New beginnings!

Hi,
Japanese lifestyle has always intrigued me. The way they speak, eat, live, dress, talk, walk... It is all very different to what I know.




Sometime ago I bought cd's to teach myself Japanese, and I do recognize Japanese when I hear it. Sometimes I even understand a word :-) So you can imagine how delighted I was when I found this little shop "HASHI" in my neighbourhood selling Japanese products but also they organised workshops.
The first workshop I followed, was about Japanese teaceremony. In the picture you see me and my sensei (=teacher) who approves of the green tea I prepared, which I had learnt to make only minutes before.
In December I followed a workshop about Japanese giftwrapping. (See picture, me standing).
Japanese never give unwrapped gifts, scarves are used instead of paper !
As I am interested in painting I also attended the SUMI-E workshop; that is Japanese inkpainting. First it felt very awkward as you hold the brush in a strange angle. On the picture you see me painting my first strokes just to get the feel of the ink and the brush.
Lastly I participated an IKEBANA class. I loved it! The Japanese have this brilliant approach of flowerarranging. I loved the end result. With a few flowers I had this amazing creation.
I have never visited Japan (= on my to do list, must-have-seen places) but I do feel like I have had a little taste of the culture already. So a big hurray for workshops and people who organize them.


Arigato,
Kristina