Skip to main content

Daniel- Birthday

Birthday [誕生日] (Daniel)


Getting old - it's an inevitable part of life. But, on March 23, 2013, I had an amazing time getting old alongside my Japanese friends and family.

I think the last time I celebrated my birthday was when I was 10 or 12 years old. I realized at a young age that big birthday bashes were a big hassle, and I didn't see the fun in planning, organizing, and then running around the party to make sure my guests were having a good time.
This year, however, my host family decided to throw a birthday party for me and invite all our HIPPO friends to participate. I was fine with that -- if someone else throws me a party, I wouldn't have to hassle myself or feel any pressure. Bring on the part-tay!
March 23rd, a Saturday, began like any other ordinary day. That quickly changed when the mailman came in the morning and presented me with a big surprise.
AEC42B792219AC6817FDE1817631B336.jpg
Wow! International Mail Package #2!
My parents (with the help of some relatives this time) sent me yet another package filled with goodies from America. I guess I kinda-maybe-sometimes complain that fruit in Japan is too expensive, so the package was mostly composed of dried fruit. Oh, and lots of socks. My mom asked if it was cold and if I needed any socks before she sent the package, to which I replied "no". But, for some reason, I guess she still decided I need socks. Um, okay. I love my mom :)
AEE5979F2219AC681702665E172B9659.jpg
My par-tay wasn't until evening, so a few friends and I planned to go out for hanami before the par-tay started. In Spring, Japan is covered with beautiful pink cheery blossoms, and Japanese people enjoy having picnics under them -- an activity called hanami.
When I arrived, I was surprised to find not a few people (like we had planned) but a group of 11 friends! I guess word of my pre-par-tay hanami par-tay got out, and many friends decided to come and join. I love my friends :)
IMG_1106.jpg
We decided to go to Ueno Park, which is definitely the place to go if you find yourself in Tokyo and want to do some hanami. It has more than 1000 cherry blossoms and a long alleyway to walk under them.
...and just like everywhere in Japan, Ueno park was crazy crowded. I guess word about my pre-par-tay hanami par-tay in Ueno Park really got out, because ALL of Japan came to celebrate with us.
IMG_1105.jpg
After we couldn't find a place to sit in the crowded park, we finally settled in an off-limits area (oops), and started our hanami with the heaping mountain of snacks and drinks.
AF530EA12219AC6817566A2AF473D8ED.jpg
After hanami-ing, we cleaned up and a group of us got ready for my real birthday par-tay that same evening.
IMG_1127.jpg
When we arrived, my friends were ushered in and I was told to wait outside of the door. I assumed to find a few HIPPO members inside, maybe some friends of my family, oh, and probably even some Russians who came to HIPPO the week before to participate in home-stays.
When I was finally let in, I realized that I was completely wrong. It was not a par-tay. It was an Ō-ban-buru-mai.
An Ō-ban-buru-mai is the Japanese word for a big, big lavish party - kind of like the parties thrown by Gatsby in The Great Gatsby.
[By the way, the word "Gatsby" has a completely different meaning in Japanese culture. In Japan, Gatsby is the name of a hair gel for men. Once, I asked my Japanese friends if they knew about The Great Gatsby, and they all simultaneously began singing and dancing to the song from the Gatsby hair gel commercial. It was quite funny.]
Anyway, the moment I walked into my Ō-ban-buru-mai, I was greeted by a parade of people who had gathered from all over the Tokyo area to celebrate my birthday with me.
AF5DF2552219AC681785C03083B6B3F0.jpg
I was expecting my host family to throw me a small get-together, but I was shocked to find a big, beautifully decorated room and tons of people. A real Ō-ban-buru-mai.
I was so shocked that I couldn't find words to say. The below picture fully conveys the emotions I was feeling at that moment:
AF6E3A8B2219AC6817D0B93EC697D08B.jpg
Next, we began to eat. No! I'm sorry ... I mean feast. We began to feast. They do not eat at Ō-ban-buru-mai's. They feast.
There was a TON of food, and after eating it, my host mom rolled out a cart with a ginormous birthday cake that she had baked herself.
IMG_1108.jpg
The cake said "Daniel, Happy 20th Birthday" and included a drawing of my face in portrait. IT WAS HUGE! It made Costo look like it was selling cupcakes for kids. I can't believe my host mom baked that. I love my host mom :)
IMG_1112.jpg
After eating cake, we watched a slideshow of my time in Japan, danced to SADA, and listened to people give me birthday wishes. There were even video birthday wishes from friends who couldn't come to my Ō-ban-buru-mai, including last years Hippo intern, Sakkun, now currently in Canada. It was very touching - I even let some tears drop.
The mass of people who came to my Ō-ban-buru-mai also included two friends from my Japanese church. Seeing them was also a huge surprise - I keep HIPPO and church totally separate. How did church people come to my Ō-ban-buru-mai? I later found out that my host mom secretly contacted my church and invited them. And even though there was another church event that day, they still decided to come. I love my church :)
IMG_1114.jpg
After my Ō-ban-buru-mai ended and I returned home, I used all of the presents I had received to create a mini memorial for myself.
IMG_1136.jpg
IMG_1141.jpg
It was difficult to wrap my head around the fact that March 23rd began like any other ordinary Saturday. By the time the day was over, I had received a package from America, hanami'ed at Ueno Park, celebrated an Ō-ban-buru-mai, and received enough presents to make myself a memorial. Wow.
IMG_1137.jpg
The entire day was an overload of surprises and emotions. I so fortunate to have this amazing opportunity. I am particularly grateful for such a awesome host family, who took the time to plan something so wonderful for me. I am moved beyond words. I love my host family :)
IMG_1140.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------
The Ō-ban-buru-mai was not the end of my birthday festivities. At the office on Monday, my co-workers surprised me with a cake that was covered in fruit, and a bag of some quality brown rice (my favorite Japanese food).
E2A5AB0B2219AC6817B21AF6BACBC5CC.jpg
E2A960952219AC681728FFF629821AE2.jpg
But that's not all. The next day, some other HIPPO members took me out to a fancy French restaurant and surprised me with some fancy birthday dessert
IMG_1164.jpg
Oh wait. There's more. The day after that, during a HIPPO club meetings for college students, the members surprised me by singing "Happy Birthday" and giving me tons of my favorite thing in the world, FRUIT!
E2B0E0D82219AC6817C48DC0399FB9BE.jpg
IMG_1179.jpg
Wow. I have never celebrated my birthday in a four day period before. Definitely the best birthday ever.
I love Japan. :)
I love everyone in Japan. :)
I love everything. :)
IMG_1181.jpg

