Keep Calm and Drink Tea: Nippon Business Institute Offers Japanese Tea Ceremonies at EvCC

Imagine sitting quietly in a tea room, drinking tea as you listen to the natural sounds of water and wind blowing through leaves. Taking a deep breath, you begin to relax from a busy day while watching the Chanoyu, a Japanese tea ceremony.

Everett Community College's Nippon Business Institute (NBI) and together with the East-West Chanoyu Center held a Japanese Tea ceremony at NBI tea room for two afternoon sessions on Wednesday, a traditional culture of the Way of Tea by Japanese people.

The Japanese tea ceremony steps begin with cleaning and preparation of tea serving utensils (tea bowl, tea scoop and tea whisk), each step has concentrated and graceful movements (Pictures no. 1-3). Next step is added three scoops of green tea powder (3) then poured hot water into the bowl (4) and whisked into a thin paste (5). The last step, added more water as needed to create a soup-like tea.



“Tea ceremony is part of one of NBI programs, to introduce Japanese culture and this year, we have a tea specialist from Kyoto, Japan, her name is Tomoko Uchida.” said Mayumi N. Smith, Director NBI and Japanese Programs to Clipper reporter after the tea ceremony session yesterday.

Smith added that Uchida is a participant of NBI's Japanese Culture and Traditional Arts Internship Program. Uchida likes to learn American culture and get to know American people during her time in the US, and to introduce Japanese culture through the tea ceremony.

Mayumi N. Smith, Director NBI and Japanese Programs, sitting
together with Tomoko Uchida, a Tea Specialist from Kyoto, Japan,
in the tea room after the tea ceremony session on Wednesday afternoon.   

In this tea ceremony session, Smith mentioned that the reason NBI conducts this tea event in several days is because there are many students learning Japanese language and culture at EvCC.

“For today we have two sessions of tea ceremony; the participants were EvCC students and people from community. Previously, on the last week, we had the tea ceremony for EvCC Japanese clubs member and campus clubs, and last Saturday we had participants who study Japanese history and culture.”Smith said.

Smith said the NBI Japan study program is not just teaching Japanese language, but is also about teaching culture and history.

“I like to invite Japanese people as much as possible so that students and faculty staff have opportunity to know about the Japanese culture,” Smith said. “I hope that they can experience and feel the Japanese culture not only from watching it on TV or studying in class.”

Tea Ceremony


The tea ceremony is held in a tea room in the NBI. The interior is designed similar to the tea room in Japan.

“The tea room is not just the backdrop for tea ceremony, but also a tool by which participants journey to a separate world, the world of tea,” according to Makao Chiho, Niponica - Japanese culture magazine writer.

Uchida presented the four main principles: Wa Kei Sei Jaku,
which mean harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. 

Chiho said that by visiting a tearoom, guests leave behind their daily lives and enter a functional and aesthetic space designed to ensure that each cup of tea is not just drunk, but experienced.

The session beginning with Uchida introducing herself and the essence of the tea ceremony before she started the process.

“I study the tea ceremony process in high school and college, I began study seriously about tea ceremony was about five years ago,” Uchida said. “My own life based on the way of tea, the spirit of tea: harmony, respect, purity and tranquility.”

The essence of the Japanese tea ceremony is reflected in its four main principles: Wa Kei Sei Jaku (harmony, respect, purity and tranquillity).

Hannah Lovett, an EvCC student who attended the ceremony
recieved a bowl of tea after waiting for 20 minutes. She feels happy
when drinking the tastefull Japanese tea accompanied
by the Japanese sweets. 

She explained that those are the four principles of Chanoyu that formulated by the tea master Sen Rikyu (1522-1591). Harmony is the spirit of being harmonious with people and nature, Respect means to show respect to others, Purity means the state purity of the mind, and Tranquility means peace of mind and appreciation of nature's wealth.

