Kirishima Hiking
In the days following the Sakurajima Marathon, my nasal cavity lived up to its legendary fame. IT truly is endless. In the past week, I cannot recall an hour when I wasn’t blowing my nose. Furthermore, since it is somewhat taboo to do in public, I found myself hiding from my office in order to do it. At times, I even had to evade the occasional spy sent to check up on my doings in the restroom (or anywhere out of the office). Between you and me, I think they are on to me. I tried to hide the fact that I am an individual living with a common cold (or INFLUENZA in Japanese), but I will not hide any longer. This week has been particularly slow because I have been in the office three out of the five days. You would think that at least one of my schools would want to use me. No, that is not that case.
On Thursday, I decided to take the gym test here in Ginga Arena. I have not been able to take the test because of my adult conversation classes on the same evening. However, since they have been canceled for the past 2 weeks, I was able to do so. As it turns out, I am considered obese (still). You would think that after losing 100 pounds in high school I would put a dent on the obesity thing. Oh well, I have written out a workout plan, let’s see how it goes. Hopefully I lose 7 percent of my body fat to be considered healthily overweight. I was actually surprised by some of the equipment they have up there (right above my office). It is about $2 every time you use it, but you can get a year membership for $120. So, I was considering that until they told me that I may be commuting to Koyama starting in July to clock in, get my company car and then come back to Uchinoura to teach. Then, I would go back to Koyama to clock out, drop off the company car, pick up my car and go home. Koyama is the town where Kaz lives now that is in between my town and Cristina’s town. They will merge starting July 1st.
Friday was Heather’s birthday. Heather is a Kanoya ALT from Canada. We decided to go to this “American” restaurant in Kanoya. To find the restaurant, you follow a set of American flag billboards that lead you to a scary secluded mountain road. Five minutes later and a couple hundred feet higher, you see a small cabin – the restaurant. It was decorated with Native American paraphernalia and a map of the United States. They had many dishes that were (something)-doria. Do you know what doria is, because I don’t. In any case, I ordered the hamburger. However, I forgot that when you order a hamburger here you only get the patty (no bun) served on a plate served with a green garnish just like a steak in America. In addition to the patty, you get some fries, green beans, miso soup, rice and I forget what else. Needless to say, it was certainly interesting and far from American. At least we all had fun and so did Heather. Oh, I also found out from some Japanese men from Tarumizu that the waterfalls I almost died in have an average of 3 deaths a year. They said I was very lucky. (Things that make you go hmmm...)
Saturday we woke up ridiculously early – 6:30 AM. Jill, Cristina and I met up at Laura’s house. From there, we all boarded Jill’s car to head to Kirishima National Park (on the Kagoshima-Miyazaki border) where the gods are said to have descended to Japan. Before getting there, we met up with Osa and Florian in Miyakonojo. (Florian is a German student that did a homestay in Osa’s house while they were in high school.) Meeting up with them was not as easy as I thought it was going to be. We decided on an intersection to meet at, but Osa and Florian could not find it. They were at the intersection of the 7-11. (If you don’t know what intersection that is, don’t worry, neither did we nor they.) After 30 minutes of waiting, we met up and were on our way.
The Kirishima CIR (coordinator of international relations) had coordinated some sort of event where we would be led by high school students up a 1421 meter mountain. The day was beautiful, unlike the days prior that had been gray and rainy. The only negative was that it was extremely cold and windy, but that just made it all the more adventurous. We hiked to the top of Nakano-dake where we had lunch and a great view of Takachiho (the mountain where the gods descended and where we are going in May with Elena, Cristina’s sister). After lunch, we decided to go a little bit further and hike to a volcanic crater that had a sulfur lake at the bottom. It was extremely impressive and I would have stayed longer to admire it if it weren’t for the extreme winds. On our hike back to the bottom, Osa’s knee was in extreme pain, so we walked at a slower pace as she used my shoulders for support. I was such the hero. You should have seen me mom!
