Deep in time's crevasse
Trip Start
Sep 23, 2008
1
16
22
Trip End
Dec 21, 2008
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Tokyo,
Kanto,
Japan
Monday, October 27, 2008
One night in Kawaguchi, we were watching the news and they were doing a story on the Triennale. The artist whose work they were spending a significant amount of time talking about was LA's own Miranda July, who wrote "No one belongs here more than you," and "Learning to love you more," and I met her after her show at Bumbershoot last summer (Emma has her autograph to prove this). The exhibit was extremely engaging and inspiring and i felt like an artist myself just observing and thinking about the art. It made me realize that anyone can do art, it's just the people who become very successful seem to have endless amounts of creativity and patience. If I had an abundance of these I would turn my life around and go to art school. (I'll stick to doodles for now... and calligraphy class on Thursdays!) I took a few pictures of the bigger works of art, but there were some really interesting ones that I felt guilty capturing with my digi cam. An image wouldn't do them justice; this art was more of the "be there and experience it" sort. I will definetely go back if I have time. Though, my weekends are filling up fast. I spent all day commuting to and walking around Yokohama and it was very cool to be in a familiar place for once. The last time I came to Japan- for those who don't know- I stayed in Yokohama for 2 weeks. The Triennale was at Shinko Pier, next to Yamashita Koen and Aka Renga where I ran every morning during my stay! Very cool to see the area two years later and in a different scene. Though, most things look the same. near the exhibit, to my surprise, was a Thai festival and tons of people were drinking beer and eating all sorts of grilled meat and noodles. I'm trying my hardest to do the vegetarian thing so I ate fresh spring rolls and deep fried (not the healthiest...) banana and sweet potato! It was the most delicious!
The next day, sunday, I met my friend Rhiana at the train station and together we took the subway to Hikarigoaka where one of our classmates' homestay is. We were both very surprised when we got out of the station because it was away from the noisy busy city. Lots of trees, home gardens/mini fields, parks with grass (very rare), and tons of young familys out a about. Hikarigaoka is known for being a good place to raise kids, and in turn has some of the best elementary and junior high schools: or so I was told. Our friend Suzanne (who also goes to WWU) and 3-year-old son (Kiichi) of the host family met us at the station and we walked to the beautiful Japanese suburbian home along quiet, friendly feeling streets. (I decided I could live in this neighborhood) The house was clean and very new looking. The host mother, Midori, greeted us very warmly and we gave her our hostess gifts we bought at the station (this is required in Japanese culture to bring the host sweets, flowers, etc.) Midori invited some of her friends over as well and we ate, talked, and played with Kiichi for 5 hours! Time flew out the window and into the neighbors pumpkin patch. In two weeks, Midori and her friends offered to take us to the famous fish market (Tsukiji) for sushi dinner and then see the view of the city from Tokyo Tower at night! yummm and ooooh
Yep, i'm still having fun here...
