Blog Entry 3- Keita

This little boy, named Keita is the most energetic and cheerful one, racing around the small church building and dashing into people randomly. Sometimes he gets a little too high, ending up hitting his sister or little brother and throwing things around, but in general, he's got the sweetest smile and a caring heart.

With three shorter fingers he kindly posed a big V for me.
Thanks to Keita!

Blog Entry 3- peeeeeeeeeeaaaaace!

these precious little souls surely know how to spread peace around the place!! (and to pose for my camera! haha)

Lukas, Yumi, Manami, Shiyori and Keita (from left to right)
one sunday afternoon at Hirakata church

Blog Entry 2- 敬老の日

'Respect for the Aged Day' is what today really meant.
However not today, but a day earlier, I was invited to join some of the people from church where I currently belong to, to go and sing for the aged (and mentally challenged) people living at a lodging home. The place was so close that it didnt feel like it took us even 5 mins!



We sang 2 songs called ’主が私の手を’ and ‘すばらしいものは’ from the Hymn. Some joined us by singing along. Not only the seniors but we, singers also were very happy just to be there.



hands in hands, showing respect and love.

it is one kind of a public holiday that is very unique, in a sense that there is no such a thing in almost all of western countries as to have a set day to show some kind of respect to the elders in the society. Surely it wasn't just another holiday, but a meaningful and graceful one!

Blog Entry 1- what are you doing?

During this summer, despite of the typical Japanese summer weather- hot &humid- which supposedly gets worse in Hirakata, I was granted opportunities to experience the real Japanese community. My decision to stay and enjoy Japan for 3mths without any interference of school work has proven to be a success throughout many valuable lessons and fun times I achieved.

Out of thousands of pics I was able to take during this certain period, this pic is one of the many that kept my eyes as well as mind captivated for some odd reason. It was the day of a bazzar at a local kindergarden where parents of the kids or volunteer workers gathered with items of their own. However after the bazzar I got a glimpse of the kindergarden and there I found this little boy appearing somewhat hesistant to get into the classroom. Or maybe he's just observing what's going on inside or maybe... I guess my guesses will be endless.

Blog Entry1- through a glass window

'participant observation'
When i first came across these two words in the reading material, the cooperative intepretation of their intended meaning appeared beyond my understanding, beyond me! Simply, it just didn't 'click' or make enough sense to apply to my own experiences. Although i surely was aware of the meaning of each word, not because i'm an Eng major (which incidentally and ashamedly admit to being) but they are just relatively easy English words that a girl who, in fact, has not been speaking Eng for her whole life can understand. However I still didn't get the implication! To me, the matter regarded either being a participant OR observer.


Attempting to capture as many pics as I possibly could (both at major events or random activities like any 'innocent foreigner' would) I guess I've always seen myself as the observer, with my camera as a tool and identity, 'alien' (although i do not look alien enough!) as a justification for doing so. Through this course of action, i saw myself become distanced and unable to be the 'participant' of most of those activities & events- but just to observe the certain occurrence (whether intended or not). So in addition, these two words that seemed to me, not acting as each other's polarities, didn't quite add up as far as my comprehension goes. Interestingly after a while of, what I would call 'serious pondering time' (and fiddling with my camera on the train), I accidently discover a pic that helped finally make the 'click' happen.
What I saw was myself, always looking at everything through a glass window until now! It wasn't the camera lens that 'separated' me and the particular object or event in the observation, but rather the glass of the window. There, i was faced with my own image reflection- a foreigner, which, as i thought until that point, compliments the term 'observer' in their attributes, leading to my own misconception! Perhaps I was allowed to see from my reflection how i have been partially 'engaged' in the events or activities that considered me as just a foreigner.

Unbelievable to think about now, in exploring japanese culture and society through my pics, how I possessed this almost invisible notion of KNOWING.
After all I'm glad to have realized this.. it may just be the start of something new!