Studying art

Okay, I will get back to quilting or Japan or something someday but I hope you'll let me indulge in a little bragging.

When Leiya went to the States two years ago we were really concerned about whether she'd be able to keep up with the school work, but her school counselor suggested that she take some basic art classes just so that she wouldn't always be drowned in academics. Leiya had had an interest in graffiti as art and had always scribbled on her books and notebooks but none of us considered it "art". She signed up for general art during her first semester of high school.

Occasionally during the past two years Leiya would write about her art classes and about how she was branching into different genres of art but we didn't know until she came back this week, how specialized her art classes were. I think that high school art classes in Japan are teaching "Draw something you like. Draw some scenery. Draw an animal." type of art classes. (I don't really know for sure.) But I don't think the kids are taught techniques. What I'm getting at is that we are amazed at how specialized Leiya's art classes in American high school have been! "What?! You drew this? How?" and Leiya tries to get us to understand how she is taught in her perspectives class, her negative space class, her fracture space class etc. It sounds to me like she's an art major in an art school! She gone from drawing classes to different types of ceramics classes and even photography and developing classes. What a great high school and Leiya's love of art has grown. Her dedication has paid off and she won some awards within her high school this past year and was even invited to exhibit one of her drawings at the Ohio Capital Conference exhibit. I know she loves art, but I'm sure that studying under the skillful teaching of the art teachers has developed her talent.

Right now Leiya is trying to decide if she should go on studying art in college or go into some other field. She realizes that art may not be the most practical way to make a living so she wonders if she should prepare for the world in some other way. She has interests in international affairs, care-work, education, but for now her passion is for art and she has less than a year to decide on college.

Isn't it wonderful to have all these possibilities in front of her for her future?!

1. Thrown Vessel - Wind Full of Petals
2. Pen and Ink Drawing - Close-up of Object Study
   
3. Pen and Ink - Negative Space Drawing
4. Pen and Ink - Drawing in Perspective

Having a good time!

We were up early yesterday (jet lag for Leiya) and she and I took Choco for a walk and then chatted until Tetsu left for work (on a Saturday!) I had Leiya give Tetsu's mother a call and invite her out for lunch and she accepted! This was an iffy situation because Tetsu and his mother had an argument a couple weeks ago and they were not speaking to each other. But LOVE wins over and I had a hunch if Leiya invited Obaachan she would come. We picked Obaachan up and had a great lunch. Leiya can talk a mile a minute and had lots to tell Obaachan about school and art etc. Obaachan is one proud grandma and Leiya sure got a big dose of love (and some spending money) from her!

After lunch Leiya and I just wandered around the outskirts of the city hitting stores that Leiya remembers with fondess. Lots of trying on clothes which I never do, and lots of giggling and girls' talk and it was fun to flip back and forth from Japanese to English with neither of us really realizing which language we were using. Leiya was horrified that the only clothes we can fit into in Japan are Large and Extra-large. She had forgotten that! It is really depressing and we laughed and pouted about all the children's size clothing sold in Japan that "normal women" can't wear. Honestly, though I may have a couple rolls of flab around my middle I don't consider myself big, but some of my Japanese friends (who have two or three children!) look like they just graduated from jr. high. Petit. Slender. Flat. We didn't buy a thing, vowed to do real shopping when we get to California and all in all had a great time.

Let's see. Things Leiya brought back from the States for us. Peanut butter. (Japan stores sell peanut butter in 1 cup jars.) Chocolate chips. (Sold by the ounce here.) Fabric for me! Chocolates for my friends to try. Gummy Worms for any of the friends she'll get together with. (We can buy gummy bears but the gummy worms freak everyone out! I've been bringing gummy worms back for Takumi and Leiya's friends and English kids for at least the past 10 years!) For Tetsu an Ohio State University Football shirt that he has to get up courage to wear out of the house. (He's very conservative).

We are having a great time!

Meetings

We made connections with Leiya with no time to spare and now she is home!

The drive to the airport was a little over 4 hours and at the end I was getting really antsy. "She's going to be there and waiting and wondering what happened to us!" Tetsu dropped me off at the airport arrivals terminal and I raced to the arrival area frantically checking the board. Oh no! Her plane was early! I scanned the crowd and just then Tetsu arrived and since there were two exits, I pointed him to one and I watched the other and less than a minute later, Leiya came through the door! Talk about timing!

She looks like an American girl with her double pierced ears and flip-flop foot fashion! Same big smile though!

Once home Leiya wandered through the house murmuring "It doesn't feel like my house. It's so small!" Living in a big American home for two years makes this one feel like a doll house! I get the same feeling every time I come back from a summer in California. But even though it's small, it is a good size for just Tetsu and me and I'm always grateful I don't have much area to clean! Leiya was happy to be back in her old room and seeing how I've rearranged it while she's been gone.

We had been worried about how Choco was going to react to having Leiya home. This is the first time they've met and Choco absolutely hates some people she meets. As we drove into the neighborhood I coached Leiya on how to approach Choco and I swear, that dog didn't even notice there was a new person coming into her yard and house. Not overjoyed to meet Leiya, not upset. Just same 'ol, same 'ol.

