Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Night ZooKeeper classes for refugee children

This program offers language support for Syrian children living as refugees in a foreign land, often orphaned, and with little access to Arabic or English. Volunteers dedicate their time and skills so that kids can continue to learn their native language from qualified instructors and ultimately preserve their culture. Arabic language instructors have the ability to dial-in via Skype or Zoom to teach kids living in refugee community centers (where approved). 

Beginning in April, we installed the Night Zookeeper language platform as well as Internet connections to create an environment that will allow for collaboration between kids in Japan and Syria by using English and also provide a platform for Arabic language instructors to volunteer to teach online so that Syrian children don’t lose their native language skills.

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 19 & 20 of Iva C.A.R.E.S. Fun Raiser walk along the 53 Stations of Tokaido

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Tokaido trek: day 19 & 20

東海道五十三次徒歩:第19、20日目

 

 

Here's a go at making posts shorter so I can upload more photos...

今回はブログを短くして写真を載せられるように試してみる。

 

Energy. That's the keyword this day. Remember that crazy energy I had to burn off the day before?

体力・エネルギー。が今日のキーワード。一昨日私の体力が余りすぎていたのを覚えている?

 

It's back. More than ever. I do the only thing left to do:

まただよ。今までに無いくらい。残された事は一つだ。

 

I leave everything but my phone/money in my room and go jogging (wouldn't some Edo- ites have ran it to send urgent messages?)

私は携帯とお金だけ持って、後は全てを部屋に置いてジョギングへ出かける。(江戸に住む人達はかつて緊急の連絡を伝えるときには、走ったでしょ?)

 

The distance I cover in an hour I jog in 15 minutes or so. I stop when I want to and endorphine-flooded, observe everything with hyper clarity (hmm are you thinking what I'm thinking?)

歩くと1時間かかるところを、走ると大体15分で行けてしまう。止まりたい時には止まる。エンドルフィンが溢れている。全てがはっきりと観察できる。(ふ~ん、ひょっとして私と同じ事を考えてる?)

 

It's a beautiful, sunny day and on my way, hey ho, I spot another backpack traveller who seems of the seasoned type haha. I stop and ask him if he is walking the Tokaido and he, Stefan, says yes. Woo!

とても美しい晴れの日だ。そして途中で、おや、リュックを背負う旅行者を見つける。ベテランタイプだ、笑。私は止まって、彼に東海道を歩いているのか訊く。彼、ステファンは言う。そうだよ。おー!

 

"Wait, what's your name? Are you one who is walking all the prefectures?" he asks.

“ちょっと待って、名前は? あなたが日本を一周している例の人かい?”彼は訊く。

 

Small world!!! Upon hearing about Stefan 's 4 month walk around Japan, his friend told him about someone even crazier than him (i.e. me) so that's how word has spread (about YouMeWe too!)

世界は小さい!!! ステファンが日本で4ヶ月間歩くという事を聞いて、彼の友達が彼よりももっとクレージーな人が居るよって(すなわち私)言ったとのこと。なるほどこう言う風に噂は広まるのだな。(YouMeWeの事もだ!)

 

We talk about history, Japanese culture, etc, walk through even closer mountains and gushing rivers, all while he navigates with a book about the Tokaido (gps was going to lead us the wrong way!). Eventually, we depart as I have to jog off my energy (warned you, keyword).

私たちは歴史のことや日本の文化などを話す、そして山に近づいて激流の辺りも歩く。彼はずっと東海道の本を頼りに進む。(GPSだと間違った方向へ導くようだ!)最終的に私はジョギングをしてエネルギーを消費するために別れる。(警告したでしょ。キーワード覚えている?)

 

The nature is stunning and lush. Green everywhere, large rivers, beaming sun. Obviously I chat up some old women I see on the way (had an old man yelling at me - in a good natured way - when I tried going into a museum, then shake my hand the end of our talk. That's another story!)

自然は目を見張るよう。豊かだ。全てが緑、大きな川、光り輝く太陽。もちろん、途中で女の人にも声をかける。(お婆さんが私に対して何か叫んでいる。好意的な感じで。博物館に入ろうとしたら、私の手を握って握手をするので会話は止まった。これはまた別な話!)

 

I stop to eat at 5 pm. Finally, finally, my legs are tired. I walk. It gets windy, cold. "You're on your own, buddy" says the Energy.

5時に止まって食べて、やっと、やっと私の足は疲れる。歩き出す。だんだん風が吹き寒くなる。“もうあなたは自分独りだからね。” 私のエネルーが言う。

 

Exhausted, I stop before Fujida post station and take a bus back. Night night!

ヘトヘトになって、藤枝宿の前で止まりバスに乗る。おやすみ!

 

 

 

Day 21. Garden party garden party garden party! Today's the day!

第21日目。誘われた庭でのパーティーだ、パーティーだ、パーティー!やっと今日が来た!

 

Because I must be there in the afternoon and it's near Fuji city (the green part of it!) I explore Shizuoka, land of Ieyasu Tokugawa. A trip to Nihondaira brought the unexpected.

午後には着かなければならないので、富士市の近くだから(富士市の中の緑が沢山ある地域!)家康の土地である静岡をあちこち周る事にする。日本平までの事は全く期待していなかった。

 

1) I saw mount Fuji in its entirety! All of it! (Had to hold back tears haha)

1)富士山が完全に見えた!全部だよ!(涙を堪えなくてはならなかった。笑)

 

 2) unable to see Ieyasu's shrine, I walk around the area. The sea appears. Something about it, perhaps its crashing waves and seeming endlessness, makes me watch it for an hour. I came to see a human, but nature showed me the sea.

2)家康の神社が見られなかった。あちこち歩き回って探したのに。海が現れる、何かが特別だ、もしかしたら、その岸にぶつかる波とそのとめどめ無さ、何かが私をその場に留める。1時間海を眺めた。家康という人を見る為に来たけれども、自然は私に海を見せてくれた。

 

Afternoon. Garden party.

午後。庭園のパーティー。

 

Ah, readers!!! Any words I string together won't describe the magic of a lush garden, great company, fine food, and a view of mount Fuji. All by a 400 year old house. Saito-san and his wife have been holding these garden parties for over 20 years! We talk about pizza, the stillness of rocks, and ancestry, while sipping on wine by an outdoor fireplace under the stars. I could live like this forever :)

ああ、読者の皆さん!!! この豊潤な庭園の魔法は私がどんな言葉を繋ぎ合わせても語り尽くせない。楽しい人々、美味しい食事、そして富士山の眺め。全て400年前に建てられた家の前で。斎藤さんと彼の奥さんはこのようなパーティーを20年以上続けているのだ! ピザの話や、石の静けさ、家系の事、星の下の外にある暖炉の横でワインを飲みながら話す。私なら、永遠にこうやっていられる。笑

 

They very kindly let me stay the night and I wake up the next morning to birds twittering behind washi-paper doors. I leave with the smell of flowers lingering in my mind...

彼らは親切にも夜泊めてくれた。次の朝、和紙で出来たドアの向こう側でさえずる鳥に目が覚める。花の香りが頭に漂うまま帰る。

 

Thank you deeply Saito-san and wife :))) I will see you again!!!

斎藤さんと奥さんどうもありがとう!!! また会いましょう!!!

 

PS. Photos of the garden party will be uploaded when I receive 'em!

あとがき。受け取り次第、パーティーの写真も載せるからね!

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 17 & 18 Iva C.A.R.E.S. Fund Raiser

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Tokaido trek: day 17 & 18

東海道五十三次 徒歩:第17日、18日目

I don't know what it was: maybe it was the time to reset, or the end of the Blister Party, or the excitement of returning to the Tokaido without a backpack. Or perhaps all three.

何故か良くわからない:ひょっとしたら休んだからか、それか足のマメがおさまったからか 、リュック無しで東海道へ戻るというのでウキウキしているか、3つまとめてかもしれない。

 

Either way, I was bursting with energy. Too much energy.

どちらにせよ、私はエネルギーでとても満たされていた。有り過ぎるくらい。

 

Took a train back to Kanbara, where I left off, and began with a supermarket-picnic on a bench. As I was munching, casually gazing at the mountains, guess who decides to show itself?

東海道の歩き途中の神原まで電車に乗り、スーパーのお弁当から始めた。むしゃむしゃやりながら、山を何気に眺めていると、、誰が現れたと思う?

 

Fuji-san!!!

富士山だ!!!

 

So here's the thing: whenever I reach a spot where Fuji-san could be seen in full mountainous glory with rivers and houses at its feet, and locals saying how this is the perfect viewing spot, 75% of it is hidden behind clouds. 60% if I'm lucky. And never its peak.

つまりこういうだ:富士山が裾の川や建物と共に雄大に輝いて見える場所にたどり着くと、地元の人達はそういう所が完璧な眺めができる場所だと言う。75%かラッキーでも60%は雲に隠れてしまうが、頂上はいつも見える。

 

But as I walk through towns and cities and casually check a gps direction or have have a picnic, there it is in clear view!!! I have yet to see all of it clearly, but when I do see a part of it during these unexpected times, I see it 100%. I am left speechless, everytime.

しかし、町や都市部を歩いている時にでも、GPSで方角を確かめたり、お弁当を食べていると、そこに晴れやかで綺麗な眺めがある!!! 私はまだ富士山を完全に晴れ切った状態では見たことが無いのに、こういう思いもよらぬ時に部分的に見える時は、雲に隠れていない。100%見える。なんとまただ、いつも部分的に見える時に限って、晴れる。

 

Today is was a beautiful walk!

今日はとても美しい徒歩の日だ!

 

Kanbara is my favourite town in Japan so far. Old houses, small unique gardens, mountains in the background. I get back into the rhythm of observing, experiencing, only peaking into local shops because it feels a bit wrong if I don't buy something haha.

