今日はすばらしいことがなかったけど、今日はよく日だった。毎週の金、同じ所へ行って同じことやっている。たぶん そのことには つまらないみたいでも、いい習性を作れば 自分の生活がもっと意味をもらえると思います。例えば、職場にいろいろな生徒と話せます。みんなは違う来るの目的があるけど、みんなの生活がもっといい生活が作っている、私たちので会社。毎週の火と水、40年位上女の子に会います。そんな人がすべらしいと思っている。この彼女はいろいろなことしています。踊るクラスや縫うクラスや英語クラスなど受けている。別の人は大学院の生成と高校入学がいると いつも いっぱい予定があるけど 英語がもっと上手になりたいです。みんなはやっている人です。みんな例から 私も頑張りたい！今年はよかった。じゃあ、来年には日本語が本当上手になることにした！ ストレート・トークの生徒と協力者(きょうりょくしゃ)に ありがとう！
So today was nothing special happened, but it was a good day. Every week I go over to the same place and do the same thing. I guess it could seem a bit boring and monotonous but I figure if I set myself into a good rhythm I will be able to get more things done and maybe give my days off a more meaning than just sitting around watching the tube. I have gotten some inspiration from the people at my work. One of the ladies that comes in on Tuesdays and Wednesdays is about 40 years older than I but she lives life at the pace that I want to be going at. She is active in many ways, like taking sewing, dancing, and English class. Another student is a researcher with a full schedule and a mother (a super mom at that) and she still has time to come in and get her Learn On. Because of all the students I see trying their best to learn English and other things it makes me even more motivated to do my best! This was a really great. I hope to keep the momentum that has brought me all the way here and us it to make next year really great. Yeah, I am really decided that I am going to improve my Japanese.
Thanks to everyone at ストレート・トーク Club!
Ron
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A trip to Old Japan
...or so we assumed.
Disclaimer: This post is going to be long. Sorry, so much to see in three days.
On November 23rd, Ron and I left to go to Kyoto. We had planned this trip for a while, so we were really excited to get out of cold Iwate and to not-as-cold Kyoto. I thought that Kyoto would just be a city that was frozen in time back to the Edo period of Japan; fantastic landscapes sprinkled with traditional shrines, geisha dressed up walking down old streets of Gion, surrounded with dark wooden homes and paper lanterns lighting the way. Kyoto itself however, was not what I anticipated. I didn't realize that history could not preserve itself from modernization. I was taken back by the steel frames of the Kyoto train station or the high-rise buildings of Gion. Not to mention the hoards of people that crowded the city during this holiday weekend. Aside from this naive culture shock, Ron and I did have an enjoyable time and we were able to play treasure hunters and find those small streets that still managed to retain the magic of old Kyoto.
On our first day, we managed to see what most people see in three days. It was a whirlwind day, accompanied with a LOT of walking. Our first stop was KINKAKUJI. A beautiful temple that is covered in gold. It's surrounded by MIRROR LAKE (you'll see why).
Next we went to RYOAN-JI (The Peaceful Dragon). It has a beautiful temple, but is known for it's Rock Garden. In the garden are 15 rocks, but no matter where you stand, you will only see 14 of them. It isn't until you acheive Enlightenment and can see overhead when you can see all 15 (mind numbing isn't it?
Our next stop was the IMPERIAL PALACE. They don't let people in on the weekends so we didn't get to look inside, but the park that it was in was beautiful. So Ron and I "smartly" decided to walk to GINKAKUJI, the younger brother of Kinkakuji. This temple was suppose to be covered in silver, but they never got around to it. The walk was a lot longer than we expected.
The last temple was our favorite for the day, NANZEN-JI. This place had a slew of temples, but we saw only the big one. This one really looked "old". It had a "I've been around a while vibe". Next to it was a really cool canal bridge. It was neat to have the very old next to the very modern.
We ended the night with a trip to very busy Gion. We ate okonomiyaki, walked around, went to the public bath to soak, and then went to bed. My dogs were killing me.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Sunday, we took a train to see FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE. The best one! This shrine is known for their statues of foxes (messengers of the gods) and an everlasting number of Torii gates. This shrine was by far the most beautiful and peaceful shrine. We went in the morning so it wasn't busy and you can hike to the very top of the mountain throught the Torii gates. It was so cool I'm putting 3 pictures!
After, we went to KIYOMIZUDERA, the number one recommendation from all my teachers. I think everyone in Japan thought the same thing. It was very crowded. So crowded that we didn't even go in, even if that is the best part. We just enjoyed watching the people walk in and out.