She said that the demonstration tea ceremony today was the basic procedure of Chanoyu, the simplest one. She always recommends the guests to taste the Japanese sweets.

“Before drinking the tea it is necessary to eat the sweet Wagasi (Japanese sweets),” she said.

One of participants, Hannah Lovett, an EvCC student who studies Japanese culture and a tea lover, said that she enjoyed the tea ceremony from beginning till the end.

“The tea ceremony is interesting because we don’t have a lot of ceremonies in the United States, so it’s very different and I also love Kimono, it’s so beautiful,” Lovett said. “The tea process is like precise, almost like dance, you have to know what’s coming next. It’s very interesting,”

If you are interested in learning Japanese language and culture, or want to experience the tea ceremony, update yourself with the  EvCC Japanese club.

Arigato Gozaimasu!

Story by Ratna Wahyuningsih

Drawing Your Life; a Recent YouTube Trend

If you are looking for ways to tell people about your life and don’t want to follow the dry convention of writing an autobiography, making a “Draw My Life” video might be an alternative for you.

“Draw My Life” videos have recently gone viral on YouTube and became a new trend on the site. For those of you who are YouTube geeks, you have probably noticed a lot of YouTubers have been posting their masterpieces of “Draw My Life” videos.

Just as much the same as the exploitable templateDraw Your Life, people describe how they have grown and changed throughout their lives by drawing stick figures. They also portray their childhoods or a particular aspect of life in theses videos, for example their careers and relationships matters.

YouTubers usually speed up the length of the drawing process during the videos. Although most of the “Draw My Life” videos are made up of simple stick figure drawings, YouTubers try to engage viewers’ attention by combining their artwork with entertaining and revealing anecdotes about their journey of becoming the popular sensations they are today on YouTube.

YouTuber Sam Pepper uploaded the first “Draw My Life” video on January 8, 2013. Until now, Pepper’s video has accumulated over 800,000 views.

In his five-minute video, Pepper drew on a whiteboard and narrated his life story starting from the time he was born to when he moved from England to Los Angeles in December 2012.

At the end of the video, he tagged fellow YouTubers Louis Cole and Caspar Lee to complete the task as well, in which both of them completed their “Draw My Life” videos in January 2013.

Check out the 10 best “Draw My Life” videos to know more about some popular YouTubers’ life stories and to see their “masterpiece” artwork. Some of them might be your favorite YouTubers!


Story by Sapphire Chan

Gardener Extraordinaire Ciscoe Morris Visits EvCC

Ciscoe Morris, of “Gardening with Ciscoe” fame, visited EvCC today at 1:00 p.m. in the Gray Wolf plaza as a part of the celebration of Earth Week.

Morris brought excellent gardening advice to students and staff, with a focus on getting rid of garden pests in an environmentally friendly way. He encouraged using various strategies to deal with pests in your garden, including cultural pest control and mechanical pest control.

Ciscoe Morris, outside in the Gray Wolf plaza, explains
how to use environmentally friendly pest control techniques. 

“Cultural pest control means you grow the plants right in the first place,” said Morris. “Soil is the name of the game. If you’ve got great soil, you can do anything.”

Morris suggested ways to test soil to make sure it is good for planting, and suggested that if your soil isn’t good, you should build a berm of good soil to plant on top of.

“The other part about cultural care is, you wanna buy plants that are resistant to pests in our area,” said Morris.

If you buy plants, such as spot-resistant roses, that aren’t affected by pests, then you can avoid using harmful pesticides, suggested Morris. Predatory bugs can also be helpful to get rid of bugs that eat plants.

“Mama nature made the good bugs fast to catch the stupid bugs,” said Morris.

Students, staff, and community members came
to learn gardening techniques from Morris.

He then went on to explain different ways of mechanical pest control that aren’t harmful to the environment or poisonous to animals. One idea to get rid of slugs is to put a half inch to an inch of beer into a container with holes near the top of the lid. Slugs are attracted to the beer, but die when they drink too much.

