:: My Urban Eyes ::
All that I see, and then some.
:: Friday, December 30, 2005 ::
Behind the Times
I only just got on bloglines, a web-based RSS reader. Being vacation I get to vege (is that you how spell it?) out in front of the comp a lot, so it's been really handy having all my favorite blogs and things in one spot. ...is it sad that I had an RSS reader for podcasts before I got one for my blogs?
Anywho, if you have any favorite blogs or feeds of any sort that you like/think I would like, let me know in the comments. ^_^ Currently my feeds include (links are feeds, not websites):
- Daily Show Videos
- Boing Boing
- Lifehacker
- PostSecret
- ~friends' blogs~
- ~podcasts~
- Daily Kos
- Media Matters for America
- Spacing
Spacing-esque stuff especially appreciated ^_^
Labels: Blog
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 6:24 PM [+] ::
:: ... 2 comments
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New Linkage
At left - Spacing, a webzine and photoblog that centers on Toronto, which I love dearly, but the discussions of urban space are applicable anywhere. When I get home I am totally going to dive into the photoblog... I can't wait to catch up with all of them.
With some of my Christmas money I ordered two books for studying kanji from amazon.jp... and they arrived less than 48 hours later. Living in a small country can have its advantages. -_^ The books--Kanji in Context, reference book and workbook one, rock. Even though I'm starting at the beginning (flying through the several hundred kanji I already know) I'm learning whole bunches of vocab I didn't know before. Even the word for fifty-fifty! (It's gobugobu, and the characters mean "five parts, five parts".) I feel like I'm finally at the point where, when I go home, I can study Japanese on my own and be successful with it. It makes me happy. ^_^
So does this vacation! Yea for doing nothing! Hehehe. I hope everyone is doing well, take care! ^_^
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 1:00 PM [+] ::
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:: Thursday, December 29, 2005 ::
Overcompensation
During homestay I was in my room by 10, 11 at the latest, and due to it being insanely cold (no central heat in Japan, I just had a space heater) I usually fell asleep quickly, even on the weekends. But here in the dorms... 24/7 computer lab! Kitchen is always open! Lounge is never closed! Many friends around all the time, always ready for convo! It is waaaaaay too easy to stay up past my bedtime.
I start an intersession ceramics class on the 6th, though, so that should get me back to a normal schedule. Just don't want to think about how rude an awakening that will be. :P
Labels: Japan
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 12:06 AM [+] ::
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:: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 ::
Real world, anyone?
Today I was in the kitchen here at the dorm and heard a really weird electronic wavy sound... that's the only way I can describe it. Then I look over to the microwave just in time to see flames inside. Yup, a smart person put something wrapped in tinfoil in the microwave, set it to ten minutes, then walked away. Isn't that like lesson 101 in microwave-ness?
/me shakes her head
(Do not worry, the microwave was unplugged, disaster averted, and the responsible party was alerted to the error of their ways by yours truly.)
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 4:28 PM [+] ::
:: ... 1 comments
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OH NO!
I wasn't that fast, actually. I hadn't checked your blog in a few days and was bored at work!
-e
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I wasn't that fast, actually. I hadn't checked your blog in a few days and was bored at work!
-e
# posted by 
: 4:17 AM
: 4:17 AM:: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 ::
Realization
I'm listening to David Sedaris' "Santaland Diaries" (a must listen, by the way [click on the RA icon, starts at 4:20 in]) and it hits me--why it hasn't felt like Christmas. It's not a lack of merrymaking, or of Christmas trees or Christmas music (Bill O'Reilly should come here--Christmas isn't religious in Japan, so the word is everywhere). Nor was it a lack of presents (thanks for the cookies, Mom and Mark's Mom ^_^), or even snow (a quarter of an inch of snow is still snow, I guess). It was none of these things.
It was missing the Charlie Brown Christmas Special.
More specifically, it was missing the jazzy, piano laden "O Tannenbaum". You know the one, it usually plays when the kids are outside, maybe walking back with the spindly Christmas tree, wondering if they chose wisely. It's just not Christmas until I hear it--while shopping at the mall, on the radio station that changes to an all-carol format the day after Halloween, or when Charlie Brown realizes what the holiday is all about.
So, for me, Christmas was December 27th this year. Merry Christmas to me.
