Run Fast.

We lead our lives like water flowing down a hill, going more or less in one direction until we splash into something that forces us to find a new course.
Ok the photo isn’t so go good but you will get the idea. I knowwww, each of my posts have become more and more spread out, I realize this. But as I attempted to get up and get a move on today (only thing on the agenda- homework) I looked out the window and we were having the most peculiar rain storm. I’ve never really experienced one like it here, but it was the most Japanese rain storm I’ve ever seen.  What do I mean by a Japanese rain storm? How can rain be Japanese? In many ways. First, it started ever so slightly. It was cloudy out, but more in a, perhaps it might rain, maybe not sort of way. During the summer time working at the YMCA, we would play this sort of “game” to get the kids to quiet down at the beginning of the day. First we would rub our hands together. One counselor would start it, and as each person saw they would start rubbing their hands together too, and eventually, all the kids were rubbing their hands together. The rain begins. Then the leader would change to snapping. The whole room snaps. Then hitting your legs Then an outrageous burst of clapping and stomps. Then pats, then snaps, then rubbing. Peacefulness, and a weird sort of smile would spread across some of the kids faces- we had captured a rain storm. And it was cool. But what does this have to do with the Japanese rain storm I was talking about? Well, because it was perfect. It built up, and then worked its way back down, and it was peaceful. It lasted for the perfect amount of time and left everything greener than it was before it started, complete with birds chirping, kids playing and the sun peeking through the clouds.  Great great Alex you can explain a rain storm. More of a shower if you will. But you still haven’t said anything that makes it Japanese. Well really I have- the Japanese are perfect. 1. They are quiet. I know what you’re thinking now- OK you have to be one of the more loud people I know. How can I put quiet into a list of things that are perfect? But really. When I arrived here I was shocked, where is all the noise? There are plenty of cars and people. But no noise. It wasnt that sort of eerie silence, just content silence. And thats how the Japanese are - contently silent. On the bus, on the train, in class. Just minding their own business, going about their day, no need for that static of useless noise. 2. They are compact. Yes, its true. The Japanese are tiny. When I see a tall person I have to make a comment or at least stare for an uncomfortable amount of time (I think I’m turning Japanese). But not only are the people themselves small, everything they have is small! This may have something to do with the so called “over crowding” problem in Japan. But really there is plenty of space for the Japanese to go, its just that Japan is 80% mountainous, and that other 20% is where the people swarm to and live. They have small houses for one. They have everything they need and nothing else. Of course some people have larger homes, but even then the house is filled with the bare necessities and simple elegance. Small cars for another. To go along with their small houses… its funny to see the crazy spots people can fit their cars into. I also turn my head when I see an “American” sized car on the road. The food/beverages. Now this is something I don’t understand- OK, have your small portions. Thats absolutely fine, in fact I believe I prefer it that way. But please just give me a drink that is more than 3 gulps. I’m not in kindergarten anymore, juice-boxes aren’t going to cut it. I mean, how do you stay hydrated?! Bottom line- everything is smaller and more compact here, and it has its pros and cons. 3. They are considerate. They really care about the environment and people around them. Like the rain storm leaving everything more green, Japan is absolutely immaculate. There is no trash anywhere. Not even a scrap of paper, or a wad of gum. That being said-they also do not have an abundance of trash cans. They are just trash-less people. Who knows where all that trash is going, but it is definitely not littering the environment. And when you do stumble across a trash can, it is not a trash can at all but rather multiple bins on for PET bottles, plastic, cans, glass, and “burnables”. PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are what most of the drinks you buy in a vending machine or store come in, and they are plastic bottles that are recycled and the material gets reused for a gazillion different things. I tried to get a better explanation but it got too scientific- all I know is PET=good. Not only do the Japanese not like trash, but they love cleanliness in general- we have people on our campus that sweep everywhere, weed daily. Our campus looks brand spanking new, like no one has ever touched it.  The Japanese also love plants. Every (I really mean every)  house you pass there are potted plants and flowers surrounding it. Hanging on the fence, sitting outside the door, resting on top of a railing. Nicer houses even have their own zen gardens. Or even when you pass an empty lot of land among apartment buildings, there lies a community garden.  So you see- the Japanese are perfectly polite compact quite environment lovers. Like the rain storm- they just live. But live gently. 