“You’re asking slugs to stop at happy hour on the way to the restaurant,” exclaimed Morris. “Mechanical pest control is the most fun kind of control because it’s the ‘eek,’ ‘squish,’ and ‘kersplash’ kind.” 

Once the slugs have had too much to drink, Morris suggested pouring the slugs and leftover beer into the soil and burying it. Plant something there and it’ll grow like crazy, he said.

Morris followed up the gardening session with a time for question and answer. 

Participate in tomorrow’s Earth Day event, sustainable art competition judging in the White Horse hall critique space at 1 p.m.

Story by Lily Haight
 

Weekly Sports Roundup, Issue Three

Everett baseball continues its tear by sweeping a four game set against the Bellevue Bulldogs yesterday. The Trojans are ranked number one in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges and are in first place in the NWAACC standings.

Monday night’s game was about as dramatic as a game can get. In the bottom of the seventh and final inning, pinch-hitter Corbin Duffy singled home the winning run in a walk-off finish that was punctuated by Duffy receiving high fives and helmet pats as the Trojans swarmed the field.

Staff writer AJ Hansen took this video of the walk-off single, and yes, that is his guttural “YES” as the wining run crossed the plate. Inside of every grizzled sports writer, there is a fan. Usually our cheering is on the inside.

In Major League news, the Mariners are still horrible. The M’s are an abysmal 8-14 heading into today’s game. The only teams that are worse are the usual suspects: Padres, Cubs, Marlins, Astros and the Blue Jays.

In quirky sports news, New York has three teams, and a possible fourth in the playoffs in two different sports. The Knicks and the Nets are well into their NBA playoff run, and for the first time in seven years, the New York Islanders are in the NHL playoffs, with the New York Rangers trying to squeak into the Stanley Cup run as well.

As a transplanted New Yorker, this is awesome news for the city. As a Seattle fan, I have no idea how it feels to live in a city with three, let alone two, teams in the playoffs at the same time.

Story by Henry Yarsinske Jr.

Local Communities Act to Stop Violence Against Women

Playback singer from India, Sunidhi Chauhan, singing
at the Comcast Arena on Sunday evening.

Comcast Arena came alive with songs, music and dancing on Sunday evening, as rising Pakistani singer Sunidhi Chauhan and Ali Zafar, a rising Bollywood celebrity, took to the stage and delivered a rocking performance in front of an electrifying crowd in Everett, Washington.

The concert was jointly organized by Krazy2Seattle and API Chaya, groups based in Washington, to create awareness on violence against women – a deeply rooted social issue that needs action, needs voices and needs support from local communities.


API Chaya’s Program Manager, Sarah Rizvi, said that her organization is made up of advocates who work directly with women and families that have experienced abuse, and also organizers who work in our communities in order to educate and organize them to support survivors and end violence.

“We provide direct advocacy and supportive services to survivors in crisis and raise awareness of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking in the Asian, South Asian & Pacific Islander communities in Washington state,” said Rizvi.

More than 3000 tickets were expected to be sold out for the event.

“Krazy2Seattle hoped to raise $100,000 for API Chaya to address the issue of violence against women,”  Rizvi said.
At the concert, people were singing, dancing, chanting slogans and building connections within local communities, representing the entire Washington State.

Audience members singing and dancing along with the music. 

“I reckon this a great opportunity for people from diverse communities to help serve this noble cause.” said an audience member who had traveled from Kent.

“There are many working groups which engage local communities in issues relative to social injustice, however, I am observing growing younger people participating in this event to make a difference in their respective communities,” she said.

Besides local participation, people from international communities were also spotted having fun in and out of the concert hall.

Nedhal Ahmed, for example, hailing from Yemen, said, “I have come here to chip in my share to help stop any kind of crime against women.”

