My Trip To Kyushu
I went to Kyushu for a small family reunion honoring my great grandfather’s death. We got off the plane and we went to my grandparent’s house for a half an hour of relaxation. On the way there it started to snow. It was the first time my cousins, Shiho and Yusuke, had seen snow. My whole family was shocked because the weather had been really warm there for the past week. When we got there it was snowing only a little bit, but just enough to make little snowmen. After getting a snack and meeting my whole family on the Japanese side, my cousins and I went out doors to make Yuki-Daruma. In other words snowmen.
It took almost an hour to get to the temple where we were going for the ceremony. We walked into the temple very grateful to stretch our legs. We had to wait a little while until it was our turn. When it came we all followed the lady into the room. The walls were gold and they had a huge altar. The priest came in a few minutes later and started to talk but it sounded like busy bees to me. He sang about my great grandfather the whole time. We went up to pray while the priest sang. We had to sit on our knees for half an hour. It really hurt when I stood up.
After we left the building we took family photos. Then we went to a seafood restaurant. They served us "Escargot" and octopus for an appetizer. I couldn’t eat it, so I gave it to my dad and cousins. After lunch we went to the hotel.
We finally arrived at the hotel. It’s called the Aoshima Hotel and is known for the onsen, hot spring, they have there. It was a very nice place I liked it a lot. After going to the onsen we went to dinner. The food they had for us children was delicious. I don’t think I would trade with the grown ups if my life depended on it.
The next morning I had to pack and have breakfast and then leave. I was very sad that I had to leave. One of my great uncles, who had leukemia, took a picture with a camera; that photo is shown on the top of this page. After breakfast we said our goodbyes and headed off to the airport. I had a lot of fun that week.
About a month later, my great uncle with leukemia died. I was glad to see him in Kyushu.
by Emi
April 2001
(The following translations can be read by Japanese compatible soft ware.)
わたしは、おじいさんの、ほうじに、きゅうしゅうへいきました。ゆきがふっていて、びっくりしました。 きゅうしゅうのいとこたちは、はじめて、ゆきをみました。わたしたちは、ゆきだるまを作りました。
一時間ぐらいで、おてらにつきました。おてらの中に、金のへやがありました。ほんどうです。おぼうさんが、３０分ぐらいおきょうをよみました。うたをうたっているみたいでした。そのあと、おまいりをしました。あしがしびれました。
しゃしんをとってからレストランで、しょくじをしました。それから、あおしまホテルに行きました。おんせんにはいりました。そして、しょくじをしました。こどもようのほうがおいしかたです。
つぎのあさ、あさごはんをたべてから、おじさんがしゃしんをとってくれました。そして、みんなとさようならをいってから、ひこうじょうにいって、ひこうきでかえりました。もっといたかったので、かなしかったです。
しゃしんをとってくれた、おじさんは、一ヶ月してなくなりました。びょうきでした。でも、きゅうしゅうで、あえてよかったです。