Once we made our way down from the hoards of people, we slowly made our way to the hostel, but stopped by a nearby temple along the way, HIGASHI HONGAN-JI. Later that night, Ron and I went to the top of the train station where we had traditional Kyoto cuisine while the sun set (awww).
Then we went back to Gion to watch a show that had little snipits of traditional Japanese dance, art, and music. Great stuff. Also the street it was on was the type of street that I wanted to see. It was very dark. The neon lights of the city didn't touch it. The paper lanterns lit up the dark wood the covered the old houses that I assume were there 50 years ago. Unfortunatly we couldn't eat there because it was all too expensive. So we went to a convenience store and bought beer. Ahh gaijin!
Bellies full and mind satisfied with Japanese culture, the day was done.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday... stay with me people!
We felt we saw enough of Kyoto... for now, so we decided to spend our half day in Kobe. Our plane was leaving from there so we thought it would be the best time of any to go see. We went to the Harbor, saw a spot of the Kobe Quake, ate in their Chinatown and slowly made our way back home.
The trip was a really neat way to see a completely different side of Japan that Morioka or Tokyo can't offer. To see all the history and the landmarks really makes you realize the power and the pride that the Japanese people have. It's really amazing. Many of these places have been rebuilt after the wars destroyed them. They decided that after it was demolished, it was still important enough to rebuild. This was true for Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, and Higashi Hongan-ji. According to Ron, Kyoto was on of the places on the list to be hit with the atomic bomb, but Americans decided that the city was too beautiful to destroy. I'm sure glad they made that choice. It would be a shame to see all that gone. I look forward to the next time we venture to that side of the island. Until the next post, stay cool California!
Disclaimer: This post is going to be long. Sorry, so much to see in three days.
On November 23rd, Ron and I left to go to Kyoto. We had planned this trip for a while, so we were really excited to get out of cold Iwate and to not-as-cold Kyoto. I thought that Kyoto would just be a city that was frozen in time back to the Edo period of Japan; fantastic landscapes sprinkled with traditional shrines, geisha dressed up walking down old streets of Gion, surrounded with dark wooden homes and paper lanterns lighting the way. Kyoto itself however, was not what I anticipated. I didn't realize that history could not preserve itself from modernization. I was taken back by the steel frames of the Kyoto train station or the high-rise buildings of Gion. Not to mention the hoards of people that crowded the city during this holiday weekend. Aside from this naive culture shock, Ron and I did have an enjoyable time and we were able to play treasure hunters and find those small streets that still managed to retain the magic of old Kyoto.
On our first day, we managed to see what most people see in three days. It was a whirlwind day, accompanied with a LOT of walking. Our first stop was KINKAKUJI. A beautiful temple that is covered in gold. It's surrounded by MIRROR LAKE (you'll see why).
Next we went to RYOAN-JI (The Peaceful Dragon). It has a beautiful temple, but is known for it's Rock Garden. In the garden are 15 rocks, but no matter where you stand, you will only see 14 of them. It isn't until you acheive Enlightenment and can see overhead when you can see all 15 (mind numbing isn't it?
Our next stop was the IMPERIAL PALACE. They don't let people in on the weekends so we didn't get to look inside, but the park that it was in was beautiful. So Ron and I "smartly" decided to walk to GINKAKUJI, the younger brother of Kinkakuji. This temple was suppose to be covered in silver, but they never got around to it. The walk was a lot longer than we expected.
The last temple was our favorite for the day, NANZEN-JI. This place had a slew of temples, but we saw only the big one. This one really looked "old". It had a "I've been around a while vibe". Next to it was a really cool canal bridge. It was neat to have the very old next to the very modern.
We ended the night with a trip to very busy Gion. We ate okonomiyaki, walked around, went to the public bath to soak, and then went to bed. My dogs were killing me.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Sunday, we took a train to see FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE. The best one! This shrine is known for their statues of foxes (messengers of the gods) and an everlasting number of Torii gates. This shrine was by far the most beautiful and peaceful shrine. We went in the morning so it wasn't busy and you can hike to the very top of the mountain throught the Torii gates. It was so cool I'm putting 3 pictures!
After, we went to KIYOMIZUDERA, the number one recommendation from all my teachers. I think everyone in Japan thought the same thing. It was very crowded. So crowded that we didn't even go in, even if that is the best part. We just enjoyed watching the people walk in and out.
Once we made our way down from the hoards of people, we slowly made our way to the hostel, but stopped by a nearby temple along the way, HIGASHI HONGAN-JI. Later that night, Ron and I went to the top of the train station where we had traditional Kyoto cuisine while the sun set (awww).
