Meeting the Fam... Part 2... Not a tease, hodges

Notes first: as I write this I listen once again to Jack Johnson's newest album 'In Between Dreams' While I'm sure I've talked to many about the genius of this album, I must say it again. Wise lyrics. Uplifting, political, romantic, foot-tapping, and sing-alongish. listen. give it a chance. listen twice. become addicted.

So where was I?

Ahh yes, meeting Kiyoe's family. My friend Brian Hodges called me out on this the other day, saying how I continue to tease people with my Blog. I don't aim to tease (to start a story and then stop before it gets really good) it's just that My internet time is scarce, but hey, it' worth the wait ne?

So Kiyoe took me to this ginormous lava flow. It was rather scary actually, the flow had several sharp edges, and one slip anywhere would serve up a healthy helping of cuts. We walked about 1.5 KM then turned back, since there literally was nothing there, except lava rock and the scattered tree. For me though, it was a nice walk.

Our next trip was a drive to the top of another volcano (once i coordinate my brain to get to the internet cafe and bring my photos, they will be posted). It took quite awhile to get there, and i fell asleep many times, but once we arrived we took a nice hike. This hike took us to the top of the ridge, where we saw sevral crater lakes. I might have said this before, but to understand the beauty here I must explain something... Tokyo itself has 15 million people, the metro area has around 25. This being said, there are some nice outdoors areas within an hour and a half train ride of tokyo, but guess what... they are always crowded. Iwate afforded me the opportunity to see nature and not people, something i hadnt done in a long time.

From this mountain we went to the first (of many) onsen. An onsen is a natural hot spring if you dont remember. This was my first summer time onsen though. Please. Someone tell me why, that in the middle of the summer, people go to hot springs? It baffles my mind. I sweat outside, then i go to an onsen, and sweat ten times more.
Idont know... but it was relaxing.

Drum roll.... then we drove to her temple.

As we drove towards her home, i asked many times how i should introduce myself (most of my contact with new japanese people was in class and informal). We practiced several times. It turns out that i not only had to bow, but kneel... yes.... KNEEL. Ive never even bowed! How in the world do i kneel and bow! AND say all this japanese that i'm not really comfortable with yet?!!! ARGGHHH!!!

practicing helped. By the time we reached her home, we had been practicing for about 30 minutes, and i thought i had it down. 'Hajimemashite. Scott desu. Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu (bow here). (this all means, nice to meet you, my name is scott, please find favor with me.

Practicing didnt help. I had worked out the words, but i forgot about intangibles. Kiyoe's father is an old, wise, bald buddhist priest. Meeting such a man, with his feet folded in a meditative way and wearing white robes, threw me for a loop.

My actual meeting went like this. we walked into her home and met her parents in their dining room. I kneeled (clumsily). Hajimamamamamashite.... uhh... scott desu... (bowed here) dozo yoroShiblahbladhuhdgegshiku oneomygosh. I looked like a dumb foreigner stooge. o well, they let me stay.

At Kiyoe's house resides, her mother, father, oldest sister, her husband, and their three kids. The three kids and our crazy exploits, is where our story continues next time.

enjoy the reading, and please come visit!

A Short Rant

The rant is over. there is no need for my frustrations to posted anymore. Enjoy the new posts (coming tomorrow!)

Meeting the fam... part 1

Where was I? Ahh yes... the post office. Through the dense fog, rain, and language barrier I hiked blind for 30 minutes to finally find the post ofice at the top of the mountain. I sent three post cards to the only three addresses i knew off the top of my head, so no one should be offended (tthey were my parents, my grandfather, and dan's family) After I got back to the shack where i last saw kiyoe, she told me that she wanted to go down... now. I wasnt in the state of mind to disagree. Here's something that many mountain hikers should already know. Going down a mountain is not fun. While going up takes 6 hours and burns the knees, the descent takes 3 hours and kills the knees, feet, hands, and the tender spots between the legs (from chaffing and accidentally doing the splits from falling). As I recall, kiyoe fell twice, and i found myself holding my groin area on numerous occasions. After two hours descending, thefirst views were offered, and believe me, i almost wanted to go back up again to view them from the top. (alas, the top was cloudy the ENTIRE time we climbed and descended, so i couldnt do that) The lakes and valleys were amazing, as well as finally seeing the slope we had climbed the night before. The best part of the new view was seeing what we had done. never, and i mean never, would i have thought we could have climbed that monster if i had seen what we were up against. Ignorance is bliss.
Now that its all over, would i do it again? umm.... maybe. yeah... maybe. That view was one of a kind, and i didnt even really see it, i wouldnt mind trying to see it again. but i feel that i've already done it, and the meteorlogical fact that the mountain rarely offers those views anyway makes it doubtful, so now to my next adventure.... meeting Kiyoe's traditional Japanese parents...

How traditional? how's this... here's a little background... New Years time in Japan is the most important time of the year, a time where families gather from all across the country to celebrate family and pray at the local temple or shrine. Last december, when everyone was making plans to leave, I asked kiyoe what her family did during the new year.

k:'We stay at home'.

s:'Yes, I know, but don't you celebrate by going to a temple or shrine?'

k:'Well... I go home'

s:'So, your family doesnt go to any temple?

k:'my home is a temple'

s:'Yes, I've heard that 'My home is my temple' before. We say it in English also!'

k:'No no... my home IS A TEMPLE. My dad is a Buddhist Rector.'

s:'Uhhh....'

Thus began a new respect and a new understanding of my then new friend. Since that day i have wanted to see this temple, and meet kiyoes family, and two weeks ago i got the chance.

Ninohe is in the far north part of the main island of Japan. Part of the second largest prefecture in the country, it was Far enough away from tokyo that my students laughed and ask why i was going there. little do they know. Ninohe was gorgeous. I arrived by night bus early thursday morning, and was picked up by CAR by kiyoe shortly thereafter. (my first time in a car that wasnt a taxi in japan)

We quickly proceeded to the huge lava flow near mount iwate...

thus endeth part 1