Roslyn

It's my birthday day after tomorrow. Weird. It doesn't feel like it at all. I'll probs just be in my room talking to people back home for most of it. Maybe go for a run in the evening.

Not the norm for an American's 21st b-day, that's for sure. haha

Whatevs. I'm not so hep on the idea of puking my brains out on my birthday anyhow.

But, before any of that, there's practice tomorrow night. I'm still sore from Sunday. I practiced so much even my fingers hurt...and not because of blisters; that's a whole separate category of pain. This is probably the point where most onlookers would wonder, "Why does she love this so much???"

I realized this year that really don't do well without taiko. I didn't know it would be such an addiction when I started it. Last semester was probably one of the darkest I've had in a while. Of course, there were ups, but the downs were pretty far down there. Having taiko doesn't take the down parts of life away completely, but it makes them a whole lot less down.

I can't tell if it's the act of actually playing the drum, the camaraderie from playing and sharing the experience with other people, or just having something to do that demands a lot of time; but whatever it is, it makes me happy.

What doesn't make me happy is remembering that I have to have 2 wisdom teeth on the top removed after I get back home. Definitely not looking forward to that. Not in the least bit.

That's it for tonight. If I don't have something up on my b-day, I'll be sure to post after Yosano this weekend.

Speaking of, I have to bring something that represents where I'm from-- food, pictures, whatever. I have no clue what I've got that's representative of where I'm from. If you have any ideas, please let me know via comment or otherwise! Thank you!

Love until later,

Caitlin D.

There Was No Thief

I should be sleeping right now, but I was struck with the urge to write.

Tsuyu (梅雨), or Rainy Season, is starting in Kyoto. It's been raining almost non-stop for the last week and there's only more on the horizon. It wouldn't be bad if it wasn't muggy on top of rainy. The humidity is killer. I'm in for a loooong summer.

School is moving along. Classes are usual.

I registered for Fall 10 at UCR. I'm really liking my schedule. I only have classes on Tuesday and Thursday and they don't start till almost 1pm! Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I can split up my hours with Mary. It's looking like a good quarter. Hopefully my classes aren't too killer. I'm taking one upper division Japanese culture class, one lower division Japanese culture class, and two education classes that count for elective credits in my Linguistics major.

I've been really homesick lately. I'm not sure I've really stopped missing home throughout this whole year. Of course I've had tons of fun, but I miss the people back home.

I suppose I'm just doing my best to do everyone proud.

Taiko is going well! I'm learning some pieces to perform at 新人公演 (shinjinkouen).　新人公演 is a debut performance for the newbies they have every year. I'm excited. I'm practicing my butt off to make sure I'm ready.

I have my 5本 fue ordered. It should be here in a week or so. Until I get mine, すみ lent me his 5本 to practice with. Very kind of him. I'm also going to order a new pair of ちゃっぱ for 川柳! I'm suuuper excited about that. They're all mine until I go home to practice with. I'm going to learn how to play them from ドン and then rock John's Second Song like none other. WOO!

There's a number of big things planned for the next few months:

-My 21st B-day is next Wednesday. Not much to say on this one. I got my package from home. It's the only present I'm getting this year and that's fine. It was too wonderful. I opened the box and just started crying. My parents sent me 3 cards. One was from my dad. It was a Barbie Princess 3D card. You know those little plastic 3D cards that if you scratch them they make this funny sound? I used to love them as a kid--called them "scratchies." Apparently my dad just couldn't resist. I mean how much more prefect could it get-- Barbie, scratchies AND princess? Well, because he liked that card, my mom had to do one of her own too. Thought a serious one was necessary. But then they didn't want it to seem like they were divided, so they did a card together, too. They make me laugh.

-Next weekend I go to Yosano in the Kyoto countryside to learn to plant rice. I get to spend a night with a host family, too!

