My stay in Obu with the family was really unique- they were a ton of fun and it was great to spend some intimate time with an average family. They cooked food they pulled from their farm and at night I'd hang with the family and play with their two young sons. I even tried my hand at the Japanese flute at the family's barbeque after a performance by Ojichan (grandpa) who became my best buddy after constantly refilling my glass of beer every time it hit the halfway mark.
During the days I visited schools in the area and had an opportunity to see how the Japanese education system worked (wow! the kids serve lunch and clean up after themselves???) and observe some classes. The school visits were a big eye opener and talking to the teachers and students gave me some insight that I hope to bring back to my classroom. The week was a big highlight for me and my rock-paper-scissors skills are now sharp as a tack (kids everywhere in Japan love it).
