The Marriage Noose

Three months of work finally culminated in a performance today: that’s right, I geisha-fied myself and attempted to forget how to walk and move like a westerner and I did some Japanese fan dancing.  I wasn’t too nervous, overall, but I was very hot.  I learned several things about wearing kimono, too:

1. It’s impossible to step more than a foot in a kimono, which is why Japanese women move with such tiny steps.
2. You have no choice but to stand straight.
3. Kimono are REALLY hot.  Like, seriously.

The song that I danced to is an 80s classic called 契り(Chigiri).  According to my friend Yoko, it means “The Marriage Noose,” which just has several levels of hilarity.  

So yeah, here are some pictures and even a video (!) of the day.  Enjoy!  

 

People of all ages fan dance. Adorable ones are the best.

 

And gorgeous kimono. I want it!

Rock on!

 

Hey, who's that chick?

 

Tee Hee!

And finally, the winner!  Watch the whole thing, me making a bit of a fool of myself… but I hope you like it.  :)

 

Oooouchie

I’ve had a good first two weeks back at school.  Granted, last week the only classes I really taught were at Elementary school, but I’ve gone to two ensoku (picnics) so far–one to a beautiful island off of Iki called Aoshima, the other to Twin’s Beach near my house–and managed to have a good time getting to know my new first year students.  I have another ensoku tomorrow with one of my elementary schools and I’m super excited.  Here’s hoping it’ll be warm!

However, so much time in the sun means that I’ve gotten burned!  (It’s light, don’t worry mom.)  This is really crazy to Japanese people, who rarely burn, and especially rarely turn red.  After Monday’s ensoku to the beach, all my teachers would point at their collar bone (meaning mine) and cheeks (meaning mine), then say “Akai yo!” (It’s red!)  Then, “Itai desu ka?” (Does it hurt?)  This happened multiple times.

It doesn’t hurt, by the way.  It only itches.  

But today I did get an ouchie.  On Thursdays I have Fan Dancing and Taiko.  Well, not only are my thighs aching from the constant squatting I do during Fan Dancing, but today was the first time back at Taiko in about a month.

My hands, they were not prepared.

Our teacher came again for the first time in at least three months.  He brought with him a fellow who’s quite good at Taiko and has a lot of excellent flair.  This gave us a whole new energy to the same-old same-old routine, so we all got into it and started pounding the drums even harder and harder.  I even did the fun “Kyaaaaaaaaa!” while we were doing drumrolls (initially embarrassing, but now just plain cool).  

However, four weeks with no Taiko + super hard drumming = two really BAD blisters on my right hand.  It’s even hard to type!  Certainly hard to drive.  I’m hoping they’ll calm down by tomorrow.

Someday, I may be this cool.

Anyway.

Problem is they cost about $300.

Flamenco is also coming along, though I feel like I’m doing worse in that one.  Almost-Spanish-sensei changed the routine on us several times, and it’s tripping me up.  Plus now that it’s warmer and I can see my triceps flopping about, I get pretty self conscious, though I’m fighting through it.  I also really need to get flamenco shoes, as the stilettos I’m using occasionally get stuck on my skirt, and that is no good.  

We’re doing the fandango, by the way, which I didn’t know for the first three months.  I think we’re about a third of the way through learning the dance (maybe?) though possibly more.  We may or may not be performing in June, when there’s a Big Iki Culture Festival (during which I will also be doing Taiko and Fan Dancing).  I’m hoping I can get out of it until October.

More to come soon of Kat’s Guide to Being Depressed.  Probably this weekend, as I shouldn’t be too busy.  

Hope everyone is doing okay and not hurting themselves.

 

A bit of an update

Well, I’m back from my adventures (boy, yeah, that’s a good word for it) in Hiroshima and Miyajima, but before I start explaining what happened there, I thought I’d do a bit of photo catch-up since I’ve been so lazy.  (Yes, I bought an SD card reader.  Well, technically a multi-card reader, so now I can just leave it plugged in and never have to worry.)

