Visit to mainland Japan

This past week, I travelled to mainland Japan to visit my cousin Carolie in Sasebo. Last year she married Conrad, who is in the Navy, and they just got stationed in Japan this January. It was a great trip. Her house was much larger than I had expected. The houses in Okinawa are small, so I guess I just expected it to be the same on mainland. Sasebo is located in Nagasaki Prefecture which is on the island of Kyushu. Her house is on the side of a mountain and the drive down her street... which the Japanese say is a two-way, even though there's no way two cars could ever pass each other, was a little scary. Okinawa has narrow streets too, but at least our's aren't on the side of a cliff. On Tuesday we took the train to Kumamoto, Japan. It was about a 2 hour train ride. Although, we made it a bit longer by getting off one stop too early and having to wait for the next train. This picture was taken from inside the Kumamoto Castle. SEEEEEE----Japan isn't just one big crowded city like many of us tend think. The train ride through the countryside was amazing. Old, rich farm houses with tons of open space and rice paddies were scattered through the mountains and valleys. Many school groups were visiting the castle that day. When students in Japan travel they often wear their school uniforms.... actually I always see students in their uniforms, during the day, at night and on the weekends too. I think they just really enjoy wearing them. Anyway, as we entered the castle a cute little girl (about 10 years old) asked me, in Japanese of course, if I would take a picture... I thought she wanted me to take the picture of her and her friends, but I was wrong. She wanted a picture with me! She was so excited about the whole thing, which was so cute! I thought it was a bit strange, but I guess Japanese kids in rural Japan rarely get to see foreigners. The inside of the castle was transformed into a museum and we passed the students several times, each time they waved and one time the same little girl gave me a 'high-five'. So cool. After the castle we tried to make it to a few more places, but because we got a late start that day (well, everyday actually... it's a Rogers thing) everything was closed. I did get to see the outside of Natsume Soseki's (Japanese writer) house, which was really exciting because I read a book of his in my Japanese History course at Rutgers. The next day we spent shopping in Arita, Japan. Arita is famous for its pottery. I bought a bowl from a cute old couple who had their own shop. I spoke to them for a while in Japanese and as I was leaving they gave me a tee-shirt and small saucer. I have found that when I go in and speak Japanese and spend time in the store, often the shop owner gives me so sort of free gift. This happens all the time in Okinawa. The next day we spent some time in Sasebo where I found the perfect gifts to bring back for my friends and Hisano's family. BIWA!!!! Biwa is a famous fruit from Nagasaki prefecture. It tastes similar to a mango. Gift giving is very big in Japan. If you go somewhere you are supposed to bring back gifts for everyone.. just something small usually. Also, the first time you are invited to someone's home you are supposed to bring a gift. Anyway...let's wrap this up! not a gift--this blog entry! a-haha! So, the journey ended in Fukuoka. We visited a shrine and a small museum, which took FOREVER to find. However, we did finally get there after a man drew us a map on the sidewalk with chalk. That was a bit unusual, but very cool. Cousin Carolie and I had dinner together at the train station, then I jumped on the subway to get to the airport. The trains and subways were not that difficult to use, actually I felt they were less confusing than some back in the States.