Earthquake!

I'm completely fine.

In Nagano the earthquake was pretty big [4], but didn't do any damage.  It was still freaky.  I've never experienced an earthquake that big.  The scariest part is watching TV after/during and seeing the tsunami warnings and then the videos of the damage.

I live right in the middle, in the yellow part.

I'll update again soon, but now I'm somewhat frazzled.

Outsider

Once upon a time there were two friends.  They sat down and each created a drawing of the world.  When they were finished, they looked at each other's pictures and saw that the two were quite different in many ways.  They had individual drawing styles and had added unique details.  One drew the world with crayons, the other with colored pencils.  Both worlds were beautiful.  "Let's trade some parts of our pictures, so that they are a pair, rather than separate entities!" said the friends.  So they took scissors and cut out some of the people in their drawings of the world.  Then they glued the people into the opposite drawings.  Upon reviewing their work, they saw that the exchanged people made the pictures come together nicely, but the individual pictures both looked a little strange in the places where the other drawings had been grafted in.  The people looked out of place and didn't fit in with their surroundings.  

The friends went back to work.  They shared their crayons and pencils and tried to make the new people look like they belonged in the new world.  Adding pencil and crayon on top of the people made them more similar to the people around them, and spreading crayon and pencil from the new people to the original people helped too. The pictures started looking more and more natural and looked quite nice together.  

The friends worked for a long time trying to get the pictures just right.  As they worked, they realized that no matter how much they fine-tuned the new people to match the other world, they couldn't quite make the drawings perfect.  The wax of the crayons was bright through the muted colors of the pencils; it was impossible to cover completely.  

"What will we do?!  These people will never look like a true part of the world!  And now we've drawn on them, so we can't just put them back in their own worlds!  They've been ruined forever!" said one friend.  But the other friend was not so pessimistic and narrow-minded.  "They may not fit in, but look at the whole picture.  We've achieved our initial goal of turning the two worlds into one, and furthermore, each original picture has more depth now that it has a mixture of crayons and pencils.  I guess if you look closely at the traded areas, they do seem a little funny, but not in a bad way. It is interesting to see the crayons and pencils come together on one person. The people may not have all the colors of their new worlds, and some of the colors from their original worlds have been concealed, but I guess if they were to have all the colors of both worlds on them they'd need to be two people.  The exchanged people will never look like an original part of the picture, but the blend is intriguing, and most importantly, they connect the two worlds."

The Past Few Days, with Pictures!

Friday, I visited Annika's school, Yayoi, in Ina City.  There are 3 schools in the area-- Inakita, the hardest to get into, Yayoi, the middle one, and Akaho, the easiest to get into [where I go].  [In Japan people apply for public schools, not just private schools.]  It was interesting to see another school and meet new people and see what Annika's daily life is like.  Visiting Yayoi made me much happier with Akaho.  At Akaho, the people are much more fun and social, whereas at Yayoi they seem more serious and shy.  When Annika visited my school, my friends really welcomed her and gave her chocolate and we all ended up lying on the floor together and laughing about everything.  When I visited Yayoi, everyone was really nice to me, but they weren't as silly and lively.  If I was actually learning stuff at school and a real student, I might prefer the more academic environment of Yayoi, but as an exchange student, I prefer the more vibrant place.  It really doesn't matter what the level of the school is because everything is review anyway and furthermore, I don't speak Japanese well enough to have intelligent conversations.  [Except with my host mom.  She is very patient and also very smart, so it works well.]

Yes, everyone always does the peace sign.

We spent the first block in the library.  Then I introduced myself to the class during homeroom, then geography class, then I met the American who teaches English, then lunch.  Then next block was another one that Annika usually doesn't go to [It was PE, and Annika sprained both ankles a while ago.]  

It was a cloudy day, but warm.  It felt like New Hampshire's April, so we went exploring outside.  Being barefoot was so nice after a winter of shoes.  Annika had been telling me about a park she found near her school, so we headed off toward the park.  On the way, we came across a little shrine in the woods.

Barefoot!

This is why I love Japan.  This is why I love my life.  It was the kind of moment that is what ties together all the other times, the stepping stone of truth and simplicity between the normal days.  We ran up the stone steps, between the old stone columns beneath the wet pine trees.  

Shrine Lion

It was drizzly and grey, but that made the mossy lions seem tamer and the leaves and needles softer under our spring toes.  At the main building of the shrine, we rang the bells and bowed and clapped twice and thought our thoughts and bowed again and promised to give extra money next time because we didn't have any coins with us.  

We sang ridiculous songs, made up on the spot, and wandered through the various tombs and buildings and statues.  Annika was feeling heart broken, so we threw sticks in the woods to let go of the pain.  Then we ran down the hill and were at the park.

Shrine

Like the woody shrine, the grassy park was also deserted.  I love coming across deserted parks because it means I can use the swings and be scared on the big slides without disrupting 4 year olds.   

Back to school.  English class, then another hour in the library, which we spent listening to music and drifting to sleep.  Deserted places are nice because no one cares what you do.

