WWOOF Period: 25th May - 6 June
It is now begining of July. I have just left Japan. After 3 months in the country, I left with some sadness. But, first, I know I have a lot to share with my friends on later half of my journey in Japan....
After the days in Setsukei-en, arriving in Kyoto city again, I was in a daze. I have about 2 days before taking a night bus to Yokohama. I spent the day helping out Setsu-san at the flea market before bidding farewell to her, returning to K's House Kyoto Hostel.
I stayed in K's House Kyoto Hostel when I first arrived in Kyoto, before heading to Setsukei-en farm. The stay has been comfortable and I am quite pleased with the service of the staff and the information available. This time, I did not go anywhere except to stay in the hostel and update my blog... organising my thoughts and emotions before heading to WWOOF in Yokohma region.
My experience living with the Japanese, learning new skills and knowledge, understanding the real Japanese surpasses visiting sites of interest in the country. I am already very contented with where and what I have encountered thus far.
Upon arriving in Yokohama, as I booked the accomodation a little late, I could only settled with a hostel which was transformed from a workers' dormitory in the olden days. There is no common area and the corridors along the small rooms reminded me of the coldness in the night at a hospital. However, I was happy to be out in the sun, walking to various parks and finally settling at Yamashita Koen, a large park along the coast. The park was filled with lively vibe from school students, Japanese and tourists alike. I spent much time people watching, reading and writing or simply staring into the sea. The next day, I went back to the place again and walked towards the other areas where I can enjoy much breeze from the sea. The two days in Yokohama are simple pleasant days.
My next 2 WWOOF hosts are both in Kanto Region. I travel mainly by trains. And travelling in the train in the morning, one has to be prepared to be standing most of the time, with working Japanese in suits and young high school students packed into most trains. I felt quite tired and strained on my back with my backpack but managed through.
Travelling to Kanazawa Bunko, about 40min JR train ride from Yokohama with a change of train, I finally met Asaba-sensei, the owner of Asaba Art Square. She is always smiling, nicely made-up and dressed in colourful clothes. I never got to ask her age, but she looks to be in her late 60s. Asaba Art Square has 3 adjoining houses; the art studio and gallery with Asaba-sensei's home above it, another house with 2 bedrooms for guests and then the house for the cafe, which serves organic meals. My room is within the cafe.
ASABA Art Square
It is within the suburbs in Kanazawa Bunko district.
The Art Studio
There is so much to look at, each day I find something new in Asaba Art Square.
Paper marche with stamps and newspapers by the children
Asaba-sensei has been teaching for the past 45 years. Kuma-san, who used to assist Asaba-sensei with the children, is her assistant now, managing the cafe. Entering into the compound, one is greeted with rich colours and endless collections of dolls, artworks, paintings, children's craft and books. It is a visual feast for me.
Asaba-sensei invited me to her house for a cup of tea and had a short chat with me. She showed interest in my plan for this year as I shared in my WWOOFer's profile. She is an avid traveller herself and had studied in the States (Arizona and New Mexico) for four years, majoring in Art and Art Therapy.
'Now you are in your 40s, it is an important period for you.... to be expereincing life away from your country.' That is what she expressed and later encourages me to look up for some schools when I am in Central Asia. I felt an immediate understanding from this worldly lady with a passion for the arts and the world.
The 2 weeks with the school, I got to assist her during her art lessons in the afternoon, at the studio. Aside from that, I will be helping Kuma-san in the cafe, serving the guests and washing the dishes. Tasks in Asaba Art Square is mainly domestic. It is more relaxing here but I do miss working in the farm. However, the opportunity to learn from how Asaba-sensei works with the children, and the many sharings from Kuma-san are what I really cherish.
Children's Mandala painting on the walls in the cafe.
In the cafe... Asaba-sensei's vast collections of ornaments from the countries she visited. She has a deep connection with the native Americans in New Mexico. The Hoppi tribe which she has build strong friendships with. Asaba-sensei goes back to New Mexico often.
the cafe... every corner in the cafe, in the studio, in Asaba-sensei's house are filled with paintings, ornaments or children's work.
A corner in Asaba-sensei's house.
colours and crafts from recycled materials are everywhere
There are art lessons for the children every afternoon from Wednesday to Saturday. This is the time I enjoy most, being with the children, most of all, seeing how Asaba-sensei interact and guide the children. During the 2 weeks, they are working on a sewing project, making a 2-sided puppet, with one side portraying their Otou-san (father) and on the other side, their Oka-san (mother). The children ages from 5 to 12 years old and even the youngest are doing threading and sewing. I see how much freedom was given to them, the space and time for them to choose and decide on the colours, the kind of materials or objects to be used on their puppet. The younger ones sew with rough and messy stiches while some older ones are capable of very neat and tidy sewing.
