2009 Archive

Four Coordinators of International Relations (CIR) from Kagawa and 5 Oversea Technical Trainees (OTT), and other foreign residents of Kagawa went to Shodoshima to help with and participate in an international Halloween party on Shodoshima's famous Angel Road.  Everyone wore great costumes, and Chris McCabe (CIR) gave an explanation of Halloween to all the children and participants at the party in Japanese.

迟来总比不来好!这是一句古老的谚语,相信它或者反对它都大有人在。这句话用的很普遍,以至于往往成为了人们的口头禅而并没有真正理解其含义。当在好几个冬天前学习雪地滑板时,我总是把这句话挂在嘴上。但是现在,我发现自己需要用这句话来掩饰我并没有去做某些事情的尴尬,就好像一座寺庙就位于我已住了四年半房子的右前方,可我却从未曾真正注意过。并不是我完全忽略了88处寺庙的遍路之旅或者空海大师,事实上我已经去过了十几座与空海大师有关的寺庙了,如高野山,如东寺。另外,数月前我还拜读翻译本《空海大师传记》(日语书名为《空海の風景》)一书。然而,我却从未曾正视就在我们的岛屿上存在着的非常有名的遍路之旅,尤其是一些寺庙就近在咫尺。

October 20, 2009:

I was invited to a fun school visit by Tsuruo Elemetary School's teachers, who are always diligently engaging in international exchange.  The students asked lots of great questions, and the class leaders ran the session very properly.  It was truly a great time, where everyone did their very best to learn some English songs and try a fun English card game together.

11月末的星期天早晨8点半,空气清新凉爽,一个典型的香川深秋的早晨。在我穿的冬天的外套和羊毛帽外套上了白色的遍路服和戴上了锥形的草帽,大家轻松的开玩笑说我们就像一堆会走动的棉花糖。最后,我们的这套行头中加入了最具"遍路"代表元素的紫色绶带和手杖,使大家装备的就像是一名真正要上路的遍路者。手杖的上面用日本书法手工写着:"我们二人同行"的字样,这是第一位遍路者――伟大的空海大师(死后封为弘法大师)对后来每一位遍路者所说的话。

我是从香川国际交流协会的日语老师那里知道此次遍路之旅的,我当时想应该有一些来自不同国家的外国人和一些当地人会参加这个活动吧。关于这次活动,我当时知道的并不多。等我下了电车,见到了许多JET(日本交流与教学项目)的朋友(尽管我不是JET项目的人员)。

我变的又瞎又聋,什么都看不见,只是一片漆黑。唯一指引我的就是和墙小心接触的手,仔细地触摸着墙面的每一处隆起处和凹槽,不顾一切地寻找我的方向。寂静好像充满了整个甬道,我感到我想中止这一切,但我不能,也不允许。我被勒令不准说话(有时这对我也是一种挑战)。刚开始这种感觉让人很不自然,我笨拙地向前移动着,而唯一的安慰就是我知道我前面还有一个人,他也同样感到不舒服。我是不是出什么问题了?

在深秋的一天如果一个遍路者......

(同时向埃托洛•卡维奥致歉)

在深秋的一天如果一个遍路者......

关于四国遍路修行的思考

我的遍路感受

我的遍路体验

我是2005年来到日本的。刚来的时候,我对香川知之甚少,更不知道还有88座寺庙的遍路修行。然而,第一个月就有许多人告诉我关于遍路的事情,我认为遍路应该是一种令人惊奇的挑战。在那年的11月,我终于有机会从志度寺徒步走到大窪寺。那是一次漫长而艰苦的徒步,但我很自豪我完成了它。后来,我甚至有时还希望能再试一次。所以,我很感谢今年有这么一次6座寺庙徒步之旅的机会。

遍路之旅的准备!

某个地方,他醒来的有些晚,他知道自己不该这么晚醒来。这不是他在多度津的房间......"我在哪里?"他想。紧接着,他飞快地冲进另一个房间叫醒他的朋友,并告诉他已经迟到了。他们急急忙忙地收拾好行李,飞快地冲出大门。时间是至关重要的!因为他们俩马上要开始一个在不同寺庙之间的旅行,如此好的一个旅行怎么能饿着肚子出发呢?所以,他们决定吃上8个桔子,这是一个不错的主意。

为整体而超越自我

香川县的外国人第一次体验四国88处寺庙遍路之旅的地点是在五色台,这次的遍路体验是围绕着善通寺展开的。

大部分参加这次遍路体验的外国人都是来自香川县JET项目(即日本交流与教学项目)中的外国语指导助手,他们主要是在小学、初中和高中里教英语。这天天气很好,从道隆寺出发,我们走了将近17公里的路。我们经过了金仓寺、曼茶罗寺、出释迦寺、甲山寺和善通寺。这是一次愉快的远足。

A celebration banquet was held to welcome the Shaanxi Provincial Friendly Delegation visit to Kagawa.

Chinese and Japanese calligraphers and painters displayed their talent and skill while producing works of art in their varying areas of expertise.

Cultural exchange was mapped out at the Kagawa International Exchange Association (IPAL) through calligraphy, cherished by both Japan and China. Wishing for an increase in exchange and development for both Kagawa Prefecture and Shaanxi Province, they planted Kagawa's prefectural tree, the Olive tree.

Mr. Zhao Leji, president of the Standing Committee of Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress led a 35-member delegation to visit Kagawa and meet with the Governor of Kagawa Prefecture and the President of Kagawa Prefectural Congress on April 14th (Tue.) and 15th(Wed.). The delegation was also present at the Painting and Calligraphy Exchanges Exhibition and Planting Commemorative Ceremony. This visit has further deepened the friendship between the two sides.

I gave a 90 minute presentation about fun and interesting math in IPAL. I received a master degree after studying math for 7 years at the University of Oregon, University of Bristol (England), Auburn University, and the University of Wisconsin. My field of study was topology.

The Consul General of Federal Republic of Germany visited Kagawa and had a courtesy visit with the governor. He gave a lecture titled " The Twenty Year Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall."

The 2nd English Haiku Gathering was held on Saturday October 3rd, during a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  Ten participants gathered to experience a traditional Japanese haiku gathering with an English twist.  Read their poems after the jump!