-The first weekend in June is a beach weekend trip with Taiko. We get this place on the beach and run and play taiko and hang out for a weekend. I can't wait for that. The pictures from previous years are really beautiful.

-In July I'll be going to see Spitz in concert in Kyoto. Yup. That's right. SPITZ. I can't believe it either. I'll be doing this one 一人暮らし (hitorigurashi; all by myself), but that's okay. It's close by, so I don't have to go searching for it in some completely foreign city,

We should really start getting on the Fuji trip. We haven't planned anything. Between the tons of taiko and school, I've been kinda unmotivated on the travel front. Gotta get that 川柳 flag up the peak though!

At any rate, I miss you all and August is coming soon! Just another 2 months and change. It's all downhill from here, baby!

Love until later,

Caitlin D.

Sequel to the Letter

Golden Week Update!

Sorry I haven't posted in almost a month. I'm terrible, I know.

Anyway, Golden Week is coming to a close. For posterity's sake, I'll explain Golden Week to everyone:

Golden Week is a week of Japanese holidays all strung together. The entire country gets these days off. The main holidays are Showa Day, Constitutional Memorial Day, Greenery day, and Children's day.

Doshisha let out last Wednesday and we start in again tomorrow, Thursday. It was a mildly eventful holiday for me. Originally we'd planned on trying to get to Okinawa during this week, but then decided against it. Several people warned us that travelling during Golden Week is rather hellish. Everyone has the same idea, "A week off! Let's run and play!"

So instead of galavanting off to the southern Islands, we stayed put in Kyoto. I spent most of my time watching Battlestar Galactica, but I did do a few cool things.

Wednesday night I tagged along with Jen and some Aussie and New Zealand girls to get my dance on at World. That was a creepy experience. I no longer feel the desire to go clubbing. Between losing the people I came with, getting hit on and then insulted by some creepy French dude, and having to walk home in the windy cold rain, I'm done. Clubs are gross. All I wanted was to dance, but there are too many wanton and desperate people looking for attention. It ruins my mo-jo.

In lieu of clubs, I'm thinking of going to more lives in Osaka and around to get my groove going. Thursday evening Jen and I went to see From Monuments to Masses play at club SUNSUI in Osaka. It was amazing. Four bands played that night: MIRROR (Japan), LITE (Japan), Worrier (Wisconsin), and From Monuments to Masses (San Fran/NY). Save for Worrier, they were all fantastic. I haven't stopped listening to LITE since the show. After everyone had played, Jen and I went and introduced ourselves to the guitarist of From Monuments to Masses. He was really sweet. We had a great chat with him. He was all surprised when we started speaking English to him. I think he was rather happy to have a fluid conversation with someone. We talked for a bit about where the band is going and their tour, then got pictures, and said goodbye. It was a great evening.... even if I was partially deaf in my left ear for 3 days after. :)

Friday to Sunday I didn't do much at all. I did get my room scrubbed, vacuumed, and dusted from top to bottom. I also managed to pull a muscle in my neck during the process. That consequently made taiko practice a no-no. I've been dying ever since. I NEED my fix of taiko. If I don't get it, I start to go a little stir crazy.

Monday Asako from ILP came down to Kyoto. She stayed with a family friend. She, Jen and I went out to Nara for the 1300th anniversary celebration of the capital being established there. It was pretty fun. Not a whole lot to do. Some craft booth people wrangled us into making paper airplanes. I watched. They were super excited to speak english to us. Though, the woman opened by telling us her ex-husband was from New York. She said it once, then said it again with emphasis on the EX part. Not so sure how to take that one....

At any rate, I got some super good pictures on the Nikon. I can't wait to see how all the photos turn out. I'm going to wait until I get back to the states to develop them all. It's going to be so much fun sitting down and going back through all the photos and remembering the days I took them.

Tuesday was a loss. I've been super homesick lately. I lost all motivation that day. The homesick is still here... getting worse, in fact, but I can't just lay around anymore.

