We met at the University for a 2.5 hour class session filled with amazing stories, perceptions, and understandings. From there, some of us left for downtown Osaka for a little lunch and a brief shopping spree.
Let me say, in my heart, I am really not much of a shopper. I like to know what I want, go in, buy it and get out. But in Osaka, the shopping has so much more to offer than just the wares. Most of the time, I stood outside the shops while my classmates shopped. I took time to absorb the sights and sounds of the area. I discovered that the light poles are shaped like people and each one is different. The pics below aren't great, but I'll offer a couple to show you what I mean. There was a buzz of activity everywhere and, being the extrovert I am, I was charged by all of the commotion. In the back of my mind, I wondered if I was overdoing the activity on the first full day off any meds -- no wait, I actually took Advil in the morning -- oh well, it is nearly midnight and I am wiped, but feel great.
We had lunch at one of the many restaurants in the Daimaru shopping center -- a multi-floor facility with just about everything you could want. This was located in an area that reminded me of 5th Avenue in New York City! I had the most amazing shrimp tempura (see pic below).
At 6p, we attended a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the home of the director of the Working Women's Network. Some of the rituals are incredible. I can't remember them all, but here are a few:
- Enter the room on your knees, and slide your body in with your hands.
-Kneel at the scroll, flower, setting that has been prepared by your host.
-The entire ceremony is done on your knees (but they gave us a break, thank goodness, and let us sit however we were comfortable)
-The sweets come first. Very fancy (but I found them rather tasteless).
-When you are presented with the tea, you are to bow to the next person and say something about going before them (sorry, I forgot already). Then you bow to your host and since you were given the bowl with the decorative side facing you. You turn the bowl so that the decorative side is facing away before you drink the tea.
The ladies that hosted the tea ceremony offered to take us to a street cafe for sushi and sake afterward. Wow! I can't say that I have ever had better sushi before in my life! The saki wasn't bad either :-) and since it was all outside at about 30 degrees, warm saki was very much appreciated.
Well, I've got so much more to share, but I'm very sleepy and will have another big day tomorrow. We are going to Kyoto and Nara, some very historical locations.
Pics:
1) My lunch
2-4) Interesting light poles (not the greatest pics)
5) Sweets at the tea ceremony
6) Our ceremonial host
7) Making our tea
8) Me with our host
9) The street cafe
10) Table full of raw tuna, sushi, saki (oh, and beer) yummy!
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