In Ikumi
I recall saying, "Wow this is really rural!" and thinking I had hit the end of the line. Well, welcome to Ikumi: population 100.
I don't feel like writing much, probably because I think the small amount of vodka I drank is kicking into my system. I am here in Ikumi, a small seaside farming town. It is the last stop on the rail. I wasn't supposed to come until Wednesday, but my host in Awa-Ikeda needed to take care of a few things. I accidentally took the express train here which cost me an extra 1107 yen (about $12 dollars). Hence, I arrived early. I was just going to wait the hour or so for host to pick me up at the previously agreed time, but I ran into this guy...I don't think he was a monk, but he was carrying a staff with Buddhist Symbols and wearing this green sash with kanji I couldn't read - but anyway, he INSISTED that he call my host for me to come and get me. I tried to tell him it wasn't a big deal, but he INSISTED for the phone number. I showed him the last-called number on my borrowed cell phone, and instead of just insisting I call, he walked over to the payphone and called my host. There was an issue with the amount of digits in the number (cell phones have strange numbers here), so this nice man dragged a nice family (they had paused on a bike-ride) into the situation. I was giggling by the end, cause it was just silly.
The ocean here is very lovely; surfers come from all over to ride the waves. It made for good farming air too, I think. The place I'm staying was recently updated (2 years ago) so it is rather modern. The toilet is septic, but there is fresh water and strong windows to keep out the mosquitoes. Speaking of bugs, I need to talk about bugs. A few days ago I woke up to feel my legs itching, and my instant guess was that a mosquito had attacked me in the night. I counted seven bites. After I scratched one, I realized that the scabs formed two holes...yup, I was the midnight snack for a spider. They itch very bad, but I have not had numbing or paralysis to indicate it was a seriously venomous spider. Moving to spiders, I went to my room here to get my sweater and I heard a "thunk" noise shortly after a flash of movement. A second later this enormous spider saunters out from behind the book case. SPIDERS SHOULD NOT MAKE A "THUNK" NOISE. The other girl who is WOOFing with me said, "Aww she's a baby". ....That's a baby? Oh my god, it was bigger than my parakeets. Gaaah.
So besides the Bugs of Unusual Size, it is quite safe here. I discovered that my roommate here, a French girl, in November is going to the host I just left in Awa-Ikeda! It's a pretty strange coincidence. I sent an e-mail to Mariko to tell her of the coincidence.
Yesterday, I went swimming in the Yoshino River. It was very nice since it was so hot. I rode a borrowed bike through all these old houses and narrow streets. My host later told me that people have been living here since the Edo Period (which ended in the late 1800s), so it's a very established area. I have taken so many pictures and video I am wondering how to handle resizing and naming them all! I am on my third roll of film. I found another extra 10,0000 yen note (about $103 dollars) I forgot about, so that was a pleasant find.
I have to wake up at 6:30 AM tomorrow. Not looking forward to it! Will update later.