IrishOboe

Friday toward the end of work I c-mailed Mark (that’s text messaging between AU customers; if US cell phones were this complicated I certainly didn’t know about it) about the Fujiyoshida Fire Festival because he said his supervisor was going to us but I didn’t know what time. He said she couldn’t go but that Megan was going but might not have room. I figured that meant I wasn’t going (I mean, who needs to drive 1 ½ hours just to see more fireworks with a huge crowd of people?), but when I came home Mark said “We leave for the station in 5min to meet Megan.” What? I needed to unpack my stuff and cool off and change and think about what I wanted for the trip. It wasn’t going to happen so I said I didn’t want to see more fireworks but Mark said it was a fire festival not a fireworks festival. That sounded much more local and interesting so I decided to go. I threw my lunch stuff in the sink and quickly got ready. If only I’d known what I was getting ready for . . .

The trip to Fujiyoshida was uneventful and we managed to find our way to the festival site. The main part of the night’s festivities was a long street lit with many tall fires about 3-6 feet apart down the center of the road. Many vendors were alongside the road, and though it wasn’t as crowded as the fireworks festivals because there was more area for people to be, it was still quite crowded. The fires were not marked off and people were walking very close to them and children were playing near them. Occasionally a pile would settle and spew sparks and burning pieces of wood and people would jump out of the way then go on their merry way. We made our way down to an area where people were performing taiko (drumming) and met many other JETs and some random other gaijin on the way. The gaijin really stuck out to me. I’d only been seeing Japanese faces, or those of the JETs I know, so seeing a white person I didn’t know really stuck out to me. I wonder what it will be like when I come home . . .

After a while I discovered that my ride was not planning on going back that night. I guess I should have been grateful for the ride, but this is the second time that I’ve gotten a ride somewhere and haven’t been notified that I don’t have a way back until I’m already there. To me, that is slightly important information. I guess it’s not such a big deal to others. I was slightly distressed about being stranded in Fujiyoshida, but I did know a number of JETs there so I didn’t let it get to me. Mike was having a number of people over, so I decided to join the crowd.

After listening to taiko, Chris (Mike’s friend whose snorkeling equipment I borrowed at Lake Motosko) took me up to see the omikoshi (portable shrine) that had been brought from the shrine to the festival area. People were praying and making offerings and getting sips of sake in little bowls afterwards. Chris explained about the festival, which was very interesting. Basically they are thanking Mt. Fuji for not erupting that year and asking her to not erupt in the coming year. It’s the official end of the climbing season (though it doesn’t close for a bit more time), and they bring the goddess from her home in the shrine out and parade her around then bring her back.

We walked to the shrine, which is where the start of the path up Mt. Fuji is. On the way Chris stopped to get a drink from a vending machine near a Japanese man selling beer. As we scrambled for change the Japanese man came up to us and handed us each a beer saying, “Gift for you.” I didn’t think it right to refuse so I thanked him and we went on our way. It turns out Chris doesn’t drink either, so we passed on the love to the next group of JETs we found.

The way to the shrine was lined with tall cedars and stone figures. The shrine was very elaborate and beautiful, though I couldn’t see much in the dark. Chris explained more about what would happen at the festival tomorrow when they brought the goddess back, then we headed back to the fires. They already had bulldozers out and ready for clean up. We stuck around so we could see how it was done. They doused the flames with a fire hose then about five men stood nearby as the bulldozer broke up the foundation of the fires, then the men shoveled the ashes into the scooper, which put the stuff in a truck. The next day there were only small traces of ash at the side of the road, and the road was totally clean.

Chris and I ate fried chicken nuggets (good ones) and candy apples (mine took me about an hour to eat) and I discovered, to my horror, that I’d spent my last 1,000 yen note and only had two 10,000 notes. That’s like having two hundred dollar bills, which can be difficult in some situations. While we were waiting to meet Mike and go back to his place I decided to stop at a conbini and buy a toothbrush. Some things are essential in life, even for only one night. I paid with my 10,000 note, no problem. I don’t know if 7-11’s back home let you pay for a $3 item with a $100 bill, but it works in Japan.

While we were hanging around a Japanese girl started talking to us since she knew some English from being in Canada. Turns out she’s from Kofu and she offered me a ride back there tomorrow. Since the whole time here had been crazy, I figured I should take her up on the offer. It’s Japan, she’s female, and she speaks English, she must be all right, right? We exchanged info, and that was that.

