tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28473011826694037832024-03-13T08:09:28.033-07:00Yogi AbroadAdventures in Travel, Teaching, and Yoga.Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-51638050927899834082013-10-04T06:26:00.001-07:002013-10-04T06:26:01.241-07:00I Put My New Shoes On, Suddenly Everything's Right. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">street art in an area of Tokyo we call "Tokyo Brooklyn"</td></tr>
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The first period class I taught yesterday has a turtle in
their classroom. I've been watching it the past few weeks when I go to class
3-1. Without fail, the stubborn and determined creature tries to get out of its
glass encasement. It repeatedly throws one front leg and then the other on the
side of the terrarium and pushes itself up and inch or so with its back legs.
Then, it slides down, all fours submerged in water once again. It does this
over and over. Every time I see this turtle, it's trying to escape, mind and
body merged into one self-propelling force up, up, out. In one class, I noticed
it perched on the fake rock in the middle of the glass box. Its whole body was
stiff, rigid with longing, and its head, fully extended from its shell, was
stretched forward and up. He was staring at freedom. He longed to be outside of
the prison forced on him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">homemade Japanese dinner </td></tr>
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Those who have communicated with us in the past 8 months
know that our particular location and situations have taken a toll on us. I've
felt exactly as I imagine that turtle does. It's not any one thing, but the
combination of distinctly different culture, incompetent financial aid workers
at John's Tokyo-based university, the lack of depth, meaning, fun, or even
teaching, in my teaching job, and the perpetual feeling of being outsiders.
I've really wanted to practice the little Japanese I've learned, but the
culture is such that even if you can speak Japanese, most people here speak to
you in the English that you know. It's hard to get better because there's very
little opportunity to practice. On the other hand, we are in a different
country, and are expected to speak the official language. It's a major catch-22. Our compounded grief and anger about our entire unfulfilling
situation (in work/ grad school) keeps us from trying to immerse ourselves and
be involved. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sensoji, a famous Shinto shrine in Tokyo</td></tr>
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This has been the situation since our return from our
welcome and gluttonous week-long Alabama vacation (seriously, we were fed such
good food and ate way too much of it). Every day has been relatively
"schmeh," as we so articulately put it. I've become all too good at
combining specific situations into an all bad picture of my life now. Not
surprisingly, when you add together a job you don't like, a language you can't
speak, friends you miss deeply, extracurriculars you used to love that you now
don't take part in, residual negative body image, waiting impatiently for the
future, and ample time to brood about all of the above and more, the
combination is more than detrimental; it's deadly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rice field in July</td></tr>
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Stress causes deterioration in everything from gums to skin
disorders to heart disease. We've both had panic attacks here, an uncomfortable
situation that I haven't found myself in since middle school. I finally decided
that I can either watch the worry literally tear me down, or let loose and
chill the fuck out. I know, I know, what a simple solution, right? But I assure
you, even with yoga, breathing exercises, and regular runs/work-outs, it's
much, much harder than it sounds. I am more thankful now for these amazing and
efficacious tools, and can only grimace at the idea of getting through life
without them. I also find comfort in the fact that this gestation period is a
"pull back" to catapult us to even better and brighter things. I am
glad that in the future I'll be able to look to my amazing life partner and
say, "OMG, do you remember when..."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">secret abandoned shrine</td></tr>
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On a slightly more academic note, I've discovered that I am
not, in fact, racist! What a relief, right!?! There are many things about this culture,
etc. that really don't sit well with us (i.e. government subsidies of concrete,
hierarchy and formula over merit, the education system as we see it, the way
Fukushima has (not) been dealt with, etc.) and a lot of times these formularies
have caused those wtf kind of feelings. But truthfully, learning more about the
culture through a number of anthropological and biographical accounts we have
come to understand our feelings as something much deeper and more complicated
than dislike. It's the same kind of relationship we have with our own country. <br />
"Get your shit together" could be the mantra for the next year or so.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ichihara's pretty side</td></tr>
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Change starts inside, right? I fall on and off the wagon,
but most importantly, I keep getting back on. I read recently that
"willpower is a deep inner force that is the balance between self-effort
and the ability to surrender." Giving up is not surrendering. Falling into
acceptance of circumstance with the fortitude to stay on the path is. It is
right attitude, which encompasses focused effort balanced with
open-heartedness. Effort without softness creates the attitude I've held for
the past 6 months: an inner hardening and loss of sensitivity. Instead I need
to open to grace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f3nwnyKbAgI/Uk681jMxPkI/AAAAAAAABFQ/PXab7ZhBdfI/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f3nwnyKbAgI/Uk681jMxPkI/AAAAAAAABFQ/PXab7ZhBdfI/s320/021.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">eka hasta bhujasana</td></tr>
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I biked the 10 or so miles to a shopping mall that includes
a small import grocery store, a Starbucks, and two sporting goods stores. I
indulged in a few comforts from home and finally bought a new pair of running
shoes. In running, and in life, I'm steering myself toward a minimalist path. I
love these lightweight shoes so much, I smiled during the majority of my run
tonight. "I put my new shoes on, and suddenly everything's right."
:-) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new shoes </td></tr>
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Some upcoming events: <o:p></o:p></div>
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I've been practicing chado, Japanese tea ceremony, for about
a year. I've been to four formal tea ceremonies, and worked in the background as
a sort of server for two of them, and participated as a guest in the other two.
I will actually perform the entire ceremony, front and center, and without
instruction, this Sunday, October 6. If you pray, please include me. I'll
really need to be on the side of grace for this one. My confidant, helper, and
translator will be absent during this ceremony. It will only be me and a bunch
of older Japanese women with no English-language. It should be interesting to
say the least.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sirsasana prep</td></tr>
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It's amazing that this practice encompasses everything I love and don't love
about Japanese culture. It is highly formulaic and ritualistic, which at the
same time requires focus and devotion while also stripping one of any variance.
Sen Soshitsu XV's explanation sheds light on the apparent dualism: "There
are many people who wonder why such ostentatious procedures must be employed
simply to prepare a bowl of tea. But nowhere else in the world do we find a
beverage like matcha that is offered by one person and received by another in
such a spirit of mutual gratitude." It is an interesting parallel to life
in that the way of tea must be acquired by means of the movement of your own
body and through one's own experiences. It can't be learned by observing and
listening to others, or imitating them. The only way to learn is through the
movement of your own body and by accumulating experiences and storing them
within your body. It is just like BKS Iyengar said of the study of yoga:
"Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory". <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sirsasana (headstand)</td></tr>
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The weekend of October 11, John and I will get to go on a
short trip somewhere. Receiving funds from a certain institution has been a
hellish ordeal on more than one occasion, but we were finally given what we
were owed and will soon be planning a short escape. Regardless of the location,
it will be so good for us to get out of our town and out of the greater Tokyo
area for a few days. I'll post updates as events warrant.<br />
We'll take another trip for the new year, but the planning stage of that
operation has not begun. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XO9imRqL2bM/Uk6-358XMoI/AAAAAAAABF8/F2Qlvc7T6CM/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XO9imRqL2bM/Uk6-358XMoI/AAAAAAAABF8/F2Qlvc7T6CM/s320/085.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adho mukha vrksasana (handstand)</td></tr>
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Venerable Tenzin Pemba, the resident Director at the
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT)'s Hong Kong
center, will be visiting Tokyo October 18-20. I am so excited for the
opportunity to learn from and be in the presence of those on the path. Even
though my studies in Buddhism have waned, I'm very much looking forward to
these teachings. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be in Japan November 21-22. I'm
really hoping that circumstances allow an audience. It'd be amazing to hear his
teachings in person. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RDHGMiPCD50/Uk6_Afu8TcI/AAAAAAAABGE/LgekFpM9lNw/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RDHGMiPCD50/Uk6_Afu8TcI/AAAAAAAABGE/LgekFpM9lNw/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">eka pada koudinyasana</td></tr>
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I've been diving deeper into the philosophy and study of
yoga. After a new book at work yesterday, I went to the gym. For the past four
days, a typhoon has been looming outside Japan, and we've experienced torrential
downpours. It'll rain again tonight too. But, at the gym, while I was running
sprints on the treadmill and trying so hard to embrace my new perspective, the
sun broke. I watched out the window as the clouds parted, and got to see the
entire formation of the biggest rainbow I've ever seen. It started off dull and
barely visible, but by the time I shifted from sprints to jogging, the colors
were bold and alive. A double rainbow followed that. It seemed the sky approved
of my new vision. I smiled and thought that it all seemed like such hyperbolic
symbolism...but I totally didn't care. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">urdhva dhanurasana variation </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7N12RUM_EUg/Uk6_aaku_vI/AAAAAAAABGU/Vb50FK6tsz4/s1600/IMG_3214%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7N12RUM_EUg/Uk6_aaku_vI/AAAAAAAABGU/Vb50FK6tsz4/s320/IMG_3214%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rainbow shot from gym window</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKqjSVEN4ZY/Uk6_iukBT9I/AAAAAAAABGc/4nBtCueUT4s/s1600/IMG_3221%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKqjSVEN4ZY/Uk6_iukBT9I/AAAAAAAABGc/4nBtCueUT4s/s320/IMG_3221%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rainbow, cloud, from outside</td></tr>
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Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-32577575531356632482013-04-14T05:24:00.000-07:002013-04-14T05:24:20.606-07:00120 Hours in Phuket, Thailand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The plane wheels bumped the runway at 2 A.M. The Phuket National Airport reminds me so much of the Delhi bus station. Chaos. Coincidentally, Thais greet each other the same way as Indians, with hands in prayer. "Mai" replaces "Namaste" as the greeting. When I first arrived in Japan seven months ago, I involuntarily reverted back to greeting people this way. It took me a couple of weeks to break the habit and for the traditional Japanese bow to become automatic. The first two days in Thailand I was bowing to everyone. Finally, I got the hand gesture back. When we came home to Japan again five days later, it took a few more days to rid myself of "Mai" hands. It's like jet lag, but with greeting customs.<br />
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We paid WAY too much for a cab to our hotel. I blame this on two things: 1. We hadn't properly memorized the dollar/yen/bhat ratios. 2. We were exhausted and had been traveling for about twenty hours total. 5 1/2 of those hours were spent in the worst place on earth. Seriously, there can be no place worse than the Shanghai airport. I imagine it as a lower hell realm. "Restaurants" had the rudest servers, service personnel provided no service, everyone was miserable because they had to wait in the international terminal, separated from the entirety of the airport, and when you looked outside, all that could be seen was endless haze. Seriously, they need to sell highly concentrated doses of vitamin D in that airport. Everyone would benefit, even the natives...especially the natives.<br />
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1700 Thai baht, the cost of the 35 minute cab ride from the northern located airport to our west central hotel, is equivalent to $57. No prices in Thailand, a cheap country to travel in as long as you don't let souvenir shops overcharge you, reflect the high cost of living in Japan, but that cab fare sure did. Oh, the "cab" was some regular dudes Honda civic. About every third or fourth roadside store is a stand offering cab rides to the some 6 million tourists who visit Phuket in a year. ALL of them are cheaper than the one we took.<br />
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Arrival. Check in. Pass out. Wake up three hours later. I figured sleep could come after a day of exploration. Free breakfast. Naps by the Indian Ocean. Clear water. Beautiful landscapes. Rented jeep dubbed SS DEATH TRAP. Seriously, it was. Shocks didn't exist and the axles were so rusted every turn felt like they were snapping in half. The "meat" of the lime green rental was JEEP, but the steering wheal was Honda. The whole dash had been ripped up and replaced with a thin metal sheet. It had an RPM gauge and speedometer poking through, but they didn't work. The gas gauge supposedly did, but I was skeptical. The floor was covered with mats, but if you moved them over with your foot you could see through to the road below. The bottom part of the back seat was not attached to the metal, so the back seat was really two horizontal metal bars with a back leather cushion that looked like an army of cats had desolated it. John had to keep one foot on the gas and one on the brake to start it. There was an emergency break, which we used, but I don't know if it was any good. I thought I'd be adventurous and get behind the wheel on the wrong side of the road on the wrong side of the car (their roads are like Japan's) but my bravery quickly diminished and I was passenger the whole trip.<br />
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Day 1. Skipped the tourist filled beaches in the afternoon and followed the locals inland to Phuket town. It was fun to walk around in this old "downtown" district. John got some great shots of locals and I enjoyed seeing many Buddhist temples, adorned with gold and bright primary colors. Other than people yelling to offer us rides (we exchanged the SS DEATH TRAP for a leisurely stroll), we enjoyed the old shop houses Sino-Colonial mansions, and local flavors.<br />
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Day 2. Beach side. Pool side. Foot massages. The beach side is not only lined with shops and restaurants, but also an alarming number of outdoor massage booths. 1 hour foot and shoulder massages on the beach were about 5 USD. By the time we left, I had 3 massages (the aforementioned, one aloe massage, and one traditional Thai massage) and a pedicure, and I didn't spend more than $35.<br />
