Recommendation #4: 祭 (ma tsu ri)

A while back, I attended a yukata matsuri (yukata festival) with some new friends.  This was held at Hiroshima University and all the food, activities, and performances were organized by the student body.  I only had to pay for food and all the activities and performances were free.  I had a great time with my English Education major friends. 

We first walked around and ate different types of festival food.

 Then watched some performances by a student rock band.

And some crazy lady.

Everyone was very supportive and cheered. 

We also tried out calligraphy!

She wrote "Teach English"

We also went to Satake Memorial Hall to watch the Hiroshima University Orchestra. 

They made an entire skit for their program.  The conductors dressed up as characters from Princess Mononoke and also a dinosaur costume to go with Jurassic Park. 

Hiroshima University Saijo Campus is beautiful.  It actually reminded me a bit of IU.

This lake is right by the music hall.  Gorgeous.

It was really fun trying new food and playing many Japanese traditional games like kendama.  I also saw many men who cross dressed in girl yukatas.  They had an anime club and hand crafts booth. 
Of course the festivals are different depending on different schools (middle school, high school, and college), communities, cities, towns, etc.  However, many of the tradition remains as far as enjoyment, food, music, art, games, and fireworks. 

...And I couldn't help myself, but I just HAD to take a picture with this guy.

Sea Cucumber Dance

I know you're not supposed to have favorites...but if I could, I would bring my first year students back to the US with me.  No matter how tired I am, I always leave that class with a smile. 

This week we practiced:

- Do you like...?
- Do you play...?
- Do you have...?
- Do you want...?

All forty students get to fill in the blank with whatever they want.  Then they get to interview the three English teachers in the classroom.  I have created a list of best questions asked by my students.  If you ever feel like you're having a bad day, just read these and imagine the brightest, happiest, most curious forty 7th graders asking them in your face!!!

1) Do you like hair!?!?!  (kind of?)
2) Do you want a wig???  (hahah, sure.)
3) Do you have a pig?  (a pig?.. no.)
4) Do you like our school and students?  (dawhhhhhhhhh)
5) Do you have a country?  (right, I own a country...)
6) Do you want a conga?  (YES!)
7) Do you like snail?  (to eat?  oh, you meant just liking them, then sure.)
8) Do you want a Christmas tree?  (I mean, it's summer, but okay!)
9) Do you want a hand?  (and yes, they meant the actual physical hand)
10) Do you want a helicoptor?  (that'd be cool)
11) Do you want a dog?  (YES!!!  Of course!)
12) Do you play the Sea Cucumber Dance?!?  (What?!)
13) Do you like Sea Cucumber???  (What?!)
14) Do you have Sea Cucumber???  (What?!)
15) Do you want a Sea Cucumber?????  (loool.  What?!?!?)

At the end of the class, they always greet good bye to all three teachers. 
"Good bye Mr. Yamasaki, Mr. Malachy, annnd.-  MS. -- CHOOOOOO!!!!!"

Cute.

I really don't know why they scream my name, but I like it.  :)
And yes, my last name in Japan's kanji character is pronounced "Cho".  So students here call me 'Cho Sensei'.  not..."Ms. Journ"   ;)    Sorry for any confusion to my US friends.   :P

Also, I have NO IDEA what the sea cucumber dance is. 

Recommendation #3: 書道 (shodou)

書道, is Japanese calligraphy. 

I had the chance to try it out with the help of Hamaoka sensei.  Not only so, she taught me so much about ancient Japanese history and culture.  She is the Japanese language teacher at Shinonome Junior High School, so she teaches ancient and modern literature. 

She first brought out the ink and brush set.

Then we wrote a summer haiku from a book.

Hamaoka sensei's beautiful work.

Here is my "Shinonome"

It was very difficult, but also very rewarding.  There is a sense of calmness and relaxation when you take time to write something beautifully.  It also forces you to think more deeply about each stroke, the meaning behind each word, the structure of the context, and the state of mind. 

Hamaoka sensei told me that Japanese love haiku because it is telling a deep story in a short form.  Not only so, it uses the 5-7-5 form.  Why is it 5-7-5?  Apparently, most words in the Japanese language are in 2s, 3s, and 5s.  Therefore, it works perfectly for a haiku form. 

My very own haiku!

Ko n ni chi wa (hello)

Mat tt cha ga su ki yo (I like matcha)

O n ga ku mo (music too)

Not the best of my works, but surely a good start!   :)