Where to start.
It's 10pm and stinking hot. I'm not going to tell you that I'm sitting here in my underwear writing this as that'll give you imagery that you will probably fine unpleasant!
The last few days have been fantastic. Really beginning to enjoy myself. I can't tend to order the right amount for meals, so there has been more than a few occasions when I've come away from a restaurant more than a bit concerned for my health. Sunday or Sat are definitely necessary not to study too hard, need the reset. I have a 30 words a day goal, which realistically is more like 20 which is still good, though constant revision is necessary. Meeting lots of great people. Between broken English and Japanese, we get there.
Loving it. Love the pace, love learning, but most of all, I can't get past the people. Everyone in the class is great, serious fun. I could quite happily stay here with them all for the full year (but i would stay at a different apartment to the one now, thinking of changing anyway). Also because we have all started together, all going places together and all so it really is a good scene. I'm a bit disheartened about that its probably only going to be for another 8-9 weeks, but well see (may see about extending it if it works with the plans in Sendai). I'm really learning the value of making the most of time without dwelling on 'the end'. It's daft to do so. Make the most of, and value the time to its fullest with those around you. I'm thinking that that also reflects the value you place on those people. Otherwise you end up dulling the time your having now.
Been around looking at different Jewellery stores. Most are ok with some nice pieces, but a couple has some good work. It's about the back streets it seems. There's seems to be very little middle ground. It's either mass produced, or craft. Though one exception so far.
Anyway, getting on with it.
Two Saturdays ago, we had a 'meet Japanese students' karaoke night, seriously seriously awesome. Unbelievable. The Japanese people are great. They really get into it, really refreshing after nz karaoke,'to cool for school' types or the 'I dont do that', which I am fully the worst person in the world at, that I am. So seeing all these people just going for it 1,2,3,4,5,9 people at a time, dancing, yelling and singing along etc, was real refreshing. Great fun. There's this Aussie guy called Jeremy, who is possibly the funniest man in the world, who started it off doing a Japanese song, in Japanese, brilliant. The swedes all did a couple of songs, which rates as some of the most awesome karaoke ever (wish I could remember the names of the songs!). It's actually cooler, I think, because of the number of different cultural songs, so you end up with a great cross section of culture over the night, which you can't help but appreciate and enjoy. Japanese pop, Korean pop, your English classics, European songs etc, awesome. One of the guys from class got a couple of us to do bob marlys 'no woman no cry' , loads of fun, though I wish I could sing, but fun never the less lol. Following the karaoke, we were all off to a bar, which ended up being too small. The group segmented and I ended up with one of the swede guys (a good chap) and about 7 Japanese guys and girls, who took us to a great shoes off bar, off a back street off a back street. I rate the time as possibly some of the most special in life. Sounds OTT. Really does, but I can't begin to describe the appreciation I felt by being so well looked after, so selflessly by them (who weren't the karaoke hosts or anything, and around 18-20 years old. I remember what I was like then). Great conversations about nz, Japan, dreams, futures, and governments. The language barrier made it all the more fun, it's not a problem, their English was very good, and for the parts we can't get across, just makes it more enjoyable. I learnt allot about good society and people that night, and feel quite humbled. Ran home from town at 2 in the morning as I had no money for cab. Jeans, flat shoes, and long sleeve. 4km, raining, seriously awesome, perfect end to already great night (running + nighttime + rain = perfect (seriously, you should try it)).
Awesome moment on the Monday. On my way home, (seriously cool, you'll be walking through a very narrow side street of modern tight space living, then suddenly, immaculate temple, then apartments, then another immaculate temple, with perfect zen gardens and all), anyway, I digress. So yea walking, walked passed this store and casual glanced inside and was like, oh yea, another day I'll check it out. Carried on, then felt compelled to go back. So back I go and it turns out on this back street off a back street to be the Japanese equivalent of trade aid store. Looked though, it was the first time in japan that I have been genuinely practically creatively inspired. The first thing that got me was the music. Japanese folk music!! Brilliant!! I thought, "I can't speak Japanese, but I am going to find out who this is!" So carried on looking through the store, decided it was the appropriate place for me to buy the pokey jar (see Facebook pictures). A very understated style cup. Really hit home in realities of beauty, it's refined nature. Kept looking around. Then thought to myself that I kind of recognized the tune playing (about the 3rd song on since entering of same artist, Japanese women singing in Japanese, similar to maybe some American folk). Singing in Japanese for the verses, I was intrigued. Chorus came to, in English, No women no cry. Reminded so much of Saturday night and how special the times were. I asked the lady about it, and they had the cd on sale. so I bought and look forward to being able to listen to it in six months time (iPads can't play CDs it seems). Lmao!!