The cats have moved into Leiya's room. That's interesting, because they don't congregate there when I'm in the house (although they'll sit around in it when I'm sewing.) Now they're on Leiya's clothes, on her suitcase, taking up sleeping space. They are very happy.

We are thankful Leiya arrived safely.
Please don't feel you have to comment on the posts I write about all this family time. It could get a little boring to blog visitors!

Leiya's coming!

Okay my friends! I am ready for Leiya! (Well, her room is ready. The rest of the house she'll have to forgive. The messes will make it feel more like home.)

I gave up on the idea of balloons and banners. No such thing in Japan as helium balloons for private use. I have seen them at festivals, Disneyland, opening events etc but they aren't just sold in the supermarkets or florist shops like in the States.

So instead I cleaned the room. Bought more air freshener (remember, this is the room that used to be the sewing room last week when I was having cat woes!) Bought some sunflowers (put them in a place where I hope the cats will ignore them). Bought new sheets. Found a cute "towelket" which is a combination of towel and blanket and is used in Japan during the hot and muggy season when you can't stand a blanket but a sheet is too thin. They are a must in Japan. This one had cute fish on it. Sort of Japanese looking. Bought a couple of new gauze towels (also necessary in muggy Japan because regular towels won't dry) These have a cute Japanese print on them too. Bought toiletries and placed them in a pretty basket (I'm thinking Bed and Breakfast now) Bought a girl's teenage fashion magazine (looks boring to me but she might like to read some Japanese right away) . Bought some Hershey's Kisses to put on her pillow tonight Hilton Hotel style! (Hmmm ... I hope the cats don't go after those too.)

Tetsu and I are leaving in a couple of hours for the airport, a three hour drive away. I've already gotten an e-mail from Leiya's family saying that she got through the Ohio airport with no problems and is winging her way here. She has to change planes in Chicago by herself (this will be a first for her. She's flown alone before but never had to make the plane change) so we are keeping her in our prayers for that as well as for her safety. The e-mail from her family was so nice! I wish I could quote it all here but they probably wouldn't want that. Suffice it to say that they are wonderful people and entrusting Leiya to them has been a real comfort to us these past two years. Nevertheless, we are excited about having Leiya with us in Japan for the month!

I'll try to keep you posted on Leiya's visit but I may get sidetracked for the next few days!

More blessings!

I WON!!!!!!

I'm so excited! I called my non-English speaking/reading husband over to the computer and translated May Britt's blog post word for word! He laughed at the way she had posted with all the fan fare and the pictures leading up to the drawing. "She looks like she has a good time writing her blog too." I showed him some of the work May Britt does (not that he can appreciate her stitchery) and he had a good laugh and expressed his sympathies that now she has to send her lovely bag to the other side of the world to someone she's never met (but who greatly appreciates her!)

Tetsu also thinks that I should go buy a lottery ticket! Just a few weeks ago I commented on Nancy's post and I my name was drawn for her wonderful fabrics too! How's that for odds? (I hope you aren't all jealous of my good fortune!)

Thank you so much May Britt! I'm really thrilled and will use and treasure your work of art when it comes!

What a wonderful world of cyber and friends and contacts. Thank you too, my visitors for letting me know and wishing me congratulations! I'm really feeling, doubly, triply blessed!

Birds and flowers

I have a zillion things to do so this is going to be short. One of my English kids is already here!

Here's a picture of one of the herons that I was talking about yesterday. There is a nesting site along our daily walk route and talk about noisey! If anyone needs a definition of squabbling, you just have to walk by this part of the forest. These herons are white and quite large. There is another species of heron which are smaller and grey but they all seem to be competing for trees.

Another bird that we hear a lot during this season sings "Ho---ho-ke-kyo" I think this is a Japanese nightingale and because it is shy and small it is difficult to search out among the trees, but it sings a lovely song early in the mornings.

The azaleas are blooming and one of my elderly neighbors does azalea bonsai which he is quite proud of. Every morning he picks off the dead blossoms and sits and smokes a cigarette while he admires his handiwork and drinks tea. He has other bonsai too but the azaleas are of course the most colorful and seem to be his favorites.

Only two more days till we see Leiya! (Can you tell I'm excited?)

By-the-way

Sometimes when I read a blog, something sticks in my mind. It may be a prayer request or just some bit of information about an upcoming event. Later I wonder what happened. I forget myself to report back on how something is turning out (but we do tend to keep each other updated on quilting news don't we?) So today will be a by-the-way-day.

By the way... My plum juice is turning into juice! I checked it yesterday (pulled from the dark reaches of the kitchen cupboard) and the sugar has melted down, the plums are all wrinkled and it is probably ready for drinking. Leiya will be pleased! That didn't take long!

By the way... The rice fields that were planted last month are coming up nice and green and the scenery looks like a beautiful green carpet! Wild ducks float between the rice plants and herons seem to enjoy looking for things to eat in the mud.

By the way... The little boy Tomoya who was in the hospital and wasn't doing well is still there but hopefully he will be able to take in solid food sometime this summer. It is a long haul for him and we are still praying for him. Add another origami crane to the many prayers already given...

That's the update...