僕は今学期も同じCIPをしています。先学期私とHBさんは大変ゆっくりと抹茶の点て方を習ったので、自分たちの向上にがっかりしていました。しかし、今学期は全然違って、意外に上達しました。
しかし今学期が始まる時裏千家の先生とちょっと問題がありました。先生のアメリカ人に関する固定観念の通りに行動して、僕達は先生を怒らせてしまいました。その後、僕達の日本じんのようじゃない点巡って、先生が何時間も叱りました。先生の仰った「日本人になりましょう」という言葉を二度と忘れません。先生との雰囲気が落ち着いた後で、アメリカ人にとってその経験は大変気まずかった割りに珍しくて特に日本らしいこと経験したということに気が付いたんです。そういっても、二度とそんな経験はしたくないと思います。
つまり、今までお茶を習うのは簡単じゃなかったけど、がっかりした気持ちは全部なくなりました。
今学期のＣＩＰのため Deepest Kyoto Tour (DKT) という団体に参加しました。毎週水曜日、ひとまち交流感で開かれた会議でDKTのコーディネーターに会いました。そして、毎週土曜日と日曜日に、外国人のために作られたツアーを経験しました。DKTには同志社大学の交換留学生とKCJSの留学生の二人も参加したことは幸せでした。
この活動の最もいい点は日本語の勉強ができたことでした。毎週水曜日のミーティングで会社の仕事についての単語を学んだり、日本のマナーやEメールの書き方も練習できました。そして、ツアーで大工や学者、写真家などいろいろな人々に会い、それぞれの年齢や職業が違う人と話すようになりました。
このツアーで歴史についても多くの貴重なことを学びました。シネフィルの私に一番楽しい体験はおそらく映画村のスタジオツアーでした。しかし、他のツアーでユダヤ教と仏教の関係の仮説を初めて聞いたし、黒澤明の映画のもともとの撮影現場を歩いたり、古墳の中にも入ったりしました。
一方、時間の問題があってDKTをやめることにしたので、現在、私は新しい活動を探しています。探している活動は多様な人々に会えることが続けられる活動です。できれば、自分の気持ちや考えを想像的に表せるような活動もしたいと思います。
例えば、ダンスクラブに入り、体を動かす、それとも映画サークルに参加し、映画についての会話を楽しくする活動を目指しています。ＣＩＰに関して、将来には無限の可能性があるでしょう。
After four months and seven or so lessons worth of Tea Ceremony, the only thing I am confident in is how unknowledgeable I really am about the subject. You could study book after book, which I have, about the ethereal concepts and practices behind Chanoyu. However, only until you spend truly countless hours learning the seemingly-trivial, elementary techniques like how to enter and exit the tea room, fold your tea cup cloth, and even just how to stand up, do you realize that there is nothing trivial in anything you do in Tea Ceremony.
That being said, I couldn’t be happier that I chose to do Tea Ceremony for my CIP. Besides giving me the opportunity finally do hands-on learning of a traditional art I’ve been interested for a long time now, it has opened me up to a amazing community, giving me insight into how and through whom Tea Ceremony survives in the modern era; a question for which has and will take a long time to find an adequate answer.
Within the community, I was surprised to learn that most of the students are in fact only up to ten years older than me. But, with the exception my fellow classmate HB, everyone is clearly years ahead of me in experience. On the one hand, this has been exceptionally convenient because no matter who I direct my questions toward, they have always been able to at least answer my questions. Whether I’ve been able to understand their answers is a whole other matter. On the other hand, because the discrepancy between our skill and knowledge levels is so great, that discrepancy veils to me how far I have come and how far I have to go in my training before being able to conduct a tea ceremony. So, I try not to think too much about it and let my own idea of my experience speak for itself.
For two reasons, one of the more memorable moments I will have from this time was when we went as a school group with our teacher to have Tea Ceremony at Doshisha conducted by the on-campus student circle. First and foremost, it was the first time I participated in a more formal Tea Ceremony setting, as opposed to a classroom setting. Secondly, and more importantly, sitting there alongside my teacher, facing the Doshisha students, made me realize that I’ve now become a part of this Urasenke school community just as all my other Japanese classmates have. It was a surreal moment to say the least.
