. I discovered this about halfway through the meal and elected to wait. When I went back later it was of course still there. This is Tokyo we're talking about, after all. Japanese people don't take random things they find in public places. They just don't.
At home, I began packing and kept packing and organizing and planning until about four in the morning. When I got up again at seven, I really felt it. So I suspect tonight will be an early one. But I got everything done: got the bags packed, got my things set for Hakone and for the rest of my vacation (which will include a stay in Nasu-Shiobara with my old Japanese tutor, Takako-sensei, and her husband), got the room cleaned up and aired out, etc.
It's an early night for me now, as the next adventure begins tomorrow in the early morning when I catch the first train out of Yamato-shi for my week-long ramble through parts heretofore unknown, and I'm raring to go. I'll see you all on the other side.
EDIT: I was going to post the rest of the photos that I've taken so far for you all to peruse, but sadly flickr.com is a miserly little bitch that only allows 200 photos unless you want to pay them for space. Boo hiss. So you can check out this link to browse through what I managed to get uploaded before they shut me down. The rest will have to wait until I get back to the states and have time to iron things out with an alternate provider. So it goes.
