What is Evolution?

“We began as a mineral.
We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten our former states, except in early spring when we slightly recall being green again.
That’s how a young person turns towards a teacher.
That’s how a baby leans toward the breast, without knowing the secret of its desire, yet turning instinctively.
Humankind is being led along an evolving course, through the migration of intelligences, and though we seem to be sleeping, there is an inner wakefulness that directs the dream, and that will eventually startle us back to the truth of who we are.”
— The Story of Evolution
Rumi, 13th Century

10.15.2009

俳人外人:Haijin Gaijin


Since coming to Japan 2 years ago I am proud to say that my Japanese ability has increased to the level where I am capable of holding conversations in basic Japanese as well as expressing my thoughts, ask questions, answer basic questions. i.e. overall function. (Plus if all else fails I know how to say 'I don't understand what the fuck you're talking about') Which is a lot more than I can say for when I just came. Unfortunately it seems as if my English has been suffering as a result of this increase in Japanese grammar and vocabulary. My conversations are now peppered with occasional English and Japanese and a whole lot of Japanese 'word sounds' For eg. eeto, nandake, nandarou, nandeshou, doushiyou, sounanda... to name a few.

In any case, this summer instead of going to Fukuoka for an intensive Japanese course, like I did last year, I decided to stay in good ole Kagoshima in an effort to save some money. (I didn't actually end up saving that much money in the long run since I bought Starbucks every morning and went shopping every evening after class btw Summer Sales ROCK!) So, I found Yuurinkan, a Japanese school in the shi (city) where I could do a 3 week long intensive course for just 4 man. [40,000 yen] (trust me that's cheap).

Initially I thought it would be a class of around 5-6 people of (hopefully) the same Japanese level but apparently most foreigners in Kago opted for the "get the fuck out of here for Summer" option so it ended up being me and this Bolivian nun for the first week then this annoying French dude (have you ever heard a french person say 大丈夫?「daijoubu?」 *runs away screaming*) for the last 2 weeks. Which is pretty good value for money considering my "class" basically turned into Japanese tutoring. There, I did 「書道」Shodou (Japanese calligraphy) and wrote「俳句」 Haiku for the first time.

With that being said let me get to the title of this blog. Roughly translated 'Haijin Gaijin' means Foreigner who writes Haiku. What? you don't know what haiku is? OMG. lol. Well a Haiku is "a Japanese lyric verse form having three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, traditionally invoking an aspect of nature or the seasons."

Lucky for me, the owner of the school loved Haiku. he helped me to understand the structure and the meaning behind it. By the end of the course I had written 6 haiku about my own experiences since coming to Japan, which he then decided to publish in his monthly haiku book. So yes! I am a bonafide Japanese Poet! Published and all these great things. [See book cover at the top]

To the left you'll see a photo from the actual page that my haiku were on but it's a bit hard to read so I've taken the liberty of typing out all six haiku as well as the translations below:


かき(ごおり)イチゴ(いちご)(あじ)(あか)(くち)
Shaved Ice, taste of strawberry, red mouth

花火(はなび)見て(みて)金魚(きんぎょ)もらう(う)(まつり)(ひ)
Watching Fireworks, Getting Goldfish, Festival Day

西瓜(すいか)割り(わ)子供(こども)遊び(あそび)もったいない
Breaking Watermelons, Child's Play, How wasteful

(むし)(こえ)(よる)響いて(ひびいて)寝られな(ねられない)
The sound of insects Echoing through the night I can't sleep

(なし)(しる)(くち)にながれて甘い(あまい)かな
Pear juice, dripping from my mouth, Isn't it sweet!

新米(しんまい)食べられないで(たべられないで)待って(まって)いる
New Rice, Can't eat yet, So I wait.



Aren't you proud of me??? I sure am proud of myself!

iNi

bilingual poet

NadYaDee

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Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."