So, I am horribe at posting. D: Sorry. But I have news!
This blog post is only going to be about the Memorial Museum.
We left Tuesday morning around 6:30 on the train, which meant we arrived in Hiroshima at 10. After a little confusion at the station, we found the streetcar we were taking, and we were off. We took the streetcar to Peace Memorial Museum, and started looking around. The admission fee was 30￥ for Kenta, (about $.30) and 50￥ for me. (about $.50) The museum was an eye opening experience for me. There was a lot we weren't taught in school, and it was very difficult for me to look through. While we were there, I saw a few other gaijins walking through, but I wasn't really paying attention.
The museum is very difficult to explain, but was a life changing experience. Every person should go there at least once. My mom asked me if I felt embarrassed, as an American in the museum. I didn't feel embarrassed, but I did feel はすかしい. (ashamed)
I left the museum with my eyes wide open. As we walked into the Memorial park, I saw the さくら (cherry blossoms) blooming. (Picture above) They were beautiful. There is a cenotaph, which is like a ceremonial coffin for all the people who died. Engraved below are the words, "Let all the souls here rest in peace for we shall not repeat the evil". As I walked up, an おばーちゃん (grandmother) was making a prayer at the monument. I was so overwhelmed with the feeling of はずかしい that it brought tears to my eyes, and I had to walk away.
We also walked around the Childrens Monument, which was very hard for me to see. As we walked around, I noticed beautiful pieces of artwork. As I took a closer look, I found they were おりがみ きじゅうき (paper cranes). As beautiful as this was, it was too much for me, and Kenta and I went back to the hotel.
I am really sorry that this wasn't exactly upbeat, but this was a very sobering experience.
さよなら
くまーちゃん
