Number 26

Japan Chronicle 26 (ni-ju-roku)


Well, we are really in the end game now! This week we have 17 boxes headed for home. The appointments have been made to turn off utilities and vacate our apartment. Dana’s parents arrive 1 week from Thursday. Wow!

I need to back up a little and tell you about something I omitted from my last chronicle. (Senility!) The weekend before we went to Guam, we went to Kasama again. Kasama is the place where we were literally overwhelmed by photographers. This time we went with my Japanese teacher/English student and her family.

The main reason we went to Kasama the first time is because we had heard you could make pottery there. An instructor will take you through it and then your piece is left to be fired and you get it back in about a month. Well, we never managed to find one of these places. I had mentioned this to Gota-san and she said she knew where some were and we decided to make a day of it for both of our families. Gota-san even managed to find an instructor that spoke English! That made all of our lives easier.

We spent the morning at a pottery place, studio sounds a little funny given the surroundings. This place was more like a barn with open areas to work in downstairs and a bonfire going to help warm you. Our lesson was up in an attic like area of the barn. There was also a museum. This particular place has been a family run pottery business for 5 generations. It is all in rather a garden like area up a road that we thought sure was a bike path. They also have on display, the world largest vase. The current generations father made it; the son is of course now working on a larger one. I can’t remember the exact height, but it was well over 30 feet tall! Simply incredible for a small town!

After our pottery work, we went to a noodle house. Lunch was great and then we headed off for some shopping. It was a great day and we are anxious to see our work. I think it will be ready this week.

Guam was great too! We spent our first evening with the Lennon’s dining at Sizzler. We were all missing salad bars! Most of our time was spent enjoying the water park, but we did take some time to explore the island a little. We visited the a war museum and a place called Two Lovers Point for the two that tied their hair together and plunged to their death because they could not marry. I think we were all glad just to have warm weather.

We also decided to go on another dolphin watch. The boat ride was wonderful. Christina got to sit with the captain. He is famous for having studied and written a book on dolphins, so she was able to talk with him and ask questions. Dana and I even snorkeled off the back of the boat for a short time. The water is so clear and beautiful there. I could just float around and watch the fish for hours.
The only thing missing from our dolphin watch was the dolphins! I felt so bad for Christina, but she was great despite her disappointment. There had been a sighting of some Pilot Whales in the area and the Spinner dolphins hide when they are around. The captain felt so bad too! He gave us all a set of postcards with photos he had taken and gave Christina his business card and told her to keep in contact.

Since our return from Guam, it seems like most of our effort is focused on leaving. We are of course anxious to get home, but I don’t want to give the idea that we have not thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We have met some great friends and experienced something few people ever get too! Alas, it will be good to be home.

Well, I am going to close for now. Dana is having one of his late nights at work and I need to get some more work done. The late night is much more unusual now, but every once in awhile….

Blessings and prayers,
Marion