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Day 3. Sailing trip to Phang Nga bay. Famous for the location of the James Bond flic The Man with the Golden Gun, this island has a lot more to offer than a Hollywood name. We hopped on Captain Mark's Aussie sail boat with an Australian family and a childless older French couple to explore the hidden caves and secret hxng(s) (Thai for room; pronounced hong). In the case of islands, hxngs are inner areas of water not accessible from the perimeter of the island.<br />
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At night, we found an Italian shop that sold the freshest produce and comfort foods from home. We bought red-pepper roasted foccacia bread, tomatoes, basil, emmental cheese, fancy shiraz, and baked kettle chips. We went back to the hotel, made sandwiches, and cheered to the love that brought us there.<br />
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Day 4. Elephant trekking. Gibbon Rehabilitation Center. Bang Pae Waterfall located in northeastern Bang Pae national park. The rainy season hasn't happened in Thailand yet, so the waterfall was devoid of water. However, we still had a nice 30 minute hike to the top, led by the cutest dog affectionately dubbed Sir Shrimp Scamppers the wee wonder mut of Bang Pae. I've now been lucky enough to be led up hilly terrain and Himalayan mountains by the sweetest dogs in both India and Thailand. I left them with pieces of my heart.<br />
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Gibbons are apes indigenous to East and Southeastern Asia. They resemble monkeys in appearance and habit and are known for their speed and distinctive singing. Sadly, the species was wiped out through poaching by the 1980s on Phuket island. Now, they are making a comeback through WARF's Gibbon Rehabilitation Project. I was in tears when I learned about the lives of some of these resilient creatures. There are numerous gibbons being used as tourist attractions on Phuket. By paying to have photos taken with a gibbon, people are helping to reduce the number of wild populations and cause suffering to these animals. Most of the apes at the GRP had horrific backgrounds: being drugged to stay awake, and forced to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes for tourists' entertainment. We bought t-shirts and donated a huge chunk of money so these sweet creatures may one day make it in their natural homes with their families.<br />
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In the evening we drove to a beach about 6 km away and had a yummy buffet-style dinner at a place called Nok and Joe's. This restaurant has a pleasant story. Joe is a Canadian expat who moved to Thailand and met and married Nok. After the 2004 tsunami, Joe built this restaurant entirely out of driftwood (bar, chairs, tables, everything). The atmosphere was uncannily similar to the flora-bama. It was a bit touristy, but quite warm. The couple gave Nok's original seafood restaurant to Nok's sister. The night we went, we enjoyed a Caberet show with Thai ladyboys, hosted by the worst open mic guitar player. As we were leaving, the man started singing "Sweet Home Alabama" and I knew that few things in my life would feel as surreal as that moment. Seriously, dude. We're in freaking Thailand! Before we left, John showed the dude his driver's license, and the singer's reply was, "I don't want your ID, I want your money!" We didn't break it to him that we lived in Japan, with rapidly declining yen.<br />
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Day 5.FLYING HANUMAN JUNGLE TOUR! The raddest thing ever. A zip line course through one of the preserved rain forests on Phuket island. 28 lines. Crazy height. Rad views. I was full of adrenaline the entire 2 1/2 hours. The longest ride was 400m with a top speed of 60 km. WOO! Okay, honestly, I was scared poopless, but it was so FUN! Of course, by the time my brain juices settled, the course was over. Next time, I'm hanging upside-down.<br />
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During sunset we climbed up giant rocks on the beach's perimeter, and watched how fast the fire retreated to the west. The red-orange plasma reflected on an 18th century-like ship and the blue water. At that moment, anything I imagined was true. The Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans are now settled in pockets of memory and I'm anticipating all the gorgeous and mundane pleasures of the future.<br />
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High tide, in the twinkle of glowing lamps, we walked, toes in the sand, cool water whipping, playing, trying to reach our thighs. Every moment like this is perfection. Whatever beach, any lover's hand, there's something about the water that pulls us to the beginning of time, when we are one with every creature we used to be, and we can hear desire like an ode driving us to evolve into even more greatness.<br />
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We noticed a neon- glowing bridge in the water, at the end of the beach, and like bugs to light, we were drawn. The contraption looked like giant legos pieced together to make a 100 yrd. bridge on the water. At the end was a ladder down to a roped off swimming area, deeper into the ocean than I would ever swim. We wobbled to the end, brave, and giggling, and thanks to this wonderful play toy some random children, John, and I can now claim that Jesus was not the only one to walk on water.<br />
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Day 6. Lazy day preparing for returning flight.<br />
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Phuket's total population is roughly the same as Mobile, AL, however they see 6 million tourists/yr. Surprisingly, since Putin's trip to Phuket a few years ago, a majority of these tourists are Russian. According to <i>The Phuket News</i>, Russian tourists and Chinese visitors accounted for 38% of arrivals to Phuket last year. But a lot of locals and Aussie expats I met don't care for them. The reason according to the aforementioned source: Russians like exclusive things...and that's the problem- there are no exclusive things in Phuket. <br />
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John and I were at a restaurant about 5 minutes from our (almost) beach side hotel (first we had to cross the street and walk through a small field) and the table beside us was a Russian family. We observed them rudely calling servers, walking up to the kitchen area and taking things, and constantly harassing the workers. They had someone at their table about the entire hour they were there, and were requesting outrageous things like (4) boxes of Kleenex and plain white toast. The servers ablidged and smiled, but I could tell they were offended.<br />
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It might not be a first world nation, but there are worst fates than residing in exotic Thailand. Our unofficial plan is to get as many people as we know to move with us there and open a make-shift operation providing English lessons, yoga classes, and kayak tours (You know who you are people; you better deliver)! ;-) Our official after-Japan plans are unknown. We still have so many places to travel while we're on this side of the world.<br />
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Onward,<br />
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Leah<br />
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Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-54279640294638810412013-03-05T04:45:00.003-08:002013-03-05T04:45:51.067-08:00Rants, Recollections, and Musings: A Review of Early 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>Experiences and (Jaded) Commentary</u><br />
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Waiting anxiously in a hospital emergency room not once, but twice in a week does more than make you understand how Spanish-speaking immigrants in America feel. It leaves you feeling beyond helpless, blunderous and exposed in a world that "foreign" does not even begin to describe. Thankfully, my husband's severe stomach pains that led us stumbling into such incompetence were nothing serious. After some painstaking paperwork and tests, as well as sure incomprehension about how Japanese hospitals work, we were sent home (twice) with some medicine and "reassurance" that everything is fine. Really, we weren't feeling so reassured, due to many factors, chief among them: our limited Japanese (fruits and vegetables, colors, and random nouns and verbs do not help you at the hospital), the doctors limited English, and the fact that we went through the same process two times in one week in two different hospitals. We spent way to much money on tests that John's ridiculously expensive insurance should have covered.<br />
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But even in shadows, there is proof of light. After some intense reading about John's symptoms and the accuracy of the kind of test he was given, we've finally relaxed and are happy to report that normalcy (or what can be considered so) has returned. And now, of course, we have these lessons if this worst-case-scenario ever pops up again. For example, always ask for test results, as one hospital won't call another to get them, but will make you go through any procedure you've already done. There are certain people (who in all honestly are just trying to help) that you should not tell about hospital visits. These people will proceed to plan any necessary subsequent visits to the places they think best, even if there's a perfectly respectable English-speaking, technologically advanced clinic one hour bus ride away that you can certainly navigate by yourself.<br />
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In other news...well, there isn't. We are continuing to labor in our oh-so-unfulfilling "jobs". John's contract at the elementary school an hour and fifteen minutes away ends March 9. After that, I think he'll take some time looking for jobs in our city. It's about time he works closer, so he's not commuting two and a half hours a day. All that train time (see previous entry about Japanese transportation, with an erroneous title about whiskey that is subsequently explained in said entry) seems to be, from what I've read, a direct link to depression. Either he'll find a job he can bike to, or he'll tutor privately. We're both excited about this, because it gives him more time not only to be at home, but to employ himself in activities he actually enjoys. Some things he doesn't enjoy are: the train, inevitably filled with staring (and occasionally yelling) drunkards and sardine-packed-people; two graduate university classes costing upwards of $3000 that employ professors who can't understand English (in a TESL graduate program) and others who use the exact same activities from previous semesters; the two hour ride to said university; cucumbers; and his wife, who feels obligated and grateful to leave her usual bubble of activities, endlessly making social engagements.<br />
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Of course there are high points. We've heard from many expats that the six month mark is an unusually tough time of adjustment. Add to that a job where I'm sitting 6-8 hours a day (makes me oddly miss retail and not-so-oddly, movement) and you've got this: a bitter blog entry composed mostly out of a need to keep up with this project after skipping two months and to quell my boredom. (I am currently at previously mentioned desk with no internet and no lessons for today. I am typing in notepad because Word corrects me too much). Even with all this apparent hostility, though, my aim is to say yes to all of the Japanese experience. Though it's misunderstood and frustrating, there are parts that are truly beautiful. One of those is the community center English class I teach on Tuesday nights. That class is full of gengki (roughly translated as fine, enthusiastic, full of life) 50-70 somethings who teach me about Japan/ Japanese culture and speak English as eagerly as a children open birthday presents. As the lingua franca, when these people travel it's all they have. English literally opens worlds for them, and they are so happy and so grateful that I take the time once a week to speak with them and teach them. One woman in her early fifties, Miyahara-san, brings me omiyagi--a souvenir, memento, or keepsake; an object a traveler brings home for the memories associated with it-- every week. I've received books, candies, pictures, pamphlets, food and trinkets from her. She's taken John and I to see shrines in other cities, to Tokyo German town, Yokohama, and other places.<br />
Yokohama:<br />
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February 24 she took us to a soba-making class, where we made Japanese noodles from scratch. It was a little frustrating, firstly because John and I both had colds, and were doped on OTC meds. Secondly, because it seems that the Japanese way of teaching goes something like this: show someone how to do something; let them try for about thirty seconds; tell them they're doing it wrong, and in the name of "reshowing", actually just finish said task. I see this everywhere, from mothers talking to children to teachers talking to students. It's amazing anyone learns to do anything...I guess they're practicing alone.<br />
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There are a handful of people who shower us with such kindness. If I can't return what they've shown to me, I can pass it on.<br />
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Currently, I'm skimming through a interesting book full of commentary about Japanese culture. It's quite an academic read, and after about ten pages I have to put it down in exchange for a novel, newspaper, or the NYT crossword. However, it's teaching me so much about the culture.<br />
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"Uchi (inside) and soto (outside) have metaphorical extentions in Japanese like in no other major language. These metaphors have cultural social, and cognitive implications and underlie key concepts of the culture." Some people would say that uchi space is up to one's skin, composed of the brain and other inner workings. But Japanese takes it much farther, so that it can mean one's house or home. A Japanese house is usually surrounded by either brick walls or fences. There is always a gate. Once you enter the gate, you feel the first sense of uchi, being inside the walls. But this is ambivalent, since it's still between the soto and uchi of spaciality. The ambivalence continues in the genkan, where your have to take off your shoes, no option. The genkan might seem like the inside because it is under the roof, but it is lower in height than the entrance, and acts as a sort of holding space before one is invited in. Still, once past the genkan, you are not in uchi, though it may feel so. The layout is designed so that guests are rarely able to access the innermost areas.<br />
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Uchi space is not just physical but also social. This space is one of involvement. As with collectives, people rely on expanded rather than individualized ego. There are other key cultural concepts that identify the uchi/soto relationship, respectively:<br />
1. real wishes vs. stated reason<br />
2. humane feeling vs. social obligation<br />
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overall, these metahpors (uchi/soto) help to explain various cultural as well as linguistic phenomena (such as why people never say excuse me in crowded areas: you are outside their uchi space). The distinction between uchi and soto also help one to understand the many different Japanese linguistic forms, which change depending on who you're talking to and where you are. For example, there are four different ways to say what translates as "I understand," depending on if the person you're talking to is a superior, peer, family member, etc.To learn more see "Uchi and Soto as Cultural and Linguistic Metaphors", by Seiivhi Makino, a chapter in the larger collection <i>Exploring Japaneseness: On Japanese Enactments of Culture and Consciousness</i>, ed. Ray T. Donahue, 2002.<br />
