More thoughts on Japanese Home Stay.

Oct. 18 My home stay began on Saturday Oct. 18 and my family was a perfect match for me. In Holdingford, Minnesota we live very close to nature. But here in Japan I was always in the city until my host family took me to their "cabin". It reminded me of the Minnesota "Up North"except I was in Japan and we drove south of Shizuoka City. Yoshiko Kubota, a sixth grade teacher, was my primary host along with her family—husband, Takehalu; children, Akiha (daughter, 7 yr.), Shiseu (son, 9 yr.). father-in-law, Tei ichi and mother-in-law, Kayo. The grandparents lived in the same house with Yoshikoís family. They were all one extended family and were very warm and loving. Japanese homes are much smaller than most American homes yet they are very beautiful in design. Tei ichi, the grandfather, is a very talented artist. By profession he had been in a business selling kimonos (I think.) but his true love was the design and building of the cabin that they shared with me. It was built along a small river. Huge Japanese Cypress logs were the support of the house and Tei ichi and Takehalu had cut these trees themselves from a nearby area. Except for some of the taller support stuctures that he had professionally set, father and son built the entire cabin. The design was beautiful with unique wooden features throughout such as the staircase and the traditional wooden cypress Japanese bath. Kayo was an incredible Japanese cook. Unlike the typical American meal with one big plate and maybe a salad bowl, the Japanese serve their meals in many smaller dishes. The special meal prepared at the cabin was tempura. A traditional charcoal rectangular grill was set in the center of the table where oil was heated and the shrimp, fish, potatoes, peppers, scallops, and several vegetables (I don't know the name of them all) were cooked right at the table as we ate. Kayo prepared a special egg and vegetable custard which was delicious - I have the recipe! Somehow I don't think that Japanese food will ever taste as good as it did this evening. This family obviously worked hard together, played together and loved and cared for each other

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