Of Ryokan, Karaoke, and Happy Cats
Well, I write this sitting back at my desk in the Akasaka Prince Hotel on the 21 st floor looking over the Tokyo skyline at night. The last 48 hours have been both relaxing and fun as we have begun to wrap up our Japanese journey. Tomorrow we spend the day reporting to all the other groups about our incredible stay in Itabashi. We are going to a David Letterman-style presentation of the top 10 things that made Itabashi special to us all while wearing our yukata and jimbei outfits given to us by Katsue.
When last I left my faithful readers (I hope you have been faithful), we had gone to the city ward offices to an opening of a Mongolian exhibition of work as a Itabashi sister city project. We were recoginzed by the mayorsan for our presence at the opening. It was a wonderful experience and we got to meet the artist who recorded everyday images of Mongolia through the eyes of his camera. After hearing speeches and traditional Mongolian music and viewing the images, we were off to a PTA meeting.
Like all our other public events, it began with a welcome, followed by discussion. Several PTA members from the schools we visited were there for a panel discussion to help us better understand their role in the schools. We found many similarities and some differences. Membership in PTA is mandatory and they have high participation. Unlike American schools, their focus is not on raising extra funds for their campuses. That comes from dues charged to each family on a monthly basis throughout the school year. Interesting. The mayorsan came to say "goodbye" to us in the rain! He also wore a silver dove pin given to him by a JFMFer in our group that had come from Israel and was passed in peace from Israel, to America and now onto Japan. Toeshi, our interpreter is also telling us bye ---- we will truly miss Itabashi and Toeshi!
Back on the bus ---- goodbye to Itabashi------ and onto the Hakone valley and our ryokan! We were driven through the valley and up and down the mountains to see the scenery. This involved one stop at a Japanese truck stop, juice and sandwiches on the bus for lunch and a fog enclosed park where we literally could not see much of anything. No Mount Fuji views for us. Oh well, hopefully next time (Yes, I want to come back to Japan.)
Finally, we arrived at our ryokan (check the link on the sidebar for a glimpse!)
It was beautiful! The rooms are traditional Japanese with several people staying in a room. The guys split up and Bobby and I ended up as roomies. Upon getting in our room, we were "sized" for yukata and green tea was made for us. Service with a smile! Ahhhhhhhhh! Next, three of us men, yukated up and headed out for the public baths. The outdoor baths were beautiful set amid small gardens. You can check out the link to the public bath houses in Japan for the other details and onsen rules. We did it just like the Japanese and experienced the onsen a total of four times during our stay. Ladies, I now know the attraction to a spa and you are SOOOOOOOOOOO right about pampering yourself. you have to fill in the blanks for the onsen episode. What happens in Japan, stays in Japan! Kidding.
Our last dinner as a small group was traditional Japanese style.
We ate several things we had already experienced and some that were new including the tiny crab that was eaten shell and all. Bobby named him Sebastian (from The Little Mermaid). Yes, campers, you read right, shell and all. I did it and it wasn't bad. This meal lasted quite a while and then we went back to the onsen til late that night.
5:45 am and we were up and out to the onsen for one last soak before our traditional Japanese breakfast. Sweet eggs, miso soup, salad, tofu, etc... you know the rest. After a short walk in the garden and seeing the waterfalls, it was back on the bus to the Akasaka Prince Hotel and the reassemblage of the original 200 teachers. Mommasan, we're home!!!!!
Since we arrived very early due to the least distance traveled, we dropped our bags in the lobby and we back out for, you guessed it temple hopping and shopping. We went to one of the biggest temples in Tokyo proper, Zojoji Temple in Shibako-en. Behind this temple is the Tokyo Tower (Eiffel tower replica). Check it out. Then it was onto Meijijingumae for shopping. Got some great deals including (drum roll please), Happy Cats! These are a sign of good luck and fortune throughout Japan. Check my Happy Cat herd out. NIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
We had to be back at the hotel by 4 pm to "practice" our group presentation for tomorrow and then there was some downtime. For our last night free, we went to dinner close to the hotel and went to karaoke!
In Japan, this involves getting a small room for an hour. It comes with two mikes, tamborines, marachas and plenty of pre-programmed tunes. Our Happy Cats were optional, but they participated. We were AWESOME singers of course. No really. Quit laughing!!!!!! It wasn't that funny.
To round out our evening, Bobby (our Pachinko sinsay) took us around to corner to try Pachinko. OK, this is the loudest place in Japan hands down. You pay money to try and get some little metal balls which you have almost no control over, into a hole so the machine plays really loud music. I don't get the attraction, but folks, there are pachinko parlors on practically every street corner. I kid you not!
However, there was tragedy in our group tonight, Bobby killed his Happy Cat!!!! He ruthlessly fell to the floor saving his knees, legs, body etc... and sacrificing his Happy Cat that had participated in karaoke soooooo well. Poor Happy Cat ----- he is now sad, brainless cat. Here is grief stricken Bobby.
When last I left my faithful readers (I hope you have been faithful), we had gone to the city ward offices to an opening of a Mongolian exhibition of work as a Itabashi sister city project. We were recoginzed by the mayorsan for our presence at the opening. It was a wonderful experience and we got to meet the artist who recorded everyday images of Mongolia through the eyes of his camera. After hearing speeches and traditional Mongolian music and viewing the images, we were off to a PTA meeting.
