For my final JanTerm at Westminster, I enrolled in the Raku Ceramics course, which combines hands-on artmaking with cultural study. The class is taught by ceramics teacher Jen Marie Wentzel, civic engagement coordinator Emily Horne, and Chinese teacher Xuefei Sun, and it introduces students to Japanese culture, pottery techniques, and philosophical traditions connected to Buddhism and the Japanese tea ceremony.

Throughout the course, we learned about the process of creating ceramic pieces such as chawans, or tea bowls, while also examining the cultural and spiritual ideas behind them. One experience that stood out took place at Dharma Jewel Monastery in Atlanta, Georgia, where monks guided us through a meditation exercise focused on breathing and mindfulness. Attempting to clear my mind during the session proved challenging and gave me a deeper respect for meditation as a practice. The class also explored Japanese culture through food. During a visit to Matcha Cafe Maiko, students sampled desserts made with matcha, including soft serve, lattes, and shaved ice with sweetened condensed milk. The visit offered another way to understand how tradition continues to influence modern cultural spaces.

The course culminated on Tuesday, Jan. 20, when the class participated in a tea ceremony guided by a mentor from Georgia Tech. Using the chawans we created over the previous two weeks, we prepared and drank matcha while surrounded by our own ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. As students complete their final projects, which include creating a video and activity to teach a concept from the course, the experience feels both complete and meaningful. It is undeniable that every student in this year’s Raku Ceramics & the Japanese Tea Ceremony: Clay, Fire, Water are wishing for another week of JanTerm!