Hello world!!! It's been quite a while since you've been updated. It's been just over a month and that sounds like a good time to catch up!
In the beginning and middle of January I had to say goodbye to some exchange friends who started their year abroad last spring. The first ones to go were two friends from Germany.
Mizuho (Nuredin's host sister. She came to MN two years ago with AFS), Nuredin (German, tall, afro), Mika (Rotary, Ohio), yours truly, and Nuredin's host father. Nuredin's host brother was actually in Germany at this time scouting a dance school.
Of course, Peanut (the hat) had to be worn before going home.
Wiebke was also going home to Germany on the same flight.
The last view of the Germans as they departed. So long!
The following weekend was an even harder goodbye because it was for another Rotary student. Jaimee from Australia went home. She had been here since last January. Not only do Australians talk backwards but they switched the time of international exchanges.
Exchange students! Left to right: Talithat (Indonesia), JAIMEE (Australia), that kid, Mika (Ohio).
It was a hard goodbye. Some school friends came and said goodbye as well as all of her host families.
Jaimee's school friends!
Heading out! 寂しい！！！
I guess that sadness didn't last for long because is soon found fun in this.
I had the opportunity to practice my pottery at a local artists house. It was very fun and it was my first time using brown clay! My teacher has her very own kiln in a small shed that she fires up every couple months. I made a couple bowls, cups and plate!
A classmate of mine and I went out together to a large arcade. There were all sorts of sporting options. You could play mini-golf, soccer, basketball, roller-skate, ping-pong, or bowl. It was very impressive!
Here's a bunch of goldfish that were part of a game at a festival. I can't remember what that festival was for though...the Japanese like to celebrate quite a bit. I'm not complaining though! It provides a great source of delicious food and culture education!
A yummy last dinner at Michimoto-san's house. It was great staying there! I had a fun time and there were many fun events that happened in his studio.
My current host family owns a traditional Japanese inn in southern Kawachinagano. It's pretty much as far south as you can get and still be in Osaka. I love it. There are international guests that stay there every night.
This is my current room. The floor is all traditional tatami and my bed is a futon. The doors and windows all have paper shutters and the table is quite interesting to sit at for long periods of time.
The inn from outside! It's 100 years old and it used to belong to one of the train companies in Osaka. After there was a big flood it was taken apart and moved to Amami, Kawachinagano, a small suburb of Kawachinagano. It was designed by the same architect that built Tokyo station. It is also built of all wood. that includes every nail.
The name of the inn (南天苑, Nantenen) comes from this plant with the red berries. The bush is scattered all over Nantenen's grounds and is bright red throughout the winter.
There are a couple party rooms that can be rented out for various events. This one is in a separate building right next to the small river that runs through Amami.
There is a very extensive Japanese garden that wraps around most of the inn and is very well taken care of.
The view from my room.
I was invited to go watch an exchange student Japanese speech competition with the Akegami family. Hiroko (left) came to Minnesota last year and her sister (Shiho) has spent time in Colorado. They hosted my friend Kiana from Northfield for a large portion of her exchange last year. They also hosted Jaimee from Australia. The entire family speaks incredible English and love all things international.
Talitha and I enjoyed listening to straight Japanese for a couple hours.
All the participants. Most are YFU, AFS or Rotary exchange students. The winners were all AFS students from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
I was able to see my friend Kou from Minnesota. I flew to Japan with him six months ago and hadn't seen him since.
Erika also spoke. She is from Mexico and in my Rotary district.
This is one of the tallest buildings in Osaka. In English it's known as the Floating Garden.
The competition was held at the best school in Osaka. Apparently the current mayor went there so there could have some hook ups...
The express train to Koyasan.
Here's a picture that's long over due from Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu. My senseis are on the far left and the far right. The two guys to the right of me are from an aikidou doujo. The one on the right actually lives in Texas and was in Japan on business and to visit family.
There was a fundraiser held for the Philippines with a lot of dancing and singing as well of tons of international food. It was absolutely delicious! I went with quite a few international friends and some Japanese ones.
This two goofs are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The one on the left is from Mexico and the one on the right is from Utah. They're both 19 and had both completed a year of college when they decided to become missionaries. They get moved around every couple of months to a different location. They are both in Japan for two years and both started last year in September.
This is my friend Aina from Spain. She is living in Japan for about six months with her grandparents and she will be attending school at Nagano High School for a couple of months.
Michimoto-san had chopsticks made with my name on them! On one it has my name and on the other it says "The important person of Wesley". It looks like Annika and I have to eat a lot of Japanese food now!
English humor is not lost for the Japanese.
At the beginning of February, beans are thrown out the winter to get rid of bad luck. The action of throwing beans outside drives away the devil.
Next, a long sushi is eaten while facing a certain direction. Every year the direction changes. This year the direction was 60 degrees or E-NE with a little bit more East thrown in there. Doing this is said to bring happiness.
Otousan (my host father (Kazuhiro Yamasaki)) let me come and watch him practice Iaidou. It is the art of the katana. There is no fighting. It is all about being smooth and doing the moves the correct order. It looks very beautiful when it is being done.
There were snow flurries!
