(Warning: This post is pictureless.)
After Friday's night of fun, I had Kempo on Saturday. Usually we have practice from 3-8 every Saturday, so a really intense sort of workout. But this Saturday was the 入門式/nyuumonshiki, a welcoming ceremony for the ichinensei/一年生 or the newcomers in the group. We had to give a self-introduction to the group and then listen to a speech by two of the masters. There was also this ceremonial part (well, it was all pretty ceremonial) where we had to drink rice wine out of these teeny tiny, delicate bowls, which I thought I was going to drop and smash on the ground. Luckily, I didn't.
We had this ceremony in the upstairs gym and then practice led by one of the masters in the downstairs dojo. It was really intense, I'm pretty sure it was the first time I ever broke a sweat during kempo practice. Thankfully, it ended early so we could all go drinking with the masters and such.We all had to dress up for this practice, so we looked like a pretty smart bunch in our suits and for Mia and I, our skirts and sweaters.
If you haven't deduced it by now, Japanese people are completely different when they drink. They take the word "uninhibited" to a whole new level. So during the nomi-kai we all had to talk to the masters. Conversation went well, I mean, it was nothing special, I didn't feel like I made a distinct impression on them. At the end of the party, however, the most senior master came up to me and told me, in Japanese and several times, that I had a good body. It was super awkward and all I could do was smile and say thank you because of the rules of politeness.
Before then, I had never been hit on by an 80-year-old man, but I guess there's a first time for everything.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
More Pictures....
....From Shorinji Kempo Taikai and Kempo Camp
I didn't put up all the pictures from those two events in the earlier post, so here's this post to finish the job. If you remember, I went to a Shorinji Kempo Taikai or intercollegiate tournament during Golden Week, the week everyone has off of work. It was really cool to see everyone perform. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself. (Oh, there's also a new post below this one. Part 1 of a very crazy weekend.)
Two members of our Kempo group
The train ride to Kempo camp.
From left to right, top row: Abe-sempai, Quentin, Gan, Ari. Bottom row: Hunter and Mia.
I allegedly made this face at someone. I don't believe it.
The campsite!
I didn't put up all the pictures from those two events in the earlier post, so here's this post to finish the job. If you remember, I went to a Shorinji Kempo Taikai or intercollegiate tournament during Golden Week, the week everyone has off of work. It was really cool to see everyone perform. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself. (Oh, there's also a new post below this one. Part 1 of a very crazy weekend.)
Two members of our Kempo group
The train ride to Kempo camp.
From left to right, top row: Abe-sempai, Quentin, Gan, Ari. Bottom row: Hunter and Mia.
I allegedly made this face at someone. I don't believe it.
The campsite!
Oh Boy.... (Part I)
...what a weekend.
Several things happened last weekend, and all of them involved some... funny, interactions we me and boys. Well, some interactions were funnier than others and some have turned out to be downright creepy. It all started on Friday night....
As I mentioned before, in a very roundabout way not everyone understood, I'm a member of a dance group on campus called G-Splash. They have 5 genres, hip hop, girl's hip hop, pop and lock, house and break dancing. We have a performance on June 7, and all of the first years, along with all of the members, are performing. As first years we could only choose from two genres to perform, hip hop or p&l. I chose hip-hop mostly because it's something I've always wanted to do and have found interesting, but also because it's something I don't think I'm good at naturally. I think it's good to have to work hard for something every once in a while; if not you just get lazy and cocky. And boy am I working hard, we had a practice the other day where I sweated straight through the shirt I was wearing. Straight through it, the thing was soaking wet at the end of that 3-hour practice.
But even though I was spending a lot of time with this group, I wasn't really making friends with the Japanese ichinensei/first years. As a result I didn't feel wholly part of the group. This all changed on Friday when some of the first years organized a nomikai.
I'm not sure if I've explained this before, but nomikais are basically drinking parties. The drinking culture is very big here as it allows people to say and do things they don't normally get to say or do because of the very strict cultural codes. In Japan, you don't want to stick out. You want to be a part of the group. In earlier decades, teachers used to punish unruly children by excluding them from the group either physically or indirectly. There's a Japanese saying that sums all this up: "If a nail stands up, it's nailed down." But when people drink, they're allowed to be rude, to stand out and to say and do what's on their minds without thinking of others. This doesn't mean what they're saying or doing is negative, it just means that they're thinking of themselves first instead of the group.
So I didn't quite know what to expect from everyone. I did hope that it would be fun and that I would get to meet a lot of people. Both of those hopes were realized. I had a really great time. It was such a fantastic night and I wish I could travel back in time and relive it second by second. We arrived at this izakaya in Shinjuku and were seated at two large tables. Very delicious food items were brought out and they brought drinks by the pitcher for each table. At first most people were sticking to their small groups formed and strengthened from long nights of practice. But as the drinks flowed and cups emptied out we all began to move from table to table mingling with the other members. I made a lot of new friends and had some great discussions, including one about honne and tatemae, which led to a very interesting moment.
