English School Camp

A few weeks ago we were invited to an join a English School for a overnight "English camp." The school often sends invitations to the homeschooler group here on base to surround their students with English speaking people and children. We thought it would be fun so we signed up. It did turn out to be a lot of fun, it completely wore me out but it was really fun.

We went down by train and met the man in charge at the station. We met him at one of the most famous districts of Tokyo, Harajuku. He was still waiting for another family so told us to go on ahead through Yoyogi park. We walked around through a big plaza with some very strange people. I am not sure why but that is the place were all the people who like to "dress up" come to hang out and get their pictures taken by tourists and young Japanese people who think its funny. Ummmm well we tried to avert the children's eyes and walked on into the park. Now we didn't realize upon entering it exactly what park it was or anything. This park was more like a forest then a park. Which is really how the Japanese seem to design their parks. They have this ability to design things so that you can be in the middle of Tokyo and walk into this "park" and you feel as if you are in a great big forest. We walked for a long time... carrying our luggage or rather Jeb was carrying the luggage (thankfully I have a really tough husband who doesn't get tired carrying three packed bags for a few miles. ) . We asked some locals for the directions on how to get out of the park, we needed to go to the Olympic Plaza (where the athletes stayed in around 1970 when Japan hosted the Olympics. ) We found our way out and found the plaza.

Then we met the kids and they were so cute. It was so fun the way the ogled at us Americans. They latched on to our two little girls and petted Niyah like she was a little baby to be brought around. We played way to many games. Went on a treasure hunt which took us up and down so many stairs! I was starting to get very tired and very hungry. It was around 8:30 at night when we finally made it to the restaurant with everyone. I had been very hot and sweaty (no air conditioning) I had walked more miles then used to and many stairs and played with little children. So when the food options came out and there was nothing familiar or comforting on it I could have cried. I was just not in the mood for odd things. I ordered what was supposed to be European meatloaf with sauce. No it was not good and I can not even say that the meat was cooked. So then finally after 9:30 we get to head to our "room."

So I had thought that since it was the Olympic hotel it would be very nice. Well we were very disappointed. The outside looked nice. The actual hotel part was very questionable. In the room where four very old little yucky twin mattresses. That was it. No shower, no toilet, no sink.... no anything actually except four mattress with really nasty stains that made you really not want to lie down. They had the traditional Japanese shower (which means community shower.) This is not uncommon and I understand most traditional hotels have their bathing this way. We were exhausted and hot and stinky so to the community shower we went. Brief description. You undress in the first room, then enter the bath room where there are a go number of shower heads very low towards the floor. You sit (Squat) on a bucket and wash yourself off. This was fun. Not as bad as you think its going to be, you kind of get over the whole everyone is naked thing. Then you are to go and soak in the big very hot tub. The girls were delighted at the "swimming pool." They had no qualms about being naked and jumping in. So once they are washed they were off before I could stop them diving in with little naked bums swimming across the pool. All the ladies thought they were so koowai (cute)! It wasn't just the nudity that is different from our culture it is the relaxed talkative atmosphere. Usually if in America you do end up in a community shower say at the gym everyone basically baths quickly and gets dressed without much talking. Here they sit around gabbing and laughing. Its definitely girl hour. Just in a big bathtub. I think that was the biggest surprise for me. All these Japanese ladies talking to me while "bathing." So that was our first Japanese bath.

That night was rough sleeping on those beds and everything. It didn't help that late that night the uncooked meatloaf decided it was going to make me very sick. Of course the bathroom is down the hall and around the corner. Ok the bathing I could get used to but you need a toilet in your own room!! So here are the pictures from our little adventure.

The next morning came way to early. We had to be up for a walk in the park at 6:30 AM. Jeb took pictures of us sleepy girls on our lovely beds.

Yes me and Jeb pushed our bed together. This so we could share the sheets we had to check out so as to have better coverage against the nasty beds.

The walk was beautiful. We walked through Yoyogi park to the Meji shrine in middle.

Here is were you wash yourself before entering the shrine

The girls with their new friends standing in the area inside the shrine.

In that building is where the God is. Its not very nice to take pictures actually in it so sorry you can't see the really big drum in there. If you come to visit I promise to take you to see it! :)

We then headed back for breakfast and more games. (cold fish and noodles in the morning I am just not there yet.) The little kids are so much fun and cute. Their manners are just so adorable and they way they love us is hard to resist. They especially loved Jeb. He plays rough and that is not their culture at all. But the little kids quickly figured out they could "tackle" and jump on the "big" American and he thinks its fun. He spun them around and around a whole new concept for them to be twirled around by somebody. All the kids quickly formed a line like he was a carnival ride. I laughed and laughed. This is him trying to catch his breath while the children wait around anxiously for more.

This little girl was cute, stealing Jebs glasses.

Harley and her new best friend on our way back to Yoyogi park for the rest of the afternoon.

We spent a couple of hours in the park. We learned that the park is their version of central park. Its huge! Fun though to see so many people laying around. Then we went to the famous Harajuku area. To this street that is really famous for its "trend setting" fashions. Apparently it is the young hip place to be. I can not say I enjoyed it one bit, and most definitely did not enjoy trying to make our way through with a line of small children. If you really look at that picture click on it to make it bigger) you can see the amazing crowd. It was so crowded, Niyah was getting so tired she was about to collapse. It is not a place I have a tiny bit of desire to go back to. The shopping was off the wall weird stuff to me and fit perfectly with the weird men dressed up like baby dolls posing for pictures out on the plaza, thats the best description I can give you.

On the whole it was a great experience. We can't wait to do more with the English School. We even enjoyed our hotel, it was a true Japanese experience and makes a great story to remember.