 

My Naka kids look into the future.

At an “ensoku” (school picnic) with Naka.  This was that extra-blustery day in which I nearly lost my lunch (literally) because of the wind.  The picture is at the top of the “Mt.” Ondake observatory, from which you can see part of Ashibe and Katsumoto.  It was a very clear day, so we also saw the Southern (?) edge of Tsushima, an island to the North that is technically closer to Korea than it is to Japan.

 

Yoroshiku Onegaitashimasu!

I went to Hatsuyama’s graduation ceremony this year.  Despite the fact that it’s my smallest school (graduating class of 13), the ceremony still took a solid two hours, if not more.  How, you may ask?  Oh, excessive speeches.  Japanese people take their ceremonies very seriously.  First the Kyoto-sensei speaks.  Then the Kocho-sensei.  Then they hand out the diplomas.  Then the Kocho-sensei speaks again.  Then THREE members of the PTA.  Then a speaker from the leaving class.  And a speaker from the remaining two classes.

And so on…

Really, it was an adorable ceremony, I just found the officiousness of it all a bit amusing.

Anyway, the following are all from Girls’ Weekend, a great time I had in Fukuoka with some of my gal pals from around Nagasaki.  There was supposed to be a great deal of drinking/dancing/shopping and what-not, but really, only the latter occurred.  And it was a great time, anyway.  Just goes to show that all that matters is the company.  Though I shouldn’t be allowed to shop with Jacqui anymore.  We’re both enablers, which means that when we shop together, we spend lots and lots and LOTS of money.

 

Jacqui loves her some grass pandas.

Youzakura: Viewing cherry blossoms at night.

This was taken at the famous “ramen alley.”  Fukuoka is pretty well known in Japan for its ramen, though I’d never eaten it (Why?).  Anyway, it was super delicious.

Starting at about five o’clock, shopkeepers come and set up their stalls along the edge of one of the rivers in Fukuoka.  The ramen, for me, is a little expensive–about 600-700 yen per bowl rather than the 500 I’m used to on Iki.  But the atmosphere is fantastic, even if it is difficult to find a seat!

 

I'm a superstar! Can't resist trying on ridiculous sunglasses, at least.

 

Really, I'm fascinated by these girls.

There’s a strange fashion trend known as the “lolita” or “goth lolita,” depending on the type of dress.  The above girls very kindly let me take their picture, showing this strange idea.  Essentially, they take standard ideals of Anime Adorableness and apply it to everyday clothes.  Oversized bows, lots of frills, mary janes, even tiny hats attached with bobby pins to the sides of heads can be found sometimes.

Really, it’s both interesting and hilarious. 

Anyway, beyond the pictures…

Still have a couple of days off before I have to return to work.  Have had my birthday (excellent!), so am now a staggering 22 years of age.  I know, super old, eh?  Came back to wonderful weather, discovered a new beach on Iki, and returned to Fan Dancing classes.  Graceful-sensei’s new technique?  Manhandling me into gracefulness.  

Apparently, now that I have the feet and hands mostly down, she’s getting picky so that I become pretty.  Whilst practicing, she presses my body this way and that into the correct stance, muttering “可笑しい” (ridiculous…) the whole time.  Keep in mind that I’m at least a full head taller than her, so at the same time she’s pressing me into an even worse squatting position so I don’t look so awkward next to the others.

Still lots of fun, but continues to be excessively difficult.

Not particularly looking forward to Flamenco on Tuesday.  Since I haven’t gone in two weeks, I’m going to be way behind.

How was your end of March?

 

And sometimes, one needs rest

So amidst teaching and my activities and hanging out with my Iki folks, I’ve found myself with perhaps only one or two days of total “down time” with just myself.  After nearly six months of lethargy, I figured this would be a good thing.  Well, I guess after a summer of doing nearly nothing, I’d forgotten what “busy” meant.  

