A Stranger with a Surprise

Last Wednesday I went to the gym to work out and made an unexpected friend. When I walked into the gym, there was an older lady already there, so I smiled and said hello and went on with my own workout. As she was leaving she stopped to ask me if I knew her. I had a slight momentary panic thinking that I had met her before and forgot, but luckily that was not the case. 

She said that since I smiled at her, she thought we might have met before and she forgot. In reality it was our first time to meet, so we introduced ourselves and chatted for a minute. She was very friendly and even spoke to me in English the whole time! She asked if I go to the gym often, to which I replied that I do and almost always go on Wednesdays. She said she hoped to see me every week and then she said she had a handmade Japanese thing she wanted to give to me and that she would bring it next week.

On Sunday evening I went to the gym again, upon entering the locker room after my workout I saw this lady again! As soon as she saw me she delightedly said hello and asked me to wait a minute for her to run out to her car and get this item she wanted to give me. I laughed and said of course I would wait and off she ran to her car. 

She returned holding a box and told me to go ahead and open it. Inside was a set of two lacquerware bowls with chopsticks and matching chopstick rests. She told me it is Wajima lacquerware.

Wajima is a town north of where I live that is famous for their production of completely handmade, high quality lacquerware. Lacquerware is dishes (and other items) that are carved from wood, then painted with black lacquer and often colorful designs. This lacquerware is a luxury item that is famous throughout Japan for its beautiful artwork. I could not believe it when she told me it is Wajima lacquerware! The set she gave me are traditional miso soup bowls, black with red inside the bowl. 

This lady actually lives on the same street as I do, so now I know one of my neighbors (outside of my apartment building)! She apparently used to be a science teacher in Kobe and Tokyo but returned to Noto, her hometown, after finishing her career. She is excited to practice her English with me, and said she would try to have an English question for me every time we meet!