A friend of mine told me about this concert. I decided to join him right away, said Naseer from Sana’a. “Some women are denied their fundamental rights. I am here to support suffering women.”

The concert took a flying start with the songs from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and other South-Asian countries. Rakesh Mainai, the runner up in Indian Idol season 5, also played his part in concert.

“I am happy to perform for a social cause. I have sisters, mother, and family like everyone does. I therefore would do whatever it takes to hand women justice and basic rights,” he said.

Susheel, who hails from Fiji Islands, and lives in Everett, said, “Words cannot express my feelings. Although I have come to enjoy; whilst my ticket money would go a long way because it is a step towards eradiation of violence against women.”

Performer Ali Zafar from Pakistan on stage at the Comcast Arena. 

Two leading performing artists Ali Zafar and Sunidhi Chauhan were the key attractions to the concert. Ali Zafar started his career as a singer in Pakistan and later travelled to India. In a very short span of career, he has thrown five hit Bollywood movies including a famous satire ‘Teray Bin-Laden’ translated ‘Without You Laden’ – the one which brought much criticism from critiques.

Sunidhi Chauhan is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi film songs in Bollywood. She has recorded songs for Oriya, Punjabi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bhojpuri, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati and Nepali films (Indian regional languages).

To get assistance against domestic violence, dial following helpline numbers:


Helpline No: (206) 325-0325


Toll Free No: (877) 922 4292


Office: (206) 467 9976


Story by Adnan Ali

Students Learn About Natural Products at Sustainability Fair

EvCC started its celebration of Earth Week with a sustainability vendor fair in Grey Wolf Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

The fair was the first of many events planned for this week in order to promote sustainability. Students were able to learn how sustainable products are better for the earth and for their bodies, such as all natural beauty products, household cleaners, and food.

Students for Environmental Action (SEA) Club gave
information on EvCC's sustainable resources. 

“The chemicals they use, not only do you breathe it in the air, but you also wash it down the drain,” said EvCC alumni Emily Yarsinske about harmful beauty products. “It can kill wildlife, is harmful to our skin, and is just all around bad.”

Turtle McNeill, a vendor at the fair selling all natural beauty products from Gypsy Regimens makes all of her products from natural ingredients like honey, beeswax, and jojoba oil.

“It’s all 100 percent natural. I get the beeswax and honey straight from the beekeeper in Eastern Washington,” said McNeill. “All of the manufacturing processes are sustainable, right down to the reusable paper towels.”

Some of the other vendors featured making sustainable food, making compost out of food waste, using recycled office supplies, and sustainable energy use.

Turtle McNiell sells her all natural beauty products and
crocheted items at various fairs and events in the area. 

EvCC will continue to celebrate Earth Week with a different event each day:

Tuesday, April 23: “Who Killed the Electric Car” movie. 5-8 p.m. in GWH 286.

Wednesday, April 24: Plant Swap, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. GWH Courtyard. Organic Gardening with Ciscoe Morris. 1-2 p.m. in GWH Plaza.
 

Thursday, April 25: Sustainable Art Competition Judging. 1-2 p.m. in the White Horse second floor critique space.

Story by Lily Haight

Faculty Feature: Beth Peterson

Beth Peterson is often found in the theater in
Baker 120, chatting or working with acting students.

A lover of stage fighting, guilty pleasure TV shows, and bringing out confidence in students, drama instructor Beth Peterson has had a passion for theater since she was a child. Many years of acting eventually led Peterson to teaching, something she always knew she would end up doing. 

“I was kind of a bit of a vagabond” said Peterson about her post-college acting career doing Summer Stock and Rep Theater performances. “Those were really exciting times.”

Now, Peterson brings the excitement with her to EvCC. Students taking Peterson’s classes learn by doing. It’s all about playing and creating.

“It’s experiential,” said Peterson about teaching acting. “There’s just a lot of play involved and I don’t think that there’s enough attention paid to playing and the importance of playing. In my sketch classes especially, we get to create and we create in the moment and I think that that’s a very important thing that people need to do.” 

