Dazaifu, Day 2 - A Day of Rest?

Now it’s Sunday, my first complete day of rest. But I’ve got things to do, so I get started on the day.

First job is to install the drivers and such on my computer so that I can upload some of the video that I have filmed on the new camcorder. The kit included an install disk with the Canon ZoomBrowser software and USB2.0 drivers that I need, and I also found updated versions of both on the Canon website, so I start by installing all of the necessary software. Except for a glitch involving PhotoStitch (which I most likely will not be using), everything seems to install correctly, including the updates, so the next step is to plug in the PC Card that has a USB2.0 connection, and then the camera.

I read through the information about uploading video and pictures. Among other things, I find out that the camcorder does have FireWire capability – it’s part of the AV-to-DV converter – but you have to buy a separate FireWire cable. Not a problem for me, though; the camcorder came with a USB2.0 cord (which is actually faster) so I will use that.

Plug in the camera, turn it on – okay, the machine seems to recognize the equipment and even realizes that there are videos to be processed. The manual indicates that Windows Movie Maker 2.2 is needed to process the videos; I have no idea if I have the right software, but I will give it a try.

Windows Movie Maker seems to be installed and appears to know how to handle the 13 minutes of video it has found on the card; it even realizes that there are several clips within those 13 minutes, and saves them correctly. For now, I am using this function as backup; I will not erase any of the tapes until I get an opportunity to view them directly on TV.

(A check of the Help information appears to indicate that I have MM 2.1.something installed, so I will probably need to do some upgrades when I get connected to the Internet again, but it’s working for now.)

As I finish up the tape work, my phone rings and Matsumoto’s voice is heard – would I like to take a short drive to the top of a mountain that overlooks Dazaifu City? He picks me up about an hour later, and we drive up a mountain road reminiscent of those I traveled in Komatsu or roads going to the mining towns in Colorado, where my father grew up. Matsumoto has interesting tastes in music; he has a CD with vintage Bob Dylan, and I enjoy it greatly.

Near the top, we park and walk up a steep set of stone steps that lead to a large, flattened area. Matsumoto-san indicates that an old castle once sat here overlooking the city; its inhabitants provided shelter and defense against Korean invaders who crossed the short distance from the mainland on a regular basis. Now this area provides a spectacular view of the valley that includes Dazaifu and other cities in this part of Fukuoka. Out comes the camcorder, and I become a travelogue producer, filming the view and offering a short commentary. (Very tourist-y, but I can show this to my family and students.)

Then we head back to town; Matsumoto needs to be at school this afternoon, and I have some shopping to do for the week.

Grocery shopping is the next item on my to-do list. I need more breakfast things and something with which to make lunches. The supermarket down the street is a ’15-minute walk’ according to my partners (which means it’s more like 25 minutes for my leisurely pace), but well worth it. I find just about everything I need, including peanut butter and jam.

Journal updates are another task for the day; I also need to write a short ‘speech’ to give during the welcome ceremonies planned at the school on Monday. I’ve got BUGS and Soil data to finish processing and prepare for a XOOPS report, and I need to be sure I know what to take with me tomorrow morning.

Did I say this was a day of rest? Yeah, sure……

Dinner is with Ishii-san and one of the English teachers. Ishii tells me that he wishes to pay for this dinner and that it is a special one to thank me for my concern and care during his visit to St. Charles (see Visiting Our Schools). The restaurant is a famous one in nearby Tosu, one that also specializes in wedding parties and receptions.

Beefsteak and other things are the order of the day; a new twist to the ‘sizzling platter’ appears, but this one actually cooks your food! The steak is grilled on a pre-heated iron plate, and you must turn the meat to complete the cooking once it arrives at your table. It is a very popular way to serve steak in Japan, I am told.

Of even more interest to me is the dinner entertainment – a violinist and pianist who are both quite good, performing a nice selection of classical repertoire and modern melodies. The first set finishes with one of the Slavonic Dances written for violin; the performer takes it at full speed and never misses a note. Brava!

The second set of music features a piano solo, then more violin selections (including Mozart’s ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’ in a traditional solo arrangement). Then we have a surprise; she sets down the violin and picks up another insttument – a viola! She plays a couple of arrangement of well-known Japanese melodies, which sound quite nice on the lower-pitched instrument. She finishes on the violin – a twentieth-century sonata for violin and piano.

When we leave, I offer a compliment on the music (through the English teacher), and the cashier indicates that she is a well-known musician in this part of Japan. I can see why – she obviously enjoys playing.

Home to finish the evening and prepare for my first day at Gakugyoin JHS.