Ok the photo isn’t so go good but you will get the idea. I knowwww, each of my posts have become more and more spread out, I realize this. But as I attempted to get up and get a move on today (only thing on the agenda- homework) I looked out the window and we were having the most peculiar rain storm. I’ve never really experienced one like it here, but it was the most Japanese rain storm I’ve ever seen. 

What do I mean by a Japanese rain storm? How can rain be Japanese? In many ways. First, it started ever so slightly. It was cloudy out, but more in a, perhaps it might rain, maybe not sort of way. During the summer time working at the YMCA, we would play this sort of “game” to get the kids to quiet down at the beginning of the day. First we would rub our hands together. One counselor would start it, and as each person saw they would start rubbing their hands together too, and eventually, all the kids were rubbing their hands together. The rain begins. Then the leader would change to snapping. The whole room snaps. Then hitting your legs Then an outrageous burst of clapping and stomps. Then pats, then snaps, then rubbing. Peacefulness, and a weird sort of smile would spread across some of the kids faces- we had captured a rain storm. And it was cool.

But what does this have to do with the Japanese rain storm I was talking about? Well, because it was perfect. It built up, and then worked its way back down, and it was peaceful. It lasted for the perfect amount of time and left everything greener than it was before it started, complete with birds chirping, kids playing and the sun peeking through the clouds. 

Great great Alex you can explain a rain storm. More of a shower if you will. But you still haven’t said anything that makes it Japanese. Well really I have- the Japanese are perfect.

1. They are quiet. I know what you’re thinking now- OK you have to be one of the more loud people I know. How can I put quiet into a list of things that are perfect? But really. When I arrived here I was shocked, where is all the noise? There are plenty of cars and people. But no noise. It wasnt that sort of eerie silence, just content silence. And thats how the Japanese are - contently silent. On the bus, on the train, in class. Just minding their own business, going about their day, no need for that static of useless noise.

2. They are compact. Yes, its true. The Japanese are tiny. When I see a tall person I have to make a comment or at least stare for an uncomfortable amount of time (I think I’m turning Japanese). But not only are the people themselves small, everything they have is small! This may have something to do with the so called “over crowding” problem in Japan. But really there is plenty of space for the Japanese to go, its just that Japan is 80% mountainous, and that other 20% is where the people swarm to and live. They have small houses for one. They have everything they need and nothing else. Of course some people have larger homes, but even then the house is filled with the bare necessities and simple elegance. Small cars for another. To go along with their small houses… its funny to see the crazy spots people can fit their cars into. I also turn my head when I see an “American” sized car on the road. The food/beverages. Now this is something I don’t understand- OK, have your small portions. Thats absolutely fine, in fact I believe I prefer it that way. But please just give me a drink that is more than 3 gulps. I’m not in kindergarten anymore, juice-boxes aren’t going to cut it. I mean, how do you stay hydrated?! Bottom line- everything is smaller and more compact here, and it has its pros and cons.

3. They are considerate. They really care about the environment and people around them. Like the rain storm leaving everything more green, Japan is absolutely immaculate. There is no trash anywhere. Not even a scrap of paper, or a wad of gum. That being said-they also do not have an abundance of trash cans. They are just trash-less people. Who knows where all that trash is going, but it is definitely not littering the environment. And when you do stumble across a trash can, it is not a trash can at all but rather multiple bins on for PET bottles, plastic, cans, glass, and “burnables”. PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are what most of the drinks you buy in a vending machine or store come in, and they are plastic bottles that are recycled and the material gets reused for a gazillion different things. I tried to get a better explanation but it got too scientific- all I know is PET=good. Not only do the Japanese not like trash, but they love cleanliness in general- we have people on our campus that sweep everywhere, weed daily. Our campus looks brand spanking new, like no one has ever touched it. 

The Japanese also love plants. Every (I really mean every)  house you pass there are potted plants and flowers surrounding it. Hanging on the fence, sitting outside the door, resting on top of a railing. Nicer houses even have their own zen gardens. Or even when you pass an empty lot of land among apartment buildings, there lies a community garden. 

So you see- the Japanese are perfectly polite compact quite environment lovers. Like the rain storm- they just live. But live gently. 

