Summer break started a month ago actually. To start off I went to Arao to see my host family. They are so sweet. Since my host mother is retired she is often free and can spend time with me. This does not mean she does nothing. She has climbed mount fuji and plans on doing it again. She often meets with friends at a community center to do pottery and crafts. She is very active!
 |
| Hiroko |
 |
| Tatsuo |
Every day I woke up at around 8, and she was already up, did laundry and walked around the block with ankle weights. Yet she did not go to bed until midnight or later. I cannot for the life of me figure out when Japanese people sleep and how they are so active.
 |
| At Kifune Shrine |
We went to a small matsuri (festival) and a ceremony was held. The very decorated woman is Himiko, a queen. I will have to do some more research, but she is supposedly a descendant of queen Himiko whose domain is still in debate. It was a beautiful ceremony with dancing. In the picture above, they are drinking sake (alcohol) out of that massive barrel. Yummm.
And then there were fireworks that topped the Boston 4th of July fireworks. This was a tiny festival. America needs to figure out how to use fireworks better. Every day there is a festival somewhere in the summer time. Japan knows how to party.