Tatemae can be translated as a facade. It's basically, the face Japanese show the public. It has nothing to do with what they're feeling or thinking and is often a smile or a generic positive expression. Because of tatemae it's really hard to tell when someone doesn't like you. I was talking about this with two guys, the topic brought up when they asked me what the difference was between Japanese and Americans.
Me: Americans show whatever they're feeling on their face. If someone doesn't like you, know it. With Japanese, if someone doesn't like me, I have no idea.
Guy 1: Which one do you like more?
Me: Definitely the American way because then I don't waste time working on a relationship that's not going anywhere. And I don't bother people who don't want me around anyway.
Guy 2: (He reaches for my hand. I think he's going to shake it and he does — at first) I like the way you think.
"I like you," he says kissing the top of my hand.
I honestly didn't know what to say or do. So I just laughed. I'm not sure that was the best reaction, but it was the only one I had available at the time. There was then another awkward moment later on when they were talking about how pretty I was. And then Guy 2 says something to the effect of how he doesn't really like his face or body, I can't remember exactly. But my oh so classy and witty response was, "Pshaw, you're fine."
Nice, Jeannette. Good job.
Regardless of those two funny moments, or maybe because of them, it was a great and memorable night.
But with this as the start of my weekend, I knew it could only get better and crazier. And boy did it ever.
Several things happened last weekend, and all of them involved some... funny, interactions we me and boys. Well, some interactions were funnier than others and some have turned out to be downright creepy. It all started on Friday night....
As I mentioned before, in a very roundabout way not everyone understood, I'm a member of a dance group on campus called G-Splash. They have 5 genres, hip hop, girl's hip hop, pop and lock, house and break dancing. We have a performance on June 7, and all of the first years, along with all of the members, are performing. As first years we could only choose from two genres to perform, hip hop or p&l. I chose hip-hop mostly because it's something I've always wanted to do and have found interesting, but also because it's something I don't think I'm good at naturally. I think it's good to have to work hard for something every once in a while; if not you just get lazy and cocky. And boy am I working hard, we had a practice the other day where I sweated straight through the shirt I was wearing. Straight through it, the thing was soaking wet at the end of that 3-hour practice.
But even though I was spending a lot of time with this group, I wasn't really making friends with the Japanese ichinensei/first years. As a result I didn't feel wholly part of the group. This all changed on Friday when some of the first years organized a nomikai.
I'm not sure if I've explained this before, but nomikais are basically drinking parties. The drinking culture is very big here as it allows people to say and do things they don't normally get to say or do because of the very strict cultural codes. In Japan, you don't want to stick out. You want to be a part of the group. In earlier decades, teachers used to punish unruly children by excluding them from the group either physically or indirectly. There's a Japanese saying that sums all this up: "If a nail stands up, it's nailed down." But when people drink, they're allowed to be rude, to stand out and to say and do what's on their minds without thinking of others. This doesn't mean what they're saying or doing is negative, it just means that they're thinking of themselves first instead of the group.
So I didn't quite know what to expect from everyone. I did hope that it would be fun and that I would get to meet a lot of people. Both of those hopes were realized. I had a really great time. It was such a fantastic night and I wish I could travel back in time and relive it second by second. We arrived at this izakaya in Shinjuku and were seated at two large tables. Very delicious food items were brought out and they brought drinks by the pitcher for each table. At first most people were sticking to their small groups formed and strengthened from long nights of practice. But as the drinks flowed and cups emptied out we all began to move from table to table mingling with the other members. I made a lot of new friends and had some great discussions, including one about honne and tatemae, which led to a very interesting moment. Tatemae can be translated as a facade. It's basically, the face Japanese show the public. It has nothing to do with what they're feeling or thinking and is often a smile or a generic positive expression. Because of tatemae it's really hard to tell when someone doesn't like you. I was talking about this with two guys, the topic brought up when they asked me what the difference was between Japanese and Americans.
Me: Americans show whatever they're feeling on their face. If someone doesn't like you, know it. With Japanese, if someone doesn't like me, I have no idea.
Guy 1: Which one do you like more?
Me: Definitely the American way because then I don't waste time working on a relationship that's not going anywhere. And I don't bother people who don't want me around anyway.
Guy 2: (He reaches for my hand. I think he's going to shake it and he does — at first) I like the way you think.
"I like you," he says kissing the top of my hand.
I honestly didn't know what to say or do. So I just laughed. I'm not sure that was the best reaction, but it was the only one I had available at the time. There was then another awkward moment later on when they were talking about how pretty I was. And then Guy 2 says something to the effect of how he doesn't really like his face or body, I can't remember exactly. But my oh so classy and witty response was, "Pshaw, you're fine."
