gurdymonkey (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gurdymonkey) wrote2008-02-22 06:39 pm
gurdymonkey) wrote2008-02-22 06:39 pm
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Pangs and thangs
A bunch of links to Estrella photo albums hit my kingdom e-list today. And so did some "survivor" guilt.
(Pang.) I shoulda been there. (Below, TRM Mari and Gemini looking respectively badass....)
(Pang.) But Rising Sun was so much fuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnn.
(Pang.) I should've tried to get over there.
(Pang.) I did, actually. I walked as far as the footbridge over the irrigation dyke on that side of the battlefield on Saturday - the mud was even worse there than on our side (and our side was pretty deep). During a half shouted conversation with Alail, he more or less warned me off.
(Pang.) I didn't see my friends.
(Pang?) I got to see friends I maybe see once a year if I'm lucky - which for me is the whole point of going to an event outside my kingdom.
(Pang?) Six out of ten Westerners will call me Jehanne if I'm dressed as Saionji, two will remember to call me Makiwara (and one of them will mispronounce it), and the other two will say, "I'm sorry, what's your Japanese name again?"
(Pang?) I got called by my Japanese name, mostly pronounced correctly and with appropriate honorifics on a regular basis for four and a half days. (You have no idea what a novelty this is....)
Waitaminnit. I taught two classes, then credited my volunteer hours to the Barony of the Far West. I represented my kingdom (and Asian arts at the same time) at the A&S display. In fact, I represented my kingdom every time someone admired Saionji's garb or enjoyed the whine of the hurdy gurdy and George's silly monkey grin.
What am I feeling guilty about again?
(Pang.) I shoulda been there. (Below, TRM Mari and Gemini looking respectively badass....)
(Pang.) But Rising Sun was so much fuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnn.
(Pang.) I should've tried to get over there.
(Pang.) I did, actually. I walked as far as the footbridge over the irrigation dyke on that side of the battlefield on Saturday - the mud was even worse there than on our side (and our side was pretty deep). During a half shouted conversation with Alail, he more or less warned me off.
(Pang.) I didn't see my friends.
(Pang?) I got to see friends I maybe see once a year if I'm lucky - which for me is the whole point of going to an event outside my kingdom.
(Pang?) Six out of ten Westerners will call me Jehanne if I'm dressed as Saionji, two will remember to call me Makiwara (and one of them will mispronounce it), and the other two will say, "I'm sorry, what's your Japanese name again?"
(Pang?) I got called by my Japanese name, mostly pronounced correctly and with appropriate honorifics on a regular basis for four and a half days. (You have no idea what a novelty this is....)
Waitaminnit. I taught two classes, then credited my volunteer hours to the Barony of the Far West. I represented my kingdom (and Asian arts at the same time) at the A&S display. In fact, I represented my kingdom every time someone admired Saionji's garb or enjoyed the whine of the hurdy gurdy and George's silly monkey grin.
What am I feeling guilty about again?
no subject
It's a "Calontir thing". You know, like The Shield Wall, and singing on the battlefield, and not having any fencers.
Individuals do go out to visit, on occasion, but camping together at war is considered a vital part of the Calontiri experience.
It's easier to think of Calontir not as a "Kingdom", but as a giant household. Or tribe might be a better word. Households exist here, but they aren't very visible or important, unlike some other kingdoms I've lived in (Midrealm, Ansteorra).
I haven't made it out to Estrella yet (been to Pennsic twice, though, a long time ago), but if I had gone, we (my Viking husband and I) probably would have camped with the Calontiri, even though it would have been nice to be among my fellow nihonjin at Rising Sun.
We do fully intend to go out to Estrella at some point, though, once we get better at camping. The thought of getting away from Iowa in mid-winter is just too tempting.
As for Saionji-dono, don't feel guilty at all! You did your service for your kingdom, you were essential in putting together Rising Sun and making it work, and you helped people have a good time. Don't second-guess yourself!