I honestly don't remember this lesson (it's from awhile ago). This week just enjoy the before and after. Maybe you can find the differences and the potential lesson in the arrangement. Looking at my first attempt again, the big green leaf really bothers me now. It's too tall. I really taking pictures of arrangments from … Continue reading Ikenobo Arrangement #6
Ahh arrangement #2. This was my second week of lessons and the first time I would be alone with my new teacher. Well not totally alone. I was wasn't the only student studying under her. Sometimes, there are women there taking lessons or finishing up when I arrive. Time is very flexible. I arrive after … Continue reading Weekly Ikenobo: Arrangemnet #2
Food and alcohol are undeniably an important part of Karatsu Kunchi. Locals open their houses to family, neighbors, friends, and even strangers to come and spend a little time eating and drinking. Most of the women and some of the men in the family will work tirelessly to prepare a variety and large quantities of food. … Continue reading Karatsu Kunchi: Feasting and House-hopping
Check out my pictures from Karatsu Kunchi 2017. The first slideshow is from the first night. Sorry if some of the quality is bad, all of these photos were taken with my iPhone. Day 2: The Sand Pull and too many people. And finally, a couple videos I took during the first two days of … Continue reading Karatsu Kunchi 2017 Album
After a year I am returning to Ikebana. I am excited to get back to my flowers. Originally, I was taking Ikenobo classes at the local community center in my neighborhood but it became too expensive in the long run. after a few months of quitting the community program, I found out that one of … Continue reading Return to Ikebana: Arrangement 1
Life will send you important lessons to learn. And sometimes life has to send them again because you didn't learn your lesson the first time. That is what happened last weekend when I went to take the N4 JLPT. I studied for months and took two Japanese lessons per week so I could pass the exam. I … Continue reading JLPT Failure: Life Lessons, Culture Clash, and Sunburn
Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long for the rain to come. In the week after my first trip to the Ouchi Hydrangea Festival, it rained. By Friday, the rain had stopped and I dashed over to Ouchi after work to enjoy the refreshed flowers in the evening light. Along the way, I picked up … Continue reading After the Rain – Ouchi Ajisai Matsuri
I apologize for the lack of posts this month. I caught a bad bug earlier this month and was out of commission for about a week and then I had to play catch up at work. On top of that, we are preparing for the arrival of our new JET ALTs in Saga! It's an … Continue reading Ochi Ajisai Matsuri 2017
I can't believe May is already over. And I can't believe there is only one month left until the JLPT Test in July. I'm not sure if I'm ready. My Kanji recognition has gotten better and my reading is faster but is it enough to pass the JLPT N4 test? June will be spent Studying … Continue reading June Reading List: JLPT Prep
After the Sakura finish blooming in early March, you don't have to wait long for another famous flower to bloom. Early May (AKA Golden Week), is the best time to see blooming Wisteria. Since I was traveling a lot during Golden Week I was able to see various places from Karatsu to Kyoto covered in … Continue reading Wisteria Hysteria: Golden Week