Nice, Jeannette. Good job.
Regardless of those two funny moments, or maybe because of them, it was a great and memorable night.
But with this as the start of my weekend, I knew it could only get better and crazier. And boy did it ever.
Friday, May 16, 2008
The Picture Post
You know, all of this writing business is taking too long. It's hard to keep on top of it. No lie. So this is the picture issue; captions included. FYI, there are about two new posts before this one, so further down the page.
My time in Tokyo is going by so quickly. I've already been here for a month and a half, almost two months and I don't feel as if I've accomplished anything yet. I really wish I could stay longer, really get better at my Japanese and make some Japanese-speaking only friends.
I have met some really cool gaijin here, however, so all is not lost in the way of making connections. We all went out one night to a club called Ageha. It was so much fun and prior to going I didn't think the Japanese guys were too fond of me. But after Ageha, I know better.
I'm not just hanging out in the city though. During Golden Week, Mia, Hunter and I went camping with the Kempo club. Kempo Camp! It was... an interesting experience. There are some personalities that I just don't like in Kempo. They're not the Japanese people but some gaijin. I don't want to get into it because it's just better to leave the negative in the past; there's no need to let it... percolate, so to speak.
The weather was pretty gloomy on the way there but despite the cloud cover, everything was still beautiful.
My time in Tokyo is going by so quickly. I've already been here for a month and a half, almost two months and I don't feel as if I've accomplished anything yet. I really wish I could stay longer, really get better at my Japanese and make some Japanese-speaking only friends.
I have met some really cool gaijin here, however, so all is not lost in the way of making connections. We all went out one night to a club called Ageha. It was so much fun and prior to going I didn't think the Japanese guys were too fond of me. But after Ageha, I know better.
I'm not just hanging out in the city though. During Golden Week, Mia, Hunter and I went camping with the Kempo club. Kempo Camp! It was... an interesting experience. There are some personalities that I just don't like in Kempo. They're not the Japanese people but some gaijin. I don't want to get into it because it's just better to leave the negative in the past; there's no need to let it... percolate, so to speak.
The weather was pretty gloomy on the way there but despite the cloud cover, everything was still beautiful.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Natalie has a cool haircut...
...and we followed a cute guy down the street after eating at Mos Burger (yum)!
It wasn't creepy though because he was going in the same direction we were, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
So today was the first day of classes after Golden Week. Luckily it was a Wednesday, which means that I only had Japanese class today and nothing else. And because the Shorinji Kempo Taikai was this past weekend as well as the welcoming camp, we didn't have any practice today. Yay! And no G-splash practice either. All in all a pretty free day and a fairly non-stressful one.... or so I thought.
After Japanese Mia and I got lunch and then we went to get gelato for ¥100 or roughly a dollar. It was amazing; I got mango, chocolate and coffee nuts. I wanted to take a picture but that probably would have been totes inappropes. Le sigh. After that delicious break, Mia and I returned to the library intent on doing some work. She did some, but I did see her fall asleep for a good bit. And I got all my Japanese homework done, but then I started to stress about my anthro work.
Remember the one where I have to write an ethnography. well it was giving me some major problems. I didn't have any contacts and I didn't know where to start. See, a lot of gay bars in Shinjuku, the hub of the Tokyo gay scene, don't let in women or foreigners and I'm both. So I was really desperate to find a way in. But luckily, Greg's friend Jonas has a friend named Karsten who happens to be gay and a regular at some of these bars so next week he's taking me to one. Exciting, going to a bar for homework. Only in Japan.... Or maybe not. :-/
It wasn't creepy though because he was going in the same direction we were, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
So today was the first day of classes after Golden Week. Luckily it was a Wednesday, which means that I only had Japanese class today and nothing else. And because the Shorinji Kempo Taikai was this past weekend as well as the welcoming camp, we didn't have any practice today. Yay! And no G-splash practice either. All in all a pretty free day and a fairly non-stressful one.... or so I thought.
After Japanese Mia and I got lunch and then we went to get gelato for ¥100 or roughly a dollar. It was amazing; I got mango, chocolate and coffee nuts. I wanted to take a picture but that probably would have been totes inappropes. Le sigh. After that delicious break, Mia and I returned to the library intent on doing some work. She did some, but I did see her fall asleep for a good bit. And I got all my Japanese homework done, but then I started to stress about my anthro work.