Then shodou club!  I watched them practice their massive-banner-making performance that they'll do for the 3rd years as a graduation present, then did a little shodou myself.  [shodou = Japanese calligraphy.  It's done with wet black ink and a big paintbrush.]  

We ate dinner at the Annika's host dad's restaurant with Annika's host mom and 2 sisters and her sister's friend.  Super delicious!  

When we got home, everyone was exhausted but we decided to go do karaoke.  [It really is very very popular in Japan.  That isn't just a stereotype.]  The four of us, [Annika's sister Yuri, Yuri's friend Mari, Annika and I] sang silly AKB48 songs together and had a nice time.  

The next morning [Mari and I slept over at Yuri and Annika's house], we got up early to go take purikura!  A very very popular Japanese teenage girl pastime.  They are always shocked to hear that in the US we don't have it.  

Purikura

The claw arcade game thing broke and we knocked over the whole basket... Lucky!!

In the afternoon, I went to Annika's Japanese lesson [the one I tried to go to last week but the teacher wasn't there].  It made me both excited and frustrated.  Excited, because I realized how much having a teacher will help me and how quickly I'll be able to learn.  Frustrated, because I feel like I'd be twice as good at Japanese now if I had been taking classes for the past 6 months.  Oh well.  There's nothing I can do about that now, I guess.  Unfortunately, Japanese class and mandolin practice often coincide [because I often have 6 hour long mandolin practices on Saturdays!] so I may not be able to go often.  I told my host mom I wished I could go more often, and she called someone and found out that there are Japanese teachers in Komagane!!  I'm going to the class tomorrow for the first time!  This class occurs during the school day, but if it seems like something that will help me I'm guessing I can talk to my school and they'll let me take the afternoon off on Tuesdays.  At least I'll be learning something then... everything taught in the lessons at school is stuff I learned years ago.  Math is about 5 years ago, Science is about 3 years ago, History is also 3 years ago... Japanese class would definitely be a better use of my time.  

The next day, my host sister Hanae and I went skiing!  The ski place in Komagane is tiny [just 2 trails] but I love skiing no matter where it is.  We calculated how many runs we did and, if we're correct, we did 40!  In the evening, we went with host dad to a soba party [soba= those really delicious noodles I've written about before] at his friends' house.  An older man grows the plants and makes the soba flour and makes the noodles and cooks it all by hand!  I talked to all the people and one man gave me a book of photographs he took of tiny mushrooms.  Another man wants to take me and my host family to see the place where something important involving neutrinos happened.  Not exactly sure what it is, but it is relevant in a physicsy way.  

I seem to inspire middle-aged people to attempt to remember the English they learned in high school.  They don't necessarily want to do this so they can talk to me [they talk to me in Japanese] but to talk to each other.  

"This is a pencil.  Would you like something to drink? This is red wine."  "No, no.  Wait a minute please...  Please, wine now." 

There are lots of other things I was thinking of writing about, but this is really long so I think I'll end here!

Random notes [I think this is becoming a permanent part of my blog]:

1.  I'll be back in the US on August 2nd!  See you in 5 months!

2.  I caught myself mixing up through/threw and write/right in this post...I thought I was smarter than that... Eek!  Please let me know if you see any stupid mistakes so I can fix them!  

Strawberries.

I have never eaten so many strawberries in one day!

Today my host mom and sister and I went strawberry picking!  I don't know why, but during my time in Japan i have developed an intense love for strawberries.  What a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon. We went and got tickets at a little building, then walked down to green house number nine.

This is where the green houses are!

In Japan, the rules of strawberry picking are exactly the opposite of the rules in the US.  You can eat as many strawberries as you want in an hour and a half, but you can't take any home with you.

Me and Hanae [host sister]!

We spent about half an hour strolling down the little aisles, eating a fantastically huge number of strawberries.  Then we felt quite bloated and realized it was impossible to eat any more, so we walked around and soaked in the beauty of the perfect red berries.

Mom and Hanae

The leaves of all the strawberries I ate.  At least 30.

And there were ostrich eggs in the little food store nearby!

The cost about $35 each!

I was supposed to go to a Japanese class with Annika in the afternoon, but the teacher didn't show up.  I'll go again next week, though.  It will be interesting, because I have never had a Japanese lesson before.  Everything I know I have picked up from experience. I'm excited to join the class, but I'm also a little proud and stubborn and unsure because it will mean that I can't say I did it all on my own anymore. Still, I do realize that this class will help me a lot and I'm looking forward to learning Japanese in a more manageable way.  And I think it will speed up my learning significantly.

Anyway, the teacher didn't come, so we went to the bookstore.  I found the Western Classics section and got way too excited and couldn't decide which one to get.  It was fantastic.  I love that my life now involves moments when I can't choose between reading Shakespeare, Hemingway, or Fitzgerald in Japanese.  I ended up getting The Great Gatsby, because Shakespeare would be way too hard at this point, and I've read lots of Hemingway before.  I also got a Japanese fashion magazine, to get a little of both of my cultures.  Magazines here are really great.  They usually come with little bags or things, and Japanese clothes are so amazingly wonderful that any 200 page book devoted to them is bound to be good.

