Long Time, No See.....pff

Today I went to the countryside of the Kansai area. It was very pretty. All around me were mountains, and a little river ran in front of Okaasan's childhood home. The river was pretty low, just a riverbed really. Anyways, I'll explain the day in order.

4:45 am: my alarm goes off

6:00 am: leave the house

somewhere around 9 am: arrive in the little town. I then met Okaasan's little brother, his wife, their daughter Remi and Okaasan's mother. A little later we went out chestnut and persimmon hunting. That was a lot of fun! They shake the chestnut tree and the poky green pods fall from the tree. Then, WITH gloves on thanks much, you rip the pod open and rescue the three chestnuts from inside. Right near the chestnut tree was a persimmon tree, and we twisted some ripe fruits off of the tree. I haven't had one yet, I'll have to do that soon.

Then we went back to the house, I never went back inside just then: I hung outside with Remi (who is 10 and full of energy) and took photos of the really old bridges right across the street from the house, and the shrine that was right across the street too. Then we walked to a soba restaurant. I had soba an tempura and miso soup and rice. There was also some tofu on the plate, but i couldn't even finish what I do like so why try something I only like 1/4 of the time depending on how it was prepared? 

After eating the "kids" (read, Yoko, Remi and I--Ryoichi was at the library studying today) all went to the riverbed and played around. I held a little crab. I haven't done that since I really was a kid! Then, on the way back we went to a Jinjya, which is a Shinto temple, that is right across the street from the restaurant. It was really pretty cool, and incredibly old. I was taught how to pray properly at a Shinto shrine to show respect for the traditions. STILL on the way back Okaasan brings us up to a house just a few down from the family home and introduces us to her friend, a Miko. A miko is a priestess. That was kind of neat: didn't talk much, but I can now say I've met a miko!

Then the three of us girls played on the Wii balance board. It was fun, but man was it hard! Then it was time to go home, which meant another long car ride. 

Wow, somehow I thought I would have more to say about today. But really, that's what I did, and it was beautiful out there in the countryside. I had fun, and wouldn't mind going again. Although I'd be warned this time: no cell phone service. In Japan you rapidly become addicted to texting. And you become skilled at it.....I'm wondering how my cell here compares to my American phone now....

Okay, I ALREADY know my cell phone does not have infrared. For those who are not tech-savvy, infrared can be used to automatically relay cell phone numbers and emails between phones straight into an address book. And I'm pretty sure my phone doesn't let me switch back and forth between languages: even the basic prepaid does that here. Wow...I'm going to miss Japanese cell phones: but not their prices, and not other examples of Japanese technology.

Seriously Japan.....I'm in complete agreement with almost everyone else who has ever mentioned this: TOILETS DO NOT NEED TO BE HIGH-TECH! IF IT HAS MORE THAN A LEVER TO FLUSH IT IS TOO CONFUSING! ...seriously, you need lessons on how to use Japanese toilets....only that's not a lesson anyone is asking for anytime soon....lol. I've got it all figured out, but seriously. You stare at the thing for a minute and go: oh ...now what?

Lol. Eh....well, really, my reason for this post is exhausted. Sometime soon I'll update with a bunch of photos. Or maybe just throw them onto facebook....eh, whatev. 

Laters!