神原が今私にとって日本でお気に入りの町だ。古い家々、小さな趣のある庭、そして背景に山々。また観察と体験のリズムに戻っていく。お店はちょこっと覗くだけにしている。何も買わないのは失礼だから。笑

 

I see an old lady stop to gaze at an ancient-looking house, and I use this opportunity to make talk.

お婆さんがとても古い家の前で立ち止まって見ている。ここぞとばかり、私は話かける。

 

"Sumimasen, kore wa nan desu ka," I innocently ask.

“スミマセン、コレハ、ナンデスカ。” 純情な感じで尋ねる。

 

Her reply is elaborate and enthusiastic (and incomprehensible), but we both venture into the house to explore. It has a traditional Japanese layout with tatami floors and from the signs and boards it seems like a big deal.

彼女の答えは丁寧に細かく熱が篭っている(そして、私には意味が分からない。)しかし、二人で家の中へ入ってみる。昔ながらの伝統的な建物で畳の床だ。看板や文字の書かれている板から、何やらお屋敷のようだ。

 

We go to the garden and meet a lady who works there. She takes us to this pebble-covered circle on the ground and puts a bamboo stick in its middle and gestures me to put me ear to it. As I do, she pours water to its bottom and I hear this metal tinkling sound (still don't know what I was listening to!)

庭へ出てそこで作業をする女の人に会う。彼女は我々を石畳の円があるところに連れ、竹の棒を真ん中に置いて、私に耳を当ててみろと手真似をする。私が耳を当てると、彼女は底に水を入れる。金属の鳴る音がする。(私にはまだ何を聴いているのか分からない。)

 

After the old lady listens to the water-tinkling, we chat for a bit and then leaves. It seems like we're walking the same route so we talk (yay!) She's from Nagoya and armed with a JR pass, is out to explore and search for sakura ebi (shrimp).

お婆さんもそれを聴いた後に、すこし話をして離れた。どうやら同じ方向へ行くらしく、 (やった!)一緒に歩きながら話す。彼女は名古屋から来ていてJRパスを持っていた。桜えびを求めてきたとのこと。

 

Our joint walk is short and I am soon left with the Tokaido and a sign-board to the Satta Pass with a little drawing of Fuji-san by the sea. Perfect.

一緒の歩きは直ぐ終わり、私は東海道へ。薩埵峠(さったとうげ)への標識があり富士山の側に海がある小さな絵がある。完璧だ。

 

Satta Pass should be called Orange Groves By The Sea Pass. I've never seen so many oranges! As I walk through countless orange trees and views of the sea and faraway lands, I turn to see mount Fuji (you know where this is going, right?) hidden behind clouds. Should have known ;)

薩埵峠は”海峠の側のみかん畑”と呼ばれるべきだ。こんなに沢山のみかんを見たことがない!海や遠くの陸が見えるところで、みかんの木々の間を歩いて行くと、また富士山が見えた(もうどうなるか、知ってよね?)富士山はまた少し雲に隠れている。覚悟しておくべきだった。笑顔

 

The path descends into ancient, towering trees. I stop by a bamboo forest and something about it calls me to explore it. I enter. I am in a different world.

道は古い大きな木々の中へ降りていく。私は竹藪の所で止まった。何かが私を誘って呼んでいる。中へ入る。まるで違った世界だ。

 

The bamboos sway in the breeze and their leaves rustle and stalks clatter, but there is a stillness and silence to this world. I too become still and silent.

竹が風邪に揺れ、葉は擦れ合って、幹は音をたてる。しかし、何か時間が止まったような静けさがこの世界にはある。私も動かずに沈黙する。

 

After a while, I walk up a steep slope, then turn to look down at Tokaido road and then my gps. It turns out that this bamboo forest is where the old Tokaido route was! There is no path, but I use the bamboo stalks for support as I go up the steep slope.

少し経ってから、急な坂の昇りになり、曲がると東海道が見下ろせる。 GPSを見る。この竹藪が昔の東海道があった場所だ! ちゃんとした道は無いけれども、竹の幹を支えにして、急坂を昇る。

 

Here and there are broken pieces of rock (from the old route perhaps!) and clinging onto the bamboo, I rejoin the new paved Tokaido route.

あちこちで割れた石の欠片がある(多分昔ここに道があったからかもしれない!)そして竹につかまりながら、新しい東海道の舗装道路へ出る。

 

Had so much fun! :D

とても楽しかった!幸せ。

 

I arrive at Okitsu. Dour buildings come into view. Rusting tin roofs and on going construction. I hasten my walk. It begins to drizzle and turns dark. Another post station. I pick a jasmine flower (my favourite!) and breathing its scent in deeply, continue.

興津に着く。ずんぐりしたビルが見えてくる。錆びたブリキの屋根や建設工事。急ぎ足で歩く。雨になり、暗くなる。次の宿場だ。ジャスミンの花を摘み(私の好きな花!)香りを深く吸い込み、また歩く。

 

There's something special about walking at night. No one is around, I can sing out loud/dance freely  (though I was caught once by an equally surprised lady haha). It feels like another day.

夜歩くのは、何か特別なものがある。誰もいない。ひとりで歌ったり踊ったり自由にできる(しかし、途中女性と出会ってお互いにびっくりしたけれども。はは。)昼とはまるで別な日の感じだ。

 

Still bursting with energy, I walk on. I only stop because I have to go back and fix my website.

まだまだ体力があったので、歩き続けた。まだ歩けるけれども、戻ってホームページを直さないといけないから、終わりにする。

 

What an enchanting time :)

なんて素敵な一日だ。笑顔

 

(Sheesh that was a long post!)

(ふう、ずいぶん長いのを書いた!)

 

 

Day 18:

第18日目

 

Sunny at first, then rainy. Very rainy.

最初は晴れ、そして雨、そしてひどい雨。

 

I go back to where I left off (still backpack/blister free yay!) As I write this my mind is telling me to cut it short. Roads, houses, highways. There are no mountains and barely any wood in sight (I did see a car with a wooden frame!) More rain, strong winds.

東海道の歩き途中の場所まで戻る(未だにリュックも、足のマメも無い!)今これを書きながら、私の頭は短く終わらせなきゃと言っている。道路、家々、大通り。山も無いし木造の建物すら視界に無い(木で出来た車は見かけたけれども!)さらに雨、そして強い風。

 

As adults flee to the dryness of indoor, school children continue running and skipping around haha. I had a raincoat on, so no amount of rain was stopping me today. Soaking shoes included. At 4 pm I reach Shizuoka post station and my room just a 10 min walk away, so I decide to change socks/drenched trousers before continuing.

大人は乾いた建物の中へ逃げていくが、学校の子供達は走り続けてスキップしている。はは。私は雨でも気にせず行こうと、レインコートを被った。濡れた靴も気にせずに。夕方4時になって、静岡の宿場に着き、10分先の部屋まで歩く。靴下とズボンを履き替えまた先へ進もうと考える。

 

At this point, my energy is overwhelming and it needs to burn (who would have thought, eh?) I box, do squats,  press ups, the whole deal. Still not enough, but it helps. Its too late to venture on the Tokaido because I'll be away from a city/town and want to avoid the Hakone situation (haha) so I fix my website to where I am happy with it.

この時点では、体力が有り余る程。もっと消耗しなくては(私がこんななんて誰が思っただろう?)私は、ボクシングをしたり、スクワットをしたり、腕立て伏せをしたが、足しにはなるけれども、まだ足りない。しかし東海道を進むには遅すぎる。町から離れて箱根のような事態(笑)になってはいけない。私はホームページ直しに存分に取り組むことにした。

 

Finally, at 11:30pm, the energy ceases. I sleep.

夜の11:30分になって、体力も尽き、寝る。

 

 

PS. Can't post more photos because of a storage limit, sorry!

あとがき。ストーレッジ不足でもうこれ以上写真が載せられない。ごめんない!

 

 

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 15&16 Iva C.A.R.E.S. Fund Raiser

Dear readers,

読者の皆さん、

 

I wish I had some stories and photos to share, but alas, these past two days have been stop-and-reset days (sorry about that!) It seems like my backpack has been cutting off some circulation from my arms, so I got it checked out in a hospital just for the sake of it (it's all perfectly fine, nothing to worry about!)

今日も色々な話や写真写真を紹介できれば良かったのだけれども、ああ、この二日間は止まって休む日になった。(ごめんなさい!) どうやら、リュックサックが私の腕の血の流れを止めていたみたいで病院で一応診てもらった。(全て大丈夫。心配する事はありません!)

 

It still amazes me how much can be communicated with expressive hand gesture and a little bit of acting (can't say "feeling tingles in fingers" in Japanese? Just wiggle your fingers and point to them!)

いまだにビックリする。手でのジェスチャーやちょっとした身振り手真似でこんなにコミュニケ―ションができるなんて。(日本だと“手がピリピリする。”なんて言えないでしょ? でも、手を軽く左右に動かして指差せば良い!)

 

Of course this could only work with very patient and good-humored people (the nurse points to a space on the form that I have to fill in and says, "Happy Birthday!" Haha) Amazing as it is, when a doctor can only stare at you after having repeated himself over and over to my utter non-comprehension, you realize that story-telling gestures can only go so far :P

もちろんこれは、我慢強く聞いてくれる人や性格の良い人にしか効かない。(看護士さんが私が書き込んでいる用紙の一部分を指差して“誕生日おめでとう!”と言う。はは。)本当におもしろいものだ。お医者さんが私が全く分からないのに何回も繰り返し説明して、そして私を見つめる事しか出来ない。連想のジェスチャーゲームは所詮ある程度しか通用しないや:P

 

Then Hide came to the rescue!

そしたらヒデが手助けしてくれた!

 

He was very kind and translated everything! It all went smoothly, no issues, and I've decided to book accommodation where I can leave my bag and continue galavanting on the Tokaido. After that? Wrote, caught up with family and friends, and remember Saito-san, the owner of the international awarded garden? He invited me to a garden party this Sunday!!! Im so excited!!!

