The cherry blossoms are in bloom in Akron and I was invited back to the Sakura festival to teach origami.

Last time around I had been a bit worried about cultural appropriation.  I mean, I’m the caucasianest caucasian around and my culture  – whatever it is – didn’t invent origami.   But, since no one objected to me last time and no one stepped up to push me aside, I was back again.

The event was in downtown Akron at Lock 3 and I got there plenty early in case I got lost.  I did okay getting from the parking deck to the venue with my box of paper and another box of giveaways, but once there I noted a distinct lack of signs.  I wandered around for a bit and stopped to try and call the coordinator.  

She didn’t answer, but as I was hanging up the phone and preparing to wander again someone stopped and asked me for directions to the restroom.  An honest mistake – I had on a nice shirt, tie, and namebadge.  I told him I was lost too, but that I thought I had seen them down the hall and to the left.  He didn’t come storming right back so I assumed I guessed correctly.

I finally found the info table, met the coordinator in person, and saw a friend from work.  I was still plenty early and left my boxes behind to walk around a bit.   And take pictures of the cherry blossoms, naturally.

There was a big crowd, lots of booths, and some folks playing the kodo drums in 80 degree heat.  Impressive.

When I was time to get started I headed back to the workshop area.  And then things started to go sideways.  

With about 15 minutes before I was supposed to start – during the time I should have been setting up – the tea ceremony using the space before me was still going on.  I recognized from last year that the step they were on was right in the middle of the process.

I had two projects planned for each session and it was going to take the entire time.  I couldn’t get set up and also the paper that was supposed to be supplied wasn’t anywhere to be seen.  I went to find the coordinator and maybe have them help hurry things along, but though she got the paper, the tea ceremony was still going.

They were just wrapping up after I was supposed to have started and it took them awhile to clear the tables.  I was finally able to start setting up – well behind schedule – and called people over to the tables. 

And it was a full house.  There were seats for about 30 people and nearly all were full.  The tea ceremony people were still talking as they cleaned up their area and my crowd was chatty as  well.  We also had a crying baby, a harried mom trying to fold 2 sets for her kids, three people that came in very late (even as late as we were), and a woman that brought in her two small dogs.

It was chaos.

I tried to be everywhere at once – helping people along and keeping things moving.  Most of the people got through the first thing we did – a flower – but by that point we were out of time.  I had 15 minutes between sessions to reset the space, but we couldn’t have gotten through anything in that time.  Especially since I had planned on doing the hopping frog. Too many steps for the time we had.

I got some nice thank you’s and most people took some free origami as they left.  I was a little harried and scarfed down a protein bar to keep my energy up. 

The next group started to come in and it ended up only being about 10 people.  The tea ceremony folks left and things settled down.  That second group was focused and engaged – so much so that we did flowers, birds, and butterflies all in the session.  Everyone walked out happy and it was a huge success.  

I reset the room again and the last group that came in had about 12 people, including one later comer.   Not quite as focused, but still had fun.  We made a flower and a frog.

I got a lot of thank you’s again and it was another success.  As they left, I started my own cleanup – far easier than the tea ceremony folks – and was out the door right on schedule.

When I got home I ate a quick meal and then collapsed on the couch.  There was some effort in carrying around the supplies and in trying to be everywhere at once in the workshop area to help people, but mostly it was being “on” for 2 hours.  I like to teach origami and I like the problem solving of figuring out where a fold has gone wrong and getting things on track, but the steady patter and concentration took a toll on my reserves.

Three four things of note:

  1. In between sessions I also went and found the restroom – and it was right where I had thought it was.  So, I guess I wasn’t quite as lost as I thought.
  2. Someone gave me an apple wrapped up in saran wrap.  Apple for the teacher, I guess.
  3. A guy at the second session asked if I knew how to make a dragon.  I said it was too complicated to teach, but there was time to make one.  I think I surprised myself at how quickly I made one for him – we were both impressed.
  4. One of the common steps is to fold points to the middle of the paper.  I described that step as “the points should meet in the middle – just like that song”.  Only one person got the joke and quietly began singing “Middle” by Maren Morris.

So, three sessions of origami instruction for people that attended the Sakura festival in Akron this weekend.  Maybe it will spark some new hobbies for people.  Or, at least, I hope it brightened their days while they learned something new.