Tomorrow, some of the new friends I've made are going back to the continent.  They're part of Campus Crusade for Christ, and their mission term is over.  While I was quite afraid of them when I first met them, I can now honestly say that I will be sad because of their departure.

My first encounter with them was in the second week of summer school.  As I was eating my brunch, two people asked me if I was busy.  Although I love Aja bentos and I was watching "恋空" on my iPod, I said no.  I thought, "The boy's cute, so what the hey."  They sat down and begin to ask me questions about my religious beliefs.  I told them  that I was raised in a Christian church, but became disillusioned with it.  I made a little white lie and told them about how I became 浄土真宗, and explained what I know about it.  When it became close to class time, I made to leave.  They handed me a paper and said that they were going to have a meeting, and that I should come.  I texted Stephanie and asked her if she wanted to go.  She didnt, but Jessica did, so we went.  We also roped in her roommate Eri.  Although we went, we didnt stay long, for various reasons.  Little did I know that this would be the start of several new friendships.

In the weeks since, a bunch of friends and I have become friend swith them, going to meetings and talking story.  I must admit, their passion for God and their constant happiness is still a little odd to me, but I'm able to look past that.  I told them, "If you dont try to convert me, I wont convert you," and they havent.  We've been able to discuss religion in a way that I've rarely done.  For once, I see how people with faith are able to overcome what I see as flaws in the system.  I've got friends that are Christian, but we dont really talk about it.  I'm still not sold on the whole Christian thing, but it is refreshing to see Christians acting in such a happy, kind manner.  Not at all like those right-wing crazies, saying we'll all burn in hell, and all that jazz.

Today was their last meeting, as tomorrow they are going back to their respective homes and universities.  Despite our differences in beliefs, they've become my friends, and I hopefully became theirs.  I will miss them and will cherish these memories of them.  I do not know how to say good by, so hopefully they'll read this blog and know what I wish to say.  

(Hey, dont judge me because I steal pics from facebook, okay?)

The music accompanying this blog is from a CD I got from this guy at church.  By the Sunset Strings, the CD is called "Music for Reflection".  I thought that the song "Going Home" would be most appropriate.

I was browsing youtube the other day when I came across this video. It's titled "Bon Dance in Hawaii", and naturally I was interested. For good or bad, I regularly search youtube for bon dance related content. There are some good vids and some bad vids. I wanted to know where this one fit it. Although there are some things I don't like in it, all together it is a good video. Watch it and share it if you want to give your friends an idea of what Obon is about. Just a small disclaimer: I'm not an authority on Obon and any related subjects. I know a lot, but I am hardly certified as a dancer, dresser, or Japanese person. What I say is based off of what I've learned.

One major disappointment that I had about this video is that most of the dance footage is of Okinawan dances. First and foremost, bon dances in Hawaii are descended from the Japanese tradition, and therefore, it would be better if there were more Japanese dances shown. As much as people don't think so, the Okinawans are a sperate people from the Japanese; if anything, their culture is closer to that of China. It was only about two hundred years ago when the Kingdom of the Ryukyus was brought under Japanese control. I think the reasons why there is more Okinawan scenes in this video is 1)People don't realise the differences between our cultures, and 2) they are more "interesting". The Okinawan dances are the ones that are usually performed live, save for Fukushima Ondo and Iwakuni Ondo. People like watching live performances, so naturally more people will film the Okinawan portions (just search youtube for bon dance; most of them are Okinawan). If I were to make a film like this, I would include more Japanese dances, and highlight the fact that the Okinawan dances are such.

I'm a Japanese major, aiming for fluency (or as close as possible) in Japanese. Naturally, I picked up on the narrator's accent. This isn't a major point, but it irked me nonetheless. For example, she doesn't roll the R in "bon odori"; although it's difficult, it's not impossible. "Yukata" had a stress in a weird place; she puts it in the first syllable, when it sounds better in second. Her pronunciation of "mochi" makes it sounds like she put a small つ in before the ち ie モッチ. However, I will admit that my hearing isn't nearly that precise. I didn't like how she grouped spam musubi in with the category of Japanese food. I love spam musubi, but I wouldn't call it "Japanese food". "Local Japanese Food" would be better, as it was thought of in here in Hawaii with Japanese ingredients.

What really made me happy came near the end of the video. She says, "Just follow the group in the inside circles who are wearing the matching clothing; they're the leaders at the dance number". One of the (many) things I learned from Mr. Uemura was that you follow the leaders - NO questions asked. If they start late, you start late. If they make a mistake, you make a mistake. When you go to another temple, you follow those leaders and do it their way, even if it's different from your own. I learned the hard way, when I danced correctly at last year's Hongwanji bon dance; people were following me, instead of the Hongwanji ladies. Naturally, they got upset with me, and I was scolded at our next practice. Here in Oahu, I will dance following the leaders of the temples here. They may play the same songs, but they may do them differently. It'll be hard to do a dance in a way I haven't practiced, but that is the right thing to do. If more people saw this video and said, "Aha! I must follow the leaders in the center", then I'd be very happy.

If there was a Bon Dance 101 class or something, this is what I would show. It accurately depicts what goes on at a bon dance: dancing, food, and a chance to reconnect to your heritage. The things that I did not like about it are minor things, and do not detract from the overall video. In fact, that she includes the bit about following the leaders appeals to me. Also, from an aesthetic point of view, the crisp picture quality is a step up from the grainy, dark video that usually comes from taping things at night. Definitely a must-see if you enjoy bon dance and want to share that with other people.