Hot springs, tea tricks and another year older...
Trip Start
Feb 16, 2007
1
6
Trip End
Ongoing
Matsumoto, Japan
Monday, April 2, 2007
The last two work weeks were somewhat light at school, as we were wrapping up the last school year and we didn't have any group lessons and one day off for the Spring Equinox. School went pretty well - the students continue to get used to my teaching style and I understand more and more how to effectively teach English. We are moving into the new school year tomorrow (Japan's school year runs from April through March, with various vacation periods in Summer, Winter and Spring) and I'll be teaching about half new students with the others being carry-overs from the month I just taught. I guess I'm looking forward to starting my own thing and not continuing what the outgoing teacher had been doing. I get to start fresh and keep on track for the school year. Some days at work are pretty great, others are not so great. Downtime, typically during the middle of day, is the hardest to get through. I have planning to do, but sometimes I can't find something to fill up the time. I start thinking about life, philosophy, goals, dreams, life-philosophies, etc. I start missing people back home, start getting antsy for something else. If you all have been paying attention to my recent patterns in life, you'll know that I've been a nomad for the better part of the last couple of years. Alas, it takes time to build a life anywhere, especially in a foreign country....
Last weekend the other foreign teacher (Huba) and I planned on going to dinner with one of our Japanese colleagues, Yoshimi. Huba said he knew of a good Greek restaurant in the area and it sounded like something fun to do. Plus, I hadn't had a good Greek meal since my days back in Astoria in New York. Ah, the good old days. Anyway, we headed out after work and discovered that the place had been booked for the night for a private party. Plan foiled! Across the street was a Chinese place that looked pretty nice. Plus it was raining. We ducked inside and found it to be a pretty swanky little place with jazz playing softly, and an eclectic decor mixed with traditional Chinese cuisine. Several Buddhas sat stoically around the room complete with tiny dioramas set in the walls of the booths. Yoshimi ordered several dishes for all of us to share (this tends to be the way to dine with friends in Japan) and we began the night with a few beers. After several courses of dumplings, rice, spring rolls and other delights we were treated to a traditional Chinese tea presentation. This fellow was able to pour the tea with great accuracy and amazing movements with his body. Very cool experience indeed. We finished off the night with a discussion of the coming year and expectations for a good one. Yoshimi, unfortunately, moved to Nagoya last week to become manager of another Amity school there. This was a total bummer considering she was one of the few Japanese people that I'd made friends with here in Matsumoto. Isn't that just like life?
The next day I had made plans to visit the local hot spring town Northwest of Matsumoto, but it rained all day. I caught up on laundry and cleaned the apartment - oh so fun. The next day the weather improved quite a bit and I headed down to the bus station to catch a bus up to Asama Onsen. I found the bus station across the street from the train station and figured out how to buy a ticket from the vending machine! How's that for not knowing any Japanese? I went up the stairs, waited for my bus to arrive and hopped on as soon as it pulled into the station - right on time. The trains and buses in Japan are almost always right on the nose. I was taking this particular bus to end of the line on its route, so I knew I wouldn't miss my stop. About twenty minutes later, we arrived in the little town of Asama Onsen, which is actually a part of Matsumoto City. I got off the bus and soon discovered that the hot spring that my travel guide recommended was right across the street from the station. How convenient. I decided to look around the place before heading over for a soak in the waters. Glancing to the right of the station, I spotted what looked like a trail-head map for hiking trails. This was really just a fluke, as I wasn't really planning to go for a hike. I decided to give it a shot and see where the trail led. The trail shot up a steep hill that was undergoing some restoration from what looked like very bad erosion. I meandered higher and higher up the hill-side until I came to a white and red marker sticking out of the trail. I decided not to go any further as I had hiked for about an hour at this point and the trail beyond looked untouched. I snapped some pictures of the surroundings and got a pretty great view of the city below. The alps in the distance were pretty amazing as well, but somewhat obscured because of the haziness of the day. I decided to make my way down the switch-backs and head for the hot spring.
About a half hour later I found myself in front of the "Hot Plaza Asama" bathhouse. I entered and paid my 800 yen for a soak. When arriving in the locker room I got a few looks from the older gentlemen attending the spa that day. You tend to get looks from older people in Japan. I undressed and headed into the spa. Amazing place to say the least - several different pools to choose from, all with different kinds of water depths, temperatures and bubbles-types. Also, they had an outdoor portion of the spa where you could enjoy a soak whilst being surrounded by carved stones and manicured trees. One pool outside was icy cold! I lasted about thirty seconds in that one. I tried out the different pools and soaked for about an hour and then took breaks on the benches through the spa. It was a very relaxing experience.
Fast forward now to the next weekend.....Since this was the last week for a few of the teachers, Huba and I decided to take them out for some drinks. We ended up going to one of the bars that I hit on St. Patrick's Day - Yuji's Bar! We walked in and he recognized me immediately! That felt good. We sat down at one of the table and guess who, Bob Marley comes over to get our drink order. She looks at me, smiles and puts up her fists. I guess she remembered our impromptu boxing match a couple of weeks previous. We had a few drinks here and also were served several different kinds of yakitori (a dish of small pieces of boneless meat, usually marinated, skewered, and grilled) including some pork intestine! Actually, it's pretty tasty if you can just forget you're eating intestine. Oh, we also had chicken butt too - it was pretty funny when the Japanese girls were explaining to me what part of the chicken it was from. Afterward, we said our goodbyes to Sachiyo, who left the company for a new job in Tokyo. Yet another good friend who left a month after I got to know her. Bummer.
The next day was my birthday! I turned 28 this year. Getting up there, eh? It's pretty amazing to me that I'm almost thirty. Crazy. Anyway, after work my co-workers treated me to a birthday cake and Japanese style happy birthday song. The cake was delicious and I was so touched that they would go to the trouble of celebrating with me. It was a pretty good birthday.
At this point I just want to say that I'm so amazed by all the support I've received during this transition to Japan. It's been a very interesting trip so far, but one of the most isolating experiences as well. I'm getting used to my home here, but in the end I really understand that I love where I come from. This trip has taught me so much about myself so far, and I'm interested to see how the experience evolves from here. Take care everyone. I miss you all...
Comments
real life
There's nothing like being in a completely unfamiliar environment to force you to reflect! I'm really glad to know that you are creating fun for yourself as well. You need a balance of both.
So. When are you going to ask Bob Marley out for a date?????
love,
Kate
Merry Unbirthday to you!!!
Happy Birthday, Mike. Sounds like you're learning oodles and experiencing a lot, including yourself alone, which can be a daunting and beautiful and boring and sweet experience all at the same time. Have some comapssion for yourself and keep treating yourself well, which it sounds like you're doing a great job of. Thinking of you and wishing you well on your start of the new school year,
Lindsey P.
p.s. I second what Kate said, Bob Marley sounds cool - perhaps her bar needs to have you as a regular!