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There are some examples of this. So far, I've watched two Miyazaki films (Japanese animated movies) that are aesthetically quite beautiful and teach you about Japanese mores the same as fairy tales inform one about American ideals). One is called Spirited Away ( Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi "The Spiriting Away of Sen (name) and Chihiro (name)" in Japanese). The film tells the story of Chihiro Ogino, a sullen ten-year old girl who, while moving to a new neighborhood, enters an alternate reality inhabited by spirits and monsters. After her parents are transformed into pigs by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro takes a job working in Yubaba's bathhouse to find a way to free herself and her parents and escape to the human world. Another is called My Neighbor Totoro (pronounced toe-toe-row). It follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan. I learned from this movie (and indirectly from a teacher at my school) that children and parents bathe together well into junior high school (Again adding to the sense of home and family as uchi territory) .<br />
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There are some 50,000 convenience stores in Japan. These places are surprisingly convenient, unlike anything we'd compare them to in America. You can buy bottled drinks, alcohol, produce, some groceries, ready-to-eat (but fresh daily) food, vitamins, school supplies, some OTC meds, and other things. You can also buy an assortment of magazines, anime and otherwise. On this aisle long rack of printed pages, there are many anime pornos, in plain sight of anyone reaching two-and-a-half feet, featuring big-busted women fingering themselves or tied up and crying.<br />
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In Okuizumo, Japan, a replica of Michelangelo's David was installed without much warning last summer. The famously nude biblical hero is raising eyebrows-and reportedly scaring children- in this town in Shimane prefecture. The sixteen-foot-tall statue was donated by a local businessman who hopes the town's residents will learn to appreciate the sculpture. However, the townspeople are calling for underpants.<br />
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That's right, underpants.<br />
on a statue.<br />
Of David.<br />
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Despite the reputation of some Japanese for- shall we say- esoteric sexual predilections--full frontal nudity is illegal in photos or on film.<br />
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Oh, I forgot to mention that the anime women were "wearing" scantily drawn bras.<br />
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On the one hand, I am a Westerner (Soto space). Granted, the women are drawn, and parents can keep their children from seeing what's inside. But seriously, aren't drawn pictures of sexually exploited women (uchi,culturally) much more offensive than artistically sculpted penises (soto, culturally). Also, did I mention that not only do parents and children bathe together, but people (men and women separately often bathe in public bathes together. Kids see "private parts" on a daily basis. Instead of fearing a sculpted member I'm afraid these little boys and girls should fear becoming call girls who stand dressed in school girl outfits to entice men inside, or businessmen who are married to their jobs instead of their wives. Japanese businessmen are required by custom to get so shitfaced with their bosses after work that by the time they realize it, twenty years have passed, their children are grown, and they've never made their wives moan.<br />
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I've also noticed that compulsory education in Japan is a lot less about subject matter and a lot more about teaching children "how" to be Japanese. There are countless assemblies with limitless rituals, students stand and sit and move according to custom and always in a group. They're told to work hard and study without actually being taught anything (they're told many things; they're taught nothing, except, by example, to always appear busy and sacrifice oneself for the group). OF course, this group mentality does have some merit. Americans are taught in sports and groups that "there is no I in team," altruism is (usually, omitting Ayn Rand and her sociopathic brain farts erroneously labeled books) celebrated, and we're taught to work together despite our differences. These are lessons, in individualist America, that I think are very important. But here, the worst extremes of "doing as your told" are all summed up in one example.<br />
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I was in class with a Japanese English teacher, not teaching, of course, but repeating and murmuring words in "native" tongue, whatever that means, since "native" English varies from Alabama to Boston, Yorkshire, or Sydney. I've decided that my job here is less as a human being and more as a robot. "Greetings children. I am from Alabama. Where are you from? Do you speak English? How do you say __ in Japanese? That's right. In English it's __." sigh. Never am I asked to plan lessons, or talk about how second languages are actually acquired. Mindless repetition is the way in education though, from Tokyo to Montgomery we're wasting malleable gray matter on cramming. Save critical thinking for college, board members say. Fcuk the board members. I know why it's not happening here, but I don't know why American teachers aren't on the goddamn streets taking legislative buildings by storm. When/ if I move back to America I envision myself a radical. I'll picket and protest and rip flags and bare breasts. I'll use all my time to study Spanish and then volunteer at City Hall to help immigrants fill out paperwork. Non-native speakers need friends. Educators needs to burn multiple choice tests. ETS needs to fuck themselves.<br />
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In the Japanese class my rant pulled me from, the students were doing a worksheet. At the end of class, the teacher had written on the chalkboard<br />
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2.<br />
3.<br />
4.<br />
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11.____________________________<br />
12.____________________________<br />
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11 and 12 were sentence answers while the others were just words, so they got lines. Students were called on to write the correct answers on the board. Things were running relatively smoothly (as defined in a classroom at this school) until number 11. A student was called up to write the correct sentence answer. He began to write but there was not enough room on the line. Then, the strangest thing happened. He just stopped. He didn't write beyond the line, or below the line, he just froze, like someone had just asked him to figure out the square root of a decimal in 1 second flat. This fourteen year old adolescent couldn't finish the sentence because the line on the chalkboard wasn't long enough. He didn't want to write outside the line. He couldn't until he was told to do so. So he froze.<br />
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This is what memorization and regurgitation is doing to children's brains. They're so concerned with vomiting up the wrong answer, or in this case, "coloring" outside the lines and standing out, that they can't think at all. Of course, we can't blame the students. Thinking has never been modeled for them. The "resolution" came about 90 seconds later when the teacher realized the student was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Teacher apologized profusely (for not providing the adequate dimensions of what to do/ how to act) and drew the line a little longer. I am continuously stunned at the thought of this episode.<br />
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<u>Exploration</u><br />
<img height="267" src="http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/553257_10100144828684463_513253833_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
We're waiting for the weather to warm a bit so we can continue to explore the Boso peninsula- the southernmost part of Chiba prefecture. We went once, unexpectedly, but an old single-car diesel train all dressed up for the day, and then hiked up dirty hills and slid down frozen-leaved paths.<br />
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Recently, however, since it's still winter, we've been exploring the Tokyo city-scape. Saturday, February 23, we went to Roppongi, in Tokyo. Known as a favorite expat watering hole, this town became a hub for westerners after the war, and as a result there are a number of what I'd call titty bars, with big Nigerian men constantly on cell phones try to pull you inside. "Ladies free. Free champagne for ladies!" Mmm, no thanks. I'll stick to the vegetarian restaurants and art museums, thank you. For lunch we went to a chain restaurant called Frijoles; John called it "basically Chipoltes". It's the first burrito I've had in Japan that I didn't make and it was amazing. Veggie burrito with fresh guac and a dos equis; yeah, the rest of the day had to be awesome. Luckily, it was, with the exception of John's credit card getting stuck in an ATM it took thirty minutes to find and an additional forty-five for someone to remove.For dinner we went to Chien-Mai, an all vegetarian Taiwanese restaurant. It was small, as every restaurant in Tokyo is, and the waiter was very gengki. He was a skinny old bald man, full of life and an ear-to-ear smile. He wore a bow tie and spoke fast and sweet. Other than the art, I think he was my favorite experience. We went to a place called Mori Art Museum that was showcasing an artist named Makoto Aida.Controversial and diverse, his art was the perfect commentary on Japan and 21st century society. Graphic, colorful, and raw. The exhibit had everything from school-boyesque sketches to installation pieces. It was exceptional. You should look 'im up.<br />
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<u>Being Gone</u><br />
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Back in Alabama friends have had babies, and others are getting married. People have moved, visited, grown, and changed. Life, as always, continues. I've found that a very dependable feature of people who live abroad is hearing them talk not just about their homelands, but about the experience of leaving. One thing that undoubtedly exists between all of us-regardless of the from...to differences- is fear. There is a palpable fear to living in a new country, and though it's more acute in the first months, even year, of your stay, it never completely evaporates as time goes on. It simply changes. We're still in the "How do I make friends, adjust, and master the nuances of language?" phase. Next comes the "What am I missing?" phase, which takes this paragraph round full circle. As we settle in to our new lives, time passes and becomes less a question of how long we've been here and more of how long we've been gone; we'll realize people have grown up, moved, married, they will have become completely different people--and we will too.<br />
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It's hard to deny that the act of living in another country , in another language, fundamentally changes you. Different parts of your personality sort of float to the surface, and you take on qualities, mannerisms, and opinions that define the new people around you. And there's nothing wrong with that; it's the reason we left in the first place. I wanted to evolve, to change something, to put myself in an uncomfortable new situation that would force me into a new phase in my life.<br />
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Having to start from zero and rebuild everything, having to re-learn how to live and carry out everyday activities like a child, fundamentally alters you. Yes, the country and its people will have their own effect on who you are and what you think, but few things are more profound than just starting over with the basics and relying on yourself (and perhaps your wonderful husband/wife) to build a life again. There is a certain amount of comfort and confidence that you gain with yourself when you go to this new place and start all over again, and a knowledge that-come what may in the rest of your life- you were capable of taking that leap and landing (however hard) at least once.<br />
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But there are fears. And yes, life has gone on without you. And the longer you stay the more profound those changes will become. Holidays, birthdays, weddings, births-every event missed is a tick marked on a seemingly endless ream of paper.<br />
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I know that after this experience abroad I'll look back and realize that so much has happened in my absence. Who knows how hard it will be to start conversations with people after two years, when I am the outsider to inside jokes.<br />
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To live in a new place (no matter how truly frustrating, foreign, and difficult; as an outsider in an isolated place) is a beautiful, thrilling thing, and it can show you that you can be whoever you want - on your own terms. It can give you the gifts of freedom, new beginnings, curiosity, and excitement. But to get on that plane doesn't come without a price (and I don't just mean the $1500 just to get our suitcases and our bodies here). I cannot be in two places at once, and from now on, I will always lay awake on certain nights and think of all the things I'm missing out on back at home.<br />
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Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-36174811799841622252012-12-26T19:50:00.002-08:002012-12-26T19:50:36.756-08:00Sprinkled with Holiday Joy, History Lesson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Even though I haven't been completely off work this week, John and I have enjoyed this holiday season. We bought our own Christmas presents this year and said they were from each other, a tradition I'm sure we won't keep, but it worked out better for us this time. Actually, John accompanied me to buy my fancy hand-made watch, and so before buying he said "Hey babe, gimmee some money for your Christmas present." Then, a few days later, I was at work while John took the train to a neighboring town about 15 minutes away and went to a bike shop to buy a folding bike for himself. This will make all of his commutes easier, since he now has a bike he can take on the train and use when he gets off.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">handmade bunny watch</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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And soon, I'll get a yoga bolster as a New Year present to add to my tatami-room make-shift yoga haven complete with travel yoga mat, 2 blocks (squishy foam ones, that shall be traded for wooden, one day), a strap, and two blankets. My mother's infinite wisdom sent me packing with two afghan blankets because we weren't sure if our apartment would be furnished with enough bedding. Those blankets now provide duel services: yoga props by day and covers by night. Japanese houses (even the really expensive ones) don't have central heaters, so we have three electric heaters in our apartment that we rotate throughout areas depending on use. <br /><br />Christmas Eve we had a wonderful lunch date with an elderly couple in the next town over called Yawata. It's still part of the greater city of Ichihara, like Mobile has many towns or sections (i.e. mid-town, LoDa, WiMo, etc.) Norriko-san and Bumi-san are little firecrackers, and they always want to ensure that the current Ichihara International Asssociation Foreign Language Teacher (IIA FLT) settles into their Japanese life without lonliness. The old FLT, who still lives in Japan, also joined us. Norriko-san cooked a turkey (even though she's only done it a few times, so she was asking John for advice) and John carved it in perfect Christmas tradition. Norriko-san told me that at 70, she's learned a lot about making vegetarian Japanese food for me! I appreciate her going out of her way so much. Norriko used to be a calligraphy and English teacher. Now she spends her time teaching community center calligraphy classes. She speaks very good English, and every time we go to here house, she spends about 10-15 minutes testing the evolution of our Japanese. Her husband, Bumi-san, is a farmer. He loves playing golf (like a majority of the Japanese men I've met) and also Japanese-style "chess", called igo (pronounced ee-go). John tried it after lunch; the rules are simple but it's a difficult strategy game. Two players alternately place black and white playing pieces called "stones" on the vacant intersections (called "points") of a grid of 19x19 lines. The object of the game is to use one's stones to surround a larger total area of the board than the opponent. Once placed on the board, stones may not be moved, but stones are removed from the board if captured. When a game concludes, the controlled points (territory) are counted along with captured stones to determine who has more points. John got his ass kicked, but you know, it was his first time, and Bumi has been playing for like 50 years. <br /><br />Christmas Eve, we decided not to sit around our apartment. I wanted to take John to Doitsu Mura (German Town) about an hour away to see the "illumination" (Christmas lights). We took the train one station south to Anegasaki, then a cab about 30 minutes to Doitsu Mura. (This is the part where you're super impressed that I can get a cab from one place to another in Japanese. Also, <u><b>I</b></u> was impressed that I understood about 35% of what the cabbie was saying. My comprehension and writing are coming along far quicker than my speaking). Doitsu Mura was packed with people on Christmas Eve, but we still had a great time taking pictures and looking at lights. When we wanted to leave, we tried to ask the gate attendant how to get a cab. She called the cab service for us, but said that all the cabs were too busy. There was however, a line for a free bus service to a train station (although it was way further west than we needed to be). The line was two people wide and about 300 yards long. We waited in 0-degree weather for about an hour before we got on the bus to the train station. In the end, it was worth it, though. <br />
