Looks Like I Made It!!

I need to tell you about the lunch yesterday. It was delicious. Juh took us to an out of the way hole in the wall that served the most fabulous plates of tempura (lightly battered and fried veggies and meat). We had soup, salad, rice, and hot tea to go with it. I ate and ate. It was very expensive, very delicious, but they would not let me pay.

WOW!! I SURVIVED THE TWO DAYS WITH THE HOST FAMILY-WATCH ME ROAR!!
Today was an extraordinary day. First of all, I slept fabulously last night. The bed was very hard, but it had the most luscious coverings. I did not know it until this morning, but I slept the night with the window open. It's funny, but the Japanese love open windows. They like air circulating. The schools were so cold, but the windows and doors were still open. The host family and I drove down the road with the windows open. My head was not stopped up this morning, and my back was not hurting. Americans are so used to being comfortable that we're oftentimes our own worst enemy. When I woke up, I just lay there enjoying the fresh air and the warmth of my down covers. I didn't get up all night. In fact--I do not believe I even changed positions.

I finally heard Miyu up, so I decided to get up. Juh was changing her diaper. He blows all the theories and everything I have heard about Japanese men. He is so good with the baby, and it is evident she loves him dearly. She calls him Poppa. He also really warmed my heart today in another way. He hurried and got Miyu ready for the day and went into his computer room and brought me pictures from yesterday that he had printed late last night. He had them in an album and everything. Oh, no!! I was trying to remain so distant and then he said, "Present. Keep. For you," and I melted. Juh is extremely shy. When I told Atsumi that she was lucky, she said Juh does a lot no one knows about. She later asked me was I "lucky with husband." I told her I certainly was, and she said, "Good! Lucky!!" She is a beautiful woman with her high cheekbones and warm smile. We could be great friends if thousands of miles and language didn't separate us.

We were off to Grandmother's coffee shop by 9:15. What a lovely lady she is. I wished a million times that we could sit down with coffee and talk. She had an altar set up at her house for her deceased husband and other relatives. She is also quite pretty, but has never remarried. Her house is traditional Japanese with the thin rolling walls, tatami mats, and cushions to sit on the floor. Its simplicity was beautiful. She served us a wonderful breakfast of hot, strong coffee, thick, crispy bread, a delightful salad, and a boiled egg. They knew I did not like a "real" Japanese breakfast because I told them nothing raw or fishy for me (I guess the raw eggs didn't count).

After we ate, we went back to the house and Atsumi dressed me in the most stunning kimono I have ever seen. I found out later that she is a professional kimono dresser, and that not everyone can do it. We took lots of pictures both inside and outside, and my good friend Juh printed them out for me before we left. It was a great experience.

Before we left again, I gave the family the presents I had brought to them. I didn't want anything from them because they had given enough, but they showered me with all kinds of presents-a fan with a stand, a silk scarf, a picture Grandmother had made, good luck charms that are popular here (homemade by Grandmother), a charm representing my birthday from the Great Buddha, and a doll for Kyleigh. I truly felt inadequate with the giving of my gifts. How much can one family do for a strange American woman?

They asked if I wanted to go to the oldest wooden building in the world. I knew it would be another shrine or temple, but I agreed. We then went to Horyuji Temple. Also on the grounds of the temple is Goju-no-To, which is the oldest five story pagoda in the world. Relics of Buddha are enshrined within the pagodas. There were also gardens and other structures. It ended up being quite a trip. There was also a museum that housed treasures from the worship at the Horyuji Temple. Many of the items dated back to the 7th-8th century. Those were some very old treasures! It was a great sight to behold.

After we finished strolling the temple grounds, we went to Kentucky Fried Chicken (where Manami works) in the mall. I was so glad they wanted to go there. It was great, and then we even shopped a little bit. I told them of something particular that I was looking for, and without saying a word, Juh takes off and we follow. We go to the car and ride for a long time. I had no idea where we were going, but then when we arrived he took me to shops that had what I was looking for. He is so eager to please, as is the entire family. I found the gift!

Miyu finally started really liking me and calling me by name. She'd look back at me and stick out her tongue or make a face. I had an amazing day with my "Gothic" friends. We got in this booth and took wild looking pictures. They bought me a little gift and wrote me a note telling me to please come back to visit. They treated me with so much respect! It made me feel great. Atsumi tries to talk with her bit of broken English. I try hard to understand with my little broken Japanese. The verbal communication was little, but the warm friendship was growing!

The time soon arrived to go back to the hotel. What had started out as a frightening experience, turned into one of the most extraordinary times that I have ever had. I tried to say through Uoo what the weekend had meant to me, but words were inadequate. They walked me back up to my room, and Atsumi and I embraced and cried. I felt like I was leaving my family behind again. They took me in, celebrated me, loved me, fed me, gifted me, and then gave me back. What an experience! I invited them to come to see me in America, and you know, Uoo just might. She has "dreams" in her head, has already passed her exams and been accepted into college for next year. Although she is "gothic," her warm, quiet manner is so charming. I will miss her greatly. Atsumi, Juh and the girls have won my heart. They are so in touch with one another, so settled, so normal. I am glad I saw the good side of a Japanese man. It was indeed an honor and a pleasure to be included as a part of their family for a short period. It is another experience that has yet again shaped and molded me a little differently than I was two days ago. I will not soon forget that lovely family.