Every year, the first years of Nagano High School take a trip up Mount Iwawaki. It is quite an impressive feat that the school can do that. I've tried to imagine that happening in the US and I just can't. It was very impressive that all 300 students got out there. The other amazing thing is that the students did not have to pay anything. They just had to be properly prepared. I suppose I should mention that this is in mid-February and this is a mountain which is 898 meters (2946 feet) tall.
This is half of the school. Luckily we spread out pretty quickly and get some space between us.
It was pretty warm on the way up!
We were split up into groups of four or five people. Go team!
The top!
Back at the bottom waiting for the bus.
A yummy snack that Okaasan (Host mother (Yukiko Yamasaki)) gave me from Kyoto.
Mount Iwawaki in the morning!
Rotary took all of the inbound, outbound, and former exchange students on a trip the Ise Shrine in Mie prefecture. It was a little over two hours to get there by express train, but it was worth it! Ise shrine is the center of Shintoism in Japan. It is were Shintoism originates from which means that is a place that all Japanese want to visit atleast once in their life. As the Japanese put it, it is a place that is the home of many gods.
Cleansing the hands and mouths.
Every twenty years a new shrine is built to replace the most important one. Last year was the year of a new shrine, so tons of people are visiting right now.
Trees in Japan are very special, so you see a lot of old-growth. Many of the smaller trees in Ise-shrine are around 300 years old with many giants much older. I think we may have seen some one to two thousand year old trees.
A guy with his hair cut like a samurai
Lunch! Very traditional with sashimi, grilled fish, and miso.
This car is small even by Japanese standards...
One of the clearest rivers in Japan. Many people wear 50 yen coins on necklaces for good luck. They are dipped in this river for even more.
Twins!!!
The tallest and shortest people in Rotary! Chiharu went to Prior Lake High School in Minnesota.
Many of the steps leading up to the shrine buildings were made of this beautiful stone. Hey mom, ask Mary what this is!
It was a little crowded...
In the tourist section of Ise, all the buldings are in the old-fashioned style. Even the convenience stores!
A good view at the inside of a traditional wall around a house.
This is one of the most sacred hills in Ise. I'm not exactly sure why, though...
The first big of actual snow!!!
I found Momoka's name tag! I am staying with her family her in Osaka while she is back home in Minnesota.
A friend of mine and his home-made Viking-man suite. This is from a cartoon based on bread superheros. I think that is all the explanation that is kneaded.
A bit of home!!!
Harukasu, the tallest building in Osaka.
Japanese Kit-Kats come in all different flavors. These are green tea, black tea, pudding, and cookie flavored
Someone likes their winter biking.
Takoyaki!!!
The takoyaki stand had very amusing music blaring.
Karaoke
A look at Japanese money. This is all of the lower amounts of money. The 1000 yen bill is about equal to 10 American dollars.
Here's a better look at the coins. With current exchange rate the 1 yen is about equal to 1 cent which buts them about equal to each other.
It snowed a lot! This is a massive amount of snow for western Japan. Most of Japan freaked out at this because there is no real way for them to take care of it on the roads. There are front-loaders, but no trucks in the lower altitudes. Many trains were delayed and the streets were crazy empty.
Can't forget your umbrella when it snows!
English teachers and their extra buckets....
Snowball fight!
Kind of fun having tropical trees in snow.
VERY few cars. It was an excellent time to walk.
Fancy Rotary Valentine's Dinner
So pretty in the snow!
I got to play with Nagano High School brass band in their final concert of the year!
There were a couple pop songs played.
This is a very popular song in Japan right now.
Now I'm caught up to a point where I can start referring to days! Yay!
On Sunday night, Nantenen hosted these two musicians that play the Shamisen. A Shamisen is a three stringed instrument that is played with a large pick. The sound it makes is very rhythmic and has a very cool beat. The two musicians that performed are the best in Osaka and usually perform in large concert halls. I was very lucky to see them up close. They perform at Nantenen once a year. It was incredible!
With the concert was an amazing array of food that was very traditional.
This is shrimp, fish, peas, tamanegi (scrambled eggs fried into a block), and a hazelnut cream block.
This is sashimi with Japanese radish, squid, and sea urchin.
Nabe is my favorite style of Japanese cooking and is boiling food in a certain liquid. This is milk nabe.
All the food going into the Nabe: beef, fish, mushrooms, tofu, chicken, oyster, shrimp, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, peppers, and leeks.
After the food is cooked, it is dipped in sauce. This night's had a tomato base.
The radish.
Tempura! Deep fried vegetables.
Otousan's hobby is flower arranging. He's really good at it! Every flower vase around the house is set in a particular way.
This is one of the party rooms all set up for the nights event.
My friend Helena visited Kawachinagano! She is on exchange in Sendai further north. Last year Hiroko stayed with her family in Minnesota. It was so much fun to see her! Yay! Minnesota party!
Saxaphone Sempai! The "Thumbs up" doesn't have meaning in Japan, so this became a "Wes" thing...
I'll leave you with this pretty bush from this morning. There was a light dusting of snow with made the Nanten berries even more colorful. I am loving my time here at Nantenen. It is absolutely wonderful. I have been very busy with school and clubs recently but now I have six weeks of vacation to talk some time to myself. That should mean more inciteful and numerous blogs!
Wes
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