cold water

So I did it, I finally did it. I plunged into the cold water bath at my gym. This might not seem like a big accomplishment, but to me it was a small victory.

At my gym, which I have successfully been going to every other day for the past 7 months, there is an onsen. An onsen is like huge open a public bathroom with showers and a really large bath area filled with hot water. But there is also a very small bath made for only one or two people, and it is filled with freezing cold water. I have watched the ladies get quickly into and out of the bath for months, but being too scared to enter myself. Finally since it was fairly not busy with the usual ladies, and it also being summer, I felt like it was time. I walked right over and plunged in. Was it cold? yes, did it remind me of many times in the lake? yes, will i do it again? most likely yes (only when no one is around to witness the agony in my face).

On to other topics, I'm changing lives one Japanese woman at a time. I have a new student named Kaori. She is a new bride, and also new to my small town. We were talking about her daily schedule and how she basically has to wake up at 5 am to make both her and her husbands lunches, make them both breakfast, and then do laundry before getting ready for work. Not sure if you are aware of Japanese men, but many of them don't even know wear their underwear is kept. Many wives basically lay their husbands clothing out on the bed for them to change into. Men: don't make breakfast (or any meal for that matter), don't do household chores, basically just go to work, and that's about it. Women on the other hand do EVERYTHING. Both Kaori and her husband work full time, but when they come home, SHE basically starts her other job- the house. I kindly alerted her to the fact that they are unequally contributing to their family and relationship. The next week she came to class beaming. She told me about how she made a list and sat down with her husband to show him how basically everything that needs to be done is done by her, he realized this too, and has started to help significantly with the household chores. She said she is sooooooooo much happier and less stressed. One life made easier is worth it.

I often feel so much more than a teacher here in this little city called Fukui. I'm a therapist, a friend, and generally someone who listens to the daily lives of all my students. I don't always have answers or good advice, but I listen (and correct their English of course).

This weekend is festival time!!!!!!!!! Expect some Yukata clad pictures to be put up soon.

Tsuruga つるが, and Mikata Go-ko

So when the Wicked Witch of the West said she was melting, I'm pretty sure she wasn't in OZ, she was in fact in Fukui, Japan. It is sooooooo hot and humid. I am never not sweating. No wonder Japanese people stay so skinny, it's because they sweat away any fat they might gain from unhealthy food.

What better to do on a hot sunny day than go to the beach? Lesley, Kathy, George and I set out to Tsuruga at about 8:00 am. Our first stop was Mikata Go-ko, which means 5 lakes of Mikata. It is apparently famous. It was very beautiful, but at 32 degrees all I wanted to do was get my bum to the beach.


This is apparently the new pose I have adopted. At least it is better than the peace sign. Notice the little locks surrounding my legs. They are all from people locking up there love on top of this mountain, or hopes of love.
A surprise wave hit me.

We decided to find some shade after a while, and ended up with our very own private rock pool.
Great day in the sun :)

白山 Mt Hakusan

Wake-up 2:00 am
Board bus 2:30 am
Arrive at Mountain 5:00am
Start climbing the largest Mountain I've ever climbed 5:30am.

I have such mixed feelings towards this mountain climbing experience. On the one hand there was amazing scenery, fresh air, and a summit triumph. On the other hand there were bugs, sweat, thirst, freezing weather/rain at the top, and a trail down that never seemed to end... and don't even get me started on the days of aching leg muscles.

Hakusan mountain is 2702 m high, and it is one of the three holy mountains in Japan. The others are Tateyama, and Fuji. We are climbing Fuji next month. The climb up the mountain was great.There is nothing better than the unknown, and a goal ahead of you. We passed waterfalls, areas of snow, mountain flowers, and rocky cliffs. It took us about 6 hours to climb to the area where we had lunch.

Keiko and I resting on one of our many much needed breaks.


This is still early on in the climb when we don't look exhausted.
Snowy trails
Finally reaching the summit at 2702 m. No rain or cold breeze was going to stop us :) Once we were above the clouds the rain stopped.
This does not look as dangerous as it actually was.
I made an aniakchak(sp?) for Kylie. "Now the people will know we were here" ahahah
My adorable students at the top :)On the way down, slipping through the snow.
Our guide, Sakai-san

The whole group.

I'm not going to lie, the way down was not easy. We went a different way down, and it took us just about as long to get down as it did up. All I could think about was what I wanted to eat when I got off the mountain. When you are tired it is hard to concentrate on your footing, and down is tricky with all the rocks and stray trees. It felt so good to finally reach the bridge where we had first started over 12 hours ago.

Time everyone made it down the mountain 7:30pm
Arrival at home 9:30pm

Sleep was soooooooooo very good that night.

Nagashima Spa Land

My boss decided to cancel all the classes this Wednesday and take us all to a theme park called Nagashima Spa Land. What a great day at work if I do say so myself. My boss even had to wear his suit because he didn't tell his wife he was going to a theme park instead of working. We went on many roller coasters, rides, etc, I think they also had the worlds longest roller coaster.