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 8:05 PM [+] ::
:: ... 2 comments
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I know the feeling, it really wasn't a Christmas-y Christmas over hear either for the same reason, I just couldn't watch the movies.
Let me know when you get your Xmas card from j&me! ok? I want to know if I typed the whole big address right.
-eliz
Let me know when you get your Xmas card from j&me! ok? I want to know if I typed the whole big address right.
-eliz
# posted by : 7:43 AM
: 7:43 AM
Elizabeth, damn you're quick! I'm still sitting here at my comp! Hehehe.
I can't even check my mail until January 5th ~sob!~... so I'll let you know that it came through safely then.
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I can't even check my mail until January 5th ~sob!~... so I'll let you know that it came through safely then.
:: Monday, December 26, 2005 ::
Picture Time!
Just a tiny bit of time, so ceramics stuff!
My favorite class last semester by far was Ceramics. This is Sensei--he took my picture, so I figured I could take his. :P At the end of the semester there was an exhibition of all of our work, and Sensei takes very nice photographs of our best works. Here are my four pieces:
Bowl, white clay, dipping sekai over tessha (R.F.), W.10 cm, H.6 cm.
Cup, red clay, blowing under glaze paint speckles, sekkai (R.F.), W.6.5cm H.5cm.
Bowl, red clay, Dipping tessha and sekkai separately (R.F.), W.11.5cm H.5.5cm.
Vase, white clay, dipping shirohagi on outside over black (R.F.), W.5cm H.7cm.
My favorite is the first one. The vase looks cooler in person, methinks. To see what other people in my class did, check out this page.
Little linguistic note--"Sensei" means "teacher" in Japanese. The characters literally mean "prior/earlier life", or one who came before. Whenever you talk to a teacher, you refer to them as Sensei. Sometimes I forget ceramics Sensei's name (Inomata) because I never ever hear it, hehe. In Japan the teacher/student relationship is considered lifelong. In the US you may call your professor by their first name after a time, but in Japan Sensei will always be Sensei, even 15 years down the road.
Now, time to run off to watch some Hana Yori Dango, which may be a post all to itself at some point. I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season!
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 5:28 AM [+] ::
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:: Sunday, December 25, 2005 ::
Merry Christmas!
I'm in the dorms now, so I should/ought to be updating before too long. Happy holidays, everyone!!!
Labels: Life
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 3:05 AM [+] ::
:: ... 2 comments
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Merry Christmas to you. Have a great holiday as I know you will. wink, wink. I love you! Aunt Pat
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# posted by : 3:48 PM
: 3:48 PM:: Monday, November 28, 2005 ::
And Finals Approach
...and they are very scary. My afternoon classes (Youth in Japan and Ceramics) should be fine, it's the Japanese language I have to worry about, especially my kanji class. They set the bar to get into the next level quite high, and if you miss it you aren't allowed to take any kind of kanji class next semester. How awful is that? So yeah, I'm going to be spending more time in the library than the computer lab for the next week, so don't expect too many updates in the meantime.
Take care everyone, and I'll be back before too long ^_^
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 7:54 AM [+] ::
:: ... 1 comments
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I am sure you are going to do well, but just in case, GOOD LUCK on your finals. I'll be thinking of ya!
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# posted by : 5:05 PM
: 5:05 PM:: Thursday, November 24, 2005 ::
Proof of Friends
Which is needed now and then to reassure the mom. ~huge wink~ Actually, this is just a chance to show off random pictures, yea!
My host family! Well, half of them. From left to right--Otousan (Dad), Okaasan (Mom), Yuki (21 year old sister)
Friends around a table when we visited the elementary school. Serjio (sorry I don't know the spelling of your name!), Robbie, and Kato.
The gang! Well, one of the gangs. -_^ Clockwise from bottom right--Matt, Vanessa, Casey, Bill, and... someone I need to remember the name of.
My denki jisho, literally, electronic dictionary. This thing makes my life soooo much easier. It only cost $150, which is half what I was prepared to pay (thanks to the host family for directing me towards an awesome deal!). This screen is for looking up kanji, or characters used for writing Japanese. There are some 2,000 you have to know in order to read a newspaper. This character is said ai, and means "love". ^_^
This region of Japan is actually called the "Kinki" region, as in a place name. It makes for some interesting names... there's even a popular J-Pop duo called the Kinki Kids. Go fig, huh? ^_^
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 1:26 PM [+] ::
:: ... 3 comments
Comments:
I'm sooo going to be a 2nd grader...