Then we went back to Gion to watch a show that had little snipits of traditional Japanese dance, art, and music. Great stuff. Also the street it was on was the type of street that I wanted to see. It was very dark. The neon lights of the city didn't touch it. The paper lanterns lit up the dark wood the covered the old houses that I assume were there 50 years ago. Unfortunatly we couldn't eat there because it was all too expensive. So we went to a convenience store and bought beer. Ahh gaijin!
Bellies full and mind satisfied with Japanese culture, the day was done.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday... stay with me people!
We felt we saw enough of Kyoto... for now, so we decided to spend our half day in Kobe. Our plane was leaving from there so we thought it would be the best time of any to go see. We went to the Harbor, saw a spot of the Kobe Quake, ate in their Chinatown and slowly made our way back home.
The trip was a really neat way to see a completely different side of Japan that Morioka or Tokyo can't offer. To see all the history and the landmarks really makes you realize the power and the pride that the Japanese people have. It's really amazing. Many of these places have been rebuilt after the wars destroyed them. They decided that after it was demolished, it was still important enough to rebuild. This was true for Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, and Higashi Hongan-ji. According to Ron, Kyoto was on of the places on the list to be hit with the atomic bomb, but Americans decided that the city was too beautiful to destroy. I'm sure glad they made that choice. It would be a shame to see all that gone. I look forward to the next time we venture to that side of the island. Until the next post, stay cool California!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
A lucky guy I know
I want to tell you a story of the luckiest guy that I have ever met. I think I was in my about 14 or 15 when I was really introduced to him. He was a kinda spastic and goofy back then, but in a good way I guess. This guy was always doing things that were different from everyone else saying that he was going to live two lives worth in his one life. He never paid any attention to fashion or his hair because he thought it took to much time away form his goal of two lives in one. Well anyway, this guy always had a rather care free friendly guy attitude and because of that + a lot of luck he was always meeting and becoming friends with really cool people. He must have been cool if he would be friends with me right : ). So anyways I was thinking about him recently and I came to the realization that this guy has to be the luckiest guy I have ever know. In college he met all of these great people that he refers to as his family and he even got married to this amazing girl. This girl makes him really happy. She is the kind of girl who just can just enjoy life. He has a great family (both on his side and his new family as well) and he always enjoys talking to them. I think at least once every few weeks or so I hear him say (his famous words) “man, we have good lives”. I think he is right, we do have good lives and I think so because of all the great people that we have in our lives. Man, We have good lives.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
As in good California form, Ron and I had our own Thanksgiving dinner. We had Chicken (Japan doesn't have turkey), mashed potatoes, string beans, broccoli, and...sushi. Hey, it's still Japan. So happy Turkey Day everyone.
PS. I left my wallet last night at our local supermarket. We went back this morning and it was actually turned in, with my money and everything still in. I heart Japan.
PS. I left my wallet last night at our local supermarket. We went back this morning and it was actually turned in, with my money and everything still in. I heart Japan.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Meet the Kayakers
Ladies and Gentlemen, Ron actually found Japanese Kayakers. Along with the snow blog was this memorable experience. It all started with one trip to the mall. We were in the parking structure when I noticed a playboat on top of a car. Quickly, Ron and I put together a receipt and eyeliner to write a note to the owner of the kayak. Half-hoping we put it on his windshield. Before the day was over, Ron got a call from the guy and set a date to meet him and his other kayaking buddies.
After Ron's work on Saturday, the kayaker (Takahashi) picked us up and we went to Lake Tazawako in Akita. We met up with his friends at stayed overnight in this beautiful traditional Japanese house.
They served us traditional Japanese food and we drank and talked for the remainder of the night. They were also all Japanese speakers so it was a great chance for us to practice.
The next day, after having a yummy traditional breakfast,
they took us to the famous NYUTO ONSEN. The translation of Nyuto is "Mother's Milk. The water is a milky color and it makes your skin really smooth. Once we finished with the onsen we made our way back home. We were really lucky with this group and we're really looking forward to making these meetings a regular thing.
After Ron's work on Saturday, the kayaker (Takahashi) picked us up and we went to Lake Tazawako in Akita. We met up with his friends at stayed overnight in this beautiful traditional Japanese house.
They served us traditional Japanese food and we drank and talked for the remainder of the night. They were also all Japanese speakers so it was a great chance for us to practice.
The next day, after having a yummy traditional breakfast,
they took us to the famous NYUTO ONSEN. The translation of Nyuto is "Mother's Milk. The water is a milky color and it makes your skin really smooth. Once we finished with the onsen we made our way back home. We were really lucky with this group and we're really looking forward to making these meetings a regular thing.
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