A Lovely Sunday

Earlier in the week, Yan invited Nancy, Matt and me to go bamboo picking with him and his host family on Sunday (today). So at around noon, I headed for the subway station, as I figured allocating myself an hour would be sufficient in terms of figuring out which station I needed to take to get to Yan's house. After taking my normal subway route to the Shijo Station, I had to figure out which train (the semi-express, limited express, or local) train would actually stop at the correct stop and not by. However, I remembered a mini lesson Austen had given me about reading the stops each type of train would stop at and managed to figure out which train I needed...just as it pulled out of the station. So I had to wait another cycle. But luckily, once I got on the train, I knew I would eventually make it to my destination. Public transportation puzzle win.

By the time I arrived at the correct station, Matt had already arrived but Nancy was still figuring out the train system. Eventually, she arrived and then Yan and his host father picked us up and drove to their house. While we were driving to the house, I couldn't help wondering what exactly was in store for us. Yan had given us very little information as to what bamboo picking would entail. All I really knew about the situation was what my host mother had told me that very morning: spring was the best season for bamboo picking/eating and that she'd never been bamboo picking. That only made me more curious.

After meeting the entirety of Yan's host family (mom, dad, older brother, older sister, younger brothers), we set out for the bamboo forest that is apparently only five minutes away from the house (cool!). Yan's host father then proceeded to give us plastic bags to put our spoils in and separate boots to wear while we "harvested" the bamboo. The boots were basically rubber boots that reminded me of either rain boots or fire figther boots. Following our change in foot wear, we then were given a brief explanation on how to find and dig up the bamboo. Essentially, the bamboo you want to pick out of the ground are buried. You can identify the possibility of their existence under the ground by fissures in the dirt and their proximity to already sprouted bamboo shoots. Okay, my "earth sense" was a complete failure. I managed to find only two by myself. The rest I was pointed towards: fail. Everything just kind of looked the same to me...Once you find a bamboo shoot to dig up, you take this pick like thing (it kind of looks like the grim reaper's weapon, except with a shorter handle), dig it into the ground next to the bamboo, feel around for the roots, then lift up. It's definitely difficult to do. However, I managed to get five out (two totally by myself!) of the ground. Nancy was really on top of it; she found at least five bamboo shoots. I would post pictures except for the fact that Nancy has my camera due to the fact she had pockets and I didn't...

Anyway, we bamboo harvested for about two hours, then headed back to Yan's house for a BBQ, which involved eating so much yummy food (including tofu!!). I think the most interesting and yummy new food of the evening though was the tempura bamboo with green tea salt as seasoning. IT WAS SO GOOD. I would've actually just been content to eat that all evening. Ultimately, we spent the evening chatting together, and getting to know Yan's host dad, who is absolutely hilarious. Wonderful way to end the weekend.

I don't think I ever would've have believed I would go bamboo picking. Once again, Japan surprises me.

PS. A shout-out to my Mom and Tante: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! I love you both very much and make sure your hubby's are doing everything you want today! :) And thank you Mom for being amazing and putting up with my emotional troubles and supporting me for the past 20 years of my life. I Love you!