Imperfections and messiness is fine in art... in life too.
Focus ... art and craft cultivates a sense of focus and meaning to children... this is my thought.
Asaba-sensei discussing with a boy on how to attach the legs of the tiger puppet he is sewing... Some boys moved on to sewing animal puppets which they like.
So much effort from their little hands... this boy is sewing a whale stuffed with cotton. All the children have a sketch of the puppets they are doing. With that, Asaba-sensei guides them to refer to their sketch and bring their attention to the little details in their sketches.
Otou-san... little hands, big steps
A finished puppet, Okasan-side, with a collage card for Otousan and Okasan (father and mother)
After they were done with their 'instaneous little project', they finally setteled down and continued with their puppet sewing.
I see young boys doing sewing, which is the first time for me. The younger children took a longer time to thread the needles but they managed after several trials. I am very impressed in the simple steps taught to them in tying a knot after threading and how to create a knot after sewing on the cloth.
Asaba-sensei later shared during dinner time that she does not really teach. She will show and demonstrate the technique but after which she lets the children have the space to express themeselves through the materials provided. And she has loads and loads of materials, from recyclable bottle caps, buttons, sequins to felt material, printed textile, cardboards, sweet wrappers, stamps....Her studio and house is filled with boxes of these. She shared that when a child is involved in a task, such as to sew on a button to create the eye, after she showed them how to do it, she leaves them to explore on their own. Most of the time, they will have difficulty. She will not jump in immediately to help. With time, the child is able to figure his or her own way to get the sewing done, though messy. The main thing is, each time they encounter some difficulty and there is no immediate adult interference, the child will have to think of how to solve the problem themselves. That process itself builds their self-confidence and resilence. It does not matter what the resulting puppet will look like. Asaba-sensei also believes in giving them lots of space to express through drawing, through creating things with their hands.
Everytime, during the lessons, when some children finished part of the sewing earlier, Asaba-sensei will pass them books of their interests; some on animals, dinosaurs, transports or artbooks with paintings from different artist. The child takes his time to look and choose the one he is interested in. Then he will sketch with a pencil on a recycled paper. Asaba-sensei will talk with him about his sketch and ask what medium he would like to use. The child will then go take the medium (poster colour, water colour, markers or crayons...) and paint what he has sketched onto the art paper.
The child flips through some books, decided on what she wants, sketched out her ideas, shows Asaba-sensei who gives some pointers and praises and later proceeds to painting it. The children are calm and happy in this studio.
Ryu-chan....on my last day at Asaba Art Square. My first meeting with him. He is often restless, moving about, easily distracted by his surroundings. But he is sweet for he asks about Singapore and attempts to strike a conversation with me. Asaba-sensei is able to redirect him from all the distractions and have him complete sewing part of his puppet, together with him.
It is a time when they need not take instructions from adults, a time when they are free to express themselves and making things of their ideas, not the ideas or opinions of the adults. It is a time they see themselves encounter difficulities and making mistakes but feeling the sense of fufilment to overcome them. To top it up, with much positive words, smiles and claps from Asaba-sensei.
I reflected a lot after my experience in Aki-san's kindergarten and WWOOFing in Asaba Art Square. My way of teaching as a teacher with children with autism and as an aunt to my little nieces and nephews. Many times, as adults, we expect the children to follow our directions, with the belief that our ways are the best for them. We hasten them to get things done according to our intentions.
With time pressed on our side, children are expected to respond and act fast too. Many times, we failed to really listen to them, to give them the time and space to make mistakes and to learn from it. We focused so much on them doing a task correctly. It is ok if a young child learns to put on his or her shoes and have them put on the wrong sides. Left and right... Instead of an immediate response of 'Wrong!', maybe we can praise them for putting on the shoes so well, into their tiny feet. Then gradually show them the correct sides in a positive way.
We have to learn to change our way of responding and expecting from children.
We had grown up and brought up with much negative words on us.
To be positive with children is like a lesson to learn for most of us.
But it is possible, with practice and mindfulness ...~_~
I have much to learn and change in my ways of working with children.
Be humble and open-hearted, Irene... always, or you will not grow much.
For the handful of friends who follows my blog, thanks for your patience.
I am thankful for your support as I am beginning to realise reading takes up much time for most people now. So I am grateful you still ask about my blog. My last WWOOFing in the organic farm in Gunma, directly after Asaba Art Square has been a truly inspsiring and mind-opening one, which is out of my expectation. I am now back in Singapore for 2 weeks for some personal issue. Trying to organise my thoughts and update my blog... Will share more about the remaining journey in Japan.