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<br />Christmas day, I had to go to work in the morning (as I have to every morning this week, from 8-11...well, today it was 8:30-11:30...my bed, it's cozy). Then, we got picked up by two women from the weekly Goi komikan (community center) English class. They took us to the Hilton hotel in Narita, about an hour from our house. Our present from them was a wonderful buffet lunch, complete with dishes from around the world. After lunch, Mineko-san and Tomiko-san took us to <a href="http://www.ccb.or.jp/e/_sightseeing/2256" target="_blank">Katori Shrine</a>. It's famous for many things, but mostly Goshinboku (The Tree God, or better, Scared Tree). Before you get to the worship hall, on the right side there is this massive cedar tree. It is said to be over 1,000 years old, and is about 7.4 meters around. We learned the traditional way to wash our hands and mouth before entering the shrine. For New Years, there is a giant ring set up at the entrance, a symbol for...well entering the new year. First you walk around the left side of the ring, then the right, and then through. We threw small offerings (100 Y each, about $1.20) into a large wooden box on legs. It also had wooden bars vertically across the top, spaced out about every two inches. Then, we bowed twice, clapped twice, and then bowed again. On New Years day, we'll go to a small local shrine in Goi called Ohmiya shrine to celebrate the New Year in Japanese style. Now we know all the right moves!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Katori Shrine</td></tr>
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It's extremely difficult to tell the difference between a shrine and a temple. Although there are some differences, like the smoking barrel at temples and the purifying water at shrines, they can look pretty similar and even be built next to each other! The quick and easy explanation is that a temple is a place for Buddhist worship and a shrine is a place for Shinto (Japanese indigineous "religion") worship. So really, the question is similar to asking the difference between a church and a mosque. But at second glance, the simple answer is not so simple, with some historical complications that explain the ambiguities of the differences. Shinto is a religion of nature worship, and originally, people prayed to great natural phenomena, such as mountains and trees. As Buddhism made its way to Japan in the 6th century, it was not met without resistance and in need of an effective marketing strategy. In order to appease the nationalist resistance to a foreign "god" and to help spread Buddhism throughout the country, Buddhism was essentially superimposed onto Shinto, basically saying, "You know, actually, the Shinto gods are Buddhas that are taking another form." This Shinto-Buddhism hybird world continued until the Meiji period when the government demanded the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism in order to restore the legitimacy and power of the emperor, who is regarded as the supreme being in Shinto. Still, hints of a hybrid history remain, as you may see some Shinto objects in Buddhist temples or vice versa, and many shrines and temples remain friendly neighbors. <br />
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<br />After we visited Katori shrine, we enjoyed a popular snack food for visitors. It's called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dango" target="_blank">dango</a> and can be purchased from several shops along the road leading up to the shrine. We also had a popular drink called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazake" target="_blank">amazake</a>. We really enjoyed these traditional Japanese foods; I'm sure we'll be eating much more of them!<br />
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Christmas night, John stayed home tucked in warmth, and I went with my
new yoga buddy to a Christmas night hot flow class. Full of sweat and
vinyasas, it was the perfect way to conclude Christmas. It feels so good
to sweat when the weather doesn't get over 15 degrees, and is usually
closer to 3 or 4 degrees. For the next 10 days, the temperature will be
in the single digits, with wind chill in the negative. In other words,
it's freaking cold, and I don't like it, so a heated sweaty yoga class
was wonderful. <br /><br />The day after Christmas, I worked in the morning. When I got home, John and I decided to see the <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3018.html" target="_blank">Imperial Palace East Gardens</a>,
so we hopped on the Rapid train (and switched to a local subway) and we
were in Tokyo 50 minutes later. Even though it's winter and there
weren't any flowers blooming (except camellias, those resilient things),
it was still so beautiful. They even have a bamboo garden with some 20
different kinds of bamboo! <br /><span id="goog_955384215"></span><span id="goog_955384216"></span><br />
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<br /><br />After the Japanese garden, we decided to check out the Shimokitazawa area. It was about a twenty minute subway ride from the Imperial palace ruins. "Shimokita", as it's known by residents and those "in the know", is considered to be one of Tokyo's hippest neighborhoods, full of cafes, theatres, and music venues. It's laid back vibes and retro shops made John and I realize that we'd moved to the wrong part of Japan! We ate at a vegan restaurant called &Vege hidden behind Starbucks. The online directions read thusly:<br />- Go into the alley, right side of starbucks.<br />- End of alley, looking out into the main street. <br />- Go through the door to the left.<br />- Go out another door.<br />- Another alley, leading to the cafe entrance.<br /><br />It's tiny, even by Japanese standards, with only 10 seats. But the cozy, non-smoking environment and the fulfilling vegan food, both hard to come by in Tokyo, will lure me back. The falefel lunch plate comes with a satisfying mound of fresh salad, freshly fried chipea nuggets, 2 half pieces of pita bread, and one small scoop of hummus, and another small scoop of vegan chili. Even John enjoyed the meatless meal. Sometimes falefel is heavy and greasy, but this was light and tasty, not leaving me grody-feeling afterward. John said after lunch, "If you told me we'd be eating vegan chili today, I'd assume I'd be making vegan chili." What a great surprise! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also, we found this place!</td></tr>
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<br /><br />We made it home by 7:00, with plenty of time for exercise, cleaning, dinner, and THE DR. WHO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! I enjoyed it with my husband and a small glass of Japanese liquor that he MADE! He took shochu (a Japanese liquor) and soaked kaki (persimmons) in it for about a week. Then, he made a persimmon flavored simple syrup with cinnamon and ginger, strained the syrup, added then added a little more shochu for the perfect Japanese Christmas drink! We gave small bottles to all of our acquaintances for Christmas, combining Japanese ingredients with a favorite Japanese past-time...drinking! It's been a hit so far. Today and Friday, we won't do much but relax, clean, and work out. Saturday, I'll go to a yoga event where we'll do 108 sun salutations. 108 is an auspicious number in India, as well as in China and Japan, but for different reasons. Other than being a mathematically abundant, semiperfect, tetranacci, hyperfactorial, and refactorable number, in some schools of Buddhism, it is believed that there are 108 defilements. In Japan, at midnight on the first of the year, a bell is chimed 108 times in Buddhist temples to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana. For more information about 108, click <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/108_%28number%29" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://articles.holydrops.com/significance-of-the-number-108-in-hinduism-80.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />On Saturday, December 30, John and I are planning to go to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ueno,_Tokyo" target="_blank">Ueno</a> in Tokyo. It's home to a science museum and a big zoo, both of which we plan to visit. On New Years Day (shougatsu), we'll go to Ohmiya shrine in the morning, to celebrate new years, and we'll make some traditional Japanese New Year food (osechi) together, most likely seki-han and mochi. January second, we're going to a famous Buddhist temple in Narita, called Narita-san, to participate in New Years customs. Then, we'll have a meal with my yoga teacher and her family. My yoga teacher (Mina-san)'s daughter is my age, and she studied ballet in England. Mina, her daughter Akari, and her husband Michi, all speak good English, and I'm so grateful they've invited us to join their New Year activities. We'll be sure to take some kaki-shochu for them to enjoy :-) On the third, we've been invited to another New Year party by a new student in my community center English class. On January 6 I'll wear a kimono to IIA's New Year Party, and on the 7th, I'll return to regular work-days and classes with students. (Although John and I both took off January 8th for the National Championship game, Roll Tide). It's a busy holiday season, full of wonder and festivities. But fancy food, presents, and parties aside, I'm just so grateful to fellowship with nice people and to spend this holiday with my wonderful new husband. 2012 brought my first (two) "real" job(s) using my degree, travels to India, and elopement, leading my partner-in-crime and me to the most foreign of places and richest experiences. I'm hopeful that 2013 will bring just as much excitement and love. <br /><br />Happy Hols to you and yours. <br />Onward,<br />Leah</div>
Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-3006365089322772312012-12-10T04:26:00.001-08:002012-12-10T04:26:47.325-08:00The Healing Powers of Chicken and Whiskey.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The title isn't Vonnegut's lost letter to humanity (Although, I wish, vegetarianism aside), but my husband's words as he sat down to dinner last week after an evening in commuter hell. I don't know if you've heard, but Tokyo (and even the surrounding prefectures that feed into it's sprawling workforce) is the world's most populated city, ergo packed trains and subways. There's no way to explain how dehumanizing rush hour commutes on Tokyo metros can be. I don't work around Tokyo. Shit, John works 25 minutes from Tokyo station, and his commute brings him another 41 minutes away from the capital. But because of the area's population density, many commute one, two, or even three hours to work or school there. I've been in and around Tokyo on weekends or during evenings, and when I depart from the train car and walk on the platform and up the stairs in a sea of people, it's terribly difficult not to feel like a mindless robot. Even though you'll never know unless you experience it, <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2012/11/14/tokyo_compression_commuter_photos_by_michael_wolf.html" target="_blank">Slate's Picture Blog</a> has a great post displaying a packed-way-more-than-sardines Tokyo metro line.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="cq-dd-image sl-img-no-new-tab sl-art-illo" height="197" src="http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/blogs/behold/2012/11/14/Michael%20Wolf%20Tokyo%20Compression/Tokyo_Compression-8.jpg.CROP.article920-large.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Tokyo Compression, Michael Wolf, Tokyo, Japan, subway" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">copyright: Michael Wolf via Slate.com<br />
click link for more</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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When you're in crowds like this, with people who make this commute six, or more likely, seven, days a week, you quickly learn that many who deal with this their entire lives give up what we westerners would consider basic politeness. It's not that the guy with his elbow in your crotch or the girl who's backpack is jamming into your chin aren't being rude by foregoing an expected "sumi masen" (excuse me). It's just not said. People push and shove and barge and clip and knock over on their way in and out of the train because they have to. They have somewhere to be, and they want to get off as soon as possible. Who wouldn't in an atmosphere so brutal. John has a joke that Japan's train system is wonderful unless you have to ride it every day. Or unless it storms or snows. Then, many of the trains are cancelled, and the crowd gets even more congested than usual. I love the train. It's punctual. It's different than any other mode of transportation I've ever used. It takes me places. But I love the train because I'm not on it everyday. I'm not inundated by a sea of people twice daily for over an hour each way. I get to enjoy the train on the weekends, and some random evenings. I bike to work and it takes me ten minutes. I bike to get groceries and Starbucks. And I bike to <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.cainz.co.jp/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcainz%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DJOd%26tbo%3Dd%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26channel%3Dfflb&sa=X&ei=f1CzUOCrJYnzmAX2tYCwAQ&ved=0CDsQ7gEwAQ" target="_blank">Cainz</a> (Our favorite store for all out home needs)! I imagine it's hard to come home every day after that. One must get really good at changin' their mood. I'm grateful I don't have to commute so far to work. I hope that after April John doesn't either. But until then, he's got chicken and whiskey.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgxnoLM9v24/UMXU6FIrI2I/AAAAAAAAAvY/xZwhWnlwjFA/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgxnoLM9v24/UMXU6FIrI2I/AAAAAAAAAvY/xZwhWnlwjFA/s320/014.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sad Samurai</td></tr>
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More coming soon.<br />
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xoxo.<br />
L</div>
Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-87253892511379231882012-11-09T01:55:00.000-08:002012-11-09T01:57:06.292-08:00Whatever you want to know about Zen (You already know)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Zen might be called the inner art and design of the Orient. It was rooted in China by Bodhidharma, who came from India in the sixth century, and was carried eastward into Japan by the twelfth century. It has been described as: "A special teaching without scriptures, beyond words and letters, pointing to the mind-essence of man, seeing directly into one's nature, attaining enlightenment."<br />
