THE NOT SO SECRET LIFE OF MEL: Highlights of Japan!

Here are some highlights of the past week for you to enjoy! Hope you're all well!

1 - Skiing and Snow!

The three of us flew up north to Hokkaido, apparently world renowned for its powder like snow! Jessica’s cram school sensei’s and good friends the Ohnama’s had helped to planned an awesome holiday for us.

Unlike us Aussies who pack the day before and have a ‘she’ll be right’ mentality to travel, Japanese people research everything! The best places to eat, the famous places to see, the special produce of the area that must be tasted! The key is not to miss out on anything!

So, with our print outs, maps, coupons and directions from the Ohnama’s we set off to see the snow, eat the famous mutton of the area (they call mutton Genghis Kahn!), drink the famous Sapporo beer and taste the chocolates & ice cream made from famous Hokkaido milk!

Day one, we wondered lost in the snow. It was pretty cool, to have real snow falling on my head. But particularly annoying when it gets in your eyes! We visited the Sapporo beer museum and had tastings. So cheap, $4 for 3 middies! Matt was a happy man.

Day two we waited in the lobby in our ski (space like) clothing and were told our ski field was closed due to too much snow! Thankfully they took us to another ski field and it was open. It looked like a winter wonderland. I have never seen snow falling so it was so cool! We had a 1.5 hour lesson, thankfully the trainer could speak some English so matt and I didn’t have to stand their looking stupid! It was such fun. A few falls here and there, but after our lesson we tackled rainbow course all on our own! We made it down the 20min track and felt like pro skiers! It was such a blast, covered from head to toe, with only our noses showing, trekking through the snow. Definitely want to do it again!

The last day, we caught a train to Otaru. It was -3.3 there and snowing like crazy. It is a more ‘touristy’ place. We spent most of the day inside a beer house that resembled the Sherwood Forest, home to Robin Hood. The staff were dressed like Maid Marion etc. It was pretty fun! So we were there eating and drinking for about 3 hours. Firstly for relief from the cold and secondly because we forgot money! We sent matt out in the crazy weather to find us cash (no one does eftpos in Japan).

We had a fun little adventure away & got quite comfortable with one another sharing a room in the hotel! lol

2 - Tea Ceremony

One of Jessica’s friends took me out to her grandma’s place to see traditional tea ceremony. I sat there in the seiza position (my legs going dead!) and watched the very graceful and beautiful process of making the tea. With the very green and bitter tea, sweet sweets are served. It is an art that Japanese people study for their whole lives. This lady has been a teacher for 50 years. She says the process is about beauty. Everything is to be done in a certain way e.g. only three step moves are allowed in order to go forward to receive the tea, and you must turn the bowl to the right before drinking. Also remember not to step on the blue line in the tatami mat!

It was a lovely experience and the lady was very kind to take the time to teach me.

3 – Visiting Jessica’s School

I was the first and only special guest Jessica has had to actually attend her classes! Thursday saw 6 classes back to back with 35 – 40 students and Friday 4 classes. Jess began the lesson with the students asking me questions in English. After they stopped shrieking and staring at me (asking if jess and I were twins?) the questions started. Number one most common question was ... ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ When I answered “yes”, they all screeched and clapped! It was lots of fun, they are lovely girls but it is very tiring. Jess works hard, and does well being the cultural experience educator at the school. We then did a group work challenge, in which I got to go round and speak to some of the students to help them. This was fun.

I attended the junior school two days, because it had to be ‘fair for all students to get the chance to have an English speaking guest. Fair is very important in Japan. I also looked around the senior high school that Jess works at, and was a previous student at when she was on exchange. Very eye opening to see her desk and think of her in class with a whole bunch of Japanese people for a year, eating her home made lunch box of rice etc every day! Jess is a very talented and wonderful teacher here!

4 - Going Drinking

Sounds dodgy but its not! In Japan there are drinking houses called ‘Izakaia’s’. They are small shops, usually attached to someone’s house. There is a hostess, the shop owner who serves you for the night. They are warm, welcoming and homely places. When you arrive a small bite size dish is served, so you don’t get affected by the first drink J. You order your drink and right before you, the hostess prepares it. You then order off the menu and the same lady gets to work on your food. It is truly amazing food, so tasty, so fresh and prepared with such love! The lady who owned the shop was the sweetest most hospitable lady I have ever met!

We were taken to this drinking house Jessica’s cram school teacher friends and it was such and enjoyable night! We shared dish after dish or delicious food, had a few drinks to warm us up and enjoyed the company.