彼は親切にも全て翻訳してくれた! すべて上手く行き。問題なし。私は、荷物を置ける場所を予約して東海道であちこち楽しみながら回ることに決めた。その後は?家族や友達に書く、それからあの国際的な賞をとった庭園のオーナーの斎藤さんの事を覚えている?彼が、日曜日の彼の庭でのパーティーに招待してくれた!!! とても楽しみ!!!

 

Till next time :)

次回まで。笑顔

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 13&14 IVA C.A.R.E.S. FUND RAISER

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Day 13: I had a trekking companion today!

第13日目:今日は歩き仲間ができた!

 

Let me start at the beginning. Woke up. Konbini. The routine. Spotted a guy with the whole backpack/tent/sleeping bag set up, and of course we were going to talk.

ちょっと最初から説明してみる。朝起きる。コンビニ。いつものパターン。そして、リュック・テント・寝袋の装備一式を広げている男の人を見つけた。もちろん、お互い話を始める。

 

Matthew is a university student in tokyo going on a 6 day hitchhike tour. Being a musician/traveller, we naturally had a lot to talk about, so he decided to join my walk for a day and I unknowingly passed a post station because of it!

マシューは、東京にある大学に通っていて、ヒッチハイクをして6日目になる。音楽家で旅行家。お互い自ずと沢山話す事がある。そして、彼は私と一日一緒に歩くことに決めた。そんなかんだで私は分かっていつつ、一つ宿場をパスした。

 

When I say "Fuji city" what comes to your mind? (If you're not familiar with it)

私が“富士市”と言うと何が思い浮かぶだろう?(もし、この辺りを知らなかったとして。)

 

Fuji-san, more mountains, some forests, fluttering butterflies perhaps, right?

富士山、更に沢山の山、それから森、沢山の蝶も、多分、でしょ?

 

An industrial city greeted us instead: Factories with metal columns spewing grey smoke. Unkempt buildings with rusting signs. Rubbish. The remains of Yoshiwara post station was a bleak alleyway by an old shopping area.

代わりに、大きな工業都市が私達を迎えた:鉄の柱が灰色の煙を出している工場や錆びた看板のあるガチャガチャした建物が色々。粗大ゴミ。吉原宿の跡は、古い商店街のさびれた裏道だった。

 

We cross a bridge with views of factories and smoke called Dream Bridge. First I think it couldn't be more out of place, but then I wonder that perhaps, it was exactly what people here needed.

工場や煙の見える“夢の大橋”という橋を渡る。最初は、随分場違いのものがあるなと思ったが、しかし、考えると、これがまさしく此処に住む人達に必要なものなのだろうと思った。

 

The day of walking and company ends at a bathhouse. Time for some relaxation :) We camp at a large park and Matthew has an extra sleeping mat, yay me!

歩きと仲間との1日は銭湯で終える。くつろぐ時間だ!笑顔。私達は大きな公園でキャンプをする。マシューは一つ余計にキャンプマットを持っている。やったー私の分だ!

 

Day 14:

第十四日目:

A bright new day, I was looking forward to leaving Fuji city and its smoke.

眩しい新たな一日。富士市とその煙から去る事を待ち望んでいた。

 

Matthew departs to Nagano and I return to the dear Tokaido. Taking me through the park and then a river walkway, it's as if I am in an oasis of nature. Then the factories return.

マシューは長野へ向かい、私はお馴染みの東海道ルートへ戻る。公園を抜け後は川沿いの道。まるで自然浴のオアシスにいるようだ。そしてまた工場。

 

Soon they make way for my favourite side of Japan: traditional houses, flowers, mountains ever watchful in the distance, Fuji-san behind clouds. Somehow, the route gets more and more beautiful! (Reminds me a lot of South England with its cottages and flowers).

間もなくして、私の好きな日本になる:昔風の家々、花々、遠くで構えて見守る山々、雲の向こうにある富士山。何故かとにかく、道のりはどんどん美しくなっていく。(南イングランドの小さな家々や花々を沢山思い出させる。)

 

An old lady stops by a particularly stunning garden and I join her and comment on it. She tells me that it's her friend's garden and whether I would like to see it. Mochiron!

お婆さんが特に目を見張るような庭園の横に立ち止まったので、一緒になって一言言ってみた。彼女によるとそれはお友達の庭らしい。見たいかと聞かれたので、“もちろん!”

 

It's an open garden. Go see it. It's won international awards. Walking past the layers of flowers, the garden reveals more and more of itself, like an unfolding flower, until find yourself in centre srrounded by tulips and foxgloves and sakura, speechless. It's a soulful place.

誰でも入れるよ、入って見てごらん。国際的な賞をとったんだよ。中へ入り、幾層にも重なった花々を越えると、庭園はどんどんひらけていった。まるで花びらを開いていくような感じ。やがてチューリップとジギタリス(キツネノテブクロ)と桜に囲まれた中心に出る。声が出ない。何か哀愁に満ちた場所だ。

 

I meet Saito, the owner, and he speaks english so we have a real chat! He tells me his wife and he had worked on this garden for 30 years and that the house beside it belonged to his merchant ancestors from 1685 ("oh my god the Edo period!" My mind pings to me). Leaving the garden, I thank the man for giving me the chance to see it. Whoever visits it is blessed.

オーナーの斎藤さんに会う。彼は英語を話せるので、ちゃんとした会話ができた! 彼によると、奥さんと二人で30年この庭を手入れしたという。隣にある家は1685年の彼の先祖の商人のものという。(“江戸時代だ!” 私の頭の中でちゃんとピーンと来た。)彼にお礼を言って、庭園を離れた。誰がここを訪れても幸せな気持ちになれるだろう。

 

Down the road a friend of the lady I first spoke to waves to me and she gifts me some large tomatoes, yum! We go see her garden, and unlike the english-inspired, bursting colours of the previous one, her garden is simple, very Japanese.

少し行くと、さっき話したお婆さんのお友達が手を降ってきて大きなトマトを幾つかくれた。美味しそうだ!彼女の庭も見に行く。さっきの英国風の綺羅びやかな色の庭園と違って、彼女の庭は質素でとても日本的だ。

 

I ask what her favourite flower is, and she points to a simple white flower. "It's simple and brings me peace, " she says. Another friend of hers joins us and then brings over a bright orange bridal kimono for me to try on and take a photo! We have have a good laugh and chat with lots of acting/hand gestures. I leave with the biggest smile on my face...

彼女に、どの花が一番好きかときく。彼女は一輪の白い着飾らない花を指した。“これは質素だけれども安らぎをもたらしてくれる。”彼女は言う。彼女の別な友達が入ってきて、明るいオレンジ色の結婚式の着物を持ってきてくれて写真を撮った!皆で大きく笑って沢山の身振り手真似で話す。 私は大きな笑顔でさよならを言った。

 

This is why I chose walking over cycling! I love listening to people's stories, journeys, dreams and partaking in a fragment of their lives.

これだから私は自転車よりも徒歩を選ぶ! 人々の話題や、過去の旅の話、彼らの夢に耳を傾けて、まるで彼らの人生の一部にもぐり込むような事ができる。

 

In a dream-like state, I walk through more traditional houses with beautiful gardens to Kanbara. At some point I urgently scour for a bathroom and an old lady's directions lead me to a small local gathering/market by a shrine and by a mountain-side of sakuras.

夢心地で、昔ながらの家々や美しい庭を通り抜けながら神原まで歩く。途中、大急ぎでトイレを探し回り、1人のお婆さんの案内を頼りに神社の前の小さな地域の人が集まりとお店があるところに出た。桜の山の側だ。

 

A family has a picnic, old men are drinking, food sellers beaming widely and asking about my journey and well-wishing me. A sweet lady buys me a dish of fried shrimps that were right from the nearby sea!

ひと家族はお弁当を食べている、おじいさん達はお酒を飲んでいる、食事を売っている人達がニコッと笑って私の旅について尋ね、旅先の安全を祈ってくれる。とても優しい女の人が、近くの海からとれたての天ぷらのエビを一皿買ってくれた。

 

To me, it was a magical moment. Here I was, from London, coming across an event in a small town I had never heard of, in a country I had long dreamed of. Yet as the days pass, I realize more and more how it has all already exceeded any dream I had.

私にとっては、魔法のような時間だった。今ここに、ロンドンから来て、長く夢見た国で、聞いたことも無い小さな町のお祭りに遭遇する。しかし旅が進むに連れてより気が付かされる事は、出会うもの全てが既に私が夢見た事のどれもよりも遥かに越えているということだ。

 

Thank you, Japan :) you have blessed me.

日本よ、ありがとう!笑顔。私はなんて幸せなんだ。

 

PS. Just found out that Kanbara originated as a post town for the tokaido!

あとがき。今知ったのだけれども、神原は東海道五十三次の為に作られた宿場町だった!

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 11 & 12 Iva C.A.R.E.S. Fund Raiser

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Tokaido trek: day 11 & 12

東海道徒歩 第11日、12日目

Time has been stretching itself more that usual these days! I think it has something to do with me doing a wider variety of things.

この頃、時間がいつもより長くなっている感じだ!多分私がより沢山の事をしている事と関係があるのだろう。

 

Day 11: today is a unique day!

第11日目:今日は特別な日だ。

 

Thanks to Hide, he gets me in touch with his brother will pick me up in the afternoon.

ヒデのおかげで、お兄さんが午後に車で迎えにきてくれる。

 

I take a bus back to Sasahara where I left yesterday, but spot a shrine with lots of cherry blossoms and few people (the final part being the most critical).

昨日降りた笹原までバスに乗って戻った。そこに神社を見つけた。桜は沢山あり、人は少なかった。(最後の部分が一番重要だ。)

 

The wind was scattering the petals into lake and air and a thousand year old trees (1200 to be precise)...