KARLA LIVES IN KINKI-VILLE!!!
Keep having fun. I love to live vicariously through my friends!
btw, are you spending a whole year there, or just a semester?
-E
KARLA LIVES IN KINKI-VILLE!!!
Keep having fun. I love to live vicariously through my friends!
btw, are you spending a whole year there, or just a semester?
-E
Unless I missed it, how was it you were able to visit the school kids? I would love to hear some of the differences between here and there when it comes to school for them.
Kinki, is there a translation to english for that word? :)
Kinki, is there a translation to english for that word? :)
# posted by : 4:16 PM
: 4:16 PM
Elizabeth--Kinkiville, hehehe. ^_^ I'm here until May--9 months, a full year of study.
Karri--sorry, I never properly explained it! My Japanese speaking class went as a group to this elementary school. The University is really big on outreach and stuff, so all of the international students get to visit an elementary school. I think that every year a dozen or so get visited. When I have time I would ~love~ to tell you guys about the differences--really really really interesting. ^_^
As for Kinki, there's no real translation because it's a place name. Kind of like trying to translate "Pittsburgh" -_^ Kinki isn't a city though, but a region. Probably like NY's Capital Region in size.
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Karri--sorry, I never properly explained it! My Japanese speaking class went as a group to this elementary school. The University is really big on outreach and stuff, so all of the international students get to visit an elementary school. I think that every year a dozen or so get visited. When I have time I would ~love~ to tell you guys about the differences--really really really interesting. ^_^
As for Kinki, there's no real translation because it's a place name. Kind of like trying to translate "Pittsburgh" -_^ Kinki isn't a city though, but a region. Probably like NY's Capital Region in size.
:: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 ::
Back to School
Got to visit an elementary school today--the kids were so cute! I'm just going to post the pictures for now, and I'll add commentary later if I can. Japanese and American schools are really really different, and it can't be summed up in the fifteen minutes I have. :P
Cheese! Getting ready for lunch.
Is there anything cuter than a big strong foreigner losing to a fourth grader?
Dance lesson!
And yea for modern technology. ^_^
Popular guy! He got the kids doing whole bunches of "yeas!" for next to no reason, hehehe.
Piggyback ride.
Beware of the kids with peace signs! They attack! -_^
...ditto.
Bai bai.
All of the non-Japanese people you see are people taking spoken Japanese with me. The Japanese kids are mostly fourth graders, san-gumi (section three). We were all cuted out beyond belief--I'm definately not going to forget it. ^_^
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 1:25 PM [+] ::
:: ... 1 comments
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Takarazuka!
What is that you ask? The short answer is theatre that's performed entirely by girls--they do the guy parts, too. They've done Broadway shows as well as plays adapted from novels like Gone with the Wind and The Great Gatsby. I actually don't have too many pictures from the show (can't take any during it), so here are some pictures from their website to give you an idea of the aesthetic:
This is the show I saw--it's actually a play (Palermo Shines in the Setting Sun) and a song and dance revue (Asian Winds).
The stars of the show are really the male players. In fact, only those who play males can become "top stars", or headliners. The Takarazuka theatre has five troupes--star, moon, wind, cosmos, and flower, each with its own top star. After two years that star is required to retire, letting the next top star rise to the top.
...having a hard time finding decent pics online, sorry about that. But trust me, it was really cool. ^_^ And I bought a program to bring home--sorry I can't scan those in. It was a fun time though ^_^
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 1:15 PM [+] ::
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:: Monday, November 07, 2005 ::
Bunkasai!
Last week, from Thursday through Sunday, the school had its annual Bunkasai, or Cultural/School Festival. It's so much fun! So much good food to eat and things to see... so, pictures! ^_^
So much effort goes into the festival, and the entire thing is run by students. Even the banners are crazy awesome. ^_^
Part of the festival from the fourth floor girls' lav in the CIE (Center for International Education). The booths are all for food--and this isn't even half of them. There were two spaces near this field that were used for "lives", or live performances by musical groups and other clubs.
Our cheerleaders are insane. They won the national cheerleading championships a few years ago, and it shows. I took a video of their whole routine, so I'm afraid I don't have any more stills of the jumps and things they did.
Got to see these drummers perform... got some video, too. When they drum it's almost like a dance--really something to see. These performers used background music that they accompanied.
