Skip to main content

Danielle- Gasshuku Camp

Gasshuku Camp


Every day is something new, but this weekend had a bunch of “firsts” for me.

This weekend, starting Saturday night, I went to my first-ever gasshuku (boarding house/lodge AKA camping indoors) in Chiba, Japan. I actually expected to crash early on in the night, but I ended up staying up until 1AM with my group of crazies! I had so much fun introducing myself to my new friends, having dinner/breakfast with my favorite bunch, doing agility courses outdoors with the kids, taking pictures of the pretty outdoor gardens, and playing cards late into the night like a crazy person.

My friends have discovered I have no poker face, often showing them my hand to ensure their trust that I don’t have the babanuki (old maid), and when I do have it, I be sure to let them know. :)


Hmm, firsts... let’s see...
Setting up and putting away my own futon. First, futon, then sheets, then two comforters, then blanket on top. Oh, and the pillow case needs a cover. I love futons and sincerely do not mind setting them up or putting them away because it makes me feel so legit with my Japanese immersion.


Shared baths. In all honesty, it wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be, actually, and was actually a lot of fun with my partner who walked me through everything. Also, I think taking my glasses off did wonders, too, because I felt no embarrassment when facing my partner to speak to her, haha.

First, take off your slippers before entering the dressing room. Then, take your clothes off in the little dressing room and put your clothes and things in your own little cubby. Then, take a shower and wash your hair and everything. THEN you can enter the bath. The water wasn’t all that warm by the time I got in, so I filled it with new hot water and swished it around the bath a bit. It was sooo nice. Then, before getting your clothes back on, rinse yourself off again in the shower.


And then, voila! Squeaky-clean, refreshed Danielle! Nothing like a hot bath! I’d like to go to an onsen (hot spring) sometime soon. I also learned recently that there is a Japanese saying that goes something like, “In an onsen, everyone is naked.” They have no social status and no money to show; they’re all naked and can all laugh and talk in the hot spring as a sort of get-together place. And I think that’s pretty cool.

And that’s all I have to report for this week! Until next time!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sama Otsukare!!

Sama お疲れさまですした！ 韓国の文化おしえてくれて감사합니다!! Nos vemos en cualquier parte del world!👋💫 Wait for the last Sama blog very soon!  サマのラストーのブログ待って下さい！！👐 Sama,いってらっしゃい！
Post a Comment
Read more

Hayley- Life goes on

Life goes on Yesterday, I was able to go into work for about half the day.  It was great being there, but it struck me how tired everyone looked.  It wasn't just them though. . . I know I looked tired too.  The emotional toll of the past days has been very draining.  There is so much going on, and so much uncertainty as events continue to unfold.  No matter where you turn, there is something to remind you that life is not as it should be. I look at my laptop, where BBC News' Live Stream reminds me of the unfolding situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.   I think of the rescue efforts in the north and all of the people who are living in temporary shelters.    And yet, looking outside this morning, life appears to be normal.  The sun is shining, people are riding by on their bikes, and the kindergarten bus shaped like a giant dachshund just drove past . . . to all appearances, life is normal.   ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stephanie-こんにちは！Konnichiwa! Hello!

こんにちは！Konnichiwa! Hello! My host sister Asuka and I in 小えど, Japan Hi everyone!  My name is Stephanie, but in Japan I've already been given the nickname  Su-chan　 す－ちゃん    (su from Stephanie since the Japanese pronunciation is su-teh-fah-nee, and -chan is added to the end of a name when you are speaking to a younger person or a friend), so you can call me Su-chan! I am one of the five Hippo interns working in the LEX headquarters office in Tokyo this year. In addition to me, from Wisconsin, the intern team is made up of Tino from Mexico, Sakun and Ken Ken from China, and Hiu-chan from Korea. It's great to have such an international group!    Before coming to Japan I attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated with a degree in fine art. During that time I also worked for Wisconsin 4-H International Programs, which is how I first learned about Hippo through the 4-H/Hippo summer and yearlong exchanges. Last summer I had the opportun...
Post a Comment
Read more