Soccer Balls and Baby Names
Misako and I killed a few hours by visiting two less than ordinary shrines. The first, Shiramine, is dedicated to sports and was the birthplace of the ancient game of Kemari (8 people stand in a circle and kick a small ball from one to the other, not letting it fall to the ground). Each year the most famous of Japan's sportsmen and women journey to the shrine to pray for good fortune and success in their fields, often leaving souvenirs with the gods. Misako is picking up one of the balls used in the 2002 Football World Cup.
The second shrine, Seimei, is where parents take prospective names for their new babies to have one chosen by the priests. In Japan names can be lucky or unlucky, depending on the number of strokes that make up the character. Misako's name was selected from a list her parents took to the shrine. Although small, both shrines are extraordinarily famous in Japan.
30 03 06 - 06:08 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
The Girl is back in Town
Martin and Rach are back in town for his work, so it's a good excuse to go catch up over a beer.
30 03 06 - 05:54 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Dressing Up
Mi-chan goes retro!
30 03 06 - 05:51 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Sniffing Shin
I have never known anyone who can tell where a puncture is by sniffing the inner tube. Shin proved that he is the master of all that is pedal powered, by unscrewing, inspecting and concluding what was wrong with my bike tyre in a matter of minutes. Compare that to my disastrous attempt that saw me bending numerous spoons and blackening my entire body in oily grease over the course of two hours. Quite amusing to see him sniffing away, but for a man that is a serious cyclist enthusiast I don't scoff at his talent. After all this is the man that carries around spare inner tubes with him, just in case. Thanks Shin.
27 03 06 - 11:23 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Messing About By The River
In a couple of weeks it will be almost impossible to squeeze in a picnic under the cherry blossoms, as the hive mind of the Japanese compels them to drink themselves senseless under the colourful trees. But for now it was peaceful, messing about by the river. Seems like we were the first people in Kyoto to brave the cloudy March weather to slap some shrimp on the barbie.
26 03 06 - 09:59 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
The Grinning Komainu, Nishida-Sensei and The Philosophers Walk
All those extra blankets back in the drawers and T-shirts on, for Spring has come with something of a kick-ass vengeance. Clear skies, a forehead and nose well on their way to sunburn and my head rattling with the terrible jokes my boss told me (what sleeping animal do cars drive through? tunnel, for the Japanese rendition is toneru...to means pig and neru means to sleep... this is one of the better examples). I sat drinking iced coffee and eating waffles for breakfast, out on a verandah overlooking Ginkakuji with my old boss this morning. Nishida-san was not only my boss for three years, but a role model for how I feel a teacher should be. I hope that I turned out how he imagined.
For a lazy morning and afternoon we strolled along the Philosophers Walk, weaving in and out of the temples and shrines that nestle in the wooded hills of Higashiyama. I quite like this cheeky Komainu, who has a toothy grin and looks out of place in his sober surroundings.
Nice to reminisce, to remember why I came to Japan. Sad to know that the best job I will have had in Japan was also my first. Fun to joke and see that the wicked sense of humour in Nishida-san has only grown sharper.
25 03 06 - 11:52 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
You Love Humans!
Was going to write about my last day of work, about how screwed up I have been feeling this year, regrets, blah blah...but you know what, forget that...here is a speech from Buffy that pretty much sums up the way I feel about people most days.
ANYA: Well, I guess I was kinda new to being around humans before. But now I've seen a lot more, gotten to know people, seen what they're capable of and I guess I just realized how amazingly screwed up they all are. I mean, really, really screwed up in a monumental fashion.
ANDREW: Oh.
ANYA: And they have no purpose that unites them so they just drift around blundering through life until they die. Which they know is coming, yet every single one of them is surprised when it happens to them. They're incapable of thinking about what they want beyond the moment. They kill each other, which is clearly insane, and yet here's the thing. When it's something that really matters, they fight. I mean, they're lame morons for fighting, but they do. They never...they never quit. So I guess I will keep fighting, too.
ANDREW: That was kind of beautiful. You love humans.
ANYA: I do not!
ANDREW: Yes, you do. (sing-song) You love them.
24 03 06 - 07:03 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Market Day and the Vernal Equinox
Every 21st of the month is market day at Toji. Stalls crowd onto every inch of ground, flooding onto the sidewalk and up against the old temple buildings. The market day this month fell on a holiday to mark the start of Spring, so it was incredibly busy and almost impossible to squeeze through the masses of people bartering and gobbling down Japanese snacks. The photo gallery is not so interesting, though it shows the various wares on sale and how different European markets are from here. Seaweed, wooden flutes, tea utensils, pickles, calligraphy brushes, octopus in batter, old kimono, fish eggs, rice crackers, noodles, palm reading, fishing for goldfish, antiques, cinnamon sticks, yoghurt bread, paper masks, and endless other goods. Take a look at the gallery...Misako and Akko get down to some serious munching.
