Family Visiting

Sunday started out with an alarm clock at eight o’clock in the morning. I woke up and immediately went downstairs for breakfast, which was waiting for me like nearly every morning. For breakfast I had an egg, two slices of ham, blueberry yogurt, two bites of cole slaw, tea, milk and a slice of toast with peanut butter cream and sugar topping. It sounds like a lot, but all of it was in small portions so when it all added up, I felt full, but not overfed. Right after I finished eating, I went to wash myself.

Culture Note: I said wash myself because I’m not exactly sure what the American equivalent would be. So, if you are ever asked to take a Japanese bath, then this is what you should expect. First, I have my own bathroom. This is very uncommon in Japanese households, as you will understand later in the note. I go into the bathroom and there is a bathtub, a drain on the floor (not within the tub), a showerhead that can be moved and a small platform. There is also a shelf with various bath soaps and body washes.

I start by filling up the bath about a quarter way. It’s about 40 degrees Celsius, or around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The bath is actually more of a hot tub that a bathtub, because you don’t wash yourself in the bath.

In the description I mentioned a drain on the floor. This is because you wash yourself outside of the hot tub, using the showerhead to rinse off. This includes body wash, face wash, shampoo and conditioner. To prevent from spraying water all over the bathroom, you have to sit on the small platform while you wash yourself. Then afterwards, you also wash the seat.

After washing, the hot bathtub water is for you to relax in. In most Japanese families, the bathtub is only filled once and the entire family shares the same water to reduce wasting water. This is another reason why it is important to wash before you get into the tub. In my experience, since I am the only one who uses my bathroom, the bathtub is only for me. However, if I were to go to an onsen (hot springs) it would be similar in the idea that I would wash myself before getting into the hot springs that are shared by other people.

The Japanese have bathed every day for many years while Europeans only started recently. (Using Europeans because most American families and culture has originated from that continent). Every day, the Japanese would wash themselves then bathe in the onsen. Nowadays, because of cost and lack of resources, I feel as though the Japanese have made their own little modern onsen in the form of a bathtub.

After my bath, I went upstairs and put on my nice skirt and turtleneck. I checked my email and then at ten o’clock I went downstairs with my bag, which included a little bit of homework and my computer, and followed Otousan outside to the car.

Today is Sunday, June 20, and I was going to travel with Otousan and Okaasan to Moriyama, when their son lived with his wife and three kids. It takes about an hour and a half to get to Moriyama from Nagahama by car. We left at ten o’clock and got to Moriyama back 11:30. Otousan drove while Okaasan showed me the map and pointed out various sights along the way. I saw Castle ruins, shrines, statues, and in the distance I could point out a castle near the top of the mountain. The arched rooks peaked out from the tall trees that bordered the road that we traveled.

The three of us had lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Moriyama. We walked in but there was a little bit of a wait so we put our names on the list. And I mean that in the literal sense as well. Otousan wrote my host family’s last name in katakana (foreign script) on the paper and wrote 3 next to 人. (The kanji for people) Otousan then went to the store across the street while Okaasan and I waited for our table.

The restaurant was very loud, but it wasn’t the patrons but the workers. At the same time, I wasn’t the bad type of loud, as they were constantly shouting orders and yelling “ありがとうございます！”“いらっしゃいませ　どうぞ！”(arigatou gozaimasu- formal thank you) (irashaimase douzo- welcome, and another word that can’t be translated.)

Culture Note: Whenever you enter a Japanese store or restaurant, the workers (manager, host, waiters) will say “irashaimase”, which basically means “welcome to the store/restaurant”. “Douzo” can be used in many contexts. I usually used the word when giving someone something, in which it means “please take this”. I have also seen this used often when people who were sitting stood up to give someone else their seat (usually to an elderly person or a woman), and will used hand signals gesturing to the seat. “Douzo” can’t really be translated, but the closest I can think of is “take/try this”. I think another translation that can be used loosely would be “make yourself at home”, but at the same time not really. It’s just one of those expressions that you have to experience in order to use and understand.

On the good side, if you do come to Japan, then you will experience it a lot. It’s one of the most common words I’ve heard here.

It was only about ten minutes or so and then we were given a table. I looked through the menu and the three of us ordered some rice, gyouza (I don’t really know how to describe this but it’s really good) miso soup and another dish that had a bunch of seafood, rice, sauce and vegetables in it. Then, we all shared everything. The water was already on our table so that we could refill it ourselves.

