I found a sweat stain that looked like Jesus.....or was I hallucinating from the heat?

Monday, Aug. 8

Well today I had my first Jodo and Iaido lessons with Miyazaki-sensei (I though I was only gonna learn iaido, but seems that he wants me to do both). First, in case I haven’t already mentioned this, it’s goddamn insanely hot here! Moreover, only the teacher’s lounge has air con so the huge gym where the weapons classes take place is sweltering. Today it was around 38oC with the humidex! Yep, and here I am deciding to do martial arts without air con during the hottest part of the day. Both my arms are trembling from abuse as I write this entry….but damn does it feel good! Hehe, those of you who know me well know of my penchant for masochism…and Miyazaki-sensei is happy to oblige me it would seem. I came in to school at 9 am today and right away Miyazaki sensei came down to the teacher’s lounge to tell me that he had found a uniform for me. Well he doesn’t speak English and I definitely don’t speak Japanese but he sorta pointed to me and then to his own uniform and indicated I should follow him. Actually, I really like the guy and in his own stern way, I think he likes me as well. He seems to be very strict and serious most of the time but he does occasionally let out a laugh (he sounds like Yoda when he laughs by the way, quite entertaining). Once I had suited up (I love the iaido/jodo get up….way cooler than a karate gi…think old samurai movies) I was handed over to some of the high school girls (who looked a little afraid of me as they had seen my boobs in the change room and again had all dropped what they had been doing to stare at me changing….yeah, it’s only slightly disconcerting. And I love the fact that they don’t do it subtly at all, but just openly stare with their jaws dropped or giggling) and they taught me (with totally minimal English) some basic jodo (staff) moves. After about a half hour of this, we finally got to the iaido. I was given my own sword to use and spent just over an hour learning what seemed like two forms. Sheathing the sword is almost the hardest part of it, but otherwise I picked it up ok. During this, Miyazaki-sensei kept tersely smiling and nodding at me in between lengthy Japanese explanations of something I can only assume was related to iaido. Again, I tried not to let that disturb me overmuch, but paid attention more to his gestures than the fact that I was not understanding a word coming out of his mouth. Near the end of the lesson, one of the Japanese girls translated to me that Sensei had said I was a fast learner and he thinks I have potential (Japanese people love to give compliments). My serious face faltered for a moment, and I ended up beaming at him which caused him to smile back, albeit a bit awkwardly this time. The lesson was now finished though, so I returned with a sore arm and a strong sense of self satisfaction to the teacher’s lounge where I was met with exclamations of “Sugoy!!” (translation: amazing, terrifying) from the other teachers as I was still in my Iaido gi and was prancing about like a stupid gaijin pretending to be a Samurai. What can I say? Prancing has its time and place.

Tuesday, August 9^th

Another day, another awesome iaido and jodo lesson. I am really starting to like jodo as well now. It has a certain elegance and efficiency to the moves that rather appeals to me. Iaido is still the best part of the lesson though, and I am quickly learning that it requires more concentration and focus than any other martial art I have studied before. All unnecessary motions are eliminated and the forms are short but very focused. Emphasis is on precision and alternates between fast and slow motions. It’s strange though how holding a katana feels like the most natural thing in the world to me. It feels so familiar when I hold the blade in my hand. It’s almost like a misty thread of another existence, reaching out to me from a past life – haha, no I haven’t gone crazy yet. And I don’t really believe in past lives, but if I did the feeling I get from holding a katana would certainly make me think that I was Japanese in a past life. *Sigh* or maybe I’m just a sicko who likes sharp objects – the verdict is still out. After today’s lesson, Miyazaki-sensei came back down with me to the lounge and talked to me via translation through Inoue-sensei. He says he will take me to Issahaya tomorrow in the evening to order a fitted uniform and buy me a Jo staff. He also says there is a jodo dojo there and we can stay for a lesson afterward. The katanas are a bit expensive though, so I asked him if I could just use one of the school’s for now until I get paid and he agreed. I am so excited! I thanked him again, since he is driving me all the way to Issahaya (an hour away) on his own time and he acknowledged my thanks with a serious expression, and a low growl like grumble. As he left the room, Inoue-sensei turned to me and said “You know, I think he likes you”. I laughed.

Today I finally managed to contact Kara and Jenny as well. They are two American JETs working in Shimabara, and I had met them shortly at the Tokyo orientation. We agreed to meet on Thursday for dinner and then some drinks at Shins. Apparently a lot of JETs from nearby areas are coming to Shins on Thursday to say goodbye to another JET who is going home after two years. Can’t wait! Wow, I can’t believe how busy I am already, and school hasn’t even started!