The Zen habit of self-searching through meditation to realize one's true nature, with disregard for formalism, with insistence on self-discipline and simplicity of living , ultimately won the support of the nobility and ruling classes in Japan and the profound respect of all levels of of philosophical thought in the Orient.<br />
It has been said that if you have Zen in your life, you hace no fear, no doubt, no unnecessary craving, no extreme emotion. Neither illiberal attitudes nor egotistical actions trouble you. You serve humanity humbly, fulfilling your presence in this world with loving-kindness and observing your passing as a petal falling from a flower. Serene, you enjoy like in a blissful tranquility. Such is the spirit of Zen, whose vesture is thousand of temples in China and Japan, priests and monks, wealth and prestige, and often the very formalism it would itself transcend.<br />
Maybe something to strive for. Maybe something to overcome. Maybe something that isn't at all. Be without being. Do without doing. Understand Zen without learning a thing.<br />
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" 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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen" target="_blank">For a simplified history of Zen, click here. (Wikipedia Article on Zen)</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.yogabrains.org/21st-century-spirituality/what-i-hate-about-zen/" target="_blank">For an opposing perspective, click here. </a>(yogabrains.org article entitled "Why I HateZen", interestingly written by <b>Poep Sa Frank Jude Boccio, </b>a certified yoga teacher and Zen Buddhist Dharma Teacher ordained by Korean Zen Master, Samu Sunim).</div>
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Here are Sonshu Yamada's responses to my intrigues concerning Zen. Mr. Yamada is not a Zen teacher, but he is a tea master, and as such understands the essential teaching of Zen.Please understand any language or grammar misuse is left as written by Mr. Yamada. Anything in brackets I added for basic understanding purposes.</div>
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1. What do you think is most important for foreigners to understand about Zen?</div>
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Participation to Zazen practicing class (Zazen-kai called in Japanese) leaded my Zen-master is important. Zen is not to be understood, should depend on practice of zazen. </div>
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We are living very busy situation every day. If we can practice some spiritual works like Tea-ceremony, Shodo, Haiku composing, Kendo, Judo, and other Japanese traditional cultures including spiritual foundation, we can catch some influence from Zen to them. But in these practicing, leaders or teachers having foundamental experience are very few.</div>
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You know, or studied a ritual that you should appreciate the word of Kakejiku at Tokonoma at the first step to enter a tea-ceremony room.</div>
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The word is mainly quoted from Zen words and showing the main-theme of tea-ceremony meeting. The promoter of the tea party will accept guests by the theme, and guests spend calmly and pleasant time depending on the spiritual theme. Masters of these spiritual works should be required to hold Zen mind, but nowadays they haven't enough time in worldly life.</div>
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<i>Notes: </i><br />
Zazen- literally "seated meditation" <br />
Kakejiku- hanging scroll painting or calligraphy in tea room entrance<br />
Tokonoma- Japanese term generally
referring to a built-in recessed space (alcove) in a Japanese style reception
room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed.<br />
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2. Do you consider Zen a religion?<br />
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Zen-shu sect of Buddhism consist of Zen and some traditional custom ritual is should be religion. But Zen is the foundamentally human being mind, I think. In present we understand it from people behaviors...The Sophia University in Tokyo has a Zen meditation house, Apple computer company owned by Steven P. Jobs employs and leaded by a Japanese Zen monk, the world economics leader named Peter F. Drucker build his Management Philosophy depending on Japanese Zen mind, and when I as a NGO representative visited to cooperate to mountainous minority natives students and stayed at a nuns, very often sisters hope me for lecturer on Zen spirit.<br />
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3. Is ritual important? <br />
I wonder [if] you are asking [about] ritual in tea-ceremony? In present oversee [meant, oversea] intellectuals say tea-ceremony should be called tea-ritual sometimes.<br />
Zen is leading us to absolute spiritual world from relative [world] and [worldly] wants where we live. When we are present under ritual environment our mind will be able to be easier over worldly spirit.<br />
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<i>Side note: </i>Yogis, meditators, martial artists, artists, poets, writers, sewers, hard workers, parents who are present and involved with their children, animal lovers, selfless servers, farmers, tree huggers, chado practitioners, smilers, day-to-day-present-moment-livers ...you're all practicing Zen. <br />
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Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-50516194823108438362012-11-01T06:58:00.003-07:002012-11-01T06:58:20.454-07:00October: A Retrospect- School, Tea, Yoga, and Life in the past 31 Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been a month since I've thrown information at the blog-o-sphere. Hello, sweet text box, how I've missed your blinking cursor, and the ability to type whatever I wish into your blinding whiteness. Here are some updates on the previous month in Japan:<br />
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<i>School</i><br />
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Work life fluctuates. Some days I feel helpful, and others useless. I'm assured I'm doing a fine job, but as John says, being a good ALT is like being the fastest kid at fat camp. I miss the autonomy, structure, and technology of American schools. I miss making a difference, and using teaching techniques that are affective according to contemporary research. <br />
That said, my school experience here is certainly not all bad. I like the comradery of the teachers and the level of communication that happens between them. In America it's hard to get every teacher to attend faculty and/or department meetings; here, we have faculty meetings every morning (Never mind I don't comprehend them). <br />
I took a chance last weekend and accepted an invite to dinner at a Chinese restaurant with many other teachers. I was so nervous about the language barrier, but it turned out okay. Many teachers in the school (around 3/4; I'd say about 35 teachers) dine and drink sometimes after work. We took a room upstairs in the restaurant. Of course, we removed our shoes to enter into the tatami-mat room. (Next time I move to Japan, I'll remember to bring more slip on foot attire). There were three round Japanese-style tables, where one must sit on the floor to eat. I took a place at the table with the first grade teachers (see previous post about Japanese schools for information on grade levels, as this isn't considered like our first grade in elementary school). On each table was another, smaller, rotating table on which food is served and passed around. Of course, I couldn't eat anything, but that was expected, so I planned accordingly (meaning I went out to eat with John at an Indian restaurant where they actually serve vegetarian food before meeting my coworkers at a Chinese restaurant, who, when called ahead of time, said they could not serve any dishes to our party without meat or seafood. Really? 'Cause I could come back there, steam some rice, and stir fry some veggies in shouyu (soy sauce) in a matter of minutes. Anyway, I digress). I was very grateful for the warmth of some particular company that night. Many people tried to speak English, and others spoke more than I could've guessed.<br />
I had a good time finally using the miniscule amount of Japanese I've picked up, as well as learning Japanese customs. The man beside me showed me some particulars of chopstick usage that I hadn't quite acquired. The waitresses at the Chinese restaurant brought in food on giant plates as well as tall boys of Asahi beer and pitchers of oolong tea. Everything was placed on the small, elevated, rotating part of the table, so our group had to serve itself. However, no one serves him/herself; everyone is served by someone else. Someone will grab one of the million tiny dishes on the table, and divvy out food which they then pass around the table, calling on people by name to make sure they eat enough. Whenever one teacher saw another one's empty beer or tea glass they refilled it, meaning that at some point all night, different people (typically young teachers and women) were walking/crawling around to each table and refilling drinks and talking to the person they served. It was odd, but also endearing. Regardless of how often I was clueless or how ignorant I appeared, it's an experience I'm glad I had.<br />
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<i>Tea</i><br />
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<i> </i> I got to visit the Kotoku=Zenji Temple in Tokyo last Sunday to experience three types of traditional tea ceremony. <span style="font-size: small;">Kotoku-Zen
temple is a large historical temple</span><span style="font-size: small;">. There are tombs of daimyo (Japanese
feudal lord) and some historical tearooms</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>on the premises. Usually general people arenât permitted
to enter the temple, but the temple was</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>open for <span style="font-size: small;">us</span> on 28th. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I wish I<span style="font-size: small;"> had more pictures of this beautiful sanctuary. </span>As you can see, we're not wea<span style="font-size: small;">ring kimonos<span style="font-size: small;"> as one normally wo<span style="font-size: small;">uld <span style="font-size: small;">in formal tea ceremony. As long as <span style="font-size: small;">you dress formally, you are allowe<span style="font-size: small;">d<span style="font-size: small;"> to partic<span style="font-size: small;">ipate. Since I was not the host, it was not very ne<span style="font-size: small;">r<span style="font-size: small;">ve<span style="font-size: small;">-</span>racking th<span style="font-size: small;">ere. As a gu<span style="font-size: small;">est, th<span style="font-size: small;">ere <span style="font-size: small;">ar<span style="font-size: small;">e enough rituals to have to remember<span style="font-size: small;">, but it's not th<span style="font-size: small;">e same<span style="font-size: small;"> as serving. December 2 I will a<span style="font-size: small;">ct as host in my first formal tea ceremony at the cultural building <span style="font-size: small;">that's part of <span style="font-size: small;">Ichihara <span style="font-size: small;">City Hall. I will <span style="font-size: small;">wear a kimono the<span style="font-size: small;">n. Don't worry. John will video<span style="font-size: small;">tape it so you all can laugh at me later. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I met some beautiful people at <span style="font-size: small;">Kotoku-Zenji. I attendede wi<span style="font-size: small;">th Kubo-san (<span style="font-size: small;">center), a member of the Ichihara International Association (IIA, my hiring <span style="font-size: small;">partner), <span style="font-size: small;">who's been taking me to tea c<span style="font-size: small;">eremony lessons on Saturday mornings<span style="font-size: small;"> (<span style="font-size: small;">yeah, <span style="font-size: small;">sleeping in is rare). I met her friend, Mrs. <span style="font-size: small;">Yarita (<span style="font-size: small;">left)<span style="font-size: small;">, a lad<span style="font-size: small;">y with <span style="font-size: small;">refined sweetness typical to the<span style="font-size: small;"> Japanese</span>. She lives close to my school, I found out. I also met Mr. K<span style="font-size: small;">oga, a long-t<span style="font-size: small;">ime friend of Kubo-san<span style="font-size: small;"> (behind the <span style="font-size: small;">camera). He was serving tea in the Urasenke tradition, which is the school I am now a part of. Lastly, I met Mr. Yama<span style="font-size: small;">da, a tea master who studies Zen. I was told I could speak wi<span style="font-size: small;">th Mr. Yamada on the topic of Zen. However, <span style="font-size: small;">there were o<span style="font-size: small;">ver 200 guests at <span style="font-size: small;">Kotoku-Zen Temple tha<span style="font-size: small;">t day, so ou<span style="font-size: small;">r introduction was bri<span style="font-size: small;">e<span style="font-size: small;">f. (He rem<span style="font-size: small;">inded me of an older Dr. Hannum, for al<span style="font-size: small;">l you USA History Alum)<span style="font-size: small;">. Before knowing we couldn't speak in detail, I was instructed <span style="font-size: small;">t<span style="font-size: small;">o prepare ques<span style="font-size: small;">tions <span style="font-size: small;">regarding Zen for him<span style="font-size: small;">,</span> s<span style="font-size: small;">o <span style="font-size: small;">he would know what to talk to me about<span style="font-size: small;">. He prepared and typed answers <span style="font-size: small;">for me and had them delivered to me outside <span style="font-size: small;">one of the<span style="font-size: small;"> tea rooms<span style="font-size: small;"> (I'm sure <span style="font-size: small;">I was easy to pick out from the crow<span style="font-size: small;">d). I will post these questions and <span style="font-size: small;">answers <span style="font-size: small;">in another blog, along with some other inter<span style="font-size: small;">esting things I'm read<span style="font-size: small;">ing about Ze<span style="font-size: small;">n. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> A big part of tea ceremon<span style="font-size: small;">y <span style="font-size: small;">is the utensils with w<span style="font-size: small;">hich tea is made. There are very famous tea masters <span style="font-size: small;">throughout the ages who create these items. Apparently, d<span style="font-size: small;">uring ou<span style="font-size: small;">r last ceremony, we and two other guests were <span style="font-size: small;">privileged</span> e<span style="font-size: small;">nough to drink of a tea bowel that is only used for display. I<span style="font-size: small;"> know it's <span style="font-size: small;">very old, and I'm sure the name of the maker is in my textbook, but I don't remember his name. I only wish I better understood the meaning <span style="font-size: small;">this opportunity held. I was with some pe<span style="font-size: small;">ople who have been practici<span style="font-size: small;">ng tea for over 35 years and they've never se<span style="font-size: small;">en, much <span style="font-size: small;">less <span style="font-size: small;">used, u<span style="font-size: small;">tensils made by this tea master. I was very grat<span style="font-size: small;">eful for the honor, even if I can<span style="font-size: small;">'t necessarily underst<span style="font-size: small;">and the <span style="font-size: small;">f<span style="font-size: small;">ull meaning. