April Newsletter: Cherry Blossom Festival

Image by Joe from Pixabay

Welcome to the April issue of the International Neighbors Newsletter!

We are so excited to celebrate the beginning of Spring with a very special IN Day: Cherry Blossom Festival coming up on Thursday, April 17, from 1 to 2:30 pm.

A committee formed of Japanese members has been preparing for this event for months! Expect great Japanese food, tea tasting, ladies in kimonos and the opportunity to view a performance of a tea ceremony. 

Cherry blossoms, or sakura, hold deep cultural significance in Japan. They symbolize the transient nature of life, as their delicate blossoms last only a short time before falling.

This idea is tied to the Buddhist concept of mono no aware, an appreciation for the impermanence of things. Cherry blossoms also represent renewal and new beginnings, as they bloom in early spring, coinciding with the start of the Japanese school and fiscal year in April.

Spring and cherry blossoms' significance is reflected in Japanese cuisine in a variety of seasonal ingredients like, for example, bamboo shoots, nanohana (rapeseed blossoms), or sakura ebi (small cherry shrimp) all of which appear in spring dishes. Cherry blossoms themselves are used in food and beverages. These culinary traditions highlight Japan’s deep connection to nature and the appreciation of seasonal beauty.

One of the best ways to give International Neighbors a glimpse into Japanese culture might be with a tea ceremony. The Japanese tea ceremony is a traditional practice of preparing and serving matcha (powdered green tea) with a focus on hospitality, harmony, and mindfulness. During our April Cherry Blossom Festival, members will be able to view the performance and try the tea, but as the name suggests, there is much more to the tea ceremony than just making tea. Shirley gives readers an idea of what to expect in “Japanese Tea Ceremony”

How better to welcome Spring and appreciate its beauty than by walking around parks in town? Melissa invites us all to join the Thursday Hiking Group.

April IN Day is not the only event this month. Mark your calendar for other fun events coming up:

April 23: Wine Tasting Pop-up! Free wine tasting + friendly people = great time!

April 25: Townies Happy Hour. Come dancing with us!

And then, on May 22, we have our 67th Annual Membership Meeting & Lunch. Reserve your seat and buy your ticket now!

Lastly, we are always working to improve and update all aspects of International Neighbors. Four years ago we changed our website and this summer we will start consolidating our membership list under one platform. By Fall, all our communications will go through this one platform, so we need you to be registered on our website. If you have registered on our website on or after 2021, you are all set. For those who still haven’t done that, this is the time to do it. Please read the explanation of what is going to happen in “Important Update: Register Now on Our Website!” 

See you on April 17!