With this semester coming to an end, I’ve decided that even if I choose a new CIP for next semester, I have enjoyed my classes so much that I will be continue to take them regardless. All I can hope for is that I will learn as much next semester as I have this one.
私は中学生の頃から抹茶が好きになりました。そして、毎週抹茶を一服を入れ始めるようになったし、先学期、茶道の歴史も勉強したし、この前の夏にロサンジェルスの店で抹茶のバリスタの仕事もしました。そして、裏千家の学校に申し込むことにしました。
教室に入って以来、茶道の先生にたくさんの作法を教えてもらいましたが、HBさんと僕は教 室で色々な作法を習ったからといって、その作法を使う理由を理解したというわけではないので、茶道は、まだ僕にとっては、まだちょっと奥伝のようです。でも、茶室で正しい歩き方や、座り方やお辞儀の仕方なんかが、こんなに覚えにくく、やりにくいということを知らなかったからこそ、その練習さえ凄く面白いです。今までの教室の主な活動は飲み方ですけれど、すぐ入れ方を教えて貰えたらいいと思います。
茶道の生徒は皆さんとても親しみやすく、雰囲気がいいです。教室の皆さんのお影様で、毎回魅惑的な経験ができています。
As I said in my previous blog, it has been very difficult to have a regular CIP activity this semester due to the fact that school was not actually in session the majority of the time. I have been to my CIP from last semester, the Kyoto Daigaku music circle EMBG, once this entire semester (I had another chance to go as well, but I happened to be sick that day). They are starting again next week, so I will probably go again and with any luck it won’t be too awkward.
Because of the limited activities of EMBG this semester I have been participating in some of the activities of DESA, a cultural exchange circle at Doshisha. The only problem is that DESA does not have activities every week, leaving me with nothing to do. The several events I have gone to with DESA, including a nomikai and a video game party, have been very fun and I have had opportunities to talk to Japanese students, but nevertheless feeling like a true member of the group has been a bit difficult due to the lack of regular meeting times.
I think that in the future it might benefit KCJS to stress the high likelihood that daigaku circles might not be the best idea for second semester (especially to full year students like myself who may want, as I did, to continue their CIP from the first semester) because of the discrepancy between the American and Japanese school years. If I had known this at the beginning of this semester I may well have looked for a different CIP early on, rather than sticking it out and settling with a slightly less than rewarding experience.
先学期と異なって、今学期の二月と四月は日本の大学の休みです。そのため、ほとんどのサークルとか、大学のクラブは全然活動していません。それは大学のサークル以外CIPをしている学生にとってあんまり困ることではないけど、先学期と同じ京大の関係のCIPをしたい僕にとって、大変難しいです。
先学期したCIPは京大でのEMBG(Eastern Mountain Boys and Girls)というロック音楽サークルでした。毎週一回くらい、外の一人のKCJSの学生と一緒にそのサークルに行って、活動の後メンバーと食事しました（普通の所はキャンパスの近くにあるお好み焼きのレストラン）。それに、一人か二人の友達ができました。
いかに今学期EMBGとの活動を続けたくて、やはりEMBGだけなら無理だと気づいたので外のCIPを捜さなければいけなかったんです。KCJSの学生の何人かが同志社のDESAと言う国際交流サークルに参加していたので、次の活動の時僕も行ってメンバーに紹介されました。今まで二回しか行っていないけど、DESAを続けたいんです。前に参加していたサークルがまだ時々ライブハウスと言うイベントを行っているので、一回そのイベントに行きました。さらに、今週の水曜日からそのサークルはもう一回活動が始まっているので、多分できればまた参加するつもりです。
To be completely honest, I actually feel slightly guilty about not being more involved in my CIP this semester. One of the reasons (and a big reason, I think) for my minimal involvement was, of course, the amount of homework that I received from my classes, especially from the afternoon classes taught in English. Go figure. A constant barrage of field trips, coupled with random illnesses also didn’t help.