Upon arriving back at the campsite where our cabins were, we were fed an obscene amount of yaki niku (grilled/barbecued beef). We also had a surprise S’mores dessert that was a result of the collaboration of our group bringing “ship” biscuits (chocolate-covered graham crackers with a ship on it) and a random pack of marshmallows in another person’s car. After dinner, we went to onsen to warm up. Then, a quick run to a combini to grab some more drinks and snacks.
After onsen, I did not feel well. Perhaps, it was something I ate or going to onsen after I ate. After arriving back to the cabins, I had to lie down. Five minutes later, I felt extremely ill and I had to get up for some fresh air or to throw up. I made it three steps outside of the cabin before throwing up. Let me tell you, that it was a lot. And, I felt great afterward.
Sunday morning came and we were awoken by the sound of kids training nearby. They were chanting something that made them sound like a little Samurais in training and made the brass band practice outside of Cristina’s house at 8 AM sound pleasant. We went to the Kirishima shrine where we arrived at the last 2 minutes of some sort of harvest ceremony. Priests were throwing branches and seeds to the ground as Japanese people dived for as many as they could get.
Upon our return home we stopped at some waterfalls. They were really nice and had a trail to walk by the river and up around the waterfall. There was also a cool suspension bridge from which you could see the waterfall.
Cristina and I returned home and took a brief nap before meeting back at Laura’s for dinner. Dinner was at 6 PM and Cristina and I woke up at 5:50 PM. Cristina and I were in charge of bringing the main dish. We scurried out of the house and rushed to the supermarket to pick up stuff to make sushi. We got to Laura’s house with everything and set up everything within 30 minutes. We and the others were pleasantly surprised by the outcome of our hurriedness. The platters looked amazing. Cristina even made eggplant.
Today, March 14, is White Day in Japan. This is when the men give the women chocolates and gifts. Typically, it is when the man chooses a woman from all of the women that gave him chocolates on Valentine’s Day by giving only her chocolates and a gift. However, I gave both of the women in the office chocolates.
This week is graduation at the Junior High Schools. I say goodbye to the 3rd graders as they go on to high school or their chosen career. It should be sad. However, I am excited to dress up in a suit and shave. I think I will shock my office.
On Thursday, I decided to take the gym test here in Ginga Arena. I have not been able to take the test because of my adult conversation classes on the same evening. However, since they have been canceled for the past 2 weeks, I was able to do so. As it turns out, I am considered obese (still). You would think that after losing 100 pounds in high school I would put a dent on the obesity thing. Oh well, I have written out a workout plan, let’s see how it goes. Hopefully I lose 7 percent of my body fat to be considered healthily overweight. I was actually surprised by some of the equipment they have up there (right above my office). It is about $2 every time you use it, but you can get a year membership for $120. So, I was considering that until they told me that I may be commuting to Koyama starting in July to clock in, get my company car and then come back to Uchinoura to teach. Then, I would go back to Koyama to clock out, drop off the company car, pick up my car and go home. Koyama is the town where Kaz lives now that is in between my town and Cristina’s town. They will merge starting July 1st.
Friday was Heather’s birthday. Heather is a Kanoya ALT from Canada. We decided to go to this “American” restaurant in Kanoya. To find the restaurant, you follow a set of American flag billboards that lead you to a scary secluded mountain road. Five minutes later and a couple hundred feet higher, you see a small cabin – the restaurant. It was decorated with Native American paraphernalia and a map of the United States. They had many dishes that were (something)-doria. Do you know what doria is, because I don’t. In any case, I ordered the hamburger. However, I forgot that when you order a hamburger here you only get the patty (no bun) served on a plate served with a green garnish just like a steak in America. In addition to the patty, you get some fries, green beans, miso soup, rice and I forget what else. Needless to say, it was certainly interesting and far from American. At least we all had fun and so did Heather. Oh, I also found out from some Japanese men from Tarumizu that the waterfalls I almost died in have an average of 3 deaths a year. They said I was very lucky. (Things that make you go hmmm...)