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yoga</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I am recommit<span style="font-size: small;">ting to daily practice. I underst<span style="font-size: small;">and <span style="font-size: small;">that life happens and I can't get in a<span style="font-size: small;">n asana prac<span style="font-size: small;">tice occasionally. Sometimes the yoga is accepting that you have to walk a<span style="font-size: small;">way from the mat to a <span style="font-size: small;">situation at hand<span style="font-size: small;">. On those days, I can still set aside five minutes for s short pranayama (bre<span style="font-size: small;">ath) practice. I<span style="font-size: small;">'m not <span style="font-size: small;">sure how <span style="font-size: small;">muc<span style="font-size: small;">h I can sa<span style="font-size: small;">y my poses are evolving (or devolving<span style="font-size: small;">- really, <span style="font-size: small;">h<span style="font-size: small;">as viribhadras<span style="font-size: small;">ana I <span style="font-size: small;">always</span> been SO hard<span style="font-size: small;">...Have my <span style="font-size: small;">h<span style="font-size: small;">ip flexors always be<span style="font-size: small;">en THIS tight</span></span></span></span>)?!?!?! However, the p<span style="font-size: small;">urpose is not some gra<span style="font-size: small;">nd physical expression (although that<span style="font-size: small;">'s totally cool), but th<span style="font-size: small;">e<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">p<span style="font-size: small;">ath we take both physically and mentally to get to a postu<span style="font-size: small;">re <span style="font-size: small;">(or place in life). It's about reconfiguring the mind-body connection to live <span style="font-size: small;">presently and with a<span style="font-size: small;">ware<span style="font-size: small;">ness. I was thinking during practice today, as I was focusing on my feet as <span style="font-size: small;">my foundation<span style="font-size: small;">, how unconnected <span style="font-size: small;">with th<span style="font-size: small;">eir <span style="font-size: small;">bodies <span style="font-size: small;">many people really are. Our fee<span style="font-size: small;">t have gone through <span style="font-size: small;">millions of years of evolution to support us on this <span style="font-size: small;">earth, an<span style="font-size: small;">d <span style="font-size: small;">modern society tells<span style="font-size: small;"> they're gross and ne<span style="font-size: small;">ed restrict<span style="font-size: small;">ed in toe shoes, heels, or boots. I <span style="font-size: small;">don't think we'd have prob<span style="font-size: small;">lems with falling ar<span style="font-size: small;">ch<span style="font-size: small;">es, bone spurs, or plantar fasciitis if we used ou<span style="font-size: small;">r feet a<span style="font-size: small;">s <span style="font-size: small;">they've evolved to be used. Can you imagine hav<span style="font-size: small;">ing</span> <span style="font-size: small;">as m<span style="font-size: small;">uch control and dexterity in your feet as you do your hands? <span style="font-size: small;">Are</span> you so<span style="font-size: small;"> connected <span style="font-size: small;">that you feel <span style="font-size: small;">the relationship bet<span style="font-size: small;">ween your b<span style="font-size: small;">ig toe mound and inner thigh, <span style="font-size: small;">or pinky toe moun<span style="font-size: small;">d and outer hip? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Think of how useful that'd be<span style="font-size: small;">! Why do we ignore or think any par<span style="font-size: small;">t of the h<span style="font-size: small;">uman body is gross? I just don't g<span style="font-size: small;">et it. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Although I've found a hy<span style="font-size: small;">brid yoga/pilates class to go to twice a week, the closest fully dedicated yoga studio I've found that doesn't mind me attending cl<span style="font-size: small;">asses i<span style="font-size: small;">s almost two hours away. I've been a few ti<span style="font-size: small;">mes, but I'm mostly relying on my home practice and yogaglo<span style="font-size: small;"> (a site with thousa<span style="font-size: small;">nds of</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> yoga classes recorded in an L.A. studio with <span style="font-size: small;">world class teachers</span>)</span></span></span></span>. It makes me so grat<span style="font-size: small;">eful for my teacher(s)<span style="font-size: small;"> in Alabama. <span style="font-size: small;">The lessons I learned there have helped me to evolve my practice in <span style="font-size: small;">ways I never though<span style="font-size: small;">t possible, all in a way that<span style="font-size: small;">'s safe an<span style="font-size: small;">d positive.<span style="font-size: small;"> Sure, I still practice inversions at the wall/ with props, and I <span style="font-size: small;">still fall on my face in <span style="font-size: small;">cer<span style="font-size: small;">tain arm balances, but I<span style="font-size: small;">'m practicin<span style="font-size: small;">g</span> pr<span style="font-size: small;">opper alignment and momentarily finding balances of steadiness and ease. And T<span style="font-size: small;">HAT'S the prac<span style="font-size: small;">tice<span style="font-size: small;">. <i>No work on the path is wasted. </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I've been reading two books recco<span style="font-size: small;">m<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">ended</span> by some <span style="font-size: small;">yoga website I fre<span style="font-size: small;">quent (I don't remember w<span style="font-size: small;">hich). <i>Ga</i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>nesha Goes to Lunch</i>, <span style="font-size: small;">by Kamla k. Kapur and<i> Myths of the Asana</i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>s </i>by Alanna Kaivalya and Ajuna van der Kooij. The f<span style="font-size: small;">irst is a decidedly grown-up <span style="font-size: small;">book of traditional Indian stories retold by <span style="font-size: small;">a well-<span style="font-size: small;">known Indian poet. <span style="font-size: small;">Like myths arou<span style="font-size: small;">nd the world, these are teaching stories that offer <span style="font-size: small;">both a windo<span style="font-size: small;">w into a fascinating culture <span style="font-size: small;">that has endured for thousands of years<span style="font-size: small;">, and a<span style="font-size: small;"> code for living that can be applied to the modern world. <span style="font-size: small;">One cou<span style="font-size: small;">ld read this book for engaging tales of m<span style="font-size: small;">onke<span style="font-size: small;">y gods, talking toads, and beautif<span style="font-size: small;">ul <span style="font-size: small;">maidens in distress, or for a South Asian<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> viewpont on the eternal questions <span style="font-size: small;">surrounding love, f<span style="font-size: small;">riendship, happiness, and wa<span style="font-size: small;">r. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The second book shines a great light on over 30 yoga postures. Behind each asana and its corresponding movements is an ancient story. For example, learning how the disfigured sage Astavakra came to be the teacher of a king can liberate us for anxieties about our external appearances and our self-imposed limitations.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Life</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> While the glimmer of traveling tends to wear off when you<span style="font-size: small;">'re settling into and relearni<span style="font-size: small;">ng day-to-day life, <span style="font-size: small;">John and I <span style="font-size: small;">have <span style="font-size: small;">just eno<span style="font-size: small;">ugh time to absorb the beauty and awe o<span style="font-size: small;">f our present situation. Newlyweds<span style="font-size: small;"> ac<span style="font-size: small;">ross th<span style="font-size: small;">e world, th<span style="font-size: small;">rown into a culture radically opposite ours, <span style="font-size: small;">with a language we<span style="font-size: small;"> don't understand, we've done really well to build our lives and keep <span style="font-size: small;">stress at bay. Jo<span style="font-size: small;">hn's ne<span style="font-size: small;">eded time adjusting to J<span style="font-size: small;">apanese bacteria, and I think is <span style="font-size: small;">f<span style="font-size: small;">inally getting over the cold he's had <span style="font-size: small;">more or less s<span style="font-size: small;">ince we got here two months ago. <span style="font-size: small;">We're also both recovering from pink eye, thanks to my work letting me leave an hour early to go t<span style="font-size: small;">o the eye doctor for prescription eye<span style="font-size: small;"> drops.<span style="font-size: small;"> That's the f<span style="font-size: small;">ir<span style="font-size: small;">st ti<span style="font-size: small;">me in my life I've e<span style="font-size: small;">ver had conjunctivits, and I gotta say, it's not recommended for the funsies. Matter o' fact, it hurts like hell. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Last month we attended a beautiful fireworks show with some acquaintances I think we'll soon call friends. On November 17, we'll hike Mt. Nokogiri (tallest mountain in Chiba prefecture) with the same people. Mt. Nokogiri has one of the largest Buddha statues in Japan-- 31 meters! We visited the historic ruins of a nunnery in Ichihara called Kazusa Kokobuniji.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span 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style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also, our town now boasts a fabulous new Sendo (name of supermarket), so now we're only a five minute bike ride from groceries! That, and we're so very close to getting cell phones, something we've wanted to do since arrival. I get really tired of not being able to call John. Especially on nights when I'm supposed to meet him somewhere in Tokyo and I get lost and wind up walking around for 2 1/2 hours (totally happened....I know, embarrassing)! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Anyway, John's busy with grad school and work, while I'm working, studying yoga and Zen, and keeping up house (this phrase is still applicable for apartment, right)? Life's difficult a lot of the time, but instead of anger or frustration, I get by peacefully. I must've gotten rid of all the anger at an earlier age, or learned to deal with it in more constructive ways. Now I'm drinking tea with Buddhists talking about the beauty of the trees and learning the sweetness that comes from a life well shared.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Onward,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leah</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-827167701857728002012-09-21T07:58:00.000-07:002012-09-21T08:06:12.883-07:00Tea, Zen, Yoga, and Hard Knocks <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One Month in Japan</div>
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I've recently become a student of chadÅ (translates as
"tea way"). While this study will open my eyes to many foreign
customs and rituals, refine my skills for entertaining guests, help me acquire
graceful movement, and refine my sensibility to beauty, I think the cardinal
lesson in studying tea is learning that <i>the way of tea is the way of Zen.</i></div>
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ChadÅ can be understood as a study in three forms: through
discipline of the mind, through acquisition of knowledge, and through practice.
In everyday life we live skillfully by adhering to this road map. As a personal
example, I work every day to discipline my mind by judging between hunger,
boredom, and procrastination of other (a distinction, I humbly admit, that is
never easy to make). I seek (and sometimes procure) knowledge about my new
surrounding, its culture, and language. I practice yoga daily. Whether itâs a
two-hour arm balance practice or a five minute meditation practice, I make sure
to cultivate awareness of breath, body, and mind at some point every day. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2jG5BR_oio/UFx7SKUeCkI/AAAAAAAAAgw/-MDOvoKE9js/s1600/chado01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2jG5BR_oio/UFx7SKUeCkI/AAAAAAAAAgw/-MDOvoKE9js/s320/chado01.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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In essence, these practices are Zen. Paul Reps and Nyogen
Senzaki tell us, "Zen spirit has come to mean not only peace and
understanding, but devotion to art and to work, the rich unfolding of
contentment, opening the door to insight, the expression of innate beauty, the
intangible charm of incompleteness. Zen carries many meanings, none of them
entirely definable. If they are defined, they are not Zen." </div>
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I had a nervous breakdown last week, an old-fashioned,
teenage anxiety attack. It was one of those instances very similar to an asthma
attack: I couldn't breathe because I was freaking the fuck out, and I was
freaking the fuck out because I couldn't breathe. This angst came from nothing
in particular, but (I think) was a manifestation of daily life in a new country
with such a persistent monoculture my isolation and the constant input of
unrecognizable sounds led me to a breaking point. I understand that sometimes
all we need to do is cry, to let it out, to feel, experience, and understand
that while these things shape us, they are not us. However, at that particular
moment, the last thing I needed to do was revel in the uncertainty- the used
to, why not, I miss, someday- that hits when you suddenly realize just how big
of a change you actually brought into your life.</div>
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(What I needed was to be in the present, breathe, and thank my thoughtful husband for compassionately and logically explaining our current state and his understanding of it). </div>
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Three lessons are certainly not enough to make me an expert
of chadÅ. It will take many years to learn the movement and vocabulary of this
ancient art, and, as all rituals go, I know I will mess up, forget, relearn,
spill tea, misunderstand, quit, restart, and make a fool of myself. But in all
of these moments, I also know that my desire and intention will be pure and
simple: to give my guests a sweet dose of hospitality and to show my gratitude
when receiving such. When this is realized I finally understand that it's okay
to bonk on remembering how to fold the silk cloth, forget to turn with my right
foot instead of my left, get frustrated by the complete isolation at work and
in this new culture, and skip practicing hiragana (one of <i>four</i> Japanese scripts
based on tones, not an alphabet) to write a blog post. </div>
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It is important to identify the essential intention of chadÅ
(of yoga, teaching, learning, working, <b>life</b>), which lies in the matter of <i>how
we should live our lives as human beings.</i> "Of primary importance in chadÅ
is that, just as you successively progress step by step in your lessons, you
diligently reflect on yourself and cultivate you mind and heart through your
practice day to day" (Urasenke ChadÅ Textbook, 2004).</div>
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<br /></div>
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In yoga, we call this krama: a [divine] chronology based not
on the fruit of our actions, but on the work itself. (Act without desire for
result, teaches the Bhagavad-Gita). I do not wish to fold my cloth perfectly or
to prepare tea flawlessly and without effort, the same way I don't wish (and
this is a TOUGHIE) to snap my fingers and suddenly be fluent in Japanese,
because how would I grow, see, or understand without the effort? Besides,
according to <a href="http://www.radiolab.org/2007/sep/24/" target="_blank">this (amazing) RadioLab podcast</a> our brains get very agitated
when our ears hear something we can't assimilate into previous experience (or
sound), but our ears (and brains) actually learn very quickly so that a
dissonant sound, if heard repetitively and understood in a certain capacity,
can become a consonant sound (See Stravinsky's "Rites of Spring" Take
1, May 1913, and Take 2, April 1914). </div>
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<br /></div>
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It's also fascinating to me how much of this Zen or this
anxiety comes simply from preconceived notions. (Tea ceremony is stupid ritual.
