Well, it is raining here. But then again, it is always raining here. I cannot decide whether Kanazawa or Williamsburg gets more rain annually, it is so close. At least I am used to it!
Luckily, it was not raining this morning. Had it been, I would have probably missed a great experience. You see, this morning, our "Walking/Diet Club" met at 06:50, as usual. The "Club" is actually just a group of mainly International House residents that go for walks every morning. Not everyone always goes, but there is always at least two or three of us, so a walk is taken every weekday morning. Anyway, this morning, we had the full complement of group members, due to a special occasion. All eight of us (Akiko, Mika, Tomoko, Mari, Daiki, Li, Haratake and I) left the International House at roughly 07:00 and headed into Kanazawa. (Our campus is about four kilometres outside the city.)
We walked through the waking city, passing many Shyougakusei (or elementary school students) as they hurried to catch school buses. They all look the same in their uniforms! After walking for about an hour, we finally came to our destination: a small mountain that overlooks the city. For the next half-hour, we struggled up the steep little mountain (along the road, sorry to disappoint you hikers out there!) toward the summit. Upon reaching the summit, the whole climb became instantly worth it. Before our wondering eyes (sounds like Christmas, doesn't it?) was spread out a breathtaking view of the city. And I do mean city! At 50 man nin (50 of the 10,000 unit of people, or 500,000; isn't counting in Japanese fun?), it is the biggest city that this country boy has ever lived in (or near, more accurately!). Anyway, it was quite an experience. Even nature looks different here. Pine trees (or matsu) exist here in Japan, but they are quite different. Here, they are gnarled and twisted, reaching maybe four metres at the tallest. This is about the only vegetation that I recognised from America. There were other small plants that looked somewhat familier, but none that I know by name.
After this, on the way home, we stopped at a little restaurant for some breakfast. I ordered the "large" bowl of Gyudon (fried beef on rice), much to the surprise of the Japanese, who thought that it was amazing that I could eat a large. Let me tell you, however, that in Japan, "large" means American medium, "medium" is American small, and "small" is not even a portion at all! Therefore, I had no trouble whatsoever finishing it. Oh, and by the way, when you order an egg (to be placed on your rice) in Japan, you had better specify that you want it fried first! Order and egg, and you get just that, mana tamago (raw egg), in a bowl. Trying to look like this is what I expected, I scambled it with my ohashi (chopsticks) and poured it on top of my rice, under the beef, hoping that the heat would cook it to some degree before I got around to eating it. It did not really. Oh well, it was not bad, so chalk one up to experience.
Well, my friend Shino and I are planning to head into town today to buy a keitai denwa (cell phone), so I should soon have a phone number to publish, if anyone hits the lottery and wants to call me. (Please remember that I am 13 hours ahead, however!) I hope to buy a book or two in English, as I have not much to read, having finished the three books that I brought from America (I actually bought two of them in the airport!). I borrowed Shino's copy of 1984, one of my all-time favourite books, so that has been keeping me sane for now! One of my other friends, a Canadian (my uncle?) by the name of Matthew (if you did not get that joke, listen to a little John Denver) found the complete set of manga (comic books) of one of my favourite series of anime (Japanese animation), "Rurouni Kenshin", so I plan to pick that up this weekend, as well. At Y2000, (about $20US) it is quite a steal, and will give me some good motivation to read some Japanese!
Speaking of Matthew, he is interested (and working on a Master's degree) in Japanese history. He is quite the scholar, even though he had not studied the Japanese language before coming here. He can actually read manga, albeit with the help of several dictionaries! I have trouble reading manga, and I have been studying Japanese for two plus years! I had better get to studying, huh? He is also quite interested in the work of Kurasawa Akira (often referred to as Akira Kurasawa in the States, but remember, in Asia, the family is more important than the individual, so you say it first when talking about people), a great (and probably the most famous, in America) Japanese film director. This being so, we have plans to watch (and in some cases, re-watch) all of his movies in Japanese, while we are here. I am almost beside myself with excitement. I love this man and his movies.
Well, the ever-present benkyou (studies, work) is calling my name, so I must bring this issue of the Digest to a close.
Until next time, I remain,
-Yoshi