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7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
1/13
My Shimane Photo Essay
By Tori Baney
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
2/13
The day after we arrived, my host mother, host brother, and youngest host sister took me on a walknear their house. About five minutes from the house was the elementary school and kindergartenthat my host siblings go to. In this picture, you can see the bridge that I crossed everyday to get tothe place we met everyday before heading off to a school together.
The feel of Daito was so different than Tokyo, and reminded me of the rural area where I go tocollege. However, the mountains and landscape, as well as the people gave the area its ownatmosphere.
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
3/13
(Daito
Shougakkou) was the
first elementary school
we visited. I was
amazed by the
childrens eagerness
and energy. After the
class, they all asked for
our autographs, whichended up happening
at all the schools we
visited. It was hard for
me to be outgoing in
front of the kids at first,but it became easier
as we visited more
schools.
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
4/13
The smallest school we visited had only 16 students, but I felt that we had the mostintimate experience for that reason. The amount of preparation and attentiveness theygave us was really touching. They even had a goodbye ceremony for us and each of thestudents and faculty wrote individualized notes to us as well as gave us a picture of uswith the students. Everyone at the school was so excited for us to come, even thefaculty, and it made the experience that much more rewarding and memorable.
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
5/13
The mochi-making
event was my first
time making mochi
traditionally as well
as the first time I
could see lots of
people from the
community come
together. Entire
families and various
generations came
together as they
have for years, and I
really felt a sense ofcommunity. The
mochi was delicious
too of course!
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
6/13
Of course, we not only taught the children, but played with them as well. I wasnever much an active child but playing with the children in Unnan-shi taughtme how to play and run around again. I had to re-learn how to jump-rope(which I apparently had done wrong all along), and learned new ball games(which was difficult considering excited Japanese children were trying toexplain the rules to me). But I really enjoyed myself, even if I was exhausted by
the end of the day.
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
7/13
Getting to the
point where we
could play and
freely
communicate
with the children
didnt take as
long as I
expected. I
learned how thechildrens ages
changed how
they perceived
the world and
language, andthis helped me
interact with
them.
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
8/13
A few times during our stay, I was able to observe a kagura dance, which is aShinto theatrical dance that is especially famous in Shimane.In the opening ceremony, the local middle schools kagura club performed forus. We were also able to see a story-telling kagura at a local performance. Iwas able to learn various interesting things about Shinto during our stay, andsee ceremonial dances that one would normally only see on TV.
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
9/13
My host family
and I went on a
boat tour around
the river-moat
that surrounds
Matsue Castle.
Ive never been on
a river tour likethis one, the boat
even had a
kotatsu! I was able
to learn aboutMatsues history
and see the castle
district of the city.
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
10/13
We had the opportunity
to learn how to make
soba from scratch. We
took turns kneading the
dough, cutting it into
noodles, washing and
boiling the noodles,
then adding the brothand whatever toppings
we wanted! I kept mine
simple. Ive never made
any kind of noodles
from scratch, so I had
no idea it took so much
work!
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
11/13
I also was able to learn a bit about life in a Buddhist temple and how to
meditate. Even though we only meditated for 20 minutes, it was very difficult.
It wasnt so much as that the physical position was uncomfortable, as much as
clearing my mind. I was surprised that the head monk would smack the people
who were meditating on the shoulder if they appeared to be falling asleep!
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
12/13
After we learnedabout the Shinto mythof the god Susano-osaving a young
woman and her familyfrom the eight-headed snake Yamata-no-orochi, we visitedJapans first Shrine,Suga Jinja. We were
able to take part in aShinto ceremony,drink sacred sake, andlearn about Shintotradition and thehistory of the shrine. I
have learned muchmore about Shimanesimportance inJapanese history,especially spiritual-wise.
7/28/2019 Shimane Photo Essay
13/13
On our last day, before the ending ceremony, we planted a cherry blossom
tree to mark our year of home-stay students. I wonder if our tree will be
ready to put out blossoms this year. I saw a tree planted some years
before, and although not much bigger than ours, it was already starting to
bloom. I hope our own tree will be like that soon!