風が花びらを池や空中に飛び散らせている。そして、千年の大木達。(正確には1200歳。)

 

Back to Sasahara after a detour thanks to sleeping on the bus (that's another story), I walk all the down to Mishima. There should be a post station or stone or something here, but after an Edo treasure hunt, I find only some abandoned garages and a shop where the lady says the toilet is in a "box" (confirmed. Those plastic toilet boxes).

バスで寝てしまったおかげで(これはまたの話)、笹原には遠回りで戻り、三島まで全部歩く。ここには宿場か石かなにかがあるはずだが、しかし江戸時代の宝探しの後には、幾つかの見棄てられた駐車場(小屋)が見つかるだけで、お店のおばさん曰くトイレは“箱”の中にある。(目視完了。プラスチックの外付けトイレのことか。)

 

Though on the highway, the route is full of mountains and greeny. I find myself singing made-up songs with an Irish accent (dont even ask) and enjoying the scenery. Reaching Mashima, Hide's brother meets me at the station and we drive to an old town filled with mountains sprinkled with sakura trees (hey, soon you won't be hearing about these trees, so let me be repetitive ;) )

通りを抜けて、道は完全に山となり緑が茂る。アイルランドの訛りで(どんなかは聞かないで)口からでまかせの歌を歌い、景色を楽しむ自分を見つける。三島が近づき、ヒデのお兄さんが駅で出迎えてくれて桜の木があちこちにある山の古い町へ連れていってくれた。(どうせ後では桜の木の事は言わなくなるから、ここでは繰り返し言わせて。)

 

We have sashimi and sushi at a popular traditional restaurant (so fresh + sense-blowing + upgrade from konbini food!). For the first time since my journey, I have a real, very interesting conversation! I miss this so much! A truly great time thanks to Hide's brother :)

混んでいる伝統的なレストランで刺し身と寿司を食べた。(とても新鮮、プラス、びっくり仰天、プラス、コンビニの食事からレベルアップ!)私の旅が始まって以来初のちゃんとした、しかもなかなか面白い会話ができた。これは思い出になる!ヒデのお兄さんありがとう!笑顔

 

 

Day 12:

第12日目:

 

Hide's brother takes me to have steak (food glorious food!) then to Ieyasu Tokugawa's shrine. My fan-girl moment is destroyed by a swarm of tourisms. Swiftly, desicively, we escape.

ヒデのお兄さんがステーキを食べさせてくれて(肉だ!素晴らしい、飯だ!)、徳川家康の神社までいく。せっかくの家康神社と思ったウキウキ感は観光客の波に潰される。きっぱりさっさと、逃げる。

 

Next is a musuem with the original prints of the 53 stations of Tokaido. But alas, they changed the theme of the exhibition to some monsters of the shadow world (probably meant to be creepy,  but was more hilarious. Sorry no photos allowed!) Found a large print of the tokaido trail though!

次は東海道53次の木版画の原本がある博物館。しかし、なんと、展示全体が影の世界の怪物達に変わってしまっている(多分不気味さを出そうとしたのだろうが、かえって可笑しくなっている。撮影禁止!)しかし、東海道の宿場が出ている大きな版画は見つけることができた!

 

Walking around more, I am dropped off at Mishima and then return to the Tokaido. I was not looking forward to walking anymore! (My blisters have invited two buddies)

もう少し歩き回り、三島で降ろしてもらい東海道へ戻る。もう歩くのは十分だ。(足のマメ達が更に2つ仲間を増やしている。)

 

At Numazu's post station at 7pm. Blister-party is going wild. I camp in a park but I can't sleep/it's so cold/my head is exploding. Having read and Ieyasu Tokuagawa and his legendary self control, I think to myself: what would Ieyasu be doing?

7時に沼津に着く。足のマメ達はどんちゃん騒ぎだ。公園でキャンプをするが、眠れない・とても寒い・頭痛がひどい。家康について読んで彼の有名なセルフコントロールの事を思い出し、ふと考えてみる:家康だったら何をしているかなあ?

 

Laughing at me for needing to endure ;)

もう少し頑張らなきゃいけない私を笑っているだろう。笑顔

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 9 & 10 IVA C.A.R.E.S. Fund raiser

Tokaido trek: day 9 & 10

Day 9: topping off the magic of last night, I camped near Odawara castle. Then at 5 am, the strangest thing happened. I woke up to a man apologizing and then crouching at a nearby tank and fiddling with it.

第9日目:昨日の晩の魔法の締めくくりに、小田原城の近くでキャンプ。そして翌朝5時、奇妙な事が起こった。男の人が、ぶつぶつ何か謝りながら近くのタンクのそばにしゃがんで、タンクの辺りで何かしている。

1) what on earth is he doing?

一体彼は何をしているんだろう?

2) he seems totally fine and harmless, but 1)

特に危険のありそうな人ではないようだ。しかし

3) i'm too tired to care

私はあまりにも眠いのでどうでも良い。

Having watched him for a while and not making sense of anything I closed my eyes but stayed awake until he was gone. I wait for a while to make sure he doesn't come back, and when he doesn't, I fall back to sleep.

少しの間彼を観察したが全く意味が分からない。私は目をつむったが彼が居なくなるまで起きていた。少し待って、彼が居なくなるを確かめて、私はまた寝た。

But then he's back. With another apology, he returns to the same spot, fiddles around, then leaves.

しかし、また彼が戻ってきた。また何か謝りながら、同じ場所に来て何かしている。そしてまた居なくなった。

I consider leaving my spot, but I got zero questionable vibes from him.

私はもう出発しようかと考えたが、彼が変な感じはしなかったのでそのまま居た。

I wake up. Again. This time to a cat staring intently at me. Time to leave. I pack up and then go to look at where the man was crouching and lo and behold, there's a bowl of water and cat food! How nice of him!

次に目が覚めたら、今度は猫がじっと私を見ている。もう行こう。荷物をまとめてさっきの彼がしゃがんでいた場所に行ってみた。なんと、ボウルに水と猫の餌があるのだ。彼は優しい人だったんだ。

I wonder around the cherry blossoms as the sun rises. I hear a meowing and find a cat sitting on the castle wall. First it seems like he wants to get down, but then settles down and watches the sun rise.

太陽が昇りつつある中、私は桜の木々の中を歩き回った。ニャンという声を聞いて、猫が城壁に座っているのを見つけた。最初は彼が降りたいのかなと思ったが、彼はそこに居座って太陽が昇るのを見ている。

On this bright new day, having wandered through more cherry blossoms and watched the sun rise with a cat (seriously, check the photo out!), my right leg develops this very painful strain and the blisters are worse. Nevermind. But as the day goes by it gets worse and I can't even walk. Enter: another nothing-day.

明るい新しい一日が始まるが、桜の中を歩き回って猫と太陽が一緒に昇るのを見て(本当だよ、写真を見てみて!)、右足の痛みがかなり酷くなっていて、足のマメも最悪になっている。気にするな、とにかく歩こう。しかしやっぱり日が進むに連れて痛みは更に悪くなり、もう歩けない。“また、何もしない日”と書いた。

Day 10: That's it. Pain or not, a walk is happening today (How did those travelling the Tokaido deal with blisters etc?  They just dealt with it!) I take a bus back onto the route and don't fuss about the 1 km I miss. Ah, what a walk! From Hakone onwards, the Tokaido trail leads through the old stone roads and changing nature: a tunnel of curved bamboos, tall silent forests, golden swaying reeds. The isolation and peace that comes with it reminds me of scotland, and for the first time, I actually feel like I'm on an adventure :) As I shift from scenery to scenery, the horizon of mountains is the only thing that doesn't change.

第10日目:もうこれまでだ。痛かろうが無かろうが、今日は歩くぞ。(東海道を歩いた昔の人は足のまめをどうしたんだろう? 無理やり頑張ったのかな?) 私はバスに乗って東海道のルートに戻った。1kmくらい抜かしたけれども、まあ良いか。箱根から先への歩き。何てところを歩くもんだ! 東海道53次は昔の石畳の道を進み景色や自然も変わってくる:曲がった竹があるトンネルや、高い木々の静かな森、黄金色に揺れるアシの草。この孤独な感じと平和な静けさはスコットランドを思い出させる。そして、日本で初めて冒険に来ていることを感じさせた。笑。いろいろな景色が変わる中で、山々の稜線だけが変わらない。

At one point I emerge from a trail and find some daffodils!  The signs of spring that I am so used to in London. Then a garden appears, a plot of vegetables, and a cozy house, with the Tokaido going straight through them! (Would have made a great undercover post station in the Edo period! )

あるところでは、道を抜けたところでスイセンを見つけた。ロンドンでとてもおなじみの春の兆しだ。そして庭がでて来た。沢山の野菜があり、こじんまりした可愛いい家がある。東海道はこういうところを進むのだ! (ここなら、江戸時代に素敵な街道の宿場になっただろうに!)

The skies turn pink as the sun sets. Learning from my Hakone-moment (now I laugh at it) I take a bus to Shimizu before it gets dark. Turns out there was a post station right next to me that I missed on my map!

空がピンク色になり日が沈む。箱根での経験から(今では笑う事ができるが)、暗くなる前に清水までバスに乗る。なんと、地図で見逃していたが、実は直ぐのところに宿場があった!

The city lights glisten like stars (seriously, haven't seen this elsewhere) and as night falls and I see the familiar Lawson sign, I am filled with a deep appreciation for the konbini.  During my 10 day journey, it's been a constant source of food, bathrooms, and familiarity amongst the unfamiliar.

町の明かりが星のように光っている(これは本当に他の場所では見たことが無い。)夜が深まって、お馴染みのローソンの看板が見える。コンビニの有り難さがとても身にしみる。10日間の旅で、コンビニは常に食事とトイレを提供してくれて、何かと分からない事が多い中で分かりやすくて安心も与えてくれる。

So tonight, my praise goes to konbinis ;)

だから今夜は、コンビニに感謝! 

