Tea Ceremony

Some of the tea ceremony students and members of the University club.







On Wednesday afternoon, we were treated to another traditional Japanese experience, the tea ceremony. It turns out that this university has several clubs, one of which practices the centuries old discipline of serving tea. When I lived in Wakayama, I remember hearing about the extremely refined motions and significance of every gesture in the ceremony, but never was able to experience it myself. So I was super excited to go through the ceremony for the first time in Sapporo with my classmates. Because the master and her students of the club were primarily fluent in Japanese, we were thankfully taken to the club by our new friends Tomo and Eriko, who translated all of the details of the ceremony for us. (arigatou!)



Tomo and Eriko enjoying a drink!



Our class, looking our finest, aka before our legs hurt!



I think that both Tomo and Eriko were also relatively new to participating in the tea ceremony , and were excited like us to learn about its intricate details. I'm writing this on Saturday, but my legs still hurt from having to sit in the traditional - and expected - position of having one's legs underneath the body. This sitting position is brutally difficult to maintain for me, so I made sure to post a picture of when I could actually sit correctly! Special thanks to Eriko for taking most of these photos

The parts of the ceremony which I remember include:

1. The careful and deliberate actions of the tea server in preparing the tea.

2. The deliberate rotating and positioning of the cup of tea by us, the recipients.

3. The step of observing and appreciating the artwork of the teacup itself. (pictures included)

4. The bowing at several key stages to thank the server for bringing the tea, and for taking the empty cup away.

5. The deliberate slurping to signify having finished one's drink.

If I've forgotten anything, hopefully my classmates can fill in the blanks! :-)

Each of us had a different cup, from a different maker, with a different design.

Photos!

Some of us have been having trouble loading photos to accompany our posts, so I thought I would share some. The first two are of our first of two welcome parties (they are very welcoming here). The rest of the photos are of our excursion into downtown Sapporo, through Odori park, and into Marayuma Park, where we visited a Shinto shrine and saw cherry blossoms. More photos to come!

Last night with Hono, my `sister` was truly amazing and I want to share it with you...

I have been teaching Hono English. She is seven and English is not taught formally in school until students are 12 or so. Each night she asks me to read a story or what something is called in English..I tell her and she will usually reply by pointing at an object and saying `Nihongo onigaishimas. Dore wa nandesko?` (Japanese please. What is this?)..Last night I came into the living room and saw Hono working away...I walk over to the table and she gestures me to come and sit with her. I do. I see that she has written the numerals `one` and `two` on a piece of paper along with the corresponding hiragana for each. She motions to me to trace over her hiragana...

I am Canadian and because of this I form letters with downward strokes first and then horizontal. Hono was not impressed that I did my hragana this way. She labeled which line was to be done first and the order to follow...I re-did my hiragana and passed her test. I wrote, on the bottom of the page `one, two` in dotted lines for her to trace..she saw them, looked at me and fake yawned saying `sleepy`...it was only quarter past 8...she still had daytime clothes on. I said `I traced, you do too`...so finally the seven year old did.

Once she had finished, she flipped that paper over and wrote A LOT of hiragana characters on the back. She then labeled the order to which each character MUST be written, looked at me and said `your turn`...we both burst out laughing. I pointed to her and said `Nihongo Sensei`..she pointed back saying `English Teacher`...more giggles followed...

I am thankful for this experience for the leaning that ensues. I love my evenings teaching English and in return learning Japanese...Without this experience I would not have met a sweet little girl who has a caring mum...nor would I have been smiling through slight jet lag :)

Was that complexity theory?

At the school visit of Takuhoku Elementary school, we spent a few minutes watching a sports lesson on the school's outdoor field/practice area. What made the lesson unique for me was watching the teacher(s). Instead of having the adult teachers run the class, the students were divided into groups, and led by a student from an older year. This leader had already learned the game they were about to play, and it was her/his responsibility to teach the rules to his/her entire team. We left shortly after, but were told that the students would later compete in friendly competition with what they had learned. Implied in this style of instruction is the desire to win, so each teacher and group must try their best to learn and to listen to the instructions of how to play the game.
Anyways, this all reminds me of Dr. Towers' seminar class, where she introduced complexity theory to us. At the time it sounded very strange, and perhaps I'm misunderstood what she was talking about. However, it certainly reminded me of what I saw yesterday, and gave me serious reason to think about using this strategy with students of my own. I'll post a few pictures later; I didn't bring my camera to this school, but will ask to borrow some from my classmates.

