Sunday, July 19, 2009

Kyudo : The Japanese Archery

Kyudo. I heard about Kyudo for the first time was when.. wow I forgot. I just know that it is the japanese archery with bow and arrow. The first time I saw what Kyudo actually looks like when I visit Japan and I can say that Kyudo is very… artistic.

Maybe some of you never heard about Kyudo. Well, you can find some information here. And you can even watch an animation about Kyudo here. It’s nice animation, I can say.

I wanna learn it. I think Kyudo is a beautiful art. I googled for a week, trying to find any dojo in Jakarta, but.. I am so dissapointed that we don’t have Kyudo Dojo in Jakarta. Not even one. Should I go to Japan again to learn it? Hehe..

Well, if you know where I can learn Kyudo in Jakarta, Indonesia, please, contact me! I’m dying to know. Kyudo and Aikido. Sounds good. I hope I can learn Kyudo someday! =D When in Takamatsu Daiichi High School, we were shown the basic steps in Kyudo and it looked so interesting. I even tried the basic archery with bow made from rubber (not the real one) once.

By the way, I just bought the Twilight Director’s Notebook hahaa.. Actually, I already bought and read it before I went to Japan. And as I thought, the book was great! Catherine Hardwicke did a good job in the moie and the book, I was amazed. Good job for her!

Okay then, I gotta go. Thanks for reading! =D

Bye bye and see ya’!

Posted by Maya in 07:42:30 | Permalink | No Comments »

Saturday, July 18, 2009

My Summer In Japan!

What cross into your mind when you read the title?

Japan. For me, whenever I heard of word ‘Japan’, I will start thinking of: kanji, Japanese, hanabi, sakura, kimono, yukata, sushi, shrine, mount fuji, seifuku, etc. Honestly, I never think I would ever visit Japan because, you know, everybody says that everything in Japan is expensive, including the airplane tickets!

So, when my dad said it’s been confirmed that I am going to Japan on June 29, 2009, I was ecstatic! I never been to Japan before and I want to go there since a long time ago. I learnt Japanese Language (Nihongo) when I was in middle school. I learnt Aikido, I love watching Japanese doramas to see what ordinary life in Japan looks like (since Japanese dorama never exagrete the Japanese real life, I am so glad for that fact).

June 28, I had to stay for two days at Sultan Hotel, Jakarta for pre-departure things. I attended a program called JENESYS. There was 4 groups in this program which in every group consists of 23 students and 2 Indonesian coordinator. There were Hokkaido Group, Kanagawa Group, Yamagata Group and Kagawa Group. Which group was I? Guess!

Okay, I am in Kagawa Group. =D

My plane (we used JAL) will depart from Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng at 22.00 pm on June 29, 2009. When we arrived in the airport, we were given a mask, for swine flu anticipation. I was okay with that. Besides, I didn’t want to get swine flu in the middle of my trip! I always wore my mask except when I ate.

After 7 hours flight, which I cannot sleep almost the whole night, I saw Japan for the first time!
Green and clean. That was my first impression when I saw Japan from the airplane’s window. Then, finally, Japan! Here I am!

After a long line in immigration, finally we went to the Asakusa View Hotel from Narita International Airport by bus. I can’t put my eyes off the view. I still can’t believe that I was in Japan! So, after one hour and half, finally we reached Asakusa View Hotel that I should say the rooms were cute. And, because the last time I had a long flight is when I came back from Pittsburgh, I was jet-leg.

After slept for awhile and ate bento (lunch box), in the evening we were discussed a little about Japan with the Japanese and we went out to find dinner. We ate in a restaurant with tempura! So delicious for sure.. =9

I went to hyaku-en shop (100 yen store) and bought lot of cute japanese things like uchiwa (Japanese fan), transparent umbrella like the one I saw in doramas (and in Tokyo itself!), postcards, etc. Asakusa is a district in Tokyo. Everybody ride bicycle (ride bicycle in Jakarta? wow, it’s kinda rare and dangerous!) or walk. No traffic, almost no pollution. Light on Tokyo. Just beautiful.

Japanese people was friendly. They were friendlier than I thought. For me, they were even friendlier than Indonesian. They had an amazing record, Japan has the lowest criminality in the world, they say. Sugoii (amazing!).

The next day, after a short lecture, we all went to Asakusa Shrine and Edo Museum. Asakusa Shrine was so cool with a long road of shops. I wanted to have a fortune-teller. It was 100 yen. But I didn’t because I was afraid mine will be a bad one and I cannot translate it and it’ll full of kanji. So, I bought some souvenirs there. One hour was not enough! But the end I bought an omamori (lucky charm) for keepsake.

Then, we all went to Edo Museum that was full of Tokyo’s history in Edo Time. After that, we went to Shinjuku for dinner. We all surprised when we found out that we were having dinner Indonesian food! But, still, it’s more delicious here of course.

