Back in the south, on my last day before flying back to Nagoya, we had a little “gokurou-san!” dinner party after training, both for me . Ritsuko-san made some delicious yakisoba and I brought a Bueno chicken with me. My friend had told me that this was a famous chicken and a common thing to bring to parties and picnics. When I first described it he hadn’t heard of Bueno Chicken, but when I cracked my backpack open and the smell of garlic filled our nostrils, he “Oh! This is just like Rico Chicken! The recipe is from Argentina.” I guess the garlic roast chicken in Haebaru is sold under a different name, but they were more impressed that I had biked all the way to Urasoe to get it. After enjoying our meals for a bit with one of the fathers, I gave my other “thank you” gifts, including a set of yo-yos for the kids from Yo-Yo Store Rewind, and a bottle of awamori for sensei called 美玉 “bi-dama,” in honor of the 美 “bi” I hope to develop in my kata. In Japanese, Bi-dama means marble, so the bottle is round like a marble, and it’s wrapped in small netting, making it a pretty ornament for display. Lastly, I brought a handful of photos I had taken and printed to share with them.
帰る前のご苦労さん会で、りつこさんは美味しい焼きそばを作ってくださった。私は友達のおすすめでブエノ・チキンを買いに行ってきて、いい匂いで南風原までついた。ついてリュックを開けるとニンニクの匂いで囲まれた。
「あ、これ、リコーチキンと同じだ！アルゼンチンのだろう。」あ、南風原では違う名前で売られてて有名なのだ。チキンより浦添まで走って行ってきたことに感心したらしい。子供のお父さんと食べた後、お礼のギフトに先生には泡盛、子供達にはリワインドのヨーヨーをあげた。泡盛は「美玉」と呼ばれて、「ビー玉」のように見えたけど、「美」と書いてあったからいいかもと思った。自分の型の中に見つける「美」の意味のと重ねて選んだ。最後に皆さんの写真を何枚か印刷してあげた。
I taught the kids the basics, based on my friend’s presentation at the elementary schools. They picked it up very quickly, not surprising the adults at all. I rode back to Sora House for the last time with a heartfelt “ittekimasu,” knowing that I’d be back someday.
ヨーヨーの基本を教えてみたら、すぐ分かって早くトリックが出来ちゃってた。大人達が全然出来なかったのはビックリしなかった。そしてまた必ず戻って来ると信じ、心から「行ってきます！」と言って、これが今年最後になる空ハウスへ自転車で走り出した。
Note to self: don’t forget about Sora-chan and the strays of Midorigaoka park.
緑ヶ丘公園のソラちゃんの野良猫達を忘れないでね。
