Days 28-30: 大変なこと ("difficult things")

Okay, before I begin, it is hopefully clear that my life is not actually very "difficult." I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be here in Japan (thanks once again to the Yale Japanese Department and the Light Fellowship). Tuesday through Thursday of last week was the end of the first "semester" here, so it was crunch time, right at the height of my previously-discussed frustrations in class.

(Oh, by the way, I should have made this clear earlier, but I am completely safe and avoided the typhoon that came roaring about to the south this time last week. For those who were concerned, thank you for your thoughts, and sorry to worry you!)

After class on Tuesday, it became clear I'd have to do a significant amount of self-study before returning to Yale if I hoped to place into 3rd-year Japanese. My hope has been that I can spend this next year auditing the next level of Japanese, then take 4th year my super-senior year. But even if this doesn't pan out, it's ok. I have to remind myself that I am not here, primarily, for class. Not at all in fact. I am here for the experience. After all, it makes little sense to spend my time living in Japan geared toward preparing for Japanese class at Yale... It should be the inverse, no? (And the Light Fellowship has encouraged this: "Go for the A minus," they say).

Well, in my frustration, of course I had to get soft serve with friends (c.f. "my life is not actually very difficult," above). We then headed to a local high school to participate in a tea ceremony, hosted by a club of high school students who spend twice a week training in the highly ritualized practice. The tea ceremony holds a significant position in Japanese culture historically, and traditionally could take up to several hours. We got to experience a brief version, thankfully, and the freshly whipped-up matcha tea was delicious.

That night I set about memorizing a four-minute speech I had written, entirely in Japanese, for the mandatory speech contest the next day. My topic was "大変なこと" (difficult things) – my message being that difficult experiences are necessary and help you grow (yes, I know, I need to listen to my own advice).

On Wednesday, I was actually fairly nervous for the speech itself. I mean, it's a pretty big feat to create and memorize and deliver a significant chunk of text in a foreign language, let alone a newly-learned one, no? Well, everyone did quite well, and before my speech one of my classmates, Hassan-san from Stanford, kindly listened as I practiced babbling my speech to her in the hallway.

The speeches done, several of us went out to lunch together and found a nearby soba restaurant to eat at. We ended up mulling around for about an hour while they made space for us, but it was well worth it; I had a rather delicious soba set, both cold and hot soba noodles, with some Japanese sake to drink. There doesn't seem to be too much nutritional value to soba, as its pretty much just plain noodles, but regardless...

Thursday was the last day of the semester, and thus the final exam, which went fine. The oral exam was less excellent on my part, but what can you do. (Study endlessly? I suppose, but once again, the goal is for the experience of Japan here.) On the way home, the semester over, I walked leisurely, stopping to think and read along the way – and to swing on a swingset I came across.

Now, I NEED to just brag about the meal that Okaasan made for us on Thursday evening. It was a literal feast; she kept bringing out plate after plate of genuinely delicious food. The main feature was a bowl of rice topped with sashimi (sashimi being my favorite Japanese food), a salad with crab, squid sashimi, grilled squid legs, miso soup, pork and grilled onions and peppers, and some pickled vegetables. Wow. It took me about 2.5 hours to eat.

By the way, I must add that squid legs is exactly the kind of thing that would have made me squeamish at a month ago, but which I now find delicious. I am learning...

Next up, I packed my bags and headed to Sapporo – a large metropolitan to the north – for the weekend. Stay tuned!