November 2003

November 26, 2003

As always these days, this seems like it's a little ong between this and the last post. Time is against me!

Maki visited this past weekend...the first time that a friend has come to visit us here in a year and a half. It was really awesome to have her, and an cool experience to have someone to show around the stomping grounds here in Kyoto.

It was also interesting in terms of having someone from the 'outside world' show up. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the little reality that is Kyoto, that before you know it you've forgotten the outside world altogether. Having Maki here was definitely a reality check...

Laura's met a few newcomers to the city recently who are interested in tracking down a place to train in Aikido, and to that end I've put together a little page with directions to the dojo. I hope it's helpful to any out there who are looking into training in Kyoto.

November 22, 2003

Another couple of days has shot by with little note, except for the fact that I went and got 7 rolls of film developed. I had developed quite a backlog, and getting all of my photos back has really made me want to put up some new stuff on the site; there's some really good stuff there.

The really exciting news around here is that Maki is swinging through Kyoto this weekend. It will be really awesome to have a friend visit...I'm pretty excited.

November 18, 2003

Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated...

I haven't been able to put up a post or email anyone for a while, and for that I apologize! Things have gotten uncontrollably busy lately, and I actually am seldomly home long enough to even turn on my computer to check my email, let alone respond to any. This weekend was no exception, even though it was quite fun.

Laura and I went with some friends into the countryside of Japan, and visited a small traditional town in Kyoto Prefecture called Miyama town. The town is filled with traditional farmhouses, which are a real treat to see.

On Monday we managed to squeeze a visit to Daitoku-ji in between my morning zazen class and my evening Aikido class. Daitoku-ji has long been high on our list of temples to visit in the city, and checking out the vast complex of buildings was quite worth the visit. There are something like 20 or 30 sub-temples in Daitoku-ji, making it a very interesting place to visit. It is also one of the main temples in the Zen Rinzai sect in the city, and the former home temple of the monk Takuan Soho.

This week I'll try to write some emails to people, catch up and try to let people know what's going on with wedding stuff.

November 9, 2003

Great news!!! Today the Japanese go to the polls for the nationwide elections...a great relief indeed. In Japan, elections consist of people driving around in the street in giant trucks fitted with super-charged loudspeakers, shouting at the top of their lungs at everyone in the neighbourhood. A number of times I've had to stop class and wait for one of the trucks to pass before I can talk again, as the noise from the trucks is so great that even indoors you can't be heard above them.

I have survived my first week at Ritto school...woohoo! It's very strange to switch schools after so long, but I think I'll be able to settle in pretty well...except that...I now have to teach kids. I had my first kids class yesterday, and I've decided that if nothing else, it will be a good source of funny stories. In yesterday's class there were a lot of really nice kids...and one monster. For the first half of the class he rolled around the class like a ball, stopping only to grab things from other kids. I taught him the words 'sit' and 'now'...words that I'm sure he'll be hearing a lot. By the end of the class he had pulled off his shirt, because he was so hot from sommersaulting around the class. I'm going to bring some rope for next Saturday so that I can tie him up.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to mention some people who are awesome: Mum and Dad, for sending Laura a birthday package (thank you!); and Ian Brooks, for sending us a pile of new CD's...a very welcome infusion for our music collection. Thanks Ian...I guess we owe you big in the music exchange!

November 2, 2003

The last few days have been pretty manic, and yesterday was my last day as a teacher at Ishiyama school. It was actually pretty hard for me to leave, as in many ways it feels like it's a first step toward leaving the country. I'm not a big fan of saying 'goodbye', and I feel like I had to say a lot of them in the past week. I also realized that I've been at that school for over a year and a half now, and Chihiro and I have been working together there for more than a year...wow. I'd definitely like to say 'thanks' to everyone at Ishiyama for making my time there so enjoyable.

Last night I went with Scott and Ronoel for the 'curry challenge', in which we resolved (foolishly) to each try and take down roughly a kilogram of curry-rice at the local curry shop; an ill-conceived plan, if ever there was one. We were all left fairly incapacitated as a result, which was less than desirable for me, as I had to run to catch the last subway from Yamashina...ouch.

Today I had another session at Nanzen-ji temple, which was interesting, yet challenging at the same time. It would seem that the more I practice zazen, the worse I become at it, and the most shocking thing to run into so far is the extent of my own mental weakness (please don't say 'I told you so!'). I feel pretty lucky to have the opportunity to study zazen, even if it makes me feel like a slobbering idiot.