Today was supposed to be my first day on the farm but it was "ame ga furu" or raining. I still wore my work clothes anyway... So, we cleaned the school a bit and then Hiroko-san (the mom!) joined us for some of the cleaning and lunch.
After eating fried rice and sliced hot dogs, wrapped in egg like an omelet (yum-yum, and japanese ketcup has more kick to it by the way) Hiroko-san, Ogawa, Sugi-chan, A-san and I got into the car again for another trip. This time we stopped and bought rice cakes before we reached Morita-sensei's house.
Apparently we were going to Ogawa's old kindergarten teacher's house for her to teach us (mostly me) about the tea ceremony. She was dressed in a full kimono and looked very beautiful--her glasses actually matched her dress :) We entered a traditional room and I learned a bookload of stuff in the hour or so that we were there. Everyone has to sit a certain way with your hands on your legs. Then, the honored guest gets the green mat, the same as the tea and server. The secondary get another one (us). First, Morita-sensei showed us the three ways to bow.
There is with just fingertips on the floor, fingers, and then full palm, each has a different place and time. Then, she begins to serve Ogawa (first in line) and it is a long process of moving the bowl, thanking, turning it twice in your hands and drinking all of the matcha? tea. Next, Sugi-chan had a turn and there is a receiving way to do it as well each person also does. So many rules! But it was a lot of fun. We got to eat the rice cakes before we drank the tea (traditionally) and I tried my best not to insult or be rude in some silent way, hopefully I did alright. The tea was actually really, really bitter for me and it got harder to drink the closer I got to finishing. 
Guess it's an acquired taste like coffee--no one likes it at first but the more you drink the better it is... over time. There will be a party for me tomorrow and they asked if I had any nice clothes for it, which I do but not nice enough. All my bottoms are jeans and it's kind of a formal affair for this receiving party, so Hiroko-san is letting me borrow her yugata (like a kimono). It should be a lot of fun : )
Guess it's an acquired taste like coffee--no one likes it at first but the more you drink the better it is... over time. There will be a party for me tomorrow and they asked if I had any nice clothes for it, which I do but not nice enough. All my bottoms are jeans and it's kind of a formal affair for this receiving party, so Hiroko-san is letting me borrow her yugata (like a kimono). It should be a lot of fun : ) 
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