21 03 06 - 11:17 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Spam Attack!
Sweet Gentle Jesus, we are under attack from the most odious of pink pseudo-meat products...SPAM! If you pay any attention to the comments, you might of wondered how we have become the most popular site on the entire internet, but alas these evil people are not people at all, but a giant computer at Spam Headquarters. While Rhod battles the enemy, please ignore the comments and under no circumstances click on the links provided by the fake names. Thanks. The war continues...
20 03 06 - 06:17 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Jenga!
Better luck next time Akko!
19 03 06 - 07:38 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
The Gingerbread House
Gretel finds that the Witch isn't home. Misako and I spent a washed out Saturday walking through the covered streets of Kobe, exploring Sweet Factory (a fairytale village of cake shops, bakeries and patisseries) and wrapping ourselves up for a stroll along the harbour.
19 03 06 - 07:35 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Ume Blossoms: Ki Tour 2
Ditched work early after teaching horrible brats and made it home to enjoy the sunny afternoon. I took my camera and cycled North, visiting that gaudy over-embellished monstrosity of a temple at Kinkakuji. On my way back from the pavillion I stopped by Hirano Temple where workmen were busy constructing stages in preparation for the cherry blossoms. I managed to snap a few photos of the early blooming ume (plum) trees. Hirano is pretty famous for Hanabi parties, though at a cost. Slipping through the side streets I came out at Tenmangu Shrine where hundreds of people were already busy snapping the pink and white spattered trees. Crazily the shrine has an orchard brimming with blossoms, but you have to pay 500 yen just to walk around the measly patch of ground. I enjoyed the free trees much more, looking good against the old buildings and cow statues. Feeling Spring very much. And my new work? Well let's just say _____ it (fill in appropriate word).
15 03 06 - 11:36 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
はなとうろ・Hanatouro
'Flower and Light Road'...Hanatouro is in its foundling stage, designed to try and lure tourists before the Cherry Blossom Season. Shrines are illuminated, candle lanterns line the curving lanes of Higashi-yama, and free samples of traditional music and flower arrangements scatter the hillside parks, restaurants and shopping streets from Sanjo to Gojo. Warm, crowded, welcoming, bustling, a taste of the best of Kyoto's seasons.
12 03 06 - 04:45 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Ki Tour
Lately I have been so funked out with work and Kyoto that I feel agoraphobic in my spare time. In a last ditch attempt not to hate Kyoto completely, I fixed my puncture and took a ride to clear my head and get some sun. Am naturally a shy person, and absolutely hate having my photo taken, so today I decided to do the opposite of what I wanted. Thus I made some small talk with a Japanese guy who asked if I wanted my picture taken. And I actually let him take a photo. Crazy, crazy.
(more)
11 03 06 - 07:04 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Perishers
I haven't really enjoyed my time at elementary school, and am not cut out for this kind of work. Junior High School on the other hand poses a challege at times, stretches my brain muscles once in a while. I am a Junior High teacher for 75% of my work-time, and for the other 25% divide my time between two local elementary schools, aiding the homeroom teachers there with English.
(more)
09 03 06 - 08:08 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Bye bye, Bart. Move over, Homer.
Surely it's time to kill off The Simpsons and resurrect Futurama. I never loved The Simpsons how I love dumb-ass Fry and Bender.
06 03 06 - 08:51 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Peace Out
After being beaten up by four 3rd grader girls I finally relented, and did the peace sign. Today was my last class with the 3rd years. I will be absent from Graduation Ceremony (f****** elementary school visit, again), so, good luck guys.
06 03 06 - 08:43 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Bowling
That popular Japanese game Where's Misako? Can you spot her?
05 03 06 - 10:37 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Misako and the Sushi
Misako really wants some sushi! Although she is going to have to clear a space on the table...sushi graveyard.
05 03 06 - 10:35 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Graduation is coming (3-2 and 3-3)
That time of year when the last classes come around before graduation. My role at school was so blurred and uncertain at first, frustratingly cold at times, but these two classes made me feel at home and although the kids are borderline insane, they kept me sane. Thanks to the dudes (do you practise photo-faces in front of the mirror?) and to everyone else for being so warm. I wonder if I have made a difference over the last eleven months. Looking at these photos I don't really care, 'cause f***, it was fun!
Class 3-2 (thanks for the ass slaps).
Class 3-3 (after a 10 minute toilet break in which all students debunked to the toilets, to check their hair...nice).Check out
the galleria...
03 03 06 - 09:41 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
Phone Conversations
Even the simplest of tasks (write a short phone conversation) turned on it's head. What wonderful drugs are my first graders on? Where applicable I have rearranged the sentences to make the grammar work, and in class helped them come up with vocabulary that could express what they wanted. In no way did I come up with these stories.
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02 03 06 - 07:35 - kieren - kyonoki| - § ¶
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