"Singing class"

Today we had another Shadowing class, or "Singing class" as I like to call it! For the first half of class, we listen to a song, attempt to write down any words we hear, try it a again, share with and partner, look at the actual lyrics and... sing it!! Yay, so much fun! Today we sang a very beautiful song about someone leaving and remembering them under the cherry blossoms.
The first song we sang was the "Sukiyaki song", maybe you know it?? It was really popular in in North America during the 1960s. Actually, I have no idea why it is called the Sukiyaki song as Sukiyaki is a Japanese food, but the song has nothing to do with it. It is very beautiful and quite sad. The title in Japanese is "Ue o muite arukou" which means "I look up as I walk" and the song continues with "so the tears won't fall." Here is a link to a Youtube clip of it in case you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtXQ31F1A-k
And here's a link to the lyrics (the English translation of the Japanese lyrics is at the bottom): http://www.stinalisa.com/Sukiyaki.html

Flower Arrangement Workshop

Before I tell you about the flower arrangement workshop we had today, what do you imagine?? I had no clue what Japanese flower arrangement was about when I signed up for the workshop, what came to mind for me was mass of over-crowded flowers stuffed in a piece of that foam that you would normally find crumbling under some faded fake flowers in a old home. I thought I'd give it a try and of course I was way off and pleasantly surprised.
I'm sure you've looked at the pictures by now. You see, Japanese flower arrangement is based on simplicity and appreciating each delicate flower, branch and sprig. The instructor explained that it demonstrates a minus culture, whereas plus cultures are extravagant and excessive, in which more is better. These creations are meant to focus on and preserve the natural state of the plants.
The pictures are of some of the arrangements that we made in groups of 4. They are supposed to be a form of self-expression, so we had to collaborate as a group. The style we followed used 3 sprigs of the same plant as the shin, soe and tai (framing pieces), a central piece and other plants for balance and harmony. They will stay in the communication plaza at the university and we can see them in bloom next week.

Language Lounges

Here at NUFS we have language lounges during lunch hour (12:20-1:20). A certain room is set aside for each language (English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Portuguese). I went to the French one on Monday, the Spanish one on Tuesday and the French one again today!! It's so much fun meeting Japanese students who are studying the languages and speaking with the students from France, Quebec and Mexico! And I am paid for the time that I spend in the language lounges as a tutor! I love it! It's great to share my knowledge of the language with the Japanese students and good too because I still cannot communicate very well in Japanese, so it's a way to talk with students here without always using English. I will go to the French on again on Friday!
In the French language lounge there are around 15 Japanese students and 8 French-speakers. The French students from last semester said it will probably get pretty crowded! In the Spanish lounge, there were 5 Spanish-speakers (the 2 girls from Mexico, Mayra, me and an English intructor from the States) and only one Japanese student showed up. But it is the first week, so hopefully more students will come. The one students' name is Daisuke and he's actually a French major, but has started studying Spanish too! So whenever he got stuck on a word, he asked me what it was in French, fun fun! And then I ended up at his table in the French lounge today! There was a Japanese girl at the table too, and I think her nickname is Maimo (sweet potato?). They invited me out for Japanese food one day!

Trees

I love trees! Yep, I'm a tree-hugger at heart! Here are some pictures of a large tree in the entrance-way of a nearby shrine that I chanced upon during a walk with Alexis the other day. I am currently sitting in the kitchen over looking the naka niwa (inside garden) in the middle of which is a large, beautiful tree that is getting greener everyday!
This past weekend I actually went out to a bar with some friends in I-House and while walking there, I was talking about how much I love green. I made the comment that they could go ahead to the bar and I would just sit in the shrubs lining the road and I would be happy there because it was green! I clearly was a tad bit tidily! But seriously, I just love greenery and nature!

Week 2: Culture Courses

Well the second week of classes has come to an end. It was a pretty long and exciting week!
We had 3 hours of Japanese classes every morning (including "singing" class on Tuesday during which we spent half the time listening to/ singing to the Sukiyaki song!). Every morning (except Tuesday) we start with a lesson quiz. So far we have studied lessons 14-17 and we have a big test on it on Monday so I will be studying hard this weekend seeing as I haven't studied lessons 1-13 very thoroughly before started the course.
We also started optional culture courses in the afternoons this week (taught in English, 1.5 hours each, once a week). I attended 2 on Monday, but the one (Japanese Business) was not too enjoyable as the instructor was really opinionated in a slightly offensive way. The other course (Japanese Culture through the Media) had too many students in it so I will have to try to take it next semester.
On Thursday I attended 2 more and they are the ones that I am going to stick with. The first is International Relations and Japanese Diplomacy (exploring world issues and Japan's role in global politics). The other is Japanese Culture and Art (studying the culture of traditional Japan and the influence it had on art). The instructors of these 2 courses are both really interesting Japanese men who have had several unique careers/ experiences before coming to NUFS.
I also attended the club fair on Wednesday and I'm going to join the hiking club!! I'm so excited! They're planning 2 day hikes this semester, one in May and one in June. All the members are really welcoming and even want to help us go shopping in Nagoya for hiking shoes!
On Thursday there was a meeting for people who want to "work" as language tutors in various language lounges during lunch hour. The pay is about $10 per hour to talk with Japanese students in the designated language and help them with questions about it. I may be able to work in the Spanish language lounge (once a week) and the French language lounge (3 times a week)! How cool would that be?
Anyways, I must hit the books now!
Have a good weekend!

