Anyway, like I mentioned before, I was there to participate in a homestay program...
So, after the supposed to fly, but can't fly giant kites event, us foreign students all separated and went back with our host families...
The "lucky" folks who got me was Mr. and Mrs. Kobayashi. Just in case you are wondering, no, they are not related to my girlfriend who also shares the same surname.
Anyway, they are a pair of very nice old folks. 71 for the lady and 72 for the old man. Apparently, this is the first time they participated in the homestay program and was worried about getting a foreign student who can't speak Japanese, have religious restrictions on food and drinks...etc. So, they were quite relieved to find that I speak decent Japanese and also eat/drink anything.
The Kobayashi's ...
The lovely garden at the front...
Vibrant colours welcoming me into their home...
A very nice place...very comfortable and relaxing.
It was still early in the evening, so me and the old man went for a walk in the nearby paddy fields and we talked about various things....and for the first time in many years, I actually enjoyed my conversation with an old folk. While other old folk would ask the same silly questions everytime single time like "Where's Malaysia?" despite knowing quite well where Malaysia is, or "Does it snow?" despite knowing that it is warm throughout the year near the Equator.
This old man however, surprised me when he asked "So, why do you come all the way here to Japan? Have you benefited anything from your stay?". I don't mean any insults here but, I wasn't expecting these questions from a 72 year old farmer. He was a very intelligent man with quite a unique sense of humour...thoroughly enjoyed my evening walk with him.
Anyway, it was dinner time and he prepared a feast for me!! Table was filled with fresh produce picked from his very own farm, and also a rosted spice chicken especially for me...well, he knew I was Malaysian and prepared something that he thought would suit me. A lovely dinner joined by the old folk's daughter and granddaughter...
Mrs. Kobayashi kept trying to strike up conversation for me and her granddaughter...hahaha. Typical old ladies playing cupid...
The next day, my morning started with a Japanese full breakfast...fish, egg, natto, miso soup, pickled cucumber, various vegetables...I especially love the vegetables, very rare can you taste fresh produces like these.
They then took me to Yahiko Park....quite a famous tourist spot in Niigata...
The torii, a typical gate to an entrance of a shrine. This one was made out of wood taken from Ise Grand Shrine.
A place where people wash their hands and mouths...
The road leading into the inner shrine complex..
The shrine....
Entrance of the inner complex....
It was said that Shinto is the way of life, more like a culture, not a religion. While religions are mostly filled with restrictions with plenty of Don't-s rather than Do-s, Shinto evolved along with the lifestyle of people...
A popular trend among the Japanese is getting blessings from the shrine when they buy a new car...see these 2 cars? They are Toyotas but they don't over-accelerate...they've got the shrine's blessing...haha.
Anyway, after a short tour of the shrine, we went up the nearby mountain Yahiko.
Well....honestly, nothing special with this mountain except a nice view from the top...which I have seen many many MANY times....
But the company from the 2 old folks was nice...^^
And then the inevitable farewell came to be...
The farewell picture...
Most of us returned with souvenirs of all sorts...me? I've got a loaf of bread(from other family who have a daughter of 21 years old...^^; Wants me to visit them sometime..) a bag of potatos, two bottles of instant coffee, and a small bottle of home made Plum wine...
Them sending us off...
I had a very very good time at my home stay...not so much because of Japanese culture(I've been living here for 6 years, have seen much, done much) but more because of the nice people I meet.
And, I've got a big surprise when I reach home to find that the old lady had hidden a letter addressed to me....such a nice gesture.
When I have the chance, I will definitely visit them again some day...
But I wonder if I should bring my girlfriend along....well, I partly suspect that the reason they liked me so much was because they suspected I was still single. I guess I'll just leave my girlfriend behind and visit them myself!! hahaha....
