Every Friday my friends Kaori and Chazu Mitake come to Nagoya to deliver vegetables. For about an hour Kaori comes over to practice her English. Although a lot of the time she teaches me Japanese culture and language. A month ago I finally visited their farm. We ate, laughed, and shared stories. I even helped a bit on their farm. The work involved dancing in a container full of leaves, chicken manure, water, and something else having to do with wheat. It was exhausting but a blast!
The oh so kind neighbor. |
At one point during the day we visited their neighbor’s workshop. This man grows mushrooms, makes bamboo charcoal, and is a carpenter. He showed us around his work space, explaining how he makes the charcoal and pointing out the various furniture he had made. Halfway through the tour they showed me one of the stools he made. He asked if I liked it and of course I did. So he gave it to me without any look back. Once the tour outside was over we went into his workshop. He showed us everything he could inside. He wanted to share as much about the Japanese culture with me as he could. It was great. By the time we left this sweet man (I had just met) had given me a hand-made stool, a beautiful plant, and a box of cookies. I was completely overwhelmed by his generosity. I hope to visit him again someday soon and in some way repay his kindness.
That weekend at the Mitake’s Farm was full of so much love, delicious food, and wonderful conversations. I would say the time I spent at their farm was productive. Not only did we solve all of the world’s problems but I left with a challenge…jump into the fire.
Kaori and I about eat the most delicious dessert..zenzai! |
Chazu making room for more leaves to be collected. |
Getting ready to dance in the leaves |
God's Peace,
Katie
Dance then wherever you may be....
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