Tea Time by Jared
One of the nice things about Another Anime Convention is the offering of morning tea on day two. This is a nice way to start the morning and for those on a budget, as it is free thanks to Nerd Fit. Everyone sat at the tables either preparing for the day or just trying to wake up as music played and tea was served. If you are not much of a morning person you should hit this little event because it will help get you ready for the very busy second day of con.

Anime and Writing by Jared
After the morning tea ended the writers panel began with a discussion about the ups and downs of being a writer. The panel was made up of anecdotes and stories about putting books together and the pains of trying to get published. The panel felt closer knit than many normal writer panels. There was not much of an audience as this was still a little early on day two, but there were great stories and the guests stayed after the panel to talk with aspiring writers about what they can do to prefect their craft and how to move forward in getting published. Small panels like this are one of the best resources that young writers can use to network.

Hetalia Photoshoot by Jared
One of the must do things for many cosplayers are the cosplay gatherings. Not only do you get to meet different people in your fandom, but it makes it much easier to find the character you want to get a photo with. This time around we made our way to the Hetaila gathering with Hungry (Scarlet) and Austria (Mr. 714) to join in on the fun. The shoot was very organized going by continent then by time period or historical significance. Everyone was very friendly and it was fun joking around and taking pictures with other fans of the silliness that is Hetalia.

Japanese Tea Ceremony by Jared
On the cultural side of the convention we have events like the traditional tea ceremony. It was set up with a small group of people who partook in the simple tradition of enjoying freshly prepared tea and snacks. The hosts talked about the importance of tradition during these ceremonies and the significance of hosting such an event. It was an interesting learning experience and it was a nice shift from the usual running around or bombastic panels we attended this year.

Cultural Approrpriation by Jared
One of the more interesting panels on writing was Cultural Appropriation which went into issues that come up with writing other cultures. It was interesting hearing anecdotes about trying to write realistic American Indian stories and the mixed response the stories received. The audience asked questions and made comments about issues they have faced trying to properly replicate a culture. There was even talk about writing characters who take on the traits of a culture, as many anime fans do during their conventions. There was plenty of food for thought at the panel and it was nice hearing everyone chime in with different comments and concerns.

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