Travel Day and Local Night Out
31 Oct 2010 3 Comments
in Windy/ウィンデイー
I really wasn’t ready to leave the Akiyama family today. Then, this morning as I loaded my suitcases into the bus the girls handed me good bye letters they wrote and pictures they drew or their family that included me. My heart melted.
So we were on the road again, to Mishima City. We were looking forward to a free afternoon of roaming the city but there were warnings of a typhoon coming straight for us so we would need to stay inside. We ran down to a 7 Eleven a couple blocks away for snacks. The 7 Elevens here are not like the ones at home! There is an amazing selection of hot pork buns, octopus, rice balls, noodles, etc. I always look forward to stopping in!
Speaking of convenince, I have to mention the vending machines - they are EVERYWHERE! Every block or so there is a vending machine with things you can’t find in the US.
I have also seen a Beer and ‘Cocktail Partner’ machine (no ID required) and hot dogs & french fries available 24 hours a day from a machine!
We brought our convenience store treasures and had a much-needed group night with mixed drinks and munchies. After the risk of a typhoon had past we ventured out to a spot where we could enjoy some Kirin or Whiskey/Water hi balls with the locals. And we hit the jack pot!
We found a little place packed with locals who gave us an incredibly warm welcome. Within minutes of introducing ourselves to the bar staff we were served food and the bartender shoved a cell phone in our faces, “My son, New York” she said. She had called him so we could talk to her son who spoke English and was at school in New York. I pulled our new friends, young and old onto the dance floor; we belted out karaoke and promised to come back the following night
Unfortunately I can’t go that big two nights in a row, but it was definitely a night to remember!
Last full day in Yamanashi
31 Oct 2010 1 Comment
in Windy/ウィンデイー
It was fun and delicious but I looked forward to going to my home stay at day’s end. The girls and Kiyoko surprised me with a gift bag full of thoughtful presents, not only for me but also for Joe, my sister and mom. Afterwards we sat at the dining room table and Kiyoko taught us Origami that her mother taught her as a girl. I couldn’t help but think that it was our last night together.
Relaxing day with the family
28 Oct 2010 5 Comments
in Windy/ウィンデイー
I had a very relaxing morning with Kyoko - she brought me to a trendy salon that is owned by a friend of hers so that I could get a manicure - Japanese style! Nail art is very big here and I told my manicurist to do what she wanted, afterall, she is the expert!
Busy busy!
27 Oct 2010 2 Comments
in Windy/ウィンデイー
What a day!
We were at Yamanashi City Hall first thing, to meet the Mayor. With the help of a translator we exchanged welcoming and appreciative words to one another and exchanged gifts we brought from home. Because Yamanashi is known for their grapes and wineries we had a commonality that made us feel more at home.
Next, our translator, Toshi, accompanied us to the Yamanashi Prefectural Fruit Park, just several minutes from City Hall.
The view from the park was beautiful, apparently it is a popular place for people to visit from Tokyo, which is just 90 minutes away
We piled into our van and drove to Nezu Memorial Hall to view the grounds and participate in a Tea Ceremony.
We then attended the weekly Yamanashi Rotary Club meeting. They did there best to make us feel at home by singing the Star Spangled Banner and serving us meatloaf, pasta and homestyle french fries (with green tea and rice). It is interesting to see what parts of our presentations trigger laughter for each club. We find ourselves playing as entertainers more than informers 
Then it was wine time!
We visited Grace Winery for a tasting with the winery’s owner, Shigekazu Misawa. He has visited all the most famous wine making regions including Australia, New Zealand, France, Napa, Sonoma and Chile. Bri and I had an especially good time detecting hints of cherry and chocolate in the Koshu wine, or at least thinking we did. Bri was convincing enough that Misawa asked if she was a sommelier!
- Bri and I had wondered why the grapes here were grown differently than in the US. We learned that these grapes, the Koshu grapes, are more like trees than vines
Then we visited a wine cave that was built over a hundred years ago as a railway tunnel. Now, it serves as naturally chilled storage for private collections of wine. The nearby Wine Curve offers 200 local wines from 29 wineries. For just $11 you can sample them all!
