Hamamatsu Festival

There's been a long time since I had the time and patience to write here... It is clearly easier on my Romanian blog even though lately I had no time and was not in the mood to do it there either... Anyway I decided to add a small post for the very few people visiting my English blog, here it is!

As some of you know, at the beginning of May, a big festival takes place in Hamamatsu. The Japanese call it “Hamamatsu Matsuri” since “matsuri” means festival in Japanese as you could imagine. It was nice to participate for the second time and enjoy the flying kites, and the celebrations, and the noise, the food, and of course the beach. More information about the festival can be found here.  To check my point of view on the festival, please visit the Romanian version of the blog, here.

Dance Weekend

I had a great weekend! Everything about dancing makes me feel wonderful!
Saturday I danced blues and jilva at the festival of the Shakaihoken Center, where for the past seven months I've been taking dancing classes once a week (I shall have 3 from October! yupii!!! Thanks to Ruiko Koike sensei!)
Except for Shakaihoken Center, I'm registered to a small dance club in Hamamatsu, Hamamatsu DSC EIGAO. So Sunday I went to Fujieda City where some kind of contest-festival for hobby dancing took place, organized by the Japan Dance Sport Federation. I got the chance to wear my two wonderful dresses I bought from China, thanks to my dear friend, Zhao!

Cool Song

Yesterday I heard a song that I felt in love with. It's simple and has very nice lyrics. You can find the song here: Jason Mraz - I'm yours.
Here are the lyrics. Enjoy!

Well you done done me in, you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
Now I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out I'll be giving it my bestest
And nothing's gonna stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some

But I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment, people dance and sing
We're just one big family
And it's our God-forsaken right to be loved love love loved loved

So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

Do you want to, come on
Scootch over closer dear
And I will nibble your ear

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I'll be saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

But I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find that the sky is yours
So please don't please don't please don't
There's no need to complicate
'Cause our time is short
This oh this oh this is our fate I'm yours

Oh I'm yours, oh I'm yours, oh
Baby, do believe I'm yours
You best believe, you best believe I'm yours

Yukata Fashion Contest Hamamatsu 2009

I'm very lucky, but I already knew that! I've heard a while ago, before my trip to Romania, about a fashion contest, actually YUKATA FASHION CONTEST. I returned to Japan few days ago but it took me a while to get the telephone number of the organizers (HICE) and to actually call. So this Friday morning I called them to see if can still apply and, of course participate in the contest.

As the famous quote I love says “the day you do it is your lucky day”, Friday was my lucky day! I asked if there were any more places in the contest and I found out that I could only be on the waiting list. And I said to myself it's still ok... The nice lady I talked to asked my name and home country. After I gave her the answers she realized she knew me from the home stay program. So the 30 persons list in Yukata Contest suddenly became a 31 persons list :D Good I'm lucky!

Later I went to apply in person to the contest because I don't have a yukata and I have to rent it... I want to buy one, I just need to find one I like, which is not so easy even though there are a lot of shops selling yukatas. My taste in fashion is not easy to satisfy.

So Saturday afternoon I went to the contest. I found a yukata with some beautiful purple roses. Getting dressed was not so easy, but fortunately I had some help. The contest was not very difficult: we were asked some questions as our name, our home country, the reason for choosing the yukata, and the feeling we had wearing it. My only problem was that the last two questions were not necessary in this order... and the lady interviewing us was also asking other questions. Anyway it was finally ok; I managed to give good but short answers since my level of Japanese is still beginner... Then we waited for the results. First the Japanese children, Japanese adults, foreign children and finally they called us. We went on the stage and I was very surprised when I've heard that the big prize was won by number 31... It was me! I got a lot of presents, a new yukata and pair of geta, two invitations to go to Okura Act City, two trophies and so on.

It was a great experience and I might say I look really good dressed in yukata, don't I?!

From ブロッグ (ca să fiu în ton cu evenimentele ;) )

From ブロッグ (ca să fiu în ton cu evenimentele ;) )

From ブロッグ (ca să fiu în ton cu evenimentele ;) )

From ブロッグ (ca să fiu în ton cu evenimentele ;) )

From ブロッグ (ca să fiu în ton cu evenimentele ;) )

From ブロッグ (ca să fiu în ton cu evenimentele ;) )

From ブロッグ (ca să fiu în ton cu evenimentele ;) )

Home Stay

This weekend I had the great opportunity to spend few days in a Japanese family due to „Home stay Program”. Few weeks ago I enrolled this program being, as a scientist always is, very curious and eager to learn new things not only in my research field but also about the country I live in now, the fascinating culture and wonderful people. Friday evening after a long and busy week I met my host: Maruyama family. Nanae san is the mother of 7 years old Haruna and 7 months old Hiruna. As a coincidence, she was born when I came to Japan, so her age would remind me of the great time spent here.

To get to know each other we went to a family club named Hippo where parents come with their children and learn together foreign languages by playing games, singing and having fun. I introduced myself and my country, taught them some Romanian words and I was very surprised to see how well Nanae speaks French. She told me she spent one month in Paris studying. It's great considering the time I needed to learn French...

Saturday morning we went to see Hamamatsu Airpark. For me was the second time but since I love planes I had a great time. We also enjoyed a 3D movie that made us feel as we were flying on a military aircraft over the mountains, the ocean and over Fuji san.

For lunch we met Serbesa san's family, one of Nanae san's friends, also a host family in home stay program. I ate my favorite sashimi at a traditional Japanese restaurant and then enjoy foot onsen while we were admiring the ocean.

The afternoon at Hamamatsu omiagi pie factory was not just interesting but especially delicious, as well as the dinner we had at home with some neighbors. We cooked Japanese (takoyaki) and I also taught them to make crepes with blueberry and strawberry filling. The best was playing with Haruna chan, she's a very clever girl, and we got along very well even though my Japanese speaking abilities are not so good and she doesn't speak English. The day ended very late after a Romanian language lesson and, of course, long girl chatting.

Sunday we had a traditional Japanese breakfast with misou soup and rice and grilled salmon, and she was very surprised (as I was too :P) that I enjoyed nato some soya beans that smell not so good for some people and many foreigner but also many Japanese don't like this kind of food. I must say that it tasted good, and I think I shall eat again. The afternoon was very interesting to me as I got the chance to visit the school where Haruna chan learns because she had a sport game.

Since the dogiball game ended a little later than expected we had no time to cook but we enjoyed Indian food at a restaurant near the house. For me was the first time to eat Indian curry and it was really delicious. I promised to cook some authentic Romanian food next time when we shall meet, and I'll be prepared with all the ingredients because they are not so easy to find.

I’m very happy I had the chance to join this program. I had a great experience on Japanese life and now I got also new friends!