Next day, we all separated. Four groups went to 4 different prefecture. Hokkaido Group went to Hokkaido by JAL. Yamagata Group went to Yamagata by Shinkansen (a super express train) and honestly I envy them, I really want to ride Shinkansen. Kanagawa Group when to Kanagawa (the capital city is Yokohama and it’s near Tokyo) by bus. And Kagawa Group went to Kagawa by ANA. And we went to Haneda Airport.

After one hour flight, finally we were in Kagawa! Wow. That’s what I can say when I felt the air for the first time. Cool, comfortable, pleasant. I don’t wanna go home, I said to myself that time. Kagawa is the smallest prefecture in Japan and it consists of green mountains, sea, rice field, etc. People still use traditional house (japanese style made from woods).

We went to see Seto Ohashi (Seto Bridge). It’s connecting Honshu Island and Shikoku Island. Have two tracks. One for cars, trucks, buses, etc. And the second one for train. Very long bridge and it’s said to be the sister of Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco.

After that finally went to hotel. Rihga Zest Takamatsu Hotel. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that the capital city of Kagawa is Takamatsu. We had a rest because we all so tired. I watched TV and find the commercial about Harry Potter and the Half-blood prince. Very interesting.

The next day was the one I’ve been looking for because we will have a visit to Takamatsu Daiichi High School! I can’t wait to meet Japanese students and introduce Indonesia to them. Exchange culture and knowledges. But, in the morning, we will have a visit to Ritsurin Park and have a tea ceremony.

Ritsurin Park is a Japanese style park and I looove it. While the tea ceremony, hmm.. how should I say about this one. I love the ceremony but I didn’t like the tea because it’s so bitter and I got a wrong method/steps so it’s even more bitter for me. But it’s okay. I even enjoyed it so much that I think 30 minutes was not enough!

Then, school time! Takamatsu Daiichi High School was exactly like I thought. It looked like Aya’s high school in One Litre Of Tears (Higashikou High School). I met 5 girls. They are Hina, Miyu, Aki, Miyuka, and Chihiro. And there was a cool guy from kyudo (Japanese Archery Arts) named Takeshi. They are very friendly. We talked a lot and even though my Japanese was a bit poor, but I can communicate with them. I promised I will study Nihongo harder from now!

Then, we all have a school tour. Dorama mitai (looks like in dorama). This school (if I don’t mistaken, please forgive me if I do) has 3 main major. Science, music and english. And they do have a firld trip to Englad! How lucky they are?

After that, we all divided to 3 groups to join their extra curriculer! Kendo, calligraphy or kyudo. I really hope I will be in Kendo or Kyudo. Don’t get me wrong, I am interested with calligraphy things but I think I am more into martial arts =)

And, lucky me, I got Kyudo! Japanese Archery Art. I never do shooting-arrow like Legolas in Lord of the Rings or Susan in The Chronicles Of Narnia. It was so exciting. They practice really serious. No sounds, no talk. All they need is full focus and concentration. They wore gi and hakama like Aikidoka too (even though I don’t wear Hakama because I still blue belt). Very cool and astonish how they practicing.

The school ends. I hope we can have a longer time in Takamatsu Daiichi. The school was great. If you, the reader, is one of Takamatsu Daiichi High School, I want to say thank you very much for everything back then =) And sorry if we have made trouble for you guys..

Now it’s time to meet my host family. Have I said to you that this program include homestay? Maybe I haven’t? Well, this JENESYS program has a homestay program for 3 days 2 night for Kagawa Group. Each group has different time for homestay, depends on each group activities.

And finally, I met them. An 43-years-old mother named Ikuyo Norihisa and 18-years-old daughter named Wakana Norihisa. I had a roommate from my group, Rika. They were so kind and pretty. We went to a mall and had dinner there. Wakana-san even took us for purikura (photo sticker studio).

We went home at 8.30 pm (Japan Time) and they said it took 1 hour from Takamatsu. And it did really far. I like the house. Traditionally Japanese style. They have a dog named Lucky. Actually, the dog is super cute, but I was scared of it. Hehe..

Norihisa Family has 7 members. Otousan (Father), Okaasan (Mother), Wakana-san, Yoshiki, Maho, Obaasan and Ojiisan (they were not in home). Maho and Yoshiki were shy. After introduction, we went to sleep. We slept in Japanese style bed. So comfortabe, I can say =)

The next day, we went to lot of place, so I cannot write the details. In the morning, after breakfast, we went (me, Rika, Ikuyo-san, Wakana-san, and Maho-san) to community center to cook and ate together. We met Ikuyo-san’s parents as well. They are very kind. After that, we went to mall to meet an Indonesian girl and chatted.