Part of the blame lies with me, though, and my lack of confidence in my abilities to become a full-fledged member of a music circle and its attached social group (in which much of the “community involvement” no doubt happens). I love music, and I love playing the guitar, but I’m still not very skilled, whereas many of the guitarists in the group have been playing for at least four years (I’ve been playing for almost three years now, off and on). I hope to work on this problem next semester, and will try to devote more time to practicing and going to group events. EMBG is a very laid back circle, which did make it somewhat easier to just go up to people and talk to them, but the language barrier is still a big, well, barrier.
Another problem for me has been the sporadic nature of the group. Different people show up on different days, sometimes the group isn’t allowed to make loud noises, and sometimes instead of a group meeting there’s a live performance. For all these reasons I was unable to establish a regular rhythm with my involvement in the group. Like I said before, though, I hope to become more involved next semester as I intend to stick with the group. A lot of the members seem like really cool people and I think it would be fun to hang out with them. I just need to get to know them better. One of the two live shows that I went to was incredibly fun, and the students performing were intimidatingly proficient with their instruments, which I didn’t expect at first from such a casual circle. On the whole, groups like this don’t exist in the U.S., so next semester I want to get as much out of it as possible.
CIPの説明を初めて聞いた時、京大とか、同志社大学のサークルに入るのはこんなに難しいと考えられませんでした。一ヶ月間半ぐらい前インタネットで同志社大学のライラック・レインボーズと言う音楽サークルについて読みました。でも、そのサークルにメールを出しても、返事は来ませんでした。それを受けて、外のサーックルを捜しました。ネクサスの言うサークルにメールを出しましたが、結果は同じでした。
その週末、パーティーでライラック・レインボーズのメンバーに会いましたが、やっぱり入るのは多分難しいと言っていました。それに、その人は「普通のミーティングは京田辺キャンパスである」と言いました。京田辺は遠くて 、不便だから、ライラック・レインボーズに入るのをやめました。
でも、僕と一緒に入りたかったKCJSの学生の友達がZETSと言う京都大学の音楽サークルのメンバーの友達を作って、その京大の学生は「今週の水曜日、ZETSのミーティングに来て見てください」と言いました。一緒に行ったら、ZETSの皆さんは親切で、私たちは同じ興味を持っていたから、すぐ何人もの友達を作りました。ZETSのリーダーと相談した後、係の人が「今は入れるかどうか分かりません」と言いましたが、外のEMBGと言う音楽サークルのリーダーを紹介してくださいました。その人は、「来週もう一度来てください」と言って、私たちはうれしくなりました。
次の週の金曜日もう一度行って、その時EMBGの皆さんといろいろな事について話しました。聞いたら、「ええ、もちろん入れるよ」と答えてくれてよかったです。そのミーティングが終わったら、みんなでお好み焼きのレストランに行って、おいしい物を食べました。食事が終わった時、地下鉄への道が分からなかったが、EMBGのメンバーが車で連れて行ってくださいました。次の金曜日、EMBGのライブに行きました。EMBGで、別のバンドがありませんが、何かを演奏したかったら、外の楽器を弾いている人々と一緒にその曲を練習してもらえます。今回、二つのバンドが演奏しました。曲が全然知らなかったけど、演奏していない学生がモッシュピットとか、ダンスもしていたから、やっぱりその経験はすごく楽しかったです。小さい教室であったし、とてもうるさかったから、終わったらあんまり聞こえなくなりました。その時も、いろいろな友達が作れてよかったです。
外のライブで演奏をしたいので、今時間があれば練習しています。今まで一人だけで弾いた事がありますが、バンドで演奏するのも楽しそうです。
For my CIP, I volunteered with the Nikko Nikko Tomato Program at the Kyoto University Hospital. The program organizes fun events for the patients in the ward reserved for terminally ill children age 3 months to 18 years old. One event the program organized was a bazaar. I helped the other volunteers set up an elaborate towel and handkerchief display in preparation for it. I was really impressed with how much time and thought the volunteers put into the displays for the bazaar, as well as how many things had been donated to the program for this event. Since the children’s ward is pretty small and the number of items for sale so large, there were a lot of things left over. The other volunteers and I were then allowed to buy the things we wanted from the bazaar. All the proceeds went to fund Nikko Nikko events.