The plan was to meet everyone staying at Mike’s where Chris’s and his bikes were then walk to Mike’s apartment, but Mark decided to stay elsewhere and other people were staying out later, so it was just Mike, Chris and me and two bikes. So . . . yet again I found myself on the handlebars of Mike’s bike. This ride was a bit longer and a bit more frightening since it was mostly downhill (we’re on Mt. Fuji, after all) and we went at some speed. Thankfully we avoided most major roads, but my hip flexors were sore from holding my legs up since I couldn’t fully sit on the handles because of the gears and stuff. By the end of the ride every bump was quite painful, but I recovered quickly afterwards. We pretty much showered and went to bed, since it was quite late (around 1am I think). Sadly, we had to get up at 6:30am because Mike and Chris were going down to a lake to windsurf and snorkel. That meant I had to be up and out of the house as well. I was surprisingly refreshed for sleeping on a couch for so little time. We went to a local bakery for breakfast and on the way Chris showed the mint plants he’d planted when he was a JET in Fujiyoshida and he gave me some clippings so I could grow my own. The bakery wasn’t opened yet, but the lady was already there baking so she let us buy some bread from the day before and she gave us each a butter and a peanutbuttercream sandwich and wouldn’t let us pay!

They went on their way and I went to the train station to get back to where the shrine was so I could see it in daylight and also meet my ride. While waiting for the train I sat on the ground and ate my sandwich. At one point I felt something on my back so I reached back but didn’t feel anything. Then a Japanese lady brushed my back, obviously there’d been a bug. She wasn’t satisfied, however, and motioned that the bug had gone down my shirt and proceeded to put her arm all the way down my shirt! What can one do in such a situation but thank the stranger for her kindness. Boy it was a strange weekend! We had a little conversation in Japanese, though my vocabulary is still quite lacking. I managed to get on the right train, tell the conductor where I got on and bought a ticket (there wasn’t a machine at the station so you had to buy it on the train), and I got off at the right stop. I got off the train feeling very proud of myself and thoroughly enjoying my weekend adventure. Surely this kind of stuff can happen back at home too, if I ever tried to go out to so many places. Maybe it wouldn’t be the same. Somehow the language barrier adds charm. . .

The shrine was nice during the day but my ride fell through for reasons I wasn’t sure of because my cell phone battery was dying. It worked out well, though since I used the opportunity to figure out the bus system and get a schedule and learn how it worked to get from Fujiyoshida to Kofu. It was quite convenient (they go nearly every hour) and reasonably priced (unlike the famously expensive train). When I finally got home it was nearly 2pm. I tried to get the package from the post office that they’d tried to deliver yesterday while I was at school, but the post office is closed on weekends! I forgot to mention that I’d tried on a few skirts while waiting to hear from my ride and I made the terrible mistake of not taking off my shoes when I went in the dressing room. When I came out the attendant looked at me with shock and said “shoes!!!” and I felt terrible. By the look on her face I’d committed the most senseless, terrible crime ever. I guess I won’t forget for next time!

I needed some chill time so I took up my knitting, only to discovered that I’d bought the wrong size circular knitting needles for my project. I needed size 6 American (4mm) not 6mm!!!! My project is now on hold until I find a knitting shop . . .

All these little things going wrong were beginning to add up and few other things that happened pushed me over the edge and I turned very sour. I decided the best cure for that was a run, which I was sour about because I was due to run that morning but couldn’t because I was stuck in Fujiyoshida wearing sandals and a skirt. I decided to try the path near the river and I set off at a good pace hoping to go farther. Well, I did all right. I went 5 miles in 52min and it felt great! Yippy! I’ve never run that far and fast in my life! I think it helps to be walking and biking everywhere even though it doesn’t seem like much exercise. I don’t know why else it’s been so easy to get back into running. I didn’t want to hurt myself so I very carefully warmed down and stretched. While warming down by walking around the neighborhood I noticed two little girls playing with unicycles! They were quite good! I’m jealous. I’ve always wanted to ride a unicycle. What fun parents who decided to get their kids unicycles!

I also rediscovered the little produce store near my apartment. Having been here a few weeks I’m more familiar with prices and could recognize the value of the little store. Plus, it’s very close! It’s hard to lug fruit back from the grocery store, and this stuff is cheaper, better, and much easier to bring home! I’m a huge fan now. I can’t believe I forgot about it!

I finished out the night by doing some yoga and meditation to the Braveheart soundtrack. It felt wonderful. I did meditation so well I wasn’t startled when my phone rang, AND I managed to ignore it. Someone called my home and my cell and I heard both and determined to pretend that I was out, which indeed I was since during meditation I really am out and sudden movements are potentially dangerous. It turned out to be Rudy and I called him back after gently coming out of meditation. He’d asked if I’d been sleeping. Hm, meditation really works . . .

I stayed up to post the update about school, but was too tired to keep going. It’s Sunday now but I’ll save today’s events for later since it is already past my bedtime. I should slow down the adventures so I can keep up with myself!!!