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
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