First

this is the first post of my new japanese fashion blog (http://japanfash.tumblr.com). above is isabel lucas at the coachella music festival, and her outfit was the talk of the town. it mixes a classic and clean put together look with hippie undertones from the length of the dress and the cropped lace top, to compliment her long skinny figure and goregeous locks. Until I get my camera, decided to post my personal picks for my upcoming trip to bonnaroo (thanks mom) so keep posted.

Fantastic. Another weekend of exploring and fun with friends. Friday was the latter day of a double weekend of clubbing for a few fellow peers’ birthdays, and we went to a club called Butterfly. Cheap cover, nice bartenders, and better DJ’s than I’ve heard in a while (meaning the entire time I’ve been in Japan). The part I like about it the most though, was the fact that it was in Kyoto, which I find to have a more select nightlife, with a much better scenery. Walking out of a club in Osaka, (particularly Shinsaibashi) you are greeted with blaring fluorescent lights and hosts still looking for customers. Not what you want to be dealing with at 5 am…yes, 5 am. Now, I’m not one who really likes to party that early into the morning unless… wait, never. But this is a necessity for us Kansai Gaidai students because the trains stop at about 12:30, of course much too early for us to leave a club. Forcing us to stay in clubs usually much past our party-on expiration date, make our way to マクドナルド(i think thats how you spell it in katakana…) Yes, Ma-ku-do-na-lu-do. McDonalds. The only place you can loiter and is open 24 hours in Japan. Then catch the first train back to Hirakata-shi and try not to fall asleep and miss your stop.

Saturday (day of recovery) was probably one of the more sad days I’ve spent in Japan, as I had to say goodbye to one of my good friends here, Courtney. Yes- despite being located hundreds of miles south of destruction and devastation, many are still forced to make their way back home. Courtney leaving gave me and some others a short preview into what its going to be like on our last day- and I have to say I don’t like it one bit. But Courtney’s departure also had me thinking about the future. Soon, perhaps not soon enough for some, we are going to be college graduates, and the world will be ours. Our traveling days do not start and end with study-abroad, but rather give us a sneak peak into what awaits us after we conclude our “formal” studies. The friends that we make here are friends that we can have for the rest of our lives, if we choose. I know that I will be seeing them again in the future. 

Sunday was another first for me. I traveled to the ancient capital of Japan, Nara. Another city rich in scenic beauty and culture. Home also to many UNESCO World Heritage sites. One of the more famous and breathtaking sites was the Toda-ji Temple, the largest in Nara, and home to the Great Buddha (Daibutsu). This Buddha is a gigantic seated Buddha surrounded by lotus flowers, and is absolutely amazing. And its an intense Buddha- really. Its one of those things that you most certainly do not see everyday, and can feel the immensity of it radiating on you. I can’t imagine how many people travel just to see this, and I felt lucky I was one of them. After exploring a bit around the more crowded part of town, Nick (another New Hampshireite here) and I decided to go slightly off the beaten path and wander around the hillside above town. We passed many Shinto shrines but after walking for some time found ourselves in complete silence with only the sound of some lone deer walking through the leaves. We went off the path and climbed through a ditch to a nearby clearing we saw, and just stood. The alone-ness of it all was refreshing, and really completed the trip. We even saw a wild pig on the way home, accompanied by a radiant sunset. 

Yet again, Japan never ceases to amaze me. This small island contains more unkown and unique things that I could ever hope to see, and it is going to be sad when the day comes that I have to leave. But it is not over quite yet!!! This Easter weekend will bring many more new things, along with my wife Kelsey’s 22nd Birthday. 

Also, I will be getting a camera sometime in the next few days, and I am going to start an “Every day in Japan” fashion blog- because there is just too much fashion here that I cannot keep to myself. WAIT until you see how the kids on my campus dress. 

じゃーまた

My Apologies

I realize my last post left many in shock, especially without an update. But I promise I had good reason! Here is a long post to try and make up for it.

