Julie, who is an ethnomusicologist, holds her ensemble classes in the Union, which is right next to the library. She teaches African drums and African xylophones. On many afternoons, we get music in the library. Like today. It’s quite pleasant.
Busy busy again in the library. We have a workaround for yesterday’s problem, but haven’t actually identified or solved the issue. Clunky but do-able. The traffic in both course research and in Japan travel guides is very heavy. I’ve done no research on Japan. I have tomorrow free and so far no plans. The next two days I have day trips to Kyoto and Nara. Day 4, I’m hoping to get to Hiroshima and day 5, I’m free again. I’ll be sleeping on the ship at night and theoretically could blog along the way, but we’re told that we will have no Internet access while in Japan. Something about satellite interference. Cingular told me my cell phone wouldn’t work in Japan either. Seems odd. Japan is perfectly technology modern, so there has to be some better explanation (or solution).
We have a combined logistical/cultural pre-port tonight, which they have been doing lately rather than one on each night. We also got some culture in Global Studies this morning, which was really nice. Usually it’s history/politics/econ -- social science emphasis. But, today Mary taught us about the Shinto religion and the Japanese concept of Ma ("the space between", the interval of space or silence) and Robin did a part on the intersections between Japan and the West and the artistic influences of each on the other. We learned that the Jesuit missionaries set up a painting school in Japan to teach Japanese artists to paint Christian religious art. Jesuits, Jesuits everywhere. Pretty much everywhere we’ve been in any case. Gene wrapped up with a bit of the military history of 20th century Japan and then demilitarization after the war, ending with the question of whether (and how) countries can become superpowers in ways other than military conquest. It was a good Global Studies.
Kobe should be cool, mid/high 60’s. Much happier weather in my opinion. China turned out to still be fairly warm, except for that last day in Qingdao. We sat outside on deck six for dinner tonight, but it was very chilly. Windy too. I hope I still get a bit of spring in C-Ville when I return before it becomes too hot.
More after Japan …