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

HandsOn Tokyo Volunteer event with NightZooKeeper

Thank you so much to HandsOn Tokyo for joining us last night to roll out NightZooKeeper.com in the children's home in Itabashi-ku. The software allows the children to learn to write online and connect with our other computer labs and countries.

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

DAY 7&8 Iva C.A.R.E.S. Fund raiser

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Tokaido trek: day 7 & 8

Day 7: a nothing day. Read over the 1st draft of my novel. Drank lots of tea. When fellow hostel dwellers ask what I'm doing today, I beam and say, "Nothing."

第7日目:何も無い日。手がけている小説の最初の原稿を読み直す。お茶を沢山飲む。ユースホステルの他の客に今日は何をしているのかと尋ねられて、私は笑顔で “何もしない。”と答えた。

Sometimes, you've just got to do nothing.

時には、何もしないのが良い

Day 8: spent the morning finishing a read of my 1st draft. With the optimism that comes from pain-free feet and a nothing-day, I venture back onto the Tokaido. Steep winding roads? Bring them on.

第8日目:朝はずっと原稿を読み全て読み終えた 。足ももう痛く無く、何もせずに一日を過ごして充電したので、明るく東海道へ戻る。曲がりくねった急坂? 何でも来い。

Walking past Odawara was lovely. The houses are traditional, the streets dotted with sakura trees, and the horizon framed by blueish mountains. A friend shared an article about how lonely many Japanese elderly people are (love that YouMeWe have a project to help this!), so I make sure to say "Konnichiwa" with a massive smile to all the old people I walk by.

小田原を過ぎるところはとても美しい。伝統的な家があり、道なりに桜の木々があって、地平線は青い山々に囲まれている。日本のお年寄りはとても寂しくしているという友人が紹介してくれた記事を読んだので(YouMeWeにはお年寄りとのプログラムもあるので素晴らしい!)、私は歩く先々で、お年寄りに出会うたびに大きな笑顔で “こんにちは” と言った。

At one point I pass a bus that is stuck in traffic and catch two old ladies staring at me curiously. Before they can look away, I wave madly at them and they wave back, equally madly, smiling widely. Winner of the day!

あるところで、渋滞でとまっているバスを過ぎた時に二人のお婆さんが私を不思議そうに見ているのを見つけた。彼女らが顔をそらす前に私は大げさに手を降った。彼女らも同じように大げさに手を振って大きな笑顔を返してくれた。今日の収穫だ!

The tokaido route takes me away from the highway and onto a small backroad that is even more traditional. Love it! I grab some oranges from a 100 yen help-yourself basket (apparently the oranges here are famous. Personal report: they were nice, but not rumour-worthy) and pass by people tilling their small plots.

東海道53次のルートは大通りから離れ小さな更に昔ながらの小道へと私を導く 。素晴らしい! 100円均一の無人販売のカゴからみかんを幾つか掴んで(ここでのみかんは有名なようだが。個人的な報告:みな悪くは無いが、噂ほどではない。)話をしている人達の横を過ぎて進む。

It's been a week of walking, and what I've found myself loving is the sheer amount there is to see. And I don't mean any particular 'sights', but rather the little things: an umbrella hanging from a random pipeline, an old man craning his head to observe something in the distance, a small shrine tucked in the shade of bamboo trees.

もう一週間も歩いているが、楽しいのは、何処へ行っても沢山見るものがあるということだ。しかもこれと言ってどの“観光スポット”というわけではなく、沢山の小さなモノ達だ:どこともないパイプから傘が差してあったり、おじいさんが首を伸ばして遠くを見ていたり、竹やぶの陰に小さなお宮が隠れていたり。

There are so many little interesting/strange/funny things that I've observed that I wish I could share, but alas, there is too much of it. Einstein said something along the lines of, "Life begins once you live outside of yourself", and by taking in all these details and the stories behind them, I feel that my life during this walk has become so much richer, and I'm so grateful for it.

奇妙で・興味深くて・おかしな可愛いものが沢山あって全部皆に聞かせて見せたいのだけれども、しかし、ああ、沢山有り過ぎて全部共有できない。アインシュタインが “自分自身の外側で生きる時に初めて人生が始まる” というような事を言ったが、旅先で出会う細かな事やその裏にある話を全て汲み取っていく中で、私のこの徒歩の旅はより豊かになっていくのだろうと感じた。とても有り難く思う。

Houses make way for mountains and forests. Hakone is near. I take a bus through the route I walked the day before yesterday, and get off at a particulary steep spot. I laugh. The Walk of Steepness begins.

家々が山と森へと繋がっていく。箱根は近い。一昨日歩いたルートをバスに乗る。そして道が特に急になっている場所で降りた。1人で笑った。急勾配の徒歩が始まる。

How did I manage, you may ask? Totally fine. Just like anything else, it was far worse in my head than in reality. In fact, with my feet not hurting anymore, The Walk of Steepness was enjoyable. With no tourists around and only trees of different shades and later lines of snow, it was very peaceful. I walked for hours until the sun set and it began to grow dark. Then the fear began.

私がどうやって急坂をやりくりしたのか?疑問に思うかもしれない。大丈夫。いつもながら、現実は思った程大変ではない。実際、足は痛くならなかった。“急勾配の徒歩”は楽しいものだった。観光客はなく、色々な色の葉の木々があり、後々雪が残る高さへも来た。とても安らかだ。日が暮れるまで何時間も歩いて、だんだん真っ暗になって来た。急に怖くなってきた。

It wasn't the darkness itself that scared me but its context. I was alone on a mountain, no more cars were passing, there were tall, eerie trees everywhere and it kept on getting colder and darker. But it wasn't only that. My imagination started to think up vivid, terrifying scenarios.

暗闇が怖かった訳ではないが、状況を考えると怖くなった。山の中に独り、車も通らない。高く不気味な木々が茂っていて、どんどん寒くなるし暗くなる。しかもそれだけではない。頭の中で色々な想像がだんだん具体的になってきた。何が起きるか分からない。

Were they realistic? Not one bit. But as I tried to quel my fears by thinking of the absurd probabilites of someone stalking me in the dark, my legs move faster. My heart starts to race. Any aches I had are gone. It was 3 kilometers to Hakone and I had to get there before it was pitch black.

本当にそんな事が起きるだろうか?まずあり得ない。しかし、誰かが暗闇で私を追っているような、そんな馬鹿げた妄想を沈めようと、足が勝手に早足になる。心臓はバクバクしだした。さっきまであった痛みなど感じない。あと3キロで箱根だ。完全に真っ暗になる前に辿り着かなくては。

I march forward as fast as I could. It gets colder, darker. I spot a bus stop. Heart fluttering with relief,  I jog towards it and check the timetable. The last bus is at 18:00. I check my phone: it's 18:47. Hands frozen and heart pounding, I power walk up the mountain as fast I can.

できるだけ早く歩いた。更に寒く暗くなる。バス停を見つけた。安心からすこしワクワクして、走って時刻表を確かめた。最後のバスは18:00時だ。携帯を見る:18:47分だ。手は凍りつき心臓が高鳴った。パワー全開、出来るだけ早歩きで山を登った。

There are lights in the distance. A car. I cross the road and wave madly at the car coming down, hoping that they can give me a ride. It drives by. I walk on. Then I hear a woman's voice and someone walks towards me. The car had stopped. I jog towards her and ask if they can take me to any station on the way.

遠くに光が見える。車だ。道を渡って、近づく車に気が狂ったように手を降った。乗せてくれれば良いけれども。その車は過ぎ去った。私は再び歩く。そして、女性の声が聞こえ、誰かがこっちへ向かって歩いて来る。さっきの車が停まったのだ。彼女に向かって走り、途中の近くのどの駅でも良いから乗せてくれないかと頼んだ。

"Odawara eki?" she asks.

“小田原駅?” 彼女は聞く。

"Hai! Hai! Any eki! Arigatou!!!!"

“はい、はい!どの駅でも。ありがとう!!!

I join the woman and her three co-workers in their car and we drive down. Obviously, I am grinning like a baffoon. We chat, laugh, buildings come into view and eventually the station. I say "arigatou!!!" over and over and bow deeply (I saw them again that night when I was walking about!) Happy not to be on the darkness of the mountains with my absurd imagination, I roam the streets till midnight.

彼女と同僚三人の乗る車に同乗し、車は進んだ。明らかに、私はニヤニヤしていて滑稽だったろう。皆でおしゃべりをして、笑って、建物が見え出し、駅に着いた。私は“ありがとう!!!”と何度も言って深くお辞儀をした。(その夜後で歩いている時、彼らをもう一度見かけた!)真っ暗の山奥で馬鹿馬鹿しい想像にさいなやまれずに済んだので、浮かれて、私は夜中まで通りを歩き回った。

I walk through Odawara castle and find people having picnics under white cherry blossoms in full bloom. The moon is out. There is magic in the air. I grab my own 7/11 picnic and sit by a river under sakura trees. Life is wonderful :)

小田原城を歩き、満月の下で桜の花見をしている人達を見かけた。月が出ていて、外には魔法がかかっている。セブンイレブンのお弁当を手に川の側の桜の木の下に座った。人生は素晴らしい!笑顔

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 5 & 6: Iva C.A.R.E.S Fund Raiser

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Tokaido trek: day 5 & 6  東海道五十三次、徒歩:第5・6日目

Having to lump 2 days into one post makes me realize how much goes on in a single day! 

2日分を一つのブログに纏めて初めて、一日分でどれだけ書く事があるか気がついた!


Having spent time exploring Yokohama, I was determined to get some kilometers on the Tokaido route. 
横浜を探索した後、東海道を進んで距離を稼ごうと決めた。


Day 5 took me through changing scenery: the highways made way for smaller roads, traditional houses and neat gardens appeared and with it elderly people trimming their plants or sweeping the pavement in front of their house.