Goodnight cherry blossoms!

The cherry blossoms petals are falling from the trees and being replaced by tiny green leaves. On Friday I took my last cherry blossom adventure of the season. We went for a walk in the moonlight along a walkway where the cherry trees lining the path are lit with lanterns...

1st week of classes

Last week we started classes at NUFS. Here are some pictures of the main courtyard outside the university.
I am in Level 101 of the Japanese Language Program. There are 10 people in the class who all speak different languages! Annakaren and Nelia (the Mexicans) speak Spanish, Marya (the Mexican American) also speaks Spanish, Anis (the Arab American) speaks Arabic, Quenton (the African American) speaks Portuguese, Andy (the Chinese American) speaks Mandarin, Alexis (the Australian) speaks Australian English, Rosie (the Georgian) speaks Southern American English, Jacques (the Frenchman) speaks French and then there's me (the Canadian) who speaks Spanish, Canadian English, and Canadian French. Everyone has studied more Japanese than I have (about 1 or 2 semesters at university), but I did some studying before classes started so I'm keeping up so far, I just lack vocabulary.
Every morning from 9:10-12:20 we have language classes (based out of one main text book and a Kanji, Chinese characters writing system book). Every morning we start with a vocabulary quiz for the lesson we will study that day. We have a different instructor each day even though it it one continuous course (except on Friday when we study in separate Kanji classes for the first block and have conversation class in the second block). All the instructors are really nice. Classes are conducted completely in Japanese which is challenging, but a very good way to learn the language quickly. English is only used for a word or two at a time to clarify points we haven't understood.
Next week we will start the culture classes (90 minute-long lectures that happen once a week). I plan to sit in on 4 next week and then decide which ones I want to stick with. They are given in English and are open for Japanese students to register for as well. The ones I am interested in are about International Relations, Japanese politics, business, art and culture. Japanese students also start classes next week, so the university is going to be bustling soon I imagine!

FOOD

Alright, it's time for it... a blog all about food!! I know that food has been mentioned rather often in my other posts, but this one is going to be ALL about it (warning, do not read on an empty stomach!). It's time because I have finally tried nato... fermented soy beans in sticky goop... I don't like them! I haven't met a foreigner who likes nato, but I had to try it.
Otherwise, the grocery store is a challenge. It's so hard to find what I want because I can't read whether something is vinegar or oil, flour or sugar, etc. And never mind label-reading, I just hope the things I buy are not high in saturated fat or sodium. The other issue is that the "basics" of my diet as a student have been cereal, whole grain bread, and peanut butter... all of which are rare here and quite expensive!
Otherwise, eating out is fun! We went for Udon the other day with Mayu (a Japanese girl who attended KSA last year). Udon is like a noodle soup with big fat, long noodles and you are expected to make lots of noise while slurping the foot and a half long noodles. And then there's Sukiyaki we had the other day, omelet pancakes that you cook on a grill in the middle of a table. Next thing I've got to try is the sushi bar!
Anyways, we're having a girl's night tonight with goodies and a movie!
Happy Easter everyone!

Celebrations and festivals

This Saturday I joined John in Konan at Dr.Kondoh's house. We were invited to his annual spring celebration! We stayed there all afternoon and despite and rain everyone enjoyed themselves a lot! There were about 30 people there, of all generations.
And there was so much food! They started with tofu and dango (rice flour balls) on the BBQ with bean sauce. Then came the seafood platter, sashimi salmon, roast beef and spare ribs! Mmm mmm!! Then... we made pizza!! Dr.Kondoh has made a brick kiln-style oven outside. I showed them how to slap pizza dough (heh heh, working at Panago comes in handy again!). The pizza was soooo good! For dessert we had cake and pudding.
On Sunday I went with some others from I-House to a festival at Iwasaki Castle (near here). For dinner I had waffles... with 12 people! I've never made so many waffles at once! And one of the RAs who has lived in Calgary brought maple syrup!! Everyone laughed when the Canadian said, "mmm! I love maple syrup!"
Classes started on Monday and we're already having lots of tests so I must go study now!

Ohanami and Kabuki

I went to my first Ohanami last night! It's a type of picnic in the evening under the cherry blossom trees with lots of food and drink! I went with 6 students and 2 instructors from the nutrition program at NUAS (the university right beside NUFS). The park we went to was right beside Nagoya Castle and absolutely stunning!! The cherry blossoms trees are so beautiful! We had a potluck picnic and talked... pretty much all in Japanese, oh my! They didn't speak very much English and we had a great time trying to communicate! It got extremely cold and I faced another challenge... using chopsticks with numb fingers!
Today we went to a Kabuki play... another... experience... It's very long, dramatic (in an exaggerated voice and loud banging music kind of way), with few movements until the end. We were there from 12:00-4:00 with 2 breaks during it. I didn't understand a thing because it's all in ancient Japanese. We had a little synopsis in English that we tried to follow. Anyways, I'm glad that I have been to a Kabuki play, and I'm glad that some people enjoyed it, but I wouldn't go again.
Tonight we went out for okonomiyaki (Japanese "pancakes"... more like omelettes). We cooked them on a grill in the middle of the table... fun!

Nagoya Castle Pictures