Today was a very interesting day here is Japan. My fellow students and myself visited a elementary school. We taught a English song to 90 grade six students and had a tour of the school. I am really happy with how our song and story went over, the students played along and sang the song. After the lesson we taught there was a time for questions from the students, the questions started off slowly with only a small amount of students asking, after a few warm up questions the students became more comfortable and started to ask us about Canada and if we had heard of famous Japanese singers and celebrities. They had a real desire to know more about Canada and also to know what Canadians think about them and their country. They asked us if we had heard about the earthquake they had in Japan, it really made it clear to me that the information we heard about the disaster being in the north of Japan was false. We are in the north of Japan and the disaster was 700 km away from here. The students and staff of the school were very warm and welcoming to all of us Canadian visitors and it made us feel at home.

Jon

Learning Japanese, all over again!

Wow, today was a tough one! lol I thought that I had gotten used to the idea of attending a university, but today was a tough reminder of how demanding the life of a student can be. We started off the day - our first day at the Hokkaido University of Education - by going through our schedule, followed by a tour of the campus. Summarizing our weeks of school visits and lesson plans was difficult, since many of the details of our trips have yet to be ironed out. It was a welcome sight to see the student cafeteria, and not just for the fantastic prices. I had a curryrice dish that was literally served in a gigantic squarish plate; the way every student would hope! ^^ I forget the exact price, but it was something that would make any uni student smile, and the atmosphere of happy university students is something I always enjoy.

After lunch, we began the real work of tweaking our lesson plans for a 20 minute joint taught class that we will give tomorrow at Takuhoku Elementary School. Instead of our more lengthy plans, we will likely teach a short song, followed by a story about Canada's weather and geography. Or something like that. Sylvia's got the books, so I'm kinda talking about something I don't really know. . . lol For me, the really grueling part of the day then began, as we settled into our first Japanese language lesson. Because Sylvia and I are already able to read and write basic kana characters, we worked together on a different lesson than Jon and Allison, who were whisked into another classroom. They can speak about their experience, and likely will, but I can definitely say that it was extremely difficult to try and operate in Japanese for two full hours. Our teacher, Mrs. Onishi (sorry about the spelling) is fantastic, and thinking of her teaching style makes me want to dedicate another entire blog entry to education, and the University of Calgary's curriculum of 'inquiry' for education undergraduates. The quickest thing I could say right now is that Dr. Field's mention of 'N+1'as an effective approach to literacy is a perfect description of what took place for me this afternoon. Actually, I will write an entire blog entry about this, but not today. But I will say that this experience will add a lot to my understanding of effective teaching strategies, and in my own understanding of what a student of mine is likely to go through in order to learn literacy in any language.



My favorite Japanese street food. Takoyaki , aka , octopus balls!



What a fantastic end to a two and a half hour Uno game!! :-)

Yesterday, as Allison mentioned, we also went to Hanami, the cherry blossom viewing festival. A new friend from the University took us downtown to the Maruyama park, where we ate takoyaki and took pictures. Here are two of my favorite pictures. Oh!, and I lost at a game of Uno to my host family's father, who must have been cheating! lol I mean really, who picks up seven 6-cards in a row! :-)

The walkway up to the jinja (shrine)

Cherry Blossom Festival

So it is day 2 of the exchange and I have to say that I am whole hertedly enjoying my time (and the fact that jet lag didnt hit as hard as I had anticipated). I am in a homestay in Ainosato with a mum Rie and her daughter Honoka. Rie speaks English and Honoka learns with me each night. It is cool because as I teach her English, she tries to help me with Japanese...

We have had a very sincere welcome beginning with a group of Hokkaido Uni of Education students greeting us at the airport, having two seperate welcome parties so far and the care of our home stay`s.

Yesterday we met other exchange students who have been living in Hokkaido for 6months to a year now and were invited to go out with them. They took us downtown Sapporo to the cherry blossom festival...I was instantly awe struck when we reached the park...although we are at theend of cherry blossom season, there were still blossoms everywhere. I took so many photos that my camera died and took over Jon`s... :) he didnt mind...

We walked through the first park and eventually happened upon the second which was even more intriuging than the first...there were trees everywhere: this park was like a forest in the middle of the city. When we got a little further into the park there was a small pathway leading up the hilly terrain...along the sides of the pathway there were vendors similar to ones that are seen on the midway of stampede...