On Wednesday (yesterday), Jen, Robert (a fellow from London that lives at Maison), and I took a trip to Costco. I got cookies, salmon, ground beef, and lettuce. All the essentials, and more accurately, all I can afford.

JASSO decided that they were going to lump together April and May's distributions and disburse them on May 15. I currently have ¥1168 in my bank account (that's about $10) and ¥2000 in my wallet (that's about $20). If I really had to, I could take some money out of my American account, but I really don't want to convert that stuff if I don't have to. So I'm living as a pauper till the 15th. I'm not sure I can make it till then. I have got lots of food, but transit to taiko is expensive and I have bills to pay.

AHHHH

And that's all I've got to date. Classes start in tomorrow. I hope I didn't forget a test or some major homework or anything...

Guess we'll find ouuut!

Love until later,

Caitlin D.

p.s.- I'm getting the hug tally going again. I'm gonna need lots. I could use some now, but since none of you are actually in Japan, just send some Believe my way. Please and thank you!

Beyond Good & Elvis, A Sixth Trumpet

It's half past midnight here. Everyone should be waking up for their Saturday morning back home.

I should be sleeping, but I'm not. I'll probs be all nappy for taiko practice later today.

I think I'm going to stick to learning fue from this group. They seem to focus less on drumming and more on the festival related aspects of taiko. They have a few strictly taiko songs, but mostly they play festival tunes while performing dances. They do horse dances typical of Aomori-ken. It's pretty cool, actually. I have no skill at dancing, but the fue melodies for the dances are really energetic and bright.

The girl that's been teaching me is quite good. She says I'm picking it up quickly. Flattering, but I highly doubt that's true.

This group plays 5-hon mostly, so I think that will be my next big buy. The low-end 5-hon cost over twice what a mid-range 8-hon costs. Worth it though. I love the higher pitch.

I bought tickets to a Live at a club in Osaka tonight. I think Jen is going to come along, but she has yet to buy her ticket. Liz told Anthony told me about this band called "From Monument to Masses." I've been listening to them all night. It's getting me super excited about seeing them.

I haven't really been doing much since I got back from the States. I've kind of been in hermit mode. If not for taiko, I don't think I'd get out of my place for anything but school. Kinda bad.

I've had a lot to think about after my visit home. I've had to think more about my future than ever before. The whole "what are you going to do after you graduate" question is looming on the horizon and I still don't really have an answer. For so long I've had tunnel vision leading to my year abroad in Japan, that I kind of neglected other things... like making general life goals. I was naïve thinking that coming to Japan would magically answer all my questions about what I want to do with my life.

This trip has certainly made some realities glaringly clear to me, but it's also created more questions in it's wake. I suppose they're no different than anyone faces, though.

OH WELL! hahaha

It'll all turn out how it will all turn out. That much is certain.

Love until later,

Caitlin D.

四季の歌

Alright, let's make a plan of attack

I. School

II. Hanami （花見）

III. Hajime no Ippo (始めの一歩）

IV. Taiko (太鼓）/ Fue (笛）

I. So school started this last week. It's been awesome so far. I got into level 5. That's one up from last semester and 3 from the top. I feel pretty good about it. The 10 classes don't repeat teachers too much. Last semester I had 5 teachers for 10 classes, this time I think it's 7. The ones I've had so far are pretty fun.

My class is mostly chinese and taiwanese people. I'm kind of happy about it. When I have friends in a class I tend to pay less attention. That's not to say I can't make friends with the Chinese and Taiwanese kids... It's just that because there's that language barrier, I'll probably talk to them less.

I'm already off to a good start. I'm not putting off homework and studying every night. I'm gonna give this semester my all!

II. So after school on Friday I came home and ate and chilled for a while. Then around 5:30 Jen and I set out for a Hanami (花見）party. Hanami parties are a Japanese tradition around Sakura season. People gather up friends, coworkers, or clubmates and throw down a tarp under a nice cherry tree and party. It's awesome. Our friend Hori started an international club on campus called Amie. He organized this party. We met him and Lily and some other people at Demachiyanagi-eki (出町柳駅）then made our way over to the place Hori had picked out.