Shortly after the disaster I traveled to the southern island of Okinawa. I couldn’t believe how much Okinawa healed my nerves that have built up during the previous past two weeks. Stepping into our hotel at Sunset Hill was like stepping into a mixture of what you see in movies… the classic “college spring break” experience with the “classic relaxation”. The view from our room was breathtaking compared to the bland scenery we see every day in Hirakata, and the smell of the ocean made me tingle with nostalgia of past summers and times at the beach. Putting no time to waste I decided that night  I needed to head into Naha and take advantage of seeing a good friend from high school stationed close by the city. We had a blast and I got to meet plenty of new friends from the states, along with learn the basic layout of the city. Despite spending the next day recovering, we spent a pleasant night perusing the local scene, and the next day at the beach. There wasnt any sun but I cant remember the last time I just sat and read for hours with my toes in the sand, and reminded me of a family vacation that I took in Jamaica. Watching the kids play was the best part, and I could feel my love of Japanese people becoming greater, watching how much they enjoyed themselves, while at the same time being respectful to those around them. The next day I took to the water and went kayaking with Kelsey and CJ, and we had a great time just taking in the sparkling, clear blue water.

Then: sunburn. Badly. To the point where the next days cruising Naha were painful and the following days returning to Hirakata I spent sick, and peeling. But, lucky for me I had some great friends to return to and spent the last days of break relaxing and enjoying the company of others.

BOOM midterms. Going back to school in a regular schedule for the first time since the earthquake was difficult, and only now am I feeling like I am back into the swing of things. I scraped by getting decent scores on most of them, but not as well as I should have had I not had the thought of friends going home and nuclear plants constantly.

Sakura. Cherry blossoms- the ultimate Japanese experience. This past weekend I was sent back into a blissful Japanese trance while exploring ancient parts of Kyoto and taking in magical sights of the trees in bloom. To the Japanese, sakura is the symbol of spring and new beginnings, and walking around with friends I could really understand what they meant. I felt like I was stepping back in time, with women in traditional kimono walking around with their families taking pictures. Traditions that have been dating back many many years. I got to capture some of my more memborable pictures, and go to some of the most famous places in Kyoto. Nijo-jo, Mirayama koen, Kiyomizu Temple. Even a quick stop back at Osaka-jo. All beautiful and breathtaking. I think that Kyoto is one of my favorite cities to visit thus far, and I even spotted a maiko geisha scurrying from one building to another.

check out the pictures above :)

