Week 1 in Japan

Hi friends!
I have officially been in Japan for over a week now. It's absolutely wonderful here. I honestly don't even know where to start.

Sean's house is directly on the beach, so we've mostly just been spending time enjoying it and relaxing. He works at the windsurfing shop just a few houses down so we often walk over there and say hi. I'm beginning to become a little bit familiar with some of the people there so it's not too awkward if I go by myself while Sean is surfing. Usually while he's out though, I am practicing or working out or something to that nature.

The food here, for the most part, is excellent. I have tried many things that I really like. I have also tried one thing that I absolutely could not even stomach. It's fermented soy beans. I didn't expect that the one thing I disliked to me completely vegetarian, though!
One cool thing about the food here is that the dairy is different. Most people here, by USA standards, are lactose intolerant. Because of that, they automatically use a different kinda of lactose in their food. So I've been eating ice cream without a problem!

We've spent some time in the mall and in the city, which is called Tenjin. Sean's friend from high school is studying abroad in Tokyo and his group took a trip to closer to us, so he came and stayed a night at Sean's. We played with fireworks on the beach and enjoyed a day in the city. Tenjin is really neat because it has a whole underground district that is streets you walk on and shops all along the way. So even though it was raining, we got to enjoy the city!
We also went to the university that Sean's dad works at. It's pretty incredible. Everything was impeccably clean, organized, and well kept. The students we saw didn't even seem to be very stressed, either! Though on the bus ride home we definitely saw what they call here "Salary Men" that were coming home from work that could barely stand up they were to tired. People are pretty pressured to have a busy schedule here. It's nice where we are, though, because we are right on the ocean. More people seem to have an "island mentality" around here. Relaxing has definitely not been an issue...


Here are some pictures of everything so far!

Sean windsurfing

Fireworks on the beach

Part of the university

In one of the photo shoot rooms at the university!

Me, Sean, Nate

Above Tenjin

Next week, Sean and I will be staying for 3 days in Kyoto. We will be seeing a lot of shrines and temples and older buildings than I've ever been in the presence of. I can't wait! More pictures and updates to come.

From Friday until Sunday I was in Kentucky for the Great American Brass Band Festival. It was a really great experience. We stayed with Dad's college roommate who's currently a theory professor at Eastern Kentucky University and a gigging trumpet player all around Kentucky. 


At the festival, we sat in the heat, surrounded by hundreds of people, watching some of the best living trumpet players in the world. (Also, I managed to spend from 8 am until 11 pm outside, and not get a sunburn! Probably a first.)


I had the honor of having full on conversations with Jens Lindemann and Al Vizzutti. They both had really great things to say. Jens told me that it doesn't matter where life takes me after college, as long as I keep on playing my trumpet and staying happy. As long as I have my horn with me, I'm set. As Jens was driving away, he stopped the car and opened his trunk. He pulled out his most recent CD and handed it to me. I highly recommend his CD...it's really amazing. 
In conversation, Al Vizzutti told me that I was changing what used to be a "mans world". Pretty neat to get to talk to these guys. 


A couple others that I got to shake the hands of were Vince DiMartino and Doc Severinsen. Doc is considered by many to be the best trumpet player in the world. When introduced as such, he came to the microphone and stated: 
"There is no best trumpet player in the world. There's just a bunch of us trying to do the best we can. Some days it works, and some days it doesn't." 
This was probably my favorite quote from the whole day.
Vince was who the entire festival was dedicated to. He is retiring from his position as a professor. He will, of course, continue to play! 


Here are some pictures and videos from the festival!

US Army Herald Trumpets

Left to Right:

Allen Vizzutti, Rich Byrd, Me, Jens Lindemann

Me & Doc Severinsen

Vince DiMartino signing my poster

Doc Severinsen and Al Vizzutti

Jens Lindemann performing on his blue trumpet

The masters acknowledging each other. 

Left to right:

Vince DiMartino, Gabriel DiMartino, Doc Severinsen, Al Vizzutti

If you want to hear a bit of it, here is a video of Vince DiMartino, Doc Severinsen, Allen Vizzutti, and Al Hood. (Al Hood is someone you trumpet players out there should check out!)

Okay enough nerdy trumpet talk! I am currently sitting in a hotel room in Toronto. I fly out tomorrow morning! Should be arriving in Japan on Wednesday. All of the following posts will be about Japan..I can't wait.

Love, 

Brianne

Hello from Cleveland!

I figured I should update you all on what I've been doing here in Cleveland. Honestly, nothing too out of the ordinary. I have, however, seen some good friends and family, gone to the famous West Side market, also done a bunch of housework, exercising, and practicing. Also, I tried fish! I had tuna, salmon, and eel. I think I have prepared pretty will for Japan! Though, I'm fully expecting to try many more things while I'm there. It's good to know that I can mentally do something new like that, though. After being a most-of-my-life vegetarian, this was a big step! Though I will go back to not eating fish once I return to the US.

Anyways, here are a couple pictures from being in Cleveland.

West Side Market in Cleveland

Louise and I enjoying crepes from the market

The lovely lady on the left just graduated!

Dad and I are off to Kentucky on Friday morning! Expect many geeky trumpet related posts when I get there! For those of you who don't know, we are going to the Great American Brass Band Festival. This year, it's trumpet themed! They are honoring the talented Vince DiMartino. Looking forward to telling you all about it!

Peace and love, 

Brianne