As soon as I boarded the plane bound for Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), I could feel a different energy from Japan. There was an audible buzz as the passengers, mostly Vietnamese people, chatted and laughed. It was very unlike the ultra-silent Japanese trains that I’ve grown used to. The flight attendants wore shorts, a… Read More Two Days and “The Night” in Saigon
Over my spring break, I went on a trip to Vietnam and Taiwan. It was a fantastic trip, each day full of excitement, adventure, and great memories. I had a good travel buddy – Peter, one of my best friends from college. Vietnam instantly became one of my favorite countries, and continued to amaze, charm,… Read More Spring Break in Vietnam and Taiwan
The Japanese school year ends in March and begins in April, which means that it’s graduation season. I recently attended my school’s junior and senior high school graduation ceremonies, and I was surprised by how serious they were. I guess I really shouldn’t have been all that surprised – every Japanese school ceremony I’ve attended… Read More Why So Serious? Japanese Graduation Ceremonies
Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, is so much more than just putting flowers in a vase. It is a disciplined art form with a long history, an established theory, and many different schools and styles. The tradition dates back to the 7th century, and is based around a reverence for nature, and the… Read More Ikebana – The Japanese Art of Flower Arrangement
Last weekend, I went back to Hakuba, Nagano on second round of my January ski trip. It was pretty much the same deal as the last trip – organized by the same guy, at the same hotel, with many of the same people attending, but was slightly less crazy this time, because there was no… Read More Hakuba Ski Trip, Round II
Earlier this month, I went to Sapporo to visit the Snow Festival, go skiing, and celebrate my 24th birthday. Sapporo is the fourth largest city in Japan and capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island. It is famous for its beer, food, and the annual Snow Festival, which attracts millions of visitors every year. Hokkaido is… Read More Sapporo – Snow Festival, Skiing, and Birthday Celebrations
Last week, it was my school’s choir competition. Choir competitions are a big deal at schools in Japan, and almost all schools, public and private, host them annually. The students prepare and practice for months, and on the day of, classes are canceled, parents come to show their support, and the students show off all… Read More Choir Competition and Individuality in Japanese and American Schools
