It’s been a while since my last post and for good reason. Right now, I’m sitting in the computer lab of the Center for International Education here at Kansai Gaidai, surrounded by students who are all tweaking essays and cramming for exams within the next few hours. Just like in the US, people’s social lives tend to take a hit around exam time here in Japan. This month has been a whirlwind of studying, cooking, and getting ready for my return to the US in two months. Even if I would rather focus on what’s going on here in Hirakata city, a part of me still has to remain dedicated to the chess match that is class schedule planning, thinking ahead a few moves to make sure I can still come out on top in the end.
Some pretty great things have happened this month. I’ve started to see notable progress in my ceramics ability as the month as advanced, and Inomata Sensei has been coming over to check on my wheel less and less frequently. Just like the art professors at Rollins, Professor Inomata prefers to show rather than explain, allowing students to experiment and come to understanding at their own speeds. In the end, it’s all about the effort you put in, and as I’ve put in more effort, I’ve seen more come out of the process. Nothing is ever as easy as it looks, but the goal is to make it look that easy. Five hundred cups later and I think I might just be starting to see that point arrive.
Some of my favorite pieces so far :)
One of the other biggest things to happen this month was attending the Osaka Pride Parade with some of my closest friends here in Japan. I knew how crazy American Pride Parades get, so knowing how reserved Japanese society is, I had no idea what to expect. Despite being a lot quieter than any parade you’d find in the USA, we all had a good time eating food, marching for equality, watching a couple get married, and supporting local charities. It was heartwarming to see the response some of the Osaka community gave as we passed, hanging rainbow banners from store windows, shouting in support, waving, and following us on our route, especially considering the fact that the lgbtq+ community has a very quiet voice within an already reserved society.
All of us at Pride, photo courtesy of Chris Moody
Look forward to pictures and descriptions of dessert buffets, kimonos, Japanese Nightlife, and the Kansai Gaidai Halloween Festival in my next post!