Well, I'm sitting here looking out the window and waiting for this typhoon to really hit. Had a few good gusts and a bit of rain, but nothing that looks typhoony yet. A can clatters back and forth along the road every so often, but that's the most offensive sound thus far. I'm on edge for several reasons, but this seems to be the most prominent one. Anticipation... uncertainty... not all related to the storm. I like storms though, as long as I have the option of taking comfortable shelter to watch. Not really a fan of being in them while on a bicycle though.
So to distract myself, I'll post some pictures I've been holding on to for awhile.
This is how rice fields get fertilized over here. Remote control helicopter!!! Doesn't get much cooler than that.
This is said helicopter, landing right next our apartment's parking garage. Helps give a better idea of the size of the thing.
A praying mantis that decided my bike would be an excellent place to perch. I removed it, and then tried to pick it up by hand, but was quickly reminded that these creatures are not fluffy bunnies. So a desperate battle ensued where I tried to put her on my fan instead in my hand and toss her into the rice field. Sshe was violently resisted. It was touch and go there for awhile, but in the end I was victorious and able to continue on my journey to visit my husband at the journey high school.
Lastly for the pictures... last weekend, all the local ALTs and I went up to a mountain for Rumi's birthday where she had reserved two cabins for us. Ufortunately I only managed to snap two shots. There was a lot to see, but it was too dark to take pictures of anything that we were seeing. One of the guys brought his pellet gun and shenanagins ensued. After target practice on cans got boring, they decided to start shooting each other. These are some of the ladies lined up to feel the sting.
And here are the guys that volunteered to shoot them. What friends, what friends!! Not to worry though, they had their own turn to get shot at as well.
There was a great deal of silliness and fun going on, but the experience of the place is most worthy of mention. We'd passed through a really sleepy little town and gotten the keys for the cabins from some tiny little old lady who was possibly a bit senile. Though it was dark, it was still quite warm. The sun was pretty much setting by the time we reached the end of the narrow winding roads, but we could still see quite a lot. It seemed to be nothing but green hills all around, sloping down at a very steep angle. Some lights and human presence could be seen from where we were at the top, but mostly it was just hills and sky.
My favorite part though were the clouds that descended on the mountains as it got darker. We went into one of the cabins for food and presents shortly after arriving. The only hint of what would greet us when we went back out were the visible whisps that made it through the screens and floated over head out the window on the other side. When we went back outside, it was like an entirely new world. We were in a cloud, but it was still so warm! Thick wet fog everywhere, and more extremely visible whisps, wafting everywhere.
For awhile, you could still see the outlines of the surrounding hills but eventually it grew too dark and the clouds too thick to see much of anything.
Another thing I've noticed about Japan is the way it smells. All other hot and moderately humid places I've been to have always smelled sweet from the fragrance of all the flowers that thrive there (Cali and Hawaii). Of course they are deliberately planted there as well. Japan, though lacking in flora in no way, is strangely devoid of flowers. You see them here and there, but I've never once picked up so much as a whiff anywhere. Another odd thing that I've noticed here in Kitagata, but especially on the mountain that night, was that the rain and air during and after rain does not smell the same as back home. In Washington, when it rains you can smell it coming and it leaves the air smelling clean and (back on Bainbridge) the air is thick with the smell of wet pavement and evergreen trees of all sorts. Here, there is no smell. It just is. It has rained, and it is wet, and probably a bit cooler.
The other thing about this place is the constant singing of creatures all throughout the day, but most especially at night. They don't even stop for a downpour... in fact it often seems that they get even louder during those times. Though some of these creatures sound like birds or other animals, I've been assured that they are all insects. I've seen some of them, but mostly they just hide in the trees and sing all day and for a good portion of the night.
That night up on the mountain, with the clouds and the rain and the beasties... it was so peaceful but because of all the humming, creaking, and chirping, it wasn't remotely quiet. I felt like an intruder disturbing the peace everytime I stepped somewhere that caused noticeable crack or swish. It was quite an evening.
There's still a lot of adjusting to be done here. It's strange, trying to carve out my place...
Ah, now the storm is picking up. A little while ago a fire truck went by, again announcing something on loud speaker. The only word I could pick out was a number, and that did me not good at all. Hopefully this coming week, I will find more time and inspiration to work on learning the language that surrounds me every day.
Signing off for now. Later, everyone.