Here’s my current schedule, monday through sunday:

Monday: 8-5 school (Muchuu, three classes), 5-7 check e-mail, eat dinner, write if possible, (on some Mondays, though, like today, I help with Etsuko’s adult English class, so then from 7:30-8:30 I’m there, and from 8:30-10 I practice Fan Dancing), 7-9 Fan Dancing, 9-11 plan lessons for the next day if I haven’t done so, if I have, rest after Fan Dancing

Tuesday: 8-5 school (Hatsuyama, 1-3 classes), 5-7 check e-mail, 7-8 Flamenco Dancing, 8-11 write, plan lessons, hang out with the friends

Wednesday: 8-5 school (Muchuu, 5 classes), 5-7 at onsen with Christine, 8-9 dinner with Christine, 9-11 plan lessons, check e-mail, all that jazz

Thursday 8-5 school (Naka, 3 classes), 5-7 check e-mail and write..  maybe, 7-9 Fan Dancing practice for an hour, followed by Taiko drumming, 9-10 eat Ramen with the Iki ALTs, 10-11 play around on the computer

Friday 8-1:30 school (Elementary, 3-4 classes), 1:30-7 play around on the computer, make cookies, clean my house (on some Fridays, though, like the one coming up, I have the adult English Club from 2:30-4), 7-12 Curry and fun time with the Iki ALTs

Saturday and Sunday are usually my K@-does-nothing days, but lately I’ve 1) gone to snack bars (like bars… but with girls who serve you and charge you exorbitant prices for the privilege, but really, it’s fun), 2) made dinner or lunch for my friends, 3) made lots and lots of cookies, 3) eaten dinner or lunch with my friends, 4) cleaned my house very thoroughly, 5) gone to Fukuoka for shopping and the like.

Really, it’s much busier than it seems.  Especially because I spend at least an hour planning my lessons usually.  

But today I’ve had a pretty poor stomachache the whole day.  It feels a bit better now, but I think I’m going to use it as an excuse to not practice Fan Dancing (though I should).  I’ve forgotten a lot–it’s so difficult, and I get nothing of the second half… well, OK, I maybe remember a third of the second half, but really, overall it’s still a disaster.  

I will have to go to the adult English class, though, as on Saturday a class of Canadian High Schoolers are coming to Iki to… be on Iki? and a few of the ladies in the English class are hosting them.  Their English isn’t too good, so I need to help them practice things to say and the like.

I want to share some of the most excellent lessons that I’ve planned for my third years, but I’ve been feeling too lazy to edit the photos.  Suffice to say that I’m a genius.  

What sort of things have you felt you need rest from lately?

 

Dansu-dansu!

How about an update on the fun-good-times in my life?

Well, as you may or may not realize, I’m learning both Taiko Drumming and Flamenco Dancing.  I do Taiko on Thursdays and Flamenco on Tuesdays.  They’re both wonderful, tons of  fun, a good workout, and really interesting and challenging.

This last Thursday, one of the Japanese ladies in my Taiko group approached me and said, “You want to learn Japanese Fan Dancing?” I responded, “Oh, sure, why not?  Could be interesting.”  I figured she’d tell me where to take the classes, I’d start several weeks later.

Oh no.

We rushed to the other side of Bunka Hall–the place where we practice Taiko–to the tatami room.  Shuffled past the surprised students (who are also my English students, I gave them a sheepish wave and grin), bowed to Graceful-sensei, and like magic I had agreed to meet her the following Monday (also known as today).

Well, okay.

A little shocked by the suddenness but not particularly concerned, I have excessive amounts of free time, I found my way to Graceful-sensei’s family restaurant and practiced for an hour and a half.  I figured it’d be like Flamenco, learn a teensy tiny bit at a time, still be overwhelmed, and have to work my butt off to catch up.  Well, the latter two were definitely true.