...you can't pose under a paper arch in a boring pose, after all.
The whole thing was a blast... too bad there isn't one next semester. -_-
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 9:10 PM [+] ::
:: ... 2 comments
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aI'm learning so much about the culture of Japan. I had no idea. Never a dull moment, waiting for the next. Love
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# posted by : 6:50 AM
: 6:50 AM:: Monday, October 24, 2005 ::
How I Spent My Weekend: Part II
Again with the pictures, yea!
On Sunday I went to Suzumushidera. The name means "Temple of the Bell-Ringing Cricket". The monk who achieved enlightment here waaaay back in the day did so while listening to these pretty crickets. This is the statue in front of the temple of it's guardian Buddha type spirit. This statue is very famous because the Buddha is wearing straw sandals on its feet--very rare. The story is that he will grant you any one wish if you tell him your name and your address. Then he'll use those sandals to walk to you, whereever you are, to grant your wish. Pretty neat, huh?
There was a 20 minute talk (in Japanese, of course), explaining about the temple and the god and how to make a wish. Here is everyone with him. He was really really really nice and understanding.
After that we took a train to a mountain town... can't remember the name just now. It was so beautiful! I want to go back when the leaves are changing (which will be December!). Noriko, my speaking partner, and I also plan to go back when the cherry bossoms are out. There are a bunch of super cute shoppes and things there, too. I really need to go back soon--this is the only time you can buy fall themed things.
So after that, we paid 520 yen (approx $5 US) to climb up a huge hill--Monkey Mountain!
There were monkeys all over the place. No cages or anything, just roaming about. I took so many pictures, hehe. I think we came at grooming time in the late afternoon--there were many pairs like this. This is right on the edge of the path we were walking on--you can see some shoes at left.
There was an amazing view of Kyoto, too.
Everyone at the top of the mountain. I usually feel bad in group pictures--I'm so much taller than most Japanese girls! I feel like a giant sometimes, hehe. Do note the monkey next to me. ^_^
And one last picture:
...the baby ones are so cute. ^_^
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 11:21 PM [+] ::
:: ... 2 comments
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MORE!
<^^< \^^\ <^^> /^^/ >^^>
do the hokey pokey and you study all about! that's what it's all about!!!
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<^^< \^^\ <^^> /^^/ >^^>
do the hokey pokey and you study all about! that's what it's all about!!!
How I Spent My Weekend: Part I
Of several! Pictures is the best way to show you guys. ^_^
Saturday I went to Kyoto to see the Jidai Matsuri, or "Festival of the Ages". It's one of Japan's newest festivals, starting in 1895. Around that time the Imperial capital was moved to Kyoto. Everyone was pretty sad about it, so they decided to have a big parade outlining Japan's history. I think over a thousand years are covered, it's really quite something.
My friends and I, all gaijin (foreigners), arrived pretty early. We camped out a great place to stand on a bridge and passed the time by playing Go. Japanese people would gawk and wonder as they walked by, saying stuff like, "The foreigners know how to play Go?!". Hehe. Every once in a while someone really wanted a good look, like this gentleman here.
These fifes were the only music in the whole parade. The whole atmosphere was pretty quiet compared to American parades. People oooo-ed and ahhhh-ed as pretty things went by, but that was about it.
This fella represents a historic figure... not quite sure who, though. One good thing about being a foreigner and sticking out in a crowd is that people will pose for you, like this guy. He has a fitting sense of decorum, I think.
This guy, on the other hand, likes to live it up. He made the entire street crack up--just look at the people in the crowd behind him. ^_^
Her highness graces me with a smile. Well, "smile". -_^
The really important children were accompanied by someone who carried a chair for them. When the parade stalled for one reason or another, they got to rest.
You can't tell from these pictures, but it was quite cold in Kyoto that day. A lot of the people in the parade, especially those sitting and not moving at all, looked like they were doing all they could not to shiver.
It was a bunch of fun. Afterwards we went to a curry restaurant and filled up on really warm food--it was much needed!
Unrelated note:
To all the Rat fans--hi!!! Welcome to my blog! Feel free to read back a bit--I've posted quite a few pictures since I arrived in August. Leave a comment if you like, too! It doesn't even require registration, just proof that you're a human (very easy, no worries). ^_^ Goooooo Rats!
