Great I had written a long post from the church parking lot but apparently it didn’t save…

So, anyway, this morning I went to Church with Okaasan (we also met my other Okaasan there, whose birthday happens to be on the same day as Nani and Nestu’s.). Her birthday was celebrated in Church today and when she had to give a short speech she spoke about me, though I am not sure exactly what she said. Anyway, church was pretty fun. The things I liked were 1) The hymns we sung (which were easy enough that I could sing along,) 2) A period of time where everyone shook hands with everyone else and said some sort of Japanese greeting, 3) When everyone went up to drink the Holy Water, since I wasn’t Christian the Father didn’t give me Holy Water but instead said a long prayer specially for me (I didn’t understand it but caught the words “father” “family” “body” and “God”) and 4) The fact that as oppose to Anerican churches where everyone prays by kneeling forward and intertwining their fingers, in this church everyone prayed differently including, but not limited to, the American way, joining hands (Hindu and Shinto I think), crossing hands and kneeling, etc. The fact that everyone prayed differently seemed very acceptive to me.

Then, after a fabulous lunch of Hakka noodles (picture attached), I went shopping with my first host mother and a few members of the extended family. It was great — first we went to a place where we could see people hand-making traditional glassworks, pottery, kimonos, etc. Then we went down into Kokusai Street, which was completely like a Bazaar, very similar to the market we had gone to on our last day in San Jose, Costa Rica. And like those markets, there was soo much available and it was honestly quite overwhelming. And everything, of course, was overpriced and everything looked really nice. And, since it was Sunday, a lot of the nice stores were closed. Nevertheless, it was very fun browsing, but we did not find anything I (or they) liked so we went to the mall (called a Department Store here, I am pretty sure.)

The mall had everything. I mean, the only downside of it was that 1) There was no bargaining and 2) All the Yukatas (male Kimonos I am pretty sure) were from prints. Anyway, first of all we found a very nice and reasonably priced Yukata and Obi set (Obi is the belt) and also found some pretty cheap (12 bucks) matching traditional slippers. Then we went to a bookstore, where I got 2 simple Mangas to help me improve my Japanese, and then we headed to another store where we got something else (secret though I am pretty sure you guys will be able to guess) and then Muji, BM’s all time favorite store, in which we found nothing useful so instead went to the 100 円 store next door where I got a lot. Then we headed back.

BTW, Dadda and Nellie, please tell me what reasonable things you want from here! Initially I wanted to bring back Pocari Sweat for you guys, a drink most Americans who have visited Japan are crazy about, but I tasted it today and it honestly just tasted like Gatorade mixed with Amma’s Shikanjhi. The theory behind it is that it has the same consistency and ions as human sweat, so it is a fabulous biological electrolyte. If you want let me know!

BTW there are vending machines on like every road over here! And based on the cultural outlook about drinks, I can see why it is very profitable! Oh and also I don’t know if I let you know but (especially for Nestor) we rode the Monorail on the first day from the airport to near my host family’s house. I don’t think I will get the chance to ride a bullet train though, mainly because Okinawa is too small to have one. BTW, have you heard about the raging debate about the upcoming Magnetic train in Japan and what town it should go through?

BTW, BM, how on earth did you perceive that the TV would be on all day? Because that has been 199% true! I mean that is not necessarily a bad thing, especially since I have been getting caught up on my world news. How is Greece taking its humiliating defeat to Germany?

Oh and also, the ingenuity and creativity of the culture in the smallest things is mirrored in what shows on TV — much of it is talking with and interviewing people who have made the coolest things out of the simplest stuff! One farmer turned his irrigation ditch into an automatic yam (I think) peeler, and another used simple materials such as brooms to beautify a house. It is really interesting!

BTW, more about the car assist — it beeps if you come near an obstacle and faster and faster based on the proximity — it is kind of interesting that Okaasan and Otousan have cement blocks in the back of their garage to aid the revers assist.

Oh and I have finally found the words to describe the house — it is a completely perfect and maintained Ikea showroom — honestly, it looks exactly like a perfect Ikea type house!

Oh and it is interesting that in all Japanese houses I have been in the toilet it separate from the sink/bathtub. You wear special bathroom slippers to go to the toilet and leave them in there (do whatever happens in the toilet stays in the toilet room) and you never wash your face, brush your teeth, eyc. from the bathroom sink. I thought that was very interesting.

Yup, tomorrow is school again and it’s supposed to be sunny, so maybe we will finally have our Undoukai Practice. I am sure there is more to tell, but goodnight!