Turns out Graceful-sensei wants me to perform with the rest of her students at the High School Graduation.  In the middle of March.  Two weeks away.

Graceful-sensei say WHAT?!

Not sure how that’s going to turn out but… anyway, she taught me the “number one” movements, perhaps the first two minutes of the dance.  It whirled around me with so much feet adjustment and hand hiding and general confusion.  I honestly barely remember what I was doing, but I can follow pretty easily so I think she believed I understood more than I really did.  She also speaks no English, so sometimes she gave me instructions in Japanese and I just crossed my fingers that I did it right.  I also have a number of problems:

1. In Flamenco, your elbows are supposed to just away from your body.
   

   Flamenco--bold and bodacious.

   This is because the silhouette is incredibly important.  Movements are big and dramatic.  

2. Yeah, it’s the complete opposite in Fan Dancing.
3. Elbows in, keep your knees bent so you look more demure.
4. I also discovered why Tomoko always walked like a duck.  It’s because, traditionally, that’s just how Japanese women walk!  Tiny, slow steps, toes facing inward, apparently very beautiful.  And it does look great, when Graceful-sensei does it.
5. I look like a lumbering rhino.
6. Though, if you remember from my time at the Kumamoto zoo, rhinos can dance, too. 
7. And I’m too tall.  Did I mention that?  That whole knees bent thing…
   

   Fan Dancing - Soft and Serene.

    who boy, I have to bend my knees twice as much as Graceful-sensei.

8. But it’s a good workout, and I might get the hang of it.  It’s beautiful, really, so I want to keep trying. 
9. I will ganbarimasu.
10. But I don’t think I’ll get it by High School graduation.

So we practiced this “number one” about a dozen times.  I have a rough idea of what’s supposed to be happening in my head.  I’ll practice some more before Taiko–maybe record the whole business on my camera so I can try at home, too.  And then once more on Sunday I go back.

When we finished, I walked back down to the family restaurant, accepted a cup of tea and was preparing to go when…

…when Graceful-sensei introduced me to the men of the family.  (Please note, the entire conversation below was actually conducted in Japanese.  Whatever I’m writing could be very wrong to what was actually said.  And also, my Japanese grammar is terrible when I speak.)

“Oh, please join us!  Sit!” says a friendly looking old man, pointing at the cushion next to him.

“Yes, have some sake!” says another gentleman, this one with glasses, happily throwing back straight Shochu–Japanese whiskey.

I shake my head emphatically.  Graceful-sensei agrees, “She has to drive!”

Lots of “Oh, right, no problem” round the table, and then they invite me to tea.  I feel like it would be churlish to say no–they’re so nice, and Graceful-sensei is teaching me (as far as I know) for free, so I sit, figuring it won’t take more than fifteen minutes for me to drink my tea, make my excuses, and go home to work.

Hah, right.

Hilarity ensues as we try to communicate between their (slightly) drunken Japanese and my (very terrible) Japanese.  I get invited to karaoke.  Refuse (that whole lesson thing… work thing… you know).  They ask me what kinds of foods and drinks I like.  I explain.  We somehow get on the topic of swimming in bath tubs.  I eventually learn all their names.  Insert moment where they mispronounce “Kat” several times and the youngest child, an adorable third-year student at one of my elementary schools, says “Kat-to!!!”

In the end, I’m glad I stayed, even if I do smell like smoke (did I mention Japanese men smoke like chimneys?) and I have yet to plan my lessons for tomorrow and it’s almost 10:00.  I’ll be seeing them again next week, so I might as well try to be friendly.  And they’re really funny.  It’s nice to get to know more Japanese folks–even if, being as I live on Iki, none of them are my age.

I’m not sure if this rambling makes any sense, but here’s the bottom line: I have a lot less free time, but some silly Old Japanese friends to keep me company.

Anything unexpected happen in your lives lately?