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| A Season for Gratitude Begins in the Betsuin Kitchen for PBA: a special Thanksgiving issue of the What's New at PBA
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| Dear Readers of the What's New, |
| There’s a moment during every PBA Thanksgiving meal prep when I worry we’ll not have the meal prepared on time. This year, that moment crept in around 11:15 a.m. The turkeys were pulled but the ham was still roasting. We were just finishing the stuffing, still assembling the green bean casserole, and hadn’t started the syrup for the candied yams or the roux for the gravy. Mealtime was set for half past noon. I surveyed the kitchen and wondered aloud, “Are we going to make it?” |
| Every year, PBA observes Thanksgiving at the school by enjoying a feast we prepare together. Advisors assume responsibility for dishes and courses: Bruch leading desserts, Curry on sweet potatoes, Heffernan mashed potatoes, Hitchcock stuffing, Mellein salads, and Otake guacamole and green bean casserole. (Don’t ask me how guacamole made it in the menu because I don’t rightly know.) Ms. Blanche Yarnell and I take on the |
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| ham and turkey. But it all comes together with the support of many hands. Families bring in their favorite |
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| desserts and sides. Waves of students pass through the kitchen, and when they aren’t working the space, they attend classes, write kansha cards (kansha cards express gratitude to friends and teachers and are a long-time holiday season tradition at PBA), and paint ornaments. This year we added bingo and a pumpkin pie eating contest. |
| The pie contest was prior to the meal, but no worry, it was just a slice. I like to think, however, about the unseen hands that make possible our coming together. One of the things I appreciate most about Buddhism is its emphasis on the countless causes and |
| conditions that make our lives possible. When I arrived at the Betsuin temple campus before dawn to prep the turkeys and get them in the oven, I greeted a crew of police officers keeping watch to keep the campus safe; I greeted Mr. Elmer who disarmed the alarms and unlocked the kitchen. Gratitude for them. Not to mention the farmers, factory workers, truckers, sailors, dock workers, and clerks who bring the food to us. Not to mention the plants and animals giving their lives to nourish us. What a wonder the five nutmeg seeds I purchased from Mercado de la Raza on Beretania, a quarter teaspoon enough to flavor the syrup for the yams. And a wonder as well the faces of the students and teachers enjoying a meal together with gratitude. |
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| To all of you at home, PBA expresses our gratitude for your careful readership and your continuing support of our beloved school. You make our lives possible and meaningful. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with merriment, family, and very yummy food! |
| Warmly, Josh Hernandez Morse |
| PBA’s Taiko Performance of Thanks at 15 Craigside |
| Hyaku Sen Ki Kai performed last week at the Oahu retirement home 15 Craigside. This location is home to many dedicated temple and PBA supporters, and is conveniently located only five minutes away from the school campus. “It was an honor to play for this crowd of people who have loved PBA and its values for so many years,” said junior Leilani Chang. “I could tell that we really brightened their day!” |
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| After the performance was over, the retirement home residents rushed to thank the ten students and Sensei Jay Toyofuku. The residents recently started their own 15 Craigside taiko group, where they learn different rhythms and meet twice each month. “They were impressed to know that Taiko is a mandatory class for all freshmen at PBA," said Advancement Director Megan Lee. "Those in the 15 Craigside taiko group look forward to one day performing with PBA students in a joint concert.” |
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| With Thanksgiving around the corner, the performance was the perfect way to give thanks to PBA supporters who unable to attend the most recent Taiko Festival and Lighting Our Way Banquet. The students of Hyaku Sen Ki Kai were happy to meet an enthusiastic group of supporters at the retirement home. "That's got to be one of the best audiences we've played for!" marveled senior performer Chihiro Okawa. |
| Student Activity |
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1754 Lusitana Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
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