Day 41: Feels like Japan

Last night I set my alarm for 5:50 am, since the kids were supposed to wake up at six o'clock. I was hoping to get up and ready before them, but instead I was awoken by a loud bell over the loudspeaker. The sound was ringing in my head and I think I was packing my bag before my feet even hit the floor. I was startled by the noise; I do not mind being woken up, but is the ridiculously loud bell necessary? It is safe to say I was awake, and we all met outside for our morning exercises. I still get a kick out of the morning exercise broadcasts. Warming up is nice in the morning, but the music and voices are just silly. Maybe that is the idea: make everyone smile under the morning sun. I sat with the students for breakfast, which was the same as my last trip here. The students cleaned the room and then presented their group projects from yesterday. Pachinko seems to be a common thing for the students to make. Some kids made Pachinko boards last time, but I think the students this time did a better job. During the free time this morning I tried out some of the Pachinko games and took pictures of some other good projects. Of course I also made some time for a game of tag outside. When I am "it" everyone runs from me. When one of the students is it, they all run after me. That just isn't fair.

Back at Notre Dame the Yamanoie trip was complete, but that didn't mean the activities for Saturday were over. I headed straight to the gym to help out with the Saturday activities. Usually they learn English and play games, but today was a special event: Mini Olympics. The kids are not yet Notre Dame students, but they probably will be in a year or two. They are so cute! I brought my whistle and helped run the soccer station with Hiruki and Yuma. All of the students were awarded medals during the final ceremony and then we all went downstairs for some food. I was looking forward to having pizza. We sat the kids down first and gave them their food, then we let the parents eat as well. Following lunch the kids had time to color in the art room. It was fun interacting with them. One boy clearly doesn't enjoy coloring and kept saying to me, "finished." His paper only had a spot of color on it. I picked up a crayon with his hand and said, "No. More color please." He tried to tell me he was done a couple more times, but perhaps just to see my reaction.

Today I missed the swimming training session with the fifth graders, so I went to the pool on my own. I actually swam 20 laps, which I later figured out is 500 meters. So, I only need to swim four times that far and I will be ready to swim in the sea! Mrs. Shinya picked me up when I was finished with my swim. We headed to a dance studio where Yumi and Yuki had a large group practice for their traditional Japanese dancing. It was fun to watch the women dance, especially Yumi and Yuki. The teacher was very kind to me. She had her best dancer perform a complicated dance for me, which was really neat. Tonight, all of the dancers and their families had dinner together at an Italian restaurant called Casa Bianca (No, not the pizza place on State Street in Madison, WI).

Each family introduced themselves and then they all asked me to say a few words. I spoke for about a minute, and then Mr. Shinya translated, "Domo arigato gozaimasu." He is a funny guy and seems to know how to get straight to the point. The meal was excellent, and the company was interesting as well. I was eating with the dancers, a Buddhist monk, three doctors, and their families. One of the Monk's daughters, Saioudai, was actually chosen for a special honor in Kyoto. Each May there is a festival in Kyoto known as the Aoi Matsuri, which is one of the three largest festivals. The highlight of the festival is a procession in which people animals and carriages are decorated with branches and leaves of the hollyhock. This procession focuses on the colors and costumes of the Heian court. The brightest and most beautiful girl in Kyoto is selected to wear the famous kimono of a court lady, and Saioudai was the girl chosen this year. The kimono is apparently very heavy and takes great skill to wear during the festival.

The Shinya's and I took a taxi to one of their favorite Japanese restaurants, Hamasaku, which is really close to the Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizudera Temple. We had some coffee, sweets, and relaxed in the nice atmosphere. They were playing jazz music upstairs and I looked through a book of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. The Shinya's thought his architecture was fascinating as well. Whenever it seems like a day is over here, there is always more waiting around the corner. The five of us walked through the Yasaka Shrine and were lucky to stumble upon dancers practicing for the Gion Matsura. Mr. Shinya knew some of the people, and the dancers let us take pictures with the famous Gion masks. I think I am lucky to have had such an experience. We walked all the way home, through the amazing Gion area. I have not seen much night life here, but the Gion area was booming with life. It is the most traditional area of Kyoto, as far as the appearance of the streets and houses. When I come back to Kyoto again I will be sure to experience the Gion area again on a weekend. I also hope to bring Lindsay and walk along the Kamo River as the couples here do. It is easy to feel that Gion is the heart and life of Kyoto today, just as it has been for centuries.

It is hard to put each day here into words. So much happens and there are so many things that I would like to put down in black and white. Unfortunately, the most amazing things I am not able to describe well: the spirit of Gion, the great personalities of the people, the joy of teaching the children, the rich culture saturating daily life, and the emptiness I will surely feel when I leave. I can only hope to hold on to it and experience it all again when I return to Kyoto.