Hoya hoya: Looking at life anew: March 2005

Komata na!

My laptop's broken...again. As there is currently ONE computer in the school with Internet (to be shared with 90 other teachers), the sumo pictures and story will have to wait. It was everything I expected it to be...noisy, fun and full of flesh! Keep your fingers and toes crossed for my computer!

Shooting up in Kyoto

Yesterday my friend Aggie and I went to Kyoto to get some vaccinations for our upcoming trip to India (August). So, you'd think that we'd get the doctor's about which injections to get, discuss options, etc. Instead, we just chose which injections we wanted, and after a long wait, she just jabbed us in the arm and almost $300 dollars later, we were out the door! Shocking! And that was just the first visit - we have to go back two more times!

Is this the procedure back at home? I can't remember because I never went anywhere with epidemics when I was in Canada, but I would think that the doctor would advise the patient on what to get, depending on the destination, time of year, and recent outbreaks. I didn't think that a patient could just circle on a piece of paper which vaccinations she wanted! But then again, in my experience with health care in Japan, there seems to be an "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Whenever I get medicine, I always have to ask what the drugs are, what the side effects are etc. Actually, Aggie and I went for some beers afterwards and everyone at the bar was quite concerned that we were drinking after getting vaccinations (one girl warned me that I might die!). And I was like, "Really? The doctor didn't say anything..."

Going to sumo tomorrow! It's the final day of the grand tournament in Osaka, so I'm pretty excited. It's my first time to see sumo live. I don't follow it all on TV, but I imagine it'll be pretty cool to watch live. So stay tuned for some pictures of very big men wearing very little!

Back to school

Today I sent a form requesting to re-enter my Masters program in September this year. I've thought a lot about why I'm going back to school, and why it has taken me so long to finish this program. Coincidentally, I'm reading an interesting bit in a book right now about motivation and education. I figure I entered this degree for all the wrong reasons. I did well in my Bachelors because I loved playing piano and I wanted to teach it. But I decided to do a Masters on a whim really, partly because I was told I'd be good at it, partly because everyone else seemed to be getting a post-graduate degree.

So why go back to it? Now that I've decided to teach English, there isn't a need for an M.A. in musicology, is there? Of course, I feel some obligation to finish it. A year ago, that used to be my primary reason for returning to my studies, and of course the very thought of going back resulted in feelings of reluctance and dread. However, after three years of doing something completely different, I feel rested and content, and ready to begin again.

"To the untrained eye ego-climbing and selfless climbing may appear identical. Both kinds of climbers place one foot in front of the other. Both breathe in and out at the same rate. Both stop when tired. Both go forward when rested. But what a difference! the ego-climber is like an instrument that's out of adjustment. He puts his foot down an instant too soon or too late. He's likely to miss a beautiful passage of sunlight through the trees. He goes on when the sloppiness of his step shows he's tired...He goes too fast or too slow for the conditions and when he talks his talk is forever about somewhere else, something else. He's here but he's not here. He rejects the here, is unhappy with it, wants to be farther up the trail but when he gets there will be just as unhappy because then it will be 'here'. What he's looking for, what he wants, is all around him, but he doesn't want that because it is all around him. Every step's an effort, both physically and spiritually, because he imagines his goal to be external and distant."

- Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Straw sandals in Kyoto

Rain rain go away

Ah, the back-to-work-after-a-long-weekend blues. It was rainy all day too...at least it was nice on the holiday Monday! I spent all day at school huddling by the kerosene heaters, drinking tea and trying to kick this cold. Lots of people have been sick lately...everyone seems to be wearing surgical masks, although most are wearing them because of the pollen from the cedars. When I went down to Kyoto, it looked like a highly contagious disease had broken out.

It's almost the end of the school year...Thursday is the closing ceremony. On Friday, we find out which teachers are going to transfer to other schools and who will be coming in. A lot of mixed feelings as you can imagine. Teachers then have a week to move everything. It's a hectic week...departments are shuffled around, homeroom teachers are decided, clubs are assigned, seats are changed. Everything starts anew again for the school year in April.

