June 28, 2003
the value of entertainment
Why do humans like entertainment as much as they do? It has become a necessity of life. Something to fill the ticking hours with. Movies, tv shows, music, video games, books, art, eating - basically everything we do revolves around entertainment. Even most jobs probably contribute to the entertainment industry in its various forms. I suppose this is what life is all about - filling the hours. It leaves me very empty at times, sitting around, clicking on my mouse, filling up the hours. It hits even harder when I have no job, no kids, no responsibilities. My only job this entire year is to sit around and "research", learning Japanese, visiting with people and taking care of Craig. This is a wonderful thing, but it leaves many empty hours to be filled with either nothing or entertainment. And entertainment bores and/or frustrates me to death (well at least a good percentage of the current stream of entertainment that the modern West provides me with). It would probably be much more worth my time to just sit and study Japanese or something that has the potential to help others than myself, but my brain just becomes overloaded at 200% capacity. So, then I am driven towards entertainment to try and rest my mind. When I do this, the idea that entertainment pretty much has zero value (perhaps aside from eating to live) makes me feel like I am wasting my time. In search of something more fulfilling, I then continue to overload my mind, once again giving me a headache and driving me to rest. Can we see a pattern forming? Maybe it's not so tough in the States. I've got more people to talk to, more "important" things to do, and less time to spare. I guess this entry really didn't end up discussing the alleged value of entertainment as I titled it, but I do wonder sometimes what it is.
happenings
I think I have mastered the art of riding a bike with an umbrella...only to discover that there is now a $400 fine for doing it. I have yet to see this confirmed in writing, but the rumor has been flying and I've heard it from several people.
I went hiking on Thursday with Craig and Mike. I'd say it's the prettiest hike we've done so far in mid-Japan. I'd still like to get up to some of the islands off of Kyushu and to some of the areas in Hokkaido. We saw several large waterfalls (even crossing in the middle of one of them!!). Pictures will be up soon.
Every day I learn more about the language. One particular funny bit of Japanese when translated literally into English is found when ordering things at a restaurant. For example, if one wants fish, they will literally say "I am fish". So, those Japanese who are learning English and want to order something will commonly replace what they want with what they are....creating some humorous scenarios. "I am a tall skinny double caramel cappucino, half the flavor and an extra dollop of foam." Something's reminding me of Fight Club...."I am Jack's complete lack of surprise."
Japanese language frustration: we went to get some food the other day. When the food came out, the server placed it on our table saying "This...Is...Rice." hahaha and all that time we thought it was boiled grubs **thick sarcasm**
We also now officially have a website....with nothing but a mosquito on it. I don't know how long Mr. Mosquito is going to stay, but Craig "the Flash Master" J made him for your enjoyment.
June 23, 2003
I ate mold
It was on the back of a piece of bread I was eating for breakfast. It was no little spot either....maybe an inch in diameter......into my mouth it went and immediately it came out of my mouth. NASTY! eww eww eww grossness!!!!!
Just when...II
This story directly relates to my previous Just When... entry. My question is: am I invisible? Here's the scenario: I am at a restaurant, waiting in line to write my name on the waiting list, when two girls walk in the door, directly around me, grab the pen and write their names. I heard a "sumi...ma....senn..." kind of slip quietly out of my mouth as a reaction to the shock, but they just looked up and stared as if seeing something 5 feet behind me. Am I invisible? I don't *think* so, but maybe there is some sort of line privelage rule I am unaware of..... ***sigh*** another day in the life I suppose....
Bereaved
Def: [to bereave] to take away (a valued or necessary possession) especially by force, [bereaved] : suffering the death of a loved one. The Palestine/Israel conflict has left many bereaved. I was able to attend a forum last week where two bereaved parents from Israel and two from Palestine met to share with us their stories. They were part of the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families for Peace program, and they had made a stop in Japan to discuss several of the similarities between the Japan's experience during WWII and the current situation in Israel and Palestine. Though their stories were very sad, detailing the tragic loss of close family members, their goal was enlightening and refreshing. They chose not to focus on much of the typical arguments that arise at I-P discussions, but instead simply focused on sharing their stories and making a statement of peace. The effectiveness of their program lies in this: by sharing losses together and reaching out to the people, they are undercutting the political clashes of those in power and reaching the very people who are being effected by the conflict. In their words, Hello, Salaam! Hello, Shalom! Hello, Peace!
Embarassing Story
Thought I'd try and rival Ann...
