Dont toss your muffler
Living in a foreign country is like being in a long-format improv: Just say yes and hope that an intelligible story forms along the way.
Today started with the three-hour ballet class. An hour into class, the teacher says something that i cant understand and everyone scurries into the next room. They explain to me that there is a special chapel hour for their "Christo" (Christian) studies: they have to listen to a speaker and write a report on it. Yuri is like "Keitorin, Iku?" And normally, if anyone ever asks me if i am going to anything i am always like "YES" and follow them wherever they go like a little lost puppy.
However, i am not too happy that these girls have to study christianity mandatorily as a major subject. That blows. I dont like the idea of all-girls schools formed in the 19th century, in general- the idea implies that men are too sex-crazed and women are too docile and stupid for them to be schooled together (or else babies would explode out of them or something). It also implies that men and women are fit to study different subjects - men math and science, women the arts and feminine things. Besides, i would rather roll around on the dance studio floor for an hour.
So, i go to roll around, and its kind of awkward, because its just me and the drummer, Kyoushi, in there. He's one of those japanese boys you would imagine, with the styled hair and shirt unbuttoned down his chest with a cross necklace and trendy pants. He says he likes hard rock, yet has "i love avril" stickers on his drum kit. As i stretch and do a headstand, hes practicing piano. He starts singing in a hushed voice that isnt really enunciating whatever japanese lyrics there are. I found a little patch of sun to stretch and move around in.
Then the pianist comes in and is like "Keitorin, i, uh, am going to go to a tea ceremony and i think it would be good for you to come with me. we have an hour,so we can make it back in time for class." the pianist speaks a belgian-english and never listens. I don't like him. "Ok, sure, i'll put some clothes on," i say.
the tea ceremony is held in a small japanese style building. As we enter, the lady motions for me to take off my scarf. I take it off and toss it on top of the shelf for shoes in the alcove.
"Don't toss your muffler," the tea ceremony lady scolds. "Fold it nicely and place it in the corner."
Oh god, tea ceremony. Get ready for some wabisabi! So zen.
Wow, beautiful flower arrangement. mmm,nice ceramic. bow, bow. Hmm, this is delicious adzuki and mochi soup. (and it was friggin awesome). MY look at this bowl (oh god,my feet have fallen asleep from sitting like this) Uh, and what do i do now? turn the tea bowl? ok. (my legs are throbbing but i know its impolite for my feet to face a different direction so i am stuck). oh, we have to go, class.
And then learning my professor's choreography. I think i have figured out his dance compositional method. He looks at everyone and thinks "what is the most ridiculous thing i can think of them to do?" and then we do it. Yatta!
That only covered THREE HOURS OF MY DAY. Im sure you can imagine the rest. More japanese stuff.
(Side note: After watching a lot of japanese tv and looking at boys on the train and pretending they are jared, i have deduced that it is fashionable for boys in japan to pluck their eyebrows. We all knew they spent a good amount of time on their hair, but eyebrow hair removal? That's some SERIOUS SHIT)
Today started with the three-hour ballet class. An hour into class, the teacher says something that i cant understand and everyone scurries into the next room. They explain to me that there is a special chapel hour for their "Christo" (Christian) studies: they have to listen to a speaker and write a report on it. Yuri is like "Keitorin, Iku?" And normally, if anyone ever asks me if i am going to anything i am always like "YES" and follow them wherever they go like a little lost puppy.
However, i am not too happy that these girls have to study christianity mandatorily as a major subject. That blows. I dont like the idea of all-girls schools formed in the 19th century, in general- the idea implies that men are too sex-crazed and women are too docile and stupid for them to be schooled together (or else babies would explode out of them or something). It also implies that men and women are fit to study different subjects - men math and science, women the arts and feminine things. Besides, i would rather roll around on the dance studio floor for an hour.
So, i go to roll around, and its kind of awkward, because its just me and the drummer, Kyoushi, in there. He's one of those japanese boys you would imagine, with the styled hair and shirt unbuttoned down his chest with a cross necklace and trendy pants. He says he likes hard rock, yet has "i love avril" stickers on his drum kit. As i stretch and do a headstand, hes practicing piano. He starts singing in a hushed voice that isnt really enunciating whatever japanese lyrics there are. I found a little patch of sun to stretch and move around in.
Then the pianist comes in and is like "Keitorin, i, uh, am going to go to a tea ceremony and i think it would be good for you to come with me. we have an hour,so we can make it back in time for class." the pianist speaks a belgian-english and never listens. I don't like him. "Ok, sure, i'll put some clothes on," i say.
the tea ceremony is held in a small japanese style building. As we enter, the lady motions for me to take off my scarf. I take it off and toss it on top of the shelf for shoes in the alcove.
"Don't toss your muffler," the tea ceremony lady scolds. "Fold it nicely and place it in the corner."
Oh god, tea ceremony. Get ready for some wabisabi! So zen.
Wow, beautiful flower arrangement. mmm,nice ceramic. bow, bow. Hmm, this is delicious adzuki and mochi soup. (and it was friggin awesome). MY look at this bowl (oh god,my feet have fallen asleep from sitting like this) Uh, and what do i do now? turn the tea bowl? ok. (my legs are throbbing but i know its impolite for my feet to face a different direction so i am stuck). oh, we have to go, class.
And then learning my professor's choreography. I think i have figured out his dance compositional method. He looks at everyone and thinks "what is the most ridiculous thing i can think of them to do?" and then we do it. Yatta!
That only covered THREE HOURS OF MY DAY. Im sure you can imagine the rest. More japanese stuff.
(Side note: After watching a lot of japanese tv and looking at boys on the train and pretending they are jared, i have deduced that it is fashionable for boys in japan to pluck their eyebrows. We all knew they spent a good amount of time on their hair, but eyebrow hair removal? That's some SERIOUS SHIT)