#NerdsUnite: Around the world with @HeatherReusz
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Heather. She's a nerd who is currently living in Japan by way of Chicago. Yep, talk about a culture shock. She's here today to talk about her life, love (which she is currently balancing long distance) and all things nerd. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT HEATHER!!! </editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @HeatherReusz
It’s finally time! Sakura season is in full bloom over here in Japan!! I have been anxiously waiting the cherry blossom season for months. There are not many cherry blossom trees in Chicago and Japan is very famous for their beautiful cherry blossom trees. How could I not be excited for that?!
The actual full bloom season only last for one week. Once the trees hit full bloom the petals immediately start to blow off or wash away in rain. It’s so sad that the scenery only sticks around for such a short time. I was really hoping to get to a lot of the famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo but had a lot of things go wrong this weekend to hinder those chances. Oh well, life happens sometimes.
To make up for it, I’m determined to have a picnic under the cherry blossom trees in my local park for lunch every day this week. Already started that challenge for the past two days and I loved it. It’s so peaceful to just sit by yourself and take a moment to appreciate beauty right in front of me. I don’t think we do that hardly enough in our everyday lives. There are so many stunning sights that we just don’t stop and appreciate in life. It’s refreshing to take that time for yourself.
I think it’s pretty great that the Japanese also celebrate the blooming of the sakura. It’s amazing to me how almost every person in all generations will stop and stare at the trees or take a day to stroll through the park and have a picnic during peak time. I think it’s so easy to take something like that for granted. Many times people just seem to get used to things like that in their environment rather than stop and appreciate it. Japanese culture, though, focuses on the aesthetics. It emphasizes the things that are simple and beautiful in life. Some of the basic principles of Japanese Buddhism reinforce this idea and cultural value. In our American society where everything is fast paced, it might do us some good to adopt a philosophy like that. Just been giving it some thought lately. I know I never really used to appreciate all the beauty that was around me when I lived in America or even Japan so this is such a refreshing pause in my busy life here.
The traditional cherry blossom picnic is called hanami. It consists of snacks, sandwiches, and rice balls. It also involves day drinking sake and getting a little bit drunk at 1 in the afternoon. Drinking in public isn’t illegal here. It’s almost a cultural expectation that one is drinking for hanami and it’s great. The atmosphere at all the parks is so relaxed and calm. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.
I did a small hanami with one of my friends at the Shinjuku National Gardens. We had some traditional Japanese bento boxes as well as one small juice box of sake. These things are literally juice boxes like with a little attached bendy straw and all. It’s the craziest thing to be drinking a juice box full of straight up alcohol…crazy but wonderful. It was an amazing way to spend an afternoon. We kicked back enjoyed the scenery, the culture, and the company. I’m pretty sure I’m in love with cherry blossom season.