Gardella In Kyoto

Chapter Six- Sarah

The following daybreak we gathered our stuff and went out into the ways of Tokyo to get some common ramen noodles before we go.

Nathan and I spent two hours looking for any marks that showed Veggie ramen. It is almost unmanageable to locate vegetarian ramen. Finally, we found a spot that also sold veggie ramen.

We all reserved the veggie ramen with eggs and tofu.

"Are you eager to see Kyoto?" Nathan questioned me, "I know you have only been to Tokyo."

I nodded and beamed. "I can't wait to commemorate the new year with your family," I said as I took a great nosh of noodles.

After our lunch, we hurried to reach our train ride to Kyoto. Kyoto is a more ancestral city than Tokyo. Less kawaii, more old-fashioned traditions.

We leaped onto the train and spotted our seats. I sat alongside the window and observed outside most of the time. We passed many small villages and tons of rice fields.

Two hours later, I was starving. I wandered into the bar area and asked for some chips.

The man handed me some chips and I paid him 200 Yen.

I neglected to tell you that when we were at the train station, we traded dollars for Yen.

The chips were pretty good and they packed me up.

When I shuffled back to my seat, Nathan, and my mother were arguing about places to go to in Kyoto.

"Well, the New Years festival is very talented! We have to go to that," Nathan said as he showed my mother a photo of last year's Gion New Year festival.

My mother recognized and affirmed, "I really want to have some traditional sushi in Kyoto."

Nathan greeted and said, "Don't worry, you will have plenty of that."

My mother smiled back and exclaimed, "I'm not worried, you grew up in Kyoto."

I sat down next to my mom and said, "How about we do a self-guided round of some of the Shinto temples and shrines."

"That is a good idea," Nathan and my mom said.

"Next Stop Kyoto," the conductor cried in Japanese.

Nathan and I stood up preparing to leave.

My mother stood up (following us) and she took the suitcases and the backpacks.

I gave Nathan a flirt for just a second and he laughed. My mother gave him a grin for, she did not know why he was giggling.

We waited until the train stopped and then we hopped onto the platform with our luggage.

When we marched outward onto the streets of Kyoto, it was flooding. Buckets replaced by buckets of water drenched us as we swiftly tried to find a place for refuge. Up ahead, there was a petite shop that marketed geta, chopsticks, kimonos, and neiko dolls.

We ducked into the store and resolved to look around. We all purchased Japanese umbrellas and I bought a pair of waterproof geta for the New Years festival.

When we trudged back out into the rain, we followed Nathan to his parent's house which was not far away. We made it to an aged fence with a shattered green gate. When you viewed passed the gate, you spied an ancient cobblestone pathway that advanced down a field full of hibernating さくら trees. The rock pathway led up to a door with a rusty red tint. It was blaring in the shimmering droplets. The door was fairly unique with red peeled paint and a shattered core. On the door read the character 水 (mizu) which means water. The remainder of the façade looked like the gate. Battered and torn from experience. Above the house held a roof. The roof aimed upwards towards the sky as it to create a force field. The roof seemed like it was about to give in.

"Don't worry," Nathan said, "This house has been here for more than one hundred years, why would it choose to cave in now?"

I laughed as Nathan hammered on the door trying to overwhelm the rain. The door squeaked open causing a sharp sound.

An aged caucasian woman cracked open the door.

"Hello my Nathey- Wathey! Hello Gardalina and Danielle, it is nice to meet you. My name is Josephine but, call me Sarah. I hope you guys love shabu- shabu because I am making some!"

She guided us into the attractive pine genkan and then let us take out footwear off.

I took my shoes off and set them in the genkan. My mother and Nathan did the same.

Sarah seized our soggy umbrellas and set them out to air-dry. She drew attention towards me and she said, "It is so nice to meet such a growing student!"

We bowed to each other and she steered us all into the main room. The outside looked shady but the interior looked like a Japanese manor.

The trail of shabu-shabu and sushi loaded the air as she led us into the dining room.

She ran into the kitchen and I heard the racket of spilling water and oil.

The aroma was coming from the kitchen.

"Excuse me Mrs. Conners-" I began but she interrupted me.

"Please call me Sarah," She had declared as she came into the dining room with a steaming hot pot of shabu-shabu and sushi.

I nodded and proceeded, "Excuse me Sarah, are we going out to enjoy the New Years festival later?"

"Of course!" She howled, "A little rain never harmed anybody!"

We all sat down and the question series began. It was like being on "Graded Jeopardy".

"Do you speak Japanese?" Asked Sarah as she helped herself to some shrimp and noodles.

"はい!" I said as I plunged some sashimi into the shabu-shabu oil.

She greeted and resumed, "Do you honor all Japanese holidays?"

"Of course!" I said, "My dad's side is Japanese."

"What university are you going to?" She asked as she took a large bite of noodles.

"Columbia University," I replied.

"How old are you?" She asked.

"Almost 17, I will go to college next fall," I responded.

"Do you know all Japanese traditions?" She asked.

I nodded and took a bite of the shabu-shabu noodles.

"How many times have you been to Japan?" She asked.

"17 times not including this one, I hope to live here when I am older," I said.

"Are you willing to make give-and-takes with my son?" She asked.

I nodded and said, "Of course! はい!"

"Now Gardalina, I grant you permission to date my Nathan."

Nathan and I bowed in response to this. "ありがとうございます!" We both said.

She beamed at me and spilled some more shabu-shabu into her bowl.

Nathan and I could not glimpse away from each other during that whole dinner.

After the dinner, Sarah showed my mother and my room that we were going to linger in. We placed down our suitcases and pulled out our kimonos for the festival. I seized the waterproof geta I had purchased and set them out so that I could bear them to the festival.

So far, this was the greatest trip of my life.