13 June 2014
My Japanese hosts are busy people. I doubt if they sleep at all! They appear to be driven by their work and are happy to serve others. There are so many activities going on here and it differs according to seasons. Seems like very good multitaskers. Apart from the running the restaurant and hostel, they run an 'Adventure Club' for elementary children from neighbouring schools. Quite similar to Singapore's PAL outdoor programmes. So, they act as the service provider/ external vendor for schools. However, the difference is only selected few of the Japanese children participated in this club and no school teachers tag along. As though Otoosan is not busy enough, he can go bamboo shoot picking at 4am almost everyday.
Otoosan was very kind to accommodate my request to experience bamboo shoot (竹の子) picking. He brought me on an easy course. Easy course means flat ground. He can pick bamboo shoots on a mountain slope. No, thank you...
It's really nice to stay with my hosts and get a glimpse of their lives and culture. I'm aware that their family is not a representative of other Japanese families but I'm happy to be included in their lives. Sometimes, their grandchildren came over for a Yakiniku dinner. They also involved me when they have a gathering with their friends. The best thing about wwoofing is I get to witness for myself what my hosts do after work. Perhaps it's something their staff don't even see.
I'm privilege for now that I'm the only wwoofer, I get my personal space to rest and reflect. Even though I highlighted many of my fun experience, I do my share of cleaning duties daily. I don't do all everyday but on a regular basis.
My Japanese hosts are busy people. I doubt if they sleep at all! They appear to be driven by their work and are happy to serve others. There are so many activities going on here and it differs according to seasons. Seems like very good multitaskers. Apart from the running the restaurant and hostel, they run an 'Adventure Club' for elementary children from neighbouring schools. Quite similar to Singapore's PAL outdoor programmes. So, they act as the service provider/ external vendor for schools. However, the difference is only selected few of the Japanese children participated in this club and no school teachers tag along. As though Otoosan is not busy enough, he can go bamboo shoot picking at 4am almost everyday.
Otoosan was very kind to accommodate my request to experience bamboo shoot (竹の子) picking. He brought me on an easy course. Easy course means flat ground. He can pick bamboo shoots on a mountain slope. No, thank you...
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| Otoosan leading the way... |
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| My first bamboo shoot! |
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| Taller bamboo shoots |
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| After slogging for 2 hours, only these many |
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| BBQ at the terrace |
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| Friends' house in a log cabin |
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| Working into the night, cleaning 3 big tunas |
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| Fertilizing the flowers |
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| Cleaning the window. This is 1/216 windows in the house. Ok, I'm exaggerating. |
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| Vacuuming the shoe racks |
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| Tilling the soil |
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| Companions for cleaning the toilets and bathroom |
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| Yes! I do sewing too. |
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| Harvesting wild veggies: warabi |
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