I'm loving my time in Kasugai, Japan, staying with my friend Kana and her parents (Dad Shin and Mom Yoshiko). The travel was actually pretty good, considering it involved a 12-hour plane ride. One of the ladies I sat next to was a teacher on her way back to - ready for this? - Indonesia. She teaches at a Christian school in Jakarta, is directing their musical (The Wizard of Oz), and is involved with an orphanage there. Coral was such a blessing and an answer to prayer! She shared with me about several of her experiences (She's taught there for 9 years), and gave me a lot of information about the people and culture and what to expect. It was a joy to talk with her! When I wasn't talking with Coral, I was sleeping or journaling. I made my connecting flight to Nagoya with virtually no problems, and arrived a little early. Immigration and customs were fine, and Kana was waiting for me at the airport. I had been worried that I wouldn't recognize her, but I did instantly. It was so good to see her again...it's been almost 4 years since we last saw each other. We'd always said that we'd see each other again someday, but I wasn't sure that would actually happen. God is good and it did!
I've been treated like a princess while I've been here! Her parents even moved their bedroom to upstairs for this week so that I'll have more privacy downstairs. They live in a traditional Japanese-style house, complete with the paper walls on sliding doors. They have a pair of slippers for me to wear in the hallways and kitchen, but I have to take them off when I go into the living room or upstairs or my bedroom. They also have "for Holly" labels all over the house (like which light switch is for my room, on a toothbrush they had for me), and they have English labels of several items in the house. I was treated to an amazing traditional Japanese breakfast: 1 soup with 2 different kinds of tofu (that was my favorite), 1 soup with tofu and some sort of fish (in the shape of a hollow cylinder), rice, seafish (not bad), ginger, pickles, pickled plum, and tea. Yoshiko (Kana's mom) took me to a garden this afternoon where I saw lots of beautiful flowers and some fun animals (mostly birds). When we got back, I participated in a very informal Japanese green tea ceremony. Yoshiko showed me how to mix the tea, and then helped me to do it myself. We also had a traditional Japanese sweet - a sweetened rice cake with a small red bean paste on the outside. It was really good, actually! Yoshiko sat down with me and helped me label all my pictures so that I have the correct Japanese names for things, so eventually I'll tell you what it was actually called. (That's on my computer and I have to use Kana's for the internet.) We had a delicious stew for supper (corn, onions, pork, and broccoli stems), along with raw broccoli and rice and tea. I also watched the Japanese news - I was able to listen in English.
The weather is great - it feels like spring! I was out with a sweatshirt and light jacket and was fine. I showed Yoshiko some pictures of the snow in ND, and she just winced. ;) I was surprised to see a Big Boy here, but not as surprised to see McDonald's, 7-11, and KFC. They drive on the left side of the road here, and their stoplights are horizontal. My bed is a mat on the floor, and there are no chairs except for at the kitchen table. I'm really enjoying the heated toilet seat and the kiatsu - a low table with an electronic heat source underneath and blankets around the edges so you can sit with your legs underneath and stay warm and cozy. I'm struggling a little bit to use the automated shower, but I'm more luck with the automated toilet (although I haven't tried the "wash your bottom" feature yet).
It's so surreal that I'm here, but I'm loving every minute of it and am doing my best to soak it all in and document as much as I can. I'll try to get some pictures posted soon, but it's a process since I can't use my computer. Tomorrow Kana, Shin, and Yoshiko all have to work, so I'll have the day to myself. I'm hoping to make it to the 100 yen ($1) store to find some souvenirs, and walk around the neighborhood a bit - Yoshiko has a map with explanations for me. She also gave me a map of their house with a highlighted area where I can wear my slippers. ;) Hopefully I'll be able to give another update tomorrow.
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