Mishima
01 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment
in Windy/ウィンデイー
Natural spring water has trickled and flowed from Mount Fuji into the waterways of Mishima for hundreds of years. In the past the water was used by the public for washing and cooking, but today it provides a peaceful escape within the city.
The park had a mini-zoo on the grounds. This monkey is famous for getting loose and biting 200 people!
I have been trying to capture the size of the spiders that are everywhere here. No one seems to mind them, apparently they are harmless, but they always catch my eye.
In the afternoon we had an hour and a half to shop at a large mall. I was in desperate need of a hair trim so with the help of Sari, our translator, I found a spot, communicated what I wanted and enjoyed an hour of relaxation in the salon chair. My favorite part was the hair-washing machine.
In the evening I moved to my next host family. Ms. Natsuko Kobayashi and her seven year old daughter picked me up and brought me home. Like most Japanese, Kobayashi learned to read and write English in school but never practiced speaking or hearing the language. Luckily, by week three I understand how Japanese households generally work and I have picked up enough words that we are able to communicate without issue.
Amy, or Amychan as I call her, grabbed my hand within minutes of meeting me and didn’t let go. She speaks to me in Japanese as if I am fluent and I feel so bad when I see her face staring up at me, confused that I don’t know how to answer. Through pointing and her mother’s help we began teaching one another vocabulary and communicating. Amychan could be my best Japanese sensei yet!
