Concluding of a Visit and the Entering of a New Year

We managed a few more activities before Matt had to return to the states. We did the Churumi Aquarium and Pizza in the Sky. I think he enjoyed all the activities and his time here on Okinawa. It's a beautiful island so full of modern technology yet still safe enough to accept food from strangers at a park.

New Year's Eve arrived and we were lucky enough to secure an invitation to a traditional Japanese New Year's Celebration. Our dear friend Nori shared Japan's most popular holiday with us and a few other doctor's families. His wife Akiko made all the traditional Japanese dishes my favorite was the buckwheat soba. It's extra long noodles symbolize long life. I learned that you are not suppose to bite the noodles but rather slurp them into your mouth. Too bite them would be like cutting short the long life they represent. Gabriella was especially fond of the Japanese chips and the chicken balls. We also had sushi and other specific Japanese New Year's dishes like fish cakes and spicy bamboo shoots. The meal was delicious. After dinner we played a game of Jeopardy which focused on questions about Japan in general and Okinawa specifically. We didn't win, but were a very close second. It was lovely to ring in the New Year with our friends and learn a few new traditions along the way.

Another New Year's tradition that we participated in was the annual shrine visit. This time of year most Japanese visit their local shrine or temple to celebrate the coming year. They wash in the sacred water and make an offering then pray at the shrine. We visited the Naminae Shrine and received our fortunes, all of them were good, and said a prayer for prosperity in the coming year. The shrine was full of food stalls and games, we had some french fries and Gabriella won a very snazzy Stich ballon. On the way back to the car we tried out the ice cream vending machine, it was very delicious. The same day as our shrine visit we went to the Hiraeyri Memorial, it commemorates the students of an Okinawa school who were pressed into service during the battle of Okinawa. The students were used as nurses for the wounded Japanese soldiers and from the stories treated poorly by their patients, when it became clear that the war was not going to be won by the Japanese, the students were told their service was over and that they were on their own. Many died trying to reunite with their families. It humbles me to see the sacrifices that were made by the Okinawan people during this battle, my heart truly hopes that Gabriella will never be called upon to make such sacrifices.