A day in Tenri... and other places

The day after I landed was pretty mellow. I was introduced to many faces that I recognize, but have a hard time recalling names. I learned the Bloom School, Bloom Cafe, Farm and house are all different places so that's what you need to know. It's a short hop and a skip away. "Casey can you make it back without getting lost?" "Oh, of course. I go the the U of M. It's kind of big." 

Then yesterday, Obaachan (Grandma) had to go to the hospital in Oyasato, a city close by. We, being Ogawa, Obaachan, Sugichan (8), Asan (16) and me, drove to the Tenri Hospital. I thought I was in for a boring tag-a-long sort of thing but we dropped Obaachan off and parked in front of Tenri school, which is a college plus high school plus elementary. You can image how big it all is. I thought it was a huge dormitory but I was wrong. We walked across the street and I thought 'Oh, we're going to a temple!' No, it's not a temple, it's actually a church I finally figured out. Not sure what the difference is but first we washed our hands in a well, then walked up to these thick black wooden steps. After removing my shoes and seeing the "no camera no cell phone" sign, we walked up the steps inside. It was black, red, and light wood. People were praying and some singing softly. We sat in a row and since I found myself in a church, I closed my eyes and took the time to pray the Japanese way I guess. The atmosphere was different than an American church, very relaxing and I enjoyed that. Afterwards, we exited and walked to the right were in a square around Tenri church is a market/shop sort of place. I was tempted to start buying souvenirs but the thought of lugging it for 2 months made me refrain. Although as we were walking by a confectionary store, I asked what it was. Ogawa couldn't explain it so he said let's go in! We all went inside to find this Ojiisan (Grandpa/oldman) happy to help explain everything. When he figured out I was American, he simply switched into English and was actually very good. He lived in Arizona for a while and retired to the confectionary business--like he said a good son should do and follow his parents for once. 

He explained so many (this one is a fine bean paste, this one has skin, this one is etc. etc. etc.) I picked one I thought I would like for sure--ringo (apple). Apparently it's a big deal sort of and he takes it behind the store, fixes it up with tea and a tray with a handle like a rainbow. It was different than anything in Minnesota, imagine a pie-like pastry but instead of jelly you find a soft, smooth-grain apple center, obviously made from rice. It was actually very good and he gave us tickets to the Tenri museum (back where the school was at). 

Tenri museum was pretty neat but it asked that I refrain from photos with flash so I just didn't bother, I have the english-map guide : ) 

(just part of the school)

After sight-seeing the museum of Japanese and world history, our little group got back in the white box-car, (they are EVERYwhere in Japan) and went to... Seven-Eleven! Which I thought went very well for how picky I am and how Japanese illiterate I am. I can read the alphabet but I only know 400/2000 kanji. Ah, life can be hard sometimes... Especially when I finally figured out how to say "Pop hurts my throat. Where are the non-carbonated beverages?" Which they commented "EHH? What a weird american. All americans like coca-cola!!!" Found a sport drink and japanese yogurt, and it hit the spot after I had the pastry snack. We took our bag to the car and drove to a friend of Ogawa's furniture store that was close by. I didn't put it together until the young man that greeted us said in English "I was the one who spoke to you yesterday about translating your WWOOFer rules!" So it was nice to thank him in person (The translation Japanese-yahoo made was RIDICULOUSLY funny in regards to how I should eat. I'm not sure how it misconstrued: don't take more than you can eat, if you don't like something, say so before so we don't waste food etc. duh). Anyway, we went into his office where his parents were working and had a sort of picnic while they visited with one another. I could really hear the Osaka-ben (I studied Tokyo-ben) and felt somewhat like in Finding Nemo... when they meet the little sea turtles who speak surfer. I am at the cusp of almost, almost, almost understanding... but then I can't tell. At least I laugh a little. 

Sugo-san, the son in his twenties, invited me to Kyoto next Saturday and I'm excited to visit with someone my own age, and who speaks English so that when my mostly-good dictionary fails me, we can overcome the language gap without me feeling dense. 

We left the store and finally picked up Obaachan, but it didn't stop there. I thought we would drive back to Yamatotakada but suddenly we pulled into this driveway further away from the city and we're here to visit Obaachan's friend. While she visited with the other Obaasan, her daughter and son in law (maybe the other way around) showed us the two green houses of flowers, plants and herbs. So gorgeous. The husband reminded me of a sort of flower-guru Jet Li. He knew everything and made us try this fruit, and this, and this leaf, and it was crazy. "This is gumi! eat!" Feels like a bumpy grape in your mouth, tastes like a sour sweet tart... There was s shrine in their garden for old family members who had passed away and that was the cherry on top of such a beautiful place. After that visit, we were driving to what I thought was Yamatotakada again but Ogawa and Obaachan ask me in the car, "Casey, do you like ice cream?" Hello. That's like asking a panda if it likes bamboo. Or a shark if it likes fish. Of course I do.

We pulled the car over to this odd but unique ice cream place. I picked out a sort of ice cream sandwhich but imagine it as a cookie, like someone used a plain cone case and wrapped the strawberry ice cream inside. TADA! Delicious. Then Ogawa said "The cows who made this are out back," and they were, I went and saw them. How. Sweet.

Then back in the car. By this time my camera was mostly dead-dead :( but we drove to one more place, Ogawa's cousin's house. At first we pull in and I notice there are statues of nude women all over, like a greek garden or something. They almost weren't home but then the cousin and his wife came out while Obaachan was tying the bag of what she was returning to a lawn chair for him. They introduced me and said my Japanese was good (YAY!) and I am pretty positive his cousin said while he motioned with his hand, "American? Aren't they a lot taller?" Ouch. He was an amazing artist, as you can probably see.

On the way back everyone was tired in the car and while I was reading the traffic signs I realized, "We went to KYOTO?" "Yep! That is Obaachan's hometown!" Surprise! But in a good adventuring way. After the hour or so drive, Ogawa drops off Sugi-chan and A-san and goes back to his house where he pulls out the extra seats in his car and piles Ena-chan (13), Taketomo-san (15), and Tetsuyashi-san (10) into the car. We are going to Sushisomething. I wasn't very hungry so I almost felt annoyed--I wanted to be done for the day but when we get there... there are conveyor belts of sushi that come along and you take what you want and pay for the plate later. I actually wanted hot food so I ordered udon (Ogawa ordered it for me on the table's INTERCOM) and that was delicious. If only I had been in the mood for sushi... darn. But I had a super time watching it all come by me, that alone was entertaining enough. AWESOME.