Last Saturday, alot of the people for the course went to a bar to meet a lot of Japanese people, organized by our teacher, Ueda Sense (30), possibly the most awesome guy in the world, he plays tennis. Hope to have a hit with him. He's a very kind and unassuming guy, and a brilliant teacher. A Good night. Talked to allot of people. (I think I'm going stop telling people I'm a Jeweller. From now on, I'm Ash, the Spring Maker!). Live music. Bumped into the guitarist and saxophonist at the bar whilst getting my one whisky of the night, and talked to them for about 1 hour. Seriously the most awesome guys on the planet. Have a bucket load of music to check out, can't wait. From what they were saying, it sounds like the same story in the music scene in Japan to the jewellery scene (small middle ground). After that, we were all meant to go to another bar, but again, segment group, ending up with 3 Japanese girls, one Japanese guy, all the swedes (about 7 of them) and myself. The Japanese guy took us all to this extremely classy shoes off restaurant with sliding walls, personal service, and our own room. Unless you knew it was there, you would never find it. Another fantastic night (it like a disease here, every time you go out its like, 'Oh dam it, its going to be fantastic again, erhh'). Cant undervalue the great times with great people. It was humbling again seeing how well we are looked after. I'm stunned at how much Japanese people go out of their way to look after you. I hope to learn from this attitude, it's not to be undervalued. Another very late night walking home from miles away at some ridiculous hour.
This week is Golden Week in Japan, basically a weeks holiday over the entire country. Which means bucket loads of people coming to Kyoto. If you think the number of people walking around Queen St at rush hour is bad, it's a human sea here lol, no actually, it's not bad. Or maybe I'm used to it... But it is a great vibe. Been having random conversations with Japanese tourists at restaurants and what not. Some Japanese people actually asked me for directions!! And it was rad actually being able to help.
Yesterday, caught up with some people from kendo that live here at the 7 dan grading (takes at least 21 years of training to get to that level). Fantastic to seem them again, despite the disappointment of an unsuccessful grading. Was amazing seeing so many kendoka's of this level going for it (the average percentage of people that pass is less than 20% on a good day). More people of this level in one room, that every person who does any kendo in nz. Awesome.
A fantastic day today. We as a class went tramping up daigakugin mountain. Fully beautiful. Funnily enough, looking at it from afar, I was like, it's a hill, not a mountain. But when you get up there, (abt 1hour) it's actually pretty darn high (serves me right, it would seem I'm a slow learner and i look forward to losing this quick fire thoughts i have). Awesome views of Kyoto, then a bit further on, views of Kyoto (Nara too?) and Osaka. Truly fantastic. Worth every second. I'm intending on going back to see it all again. The bush made me feel very much at home. No ferns or the 'wet' feel of nz forests, but home. Interesting also seeing it with the history of 1000 years. All the way through, despite being bush, you can see the history. Channels made eons ago, dug out for rivers and creeks, steps cut into the land, etc etc. and all done in a very tasteful and unhindering of the feel that nature gives (Something things that there would be riots over if done in nz, though that's half the beauty I think - different cultural's ways of expressing through their environment). It's interesting looking into the way they have done it. Its feels like a effortless mixture of both nature and cultural that creates a special serenity to the environment. You would think that all the human 'interference' would destroy the effect, but it really doesn't. The Japanese seem to have an instinctive way of making it work, a delicate balance. It is truly beautiful. I've taken loads and loads of pics, but quite frankly, they don't do it any justice what so ever. Dare I be blunt, but I would say that 96% of the photos value to me is the memory of the people I was with, and the time we had. How fortunate and blessed i feel to be here is indescribable (unless your Debussy or something). Spent the entire day walking, would of covered at least 10 km, but myself I would say 20km, as I had the intelligence to walk home, most of the way with a chap named Paul from class (which was awesome, great conversations, without a doubt worth the walk). The mountain part of the walk was about 4hrs, - 1 hr for lunch. Then walking to other temples - seriously no shortage of them, but everyone of them done to excellence, with that instinctive execution and balance. On that note, I've been giving lots of thought to Japanese design aesthetics, and at this point I'm think the magic comes from an incredible subtle balance of contrast, be it in shape, size, colour or proportion. Sometimes the size is huge, yet the colors that are used in the different parts of the structure tie it into its environment, whilst it retaining its own beauty and intrigue. Sometimes the colors and size punch the structure out so bluntly that it can't help but be admired amongst the green backdrop. But anyway I digress. After walking around a couple of neighboring temples we all split of to go to our homes at maybe around 4. To be honest, I can't remember exactly when we split up, only that I got back home at about 7, having walked past many a place that I will return to in the next few weeks. There are many spots that are perfect for sitting in reflection, doing some drawing, a picnic, or if it strikes your fancy, maybe some planking.
So yea. Thats about it.
Place of everything future, far future, inpiration, and how it'll all fit together, I have little idea. But I feel quite at peace about it. I look forward to seeing how it all comes together.
Talk soon!!
Kiwo Tsukete!!
Ash person
Location:Kyoto,Japan