Culture Note: You don’t tip in Japan. The waiter/waitress usually does very little work, especially compared to the average waiter/waitress in the United States. Most of the time, you get your own water, and fill it up yourself. Sometimes, you have to get the soup yourself as well. The waiter/waitress takes your order and brings it out. Even if you try to tip, they will refuse it. Most of the time anyway, you pay at the cash register in the front of the restaurant.

After we finished, we headed to Masao-san’s house. (Their son) When we got there, I noticed they had a door that opened up (rather than a sliding door) and they had two cars in the driveway. (Most Japanese families only have one car, as you have to be 18 to get your license, and the train system is very efficient to get to work or school.) Inside, I met Masao-san’s wife (okusan) Tomoko-san.

Language Note: There are certain suffixes added to names. The suffix “san” refers to Mr./Ms./Mrs., and is used at the end of generally every name. Wife in Japanese is “Okusan”. In addition, “kun” can be used for boys and male teenagers, “chan” for small children, and “sama” for important people in a hierarchy.

The family also has three children, ages 10 and under, two boys and one girl. We sat at a traditional Japanese table, introduced ourselves, (more like I introduced myself and tried to remember all of the names), and had a few small snacks that Tomoko-san gave out. I also gave Masao-san and Tomoko-san two pins from Outback that I had brought with me from Japan as a thank-you gift. It led to many questions (which I was happy to listen to and respond in Japanese) about my part time job, and what American food was like.

Culture/Interesting Note: Food here in Japan is not like “Japanese” food in America. “American” food in Japan is not like American food back home. Chinese food here is different than Chinese food in America. (And according to my friend Xiao it’s different in China too). It’s now on my list to find a Mexican restaurant here and see what Japanese Mexican food tastes like. That would be an interesting culture mix.

After snack, Tomoko-san invited me to go shopping with the family. We all went, except for Otousan, who stayed to watch the baseball game. It was about a twenty-minute drive to the shopping center, which we passed by asking and answering questions in Japanese. Tomoko-san asked me what I was interested in and what I liked about Japan. I asked if they had ever been to America, and pointed out various things on the side of the road to increase my vocabulary.

Note: Scarecrow in Japanese is “kakashi”.

When we got to the mall, Masao-san and his family went to the pet shop (I think they are thinking about buying a dog sometime soon.) while Okaasan and I window-shopped. We eventually went into a bookstore, and I attempted to find my copy of the Outsiders, with no success. I also looked at various Japanese history books, but to be honest, I really need to increase my kanji knowledge before I can hope to get through one of those.

Afterwards, we headed into a small cute litter shop, where I bought some leggings (they are very, very popular in Japan) and Okaasan bought an umbrella. After that, we called Tomoko-san to find out where we should meet. We ended up meeting at the Baskin Robbins and I officially ordered an ice cream cone in Japanese. After that, we headed back to the house.

At the house, we sat around while Tomoko-san made dinner. Dinner consisted of green beans, fried chicken, black throat fish, squid, fried tofu and fish paste in the shape of buses. It was all very good, and I had a fun time talking with Tomoko-san about food in America and Japan.

The table that we sat at was low to the ground, so we had to kneel while we ate. (This is what I originally had thought I was going to do at my own homestay family’s house.) Even though I really enjoyed practicing the traditional way of eating Japanese dinner, I have to admit, I am really thankful for the high dining table where we usually eat. My knees were killing me within twenty minutes of the meal. I had to keep switching sides to null the throbbing in my kneecaps.

The children were all very fun, and we had an interesting time pointing out various foods and learning the English or Japanese counterpart. Afterwards, the three kids and I play Wii Sports Resort. I got to practice my katakana, as well as my bowling (100 pin), archery, table tennis and basketball. They even encouraged me to make my own Mii, which they added under “Mabuchi” family. Awww… I really enjoyed those kids.

Around 7:15 we left, after saying “arigatou gozaimasu” (Thank you) and “Mata Aimashou” (let’s meet soon). We got into the car, and then headed off back to Nagahama.

On our way back, we stopped at Nagahama station and I bought my Shinkansen ticket for Saturday. This Saturday I’ll be heading out to Tokyo to hang out with my friend from Ibaraki (just north of the capital city) and enjoy my nineteenth birthday.

Thank you for sticking with me! We’re about to start week four and it will be a blast!

By the way, I have more pictures, but I’m going to put them up later. I’m about to go to bed since I have to wake up early tomorrow to say Happy Father’s Day to my dad.

Mata Ashita!