Heiwanomori Park: This park is a major hub in our neighbourhood. When we went running last weekend, there were several baseball teams doing their warm-ups in the field. (The secret to running here has been changing pace and ensuring that there are electrolytes in our water). I was labouring to breathe in the heat, wearing running gear, and these poor boys were running in their uniforms….anyone who has played baseball/softball knows how smokin’ hot that material can be. We were running on a Sunday and were pleasantly surprised to see a young man practicing his double bass off to the side of the track. It makes so much sense to practice your instrument outside so as not to disturb your very-close neighbours, and it’s such a treat for us as we’re wandering around….Later in the day, we also came across traditional drummers and a sweet old man playing the accordion—all in different parks.
More recently, I went for a walk at the park and people were flying kites, kids were catching bugs with nets, and several little girls were playing with kittens….I stopped to pet one of the kittens (how could I resist and when have I ever passed up the opportunity to hang out with a cat for a little while?). The poor little thing wanted to hide under me as I knelt down (some of the kids were being a bit rough with it) and the girls came up to me saying, “kawaii, kawaii.” All I could do was say the same word back while nodding my head in agreement that these kittens were indeed very cute! (Can’t wait to start language lessons in two weeks so that I can have a bit more to say☺). Oh, and to top it all off, one of the girls started gathering up the kittens.....and placed them one by one into a cloth bag to take them home!!?!
For your eyes only: Check out how well Kerwood goes with the cell phone icon I got him….please note the matching headbands;)
Training: It is very nice to be able to say that our work training has been successfully completed—which means that we have signed contracts in hand and start on September 18th. The training was intensive (far more exhausting than any of my other professional development workshops) and involved long, long days. We were at Berlitz HQ from 9:00 to 5:30 PM every day and then had lesson observations and homework to occupy us in the evenings. By Friday night, the group was ready to let loose, and that we did! We went to Shibuya (younger energy compared to Shinjuku) and went to an all-you-can-drink pub/lounge. Wow, I’m not sure how they make any money at those places because you pay ~$30, they provide some food (quite a nice spread, actually), and you can literally drink as much as you can….in a 2-hour timeframe. Our table definitely outdrank our combined cover charge and some were significantly worse for wear by the end of our time there (not me, though;).
Shibuya is famous for two things: the busiest intersection in the world and a very special dog. Hachiko, who now has a statue at the train station, would faithfully meet his master every day at the end of work. He continued to do so even after his master had died and until his own death—what devotion.
Surprise Discovery: Today, we were planning to go to my favourite Shinto shrine and sit in on a ceremony there. We were distracted on the way to the train station, however, by drumming and chanting and we could see groups of people carrying mikoshis (portable Shinto shrines). Mikoshis are usually lavishly decorated, have a phoenix on top of the miniature shrine, and are believed to carry a divine spirit. We decided to enjoy the festival.....Mikoshis are very heavy. Because of this, there were alternating groups of people who would transport the shrine on their shoulders while doing a sort of ‘bobbing walk’. The chanting and music seemed to buoy everyone’s spirits to help them get through the grueling walk….and at the end, they were rewarded with coffee and beer, of course! Oh, and a rejuvenated spirit as well☺
Sigh, there is always something going on in this city....it's so easy to just walk out of the door with no plans and come across something that will engage your curiousity. It's a nice way of living that goes with a t-shirt logo that I saw today: "live simply."
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