So, this story takes place at my very fun surprise party. Auntie Flow had been visiting me this week, and in an attempt to save one of my pairs of undies, I had washed them and hung them on the side of our sink. Of course, had I known we were going to have guests, they would have been neatly hidden elsewhere. HOWEVER, I had no clue this party was going to happen, and our ever-so-visible sink had my ever-so-visible pair of undies to greet all my party guests. Craig and the people who helped him set up the party apparently "didn't notice" the panties, however almost immediatly after my arrival at least 3 of my friends quitely "suggested" that I attend to my laundry as soon as possible. Needless to say, as soon as I realised what was going on, my face was a nice shade of rouge and the underwear quickly disappeared from sight! I still cringe a little every time I think of the incident, but since it happened, I may as well make a good story out of it!
June 22, 2003
Miscellany
We saw a special geisha and maiko dance at the Kyoto Kaikan today, courtesy of birthday present tickets from Sayo. It was quite a thrill to see the dances, which are stories told through carefully practiced movements. The dancers were all geisha and maiko from Kyoto schools, which are known to be the finest schools of the art of the geisha in the country. My personal favorite dance was "aranezumi" = "the bad mice". The geisha did a delightful job of enacting mice using their fans as everything from tails to noses to cheese. The dances were all accompanied by singing (if that's what you want to call it) and shamisen/drums. The style of music is so different from western music that I couldn't help but crack a smirk when the first note that was let out sounded like a 5 year old who was experiencing a recorder for the first time. Overall, it was a great experience that I would have never personally paid for (the tickets were almost $70 each!) but am glad to have been treated to.
In other related news, "snot" in Japanese is "hanakuso" - literally meaning "nose shit".
Frantisek Staud has some amazing pictures of Japan and other places he's traveled. I'm actually considering a switch over to slide film too, and he mentions use of it a lot in his photography.
This probably shouldn't go last, but MY HUSBAND IS AWESOME!! He threw a surprise party for my 21st birthday, and surprise it surely was!!! I have no idea how he got all 15 people in our tiny little living room or how he communicated to my non-English speaking Japanese friends, but they were all there. It was a blast, and I feel like the luckiest gal on earth to be married to Craig!
June 16, 2003
June 15, 2003
Just when....
**Rant**
Just when you feel you are close to assimilation, close to not sticking out like the sorest thumb, maybe even slightly normal, it happens. Reality is pointed out by a raving Japanese who seems to feel that frantically waving and pointing at me sitting on the subway will bring me back to Ground Zero. Okay it worked. I realize I look different than all the other folks around me. But what difference does that really make? I bet a sick person wouldn't ask if the blood they were receiving was foreign or not. But really, to all those out there who want to stare, prod and poke at things (or people) that aren't quite the same as yoruself, please think TWICE. One of the most embarassing moments I have experienced in Japan happened tonight when someone felt it was his duty to point my existence out to me. Like I wouldn't notice him through that *thick* sheet of glass between us. He just simply had to point and wave at me so his friend would remember to stare at that blond foreigner sitting there minding her own business. Conclusion: this country is not even close to being prepared for an international community. Today's event is one of many where just my simple existance here creates some sort of excitement and/or disturbance. I can hear the whispers through the crowd...YES! that's right! I even understand them - hard to think that a foreigner would really be able to comprehend some whispered kansai dialect, but it can happen. And it happens a lot. My foreign friends who speak the language often report stories of people pointing at them and making a fuss over their SKIN COLOR. This is coming from the society that itself spends wallets full of money on skin products claiming to leave "silky white skin". Now, some may respond saying, "didn't you choose to put yourself in this situation where you would be different." My response: Yes and no. Of course it's not the US, Europe, Australia or any other area where caucasians abound. But it does make the claim to be open minded to foreigners (this has truth and falsity - often the same as our very own Mother country). I can understand some whispering, I can understand some stares, but I cannot understand blatent discrimination and humiliation based on race. We do it too. We do it too much. It's a lesson to be learned for anyone who feels that they need to act different towards someone because of their skin color. Did they choose that color? Does a color really matter so much? I mean, don't all M&M's taste the same (the red ones are not really better).
**Rant Concluded**
June 11, 2003
Musical Personalities
yet another wonderful piece of academia **audience laughs at subtle sarcasm**......As published by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, referenced by the Opinion Journal and posted on Yahoo! News, another brilliant work of academic research and money shows that music reflects personalities. My only comment is this: Then what the hell does that make me????? Mixing Beatles with Moby, POD with Brahms, and India Arie with Eminem......what could analysts possibly do with this type of data? Maybe they'll file me in the notorious "others" category...........
June 09, 2003
Essences
June 03, 2003
He made it!
My cousin, Jason, was finally able to make it back to the States. It took a few layovers, and several fixings, but they finally made it. First, they left Kuwait and then went to Spain. There the plane "broke" and needed fixing. They made it out of Spain a couple of days later and left for Las Vegas. Once there, they couldn't seem to find any flights to return him home, so he had to wait around a while more. Today he arrived back at his home in Washington, much to his family's delight. I'm glad you're back too Jason!!