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!

Comments

Maddie- The First of Many New Experiences

The First of Many New Experiences So, what have my first weeks been like in Japan? ABSOLUTELY BUSY! But, also...AMAZING! Truly, it has been a busy couple of weeks here, but not overwhelmingly so. Furthermore, I`d prefer to be kept busy! Too much free time = too much thinking = homesickness. By keeping a full, fun schedule, with some relaxing and downtime, I can keep engaged with my surroundings, make new friends, and stay sane. To prevent a wall of text, let me break down for you some of my recent activities. So far, I have: Presented about my life in Wisconsin to classes of middle school and elementary school students. Eaten kaiten-zushi, or conveyor belt sushi. Been interviewed about my biggest surprise when I came to Japan (it`s bluntness in regards to appearance, people won`t hesitate to call someone fat, or tell you that you`ve gotten skinny since they last saw you. As I`ve seen it, it`s never been malicious, just matter-of-fact). Post filming. To my ...

Daniel- I have Guests!

I Have Guests! [訪れていた] (Daniel) After a trip to the Middle East, my sister and her husband decided to return to the US flying over Asia instead of Europe, so that they could stop by in Japan and say "Hi". Y-A-A-A-A-Y. It felt really good to see some family after seven months away. Unfortunately, the two of them could only stay for 3 days, so we were quite busy during that time. The three of us visited obvious famous places like Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, and Akihabara. But I personally enjoyed going to a park where we did the tea ceremony in a tea house on the park's pond. The two of them found it strange that there were no chairs and the process to drink some tea was so formal. I guess I didn't really think about it, I have become so used to traditional tea ceremonies that they don't seem strange to me anymore. I guess I'm becoming a local I also really enjoyed introducing my sister and brother-in-law to my co-work...

Daniel- Okutama

Okutama　(Daniel) This past week, my eyes were opened to the fact that Japan is much more than a concrete jungle of lights and high-rise buildings. For the first time, I was able to head west to Okutama, a mountainous region on the west side of Tokyo Prefecture. Unlike the city, Okutma is covered with forest and greenery. The abundance of nature makes it a beautiful place to visit in the fall. Not too far from Okutama is Heirinji Zen Temple in Saitama, where I was blown away by the beauty of autumn in Japan. The purpose for my being in that area was to visit a kindergarten and to give a HIPPO presentation along with other HIPPO members. Among them was a younger gentleman nicknamed Tango, whom I hadn't met before. Tango and I got along very well, and he invited me on a hike, along with his friend, the next day. Tango's family owns a very quaint Soba restaurant in Okutama. The surrounding mountains and nature really give it a traditional Japanese feel. The three of u...

Search This Blog