This has been hard to write. But as the middle of the week approaches and the threats only multiply, I can’t help but think about the beginning of it all. For me it began months ago, reading my tourist-y japanese travel books, excited and anxious to pick myself up and move to the other side of the globe. I read each sentence like it was the most important piece of information about Japan that I would ever find. One of these sentences read, “Japan is one of the most seismically active places in the world”. This sentence of course registered with me, and I knew what it meant, but not once did worry or fear come into my thoughts.  A few weeks before I left a good friend from home made a joke about earthquakes in Japan. Something along the lines of, “Don’t go get yourself caught in an earthquake or something like that!” I never, not once, took him seriously until this past Friday, March 11, 2011.  Walking into the Center for International Education Building at my university, I heard chatters on the way out. “Did you feel it, did you feel it?!”. I knew they must be talking about an earthquake. We had had one once before that to me had felt like I was standing next to a slightly broken washer machine. Nothing serious. I continued to walk towards the computer lab, the quake was the only subject coming out of anyone’s mouth. I thought, wow this one must have been pretty big, wonder if anyone else felt it. I signed onto one of the PC’s and logged into my yahoo! email. There it was, plastered all over the place. “8.9 QUAKE HITS JAPAN”. No…no…no. I read all of the available articles on the internet that seemed to have the most information, and listened to conversations going on around me. Students seemed to be in a frenzy about e-mailing their parents to let them know they were OK. I sent a quick one to my Dad. But as far as I could tell, not much was known yet about the damage done to the north of us… but one thing was clear, I was happy I wasn’t there.  My afternoon, and even most of the evening carried on accordingly. Friday night dinner with friends, stopping at a few bars, coming home in the early hours of the morning. Sleep.  BOOM BOOM BOOM. I shoot up in my sheets to three huge knocks. The door opens without my reply and my okaasan (mother.. for the dorm) is standing there. “Have you e-mail home institution?” “No, they haven’t e-mailed me,” “Do it anyways, parents too.” I open up my mac  sitting on my bed next to me. 20 new e-mails. 32 Facebook notifications. 4 missed calls. The world had exploded. The morning became a blur of information, typing, tears, and fear. So much fear. But not for me… for the ever rising death toll, which at the time was at 1200. Videos of houses being treated like twigs caught in a puddle, swishing around like mother natures bath toys. Apocalyptic waves forcing their way onto shore, destroying the delicate japanese houses and everything else in its wake. I look up from my computer, out the window that shows a part of the park across the street. It was sunny, it was warm. But it was silent.   I tried to carry on Saturday normally. Half of the students in my dorm seemed like zombies, the other unaffected. I shut my computer, each time the photos were getting more and more devastating. I got dinner, returned home, and continued to reassure those back home that I was fine, we were fine, everything was going to be fine.  But Sunday wasn’t fine. It was the furthest thing from fine. I felt stupid, numb, scared for those up north. It felt like information was seeping through the pores of every living thing. Nuclear power plants, 70% percent chance of another earthquake, bodies washing up on shore, tsunami warnings, going home, crying, confusion. Yet when I stopped, and walked outside, all I could think about was how beautiful the day was. How, how, how, was this happening and we were sitting here unaffected? Do I pick up all my things and go north? WHAT DO I DO?! What do we all do? I cant just sit here and watch this unfold… my body and my mind was heavy with sorrow and helplessness.  Needless to say I got no sleep at all, finally drifting off into sleep around 5 am only to wake up early to finish homework I had neglected the day before and study for a midterm. Walking into school felt like walking into a ticking bomb. Everyone was on edge, and looked like me. Worried. But what for? We were safe, we were alive. But even this couldnt keep the worry out of everyone. Our teachers reassured us that staying put was the best thing for Japan at that moment, saving energy and letting them help those up north. I didn’t feel any better. It took me most of the day to feel normal again. But I knew that wasnt what others were doing.  Now the Germans, Italians, and French are being ordered to go home. Nuclear plants have gone up in flames, students are booking flights to Australia and Korea. Buying iodine… preparing for the worst. I even overheard one group of roommates talking about what supplies they had in the house if an earthquake hit. And then it did. Tonight we felt another quake.. only a 2 for us, but 6. something for those in Tokyo. All of the international students are crowded around the TV downstairs. But then I looked. My RA’s sat in the back, calm, collected. That is how every Japanese student at my school has been. They have this sort of pained look, but only because they cant understand our confusion and panic. They have been the only normal people in this whole situation… when it is them who have friends, maybe family in the north, and it is their country facing some its darkest times.  I think that we can all learn from them. And for now I am going to do just that… along with the only other things I can do. Report… and wait. 

This has been hard to write. But as the middle of the week approaches and the threats only multiply, I can’t help but think about the beginning of it all.

For me it began months ago, reading my tourist-y japanese travel books, excited and anxious to pick myself up and move to the other side of the globe. I read each sentence like it was the most important piece of information about Japan that I would ever find. One of these sentences read, “Japan is one of the most seismically active places in the world”. This sentence of course registered with me, and I knew what it meant, but not once did worry or fear come into my thoughts. 

A few weeks before I left a good friend from home made a joke about earthquakes in Japan. Something along the lines of, “Don’t go get yourself caught in an earthquake or something like that!” I never, not once, took him seriously until this past Friday, March 11, 2011. 

Walking into the Center for International Education Building at my university, I heard chatters on the way out. “Did you feel it, did you feel it?!”. I knew they must be talking about an earthquake. We had had one once before that to me had felt like I was standing next to a slightly broken washer machine. Nothing serious. I continued to walk towards the computer lab, the quake was the only subject coming out of anyone’s mouth. I thought, wow this one must have been pretty big, wonder if anyone else felt it. I signed onto one of the PC’s and logged into my yahoo! email. There it was, plastered all over the place. “8.9 QUAKE HITS JAPAN”. No…no…no.

I read all of the available articles on the internet that seemed to have the most information, and listened to conversations going on around me. Students seemed to be in a frenzy about e-mailing their parents to let them know they were OK. I sent a quick one to my Dad. But as far as I could tell, not much was known yet about the damage done to the north of us… but one thing was clear, I was happy I wasn’t there. 

My afternoon, and even most of the evening carried on accordingly. Friday night dinner with friends, stopping at a few bars, coming home in the early hours of the morning. Sleep. 

BOOM BOOM BOOM. I shoot up in my sheets to three huge knocks. The door opens without my reply and my okaasan (mother.. for the dorm) is standing there. “Have you e-mail home institution?”