I think the events the program organizes are great for kids who are unable to leave the hospital. Unfortunately, I did not get to interact as much with the children as I expected I would. However, I was always able to chat with the other volunteers. Besides the 5 KCJS gaijin, the other volunteers were (very sweet) middle-aged Japanese women. They were always interested in hearing about my experience so far in Japan.
While at the hospital, especially during events, I often felt really awkward, like I was getting in the way of the program’s organization. Also, I felt like maybe I sort scared the kids with my height. My only regret is that I was not more outgoing with them. From this experience, I’ve learned that I just need to get over my insecurities with my Japanese speaking ability. I need to take advantage of all these opportunities available while living in Japan and talk to as many Japanese people as possible.
As May approaches, I reflect back on what was an eventful year, being in Japan as a study abroad student. Even though I felt I could have done so much more, been so much better in terms of my Japanese ability than I am now, I still feel like I accomplished a lot and gained new interests, taiko being one of them. When I was in the States, I had heard of it second-hand, but my first real impression with taiko came at a moon viewing at my local shrine in September. When I heard that performance, my first thoughts were of awe and then I wondered how I could do that, which is how I joined the taiko group at Kitano Tenmangu.
During last fall, I joined mostly for furthering my interest in taiko, so I did not really get to know all the members or learn all the pieces by heart, the latter part of which really showed during the end of the year performance when I had a lot of trouble and was rather embarrassed. Thus, I decided to make it my CIP so I could have the time to focus on it wholeheartedly and I believe I have learned a lot, not just in becoming better at playing, but also being able to interact with other Japanese people naturally.
I have a tendency to do things roundabout or in a strange way, and my first practice was no exception. Even though it was October already, I had no cell phone, so I ended up at our teacher’s house by accident instead of at the shrine. My contact (the teacher’s wife) was out, but her parents’ reception of me was humbling, because they not only helped me find where I needed to go, but also gave me a tour of the surrounding area, hosted me for lunch, and even visited a sake brewery with me. Despite my embarrassment at being in that kind of situation, I will never forget the kindness they showed me and hoped to pay it back by really committing myself to taiko this semester.
The practices are much more than practices in my view; we gather, frolic, catch up, joke, help each other, laugh, and plan for the future, not to mention learning new pieces and maintaining the ones we do know. All types of people participated, from children to adults, and our post-practice dinners were the most fun, because it was a chance for us to communicate in a natural fashion and actually grow closer as a group. In terms of people from KCJS, Nate and I were left over from last fall, and Diana, Andres, and Jackson joined us this semester. Arguably, there were a few bumps at first as we all adjusted into the flow of things, but by the time of our spring performance to start the new year, I thought we not only played well, but also got to know everyone else in the group well.
For someone who lacks any musical inclination, my taiko experience was amazing. I picked up a skill that I hope to maintain and grow when I return to the states and made many close relationships with people I want to see when I return to Japan and hope to return all the kindness and warmth I was shown when I was welcomed into the group. Though it may be impossible, I felt like I belonged a little bit when I participated in taiko, which means so much to a person who belongs to no set place or group in the States. Maybe it is because of the tight knit group mentality, but living in Japan just feels as natural to me as moving or breathing when there is the feeling of people who would support and encourage a foreigner, different as I may be.
Given my interests and classes, I have been hurtling towards a crossroads for quite some time, because of how hard it is to reconcile using Japanese and the life sciences in a career. Regardless of whatever happens from this point, the experience I received from participating in this taiko group was worth it, more than anything I could put on a resume.