Like all our other public events, it began with a welcome, followed by discussion. Several PTA members from the schools we visited were there for a panel discussion to help us better understand their role in the schools. We found many similarities and some differences. Membership in PTA is mandatory and they have high participation. Unlike American schools, their focus is not on raising extra funds for their campuses. That comes from dues charged to each family on a monthly basis throughout the school year. Interesting. The mayorsan came to say "goodbye" to us in the rain! He also wore a silver dove pin given to him by a JFMFer in our group that had come from Israel and was passed in peace from Israel, to America and now onto Japan. Toeshi, our interpreter is also telling us bye ---- we will truly miss Itabashi and Toeshi!
Back on the bus ---- goodbye to Itabashi------ and onto the Hakone valley and our ryokan! We were driven through the valley and up and down the mountains to see the scenery. This involved one stop at a Japanese truck stop, juice and sandwiches on the bus for lunch and a fog enclosed park where we literally could not see much of anything. No Mount Fuji views for us. Oh well, hopefully next time (Yes, I want to come back to Japan.)
Finally, we arrived at our ryokan (check the link on the sidebar for a glimpse!)
It was beautiful! The rooms are traditional Japanese with several people staying in a room. The guys split up and Bobby and I ended up as roomies. Upon getting in our room, we were "sized" for yukata and green tea was made for us. Service with a smile! Ahhhhhhhhh! Next, three of us men, yukated up and headed out for the public baths. The outdoor baths were beautiful set amid small gardens. You can check out the link to the public bath houses in Japan for the other details and onsen rules. We did it just like the Japanese and experienced the onsen a total of four times during our stay. Ladies, I now know the attraction to a spa and you are SOOOOOOOOOOO right about pampering yourself. you have to fill in the blanks for the onsen episode. What happens in Japan, stays in Japan! Kidding.
Our last dinner as a small group was traditional Japanese style.
We ate several things we had already experienced and some that were new including the tiny crab that was eaten shell and all. Bobby named him Sebastian (from The Little Mermaid). Yes, campers, you read right, shell and all. I did it and it wasn't bad. This meal lasted quite a while and then we went back to the onsen til late that night.5:45 am and we were up and out to the onsen for one last soak before our traditional Japanese breakfast. Sweet eggs, miso soup, salad, tofu, etc... you know the rest. After a short walk in the garden and seeing the waterfalls, it was back on the bus to the Akasaka Prince Hotel and the reassemblage of the original 200 teachers. Mommasan, we're home!!!!!
Since we arrived very early due to the least distance traveled, we dropped our bags in the lobby and we back out for, you guessed it temple hopping and shopping. We went to one of the biggest temples in Tokyo proper, Zojoji Temple in Shibako-en. Behind this temple is the Tokyo Tower (Eiffel tower replica). Check it out. Then it was onto Meijijingumae for shopping. Got some great deals including (drum roll please), Happy Cats! These are a sign of good luck and fortune throughout Japan. Check my Happy Cat herd out. NIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
We had to be back at the hotel by 4 pm to "practice" our group presentation for tomorrow and then there was some downtime. For our last night free, we went to dinner close to the hotel and went to karaoke!
In Japan, this involves getting a small room for an hour. It comes with two mikes, tamborines, marachas and plenty of pre-programmed tunes. Our Happy Cats were optional, but they participated. We were AWESOME singers of course. No really. Quit laughing!!!!!! It wasn't that funny.To round out our evening, Bobby (our Pachinko sinsay) took us around to corner to try Pachinko. OK, this is the loudest place in Japan hands down. You pay money to try and get some little metal balls which you have almost no control over, into a hole so the machine plays really loud music. I don't get the attraction, but folks, there are pachinko parlors on practically every street corner. I kid you not!
However, there was tragedy in our group tonight, Bobby killed his Happy Cat!!!! He ruthlessly fell to the floor saving his knees, legs, body etc... and sacrificing his Happy Cat that had participated in karaoke soooooo well. Poor Happy Cat ----- he is now sad, brainless cat. Here is grief stricken Bobby.
Well, all joking aside, we are getting down to the end. I am ready to go home and see my family, friends, church community etc....., but at the same time, I will really miss the Itabashi group, especially Bobby, Pam, Maria and Kent. We have had a exceptional life experience and I think going home is going to be a real readjustment for us. Being in Japan for so long, many things have taken on a normalcy that may make home odd for a while. But it is back to the real world of taking care of our houses, making our meals, cleaning dishes and being "regular' again. I will work hard not to be the annoying Japan crazy teacher freak. But know, this has been a life experience that has changed how I view the world and the people in it. It has opened my eyes to the wastefulness of our country and the squandering of its resources especially. Most of all it has widen my perspective of the world and had me form connections with another culture and society. That is what Senator Fulbright dreamed of so many years ago. Read my last few entries as things wind down and head towards America and Austin/Round Rock/Leander, Texas.
Ohayo,
Tim-
posted by Tim Lowke at 6:04 AM
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