Trip to Santa Fe Vol.2

I felt much during this trip to Santa Fe, especially about the Native American.
I visited some "pueblos", the Native American reservations, and some feelings did not leave from my head.
I did not know much about the Native American culture and history, so I read some articles about them after I came back home. I learned each tribe had had many tragic stories in different ways after the settlers arrived. They had many battles to keep their lives from outsiders, but they lost their families, lands and ways of life.

It was interesting for us to see and know their traditional cultures and practices when I visited their pueblos. On the other hand, I felt it was like a museum. I mean they were not lively. The pueblos are actual villages they live in now, so they are always watched by the tourists curiously. They get the admission fee and sell their handwork to tourists everyday. Is that their natural life? It is OK they are happy under the present situations, but anyway I hope they live naturally outside of tourists' sight. I am just worried that they rely on their incomes from tourists and the government and keep the museum life I imagine. People tend to choose the easy way.

I know in this world everything keeps changing. We keep improving, destroying or repeating over history. The changes are very natural.

My point is I believe they have their unique power given by the unbelievable huge nature of America over centuries. I feel the power from their paints and arts. I just do not want them to lose this precious sense.
This trip was meaningful for me.

Trip to Santa Fe

Hiro and I went to Santa Fe and the suburbs during the Memorial Day weekend.
On Friday night we took the 8 p.m. flight to Albuquerque, and rented a car there. We stayed at a hotel near the airport at night. Next morning we enjoyed seeing many hot air balloons in the sky. They were very colorful and pretty against the clear blue sky. I had never known Albuqurque is famous for the balloons.

We visited many places and the weather was pretty good during this trip. On the way driving to destinations, we enjoyed the spectacular landscape. It was indescribable, and I felt the power of mother earth.

Next time I am going to write about my feelings for Native American reservations.

golf

I went to play golf with my husband last Sunday. It was the first time for me to play the 18-hole course. It was a nice day and the green grass was beautiful.

There is a 9- hole course behind our apartment, so we sometimes practice at the driving range and play the 9-hole course. He began to play golf here and I began to go with him. He looks absorbed in golf, but I can not understand the fun yet.

When we go to the half-course, he always says "Don't be depressed when your hit is not good, OK?" I always answer "Yes, OK!" But I always go mad during playing. I hate myself doing like that but I can't stop it. Every time I think it is going to be better next time, but so far it is not.

Anyway last Sunday I tried to play 18-hole course. He asked the same question as usual and I answered yes. His condition was very good, but mine was getting lower from the 7th hole. Though I was depressed as usual, I could change my mood from the 10th hole and could enjoy playing. My score was awful, you can imagine, but I enjoyed very much.

It looked easy to play golf before, but now I understood how difficult to cup in with a few hits and to keep concentration during the whole holes. I hope I can understand the fun someday.

Ole!

I went to The Children's Museum to see the performances of my flamenco class on April 29. I did not perform this time, because I could not do some of the dances. I should practice more!

At the museum there was the event of "El Dia de los Ninos". It means "The day of Children". It was crowded with many families and I could hear Spanish everywhere. There was no admission fee for the event, and we could see many Latin performances there. My flamenca members had performed 3 stages. I saw the last one, and they were great! I felt everyone enjoyed seeing it.

Music and dances are very interesting. Every culture has their own music and dances, and people live with the rhythm which has run through the culture for a long time. They have changed little by little but the roots still remain.

I was happy to feel their pride of the culture, and I was impressed with their energetic spirits.

Surprise!

My husband, Hiro, gave a surprise birthday party for me last Saturday. I was totally surprised because I did not think he was that type of a guy, and I knew he was going to be busy for the next week. I felt very happy with his sweet plan and very thankful to our friends who came together with us.

I am going to show you his lovely plan here.

He had invited some friends and told them about the party. A week before the day, he told me he had made a promise to go to play golf with his friends on Saturday and have dinner together. Actually he did not play golf. He asked Koji for his help and prepared for the party. Yuri called me before the day and she took me out for shopping while they prepared it. Hiro and Koji prepared everything at our apartment and some friends came together. When Yuri and I came back home, 6 people were waiting for us and said "Happy Birthday!" to me. I could not understand what happened at first, and his plan succeeded!

Fabrice made lasagna for the party. It was very nice! Hiro cooked homemade chili by himself. He searched the recipe on a website and managed to cook it. Yuri had baked and brought a sponge cake, and Hiro decorated it before it was served. Hi did good job! He also cleaned up perfectly after all of our friends left.

It might be one of the happiest days in my life.

Thank you for Koji, Yuri, Fabrice, Natalie, Chiao, Megumi, Dan and of course my sweetheart Hiro!

roll the cake...

and finish! (Koji & Hiro)

Baby Shower

We had Erica's baby shower last Saturday. Men were welcomed at the party, so I went there with my husband. Erica is the teacher of my flamenco class. Her second boy is coming at the beginning of May. It might be "Cinco de Mayo". He has already had the name "Diego" chosen for him. Her first boy began to call him that and they have decided to name him Diego. What a sweet story!

The shower was very nice. Some of her students prepared and decorated everything. I was amazed at their artistic sense. We spent time talking, eating and dancing with many people.

I am always surprised that Erica still teaches us every Tuesday night. Erica and Diego dance together, so he will be a good dancer. I like her dancing and character very much. She is cute and her dancing is attractive. When I practice flamenco dancing in my room, I sometimes look at myself in a mirror to check my movement. I always imagine her dancing, but it is difficult to get it.

We all are looking forward to seeing Diego soon!

Cinnamon

I had visited Aki's house for a week to take care of her rabbit for about two hours a day with Manami and Minori. Aki and her husband had to be away from home but her husband came back today.

The rabbit's name is "Cinnamon" and he is a very good boy. He knows enough to pee in the right place. He does not like to be held but he followed me as if to say "play with me". How cute he is!

I was surprised at the action the first time. I think that was because of my former experience. I had had a rabbit, his name was "Happy", in Japan and he was not so friendly. He was always self-conscious and went his own way. I wonder if his character was caused by our way of bringing him up. But he was very much loved by my family and I sometimes remember and miss him.

Anyway I think Cinnamon and I have become good friends!



I am Cinnamon!