End of July update – a Midorikai update
The graduation for our sempai and other students occurred and it was short and sweet. It’s going to be so hard to not have their daily guidance and advice here any more. It is an important right of passage, this passing of the baton, but it’s still hard because we will all miss them terribly. Also, that means we, our group of four, will be “in charge” and there is something about being in charge that causes anxiety. I was also reminded to not be too authoritarian in some of my interactions with others. This was a helpful comment to receive as I want to be a good leader and team member but not be a bossy leader. I will continue to learn how to toe that line to find the proper balance in leadership.
Sempai graduation party
A few days after summer vacation started, I went to the doctor again for pain in my right ankle. I received a compression brace to wear to help with the severe pain I’m feeling when I sit in seiza. Now I’m starting to feel minor pain when I overexert myself in general, for example when I walk too much. Luckily walking with good shoe support provides a healthy strengthening action, just as long as I don’t do too much of it. I’m glad that I will have a break from sitting on my legs so that I can use the summer to stretch and strengthen my muscles, ligaments and tendons in my ankles. We will see how my legs feel again in the fall but I am hopeful that the recovery period will be helpful.
Osaka castle
A week or so after the summer break began, I took a short trip by train to Osaka. Since my legs weren’t too strong I limited how much walking around I did. I visited the Osaka Castle (good view!), Osaka aquarium (amazing animals and tanks!), rode the Giant Ferris Wheel (glass bottom car!), went to a Hanshin Tigers baseball game (We lost to Tokyo 6-1) and also made a visit to Universal Studios Japan (Harry Potter world made me tear up with joy!). Going to a baseball game really made me think of going to see the Mariners with my dad by Amtrak train at the old Kingdome.
Universal
Peguins at the aquarium
The Tigers also lost terribly, which also felt like a Mariners game. 😛 I sat next to some nice baseball fans on the first-base side who were teaching me some chants in Japanese and they were very excited when we appeared on the Jumbo-tron. They definitely said they were glad they sat next to me and they helped me have such a wonderful time! I stayed two nights at a hostel and traveled around using the well-connected subway/train system they have. It was hotter in Osaka than it was in Kyoto, so I was quite relieved to get back to the high 80’s/low 90’s of Kyoto.
Tigers baseball game
In regards to the seasonal events I saw since I last wrote, the Gion Matsuri celebrations are going on all month. It’s one of the major Kyoto festivals and culminates in many parties in the streets and two parades of giant floats. It’s been celebrated since 970 to celebrate the spirits and gods ending a terrible plague that was ravaging Kyoto at the time. Many people would die in Kyoto during the summer months due to the factors that arise from high heat, poor sanitation and disease. There are hoko floats and yama floats. The hoko floats are massive and have a band playing music on them. The yama floats are smaller and don’t require so many men to pull them. All of them are pulled and none of them have any mechanical features. The boys in our group were able to pull one of the yama floats in the parade (Hachiman-yama) with two of our sensei. It was fun to see them out there. It looked like hot, hard work. Luckily, neither Tetiana or I were jealous of their ability to participate (women aren’t allowed to be in the parade), however, I could see why past Midorikai female students have felt very angry about this. The patriarchal-ness of this society can be quite grating on a woman after a while. Especially after spending so much time in Sweden, which is truly a country much more successful at bringing equality between the sexes.
Hoko float
Yama float
This will be the final post I make before the second semester begins in early September. I will be flying home for a visit to see my family in August. Thank you for continuing to read these stories and I will have more of them to share in the fall. I’m attaching more pictures than usual to tide you over. Sorry for all the selfies 😉
Cheers,
Karla
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