More 1st's

Bern and I have been on a week long AOB (area orientation briefing). It's the Navy's way of teaching new comers how to adjust to life here in Japan. Everything from basic base (which is called Fleet Activities Yokosuka) information/etiquette to Japanese culture/history has been covered. Thursday was sort of a field trip day where we finally got to leave the classroom and travel to Kamakura via train. Learning how to use the train system here is quite a daunting task. Japan has a very complicated, yet organized public transportation system that can take you practically anywhere you want to go. We purchased a Suica card that we can load up with train fare that will certainly help to make this process a bit easier...rather than figuring out how much it'll cost us to go from one location to the next & back home. Now we can just swipe the card before the gate and off we go. The only issue I think will still be the language barrier; not knowing how to read all the Kanji, Hiragana, & Katana characters. Hopefully we can pick up the basics as time goes on! Quick notes about the trains: the seats are heated (especially helpful since it's been so cooooold) & there are on-board bathrooms available for those long distance trips; nice huh?!

 

Kamakura is located west of Yokosuka, about a 20 minute train ride. The city was actually the first capital of Japan, under the rule of the first Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo during the 12th century. This was the start of the Samurai class that ruled Japan for over 700 years. It was raining all day so we were unable to visit all the cool sites they have here like the giant Buddha statue, but rest assured we will be back! After arriving in Kamakura, we had lunch at a ramen restaurant before our guided tour; first around the city then of Hachimangu Shrine. Notice the big red entrance way, or Torii, that stood about a mile from the shrine. Quick note: shrines are associated with the Shinto religion, which is a nature-spirited religion native to Japan whereas temples are associated with Buddhism. The walkway was lined with Cherry Blossom trees (sakura) which unfortunately were not in bloom yet.

             
When Bern and I got to the bottom of the shrine, we had to first purify ourselves by cleaning our hands as well as our mouths. After purification, we walked up those stairs and into the shrine. In order to make a wish/prayer to the gods, you must throw money into the collection basket, bow twice, clap twice, INSERT PRAYER/WISH, then bow twice again. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to actually write down our prayer on an Ema (a wooden plaque) and hang it up along the wall where all the prayers stood.

When we got back to Yokosuka, it was time for an early dinner so we ate at a Japanese beef bowl restaurant. You first order/pay from a machine at the entrance, grab your ticket, find a seat at the counter, and give your ticket to the waitress. In only 5 short minutes, you have a really good meal for only $4.

Needless to say that after a long day of walking, especially in some pretty crummy weather, I was beat. So when we got back on base, Bern took a pic of me sleeping on the short 10 minute bus ride back to the Navy lodge. Thanks hun! Geesh!