Shuji--Calligraphy

Well recently I won't lie and I've been in the slumps because this city combined with this job can make for a very depressing time. The work is so that we can't make plans to join a club or anything because classes could change and have changed. Then on the weekends I don't want to commit because it's my me time and traveling time (if I have the mula). After being depressed I couldn't join Japanese class and I came all the way to Japan (that actually REALLY irks me, jeeze) I asked my students if they knew where I could take a calligraphy class. I don't want to learn Ikebana (flower arrangement), Taiko (Japanese drum), but I figured calligraphy might actually be cool.

I feel guilty asking students things for personal gain but when two of three were late I took the opportunity to ask my class of elementary teachers if she knew of one. She didn't and soon Naomi and Tsugie were rushing in, and she asked them. Well I was surprised because they journal about their weekends every week and not once has Naomi talked about calligraphy class but, surprise, surprise, she takes one on Saturdays and called up her teacher right there! I was in! So Saturday I went to Nomura-sensei's house and it was just the three of us. She doesn't know English so I can actually kill two birds with one stone, hooray! That's actually a good thing. It was kind of like being hit in the head because for once I had to understand and speak Japanese with no other option. Nomura-sensei was super genki, which in Japanese means energetic or healthy, I think it's more accurate to say that than just 'energetic'. She's very animated and happy spirited and I learned a lot in a short period of time. Such as 'pretend you are holding an egg under your arm' and 'DON'T MOVE YOUR WRIST' and 'You are great!' but it sure didn't feel like it after all her barkings of 'rerax, rerax' because my shoulders were too tense while I was writing.

After the class and lunch, Naomi took me to a calligraphy exhibition at the city hall where I got to see Nomura's work and other awesome pieces. This one is Nomura's and is for her granddaughter. It was painted with baby hair for the brush since I think she didn't live very long. Sad but beautiful I think.

Then this one was one of my favorites. At first I thought it was a flower, but it's actually "tanoshi." It's the kanji for "fun" and boy, does it look fun :) After the exhibition, there were tables of kids doing calligraphy crafts and even though I just started studying that morning, Normua and Naomi challenged me to sit and try it! I had a little audience and I messed up once and needed to start over, but by the end I had a cute little "aki zora" or "autumn sky" kanji written on pressed paper and ready to hang on display. Very fun. I hope I see improvement though... HA!

And lastly, this is for my brother, look at all the bonsai trees in the front of Nomura's house! Her husband grows them all. I hope I can go back soon!