The same day we left Camp #1 we hopped a train (or a bunch of trains, rather) and ended up in the town of Chino in Nagano prefecture. We were taken to our hotel, which, in complete contrast to our cabin-style residence before, was a 4-star hotel! I couldn't believe it. Our room was unbelievably HUGE and had a western-style bedroom and tatami living/bed room! The best part: a tiny waterfall rolled off a ridge just outside the bedroom window, letting the sound of running water permeate the room. Not to mention the free candies they gave us every time they made the beds.
These kids were GREAT. This was a co-ed middle school group at an advanced level, so we skipped over the "recreational" activities (dance party, bonfire, carnival) in favor of more "academic" ones (word building, tongue twisters, group discussion.) In spite of the seriousness of the activities, camp was still entertaining, moving and fun. I'm so grateful to the team for letting us interns be involved with the kids and not just stolid observers. I made some real connections and hopefully contributed towards the campers' positive and fun image of English language learning.
At the end of camp, after "graduation," the campers all lined up and sang a chorale-style song that they had practiced for us. I started sobbing. I made a fist and touched it hard to the bridge of my nose, eyes clenched shut, the entire time, trying to control my tears. Their choral music reminded me of why I want to do what I want to do. I don't know why it moves me so much, but it does. I am astonished that their entire 9th grade class sings. They are ALL part of the choir. And it didn't sound half bad. They even had a student conductor who I got to talk to a little bit at the end. I told her that I studied conducting back in the states, and to not give up on conducting/music. She was really appreciative. I also signed a bunch of autographs and took a bunch of pictures. Even the boys were crying. This was a very emotional camp. That's the best kind.
Mike welcoming the campers to camp.
An epic dragonfly alighted on the bridge outside.
The river that flowed literally all around the grounds. It was beautiful; it was like the hotel was integrated with the nature all around it.
Some of the finery in our hotel room.
Our beautiful tatami room! I am going to miss these when I come back home.
The hotel lobby meant two things: staff meetings and INTERNET! Internet until I could no longer keep my eyes open every night. Hehe.
After camp, on the train going back to Tokyo: a cute little hamlet. I love them.
The town of Kiyosato. It was BEAUTIFUL and strangely reminded me of Los Gatos.
The beautiful town sign. THAT is my second-favorite color. So gorgeous. Kiyosato means "pure village." Kiyo (清) is one of my very favorite kanji. It is basically the kanji for blue (青) combined with the radical for water (ｼ)and it means "pure." If I was gonna give my daughter a Japanese name, I would consider naming her that.
After this camp ended, we spent a night in Tokyo before moving on to Camp #3. To make the most of my time, I tried to think of something cool to do, and ended up taking the train around, getting off at a few stops and walking around. As I walked, I thought to myself: Can I see myself living here for a year? I walked around a lot and I thought about it long and hard. The answer is yes. I wasn't sure, but now I think I would love to live in Tokyo for a year. As I walked, I pretended like I knew the way. I listened to my headphones. I barely whipped out my camera (except to take the photo above, near Gotanba station, for my friend Remy.) I tried to imagine myself living there. Even though my little excursion was sort of a waste because I spent the majority of my time on the viewless train, it was a success in that I sort of figured out my comfort level with living in the city. I feel strangely safe in Tokyo. Though it's the big city, I definitely don't feel the fear of robbery, and fear of my body, that I felt in Paris.
TODAY'S CULTURE TIDBIT
Bathing culture in Japan.
I can't take pics inside the baths, of course, but ever since I embarked on this summer-camp journey, I've been bathing with the other female counselors. This was the first time I had ever done so. The first time I was shy, but I seriously got over it it 5 minutes and couldn't believe I was so apprehensive before. We're all women. We all have bodies, and my body is not grotesque; rather, we're all beautiful. Plus no one gives a shit and everyone is super comfortable with it so it makes me comfortable with it too. Every facility we have been to has had a wonderful bath. There is a "shower area" where you shower (because you DARE not enter the bath dirty, seriously) and then a hot-tub-ish big BATH. The shower area has lots and lots of little gooseneck showerheads hanging down from the walls, a stool to sit on, and usually some kind of shampoo/shower gel/soap. The bath is just a 2-or-3-foot-deep-ish area of hot water. Like a hot tub, but no chlorine and less fizzy. Some have bubbles, some don't. Some are outside, some inside. Some are made of marble, some wooden, some tile. I personally prefer the wooden ones. They feel really natural and comfortable. Taking a nice soak in what is essentially a hot tub after every nightly shower feels really good. I feel like the Japanese work so hard, day in and day out (and really they do) that at night, indulging in a bath is the perfect release. It's such a normal thing: take a shower, then take a bath. You can even go together with your friends or family. I like it, and I wish Americans were less uptight about the whole nakedness-together thing now.
