Meeting my host family

This is what happens to libraries in earthquakes!
From the Japan Times

(For 14th April)

Today was the start of the REAL reason for being here (eating and shopping and bathing were not really the reasons).

We had an early start as Ulla and I were travelling together and we were both concerned about getting to the right place in the crazy station at the right time.  We did it with plenty of time to spare, so had a relaxing start to the journey.  Ulla’s had a good time shopping, so we couldn’t fit her case on the overhead racks.  We quietly slid it into a spare seat and hoped for the best.



Bound for Kanazawa

We saw some amazing scenery along the way.  We travelled for some time alongside Lake Biwa, which John and I had seen on our first scooter trip in 2010.  Once we got closer to Kanazawa, we saw the mountains on the right – and they had snow on top!!  Wow – I hadn’t realised we’d be seeing snow-capped mountains.  We managed to see a few cherry trees that still had blossoms, but in the main, the season is over.  It was a very pleasant trip which, despite taking about three hours, was a good experience that we both enjoyed.

Once we reached Kanazawa, we found a few nice things at the nearest kombini and had our lunch in the plaza in front of the station.



Lake Biwa

And then the nerves set in – it was time to go for our introduction session at the language school.  We were not so nervous about the classes, but about meeting and staying with our families.

We were first met by a staff member from the Language School who was doing the duty for the first time – so she was nervous too!  She talked us through what to expect for the next two weeks and then --- eeek --- it was time to meet our families.



Kanazawa Station gateway

My hosts are Mr and Mrs Hyakuman and they are really nice people.  They took me to the station to show me where to get on the bus and then we went to their house.  What a lovely house it is too!  It’s up a hillside at the edge of Kanazawa in a beautiful quite little street.  I have a lovely room with a lovely view and a bed that is calling me right now.

Mrs Hyakuman then took me for a walk to show me the way to the bus stop, and which sides of the road to get on and off the bus.  It should be really easy, but I’m sure I’ll end up in Kyoto and miss the first class tomorrow.  We were accompanied on our walk by the Hyakuman's cute little dog - but he's quite old and a bit arthritic, so his 'walk' was in Mrs Hyakuman's arms

Mr Hyakuman went out, so dinner was just for me and Mrs Hyakuman.  She went to a huge amount of trouble to prepare a lovely meal with fish, rice, vegetables and tasty little accompaniments.  I completed my meal with a Japanese beer.  Oishii!!



Happy little girl
at the Kanazawa Station
 

It was only 8 o’clock by the time we’d finished, but the nerves of earlier in the day and the strain of trying to form coherent sentences was so tiring.  Mrs Hyakuman offered to fill the bath for me, so I took her up on the offer.  She pressed a button in the kitchen and the ‘bath machine’ spoke to her and started doing its thing.  When the bath was ready, it told her that, too.  I did the right thing (washed first, then bathed) and struggled up the stairs to my bed.  My bed is actually a bed, not a futon, which should help me to get a good night’s sleep in readiness for my ‘placement test’ at the school tomorrow prior to getting into it.

The wind is currently blowing a gale and Mrs Hakuman tells me it is forecast to be rainy and windy tomorrow.  Wouldn’t be a problem, except our visit to Kenrokuen (Japanese garden) is scheduled for 2.00pm tomorrow.  Fingers crossed for a good day.

And so to bed!