Marie Romano #129
American
BEFORE OBUBU
My love for tea extends years before my time at Obubu, starting with one cup of matcha that I had at the age of 13. Throughout the years, I grew fascinated with not only the Japanese language but also Japanese culture and tea. After visiting the small town of Wazuka in 2018, I was determined to come back to learn more about the process of growing and harvesting tea. Alas, four years later, my dream came true!
WHY OBUBU?
What better way to learn everything there is to know about tea than to experience it with your whole body! I was so excited when I found out about the Obubu internship and knew right away that it was the perfect means for me to experience a total tea immersion. The internship had everything that I was looking for — the beautiful countryside of Japan, the small tea-farming town, the amazing dedicated staff, the early morning harvests up on the mountains, and the fellow tea-enthusiast interns! I wanted to learn about all the time and effort that goes into making tea to gather a greater understanding and appreciation of each cup that I drink.
DURING OBUBU
I can’t even begin to put into words how special this internship opportunity was to me. Not only did I learn more than I could imagine about Japanese tea but I also fostered so many wonderful relationships and memories. I went into the internship not expecting to leave with such meaningful friendships that I developed with the other interns and obubu staff. It made me realize that tea is more than an agricultural good or a beverage, it is a means of connection and a way to build lifelong friendships.
AFTER OBUBU
It has been hard to leave Obubu! I deeply miss waking up to the bright morning sun and breaking a sweat out in the field harvesting with Akky-san and being involved in the whole tea-making process, from start to finish. I know, however, that this is not the end! I hope to return again and continue my tea education in the near future! :)