Saturday we woke up ridiculously early – 6:30 AM. Jill, Cristina and I met up at Laura’s house. From there, we all boarded Jill’s car to head to Kirishima National Park (on the Kagoshima-Miyazaki border) where the gods are said to have descended to Japan. Before getting there, we met up with Osa and Florian in Miyakonojo. (Florian is a German student that did a homestay in Osa’s house while they were in high school.) Meeting up with them was not as easy as I thought it was going to be. We decided on an intersection to meet at, but Osa and Florian could not find it. They were at the intersection of the 7-11. (If you don’t know what intersection that is, don’t worry, neither did we nor they.) After 30 minutes of waiting, we met up and were on our way.
The Kirishima CIR (coordinator of international relations) had coordinated some sort of event where we would be led by high school students up a 1421 meter mountain. The day was beautiful, unlike the days prior that had been gray and rainy. The only negative was that it was extremely cold and windy, but that just made it all the more adventurous. We hiked to the top of Nakano-dake where we had lunch and a great view of Takachiho (the mountain where the gods descended and where we are going in May with Elena, Cristina’s sister). After lunch, we decided to go a little bit further and hike to a volcanic crater that had a sulfur lake at the bottom. It was extremely impressive and I would have stayed longer to admire it if it weren’t for the extreme winds. On our hike back to the bottom, Osa’s knee was in extreme pain, so we walked at a slower pace as she used my shoulders for support. I was such the hero. You should have seen me mom!
Upon arriving back at the campsite where our cabins were, we were fed an obscene amount of yaki niku (grilled/barbecued beef). We also had a surprise S’mores dessert that was a result of the collaboration of our group bringing “ship” biscuits (chocolate-covered graham crackers with a ship on it) and a random pack of marshmallows in another person’s car. After dinner, we went to onsen to warm up. Then, a quick run to a combini to grab some more drinks and snacks.
After onsen, I did not feel well. Perhaps, it was something I ate or going to onsen after I ate. After arriving back to the cabins, I had to lie down. Five minutes later, I felt extremely ill and I had to get up for some fresh air or to throw up. I made it three steps outside of the cabin before throwing up. Let me tell you, that it was a lot. And, I felt great afterward.
Sunday morning came and we were awoken by the sound of kids training nearby. They were chanting something that made them sound like a little Samurais in training and made the brass band practice outside of Cristina’s house at 8 AM sound pleasant. We went to the Kirishima shrine where we arrived at the last 2 minutes of some sort of harvest ceremony. Priests were throwing branches and seeds to the ground as Japanese people dived for as many as they could get.
Upon our return home we stopped at some waterfalls. They were really nice and had a trail to walk by the river and up around the waterfall. There was also a cool suspension bridge from which you could see the waterfall.
Cristina and I returned home and took a brief nap before meeting back at Laura’s for dinner. Dinner was at 6 PM and Cristina and I woke up at 5:50 PM. Cristina and I were in charge of bringing the main dish. We scurried out of the house and rushed to the supermarket to pick up stuff to make sushi. We got to Laura’s house with everything and set up everything within 30 minutes. We and the others were pleasantly surprised by the outcome of our hurriedness. The platters looked amazing. Cristina even made eggplant.
Today, March 14, is White Day in Japan. This is when the men give the women chocolates and gifts. Typically, it is when the man chooses a woman from all of the women that gave him chocolates on Valentine’s Day by giving only her chocolates and a gift. However, I gave both of the women in the office chocolates.
This week is graduation at the Junior High Schools. I say goodbye to the 3rd graders as they go on to high school or their chosen career. It should be sad. However, I am excited to dress up in a suit and shave. I think I will shock my office.
posted by Jesse Montano at
10:33 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home