Nachtreffen #1 DJJA2008 in Erfurt

June 20, 2009

Erstes Nachtreffen in Erfurt

Über ein halbes Jahr nach unserer Japan Reise zog es einige von uns in die thüringische Landeshauptstadt um in geselliger Runde einfach nochmal in gemeinsamen Erinnerungen zu schwelgen.

Durchaus Vertraut, trotzdem umsichtig wurden bereits am Freitag (19.06.09) die „ohashi“’s geschwungen. Bei der Vertilgung jeglicher japanischer Köstlichkeiten – essbarer sowie trinkbarer – konnten wir keinen besseren Start in das Wochenende haben können. „Krämerbrückenfest“ nannte sich an diesen Tagen die Gelegenheit zu jeder Zeit durch die Erfurter Innenstadt zu schlendern und das dortige Treiben in vollen Zügen zu genießen. Glücklicherweise ist Erfurt ja nicht nur die „Born“ Senf Stadt, sondern ist als Thüringer Landeshauptstadt quasi auch ein repräsentatives Aushängeschild Thüringer Rostbratwürste. In diesem Sinne statteten wir nicht nur dem „Born“ Senf Museum einen Besuch ab, sondern auch den zahlreichen „Bratwurst Buden“ zu deren gebratenen Spezialitäten das besagte Gewürz hervorragend passt.

Während das Wetter Übertage uns den ein oder anderen Streich spielte konnten wir uns in den kühlen Katakomben der Zitadelle Petersberg in einer Führung viel Interessantes über das Bauwerk an sich, wie auch über die Erfurter Mundart und „HumiNi“ (Huddeleien mit’m Nischel) erfahren. Ein rustikales regionaltypisches Mahl mit Thüringer Klößen gefolgt von einer kleinen Karaoke Einlage gab Zeit für gemütlichen Austausch. Nicht nur für das „Krämerbrückenfest“ sollte ein farbenprächtiges Feuerwerk, an dieser Mitternacht, den Höhepunkt markieren, sondern auch für uns, die wir es in vertrauter Gesellschaft genossen.

Was bleibt ist Lob und Dank an die harmonische Organisationskunst unsere lieben Christiane und die Vorfreude auf ein nächstes Treffen.


Video II

December 21, 2008

This is a great video about DJJA 2008.
Video II by Kira (157MB)


culture shock

November 15, 2008

We have returned from Japan and all of us have left a little bit there. Each of us has to go back to ordinary life now. At the moment we are lost for words to describe our experiences.

Therefore, we show you at this point three pictures of our high-contrast and exciting trip. These pictures illustrate our impressions very well.


Day 14 – Leaving Japan

November 12, 2008

12 November, 2008

4:00 a.m. or 6:00 a.m. – who cares? The wake-up call destroys the dreams. After a short night in Osaka we’re catching a last view on the city of Osaka while having breakfast on the 12th floor of the Hotel.
It’s unbelievable, but two weeks in Japan are finally over. Did we really just stay that short period? It feels like being in Japan for months… It’s the last chance to enjoy rice, misosoup and fish in the morning.
The bus takes us to Kansai airport. Some of the delegation members take a nap, others enjoy the scenery and everybody seems to be fulfilled with new impressions, memories and sadness. We all lost a bit of our souls in Japan and nobody really wants to step into the airplan.

At the airport we say “Mata aschita” to Tada-san, Yukiko-san, Etsuko-san and some Japanese delegation members. A last hug then a wave to the right and a wave to the left then we board the aircraft.
Although some us hope that the immigration officer finds a reason why we must stay in Japan, he doesn’t make us the pleasure. It’s finally time to say good bye!

Ho-ta-ru no hi-ka-ri, ma-do no ju-ki, fu-mi j-omu zu-ki-hi ka-ssane zu-zu,
i zu shika to-schi-mossu gi-noto o, akete so ke-ssa-wa, wa-ka-re ju-ku

The 12hour flight to Frankfurt feels like a never ending journey. Fortunately the aircrew keep us busy. It’s the last time that we enjoy a big “Kampai” on this tour and sometime between eating, sleeping and drinking we’re entering the German air space.

In Frankfurt we all split off for the final destination – Home. With tears in our eyes we have to say “Sayonara” to each other. Loneliness and disorientation will accompany us the next days, weeks, months… It seems that we all have a second cultural shock – Germany is so different and strange, but Japan is so far and well known. Let’s hope, that we will get a chance for a one-way-ticket to Nihon soon… Until this will happen we have to live on thousands of pictures we took

Thanks to everybody, Arigato gozaimas to all who made this journey unforgettable.

* Arsen, Carolin, Christian, Susanne, Benjamin, Christiane, Kira, Tom, Franziska, Maurice, Dominique, Moritz, Aileen, Kirsten, Julia, Gisa, Julia, Sven, Madeleine, Franziska, Michaela, Claus and Sascha *


Day 13 – Kumamoto to Osaka

November 11, 2008

11 November, 2008

Today we got up for the last time in the houses of our guest families. Later that day, we did some photographs and went with the guest family to Tokyoko Inn Hotel in Kumamoto.

Afterwards we went to a castle that coins the cityscape. We were amazed by the impressive architecture and the opulent design inside. Everything was built by wood. The reconstructed ruins of the castle Kumamoto were built in the year 1607 and destroyed during the Satsuma rebellion in 1877.

The Donjon and other parts of the castle are one to one reproductions exactly rebuilt by the rules of ancient Japanese craft traditions. The castle is placed on a hill inside the centre of the city. At these times, into the 17th century, it was one of the most massive buildings in the whole Japan. The outer walls had a length of 5 kilometres including 49 Yagura entries and 28 gates.

Because of the Japanese guides we got a very impressive view at the details of the castle. But there was still something we couldn’t understand – the notches on some stones. Did not understand why it was placed there.

Afterwards we went to the airport where our plain to Osaka was waiting for us. On the flight we had the chance to see the beautiful countryside and some high mountains of the country.

After our arrival in Osaka we checked into a hotel named KKR. There we met some Japanese attendants and explored with them the inner city of Osaka.

In the evening we had all together a nice meal at a restaurant. The main attraction there was that you could fry your own food into some feeders filled with hot oil.

At the end of the trip we wanted to thank our new Japanese friends and the guides who looked for us during the last two weeks. As we wanted to thank them we had prepared some little presents which we gave them before saying good bye.


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.