So uncreative with titles

So instead of going to Noto with everyone in PII, I ended up going to Tokyo for my grandfather's memorial service. Unfortunately I only met him once or twice in my life since he was pretty old and living in Japan. It was nice seeing my family though I'm also going to see them today because they're coming to Kanazawa for a week! Here are my sister, my mom, and me all dressed up for it. Very fancy french food and we met the Japanese empress's sister! I had to give a quick speech in Japanese. I think everyone enjoyed it, despite the sad occasion.

The day before, I hung out with my friends trying on kimonos and doing tea ceremony with Elizabeth's host mom. Yay I got to have maccha tea yet again! That made me happy teehee. We then went to the beach, which was littered with trash. Elizabeth's host mom attributes it to young Japanese teens. My host family thinks it's trash washed up from Korea and China. Next time we go back, I'll check out the language on the packaging haha.

Yesterday we went to a Koto (Japanese harp) lesson. I wish I could buy one, but they seem so expensive! Zannen desune. I look so solemn in this photo haha. Right now everyone's planning for naka yasumi and I'm so lost!

I talked to Will last night over skype and it's interesting to see the difference between what people say about Japan and actual Japan. I feel Japan isn't so polite and un-straightforward despite what everyone says. Yesterday in class we practiced refusing offers. Americans always say it's always round-about, but the translation is almost exactly like what we say in English - "it's okay, how about another time?". And Americans also do a lot of the reading-emotions-off-one's-face thing. I think it's a key part of socialization.

Anyhoo hope you're all having fun! Happy father's day!