yesterday, today, tomorrow

My good friend Hiroki and his family raise chickens and today they received a shipment of over 10,000 newborn chicks. This afternoon I had the chance to go and check them out and it was incredible! Never have I ever seen such a site– Take a look!




Last weekend was Nagashima’s annual volunteer firefighter competition. Each town in Nagashima has its own fire fighter division and once a year they compete against once another in several timed events. This year I asked if I too could be a member of the volunteer fire department, but I was denied. However, I plan on asking again sometime soon. Honestly, I just want to take a picture in the volunteer firefighter uniform so if worst comes to worst I’ll just borrow a uniform so that I can snap the shot.

The other day some friends and I went out for lunch to a place that serves nagashi somen. Somen is a type of cold Japanese noodle that the Japanese eat during the hot summer days. In Japanese "men" means noodle - surly you are familiar with "ramen?" The best part about eating nagashi somen is that it's fun! When you mom told you not to play with you food she obviously didn't know about nagashi somen.

Now that the sun has come back out and the rain seems to have slacked off for the time being my garden has been doing better than ever. Just the other day I picked another pumpkin, a handful of cucumbers, and about 40 cherry tomatoes.

Tonight our office had a barbecue party! From where we were grilling out the view of the sunset over the ocean was beautiful. The food was good too and as always I ate too much - we grilled chicken, octopus, shrimp, squid, and beef. The octopus was caught earlier that day so was just about as fresh as it comes. Did you know that the way to catch an octopus in not with a hook or a net? Instead, fishermen in Nagashima catch them with large jars by lowering them into the sea and then waiting overnight. The shape of the jar is designed so that an octopus can enter with ease. Then, once they are in the jar thay aren't able to get back out. It's like the Chinese finger trap, remeber that?

Tomorrow afternoon I will begin the first day of my hitch hiking excursion. Hopefully I can get on the road quickly with ease so that I can make it to Tokyo before the weekend is over. By this time tomorrow where I will be I still don’t know, but once I officially arrive in Tokyo I will be sure to let you know how everything went. Good night and as always thanks for keeping up with me.

best,
Spencer