Our family has two distinctive and important memories related to Yokohama Harbor. The first is from July 16, 1964, which is the date that we first set foot on Japanese soil. As we sailed into the harbor after 15 days on the P & O Orient’s Oronsay passenger ship we were somewhat apprehensive, but excited, about this adventure.

We had heard stories about what to expect, such as smelly toilets, but weren’t completely ready for the open hole we found at the temporary custom’s area where we had a four hour wait for the baggage that we had brought with us. It was a hot and humid day, which aggravated the odors of the toilet and harbor. Thank goodness Don’s brother, David, his landlord and son and two of David’s students were there to greet us diminishing my desire to get back on the ship and go home. Their welcome made us somewhat comfortable about the fact that we had arrived with nearly no knowledge of Japan and her people and a limited amount of cash.

Two years later on August 20, 1966 we were back at the Yokohama Harbor with a better understanding of this country and enough cash to prepay for a journey between Yokohama and West Berlin. It was another hot and humid day, but there was a new custom’s building with better toilet facilities and we had either become accustomed to the smells of the harbor or they were less invasive.

Standing on the deck of the Soviet Union passenger ship named Khabarovsk, with our 4 year old and 6 year old children, we heard cries of “teacher, teacher” from nearly 100 well-wishers who had come to see us off. Friends and neighbors had brought gifts of norimaki, green tea, toys for the children, paper necklaces and more. Even the president of Yoyogi Seminar had come with gifts and good wishes. We held tight to the ticker tape streamers that we had been bombarded with until they broke as the ship sailed out of the harbor. We were off for a new adventure leaving behind good friends and memories which made us certain that we would return some day.

AAH

また今年も梅雨の季節がやってきました。梅雨と言えば…そうです、紫陽花の季節ですね。鎌倉の紫陽花もきれいに咲いています。鎌倉に引っ越してきた当初は長谷寺や円覚寺などのお寺へ紫陽花巡りをして楽しみました。

紫陽花の色はさまざまな色があります。紫やピンク、青色など。なぜ色が違うかみなさんはご存知でしょうか。

これは土に秘密があります。大きく分けると紫陽花の花の色は赤系と青系に分

かれます。赤系の色には薄い赤やピンクなど。青系の色には紫、青紫、バイオレットなどの色があります。土が酸性の場合、花の色は青色、逆にアルカリ性や中性だと赤色になります。紫陽花の花の色は白もありますね。私が好きな紫陽花はアナベルという種類です。花の特徴は小さな花の束が集まった感じの紫陽花です。

梅雨で雨の日に紫陽花をながめるのもいいですね。とても雨との相性がいい感じがします。少しは気分転換になると思います。みなさん、この梅雨の時期を楽しみながら乗り切りましょう！

ぽれぽれ

先日までイギリスへ遊びに行ってきました。帰ってきたのが3日前です。まだ時差ボケが少しあり昼間に眠くなります。いつものことですが・・・。

今回の訪英ではまた天気にも恵まれて比較的晴れが多かったです。よく聞くのですが、イギリスはおいしいものがないと。私は反対の意見の持ち主。フィッシュ＆チップスやスコーン、パスティなど私は好きです。今回ももちろん食べてきました。

主人の実家から車ですぐのところにBerry Headという自然国立公園があります。ここは4億年前にできた崖でかなり広い範囲で散歩もできます。昔からあるので所々にその歴史の名残が残っています。今回、天気にも恵まれて最終日に散歩しました。青空が広がりヨットが海を渡りそして初夏の花が咲いて鳥たちのさえずりも聞こえ本当に心の洗濯ができた感じがしました。

I feel I have been rejuvenated from my holiday. (今回の休暇で元気を取り戻しました）

やはり休暇は心にとって大事ですね。皆様もお体を大切にそして日々を楽しみがんばっていきましょう！

ぽれぽれ