"I always knew that I wanted my 

theater to have an impact on the 

people that I was trying to reach."

Most important in Peterson’s teaching style is her connection with students. She knows how to work with students of all types of acting experience, from the stage-frightened to the skilled-thespian. Part of Peterson’s philosophy is challenging all of her students to grow. 

“I think one of the things that is exciting about having a performance class is that you really see the growth that happens from the beginning of the term to the end,” said Peterson. “I really like being able to see a student who is petrified to go on stage and who is really awkward and just scared to death of putting two sentences together in front of an audience, but at the end of the term have all this confidence and bravado.”

Along with being able to bring out the inner actor in students, Peterson is also never afraid to show her own sparkling personality. She’s known to throw in an accent in normal conversation, sing along to show tunes in her car, and change her outfits based on the latest play she has seen or is directing.

“It’s a calling,” says Peterson about acting. “Recently we had a guest artist come here and one of the things that he said that really rang true was that there are some people that get into theater to find themselves and there are some that get in it to lose themselves. And I think that’s really true. For me it’s always been about finding myself."

Beth Peterson in her natural environment: the stage.

Q&A:

Q: What is your favorite TV show?

A: That’s a hard question, I have a ton of favorite TV shows. If I had to narrow it down I would say my favorite TV show right now is either Game of Thrones or Justified. But I watch so many TV shows.

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: Fudge.

Q: Do you have a favorite place?

A: My favorite place I’ve ever been is London, England.

Q: What’s your favorite outdoor activity?

A: If I have to go outside, probably outdoor theatre. Which is the expected answer.

Q: Favorite music group?

A: I mostly listen to show tunes, so that’s a hard one.

Q: Do you have a favorite play or musical?

A: Right now it’s Les Mis because of Hugh Jackman. That’s in my car CD player, it’s been in my car CD player since I bought it. And I just bought the extended version which is going to replace that one.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: I like all my classes for different reasons. Sketch is always really fun, but I think Intro to Theater. What I like about that is that we explore a lot of different time periods and I really get to expose people to things that they’ve never encountered before and that discovery is really exciting to me.

Q: What’s your favorite color?

A: It used to be purple, but now it’s red.

Q: What is a favorite role that you have played?

A: I have two favorite parts that I have played, one is Rosalind in “As You Like It” and Hannah in “Night of the Iguana.” Those were two plays that I didn’t want to end.

Q: If there was anything that you could be doing what would it be?

A: I want to travel. It’s been an itch of mine and I’ve been trying to make it happen. I want to go to Europe, I want to study theater in different countries.

A day in the life of Beth... 

"It usually involves me going and getting my cat Guido. And forcing him to come inside to eat, because I describe him as my bad boyfriend cat. Its love on his own terms… But yeah, usually I go see if Guido’s at the door and I’ll give him food. Then I drive from Seattle to Everett, I live in Seattle so I have to drive.... listening to Les Mis on the CD in my car which has been playing nonstop in my car since I got it, repeating the songs that include Hugh Jackman several times. And if it’s the confrontation scene I’ll take the part of Javert so that it seems like I’m doing a duet with Hugh Jackman. And then I’ll have a couple of classes, my acting class and then my sketch class. Usually there’s at least one moment of utter hilarity that happens where everyone is laughing hysterically at something someone said or did. Which is a great way to start a day. And then I’ll usually get my cup of tea with honey and cream and then lunch. If I can I try to eat with my colleagues, which is fun. Or I’ll grab something from the cafeteria and eat in Baker with the students. And then we start rehearsal. Then I’ll come home and do my homework, grade, whatever, and then I’ll do my guilty pleasure TV watching. Like tonight’s going to be “Project Runway” and I’ll do this little game where I rate the runway in order. And that’s a typical day.”

Story by Lily Haight