This week is the golden week of May in Japan. Everyone is more or less relaxed except, probably, teachers in universities. Teaching continues in many places despite holiday marks on Japanese calendar. Academic calendar runs in parallel to the everyday-life calendar in a different world.
T and I went to Nogawa Park nearby for the first time. K and I were there once in winter before T was born. The park in winter had a desolate scene of loneliness and peace. In spring, it is abundant with green, and the brook is clear and shallow enough for kids to enjoy themselves. T enjoyed throwing pebbles into the water and collecting pebbles in the water. If the dad had been with us, I guess he would probably have stopped T from taking off shoes and forbidden him from walking into the river.
It was a sunny day, and T, with his passion for lunchbox and picnic, couldn’t wait further ado before we sat down under a tree to have a bite. Compared with another national park nearer to our place, Nogawa Park was less crowded, and the field looked even more spacious and natural. T commented, “it is comfortable here.” (ここはさわやかですね！) During the whole while he was speaking both in Japanese and Mandarine, the latter of which was quite new to the style our everyday conversational up to now. After lunch, we started to look for another place to play water. Sometimes he ran ahead; sometimes we walked holding hands and singing in Chinese nursery rhymes. I was surprised that he would be able to sing the songs that I sang to him, and that he was able to do so in Mandarine.
I promised him that next time the dad should come with us to visit, and we will remember to bring our sandles so that he can walk in the water.