Remember the one where I have to write an ethnography. well it was giving me some major problems. I didn't have any contacts and I didn't know where to start. See, a lot of gay bars in Shinjuku, the hub of the Tokyo gay scene, don't let in women or foreigners and I'm both. So I was really desperate to find a way in. But luckily, Greg's friend Jonas has a friend named Karsten who happens to be gay and a regular at some of these bars so next week he's taking me to one. Exciting, going to a bar for homework. Only in Japan.... Or maybe not. :-/
Monday, May 5, 2008
Major Recap
It's the Major Recap Show where I recap all of the wonderful things that happened in April! W00t! So for a little preview: G-Spalsh, Kempo, Classes, Yokohama — and a video!
1. G-Splash!!!!
I have a new love it's name is G-Splash. G-Splash is wonderful, it pops and locks, and hip hops and breaks... Oh G-Splash, my life was so empty before without you. And you really made me sweat: 3 hour work outs everyday for two weeks with an audition and nomihodai/飲み補題 (all you can drink) at the end. G-Splash, this, us, it's forever. Or at least until August when I have to return to the States. The pic you see to your left is of me and my two friends D-Bang (Diana) and Stephanie waiting for our audition results. We were quite nervous.
2. More kempo!!
So I've kept with kempo. Like I said it wasn't going to shake me. No way, no how. It's getting really fun and I feel that if I was ever attacked in a dark alley or even in broad daylight, I could kick some serious ass.
3. Classes
And they're super easy! Which is why I'm able to be in two circles/clubs and not lose my mind. I'm taking two anthropology course, one on individual culture and society and one on digital technology use in Japan. For the latter I have to write an actual ethnography and I'm researching digital communication patterns in the gay community here in Tokyo. Both of those courses are some of the best I've taken, ever. I'm also taking a history course and it's probably the single most boring course I've taken, ever. I've fallen asleep every class since the first day. Even caffeine is no match for my teacher's monotone. And to round it all off, I'm taking Japanese. It's definitely less intense than I thought a Japanese class in Japan would be, but that's probably for the best.
4. Yokohama! (Here's where the video is!)
[Geez, do I have enough exclamation points in this post?]
So a bunch of us went to Yokohama to see the port and, most importantly, to see Chinatown. I know, you're probably thinking, Jeannette, you're going to a Chinatown in Japan? Something about this does not seem right. But it was so right. I had bubble tea and coconut water from a coconut (yum ^_^) and a delicious dinner. And the weather that day was just perfect. The sun was out and everything just looked new and wonderful. But don't take my word for it....
Some of my friends here in Tokyo; most of them live at DK with me and we all go to Sophia.
This really charismatic street performer. He's the one in the video. I totally thought he was going to burn himself.
Hey it's me....
And now that you've made it to the end of the post, you get a video reward. Yeah that's right. Enjoy!
Except you would have, but I can't upload it. Boo.
1. G-Splash!!!!
I have a new love it's name is G-Splash. G-Splash is wonderful, it pops and locks, and hip hops and breaks... Oh G-Splash, my life was so empty before without you. And you really made me sweat: 3 hour work outs everyday for two weeks with an audition and nomihodai/飲み補題 (all you can drink) at the end. G-Splash, this, us, it's forever. Or at least until August when I have to return to the States. The pic you see to your left is of me and my two friends D-Bang (Diana) and Stephanie waiting for our audition results. We were quite nervous.2. More kempo!!
So I've kept with kempo. Like I said it wasn't going to shake me. No way, no how. It's getting really fun and I feel that if I was ever attacked in a dark alley or even in broad daylight, I could kick some serious ass.
3. Classes
And they're super easy! Which is why I'm able to be in two circles/clubs and not lose my mind. I'm taking two anthropology course, one on individual culture and society and one on digital technology use in Japan. For the latter I have to write an actual ethnography and I'm researching digital communication patterns in the gay community here in Tokyo. Both of those courses are some of the best I've taken, ever. I'm also taking a history course and it's probably the single most boring course I've taken, ever. I've fallen asleep every class since the first day. Even caffeine is no match for my teacher's monotone. And to round it all off, I'm taking Japanese. It's definitely less intense than I thought a Japanese class in Japan would be, but that's probably for the best.
4. Yokohama! (Here's where the video is!) [Geez, do I have enough exclamation points in this post?]
So a bunch of us went to Yokohama to see the port and, most importantly, to see Chinatown. I know, you're probably thinking, Jeannette, you're going to a Chinatown in Japan? Something about this does not seem right. But it was so right. I had bubble tea and coconut water from a coconut (yum ^_^) and a delicious dinner. And the weather that day was just perfect. The sun was out and everything just looked new and wonderful. But don't take my word for it....
Some of my friends here in Tokyo; most of them live at DK with me and we all go to Sophia.
This really charismatic street performer. He's the one in the video. I totally thought he was going to burn himself.
Hey it's me....
And now that you've made it to the end of the post, you get a video reward. Yeah that's right. Enjoy!
Except you would have, but I can't upload it. Boo.
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