“No, they haven’t e-mailed me,”

“Do it anyways, parents too.”

I open up my mac  sitting on my bed next to me. 20 new e-mails. 32 Facebook notifications. 4 missed calls. The world had exploded. The morning became a blur of information, typing, tears, and fear. So much fear. But not for me… for the ever rising death toll, which at the time was at 1200. Videos of houses being treated like twigs caught in a puddle, swishing around like mother natures bath toys. Apocalyptic waves forcing their way onto shore, destroying the delicate japanese houses and everything else in its wake. I look up from my computer, out the window that shows a part of the park across the street. It was sunny, it was warm. But it was silent.  

I tried to carry on Saturday normally. Half of the students in my dorm seemed like zombies, the other unaffected. I shut my computer, each time the photos were getting more and more devastating. I got dinner, returned home, and continued to reassure those back home that I was fine, we were fine, everything was going to be fine. 

But Sunday wasn’t fine. It was the furthest thing from fine. I felt stupid, numb, scared for those up north. It felt like information was seeping through the pores of every living thing. Nuclear power plants, 70% percent chance of another earthquake, bodies washing up on shore, tsunami warnings, going home, crying, confusion.

Yet when I stopped, and walked outside, all I could think about was how beautiful the day was. How, how, how, was this happening and we were sitting here unaffected? Do I pick up all my things and go north? WHAT DO I DO?! What do we all do? I cant just sit here and watch this unfold… my body and my mind was heavy with sorrow and helplessness. 

Needless to say I got no sleep at all, finally drifting off into sleep around 5 am only to wake up early to finish homework I had neglected the day before and study for a midterm. Walking into school felt like walking into a ticking bomb. Everyone was on edge, and looked like me. Worried. But what for? We were safe, we were alive. But even this couldnt keep the worry out of everyone. Our teachers reassured us that staying put was the best thing for Japan at that moment, saving energy and letting them help those up north. I didn’t feel any better. It took me most of the day to feel normal again. But I knew that wasnt what others were doing. 

Now the Germans, Italians, and French are being ordered to go home. Nuclear plants have gone up in flames, students are booking flights to Australia and Korea. Buying iodine… preparing for the worst. I even overheard one group of roommates talking about what supplies they had in the house if an earthquake hit. And then it did.

Tonight we felt another quake.. only a 2 for us, but 6. something for those in Tokyo. All of the international students are crowded around the TV downstairs. But then I looked. My RA’s sat in the back, calm, collected. That is how every Japanese student at my school has been. They have this sort of pained look, but only because they cant understand our confusion and panic. They have been the only normal people in this whole situation… when it is them who have friends, maybe family in the north, and it is their country facing some its darkest times. 

I think that we can all learn from them. And for now I am going to do just that… along with the only other things I can do. Report… and wait. 

it’s sixty six years later
near the hypo-center of the a-bomb
i’m in the middle of hiroshima
watching a twisted old eucalyptus tree wave
one of the very few lives that survived and lives on
remembering the day it was suddenly
thousands of degrees in the shade
and what all of nature gave birth to
terror took in a blinding rey
with the kind of pain
it would take cancer so many years just to say…

—

This weekend I traveled to perhaps one of the more important and moving places I will ever have the opportunity to visit. Hiroshima, Japan. The visit was sparked by an optional “field trip” offered by  my Peace Development and Democratization teacher Paul Scott. I put field trip in quotations because we had to pay for it all ourselves, besides the entrance fee into the museum. Nonetheless every penny I spent was absolutely worth it and it is an experience I will most certainly never forget. 

The trip started out with a cramped and smelly 5 hour long night bus ride from Namba, Osaka to Hiroshima. The night bus is something I thought I could handle but I left the trip feeling like someone had punched me in the stomach and was unable to eat anything for a few hours after arriving. Once in Hiroshima, it was still dark out, so some friends and I do what we always do… hit up the closest Mcdonalds (24 hours everywhere) and slept. After rejuvenating with some coffee and mini breakfast sandwiches (yes, Mcdonalds here is NOT big) we brushed and washed in the bathroom and made our way to Hiroshima Peace Park. 