I ran into my friend Megumi in the train station!  She plays mandola in the mandolin/guitar club.  We walk home together everyday, since our houses are nearby.  This time together has made her become my closest Japanese friend.  She is really nice, and not as girly and giggly as many of my other friends, which I find quite refreshing.  It was nice to take the train home with a friend, rather than alone, as I had originally thought.  It's only 20 minutes, but it is little surprises like this that come together to create general happiness.


Sushi for dinner!  Ate a little squid about 2 inches long.  It was cute.  We talked about cuttlefish and I taught them about how they change colors and can copy patterns and stuff.


I loved today.



Random notes, as usual.
1.  I asked about whaling [it was on TV] and why Japan still does it.  I didn't fully understand everything my host mom said, but this was my general impression:  Part 1 -They've been doing it for a really really long time, so in certain villages it is the way of life and the culture of the people.  Part 2- they have to do examinations/inquiries into the whales [kind of unclear on this part, didn't understand it perfectly] and that is where the meat comes from.  My host mom wasn't sure why the examined whales had to be killed, and said she would look into it.
2.  SUCCESS!  Host Mom [approximate, cause this conversation was a while ago and in Japanese]: "You've changed my image of Americans.  I thought they all ate a lot of fast food and weren't very healthy, but you've told me all about the farms in your area and the kinds of things you eat in New Hampshire and about eating flowers from your garden, and it seems like you have a very good lifestyle."

Good Things

• What usually happens with my brain is that when it hears English on TV or wherever, it sends me a little message saying "Hey! Pay attention! You know that language!"  Now it is starting to happen with Japanese... I can understand portions without actually giving it my full attention, so my brain sends me the "language you understand" alert and I think it is English, but then it isn't.  
• The same thing has happened during conversations with my host mom-- I'll be really confused about why she's randomly throwing English words into her sentences, and then realize that my brain is just confused by the Japanese words I know really well.
• I found a Russian text book in the library at school.  All the explanations are in Japanese.  It might be my favorite object in the whole world.
• I spent the afternoon playing music with Annika.  
• Annika is visiting my school this Tuesday!  
• At this point, I speak Japanese well enough that I can explain to my host mom that what is going on inside my head is entirely different from what I actually am able to communicate and that it is really hard.  It doesn't really solve the problem of feeling isolated, but it helps to have someone understand.
• Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  Happy Birthday Dad!
• Recent words I learned:  Sea Otter- rakko, photosynthesis- kougousei, single-celled organism- tansaibouseibutsu.  Host fam and I have good conversations. :]
• My sister is in Kenya now!  She's the most awesome person ever.  Seriously.  Read her blog! Link: Molly's Ridiculously Amazing Life in Kenya
• That's all for now.  It's late and I have school tomorrow.
• I'll be more consistent about blogging in the future.
• I'm pretty sure I say that every time... 

Peanut Butter

My host dad tried a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and liked it!!!

I told my host family about apples with honey and apples with peanut butter... once again, the peanut butter part really grossed them out.  We tried both.  They liked the honey and apples. but thought it was a little too sweet.  Peanut butter on apples was not a hit.  Peanut butter and celery worked out though!  They took a picture of me eating an apples slice with peanut butter on it cause it seemed so strange to them.  It is funny to experience this in reverse.  My food comfort zone is pretty gigantic now.  Oh, sea cucumber for dinner?  No big deal, I've eaten that plenty of times!

I had a 6 hour mandolin practice today.  There isn't a concert coming up or anything... the next one is over 4 months away.  Japanese clubs are just intense.
Then I got home and played cello for an hour.  So great, but my arms are so tired!

Exactly 1 week with my family!  It seems like I've only been here 2 days, but I also feel like I've known them for years.

Soba. Sumo. Scout.

My host family has a tradition of eating soba every Saturday.  It just so happens that soba is my favorite Japanese food.  I love it a lot.  Told you this family was perfect for me!

Big news in Japan:  Sumo wrestlers have been fixing games for betting etc.  It is on TV a lot.  I was going to do a whole explanation for you, but my dad just sent me a video about it [lucky coincidence!] so you can watch that.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/02/04/lah.japan.sumo.scandal.cnn?hpt=C2

I couldn't add the video to my post because it isn't from youtube.  :(

I found To Kill a Mockingbird in Japanese in the library today!  I can pretty much read it too!  I need to have my dictionary nearby, but I now know enough kanji to not rely so heavily on the dictionary that it takes years to read anything. I know it is lame to be reading a book from the US, but it really helps to have an idea of what should be happening.  Once I can read a little more I will move on to Japanese books.  But this is my first book, so I think it is ok.

I forgot!  Yesterday was the exact half-way point of my exchange year.  Whoa.