Tis been awhile since I've blogged. It's not that I lack material or motivation, but my energy's been engaged elsewhere. I've had loads of vacay visitors, conferences in Yokohama and Tokyo, and trippy trips of my own to hippy Hiroshima and cultural Mecca Kyoto! "Curry King" FTF came back for a month's stint and we headed to Mt. Hakkoda heaps. Most memorable was our backcountry hike up "Maedake", and sweet ride down, carving fresh lines through powder, until I hit a hidden tree stump and went flying, superman style into prickly brush. I almost escaped unscathed, minus an avocado imprint on my left thigh to prove the tale. An exact replica from a former incident in December also proved to be a quirky conversation starter in Australia while basking on Bondi beach in my bikini. Names and countries of origin were bypassed and the first question I was usually asked was, "What the hell happened to you?!"
On March 2nd, my parents, two sisters and B.G. arrived in Aomori for a week's stay! Though initially hesitant as to how I'd be able to weld two separate spheres together, and most importantly, how the six of us could survive sleeping in cramped quarters of my modest flat, I can honestly say it was one of the best weeks I've had in Japan. Time and again my family impressed me with their enthusiasm to try anything. My papa even tasted cod testes, a local delicacy which I usually decline! We team taught at Toyama together, and my sisters became instant celebrities. The students whipped out their mobile phones and simultaneously snapped photos of the blue eyed blondies. My Momma was also a hit, surrounded by her groupies for so long I had to shoo the flies away! I was really happy to host B.G. too. He balanced Spofford silliness well, and I know my Papa enjoyed their coffee talk and pool swim in piggy pink swim caps! Other highlights of the week were trying on kimonos (of which you've probably already viewed the pic), partaking in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, drinking "sake" with my colleagues, and visiting the biggest Buddha in Japan!
A day after my family and B.G. left, T.R. arrived with two great loves: raw cheese and a jar of gold - Maranatha PB. I was so excited to see him that I couldn't resist leaping into his arms! We spent the rest of the evening eating spicy black bean soup and re-inventing lyrics to "Down by the Bay". "Have you ever had a squeal, atop the world's tallest wheel?" ...down by the bay! Actually yes, I have, but to avoid any ambiguity it was from my fear of heights. Ironically enough though, it was on Valentine's Day in Yokohama with my good mate C.H.! At the bottom of the ferris wheel were 3 men with boxes of dark chocolate - a third love. I was told to choose the cutest of the lot. Two young bucks were getting all the biz, so I opted for the oldie! His toothless gaping grin is all I recall of that moment.
At midnight March 15th I welcomed two more MN mates: M.S. (now M.S.M.), and her husband J.M.! Though M.S.M. and I hadn't seen each other for eons, we picked up where we left off, and by 3 a.m. we were almost brought up to speed. For the next four days we ventured around Aomori, taking in Take-san's magnificent massages, hitting up hot springs, and snacking on "kaiten" conveyor belt sushi! On Sunday we skipped onto the "Shinkansen", and 5 train rides later arrived in Hiroshima. Giving into growling tummies, we wandered to "Okonomura" for Japan's best "Okonomiaki" - Hiroshima style: a layered dish consisting of a thin pancake, cabbage and bean sprouts, soba buckwheat noodles, and a fried egg all topped with a savory salty sweet sauce!
Neither Hiroshima nor Kyoto was what I'd imagined them to be. Hiroshima was SO VERDANT, one would never guess it was destroyed by an atomic bomb 60 years ago. And, Kyoto's modernity took me by surprise. I didn't expect to see skyscrapers, Starbuck's coffee and subway lines! However, after wandering for four days I realized "my" Kyoto DID exist; Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines were everywhere, sandwiched between fast food chains and scattered around the city. It was stunning to see such stark contrast side by side. I felt like Dorothy, leaving a black and white world in Kansas and stepping into colorful Oz. I didn't find a Scarecrow, Tinman or Lion, but I was lucky to spot a Geisha! If you're in search of a light read may I recommend Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki. I believe it clears up a lot of misconceptions about Geisha, and gives good insight into the actual lives they lead. Best of all it was written by one.
If you're keen to see more pictures check out my flickr account! I've posted photos of Australia, Vietnam, Hiroshima, Kyoto and favorite students at school! The link is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emspofford - "dozo". Last, I should further explain my blog entry "To Who This May Concern...". The Lyseng Scholarship is a memorial dedicated to my grandparents, and is offered through St. Francis in L.F., assisting music students with lessons or instruments. My momma jokingly told me to apply when I decided to replace the Yamaha flute I've had since 4th grade, so I wrote a sincere flattering essay - which worked! This time I chose a 2006 German Weimar open hole flute - it's lovely!
