This is not your tea time at the Peninsula; I’m talking about a Japanese tea ceremony. For my Japanese class, the women dressed in kimonos (with the help of our teachers and their army), and attended a (casual) tea ceremony. There were 7 women who wore kimonos and got their hair done and there were more than double the people helping us get ready. Ever seen Mulan? Remember when she was getting ready and the women pulled on the sash to give her a tiny waist and she couldn’t breathe? That’s how I felt once I was wearing everything. Sitting down and eating were both things I didn’t think would be a problem. Unlike the yukata (summer kimono), putting on a kimono is tedious, somewhat of a long process, and something I would not have been able to do (or try to do) on my own. Those who were ready before others were sent into the other room to eat and take pictures. Both were challenging but I only had to tell one person to stand on a chair so it wasn’t too bad.
I believe there were about 5 or 6 main items for my kimono. I had two under robes and the sashes to tie them, the kimono itself, the obi and accessories, tabi (the socks), zori (sandals). You may not be able to breathe, but you will have the best posture wearing a kimono.
The tea ceremony was a fraction of the time it took for us to get ready. Granted, it was very casual. Instead of being in a tatami room, we were at the sister city hall of Tokai village. Their sister city is someplace in Idaho so there were a lot of potato characters, and cowboy things. It set the scene really well for our event.
During the tea ceremony, we learned the etiquette of what do to do, what to say, and how to make our own tea. Before the tea is served we were given little sweets and a really thick tooth pick to eat it with (meant to be eaten in small bites.. if you can eat at all). Next was the tea which was also served to us but I don’t think that’s how it actually goes. There’s a specific way to hold the cup but before you drink you turn it in quarters twice clockwise. When you finish the tea, you wipe where your lips were (using a cloth that is provided to you), turn in back into the opposite direction and set it down. After the tea we were given another sweet. Both seemed like a typical Japanese sweet (a fancy mocha with bean paste).
After the tea ceremony, we made our own tea with matcha powder and a bamboo whisk and, we had pictures. It felt like prom all over again. All the girls lined up in their kimonos, standing in various places for pictures, and everyone in the building taking our pictures.
Aside from the kimono excitement, we’re all busy getting ready for the end of the school year. College, high school, and junior high graduations have passed and elementary will have theirs next week. This week teachers will find out their school placements. Luckily I already know I’m staying where I am. The ume trees are blooming and soon (maybe) the sakura trees will bloom again. Until then, we’re all trying to not die from allergies.
