The Japanese are big on punctuality, and the tea world in particular requires great attention to timing. Here at Urasenke, everyone is expected to arrive ten minutes before the time they’re supposed to be anywhere. Thus it was that we left the dorm at about 8:15 to be at the school at 8:20 because we’d been told to be there at 8:30 to be ready for the ceremony that started at 9:30. Read the rest of this entry »
We don’t ordinarily get fed on the weekends, but since school activities were conducted today, they brought us sandwiches last night for this morning’s breakfast. Since there were a few extra onigiri yesterday, though, I had stashed one away, and ate it for breakfast instead so I could save the sandwich for tomorrow.
Today all formality was expected. Read the rest of this entry »
Dawn had broken cold and clear when I awoke at 5:30. Our breakfasts here are delivered to the dorm lobby every evening; we pick them up and keep them in our own refrigerators until the morning. I began the day with onigiri (rice ball) and green tea. Then, in a mood for exercise and adventure, I threw on a sweatshirt and headed out for a walk. Read the rest of this entry »