第5日目は色々景色が変わった:大きな通りは小さな道へと繋がり、昔ながらの家々や庭があらわれた。お年寄りが植木の手入れをしていたり家の前の舗装を箒で掃いていたり。

 

Drawings of the old Tokaido route cover store fronts and street boards. More people are stealing curious glances. An old man asks where I'm going and we have a chat (he did the same route years ago, but having speed-walked past me he could easily do it again! ) 

古い東海道の道程の絵がお店の外に飾ってあったり通りの看板にも出ている。私の事を興味深かそうに振り向く人も増えた。おじいさんに私が何処へ行くのかと尋ねられたので、少しおしゃべりをした。(彼は、何年も前に同じ道を歩いたとのこと。私の横を早足で過ぎ去ったので、彼はまだ今でもできるのだろう!)

Walking puts your mind into a different state: a slow, peaceful state of observation. 

歩く事は頭の中を何か別な状態にする:ゆっくり、落ち着いて観察のできる状態だ。

Day fades into night, and I continue walking, observing. For my first time in Japan, I see stars in the sky. 

日がだんだんと夜になる。私は、色々観察しながら歩きつづける。日本に来て初めて、空に星を見た。

I pass another post station (2nd of the day) and with the moon shining and the smell of flowers in the air, I am motivated to make one more station at Odawara.
もう一つの宿場を過ぎた。(1日に2つ目だ。)月が輝き花の匂いが漂う。もう一つの宿場、小田原まで行こうかと思う。


Until my feet swell even more. Too in pain to walk, I drop my station-dream and find somewhere to camp. A park in a nice area becomes my urban camp sight. Looking up at stars, I fall asleep.

両足が膨れるまで歩いた。痛くて歩けない。小田原まで行ってしまおうという夢は捨てて、キャンプをする場所を見つける。適当な場所にある公園が私の市街地でのキャンプ場になる。星を見ながら、眠りに落ちる。

Day 6. A sky of gentle olours wakes me up. I start walking at 6 am and stop as the sea comes into view! I spot a man with a fishing rod going under a bridge, so I (not so sneakily) follow him.

第6日目。優しい淡い空が私を目覚めさせる。朝6時に歩き出し、海が見えたところで止まった!橋の下で釣り竿を持っている男の人を見つけ、追ってみた。(怪しくないように。)

 

On the shoreline, fisher men are standing before waves and a rising sun. So beautiful! I get a hot coffee (yes, the cold had returned) and continue walking, observing. 

海岸線で、釣り人達が波と朝日に向かって立っている。とても美しい!熱いコーヒーを買って(そう、外はまた寒くなっている)そして歩き続けた。色々観察しながら。

Feet still hurting, I plod on slower than yesterday, enjoying the rivers and sakuras. Then I spot something and have to ask a passerby to be sure. Yes, it's Fuji-san's peak I see!!!

両足はまだ痛い。昨日よりも遅く歩き、川や桜を楽しむ。そして何かが見えた。一応通りがかりの人に確かめなくては。やっぱりそうだ、富士山だ。山頂が見える!!!

Giddy with excitement, I (relatively) hasten my pace while staring at the majestic white peak and surrounding mountains. Only 8 km to Hakone! I drop things off at a hostel and decide to take a train to an onsen near Hakone. 

興奮して浮ついて、雄大な真っ白の山頂と周りの山々を見つめながら(前と比べて)早足で進む。箱根まであと8キロだ!ユースホステルで荷物を置き、電車に乗って箱根近くの温泉に行くことに決めた。

Well, that Onsen-near-Hakone turned into Walk-and-sightsee-Hakone.

う〜ん、“箱根の近くの温泉”のはずが“歩いて箱根を観光”に変わってしまった。

It was a Sunday so waves of tourists swept through the place. Seriously, waves. It was awful. And guess where I escaped from them? Yes, the good 'old Tokaido route.

日曜日だったので、箱根は観光客の波でごったがえしていた。本当に文字通り波だ。ひどかった。私は何処へ逃げたと思う?正解、古き良き(元の)東海道ルートです。

And seriously, how do I put to words what I've seen? 

しかし本当に、どうやって言葉にしたら良いだろう?

Writing "mountains, trees, sakura, rivers" doesn't describe the sheer beauty of the place and photos don't capture its vastness, but even more than that, the feeling of being there.

“山々、木々、桜、川”って書くだけでは私が見た純粋な美しさを表現することができないし、写真ではその大きさをあらわせない。しかもそれ以上に、その場でどんな感じかなんて尚更だ。

I walked some of the route and when it was 4pm took a bus to Hakone itself (even if I would revisit to on the Tokaido trek) so I could go the musuems before they closed. Here's my thought process during the journey:
東海道のルートを歩き4時になったところでバスに乗り箱根へ向かう(後で、東海道五十三次のルートとして歩き直す時にまた来る事になるけれども)そして、閉まる前に博物館を訪ねる。以下が、この旅での私の思考パターンだ:


(Winding mountains, stunning scenery): wow this is amazing how is it even real!!!

 (曲がりくねる山々、あっとするような景色):おお、なんて美しい、この世のものだろうか!!!

(More winding, very steep mountains): wow, just wow this is - wait, this is going to be a long walk...

(更に曲がりくねり、急勾配の山々):又、おお!ただそれだけ。あれちょっと待って、これってかなり長い歩きになりそうだ。

(Seemingly neverending steep mountains): ...well...I'm already passing here...and there's just trees and mountains, so maybe I could take a bus up instead of walking it tomorrow? Nah. This is supposed to be a walk. And think of those walking it in the Edo period...

(おそらく全く終わりの来ない急な山々):…う〜ん、もうだめかも…木と山しか無い。多分、明日は歩く代わりにバスに乗って…? だめだめ、これは徒歩ということになっているんだから。そして江戸時代に歩いた人達の事を考える。

(Mountains etc): ...well, we now have buses thanks to our ancestors, so maybe we should use them instead of going through their same struggle? No. I shouldn't. I should walk it. I won't deserve this view if I don't struggle for it.

(山とかその他):…う〜ん、先人達のおかげで現代にはバスがある。だからこんなに先人のように無理する代わりにバスを有効利用するべきでは? だめ。これではいけない。歩かなくては。頑張らなくてはこの景色を楽しむ資格も無い。

(Snow appears on the roads): hah! Snow! I can't walk through snow! I'll freeze my feet and damage my shoes! Hmm, but I've done it before and I can do it again...

(雪が道に出てきた):やった、雪だ! 雪の中は歩けないはずだし! 足は凍るし、靴もだめにしてしまう(これはバスの出番だ)!!!  しかし、前にもやれたのだから今回だってできる。


(Arriving at Hakone): well, here we are...what do I do??? Should I walk it or take a bus???

(箱根に着く):ふう、やっと着いた。何をしよう??? 歩くべきかバスに乗るべきか???

And that, dear readers, is my current dilemma. 

これが、読者の皆さん、私の現在のジレンマです。

I walked through Hakone's snowy roads, visited Edo's most important post station where a replica was built (using the old instructions and the same methods and materials!), enjoyed the views of Lake Ashi and the surrounding forests, but the question still played on my mind and as I write this post the next morning, I ask myself again:
私は箱根の雪道の中を歩いた。江戸時代の一番重要な宿場に(昔の方法と設計図で昔のままの木材を使った)建物も訪ねた。芦ノ湖の周りの森の眺めも楽しんだ。しかし私の頭の中では、このブログを書いている次の朝でもまだはっきりしない問題がある。自分に尋ねてみる。


To walk or to bus. What is it going to be? 

歩くかバスに乗るか、どちらにするか?

I'm not dogmatic about walking, my feet still hurt (they are being greeted by blisters). Yet to take a bus would not be true to the spirit of following the Tokaido trail...
私は特に歩くことにこだわっている訳ではない、両足はまだ痛い(両足は水膨れのマメ達に洗礼を受けている。)しかし、バスに乗る事は、東海道五十三次の本当の精神にはのっとらない。


Grudgingly (and admittedly with some apprehesion) I decide to walk...but tomorrow.

しぶしぶ(それから、打ち明けると、幾らかの不安を持ちながら) 結局歩くことに決めた。… でも(今日は休んで)明日からね。


Today, my feet get to rest ;) 

今日は、私の足を休ませる。笑顔

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 4: IVA C.A.R.E.S. Journey-Kamakura

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Tokaido trek: day 4

東海道五十三次:第4日目

 

To Kamakura!

鎌倉へ!

 

I was looking forward to what the ex-city would look like since it had once been a bustling city during Kamakura period. Little did I know how much I would love it. Picture traditional wooden houses, forest covered hills and greeny everywhere. This is the Japan I fell in love with back in London.

私はかつての都市がどのようなものか楽しみにしていた。鎌倉は、鎌倉時代には賑やかな町だったのだ。来てみるまで、こんなに素敵な場所だとは思いもよらなかった。伝統的な木造の建物や、森で囲まれた丘、あちこちが緑で溢れている。これが、私がロンドンにいる時に知り好きになった日本だ。

 

The walk to the giant Buddha passed many unique houses, some traditional, others a unique mix of old and new. I absolutely loved observing these houses surrounded by beautiful trees full of character and listening to the singing of birds. My trance ended when I heard the frenzied chatter of voices: the tourists had come.

大仏までの歩きで、ユニークな家々を通り過ぎた。幾つかは昔風のたたずまいで、その他は過去と今のユニークなミックスだ。とても趣のある木々に囲まれたこれらの家々を眺めたり、鳥のさえずりを聴くのは大好きだ。私の夢心地は、畳み掛けるようにペチャペチャ喋る声で終わった:観光客が来た。

 

The giant Buddha is best seen from the inside (yes you can go inside it!) There, like the inside of a cave, a silent peacefulness falls upon everyone. The iron-casting of the statue was spectacular and had to be made into 30 separate parts before it could be assembled into a single piece.