Having a wine-related break in the middle of the day was nice, but afterwards it was back to business. We drove to Koshu to meet the Mayor (also a Rotarian) and tour the city builsing and then we went to the weekly Enzan Rotary Club for more presentations.
Mt Fuji…and beyond!
26 Oct 2010 1 Comment
in Windy/ウィンデイー
I have been looking forward to exploring Mt. Fuji and today was the day! I wasn’t expecting so many beautiful trees or for it to be so cold! I am glad my host mother gave me a sweater and shawl to keep warm.
Next stop was a beautiful forested area (reminded me of Northern California!) where we descended into a frozen ice cave
It was a fun day but I looked forward to coming home to my host family. The little girls, Stella, age 7 and Rita, age 10 are adorable. They speak English very well and were excited to see me. They remind me of my little sister, Jenna and I at that age. We played with their doll houses and they told me about how they love High School Musical and Hannah Montana.
It is interesting to stay with a young family here. The husband and wife remind me of my fiancée and I. We have similar taste and genuinely enjoy one another’s company. Their home is very modern and clean. We eat much more American food than at my last host family, bread and cheese at every meal as opposed to rice and fish. Tomorrow I spend the entire day with my family; I look forward to having more time to bond with them!
Oh, I almost forgot, we made it into another newspaper
Exploring the Home of Hello Kitty
25 Oct 2010 3 Comments
in Windy/ウィンデイー
Today was our first full day exploring Yamanashi. As I said before, Yamanashi is famous for their wines. Seeing vineyards along the road and on the mountain side makes me feel at home. We were lucky enough to visit Chateau Brillant’s tasting room followed by a tour of the property led by the winery owner, who is also a Rotarian.
Today was also the first day that I was able to visit a business of my own vocation. We toured YBS, the largest and oldest newspaper in Yamanashi prefecture. They have expanded to own a successful radio station, television network, print house, advertising agency, travel company and more. I had many questions and because our guide was fluent in English, all of my questions were answered!
'The View' GSE styleWe were able to listen in on a popular live morning show. I snapped this pic before learning that the hosts were rather famous and we shouldnt take any pictures. They talked about us on air while we watched. They said we were very "stylish"
I also learned that Yamanashi is the home of Hello Kitty. The Rotarian who told me this was surprised to hear that we were familiar with Hello Kitty, he assumed it was only popular in Japan. He informed me that ‘Sanrio’, the company that makes Hello Kitty, translates to “King of Yamanashi”. This explains the stone sculpture at Yamanashi’s temple.
Then we had presentations and dinner with the Kai and Kofu Rotary Clubs. The after dinner entertainment was a bartending show. Not what I ever would have expected, but it was fun and of course the GSE team were the first to volunteer to assist the stunts.
Whew! Another long and amazing day! Ready to check in with my host family and get some sleep!
Festival and More Fame
24 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in Windy/ウィンデイー
Today we participated in the Enzan Oyocoi Festival in Yamanashi. It was quite a party - thousands of people gathered within a few blocks of downtown Yamanashi for the comunity festival. There was dancing, crafts, street food, marching bands and even a visit from the Power Rangers!
Upon arriving we were ushered to a Ramen shop owned by one of the Rotarians. We watched him make the fresh noodles from scratch.
After some special rice balls with sweet beans (a snack for special occasions) we were served steaming bowls of ramen. After we began eating we were told that we were not slurping loud enough! A filmographer from the local news came in to watch us slurp ramen in our bright blue hapis. There we were, smiling, slurping and spraying broth all over the place for our televison debut!
Then we had a chance to explore the festival:
We took a side trip to a Rotarian’s home just a 5 minute walk form downtown to see his home and traditional garden. The door to his home is 160 years old and considered to be a cultural treasure. He explained the significance of the plants and decorations in the garden. I have never seen anything like it.
