Facing Possible Doom at Any Second (and other musings)

Today was a turbulent day for the group. All the information we were given ahead of time was that we were going to "Tour Hakone with the Guide." The Guide being, of course, our beacon of hope, Charlie. So we had no real expectations for the day. My expectation was walking. Walking. Walking. Walking. The best summary for this day that comes to mind is: Pleasant surprise.

We began the day with three separate subway trains and then finally the bullet train. Wooshing by the Japanese countryside at 165 mph made me want to stick my head out the window like a dog and let the sun dry me to a crisp. Watching the countryside fly by was fascinating, especially since it looked like plainsplainsplainsplainsplainsMOUNTAINS. The snowy peak of Mt. Fuji appeared so suddenly I don't think many of the passengers on the train actually realized it was there, or found it significantly less interesting than we did.

We then got on a train that took us around the mountain town of Hakone. Where there are no leaves on the trees but plenty of people milling around.

Charlie's ducklings have said it before and will say it again: We will follow him to the gates of Hell. And probably through them. So we trusted him and followed him wherever he went. Before we knew it we were being led onto a sky gondola (!) up one of the highest peaks in Japan, towards wedidntknowwhat. Charlie serenaded us with his majestic alto, and even played us a song on his recorder. Honestly, he could say "hello" and we would clap. After his mountain song he told us that if we were lucky, we might be able to see Mt. Fuji. The countdown to the crest of the mountain was more suspenseful and more exciting than that to the New Year. As we finally made it over the mountain, the white peak of Mt. Fuji appeared bright and beautiful in the clear blue sky. Immediately girls were on their feet, camera shutters going wild.

We then spent 30 minutes on the water, crossing the lake to the other side of town. There we met a woodworker who makes perhaps the most beautiful and useful pieces of wood any of us have ever seen. Most purchases made there today were gifts for loved ones and thus, cannot be shared to loved ones.

Wood craftsman in Hakone demonstrating intricate boxes.

Today was different than the other days we've spent in the Land of the Rising Sun.Where the days leading up have been in the concrete jungle of Asian New York City these next couple days of our journey are spent in what we southerners would call "The Boonies." When we first stepped off that bullet train the air was different. It was fresher, cleaner, and there was certainly less of it in the mountains. Mrs. Keen pointed out to me today that if we had spent any more time in Tokyo, we would have had great experiences that we could have also experienced in any major city in the United States. So here we are, city rats taking the countryside. Hakone is about the closest to roughing it that I've ever been - except when the Harpeth Hall soccer team spent a week at Samford and Sandy Dalton wasn't 15 minutes away and on call to bring sandwiches. I digress. The countryside of Japan is beautiful. The mountains are striking against what I can only call "mouthwash blue" sky, and everything feels different. As a resident of 12 South, I don't see much wilderness. So this one day of fresh air was one I'll remember. Particularly the moment that we crested the peak and we saw Mount Fuji staring back at us. It was one of those natureisreal moments. When you realize that you're very very small compared to this 12,365 ft. Volcano. You're younger than these mountains which are millions of years old and you will never live that long (although Gracie ate a lot of magic eggs so she just might make it.) The world is huge and we are tiny and sometimes we need to be reminded that college acceptance letters are not what makes the world go round, and this volcano is still considered active and could, in theory, destroy me at any second.

Today was more about the emotions than the history. It was more about the simple than the extravagant, and more about the journey than the destination. Stepping off of the concrete and onto the grass offered a new perspective. Not only of the beautiful island nation we're blessed to be exploring, but of the time we have left back in our beloved Nashville. I only hope I can carry these revelations with me on a 15 hour plane ride.

- Claire T 2015