大仏は中から見るのが一番だ(そう、中に入れる!)、洞穴の中のような感じで、全ての人に心休まる静けさが舞い降りる。鉄の鋳物でできた仏像は壮大だ。作る時は、30個の部分に最初に分けて作られて、そこから一つに組み立てられたのだ。

 

Next was Hasedera,  a network of temples and statues and stunning gardens that brought me close to tears. I stopped to quickly read about it before exploring the area and then prayed to the god of fortune for family, friends, YouMeWe, and myself.  And to sprinkle in a weather update: it was gorgeously sunny! (Ice cream sellers seemed to be as appreciative as me).

次は長谷寺だ。中に幾つものお寺や銅像があって息を呑むような庭園があり、涙が溢れてきそうになった。中を見る前に少しお寺のことを読み、幸運の神様に家族や友達、YouMeWe、自分の事をお祈りした。それから、ちょっと天気予報のアップデート:この日は素晴らしい晴天だった!(アイスクリームのお店は、私と同じくらい有り難そうにしている。)

 

Interestingly, even if the touristy sights were objectively more beautiful, I personally enjoyed the peace and details of Kamakura's smaller, empty roads. After more walking and food trying, I take a train back to where I left off on the Tokaido route.

興味深い事に、観光スポットはもちろん美しくて良かったのだが、私は個人的には鎌倉の静けさや小さな誰もいない小道の些細な面を楽しんだ。更に歩いて食べ物も試して、東海道から離れた場所まで電車で戻る。

 

Following my gps to the next post station, I search around and find only a car park a highway and a few stores. In the spirit of those in the Edo period who would have been glad to arrive at a station, I buy a Japanese sweet to celebrate, and continue my walk.

GPSを頼りに次の宿場町まで向かって探し回ると、大通りに2,3軒のお店と駐車場しか見つからない。江戸時代の人がやっと宿場についた喜びを想像して、私は和菓子を買ってお祝いをして、また歩き出す。

 

Highways, roads, cars...highways, roads - yes, it just keeps going on. Through the plane of cement and concrete, I spot something that makes me stop: in the distance, mountains with snow appear.

大通り、道路、車、、大通り、道路、そう、これがひたすら続く。セメントとコンクリートの先に何かが見え、立ち止まる:遠くに雪をかぶった山々が出てきた。

 

When all of us and those after us, and all the concrete and cement and the Lawson signs are gone, those mighty mountains with their strange blue and white hues, will still be there.

全てのものが過ぎ去り、セメントやコンクリート、ローソンの看板、全てが無くなった時に、不思議な青白い色合いの雄大な山々があそこに待っているのだ。

 

I smile, take a deep breath, and continue walking.

私は、頬笑み、深呼吸をしてまた歩き続ける。

 

My walk ends around 7pm when I get a message from my airbnb host that I must return asap because of some key-confusion.  Taking a bus/train through the same route you just walked by is always a curious thing.

7時頃、ちょうど泊まった先のAirbnb のホストからメッセージが来て、私の歩きは終わる。鍵が云々で至急戻ってくれとの事だ。いまちょうど歩き終えたばかりの同じ道をバスと電車で通るのは、いつもながら不思議な感じだ。

 

8pm, home. Sleep comes too soon.

8時に家。早いけれども寝る。

 

Ps. Left my ridiculously heavy bag in the room so I walked around without it today!!! So if you were in the area and passed a non-stop, goofy-smiling lady, that was probably me!

あとがき。今日は私の呆れるぐらい思いリュックを部屋に置いて、リュックを背負わずに一日歩いた! もし貴方がここの付近に居て、ニヤニヤしながらひたすら歩き続けている女の人を見かけたとしたら、多分それは私だったはずです!

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 3: IVA C.A.R.E.S Journey

Tokaido trek: day 3

Tokaido trek: day 3

東海道五十三次 徒歩:第三日目

 

What a long day yesterday#

昨日はなんて一日長かったんだ#

 

Began my day with a visit to Aiji-no-moto's factory in Kawasaki (yup, the MSG makers!) Read about them last night and was interested in the psychology/business side of things. Marketing 101 takeaway: put your product in a panda bottle and let association do its work!

今日は川崎にある味の素の工場を訪ねる事から始まった。(そう、MSGを作っている会社!)昨夜味の素の工場の事を読んで、心理的・ビジネスの面にも興味が湧いた。マーケティングのコツその1:製品をパンダの瓶に入れ、後はお客さんの心理に任せる!

 

Next came Yokohama archives of history. Loved this museum which is so important as it details the opening of Japan at the end of the Edo period. In the courtyard was a tree where the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed beside.

次に来たのが横浜歴史書庫博物館。この博物館はとても重要で、大好き。江戸時代末期の開国の事を詳しく紹介している。庭には、神奈川条約がすぐ側で結ばれたという木がある。

 

A bus ride to Senkeie garden (interesting story behind that!) was peaceful and inspiring. On the way back,  spoke to very young spirited 90 year old lady on the bus and though our conversation in Japanese was limited it was so satisfying!

三渓園公園までのバスではゆったりとしていてかつ元気がもらえるものがあった。(これには興味深い裏話がある!)バスの一番後ろで、90歳だけどもとても若く元気なお婆さんに話しかけた。日本語での会話で限られていたけれども、何かとても心地のよいものだった!

 

After a quick stroll through Chinatown, I return to the tokaido route near where I left off and started walking from 6pm. I reach the Kanagawa post station and keep going. It gets dark soon, but the weather is nice (compared to yesterday!) and I feel totally safe walking in Japan :) I pass another post town but can hardly make it out in the darkness.

中華街をさっと歩いて、さっき東海道の途中まで進んだところまで戻り、そこから夕方6時に歩き出した。神奈川宿に着き、そのまま歩き続ける。もうすぐ暗くなるけれども、天気は良いし(昨日と比べて!)それから、日本で歩くことは完全に安全だと感じたので(笑顔!)次の宿場を過ぎる(次の宿場まで行けるが、)。しかし、暗闇で何も見えない。

 

At 9pm I stop at Mcds,  read about Kamakura (my visit tomorrow) and take a train back to my room in Yokohama.

9時にマクドナルドで休憩し、鎌倉について読む(明日行くところ)そして横浜の Airbnbの部屋まで電車で戻る。

 

Till tomorrow!

また明日!

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 2: IVA C.A.R.E.S. 53 Stations of IOT (Internet of Things) Tokaido trek

Tokaido trek: day 2

After the second post town, the rain gets heavier and doesn't stop. My feet are soaked and hands frozen, but I think of those who carried the daimyos' families and possessions along the Tokaido (thank you civilization for creating The Umbrella! ) 

Along the way are old depictions of the Tokaido painted on shop fronts. Let's me know I'm on the right track ;)

Rain gets heavier and I look up to the skies and wonder, is that snow? No, it's hail.

Then it turns to snow! For a while, I laugh and smile at how beautiful and expected it is, but when it doesn't stop and it only gets colder. I stop at eat gyoza and tempura chicken at a restaurant. 

I book an Airbnb near Yokohama station because I am not geared for walking through snow, but continue the route, thinking, 'here's a chance to actually trek through the snow! When else will I do such a thing?' 

Long story short: it all gets too much so I stop 40 mins walk away from Yokohama station and take a train instead. My room is tiny, and the host apologizes, but he doesn't know that compared to last night, this space of warmth is heaven :) 

Developed a sprain on my foot, so I rest, read, and prepare to visit a home and explore the city tomorrow! 

 

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Day 1: IVA C.A.R.E.S. 53 STATIONS OF IOT-FUND RAISER

Tokaido trek: day 1

Day 1 began at Nihonbashi, 11:30 am. It was rainy, cold, but the excitement of starting the journey made me oblivious to the weather. Walked through Ginza and Shinagawa, skyscrapers turned to small buildings, and missed 1st post station! (My gps said I was close but I just couldn't find it!) Hands are freezing and back aching with more walking. Darkness falls and it gets colder, but I'm determined to reach the 2nd post station. River Tama and a camping ground is right by it, so I decide to pitch my tent at 7:30 pm and go in the morning. Even with a sleeping bag it was freezing! Morning brings with it birds sweeping through the skies. I grab a coffee, tell myself that even if I am cold it could always be worse, and finally reach the 2nd post station in Kanagawa!

Onwards :)

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Colt International Cooking event with Matsubaen children

ColtのInternational Food Festivalにぜひご招待したくご連絡しております。
 
Coltでは異なる文化のバックグラウンドを持つ多くの方が働いており、その多様性を共有し、自国の料理を紹介するためのイベントを下記のとおり実施いたします。
昨年実施したInternational Food Festivalでは、インド料理、中華料理、ドイツ料理、イタリア料理、スリランカ料理などを提供いたしました。

Colt's International Food Festival.
 
In Colt, many people with different culture backgrounds work, share the diversity and carry out the event to introduce their own cuisine as follows.
Last year's International Food Festival provided Indian, Chinese, German, Italian and Sri Lankan cuisine.

COLT had met some of the children at Matsubaen at Christmas when giving iPads for the children to use.

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Michael Clemons Michael Clemons

Seeking volunteers for Designing Artists Academy 2018

Please email us at: [email protected] if interested. 

2018 Volunteer Roles

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Core DAA Team:

DescriptionàCore team members are selected to be a part of the camp planning efforts from various points in the process. Some will be involved from the start (February) while others come in at March, April, May, or June timeframes. Depending upon the role will determine at which point the volunteer engages. With enough volunteers to cover off key areas, the workload should be manageable.

The most important thing to keep in mind for any DAA role is a laser-sharp attention for details… and then some! We are always looking at things to get sidetracked or changed, so each volunteer must enjoy detailed work and anticipate things that might come along during the planning or onsite—as they always do!