I kind of had to force myself to go. Ever since I got back home from spring break, I've been kind of unsocial. It's hard getting back into the groove of things. But I can say, I'm glad I made myself go.

It was a nice mixture of Japanese people and foreigners. We ate and had a bit to drink. It was a really nice night. I met a couple of underclassmen (こうはい)-- Mizuki and Yumi. They were hilarious. They taught me a phrase similar to "brown nose" or "suck up" in Japanese. For those of you that are curious, it's ゴマする. They both expressed an interest in learning more English and hanging out, so I got their numbers and invited them both to come to Vampire Diaries night. Should be fun. Yumi ended up pretty darn drunk by about 11pm, so she and Mizuki went home.

After they left, Jen and I started talking to an old friend of Hori's-- Taka. He's originally from Okinawa and came to Kyoto to study to become a Doctor. I taught him and Yumi and Mizuki's Senpai, Natchan (なっちゃん）how to play King's Cup. Let me tell you, that is a tough game to explain in Japanese. Somehow they picked it up. They really want to play it with me sometime.

[Left is Taka, middle is Natchan, right is Jen]

Jen and I ended up getting home as the sun was rising. It was a crazy long night, but loads of fun.

III. I walked in Saturday morning at 5AM. At 9:30 I woke up in anticipation of receiving my fue. It didn't end up coming till 11:30, so in the mean time I watched more Ippo! Well, once I started, I just couldn't stop. I finished up the last few episodes of New Challenger. SO GOOD! Oh man. I may have a new favorite anime. Maybe. I dunno. Gundam Wing is still pretty up there. I think I need to revisit that show first though.

Anyway, it's on to the manga now!

IV. Sunday I waited with bated breath for the taiko meeting. Jen came with me. I heard about this club from a number of people. The first person to tell me about it was Ruben, a new UC arrival for the Spring. The second was Hori. Then Lily. It was nice to know that so many people were keeping an eye out for me!

After contacting the dude, he told me the next practice was Sunday at 3pm. Jen and I took off around 1 to make sure we got there on time. We explored for a bit after getting to the meeting point, then when 3 rolled around we met up with the taiko folks.

On Sundays they play in a cultural center over an old bowling alley. I don't think the bowling alley is in business anymore, but it's a super cool place. I don't think the members there today were the whole group, but they're a decent size. They seemed so surprised that so many newbies came!

The group is through Ritsumeikan University, so there were a number of Ritsumeikan students there, but there were also students from KyoDai and Kyoto Arts College. Most people had no prior experience with taiko, but there were a few that had played in High School.

For the first meeting they taught us Miyake. I'm starting to think that's a community song because Uzu Daiko played the same song, just a longer version of it.

I got the hang of it pretty fast and was able to help Jen. She had an awesome time. She understands why I love taiko so much now.

Anyway, we played Miyake for an hour or so, then they performed a couple of songs for us. One of them was called Oni. It's crazy fast. I was totally impressed. Only 2 chu, 1 odaiko, and 3 shime. After that they played another song that was more a matsuri song. They repeated a rather simple drumline, added in chappa and fue and then 4 members danced. It was super cool.

After that, they offered to show interested people how to play fue. Of course I joined in. In the 20 minutes we played, I learned a TON about playing fue. It's freakin awesome. I know have the skills to pick up my fue and make sound come out without having to readjust my lip a million times! It's freaking awesome.

Jen and I are definitely going to continue with the club.

I'll keep you all posted on other stuff that I learn!

For all the Senryu people are working hard for Spring Concert, keep up the good work! I, too, will be ganbatte-ing (頑張っている)！

Love and miss you all.

Love until later,

Caitlin D.