Looking forward to meeting the new teachers and students, but not as excited as last year, maybe because I know I'll just have four months with them. It's weird to think that in just a few months, there will be another person here, teaching my classes, living in my apartment, befriending the people I know here. And of course, I'll be back in Canada (after India), and back to being a student, at least for a little while. It's kind of depressing to think that I'm returning to the exact place in life as I left three years ago! Ah well, it has certainly been worth it. No regrets here.

An allergy sufferer and her pampered pooch

Shrine shopping

Had the day off from work today...the occasion? Spring equinox! One of the things I love about Japan is that there is a holiday at least once a month. What better way to celebrate the coming of spring than to wander around Kyoto? Some friends were looking into shrines for their upcoming wedding so I tagged along.

Some people have asked me what the meaning of "hoya hoya" is. The Japanese language is full of onomatopoeia, often consisting of repeated words - "pari pari" (crispy), "waku waku" (excitement, beating heart), "byuu byuu" (wind blowing), etc. "Hoya hoya" is used to describe something new and fresh, like steaming hot rice, bread just out of the oven, a new couple in love, and so on. One of the things I love about living in a foreign country is seeing things from a different perspective, finding beauty in places you've never looked before. I guess that's part of the reason why I've become so interested in photography...same world, but when looked through a different frame, even the most ordinary thing can be transformed into something beautiful and fascinating.

Heian shrine

Geta sandals for sale

Spring is here!

At Shimogamo Shrine

String and paper hairpiece

Happy White Day!

March 14th is officially "White Day" in Japan. Exactly a month before, on Valentine's Day, women make or buy sweets for their friends, male co-workers, love interests, etc. On February 13th, the shops are full of women buying giri choko ("obligation" chocolates). White Day is a day when men return the favour.

It's a good idea in theory...men have a chance to return those "oh-s***-I-wasn't- expecting-this-from-her!" presents. However, men are men, and they forget. A month ago, the teachers' room was full of cookies, chocolates, and homemade goodies. And today? Nada! They should've made it the other way around... women probably wouldn't forget as easily!

On this topic...I have a new love! My new ipod photo! What a gadget junkie I'm turning out to be. That's what happens when you live in Japan for too long...

Because I want to see your face with a smile!

On the way to school

Yokoso! Welcome!

Sunday - March 13th: Howdy and welcome to my blog! Have wanted to do this for ages. Hopefully it'll give you a little glimpse into my life here and let us stay in touch.

It's snowing like mad here...here I was, thinking that spring has finally begun, but looks like Old Man Winter is having his last gasp. It was hard not to head up to the mountain today for some boarding, but my arm is still sore. Decided to a hot spring (onsen) instead. This is definitely something I will miss when I leave Japan! It was especially beautiful in the outside bath, with the snow falling gently all around, steam rising hazily into the air and snowflakes melting into my fellow-bathers' hair. Would've taken a picture...except everyone's naked!

Here are some pictures of graduation (the school year starts in April). It was a bit emotional as these were the first kids I taught (I only teach the 1st years - or Grade 10's), but mostly I was really happy for them...it's such an exciting time in their lives, moving onto the "real" world. I can't believe how much they've changed!

There are also a couple of pics from when I went to Mr. Oe's house for Doll Festival. Mr. Oe is one of my favourite teachers I work with. He's my Japanese father! I'm also good friends with his daughter, Hiromi, who worked for the Japanese embassy in Zimbabwe! Doll's Festival is on March 3rd and it's a day for girls. About a month before, families display these dolls, which are given when a daughter is born to the family. You're supposed to take the display down as soon as the day is over, otherwise legend has it that the girls won't marry early. Mr. Oe doesn't want his daughters to leave yet, so he leaves them up for a while!

Well that's all for now. Ciao!