Tea love story
Before Obubu
I’d fallen in love with Japanese tea.
I was a new ceramicist working as a psychologist in a nursing home for elderly people. I fell in love with Japanese teas, culture, and traditions.
I traveled to Japan twice before coming as an intern at Obubu.
My first trip to Japan was in November, last year, thanks to a wonderful person who offered me an incredible experience, joining him for a journey around tea places and beautiful Japanese gardens and ceramic museums. He initiated me to Chanoyu and made me discover why I would like to make Tea, my life project, through my first Koicha.
I never forget …
I left at the end of November and I felt immediately the need and urgency to come back soon.
I planned a second trip in May. I traveled around different parts of Japan mostly linked to my tea passions, wagashi workshop, pottery festival, shrine, temple, gardens, and … tea tours.
I came to Obubu during a day spent at Wazuka. I hadn’t booked for tea tour but I was able to join the group of the day. I asked innocently and without ideas or project some information about the internship and then I came back to France at the end of May.
As a heart scream, I decided to come back once, applying to the internship program at Obubu.
At the same time, I applied to obtain my working holiday visa, in case I wouldn’t be accepted at Obubu.
Beyond my expectations, I had my WHV and I was welcomed to Obubu.
One thing happened, two weeks before leaving France.
I met my boyfriend. I have known him for one year ago, at work. I think, my departure allowed us to tell what we feel for each other. In a certain way, it’s thanks to my precipitated leaving that I met the person with whom I want to be, share time, and build projects.
It’s wonderful and also at the moment, not so easy.
As the song says, « Should I stay or should I go ? »
You already know the next of the story because I’m writing to you.
It means I’m gone …
I’m so lucky and I thank so much my family and my boyfriend for supporting me in my project.
So I left France for at least three amazing months in Japan, in Obubu.
Enjoy Japan !
During Obubu
I’m in love with japanese tea
I’m learning every day about tea from the leaf to the cup.
It’s a crazy experience in my life.
I have never harvested or farmed before.
And nowadays, I fell in love with this part of my activity.
I can’t imagine coming back to France without farming or at least working outside.
Feel the season, surrounded by nature.
At Obubu we offer also tea tours for tourism.
To be honest, it was not, so far, the thing I preferred. Also, because of my complex in my English which is not so well.
Nevertheless, Tea tours after Tea tours, I felt more confident and I took more pleasure.
I would like to share my passion for tea, beyond the language border.
I’m thankful for all I learned. In my turn, I would like to offer the same generosity I have received, coming to Obubu.
Of course, I learned a lot about tea, I learned also a lot about myself.
I was solitary, and not used to living with other people in the same house.
I have some routines of a lonely person, in addition vegan.
I hope so far, don’t have been the annoying person I don’t like to be.
I’m so thankful to all the amazing and kind people I met and who welcomed me with a lot of warmfulness.
For the shared moments of joy, laughter, and work and this wonderful adventure.
Even if I’m discrete, not too talkative, nor the most easygoing person, I haven’t only met tea lovers, I met a tea family whom I’m so happy to belong.
In a time, it will be time to say, see you, but not forever.
It’s rather, a see you soon !
After Obubu
I’m even more in love with Japanese teas.
After leaving Obubu I want to discover other parts of Japan, thanks to my WHV.
I have place ideas, maybe Hokkaido or Shikoku.
I will travel at least until the end of December before coming back to France for some other beautiful reasons and projects.
Being in France, I would work and build the foundations of my tea project.
My mid-term project is to open a ceramic workshop with a tea room where I could share all that I learned at Obubu and during my travel to Japan.
I wish people could experiment Obubu’s unique teas, the fineness of wagashi, and the essence of wabi-sabi philosophy.
I would like to make a place, warm, welcoming, and full of omotenashi.
In this way, I will come back to France but forever, a part of my heart will belong (stay) in Japan.
My life is just starting.
I have the feeling that I will come back soon.
This time, I came to Japan, alone, but, I wish to come back, accompanied, to show and share the Japan I love and of course, Obubu is a part.
It’s time for me to say you …
Tea you soon !
English (UK) 
Français