Hello everyone!

 

I'm back in Tokyo after a wonderful homestay in Hiroshima and a visit to a traditional Japanese hotel called a ryokan.

 

My homestay was with a wonderful family who live about an hour from Hiroshima City.  The family consists of mom, dad, a 19 year old daughter and a 14 year old son.  The daughter is away at university. Since she is the one person in the family who who speaks English, it was a weekend of charades, dictionaries and guessing what we meant to say.  The mother, Yasuko-san, met me at my hotel & drove me back to their town.  We drove through some beautiful countryside with mountains, rivers and trees changing into fall colors just like in Spokane.  When we got to her town we went to the department store where she works in the book department.  She took me to the kimono department and the sales people helped me to try on a kimono.  I put my picture in the photo album so go see what I look like in Japanese clothing! 

 

We had several fun outings including lunch at a soba (noodle) restaurant, a visit to several sake breweries and a traditional tea shop.  We spent the evening looking at pictures of Spokane in a book I took to the family as a thank-you gift and a small photo album I had with me.  The family was anxious to know all about where I live.  They were a little confused at first because the paperwork they had received about me said I lived in Washington and the only Washington they know is Washinton, D.C.  They were a little disappointed at first to find out that I don't live next door to the White House!

 

The next day we went to a fall festival.  First we saw a parade of crazy looking characters in masks and costumes.  I still haven't figured out who they were but I will research to find out.  Then we went to a sort of county fair with booths of food, crafts and flowers.  It was great fun!  They drove me back to my hotel in Hiroshima on Sunday afternoon and we went to the ryokan to spend the night.

 

At the ryokan I shared a room with 3 other women and we slept on the floor on tatami mats (see pictures).  We had a lovely traditional Japanese feast and said goodbye to Hiroshima.

 

Now I am back in Tokyo for a few more days of lectures and seminars before I head home to Spokane.  There is still so much to do and see in Tokyo, I'm sure my days will be full.

 

I will see you next week!

 

love,

Mrs. Calkins