There was a popular festival or matsuri in a nearby neighborhood, Azabu Juban, this weekend. We finally got there today - in the rain, but we had talked about these goldfish catching games and Nicholas was not about to let us forget to go. The neighborhood was decorated with paper lanterns and it was packed! Most everyone carried an umbrella which was a challenge in and of itself. Everything was on a stick! I felt like we were at the MN State Fair except here all of the vendors are hollering at you as you pass to buy their food. It was quite loud. Now we spent a fraction of the time there due to the rain and the crowd, but it was well worth it. We managed to eat a few things - chicken, beef, hot dog in some not ketchup sauce, awsesome fried potatoes, Kate may have sampled some seafood thing without knowing it, and chocolate covered bananas with sprinkles, all on a stick and some of these sticks were serious. We then spotted the turtle catching game - oh no. Poor Nick. Jack squashed that pretty fast - and I had to agree, but I felt badly. Nicholas would do anything for a turtle, so we had to tell him you weren't allowed to take them home, just catch them and move on...which we did until we stumbled upon the goldfish catching game. I had read about this and was skeptical. They give you two paper nets that pretty much dissolve in the water almost immediately, so your chances of catching one were slim to none. Fortunately, Kate caught one pretty fast, but Nick went through 4 nets with nothing but a lot of tears at the end. The guy gave him a consolation goldfish - thank god! Now as I sit here and type, I pray that Max and Bennie, swimming behind me in our water pitcher, make it through the night.
4 comments:
Please post everyday!!! Your stories are fantastic-- even just the mundane detail like the rain and umbrellas and being the only westerners at an event are so interesting. It sounds like you guys are really trying to be like the locals. I'm so glad Nick got a fish-I can totally see any 6 year old boy being crushed by that one. Those photo's of meat on a stick look awfully phallic to me (me and my dirty mind)
The fish died this morning! And of course Kate's is still alive...no dear, those are bananas!But I would have thought the same - that's why I took a picture
I just love reading your posts. I feel like I'm going to learn so much. So, I want to know how do you know when an event is taking place? Do they have postings/flyers in English about upcoming events? Sounds like you guys are really taking advantage of being there. I feel like I might be holed up in my apartment afraid to venture out and get lost.
Poor Nick with his fish. You could get him a beta. They live forever.
Sarah - You would go crazy staying the apt all day with the kids. It's just like Gretchen mentioned earlier - needing to have one thing to do each day - like when we had that first baby 9 years ago - and as long as I know how to get back home I am okay. This subway/mapquest thing is the best. Connor and I have to go find a pet shop in the neighborhood here in the next hour. I was thinking I would get a Beta, but maybe just wait until we are in permanent housing. As far as the festival, I can't remember where we heard - I think someone at Jack's work and then everyone seemed to know about it, it's a pretty big one. We didn't get to see any of the performances, but tired kids and crappy weather took priority.
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