I don't understand Japanese. I will never do arm balances.) But when we let go
of these, when we accept that maybe we did not previously understand chadÅ, or
understand another language, or practice eka pada koundinyasana 1, what we do
now, in this very moment, is less a true limit than a limit we mentally place
on ourselves. (Side note: I understood my first Japanese sentence spoken by a
native and successfully practiced that pose for the first time, all in the same
day, simply because I was able, even if only momentarily, to let go of
preconceived notions I held about myself). </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SoZ7Xpb8pU/UFx9eKjTPgI/AAAAAAAAAg4/RrZ-wyUUmR0/s1600/eka+pada+koudinyasana+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9SoZ7Xpb8pU/UFx9eKjTPgI/AAAAAAAAAg4/RrZ-wyUUmR0/s320/eka+pada+koudinyasana+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now, a Zen story:</div>
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THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT</div>
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Ikkyu, A famous Zen teacher of the Ashikaga era, was the son
of an emperor. While he was young, his mother left the palace and went to study
Zen in a temple. In this way, prince Ikkyu also became a student. When his
mother passed on, she left him with a letter. It read: </div>
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To Ikkyu:</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have
finished my work in this life and am now returning into Eternity. I wish you to
become a good student and realize your Buddha-nature. You will know if I am [in
hell] and whether I am with you or not. </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you
become a man who realizes that the Buddha and his follower the Bodhidharma are
your own servants, you may leave off studying and work for humanity. The Buddha
preached for forty-nine years and in all that time found it not necessary to
speak one word. You ought to know why. But if you don't and yet wish to, avoid
thinking fruitlessly. </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 7;"> Y</span>our
Mother,</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 8;"> </span>Not
born, not dead.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 8;"> </span>September
first.</div>
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<br /></div>
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P.S. The teaching of Buddha was mainly for the purpose of
enlightening others. If you are dependent on any of its methods, you are naught
but an ignorant insect. There are 80,000 books on Buddhism and if you should
read all of them and still not see your own nature, you will not understand
even this letter. This is my will and testament. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLd3qhaLnuM/UFx-jLEN-xI/AAAAAAAAAhA/pmojPey6SUM/s1600/we+are+all+buddhas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLd3qhaLnuM/UFx-jLEN-xI/AAAAAAAAAhA/pmojPey6SUM/s320/we+are+all+buddhas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In this moment, sitting here, breathing, and in the now, I
am indulging in some very non-Buddhist motions...drinking wine and considering
that I am no less incorporeal because I haven't been to a temple in Japan yet;
I don't know the ritual of washing my hands at the entrance or paying homage or
sitting in zazen. But in my heart, the study of tea, the practice of yoga, the
willingness to change, and the capacity to being here now...I am in a temple,
and paying homage, and meditating on the beauty, wonder, and union of it all.</div>
</div>
Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-87186311367030298952012-09-07T01:07:00.000-07:002012-09-07T01:13:24.327-07:00YOU'RE NOT READY FOR THIS (Commentary on Extreme Japanese Soccer Fans)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
To all American (and to a lesser degree, European, I guess) soccer fans: you suck. That's right; you're awful. Your fandom may extend to your wardrobe, paraphernalia, and maybe even, on special occasions, to the paint on your face. I know you attend games with flags, Chelsea bricks (newspapers now banned from EPL, I think) and team chants, but in no way can you live up to the extreme display of fandom I witnessed at my first Japanese soccer game- and this was only a division <u><b>2</b></u> game. <br />
<br />
My city (toshi) of Ichihara-shi and its toshi neighbor Chiba, in Chiba prefecture (state- yes, there's a state and city by the same name...it gets confusing), is home to the JEF United soccer team. Don't ask whether JEF is an acronym or what it stands for, because my answer is the same to almost every question in this country: wakarimasen (I don't understand, or, in this case, I don't know). Anyway, JEF is a division 2 team that plays home games in the town of Soga, between my town of Goi (in Ichihara-shi) and the city of Chiba.<br />
<br />
I convinced my wonderful husband to accompany me to a home game last Sunday, and even though he was exhausted (due to lack of sleep & waking up @ 6:00A.M. to watch college football), brain-fried (due to our first "official" two-hour Japanese class), and uninterested (due to...the crazies!!! Who doesn't like soccer?!?!?!?!), he came. (Insert endless praise for awesome spouse here). We wrote down directions and screenshot maps (as always when traveling, as we're illiterate; sometimes it works, most times it doesn't) but it was easy enough to find the stadium. All we had to do was follow yellow jerseys. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hUXku0bZHlI/UEmk2dXwmzI/AAAAAAAAAf4/LD1dlPFHsaE/s1600/JEF+jersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hUXku0bZHlI/UEmk2dXwmzI/AAAAAAAAAf4/LD1dlPFHsaE/s1600/JEF+jersey.jpg" /></a></div>
We got in the ticket line and because of the language barrier (I really can't overstate this. <i>You</i> move to a country with three iconographic scripts and a phonectic sound base instead of an alphabet with no prior knowledge and try to communicate) I ended up paying 6000 yen ($75) for two tickets in, but slightly to the right of, the main JEF fan section. Admittedly, I was instantly depressed when I realized the amount I spent, but I cast off my sadness determined to enjoy the spectacle.<br />
<br />
The opening was the same as you'd expect at any sporting event: players warming up, advertisements and player profiles on screen, news cameras, and ticket checkers. I don't know the name of our rival team from that evening, but I remember their logo resembling what would be the self-made CD label of a <i>very</i> bad metal band.<br />
<br />
Just before the starting whistle, the rivals sang their chant for about 4 minutes. I was impressed, and felt a little outdone...my team hadn't uttered a sound.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
THEN<br />
<br />
IT<br />
<br />
HAPPENED.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The starting whistle blew and it was accompanied by loud bangs, swishing flags, and waving team towels the size of scarves. Steady chants of "Ohhhhhh" in changing rhythms with beats of drums, open fist chopping hand gestures, and circling towels erupted and I was so excited to hear it (and that we were <i>not</i> in the middle of it)! How long was this this repeating tune going to last? It surpassed 2 minutes, then 5, then 10. Surely they can't chant the entire half, we joked, certainly not the whole game. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxueO2IqPrvqNJw6dexyf26OpPHbcV_7wRV02tXKYt5hdY6sSa93ZJuDZNzZYc2MELNEtsML5pRM7jFURbqGw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But it lasted! It lasted through the uneventful first half, so loud, so energized, so...repetitive.<br />
</div>
The second half began with my declaration that a goal would be scored, and with the whistle came the fan's electric song. It was only distracting to me for the first few minutes, but like any white noise coming from arena stands I'm sure the players are used to it and can tune it out (although not easily in this case)<br />
<br />
JEF's first goal came from a free kick about 6 yards outside the box to the left. It was a perfect beauty! Whistle, kick, AHHHHH!!!!! GGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!! Just in the top right corner of the net. At this point, the song shifted from repetitive loyal fandom to insane celebration. I tried to record it, but by the time I hit the button the goal cheer was over and fans returned to their normal rhythms.<br />
<br />
The second goal was worked in from the midfield with a nice through pass. There was some ping pong action going on inside the keeper's box, but finally a JEF forward got his boot on the ball and <i>swoosh</i>....GGGGGGOOOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!! Quick celebration chant again, and then back to loyal "oohhhs". (side note: I should start an all girl rock band called the Loyal Os..........wait for it.....yeah, you got it).<br />
<br />
The game ended 2-1, the self-promoting bad metal-playing team scoring a point with 10 minutes to go. We left the stadium inundated with pride, a sea of people, and bizarre Japanese customs (which I'll save for another blog).<br />
<br />
So you see, my dear sweet Americans, while soccer fans around the world may have equal devotion to their teams, never, in all the games I've watched, have I seen any with more stamina than this.<br />
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Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-4374946545744728582012-09-05T01:34:00.000-07:002012-09-05T01:34:23.019-07:00The Picture Blog #2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<center><BR>please remove thy shoes<BR><BR><BR></center>
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<center><BR>label learning<BR><BR></center>
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<BR><center>kitchen view from LR (1)<BR><BR></center>
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<BR><center>Kitchen view from LR (2)<BR><BR></center>
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<BR><center>kitchen view from entrance<BR><BR></center>
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<BR><center> Japanese universal remote John programmed with NO English + Guide to Japanese language & life in Japan + Buddha homage</center><BR><BR>
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<BR><center>Biking to Sendo, a Yawata grocery store about 2.5 miles away. It's got a slightly better selection than the Shinegoya, the grocery store in our hometown of Goi. Plus, we get to bike along the train tracks and look at houses, parks, and streams :-)<BR><BR></center>
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<BR><center>Yawatajuko station<BR><BR></center>
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<BR><center> leaving Sendo fully loaded<BR><BR></center>
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<BR><center>weird grave cats...you'll see<BR><BR></center>
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<BR><center> view from Goi station, side opposite our apartment<BR><BR></center>
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<BR><center> House in Goi + evening light<BR><BR></center>
Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-60350633397288532962012-09-04T06:13:00.000-07:002012-09-04T06:13:28.475-07:00The Picture Blog #1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<BR>Complicated trash<BR>
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<BR>entrance to tatami room<BR>
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<BR>view of Goi station from our apartment. Japan does good skyline. :-) <BR>
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<BR>our tiny green space<BR> looking to the right from the last photo from our balcony<BR> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<BR>evidence of bike arrival; it took forever to break down these boxes according to complicated Japan trash rules<BR>
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<BR>jitensha (bicycle) which was extremely expensive to get to this country, but better than what we would've gotten otherwise<BR>
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<BR>Leah is a dutiful wife in paternalistic society (except I don't cook, and they freak out when I tell them)<BR>
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<BR>Kanji for "extinguish fire tool"<BR>
Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-35921072897256543932012-09-03T05:36:00.001-07:002012-09-24T04:44:47.636-07:00The oddities of Japanese compulsory education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Day 13
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<br />
Last week was my first working as an ALT/FLT (Alternate/ Foreign Language Teacher).
I felt somewhat worthless, as I didn't do anything but introduce myself and help the
English teachers pronouce words to their classes. I get to plan one lesson for this
week, so it better be good. I'm working on a game to teach past participles (-d and
-ed forms of verbs, as well as irregular past tense verbs). I'm sure the further I
get into the school year the more of a role I'll get to play. I hope that's the
case. I've honestly been somewhat bored at work as of late. One teacher even
commented on the matter. Many times I find myself sitting at my desk for hours at a
time. I could read, but I'm practicing the many writing forms Japan has, as well as
key phrases- nihon-go wa hanasemasen (I don't speak Japanese). This week, I can do
my homework from the free Japanese language classes I'm taking in Yawata (one
town/train station away, still in the same city). These classes are offered by the
Ichihara International Association, and I attend Sunday
afternoons.
<br />
<br />
Japanese schools differ greatly from American ones. First of all, the school year
starts in April. When I began on August 27, the students had just finished their
forty-four day summer vacation. They were extremely surprised to see a new ALT
there, especially one who differed so greatly from the one before. (Let's just say
the previous ALT was much older, a little more stern, and male).
Other than the month-and-a-half summer vacation during the hottest part of the year,
Japanese schools have 3 other major breaks. Fall vacation lasts about 5 days; winter
vacation lasts about 10 days; spring vacation lasts roughly 14. Compare that to
America's fall (Thanksgiving) break of 2-3 days; its winter (Christmas/ New Year)
week long vacation, and its 5 day spring break. America does have a long summer
vacation comparatively, although teachers and students alike have complained the
last 5-10 years that summer is not a full three months.
<br />
<br />
School in Japan is compulsory for elementary (1-6) and junior high (1-3), which
means every student must attend (they have separate classes for handicapped
students) and no student can repeat a grade.