As we reached the top a peak began to appear that was not part of the environment, it was a Shinto shrine. Before we could go up to the shrine we had to wash in a special basin in a specific order:
fill the cup with water from the basin, wash your right hand by itself
fill the cup and switch the cup from left hand to right
was your left hand independant of the right
dip cup once agan and tip cup so that the ater can run down the long handle of the cup onto your hand
place cup back on holder
do not wipe water from hands, allow to dry naturally (unfortunately for us it was very cold and windy out...and the water was not warm either...)

We then walked up to the shrine. One by one, or in pairs, we walked up to the main gates and thre a 500yen coin into a wooden box with slits in the top. You then bow twice, clap twice, turn and leave...really wonderful experience...

I was so thankful to our new friends John, Christie and Alex for our amazing day...it was a once in a lifetime opportunity...

I apologize if my spelling is `off` or if my words run together...I cannot get internet on my computer and am not used to this keyboard that wants to continually turns my words into Japanese characters....

Arrival in Sapporo

The four of us, moments before leaving for China, Japan, and adventure!

After a few flights, and good times in several airports, we have finally made it to Hokkaido. It looks like I may be the first to write about our arrival, and I won't hesistate to use the spare minutes I have been placed in a homestay with four children, all under the age of 12! :-) This family is so funny and energetic, I know that I'm going to enjoy my time here. The youngest daughter, Sumide, has already taken me on as her full-time Japanese language student, and I have learned a lot. Despite the fact that she is only five years old, I find the lessons very challenging, and I have difficulty taking her teaching style seriously, since she often cries for no reason! lol Just kidding! But seriously, the Sato children are really amazing kids.

Last night, I was treated to a delicious homemade okonomiyaki. This is probably one of my favourite Japanese foods, and the reason I was treated to it. Right now, it's 9am in Sapporo, and I just finished a fantastic breakfast of egg, miso and rice. What really took it to the next level - and something I had for the first time - was mashed daikon radish and soy sauce. As simple as it sounds,this combination is really delicious, and incredibly easy to make. So I'll probably be making this in the future in Canada! hahahahaha

Cherry Blossoms さくら

One of my professors this year was Dr. Jim Field. When I mentioned to him that the four of us were both heading to Hokkaido for this exchange, he immediately lit up with suggestions and feedback. When this inter-university relationship was first established, Dr. Field was involved in the process, and has made the trip to Sapporo in past years.

The reason I write about it now is that he reminded me of the cherry blossom season, which we will get to witness. It turns out that Golden Week (an important series of Japanese national holidays) - and our subsequent arrival - are closely timed to the blooming of the cherry trees throughout Japan. Because Sapporo is on the Northernmost island of Hokkaido, this means that we will arrive at the absolute peak of cherry blossom viewing! ^^

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

This website shows the general weather and cherry blossom schedule for the entire country, which is quite delayed in the case of Hokkaido. Other cities have already seen their trees blossom, and the petals have long since fallen. On this japan-guide website, you can see the various parties around the country, as well as the fantastic scenic spots around castles and temples where these trees are usually planted.

The festival that coincides with these blossoms - hanami - is fantastic, and something I hope we also get to experience. Beautiful weather, drinking and eating under the flowering trees is unforgettable, and yet one more thing I'm looking forward to!!!!

I guess I can't speak for everyone but, I am going to leap out onto the limb of arrogance in saying how EXTREMELY excited we are becoming for our adventure. I'll admit that, for me, nerves have also played a role the last week or so. I was writing out my "must have" list and "what to remember to put in my suitcase" when I leave but, having this be my first experience abroad, I thought I would maybe call for some help. Does anyone have must have suggestions or tips for the four of us that will help us fully experience Japan?

I have been doing some research into culture, customs and what all "tourist types" must do and have to say that I am pretty excited for outdoor, public bath houses...

. As naive as this may sound, they look as though they will have a similar feeling as Radium or Fairmont does(I may be kicking myself for saying that as soon as I experience them I'm sure...). Growing up my family and I would go camping at this site near Fairmont and I can remember being SO excited to go to the hot springs for a few hours-warm, relaxing and scenic...I cannot wait to bring back unforgettable moments similar to this from Japanese bath houses...

Another thing that I am excited for is the food! Sushi is a big part of family get-together's for my family. It was always present at dinners and special occasions...I am still a little unsure of sashimi however, I am looking forward to giving it another chance. I bet it tastes a lot better in Japan than it does in Airdrie :)