A Lesson on Hydration

Last night, my Japanese mom invited me, one of my coworkers, and my friend who works at the teashop to come to her house for dinner and then to go to an onsen (hot spring bath) after dinner. My coworker had tutoring so she missed dinner. While waiting for my teashop friend to come, my Japanese mom and I had a really good conversation. I found out that she went to all girls Catholic schools from junior high school to college. She lost both her husband and sister years ago so she made keepsake teddy bears from their clothes. She gave me a book that she made to comfort her niece after her sister’s death. It’s really sweet. Her husband was a dentist so she made a little bear from his work jacket. I think that’s such a great idea.

For dinner, we had corn chowder, boiled canola (plant not oil…hehehe) with ham, potato salad, some fried sprouts of some sort, and cabbage stuffed with ground meat and veggies. FAB-U-LOUS! At dinner, I found out that she doesn’t work so I taught her the word “homemaker.” I had a feeling she didn’t work because she never talked about it, but I figured she did work because she takes trips and does many things that most people can’t do because they’re broke. She has two sons in their 20s. One is my age and in school. Aside from skateboarding, I don’t know what the other one does but I think he lives at home. I’ve only seen him once. I’m assuming her husband’s company still provides funds. She has a boyfriend who is somewhere around 10 years younger than her which I think is great because from the looks of the men her age around here wouldn’t be able to keep up.

After dinner, we picked up my coworker and took a 45-minute drive to the hot spring. All the baths were family style, meaning that groups have private rooms with a changing room, shower, and 1 or 2 tubs outside under an awning. The sky was really clear and since we were in the boonies you could see every star. When we got out, I was feeling a little woozy so I leaned against the counter. Then I realized that my heart was beating faster than normal so I sat down. Thank God that I did, because I woke up sitting on the floor with the others laying cold towels on me. My coworker said that she thought I was joking because she had just asked if she could get to her back that was next to me. She said that as soon as she asked I slumped and put my arm over her back. It took her a few seconds to realize that I wasn’t playing so she started snapping her fingers next to my ear and called the others over. I don’t know if I was overheated (I felt fine until I got out of the bath) or if I was dehydrated (which I’m sure had something to do with it), I’ve only blacked out once before. It was a few days after I got to Senegal, the day after I chopped all my hair off to be exact. For lunch, I had eaten mafe and I hadn’t had that much water. The bus was full so my friends and I were sitting on the side of a seat. I remember getting really hot all of a sudden, then my stomach started turning, and I began to feel like I was sinking. I woke up in the seat across from where I was sitting, being fanned with water being thrust at me from all directions. So much for thinking I was cute that day…hehehe. In my marching band days I experienced what was probably the beginnings of a black out, but I immediately got out of the sun and sprayed myself with some water. Gotta be more careful. The odd thing is that I felt so refreshed once the wooziness passed.


When I got to the junior high school today, the vice principal said, “You ran out of steam yesterday.” Ha, if only he knew. He was referring to the elementary school fiasco. Then he asked me what today is. I said Wednesday. He laughed and said, “No, it’s White day,” then handed me a bag. “Because you gave me wine before, this Is my present to you.” Wow. White Day is like Valentines Day in Japan, but usually woman give gifts on Valentines day and men give gifts on White Day. The gifts are usually white. So, I got lotion…which matched my white hands (you know what cold does to dark skin). Good timing!