After that, we went to Marugame Castle. It’s beautiful and high. After that, we went home =)

After playing badminton, we go out to have dinner. We went to hyaku-en shop and book store before it. We had dinner delicious sushi and tempura and yakitori. Hmm.. Yummy! We played Hanabi when we got home. Beautiful.. And then met Ojiisan that came home from Kyushu. We chatted a lot and we exchange omiyage (souvenirs). I gave Maduran Hat and Batiks. And they gave me and Rika.. yukata! Wow, I am very happy! Ikuyo-san put the yukata on us. After that we chatted until late hehe..

The nect morning, we went to Kotohira Shrine or Kompira Shrine. We had to hike to get into the top. Can any of you guess how many stairs we should take? Nobody? Alright, I just googled it and it said it has 785 steps! Don’t you believe it? I never hike that high, I have to admitted. It’s a brand new thing and I was so happy I did that.

We did a ritual there, they said they will go to this shrine every new year. There was a ritual like throw a coin to one of the shrine and make a wish. Like what Ikeuchi Family did in One Litre Of Tears =D

After that, we had udon as lunch. Oshikatta (it was delicious). Then, we went to another shrine again, but I forgot the name (I forgot or didn’t know?)

After that, we went home and I was very tired because of the hiking thing in the morning. So I slept for half hour and had to get ready after that. I wore Kebaya (Indonesian traditional clothes) for the dinner in Takamatsu. Oh yeah, we had to come back to Rihga Zest Takamatsu Hotel because it’s already the time. Time’s up. Homestay program has ended. Finally I met Obaasan, and I was so sad to leave. I hope Norihisa Family always fine and I can meet them again someday =)

Norihisa Family was soo kind. Thank you very much! I am sorry if I did some mistakes back then. Thank you very much!

I went back to hotel with a surprise. My friend was admitted to the hospital. And the schedule for tomorrow was canceled. I was so sad and really hope my friend will be fine. So, the next day, we had Japanese Lesson. In the free time, I made origami with my roommate. But in the end of the day, 2 of my friends also admitted to hospital. I try to be healthy, everyone too.

The next day, we sad because we had to come back to Tokyo without 3 of our friends. In Tokyo, we had lunch in National Garden, but we have to wear mask again to prevent swine flu. And we have a trip around Tokyo afterwards.

We changed the hotel. From Asakusa View Hotel to Shinagawa Prince Hotel. It was a nice hotel too. We took a rest because we’re so tired. And me, I didn’t sleep on 10 pm like usual, but slept on 11.30 pm because I try to finishing novel Summer In Seoul by Ilana Tan. It is Indonesian novel and the story quite good.

The next day, we went to TEPIA : The Advanced Technology Exhibition Hall. All about Technology. There were a lot of different robots and sophisticated things. Made me want to take technology as my major in college.

After from TEPIA, we had lunch in someplace near sea but I forgot the name. We ate big bento there. Then, I just realized (or maybe I already realized from yesterday?) that today in Indonesia is election day! That was my very first election and I hope I didn’t miss it!

Everyone who already 17 or more had to bring passport to do the election in Japan. So we went to Meguro to elect in Sekolah Republik Indonesia Tokyo. It was soo cool! My first election was in Tokyo, Japan!

You can even find the news here =)

After that, we went back to the hotel to attend presentation, the closing ceremony and dinner. Tomorrow we had to come back to Indonesia. I was so sad. We didn’t do the presentation because some our schedule was canceled when we were in Kagawa but it’s okay. And I had to say that 2 of my friends were admitted to hospital again, so the total of my friends who had to stay more longer in Japan is five.

I cannot believe my trip in Japan finally over. So the next day, we went to Narita Airport and I felt like I wanna cry. Really. I don’t know when I can come back to Japan again. When the plane took off, I can’t turn my head off the window. I want to see Japan for the last time before I came back to Indonesia. Bye bye Japan, I know I will miss you so much..

And.. here I am now! In Indonesia and very fine. I know I won’t forget my summer trip to Japan forever. Thank you very much to Norihisa Family, thank you for everything! I had a very good time there. I wish I can meet them again. And to Kagawa Group, I know I miss them. Keiko-san (the coordinator from Japan), Otake-san, Riana-san, Takahashi-san, Bu Indah, Pak Edy, miss you all..

Wow.. this must be the longest post I’ve ever written. And full of colourful photos too. Hope you didn’t get bored while you read it =D This post is special. This is like my journal and I want to share about my experience to everyone.

So.. How’s it? Do you guys enjoy my story? Please share with me! =D

And by the way, thank you very much for reading my post.. I hope I didn’t bored you with this post hehe. And you know, I was wondering, maybe I want to work in Japan. Or study abroad there. I will study Nihongo more serious from now. Just.. wish me luck okay?

Okay then, once again, thanks for reading my journal blog. I was planning to write just a little in the first place, but I just cannot stop writing. Well, writing is my passion after all.

Thank you very much.. I’ll post more interesting things later! Bye bye and see ya’!

Posted by Maya in 13:15:45 | Permalink | Comments (3)