Day 28: Father's Day
Today was a special day for many reasons. First of all, it was Father's Day. Secondly, it was also Charles Pieczulewski's birthday! Today was also my last day with the Pieczulewski family. I awoke this morning around seven to the sound of Naomi and Sachiko making a peanut butter marble cake for Charles. They tell me that he really likes peanut butter.
The four of us at some bananas to hold us over until after church. We rode bikes to the Pieczulewski's church, which many of the other teachers and Notre Dame families attend. It was much like a church mass in the United States, but with one obvious difference: it was in Japanese. It was interesting to see that when the time had come in which Americans usually shake hands and say, "Peace be with you," the Japanese simply bowed to the people around them. I was glad that I was able to experience church in Japan.
We rode our bikes back along the Kamo River to the Pieczulewski's. We made some delicious waffles with strawberries, kiwi, maple syrup, and whipped cream for breakfast. For some entertainment, we played another game of Apples to Apples Junior. Naomi, Sachiko and I sang happy birthday to Charles and then tried some of the cake they had made...it was delicious. We definitely had our share of sweet things this morning, but we worked some of the food off playing tennis. I am not a great tennis player, but it was a lot of fun playing. The Pieczulewski's are part of a Notre Dame Elementary parents group which does a lot of sporting activities together. I watched Charles closely during his first game, in hopes that I might have some idea what is going on when it was actually my turn to play. During my first match, I was not good at all. The serving was the hardest part. My next match was much better and I think I held my own for those four games. I think it would be fun to pickup tennis when I get back home, if I can find people to play with.
We all walked home, took showers, and got ready for dinner. The Pieczulewski's made a reservation at a nice restaurant in Kyoto Station. They have long been talking about a delicious and fun meal called shabu shabu. The meal is a lot like fondu with meat and vegetables, but you cook in bowl of hot water at your table. They slice the meat really thin and you simply sweep the food through the water a couple times and it is done! The sound the food makes in the hot water as you cook is how the meal got its name, "shabu shabu." Not only was the meal delicious, but it was fun to cook and eat with friends. The Pieczulewski's are a lot of fun to spend time with. We have done a lot together and I am grateful for their kindness. They know what it is like to live in America, so we got to move past those simple things quickly and really get to know each other well.
The four of us at some bananas to hold us over until after church. We rode bikes to the Pieczulewski's church, which many of the other teachers and Notre Dame families attend. It was much like a church mass in the United States, but with one obvious difference: it was in Japanese. It was interesting to see that when the time had come in which Americans usually shake hands and say, "Peace be with you," the Japanese simply bowed to the people around them. I was glad that I was able to experience church in Japan.
We rode our bikes back along the Kamo River to the Pieczulewski's. We made some delicious waffles with strawberries, kiwi, maple syrup, and whipped cream for breakfast. For some entertainment, we played another game of Apples to Apples Junior. Naomi, Sachiko and I sang happy birthday to Charles and then tried some of the cake they had made...it was delicious. We definitely had our share of sweet things this morning, but we worked some of the food off playing tennis. I am not a great tennis player, but it was a lot of fun playing. The Pieczulewski's are part of a Notre Dame Elementary parents group which does a lot of sporting activities together. I watched Charles closely during his first game, in hopes that I might have some idea what is going on when it was actually my turn to play. During my first match, I was not good at all. The serving was the hardest part. My next match was much better and I think I held my own for those four games. I think it would be fun to pickup tennis when I get back home, if I can find people to play with.
We all walked home, took showers, and got ready for dinner. The Pieczulewski's made a reservation at a nice restaurant in Kyoto Station. They have long been talking about a delicious and fun meal called shabu shabu. The meal is a lot like fondu with meat and vegetables, but you cook in bowl of hot water at your table. They slice the meat really thin and you simply sweep the food through the water a couple times and it is done! The sound the food makes in the hot water as you cook is how the meal got its name, "shabu shabu." Not only was the meal delicious, but it was fun to cook and eat with friends. The Pieczulewski's are a lot of fun to spend time with. We have done a lot together and I am grateful for their kindness. They know what it is like to live in America, so we got to move past those simple things quickly and really get to know each other well.
posted by Ryan Harkins at 2:29 p.m.
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