Back to Civilisation

May 6 cont...

By now it was overcast and with the grey of the clouds came a mood of apathy.
We had finished what we had set out to do but it felt very anti-climactic. There was no standing on the stairs, clapping each other on the back, whooping or cheering at our achievement – we were too tired. We did however, take some pictures to mark the occasion then set off for the train station.

Miyuki, Iwamoto, Myoko Sans and Mamasan outside Temple 17

We made a wrong turn and missed our train but only waited 1/2 hour for the next one. I was quite content to sit for a while so Myoko San and Miyuki San went over to the depot to check time tables. When they got back, Myoko San handed me a ticket with a look of satisfaction and affection and said 'Last settai!'.

Miyuki San gave me a choice of an iced coffee or soda drink. I took the iced coffee then she gave me the remainder of the soda too. While trying to balance two cans of drink as I texted Gracie about her latest boy interest, I felt a little rude but needed some zone out time. In between texts, I put the cans next to the rubbish tin with all the other cans neatly piled beside it (the Japanese are dedicated recyclers with bins at every shop or on every corner) then the train arrived and we all got on it.

I sat next to Iwamoto San and again tried to impress how appreciative I was. He seemed embarrassed but pleased. Iwamoto San commented that his sunburn (a new word for him) hurt so I got out my Tea Tree cream. I told him it was made from a NZ plant and he seemed pleased with that too but I had forgotten how strong Tea Tree smelled and, as he was rubbing it on his arm, Iwamoto San sneezed.

We all got off at Tokushima and bade fond farewells, not wanting to let go of hands and arms. The Japanese might not be huggers but they did have a form of physical affection that conveyed just as much warmth and meaning as ours did.

I had done my quiet form of grieving earlier so admittedly was ready to move on but still felt a little bit guilty that I didn’t linger longer. I waved goodbye, then, as I got further up the street, I turned around and waved one last time…