Last weekend, I went to my high school’s friend wedding in Milpitas, CA. I had a great time catching up with his family and friends that I have not seen in years. It really made me realize how much we’ve grown up since high school. I mean, it’s been almost 10 years since we graduated! It’s seems like time drags when you’re young and goes lightning fast when you’re older. Just have to enjoy every moment like its your last.
Golden Week is coming to an end and what a week it has been for me, my family, and for my students.
Each day, there was some activity which required my attention and energy: performances, hula lessons and lessons with my Japanese language instructor, Nakamura Sensei.
Everyday, I continue to grow and love Japan more and more. It is the place that everyone has imagined it to be. It’s a beautiful country, with beautiful people. The culture and arts of Japan are amazing. One fear I have though is the role of pop culture and its influence on Japanese people. Japanese are impressionable people. They have innocence in wanting to learn and absorb new things, but in absorbing those new things, they may forget their own identity and how truly special their language, and culture is. I am always grateful to my students that learn hula from me. The amount of time they dedicate to really perfecting their hula craft. But in my heart, I cry for them, I would like them to do with the same amount of energy to keep their own culture alive. Not everyone will be able to dedicate themselves to learn tea ceremony, sumi, yumi for example…but culture is also perpetuated in the japanese language and the appropriate use of language. Speaking with teinei (polite word). As I am learning Japanese now, I learn about tone and inflection. How many Japanese talks with no care about their tone and inflection. No care for what the environment or situation is?
I was born and raised in Kahala on the island of Oahu. Maybe it is the most affluent area in all of Oahu. I didn’t interact with many people there because everyone mostly kept to themselves. But, I have family that lives in Waianae. so I always felt that I was able to receive a wonderful life experience from being and living in two completely different atmospheres. In Waianae, my grandparents had 9 boys and 9 girls. These are my aunties and uncles. You can imagine how many cousins I have and how many mouths there were to feed. Everyday living with my Waianae ohana was filled with piece and harmony. My uncles and aunties are large people maybe all 6 feet in height, but never ever did they talk to us in a large loud voice. Their voices was soft and alway filled with love and tenderness.
long cold winter
kansas sunflowers bloom
shadows clear
カンザスに向日葵の照る遅い春
カンザス に ひまわり の てる おそい はる
Winter ended very late this year. After the coldest winter in many years, spring has finally come to Kansas. The sun has come out and is banishing the lingering cold weather and dark shadow of winter. The sunflowers will soon begin to bloom. Everyone is looking forward to the warmer weather of spring and rain instead of snow.
今年の冬は、ずいぶん長引きました。ここ数年で、一番寒い冬が立ち去った後、待ちに待った春が、ようやくやってきました。太陽が顔を出し、居座る寒さと冬の暗い陰を追っ払います。間もなく、ひまわりが咲き始めます。誰もが、春の暖かい天気、そして、雪の代わりに雨を心待ちにしています。
– Ben Clark
– Japanese by Ben Clark & Nakamura Michiko
童心を装う鬼やここにあり
どうしん を よそおう おに や ここ に あり
faking innocence,
hiding in plain sight,
an ogre!
– Nakamura Michiko
赤信号体の声に耳を貸す
あか しんごう からだ の こえ に みみ を かす
my body’s voice
a moment to listen
at a red light
– Fujisaki Yukiyo
– English by Chay Schiller
この何ヶ月か、いつ倒れるかと恐れていましたが、やっぱりその時は訪れました。
仕事が休みだった一昨日の朝、目を覚ますと全身の痛みがありました。
ただの疲れだろうとストレッチをしたりしましたが、治りません。午後を過ぎてそういえば何も口にしていなかったと気付いてリンゴを食べてみたものの、全然食べれません。おかしいなーと思っていると、どんどん体の痛みがひどくなり、立ち上がるのもやっとになりました。
これは病院に行かなくては…と夕方に病院に行くと、ただの風邪とのことでした。とりあえず水分も食事もとれていなかったので、点滴を受けますが、だるさは増し、熱があがってきました。家に帰ると更に熱はあがり、動けなくなりました。もうこれは寝るしかない、体の免疫システムに任せようと思い、無理矢理寝ました。
すると夜中に一度目が覚めた時、少しすっきりした感じがしました。熱も下がっています！これは勝った！と思い朝を迎えましたが、同僚の勧めもあり、仕事を休むことになりました。
今日は本当になにもなかったかのように出勤し、働くことができました。
きっと体が休むようサインを出してくれたのでしょう。大きな病気ではなく、一日で治ってよかったです！！
それにしても点滴は長くて苦痛でした。
患者さんがストレスを感じるのがなせだかよくわかりました。
釣り船や川を上って小休止
つりぶね や かわ を のぼって しょうきゅうし
fishing boat
back to the river
lying still
– Nakamura Michiko
Several months ago I started playing in a local card tournament every Friday. I love the game itself, but dislike the competitiveness that comes with it.I just want to have fun. Often times my opponents are rude,moody or nervous, because of their desire to win. Don’t get me wrong, winning is nice, but nothing wrong with losing if you learn. After all, it’s just a game.
This weekend I had the pleasure of performing at Shonansai event in Chigasaki. I sang three songs while my students danced the hula. It was quite a lovely event to be able to sing and perform while facing the ocean. Mahalo Kawena
朝から青空が晴れ渡り、絶好のおそとミーティング日和です。
パソコンを担いで伊勢山公園の２００段の石段を登りました。
WiFiの電波もうまく繋がりました。
ナコスのプログラムをインターネットに集約していく為の打ち合わせ。
そのあと、サムさんとバドミントンの対決！
疲れたところで、藤沢駅に向かいました。
途中、佐野さんが運営する蔵まえギャラリーに立ち寄っておしゃべり。
前に進んでいっている人達の顔はみんな輝いています！
walking town
the old stories jump
from corners
町行くと古い思い出改めて
まち ゆく と ふるい おもいで あらためて
– By Chay Schiller
