2 posts tagged “host family”

I made a new banner from a photo of a maple tree I took the other day at Byodoin. : )  I felt it was time for a change again since spring is here, all the plants have come alive again, and the semester's finally over and all.  Last week we had our final ceremony then had lunch together, so everyone from the program was gathered for the last time...it's always kinda sad realizing you won't see the people you've been around everyday for such a long time anymore.  I mean, we're all going back to the same country, but we're widely scattered all over, so although there's plans for a reunion, it's not the same.  I really liked the group of people in my Japanese class and sensei this year...I think we were all unique, which made for very interesting interaction and discussions.

Also, I'm sad that tonight is my last night in my host family's house. : (  I really like them and it's strange thinking about how I'm no longer going to be living here when I've been in this house for almost 7 months now.  I already know it's going to take some major adjusting to get used to life back in America...it's almost like I don't know how to live there anymore, I'm so used to how things are here! ^_^;  Well, anyway tomorrow I'll be heading to Tokyo for a few days to see some friends that're studying there now and places I couldn't make it to during my first trip there.  After that I have another week in Kyoto to finish my omiyage shopping and do all the remaining things I still want to do in the area.  I can't believe I have so little time left...it's really depressing, honestly.  Though I'm gradually warming up to the idea of going home, I also really feel like I want to stay here longer.

I'll leave you with a translation I did of a Japanese folk song that some of my friends performed at the final ceremony.  It's called 'Nagoriyuki' and is one of my favourites.  Though it's very hard to express the same beauty and emotions of it in English, I did my best.

「なごり雪」
伊勢正三

汽車を待つ君の横で僕は
時計を気にしてる
季節はずれの雪が降ってる
東京で見る雪はこれが最後ねと
さみしそうに君がつぶやく
なごり雪も降る時を知り
ふざけすぎた季節のあとで
今春が来て君はきれいになった
去年よりずっときれいになった

動き始めた汽車の窓に顔をつけて
君は何か言おうとしている
君の口びるがさようならと動くことが
こわくて下をむいてた
時がゆけば幼い君も
大人になると気づかないまま
今春が来て君はきれいになった
去年よりずっときれいになった

君が去ったホームにのこり
落ちてはとける雪を見ていた
今春が来て君はきれいになった
去年よりずっときれいになった

'The Last Snow' ＊
originally by Ise Shouzou

Standing next to you who's waiting for the train,
I keep looking at the clock,
Snow is falling out of season,
"This is the last snow I'll see in Tokyo, isn't it",
you murmured in such a lonely way,
Knowing it's also time for the final snow to fall,
After a season that played around too much,
Now spring has come and you've become so beautiful,
So much more beautiful than last year,

Putting your face up to the window of the train that's started moving,
You were trying to say something,
Afraid of your lips forming a "goodbye",
I turned my gaze downward,
As time goes on, you who's young and childlike,
still won't realize it even once you've become an adult,
Now spring has come and you've become so beautiful,
So much more beautiful than last year,

Remaining on the platform you've departed from,
I was watching the snow fall and melt,
Now spring has come and you've become so beautiful,
So much more beautiful than last year

＊ The title can have many connotations, since 「なごり」can refer to the final snow of winter, the sadness of parting, or vestiges of something.

I received information about my host family yesterday!  Their family name is Murata, and they live in the northwest part of Kyoto, fairly close to the old imperial palace....which means my commute to KCJS, which is right next to the Kyoto University campus, is only about 30 min. by bus or 15-25 min. by bike. : )  I'll almost certainly be taking the bus though, since I actually don't know how to ride a bicycle, the fares are cheap, and it'll be winter for the majority of my time there, so it would be rather unpleasant cycling anyway (not to mention the hassle of owning a bike, parking, and taking care of it).  Also, my host family has a little dog named Jal, which is nice since I love animals but don't have any pets in my own home. ^_^