One of the most entertaining parts of the day was when it was time for Jerry to join the Mayor and other Rotarians at the top of a wooden structure to throw candy and treats (including a large raw fish) down to the crowd below. The crowd’s energy was intense. I assumed the gifts were mostly for the children but adults were serious about catching the good luck mochi, tatami mats and candy, fighting over items and scurrying on the ground to pick up what wasn’t caught.
Goodbye and Hello
24 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in Windy/ウィンデイー
It was very difficult to leave my host family this morning, I had a knot in my throat as I said good bye. I never would have guessed that I would have such a deep bond with them after spending just a week in the Kawasaki home, but I look forward to keeping in touch for years to come and I hope that one day I can welcome them into my own home in California.
At 9:30 we began our trip towards Mt. Fuji into Yamanashi, a mountain city known for hot springs, wine and peaches. We had a relaxing Saturday drive, taking in the lush landcapes and stopping at view points along the way. We were welcomed at Hotel Kohaken, owned by a local Rotarian.
We ate lunch, unpacked our things and enjoyed some free time to explore the city. We have become accustomed to such a regimented schedule that it was nice to have a few hours to wander in whichever direction we chose. We just needed to be back at the hotel in time for our welcome dinner.
And what a welcome it was! 9 courses of traditional Japanese food, and there was no shortage of sake and local wine. We quickly broke the language barrier, made new friends and laughed throughout dinner. It is amazing how much can be communicated through gestures and humor.
This trip has forced me to step outside of my comfort zone numerous times a day, and because of that I am quickly growing into a more confident, complete person. Now I look forward to introducing myself to Japanese speakers and finding common ground, where a week ago just the thought of doing so would make me nervous.
Two Rotarians took quite a liking to Craig’s humor and chose him to be their drinking buddy of the evening. I was lucky enough to join them after our dinner at a local drinking spot, a small, 100 year old bar and restaurant where beer, sake and amazing food just kept coming! The biggest treat, other than the company, was the fresh ramen – the best ramen I have ever had! Even after the 9 courses of food, I could not pass up the large bowl placed in front of me. I felt incredibly lucky to have that local, personal experience with the Rotarians. I would never have noticed the restaurant from the street or known what to order.
We went back to our hotel and realized that there was a karaoke bar downstairs…an hour later and quite a bit of sake later, Craig was singing (or yelling) Metallica on stage.
Good times.
Temples and Pancakes in a Can
24 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in Windy/ウィンデイー
Pictures tell a better story than words for today’s adventures, so here you go:
After lunch we took a long drive to the country side and then took a tram to the Kunouzan Yoshougu Shrine.
After another long day I went grocery shopping with my family and helped them prepare tempura for dinner. We enjoyed a long meal and wine. It is amazing how at home I feel here, tonight we looked at old family wedding albums, talked and laughed. I am not looking forward to saying good bye tomorrow.
130 Feet in the Air with Japan FD
21 Oct 2010 4 Comments
in Windy/ウィンデイー
Whew! Teathered to the top of the 130 foot ladder of the Shizuoka Fire Depatment’s fire engine was a little nerve racking, but hey, when do you get the chance to enjoy this view of Shizouka?
Yep, we visited the fire station today. I presented a stack of California badges my father (a firefighter of 30 years) had collected to the Shizouka Station Fire Chief. The crew welcomed us with a complete training tower fire drill and quite a ride!
Don’t worry dad, I have plenty more pics!
We dined out for lunch with 5 Rotarians at a well-known upscale French restaurant, met the city’s Mayor in his office to discuss our experiences in Japan and had a very interesting tour of the Koito factory. Once again, after a busy day I looked foward to an evening at home. Tonight dinner was a great selection of sushi, chicken and onion skewers and wine. We spent hours eating, laughing, playing with the baby and sipping vino.
Tomorrow is Friday and I look forward to some time this weekend (hopefully) to catch up on sleep and give my blog some TLC. Thanks for checking in, as much fun as I am having, it feels great to have a connection to my important people at home.
