Kyoto sensei

I have become used to people gasping when they find out I am an assistant principal, or Kyoto as it is called in Japan. Being my age and being an assistant principal just don't go together, like fomented soybeans and an American palette. This is just one cultural difference we are experiencing in Japan. I have to keep remembering to take shoes off as I enter my bedroom made of tatami mats and when I enter the living room. I try to remember to say "itedakimas" before eating and "ittekimas" before leaving home.

In fact, Mrs. Owen and I are desperately trying to get to grips with some Japanese. It is hard, but we are having a blast trying. I fact, one of the best things about Aomori, the prefecture where Hirakawa is located, is using local dialect - tsuagru. Say "hebana" when you leave someone's house and you are bound to get a laugh. Say "haratsui" and look upwards in a pained "I just ate too many pancakes at Moody's" kind if way after you finish a meal, and you will be greeted with roars of laughter. This is the thing about traveling - you just don't know where the next laugh, the next moment of reflection, the next great view, the next new delicacy or the next moment of humbling kindness will come from. It is spontaneous, taxing and wonderful. Tavel is a joyous thing and truly, the people in Hirakawa are heartwarming in their welcome.

On a more logistical note, I am pleased to report that our group is now back at 12. Molly is back in the fold and we are glad to have her. Hopefully tomorrow she will be back with her host family.

I have posted some photos of the last few days. You will see some of Tokyo from our last morning - I took a 5:30am walk and enjoyed the city as it woke up and as golfers jumped on a bus out of town.

You'll see a few photos from the bullet train (or Shinkansen). W just missed cheery blossom season in Tokyo and are about two weeks too early in Aomori but we saw some from the train, which sped by at 200mph. I added a few of our trip to the neputa float, the tea ceremony and our visit to the mountain school (via a dam - I couldn't resist taking a dam tourist photo). At the mountain school, you can see us doing calligraphy, cooking and origami (a well as seeing their cool principal). We then painted kokechi dolls, which took a lot if skill.

Today, due to poor weather, we were given an impromptu tour of the fire dept. before visiting a neputa museum, hearing some great music, drumming a little and painting some samurai. We ended the day wi a trip to hirosaki castle before Owen sensei and I were given a tour of a local shrine and temple by my host mother.

Sorry the following photos are in random order and a few are duplicates. I'm not sure how to fix it on an iPad.

More updates tomorrow - hebana.