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Maddie- The First of Many New Experiences

The First of Many New Experiences So, what have my first weeks been like in Japan? ABSOLUTELY BUSY! But, also...AMAZING! Truly, it has been a busy couple of weeks here, but not overwhelmingly so. Furthermore, I`d prefer to be kept busy! Too much free time = too much thinking = homesickness. By keeping a full, fun schedule, with some relaxing and downtime, I can keep engaged with my surroundings, make new friends, and stay sane. To prevent a wall of text, let me break down for you some of my recent activities. So far, I have: Presented about my life in Wisconsin to classes of middle school and elementary school students. Eaten kaiten-zushi, or conveyor belt sushi.  Been interviewed about my biggest surprise when I came to Japan (it`s bluntness in regards to appearance, people won`t hesitate to call someone fat, or tell you that you`ve gotten skinny since they last saw you. As I`ve seen it, it`s never been malicious, just matter-of-fact).  Post filming. To my ...

Daniel- I have Guests!

I Have Guests! [訪れていた] (Daniel) After a trip to the Middle East, my sister and her husband decided to return to the US flying over Asia instead of Europe, so that they could stop by in Japan and say "Hi". Y-A-A-A-A-Y. It felt really good to see some family after seven months away. Unfortunately, the two of them could only stay for 3 days, so we were quite busy during that time. The three of us visited obvious famous places like Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, and Akihabara. But I personally enjoyed going to a park where we did the tea ceremony in a tea house on the park's pond. The two of them found it strange that there were no chairs and the process to drink some tea was so formal. I guess I didn't really think about it, I have become so used to traditional tea ceremonies that they don't seem strange to me anymore. I guess I'm becoming a local  I also really enjoyed introducing my sister and brother-in-law to my co-work...

Daniel- Okutama

Okutama (Daniel) This past week, my eyes were opened to the fact that Japan is much more than a concrete jungle of lights and high-rise buildings. For the first time, I was able to head west to Okutama, a mountainous region on the west side of Tokyo Prefecture. Unlike the city, Okutma is covered with forest and greenery. The abundance of nature makes it a beautiful place to visit in the fall. Not too far from Okutama is Heirinji Zen Temple in Saitama, where I was blown away by the beauty of autumn in Japan. The purpose for my being in that area was to visit a kindergarten and to give a HIPPO presentation along with other HIPPO members. Among them was a younger gentleman nicknamed Tango, whom I hadn't met before. Tango and I got along very well, and he invited me on a hike, along with his friend, the next day. Tango's family owns a very quaint Soba restaurant in Okutama. The surrounding mountains and nature really give it a traditional Japanese feel. The three of u...