Day 18 at the Kushi Institute

I resolved last night that I am starting my fast today.  I think it is a good idea because I don't know when I will have this quiet time again.  At most of the meals they cook brown rice and  if it is not working out I can just have some miso soup and vegetables.  Well I got down to breakfast this morning and they have no brown rice but boiled millet.  I decide not to cause a fuss and I have the creamy millet.  I have to admit it is very difficult to chew a very small grain like millet 50 times.  The rest of the day I got advise to add Umeboshi paste to my Kokicha tea because the fast can cause acidity and umeboshi paste is very alkalinizing.  I have also been advised to add some pickled relish to my rice to give me some added probiotic and to help break down the rice.  The rest of the day I felt good.  It has been hard to be quiet and to chew 50 times but I am learning what it is like to have saliva and broken food in your mouth.  I think I used to swallow the food whole in the past. I am also learning to put my silverware down in between mouthfuls instead of the shoveling affect I was so accustomed to since yesterday.  I am taking a small bowl of rice to my room incase I get hungry during the night.