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 1:34 AM [+] ::
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:: Thursday, October 06, 2005 ::
Net Engrish?
Apparently it does exist, worse yet, on paper. :P Here's the text of a flyer I got in my mailbox, verbatim:
College night
@
AppleStore,SHINSAIBASHI
10th Nov THU
6.00pm - 9.00pm
Want 2 show your
SPILIT? SKILL?
Come on DJ, singer, guiter player,
whoever ;)
Looking for some performers who are interested in the
College Night Festival.Want to Work with us?
Want for Apple?
Looking for some kind
Ladies and Gentlemen!!
Looking for some ppl who can help us, Japanese students
who are orgnizers for the night. We are gonna have a iPod
presentation with 6 differentlanguages! Would you give us
your HANDS?Plz contact email; ~~~~~~~~@hotmail.com
...that's the exact text and formatting. Pretty scary, huh?
Labels: Japan
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 10:17 AM [+] ::
:: ... 5 comments
Comments:
Actually, Engrish has been around for a long time.
Wiki might be able to help you find an occurrance.... heah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_your_base
Just for personal edification.
Wiki might be able to help you find an occurrance.... heah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_your_base
Just for personal edification.
# posted by : 3:23 PM
: 3:23 PM
Engrish.com is a favorite site, in fact. ^_^ It's kind of scary how much I see everyday... there's even another example of it earlier in my blog. ^_^
Elizabeth--you are wonderful and evil and I lubs you! ~hughughug~
No one remembers Kaboom but Elizabeth and me, I think, hehe.
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No one remembers Kaboom but Elizabeth and me, I think, hehe.
:: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 ::
Yukata and Bon Dance
Today the local dance circle (i.e. club) composed of Hirakata-shi (i.e. the town we're in) Okaasans (i.e. mom-type people) dressed us foreigners in yukata and taught us a Bon dance--very fun! A yukata is a summer weight kimono. While a kimono can have layers upon layers, the yukata is only one. Without any further ado, the pictures!
The Okaasans of the dance circle were very helpful in getting us into our yukatas. It's a bit of a process!
My friend Erin and I. Her obi (the belt-esque thing) had a really cute painted pattern on it. ...and ignore my sneakers. -_^
My obi from the back. There are lots of different of styles of obi (and tying obi), and they all mean different things. I think this bow is pretty standard/normal, though.
Me at the fountain in front of the CIE. After we tried them on we went to the cafeteria for lunch--a gaijin (foreigner) in a yukata gets tons of stares! Hehe.
The Okaasans did a whole bunch of dances for us, some of them were very cool! This one was my favorite, about a husband and wife going off on their honeymoon, I think. The whole thing was very sweet. All of the dancers are girls, so if the guy looks a little fem, that's why. :P
And here's the group picture! It was really an event, very fun. ^_^
While I'm at it--other things I've done lately!
Last week I went bowling with Japanese and fellow international students--it was a blast! To give you a clue how the actual game went... the winning score was a 72, I think. Hehe.
Let me tell you, the Japanese know how to do karaoke. You don't sing in front of an entire bar or restaurant--only in front of your friends. "Karaoke boxes" have lots of little rooms for this purpose. Sometimes drinks are included, as well! Not much drinking on this particular night, but we don't need drinks to have fun, right Mom? ~huge wink~
Other than this, my life has been... school. Exactly. Hehe.
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 11:58 AM [+] ::
:: ... 4 comments
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August wants to know why do you have to wear those dresses?
Very charming! I love the pic of you in front of the fountain! That is a shot to keep forever!
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Very charming! I love the pic of you in front of the fountain! That is a shot to keep forever!
# posted by : 4:29 PM
: 4:29 PM:: Friday, September 30, 2005 ::
Fun, Fun!
So much stuff going on! It looks like from now on I'm going to shoot for an entry once a week, a second if I can manage. First, some pictures!
Went to Namba last weekend--Namba is a neighborhood of Osaka. What a crazy hopping place! I went with a bunch of guy friends, so we didn't shop much (booo), but we did see the sights. This picture is part of a mall in Namba. Like most buildings in Japan, its footprint is small, but the building has quite a few floors. This is an inner courtyard of sorts.
And here's the bottom--a fogging fountain! Very cool, I thought.
Gotta run to class... have a good weekend everyone!
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 12:50 PM [+] ::
:: ... 1 comments
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