In Tokyo I did not get to enjoy tea often. I was always either doing something or getting ready to do said thing so impertinent things such as drinking tea were placed dead last in my to do list, just slightly above getting started on my homework in a timely manner. The hubbub and deadlines of Tokyo-life often made tea-time, or even time at all for that matter, luxuries. But that definitely does not hold true here in Shimane.
The norm for my host family here is 1 HOUR of nice, solid, family-bonding green tea drinking tea-time!! That's not too bad, until you consider that tea-time happens to be at 7 (after breakfast) 10, 12, 4:00 and 8 (after dinner)! This means that if I stay at the house and help out on the farm, I would have spent 5 hours of my life each day JUST DRINKING FRIGGIN TEA!!
.............but, I'd be lying if I said I didn't absolutely I love it!
Tea time here is Shangri-La. A reward for a hard day's work out in the rice-fields and as such, EVERYONE looks forward to it...including my host bro who generally just sleeps til 10 or so and starts his day with tea-time. When the clock hits exactly 10, the tools are set down, the tractors are stopped, the dog goes crazy and everyone makes an immediate beeline to the kitchen. Of course this leads to aborted chores, interrupted conversations, and abandoned cars...with the engine still running, but no one here seems to mind because everyone else also has the same solitary mind-set.
The actual act of drinking tea itself is a wonderful family bonding time. The entire family gathers around the table and just talks. Topics often range from daily matters such as status of the fields, the afternoon weather, Olympics etc. to other fun things such as the many unique traits of zuzu-dialect, unique foods around the area, etc...where everyone, including language-challenged me, can and do participate. The best part is that they try to include me into conversations by asking me questions or just automatically teaching me words that I would not know. It's very welcoming and I wished my family in Tokyo would have tea-time just like this! All the while, the flow of green tea, biscuits, cake etc. never stops.
Of course, going from hardly any tea ever to EXTREME TEA OVERLOAD in a matter of 1 week takes a bit of getting used to. Everything was fine and dandy during the first week but now during week 2, I've developed a minor case of heart palpitations. I want to say that it's the EXTREME green tea doing a 10 button-combo on my heart but I'm not sure - I've always had a week heart, which is why I took up running. Anyways, other hosts have experienced the same thing and it seems that, according to webMD, going from not much caffeine to EXTREME caffeine does naturally cause a bit of heart discomfort. But still, I'm just gonna becareful...
I've fallen thoroughly in love with the entire concept of tea-time - so much so that I hope to buy my own thermos in Tokyo and pack tea with me everyday that I can. Maybe the next time you see me around, we can chat over some warm tea, eh?
aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh, ; ]
Tue
Tea time here is Shangri-La. A reward for a hard day's work out in the rice-fields and as such, EVERYONE looks forward to it...including my host bro who generally just sleeps til 10 or so and starts his day with tea-time. When the clock hits exactly 10, the tools are set down, the tractors are stopped, the dog goes crazy and everyone makes an immediate beeline to the kitchen. Of course this leads to aborted chores, interrupted conversations, and abandoned cars...with the engine still running, but no one here seems to mind because everyone else also has the same solitary mind-set.
The actual act of drinking tea itself is a wonderful family bonding time. The entire family gathers around the table and just talks. Topics often range from daily matters such as status of the fields, the afternoon weather, Olympics etc. to other fun things such as the many unique traits of zuzu-dialect, unique foods around the area, etc...where everyone, including language-challenged me, can and do participate. The best part is that they try to include me into conversations by asking me questions or just automatically teaching me words that I would not know. It's very welcoming and I wished my family in Tokyo would have tea-time just like this! All the while, the flow of green tea, biscuits, cake etc. never stops.
Of course, going from hardly any tea ever to EXTREME TEA OVERLOAD in a matter of 1 week takes a bit of getting used to. Everything was fine and dandy during the first week but now during week 2, I've developed a minor case of heart palpitations. I want to say that it's the EXTREME green tea doing a 10 button-combo on my heart but I'm not sure - I've always had a week heart, which is why I took up running. Anyways, other hosts have experienced the same thing and it seems that, according to webMD, going from not much caffeine to EXTREME caffeine does naturally cause a bit of heart discomfort. But still, I'm just gonna becareful...
I've fallen thoroughly in love with the entire concept of tea-time - so much so that I hope to buy my own thermos in Tokyo and pack tea with me everyday that I can. Maybe the next time you see me around, we can chat over some warm tea, eh?
aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh, ; ]
Tue
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