<br />
<br />
In American junior high (middle) school, students attend from 7:30-2:40. They have 7
periods: 5 core classes (math, science, social studies, English, P.E.) and 2
electives (such as band, chorus, drama, foreign language, etc), each lasting 50
minutes. Teachers have their own classrooms, and students have a 3-5 minute break
between classes to go to their lockers and get to their next class. They go to the
cafeteria for lunch, and are served by adult cafeteria workers. Janitors/ custodians
clean the school every day. There is an office staff for bookeeping and clerical
duties.
<br />
<br />
Not so in Japan. Students remain in the same class all day, and the teachers go to
each class with their own supplies. There are no computers in the classrooms. There
is no smartboard, projector, or anything techy of the sort. There is only a
blackboard and paper copies the teachers hand out. I'm so amazed that schools are so
old fashioned in one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world.
There is a computer room I'm told by my boss who works for the Board of Ed. but no
teacher has mentioned it or used it thus far. There is no a/c in the classrooms,
only in the teacher's room and the library. It's been quite hard for me, as I'm
under strict orders that no one can see my arm tattoo, so I've been wearing long
sleeves or arm sleeves to school. I can't wait until it starts to cool off.
<br />
<br />
Students get to school around 8:00. I have no idea what they do from 8:00-
8:45.Teachers report every moring to the teachers' room. Most of us arrive about
7:45, as the day begins promptly at 8:00. We all stand. The principals great us
(ohayo gozaimas(u)) and bow; we repeat and bow. Then we sit and there are daily
announcements (none of which I can understand @ this point). Some teachers get called on to stand and make certain announcements. After about 10 minutes each grade
level's (1, 2, 3; our 7,8,9) teachers group together and meet for another 5 minutes.
<br />
<br />
<
By this time it's 8:25. Some kind of bell rings, and the teachers have 10 minutes
free time to run around and make copies, or go to their homeroom classes (if the
have one) and make annoucements. HR is over @ 8:35 with the sound of another bell.
First period starts at 8:45 and lasts 45 minutes. There are 10 minutes between each
class; I guess enough time for teachers to run back to the teacher's room for a
drink, materials, or to go to the restroom. Students have 5 classes a day, not 7.
Four periods happen before lunch, and one after lunch. I only teach 3 or 4 classes a
day (not 6. Gosh, American middle school teachers are working too hard). There is
one woman who works in the teacher's room serving morning tea and doing dishes/
general cleaning work and who gets lunch ready for all the teachers without a
homeroom. The students serve lunch to each other and to their homeroom teacher.
After lunch, there is a 20 minutes cleaning time, where students and teachers alike
(including principals) clean the school. Well, I say clean, but remember, these are
middle school students. They brush the floor lightly, wipe some things down, and
take out the trash. (Trash separation and disposal in Japan must be a whole other
blog entry). School ends a little before 3:00. I'm required to stay until 4:00.
Right now, I'm helping students practice speeches in English for a regional
competition on the 19th. I help them practice pronunciation, phonetics, and
inflection.
<br />
<br />
Saturday, I had to go to work because our school was hosting a bazaar. Parents and
teachers sold many goods they'd bought and made to the community to raise money for
the poor school. I bought a potted plant (our apartment needs green, which we
remedied more this afternoon when we planted basil, rosemary, cilantro, and
parsley). It was quite amusing to see me biking home in work clothes caring a plant
in one arm. :-) I'm sure it's equally as strange to see this gaijin biking and
running around town, as well as doing yoga in the little park outside. Oh well,
westerners are weird. We show affection in public, shake hands instead of bow, and
use pulling instead of pushing motions. All the fun of learning another culture.
<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
Leah </div>
Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-42455806906480657132012-08-25T18:04:00.003-07:002012-08-25T18:06:04.569-07:00Japan: First Updates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Day 5
Hey y'all.
<BR><BR>
John and I are still patronizing the Large Smiling Frog
Comic and Internet Cafe for all outbound communications -- hopefully,
we'll have internet "constructed" (installed, I presume they mean) at
the apartment within the week. But we might not. Here's a thing to
know about Japan: do not count on being able to find free wifi
anywhere, ever. Not even at the one Starbucks in Ichihara, which we
were still damn THRILLED to find.
So, a handful of updates:
<BR><BR>
* READING - We can't. Japanese text uses a combination of three
scripts, some of which are icono(picto-?)graphic, some which represent
entirely alien phonemes. Complicating matters, symbols the
icono(picto-?)graphic script -- that would be Kanji -- can have wildly
different meanings depending upon context. For instance: the character
that represents "book" can also mean "present," or "central," or
"true," or "origin," or "counter for long cylindrical things." To
write this character, write the character for "person," then add two
horizontal lines. If you only add the first horizontal line, you have
written the character for "large." (Add a small apostrophe-looking
mark to that character and you have written "dog.") Be careful of
where you place your horizontal lines when writing "book," however,
because if you misplace a line, you will have written "husband."
<BR><BR>
Don't even get me started on Katakana and Hiragana.
<BR><BR>
In summary, not only is John a jobless (soon-to-be) illegal immigrant and
(probable) victim of racism, we are also illiterate. But progress
progresses: I understood my first street sign yesterday. Symbol for
[insert] + symbol for [mouth] = "Entrance." And speaking of
progress...
<BR><BR>
* IMMIGRATION - good news on this front. Suzuki Sensei (my boss,
and new favorite person on the face of the planet) drove us to the
immigration office in Chiba city yesterday and helped John fill out
paperwork for a dependent visa. While I have no idea how long it may
take to process the paperwork, he told me us would more than likely be
granted visa permission well within his 90 days of legal tourist
residency. If and when he finds a job -- Catch 22! Can't work without a
visa, can't get a visa without work! -- he`ll have to return to Chiba
to change his status. Hopefully Suzuki Sensei will be free that day.
* ERRATA - We met with the Mayor of Ichihara Friday morning, and
hopefully didn't humiliate ourselves or America by proxy. We've pretty
well mastered the immediate vicinity on bikes, including the Super
Megalithic Wal-esque Mart (Cainz Home, pronounced "Kines"), the Not
Quite Best Buy (K's, pronounced "Kays Deenkay"), and the Extremely
Fishy Smelling Because All The Fish Grocery Store (Shigenoya,
pronounced capably by others).
<BR><BR>
Here's a brief anecdote representative of our initial experience here:
We missed the delivery of our bikes to the apartment Thursday. We knew
this because we got a notice in the mailbox that had my name on
it, the logo of the delivery carrier, and great heaps of inscrutable
text. There was a phone number, we think, but we weren't sure, had no
way to make an outgoing call even if we were sure, no way to speak to
anyone over the phone even if we could make a call, and no one around
to beg for help. Would our bikes be redelivered? Ha ha! Who knows?
(Spoiler alert: they were, the next day. Thankfully, we were home.)
<BR><BR>
Yesterday, we figured out the trains. Took a local to a transfer to
Funabashi, which has a.) the largest damn mall I've ever seen, and
b.) an IKEA. The mall has, among other gaijin stalwarts, a KFC and a
Krispy Kreme. (It also has a children's store called "Daddy Oh Daddy,"
which, well, I'm not sure they're doing that right.)
<BR><BR>
Even our little section of Ichihara (called Goi) has a Denny's and the
aforementioned Starbucks. The neat thing about the larger train
stations, as you get closer to Tokyo, is that they are themselves kind
of malls, often with stores that offer imported goods. This is how we
finally found real, honest to goodness Skippy peanut butter, and not
that peanut cream bullshit we bought the first day here. (Similarly,
be careful when buying bread! That's not a wheat loaf; it's chocolate
white bread!) Another comfort of home: Cainz has Johnny Walker Red for
15 bucks a liter...John`s best birthday present other than the bicycles.
<BR><BR>
Pictures soon.
<BR><BR>
Love, <BR>
L
Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-29630385648151878952012-08-22T22:24:00.001-07:002013-01-31T05:37:09.677-08:00Los Angeles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I left my birthplace and 24-year hometown on August 16 to go spend a few days in LA before the big move. It felt like I was in LA for much longer than 3 days and 4 nights. I completely fell in love with the city of angels. Too bad it's going to fall into the ocean someday. <br />
My first day I complained about the lack of historical architecture. By the second, I was swearing I'd live there right away.
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Day 1: Wednesday, August 16: arrived LA @ 11:00 AM. Got to friend's apartment around 1:00 PM. We went to this great coffee shop/ vegan lunch spot called Muse. I wanted to go there everyday forever. For those of you from Mobile, it was my Satori coffeehouse. Forever a place in my heart. <br />
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That night, we ate some good Indian food and hung out with some new, but very dear friends who live in LA. He is a professor @ USC. She is a public librarian. They absolutely rock.
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August 17: I met my cousin who I haven't seen in about a decade in Hollywood. We walked and talked all the way to Amoeba records...the greatest music store of all time. I have to say that Hollywood is way more glamorous on television. I was not impressed.
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August 18: First to <a href="http://www.lacma.org/">Los Angeles County Museum of Art</a>. AMAZING! Here's proof:<br />
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me in spaghetti.
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There are multiple buildings and outside spaces that make up LACMA. There is even a hanging Boulder outside! One of the buildings housed a Japanese exhibit, which I felt a need to enter due to the recent relocation. Here is me posing with some Shinto festival masks: <br />
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Next was <a href="http://www.griffithobs.org/">Griffith Observatory</a> Husband and I drove to the top of some hills to visit this amazing space center...full of cosmological and scientific wonders!
me outside: <br />
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me with Einstein: <br />
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homage to Pluto: <br />
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Next to Santa Monica beach, where I finally got to dip my feet in the Pacific: <br />
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Favorite Hippie things I did in LA:<br />
ate <a href="http://www.greentruckonthego.com/">here</a>
<br />did yoga <a href="http://www.liberationyoga.com/">here</a><br />
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Love to all on this beautiful planet!<br />
Leah
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Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2847301182669403783.post-6894581886026840222012-08-02T10:33:00.001-07:002013-01-31T05:34:12.102-08:00Another City by the Bay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The french expression a gogo means "in abundance" or galore. I begin this blog as a
new woman, yogi, and teacher, abundant with senses adventure, msytery, and love. After graduating with a dual degree in Social Studies and Education from a state school in Mobile, AL last December, I knew I did not want to stay in the Southeastern United States for the rest of my life. In all actuality, that is the only certainty I've had since 7 years old. <br />
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The wind, always chuckling with ironic turns, pulled me from my path of attending Naropa University in Boulder, CO this fall. I was planning to study Indo-Tibetan Buddhism- a philosophy forever close to my heart, but never closer than when I was in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India, earlier this year. This beautiful Himalayan town is rich with history and enchantment, and ignited a deep interest in Buddhist thought, history, and religion. <br />
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That wind, a force sometimes sweet or forceful, but always steady, bumped me right into a man who would change the course of my life drastically. I was temping at a magnet middle school here in Alabama's "city by the bay" when I met G. G's daytime job is a traveling gifted educator, but his unofficial post remains as a recruiter for the Mobile Ichihara Sister City Association (MISCA). Every 3 years (now 2) Mobile, AL sends someone to Ichihara, Chiba, Japan, to act as a cultural representative of Mobile, AL and to assist teaching middle school students English. When asked if I'd like to take this wonderful opportunity, all my dreams of traveling the world and teaching abroad resurfaced, as if seeds planted and never watered could grow. This would forever be my one regret if I was scared enough to say no. <br />
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So I said yes, and in two weeks I'm leaping to LA, then Tokyo, and landing in Ichihara, an hour outside of Tokyo across the beautiful bay. For many years I've loathed Mobile, Alabama, and all they've stood for. It has not been until the past 2-3 years that I've grown to appreciate the beauty, culture, and history that this locale maintains, and all that I maintain within it. THIS is my home, for better or worse, and I see people everyday striving to make it a city they want to live in.
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I remember my roots as I earn my wings, and fly around the world to someone else's city by the bay. A sister city, mind you, with shipping and refinery infrastructure, baydwelling sentient beings, and soon, a traveling yogi, eager to begin an adventerous chapter. Funny too, that my desire to dive deeper into Buddhist philosophy takes me to the Zen capital of the world.
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It is my intention to become a soldier of peace. In teaching, practicing, and living, I will seek truth, knowledge, and wisdom. I want to experience, as yoga teaches us, that service is its own reward.
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"Truth is like a vast tree, which yields more and more fruit, the more your nurture it. The deeper the search in the mine of truth, the richer the discovery of the gem burried there, in the shape of openings or an even greater variety of service."
-Ghandi
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In peace and service,<br />
Leah</div>
Leah DiVincenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07139483894552794876noreply@blogger.com0