Snow Country

There is a famous and dry novel by Kawabata Yasunari that I read a few years ago with the same title. Perhaps someday it will become necessary for me to go through it again in the original language, but if that happens I won't be able to look at it the same way again...not after this tour to Fukushima Prefecture's Aizu-Wakamatsu region.

Once a semester, my university sponsors field trips to different parts of Japan so its exchange students can experience the surprising fact that not all of the country looks like the depressing sprawl of Tokyo, Yokohama and their suburbs. This was no American excursion, for in that case we would have been allowed to wander the streets and do a little exploring. No, "field trip" over here means that everything is planned out for you; our schedule budgeted 20 minutes for one history museum!

Not that I am bitter; there is definite comfort in turning over the reigns of your time to someone else's control and enjoying new sights. Beyond that, it was an interesting cultural experiment in how Japanese people generally take tours. But apart from the glorious relaxation of the hot baths + sauna at the hotel or the neat experience of painting on lacquerware, it's hard to look back on the two-day trip and think that I'd do it again. Especially odd for me was the everyone-must-win Bingo game we played both directions of the trip and the continual warnings to "watch our step" in the snow, even when only a few feet separated us and the destination.

The food was also interesting but not my preference. Styled after the kaiseki or formal, Kyoto-style cuisine favored in high-class settings, this well-
compartmentalized meal was pleasing to the eye but not exactly satisfying to my quantity-oriented stomach. At least they had a little dish of pickles, which I love in almost any form but the super-sour plum.

I wish my camera batteries had cooperated long enough to show you the amazing snowstorm that we enjoyed on the ride up, but at least I can show its results on the castle we visited.











Winter is still here, but not here to stay; the sun is outside my window and by the Lord's mercy will probably be there tomorrow. And though I have mixed feelings about having just penciled my return date on the calendar, I will miss the snowball fights when I'm back in California. Good thing we weren't warned against those.

By Any Other Name

I've written before about the hybrid tongue that rules this country, but didn't give any concrete examples. English is a pirate language that steals lots of terms, so it's only fair that Japanese has turned around and begun doing the same.

This sign with smart calligraphy illustrates an example I learned as a second
-year student. In America, such a plaque would be reserved for, say, an old governor's residence. It's reasonable to expect that the use of this term is equivalent, right?


Wrong. When you look a little higher up, it becomes clear that "mansion" means something very different here. Specifically, it refers to an apartment building with a single, secure entrance and slightly ritzier facilities. Perhaps that's as upscale as most families can get in this tightly packed country.

Winter Wonderland

Last week, everyone studying here got a great surprise. I woke up on Wednesday to a sight that I've never seen in my hometown and (barring a miracle and/or the complete reversal of global warming) will never see in the Bay Area: snowflakes trickling steadily down.

At first it seemed like a morning fluke. But the trickle changed to a strong downpour and pretty soon I heard sleigh bells ringing in my head (probably the result of that Carpenters album).

I don't know if anyone else is keeping score, but so far that's 2-0 in season beauty versus Cal in my book. Am slowly starting to understand why some Japanese boast that only their country has four seasons, even if they are wrong.

Chat-and-Run

When I travel, I generally like to go there in a relaxed state of mind, with leisure time and optional plans that allow me to enjoy what the area has to offer. 2 weeks ago, however, I had a very different experience of Japan's most famous merchant town.

Osaka was my destination for two reasons: a summer semester classmate's work in his college photography club's exhibit and a chance to reconnect with the man who first spoke to me about being in Japan. 31 hours didn't leave me any time to explore the slightly more historic downtown, but I very much enjoyed the brief talking time God allowed me to have. Though I am only beginning to learn how to express love to others, I think physical presence (as much as possible) is key; this trip was, in that sense, good practice.

The picture show was quite impressive and several pieces could easily have be mistaken for professional work, partially because the line between hobby and obsession is easily blurred for many Japanese--and easy university classes with at most a part-time job often compound this devotion. If buddy Jerich gets sucked into that kind of fascination, or even just continues practicing, I think he could become a top-notch talent.

The other friend, who graciously lent me his apartment's tatami room so I didn't have to worry about where I would spend the night, also introduced me to some unique twists in the regional dialect (which is probably stronger than Southern-accented English to the Tokyo ear). Ryan is a missionary working in Osaka, and if he hadn't spoken at my college's Christian club about the need in Japan for people who love Jesus I don't know where I'd be now. But he did, and as I prayed & thought about his challenge I believe God changed my heart even at the level of desire--"Maybe going there is a good idea." It was a slow process, and I had to lose confidence in the dreams I had made for myself first, but I am here now and very grateful to Ryan for his help and encouragement. I also got some blessedly spicy Korean food for free.

Thankfully, though, I knew before crossing the ocean that the best times would probably be with friends and family, as in CA. As a follower of Christ the latter also has a Spiritual meaning, though I do miss my wonderful relatives. So even though this is not an exciting post, it is more typical of how I choose to spend my time. I'll take a quick conversation with a friend over the shopping trip any time.