 

The following is a list of Core DAA Team roles:

 

·      BUDGET LEADER. Michael Clemons will own this piece and provide budget direction to key core team members as needed. Michael will sign off on draft budget and keep a spreadsheet of estimated and actual expenses. He will be the person who handles payment, reimbursement, etc. from planning to onsite.

·      SPONSOR LEADER. Michael Clemons will also own this piece. Includes financial and/or volunteer sponsorships. Michael will source both types of support, get confirmation and then hand off to other team members where support is needed. Example- once a sponsor is confirmed, Amy Moyers will coordinate directly with the sponsor to arrange schedules and volunteer roles. Onsite (and for orientation), Michael will take the lead to greet and oversee sponsor volunteers to ensure things run smoothly for everyone. Amy and Miho will prepare an orientation packet for all the sponsors prior to camp.

·      VENUE LEADER. Michael Clemons will own this part as well, with support from designated team members. This involves venue research and site visits. Once a venue is confirmed, full venue details, maps, venue staff contacts will be posted to Basecamp for the entire team to have access to these details. Michael will designate an onsite Venue Operations volunteer (see further down for this description) to help manage operations onsite.

·      CAMP CONTENT & ARTIST RECRUITMENT LEADER. Amy Moyers will lead the design of the camp schedule, content as well as sourcing for artists and other types of volunteers, with key support from Miho Walker. Anyone on the team is also encouraged to share artist leads with Amy & Miho.  Amy and Miho will prepare an orientation packet for all artists prior to camp, guide them on budget initially, and introduce the artists to our workshop leader.

·      HOMES COMMUNICATIONS LEADER. Fully bilingual volunteer needed. This role is critical to the success of the camp. This role helps pitch the camp (with support materials) to the homes, answer any questions/concerns, and secure camper registrations in by a certain date. Quite likely communications will be with about 3-4 homes. This volunteer also works with Miho Walker (TBC) to help group campers according to age once we’ve received all the registrations. Prior to camp, the homes communications leader will also communicate final camp schedules, workshop descriptions, bus pickup/drop-off times – by way of an orientation packet – prepared by Amy Moyers and Miho Walker. Onsite, any changes in schedules, new campers joining, or issues occurring with campers will be managed by this volunteer as well – all with support from Michael Clemons.

·      CAMPER TRANSPORTATION LEADER. Fully bilingual volunteer needed. This role will source 2-3 bus/shuttle vendor options and present to Michael Clemons. Likely we’ll need 3 buses and this volunteer will be tasked to communicate all of our schedule needs with the vendor and communicate final schedule/times with HOMES COMMUNICATION LEADER (HCL). Onsite, this role is the contact person for any changes/issues with daily bus schedules and will relay any information to the HCL as needed.

·      EXHIBITION PARTY LEADER. Michael Clemons will lead the planning but will appoint 1, maybe 2 volunteers to help source, coordinate, execute food & beverage, party supplies, entertainment, room layout. Michael and volunteers will work with WORKSHOP LEADER to ensure artwork displays and camper performances are integrated into the party plans/layout.

·      WORKSHOP LEADER. Fully bilingual volunteer needed.  This role works closely with Amy Moyers and Miho Walker to make sure workshops are all set to go both [before-and-during] the camp. This involves working directly with confirmed artists and guiding them on their budget for workshop materials, helping procure if needed, communicating guidelines on reimbursement for travel, collecting workshop descriptions and bios, and ensuring the artists receive their orientation packet, along with their group’s information (first name and age) prior to camp. Onsite, this role is an active one working with 4-5 workshop artists each morning, from greeting them, introducing them to team staff, and ushering them to their workshop room so they can prepare for their session. During the sessions, artists might have requests/concerns, so it’s important this role is constantly checking in with the workshops. Other onsite-only volunteers will be assigned to help with this task.

·      CREATIVE SESSIONS LEADER. Fully bilingual volunteer needed. This role will work closely with Amy Moyers leading up to camp to understand the afternoon sessions/schedule. They will also coordinate with Michael on any materials, supplies needed for these afternoon sessions. Onsite, this volunteer (with support from Kid Conductor) will ensure the sessions go smoothly – greeting guest artists or other volunteers slated for a session, delivering their bentos if they join for lunch before the afternoon session, making sure they have all the materials they need, and providing information on travel reimbursement where needed. During the session (there will be two groups/two concurrent sessions), this volunteer will help both groups of sessions with Kid Conductor support. This role will also source 2 t-shirt vendors for camp t-shirts for campers, staff and volunteers. Work with Michael on budget and payment. Make sure t-shirts arrive a few days before camp orientation.

·      BENTO & DRINKS & ICE LEADER. Fully bilingual volunteer needed. This role will source 3 bento options based on budget and present to Michael for approval. This volunteer will manage all communications with bento vendor regarding updated #s, dietary and allergy restrictions, and schedule of delivery. This role works with the home communications leader and workshop leader to get any dietary/allergy information. A spreadsheet/document will be created by the volunteer and maintained on a daily basis as we approach the camp –and onsite as well. Onsite, this role is responsible for accepting bento deliveries, arranging payment to the vendor with Michael, organizing for workshop groups, artists, staff and volunteers. They will determine the best system for distribution and have 2-3 onsite-only volunteers working with them to distribute bentos and drinks.  In the afternoons, this role also organizes and distributes an afternoon snack and drink for the kids before they depart. Again, Michael will likely order snacks from Amazon unless we receive a donation. Coordinate w/Michael on # of drinks needed each day for campers, staff, volunteers. He will likely order drinks from Amazon unless we receive a donation. Additionally, 2-4 coolers will be needed (check with Michael) and daily ice delivery will be needed to keep drinks cold. Source 2 ice vendor sources and present to Michael for approval and schedule delivery times with the vendor. Work with Michael to arrange payment to ice vendor.

·      DAA PROMOTIONS LEADER. Really anyone on our team can help promote DAA via their own IG or FB account! Amy Moyers will be responsible for posting on IG and Facebook, with support from Michael during the camp.

·      VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT. Marie Atsuko Gray (TBC). This role is tasked with finding additional onsite-only roles not covered by sponsorship volunteers. These will likely include Kid Conductor role, F&B support, group mentors, workshop support, creative sessions support, bus greeters, etc.

In most cases, volunteers slated for an entire day or just A.M. or P.M., can take on 1-3 tasks throughout the day. Additionally, Marie will help us identify volunteers for the needed roles listed above. Onsite, Marie will be greeting all volunteers, distributing the daily schedule printout with assigned roles (or online version the volunteer can access with their phone) and helping support throughout the day. Each afternoon, Marie will have a briefing with the volunteers (and our core DAA team) that day to get any feedback. Marie will also be responsible for helping lead the orientation day before camp starts (along with Michael and core team members). Finally, Amy Moyers & Miho Walker will prepare a camp orientation packet in EN & JP that Marie will be able to distribute to all the general onsite volunteers.

 

 

Onsite-only volunteer roles:

 

 

·      CAMP KID CONDUCTORS (CKC). Fully bilingual role. Two CKC’s needed for the entire camp – one will handle the morning communications, the other will handle the afternoon. They can switch it up each day as they’d like. In the past we’ve only had one CKC for the entire camp and we’ve found it’s too exhausting. The role of camp kid conductor is to serve as the main point of communications for the campers (and volunteers). This role provides consistency and builds rapport with the campers. It is a very active role and incredibly engaging! Onsite, these two CKC’s will be the ones the kids look to for guidance and information. Each morning the campers will be greeted by the CKC where daily announcements, introductions and information about the day will be shared. As campers move from one activity to the next, it will almost always be the CKC who directs the campers on what to do and where to go. And while kids are in their actual sessions, the CKC can support where needed. These two are the heart of DAA onsite and serve as role models for the kids. Every year, kids truly love the camp kid conductor. It’s a demanding role but so rewarding. While I’ve put this role under “onsite only” – we’ll want to loop these two individuals into our team by June if not a little sooner. Marie (Volunteer Recruitment Leader) will make sure they have the orientation packet, detailed information about their role and some background on how the camps typically work and the kids they’ll be working with. They will be at the orientation as well.  

·      GROUP MENTORS x3 or 4 – maybe more. Fully bilingual. This role is similar to the camp kid conductor but on a more focused level – working specifically with the same group throughout the camp, all day long, serving as its ‘leader’ or ‘mentor’… we usually look to get uni students back for the summer or very mature H.S. students. But we also have older adults take on this role too. We always ask the age group they might be most comfortable with. The group mentor participates in all the activities alongside kids, encouraging them, and ensuring their safety at all times. In many instances, we cannot secure a group mentor for the entire camp so we have them at least for 2-3 days in a row if possible and then sub out for a new mentor. The ideal is to get as many mentors for the entire camp if possible. We will definitely have 3 groups and possibly a 4th, so that’s why a minimum of 3 or 4 mentors – and more if some cannot work the entire camp.

·      WORKSHOP VOLUNTEERS. Bilingual and English-only OK. Typically we have about 10 kids in a workshop session, along with 1 artist, sometimes with 1 or 2 assistants. To make the session comfortable, we ask no more than 2 additional adult volunteers join the workshop. Marie will work with Amy to see how many additional volunteers we need once sponsors have confirmed their participation.

·      ONSITE VENUE OPERATIONS VOLUNTEER. Bilingual is ideal. This role will be dedicated to supporting Michael Clemons onsite – dealing with a variety of tasks as assigned by him. This role will be brought into the team about 4-6 weeks prior to event (or as Michael determines).

·      GENERAL SUPORT VOLUNTEERS. Bilingual and English-only OK. Bento/drinks/snacks distribution, bus greeters, general camp setup, workshop room setup, creative sessions setup/support, lunch-hour playtime monitors, exhibition party support, daily camp cleanup.

These are some of the main support roles we’ll need onsite each day. On average, and addition to the above volunteer roles, trying to secure between 5-10 general volunteers each day is ideal.  

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