TUESDAY, MARCH 22
Tuesday mornings after a long weekend are the hardest. Even though I got more than my usual amount of sleep, I've had three teachers ask if I'm tired. I actually slept a lot this weekend, but I guess that's not good enough.
I was up at the crack of dawn to catch a train Saturday morning to Sanjo station. This was where I was meeting Indy and his parents. They were heading back to the States, but wanted to meet me before they left. So, I rode with them on the train toward the airport. It was a pleasant ride and they insisted on taking pictures of Indy and me, thereby achieving what I've been miserably failing to do since we started dating.
Once in Osaka, I broke off and headed to Osaka castle, while Indy and his parents continued on to the airport. Osaka castle was gorgeous, though, like most castles in Japan, it was a reconstruction and had a modern museum inside. Much of the history was lost on me – as I know very little about Japanese history – though I'm reading Shogun currently, and Osaka castle plays a key role. My Lonely Planet book mentioned an historical event involving one of the characters that hasn't happened yet. Lonely Planet should come with a spoiler alert.
There was a water fountain inside. This being so rare and me being particularly parched, I was delighted to see it. There was a little 1-2 year old girl who wandered over and wanted to push the button, so we had some fun together, her pushing the button and me really pushing it so the water came out while her mother looked on. Once they'd wandered off, I then drank enough water to create a line behind me.
Outside, I was stopped by a Japanese man, who asked if we could speak English. As this happens frequently where English students practice their English on tourists at destinations like this, I wasn't really surprised. But he quickly switched back into Japanese, even though I'd told him I didn't speak any Japanese. He offered to take my picture by the castle, so I have a nice one there. But then, he asked where else I was planning to go today and took it upon himself to show me how to get to the station on his map then even started walking that way with me. I think he would have taken me all the way to the station (or the temple!) had I let him. I eventually managed to politely thank him and tell him I was going in the OTHER direction (I wasn't leaving yet, actually!!) We parted ways amicably. I must just look friendly because this happens to me in Japan a lot more than to anyone else.
Side tangent: I know people are just trying to be helpful, but I'm not typically lost in Japan (when I am, I'll ask directions) so spending ten minutes pointing out a route I already know without me asking is not appreciated as much as you'd hope. I've had people do the same, trying to help me work the ticket machines. Just because I'm foreign doesn't mean I'm incompetent or a tourist.
The direction I said I was going ended up leading to the plum gardens, which were beginning to bloom. It was a most welcome diversion. I took many pictures, though not as much as an average Japanese photographer. Many families were having picnics under the trees. I stopped random people asking if they'd take my picture. I'll have to get one later in full kimono.
Eventually, I got a text from Indy asking me to meet him at a station a few stops away in 30 minutes. I started making a bee-line for the station. I debated stopping for some delicious-smelling sweet potatoes, decided I was in too much of a rush, then turned back around and got them. They were delicious because they were deep-fried, smeared with butter, and then sprinkled with sugar. I hadn't had anything to eat since my English muffin for breakfast, so this was rather nice. I munched (in truly unJapanese fashion – walking and eating is rude) on my way back to the station.
I managed to make it on time, but Indy missed his connection and was a bit late. I felt prompt, for once.
We walked to Shitenno-ji one of Osaka's oldest temples. It turns out we managed to hit it on a market day, so besides peeking into the temple and looking at the turtle sanctuary, we browsed the many market stalls, munching on sakura mochi. Indy admired (and had a little panic attack when we went inside these old-looking buildings to find modern architecture) the architecture and pointed out things (like the base of long-gone buildings) that I would have completely missed. The best find of the sale was a gift for a friend back home, who will remain nameless until he gets it, but it was perfect and at 1/10th the price of any other example I've seen.
Afterward, we headed to Dotembori for dinner. Indy had money leftover from his parents' visit that was to be spend on me, so we went for kushikatsu (which Elizabeth and I have always just called “sticks.”) It's basically tempura on a stick without rice, but it's so tasty. Indy and I had a private little booth and ordered a ridiculous amount of Camembert cheese, though the mochi was also amazingly good. Indy made us eat them at different times, in case someone were to choke. Several people die each New Year's in Japan eating mochi. Unlike the restaurant in my town, the food is fully breaded and the server tells you what everything is. It's much easier than having to guess. I have every intention of bringing my parents here when they visit in May.
We also gorged ourselves at the same overpriced frozen yogurt place where I went with Kiki and Walker last summer.
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