An Evening of note.

Today I held in my hands three swords, two date back to the Edo era of Japan, about 350 years ago, and one dates back to the Muromachi Era, 700 years ago.

The Muromachi sword is beautiful... with a distinct difference in the Hamon (The line on the blade). The Edo swords have blood gutters, something the Muromachi sword is missing (as that was an invention that came along in about the 16th century)

The Muromachi sword was involved in many wars over the years, and you can tell that it has taken many lives. There is an aura about it, it is very much the definition of a living weapon.

Stunningly beautiful.

I held these swords in my hands.

On a separate note: during our mid-practice tea (Japanese teatime is very different from British teatime... :D) Sensei confided in me that up until now, he tended to stay away from foreigners, but with me, he decided to be different.

I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's my winning personality and stunning good looks....

Right.

More likely, however, it is the fact that I am not acting like an American, I'm acting like a Japanese...

But I have now run straight into the prejudice... and I have somehow missed it...

Maybe I’m a foreigner, but these people are being very friendly, and have taken me in… even though they are a little scared of foreigners.

To be honest, I’m not sure how to handle that… I guess I shall continue as I have all along: Smiling and doing my very best.

Also, Sensei has already started to attack my accent, trying to make me stop sounding so wierd...

He has also decided that he is giving me 6 months and then he is banning English from his Dojo.

This is a challenge I shall happily accept.

So, I have 6 months... lets see what I can do... :)

---Me.