White Day

Yesterday was White Day, the holiday where men give gifts back to the women who gave them gifts on Valentine's Day. From what I can tell, the traditional White Day gift is cookies, with chocolates being an acceptable alternative.

Takashi had told me a while ago that he wanted to send me a gift and asked for my address. Last week he sent me a message telling me that he had sent me something for White Day, but didn't know when it would arrive. So for the past two days I have been eagerly awaiting a surprise. It's not so much that I wanted a gift as that I wanted to see what exactly he would choose for me.

This morning at work I was a little surprised when one of the male teachers gave me a little bag of cookies and said that it was for White Day. After looking around a bit, I saw similar bags of cookies on some of the other teachers' desks, so I'm guessing he gave them to all the female teachers. I thought it was really nice of him to include me; since I wasn't actually at that school on White Day, he didn't really have to get me anything.

Anyhow, when I got home this afternoon, I found an attempted delivery notice on my door. It wasn't the kind I usually get; this one was from Yamato Shipping. I wondered what exactly Takashi had sent me that it had to be sent by a parcel service rather than standard mail. For a little while I was confused as to how I was going to arrange for a redelivery. Everything on the notice was in Japanese and there didn't seem to be an English help line. I tried going to the website, thinking that would be easiest, but the page wouldn't load. So eventually I gave up and just attempted calling the first number listed on the notice, which apparently goes to the truck drivers. No one picked up, but a few minutes later they called me back. It was surprisingly easy; I just said that a package had come but I wasn't home. After that they asked my name and confirmed my address, and told me when they would be back with the parcel.

Just a few minutes ago, the delivery man came to my door with a rather large and heavy box. I couldn't imagine what would be so heavy; obviously it wasn't cookies. When I opened the box, it was potatoes! He sent me a box full of potatoes from the farm where he is working. And he enclosed a note in both English and Japanese. Here's what it says:

Dear Andy,
Hello!! Happy White Day!! I live in the Okinoerbu island since February. I'm working a potato farmer there. I dig up a potato everyday. This potato is I dug. Please eat!! It is surely delicious. Well, see you again!
from Takashi

I laughed so hard when I saw those potatoes, it must be the funniest thing that has happened to me all week. What a strange and heartwarming gift. Although I'm not really sure how I'm going to cook them, I think these potatoes are a much more exciting present than cookies. Of course, he sent me way more than I can eat, so I'm thinking I'll distribute about half of them at the Tuesday Night Social Club tonight.

Anyhow, it's time for me to get headed on to dance class, but I just wanted to share this story. I hope it made you smile as much as it made me.