35 minutes and a few wrong turns later I was standing in front of one of the only surviving structures of the bombing, appropriately named the A-Bomb Dome. Looking between the windows the rubble covered the ground with the shadow of the skeletal-like dome loomed overhead. My stomach dropped and almost instantly I could feel the wind hitting my watery eyes. Each stone had inflections where they had been ripped apart and strewn across the grass. Acting as an entrance to the peace park old deformed trees surrounded the area, some tied together to keep from splitting in two. Nearby stood the Merciful Goddess of Peace beneath the  Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students, with hundreds of colorful paper cranes hanging behind her to help remember the 6,000 some young students who lost their lives that day. 

Nearby the flame of peace burned bright in the sunshine alongside the children’s peace monument where even more paper cranes hung in plastic cases, some forming the words “PEACE” or other kanji along with other languages. As we walked along the water towards the peace arch I saw many people, of all different nationalities, praying and paying homage to the arch which has the names of all known victims inscribed inside. Flowers and cranes adorned the area around the arch and waiting in line to throw our coins, I saw an Indian nun in front of me begin to cry. 

And from then on I was hooked. I couldn’t get enough of the place of the or the people. I wandered over alone to the peace museum just ahead, in a sort of trance. Every step I took I felt like I could feel what used to be there, and what could have been. The museum itself was phenomenal, and for  those of you who don’t know, the museum itself advocates for an anti-nuclear world, and along with the history of the bomb, its survivors, and the aftermath, it also provides information about nuclear weapons and the steps the museum has taken towards world peace. Inspiring, sensational. But the best was yet to come.

I walked myself through the separate sections of the museum and by midday found myself filing into an auditorium with the rest of the gaidaisei. On the stage sat a petite Japanese woman with large glasses and a smart pantsuit. My sensei was next to her preparing notes and once everyone was seated she began to speak. After each of her sentences my sensei translated them, and each one became longer and longer. We were listening to the story of one of the last atomic bomb survivors. She spoke passionately and quick, using power point slides of paintings and drawings to illustrate her words. The story was gut-wrenching and terrible. Some started to tear up. And at the end, we clapped and had the pleasure of having a question and answer session with her. I raised my hand and asked, “As a young girl, what were you most afraid of before the bomb, and what were you most afraid of after the bomb?”. She paused and then started speaking very rapidly. She got up and “JJ’ed” off stage ( JJ= Japan jog… it’s this little run they do when they want to “hurry”) and came back holding a bag out of which she pulled her bomb hood and pack. These are items that all children wore during the war when air-raids and air-raid practice could happen at any second. The hood is made of blanket like material that covers the head and the shoulders, and the pack had bandages and some antiseptics in it. Each child was required to have each item on them at all times. There were no air raid sirens the day of the atomic bomb, so these items were essentially useless. She said naturally before the bomb she was most afraid of these air-raids. And after it, no one would marry her. They thought if she had children they would be born with “a-bomb” disease, or deformities. This bit of information stung… to not only lose most of your family in the bomb, but to be alone forever because of it.

After we all had the opportunity to take pictures with her, and as I stood next to her I couldn’t help but think how genki she was! She looked absolutely amazing at 80 years old, let alone after an atomic bomb, 8 reconstructive surgeries, and stomach cancer. Truly, truly the pinnacle of courageousness.

As we filed out it took me a while to get myself back into the present. But after some terrible Italian food and getting lost, we found ourselves at the Hiroshima castle, which was beautiful, and on our way to Miyajima to spend the night and see the island in the morning. A truly great day.

I just want to do this!!! Although I love studying in Japan, I’ve been getting a little bit of cabin fever lately. I am ready to travel! Spring break is right around the corner and friends and I are doing our best to find cheap and fun places to go during the 9 day break. Okinawa is first on my list, but is really stretching my wallet… Tokyo? Hokkaido? Day trips to Nara Kobe and Kyoto? Hiroshima? Who knows…. possibilities are endless. (by Sarah Bernhard)

I just want to do this!!!

Although I love studying in Japan, I’ve been getting a little bit of cabin fever lately. I am ready to travel! Spring break is right around the corner and friends and I are doing our best to find cheap and fun places to go during the 9 day break. Okinawa is first on my list, but is really stretching my wallet… Tokyo? Hokkaido? Day trips to Nara Kobe and Kyoto? Hiroshima? Who knows…. possibilities are endless.

(by Sarah Bernhard)

(via skeletales)