Community Center

So on Sunday I had a rare day to myself. So naturally my host mother thought it necessary to bring me out.. instead of relaxing and studying at home. I got over my slight aggravation quickly. We walked about 30 mins to the community center in Hoshigaoka where she takes lessons in some type of Japanese traditional poem thing. Like a haiku, but it has a different order and it has to be witty or wise. We looked at the art people did. We watched the community center put on shows. We saw a magic act. Harmonica music. And traditional Japanese dancing. The dancing was prob the only thing I enjoyed outside of looking at the art. The kimonos were beautiful, the fans were to, the music was like jazz classics from the 50s?40s? I don't know,.. they were old. It was a so so day. We had a great lunch at this Chinese ramen shop accross the street. She got us platters. It was rice, Japanese Kimchi, dumplings, and a bowl of ramen.. Mmmmmm so good. Then we went back home. On our way back I was asking about buildings in the distance. In particular this giant pink and green building. She told me it was a love hotel which lead to a very.. interesting... awkward conversation. Love hotels are places couples go to um.. 'do it', because the walls of Japanese homes are very thin.

At the community center I met this nice man, whose name I can't remember right now, but his English was very good. He told me he was taking English Communication classes at the center. He was a cool dude and it made me think about this Anthropology article I read for class on this guy whose thesis topic/whatever ws on community connections in suburban Japan. I was making the same type of connections he wrote about in his article. Sounds boring right? To you, maybe, but I was fascinated.