Golden Freakin' Week

Well, my Golden Week holidays finished up early this week, and I have to say, they were quite enjoyable indeed. Earlier in April, I took an opportunity that was made available to students from three Universities (ICU, Asia University, and Aoyama) to do a 3-day, 2-night homestay in Takahagi City, in Ibaraki Prefecture, and I must say I had perhaps one of the best times of my life.

We left on May 3rd and headed north of the Tokyo Metropolis and into the heart of the Japanese coastal country. What was meant to take only three hours ended up taking five as traffic was very fierce, what with everyone else heading the fuck out of dodge for their holidays as well. During the drive, we received a family biography:

The Ono Family (Yes, Ono as in Yoko Ono):

Ono Shinobu (小野　忍） - Father - Civil Servant with a love of horsemanship.
Ono Mikako （小野　美香子）- Mother - Kindergarten Teacher who has an awesome garden.
Ono Taichi （小野　太一）- Son - College student who fishes.
Ono Manabu （小野　学）- Son - High school student, loves soccer and wants to be a fashion designer.
Ono Megumi （小野　愛）- Daughter - Junior High School student, loves cooking and the manga "Kuroshitsuji"
Ono Hitomi （小野　瞳）- Daughter - Primary school student, plays the piano, very energetic.

A fairly full family, they didn't even mention Grandpa and Grandma. However, before meeting the Family Ono, me and the other 24 students who went on this trip were paraded through Takahagi city (more or less) and were able to take part in quite a few Japanese cultural arts (as well as being stuffed full of delicious, delicious Japanese food, num num)

We were taken to a cultural art center where we were treated to the lovely strains of "Sakura, Sakura" (a traditional Japanese folksong) played on a series of kotos and accompanied by a shinobue. We were then split into two groups to try out both of the arts they had to offer us.

I decided to participate in the tea ceremony first, and soon discovered that a person with knees like mine should never, ever, ever, ever sit in seiza for more than five minutes. Ever. My legs burned for the rest of the evening and I generally felt like crap after that. After partaking of the delicious, delicious green tea and the traditional sweets served with it, I limped outside to take some photos of the surroundings and then was off to try my hand at the koto.

For all you musicians out there, the note notation for the koto is unlike anything you have ever seen, and the same can be applied to all Japanese instruments. It's just not like what we're used to with staff bars, treble clefs and bass clef. It truly is something all its own.

After that, it was time to go to the city center, where we would again be paraded in front of a bunch of strangers, and then paired off with our families so we could get to know each other. Mother Makiko was especially interested in learning what I liked, disliked, favorite foods, hobbies, interests, etc whereas the naturally inquisitive Hitomi was bouncy and pretty much dragging me everywhere behind her, much to Megumi's chagrin. Father Shinobu didn't say much (and never really did, go Japanese masculine stoicism!), but he was a generally agreeable man with a sense of humor. Not cold, but not Mr. Happy like Z's father was.

After all was said and done (as well as a massive game of Jan-Ken-Pon, or Rock-Paper-Scissors, and us international kids having to sing something for everyone, poorly) we headed back to our hotel for a night before we were sent off with our parents for the evening.

The next day, we were all picked up by our hosts families and brought home to unwind and enjoy a quick lunch of Soba and Tempura. After which, I was taken to a museum just up the street from their house which also doubles as a crafting trade school for Tatami. I'll say this, after seeing all that can be done with tatami, I really want to have tatami floor mats. Like seriously. It's awesome.

After that, it was up the coast and to the cliffs to see a few historic sites where famous authors wrote from halls overlooking the cliffs. The rock faces were absolutely gorgeous and I didn't want to leave. I love oceans so much, and it was so stunningly beautiful...there are no words for it. Prior to arriving at the cliffs, we stopped to watch a sacred boat carrying an o-mikoshi (portable Shinto shrine which houses a kami) into the water, to bless the bay for all the fishermen in hopes of getting good catches. That was very, very cool.

Took another break back at home before the last few stops of the night. Mama Mikako knew I like shrines and temples and made it a point to bring me to Takahagi's Zen Buddhist temple, Kyudaiji. A new construct off to the side near the graveyard had went up, to honor the former head priest who had passed away recently due to cancer. The priest was Mama Mikako's father, who was very respected in the community. I was introduced to her brother, and was given quite a decent amount of literature about Za-Zen, for which I was grateful.

After that, we picked up meat and veggies to make dinner, and while Mama and Papa were cooking, me, Hitomi, Megumi, and Manabu all hung out in the tatami room playing video games on our DS (haha! Mario Kart!) and having a generally fun time. We then had Shabu-Shabu for dinner, and all I can say is "OM NOM NOM NOM".

Then it was bath time, and it Hitomi wouldn't take one without me. She clung to me the entire time I was there, and was literally my little sister in every sense of the word. The bath was nice and relaxing and then, at around 10pm, we pulled out our futons and snuggled in for sleep (because she insisted on sleeping in the same room.)

Next morning, up bright and early to get dressed and eat breakfast, we were off yet again! This time, it was to pick strawberries! However, it wasn't pick strawberries and bring them back with you, oh no. This was an all-you-can-eat strawberry fest, and considering how expensive strawberries are in Japan generally, I ate until my stomach exploded from strawberry goodness. Ugh. I'd do it again. So sweet and delicious. I need to figure out which species it is they have here because Japanese strawberries are so much more sweeter and less tangy than Michigan strawberries.

Time was running out, as we had to be back at the City Center at 2pm for the wrap up and trip back home, so we decided to head up to Mt. Akiyama for a nice, leisurely nature drive, and god...I love mountains. I love trees, I love natural waterfalls, and they had all of that there. It was unbelievably gorgeous. I can't stop thinking about it. While we were up there, we also drank some fresh mountain mineral water. Here's the thing about Japan: they actually have water spigots dotting the mountain roads where one can stop and fill up bottles of the natural spring water. You have never tasted anything so pure until you have drank from that spigot, my god.

A stop for lunch and then a return to the City Center, we had to say our goodbyes.

For having only known them for three days, I really became close to my host mom and sisters. Mom emails me everyday and I need to remember to send Himi-chan a birthday card as she's turning 12 in about two weeks. I cried a lot when I had to get on the bus to go back home. I miss them so much and want to go back!

When I returned to Tokyo, I was still saddened, but sure enough, there were emails from Mama on my phone waiting for me to cheer me up. I will definitely be staying in contact with them, and who knows, maybe someday Megumi or Hitomi will study abroad in the states and I can see them again before to long :)