Misuteriasu Tsua-

Last spring I took my first trip with my LOLs. We were heading for Kyoto but accidentally ended up on the train platform for Tokyo. (For those of you who aren't completely polished up in your Japan city geography, let's just say the two places are in two completely different directions!) Anyway, from then on, it became an inside joke that wherever we were, whenever we got lost, we were "heading for the Tokyo Tower." It wasn't until this Fall, though, that my LOLs realized that I had never actually seen the Tokyo Tower. After that, they made it their mission to plan a "Misuteriasu Tsua-" (say it really, really slowly and then gradually speed up!! Did you figure it out? And no, the last word is not sewer.) Anyway, Thursday was a holiday, so on Wednesday evening my LOLs "kidnapped" me (alright, I over exaggerate, I had a little pre-warning!)

My fearless leaders on the right train platform holding our bento box dinners
the Tokyo Tower at night!

the city that never sleeps -- from the Tower

Me in front of the Tower (sort of)

It was a huge picture of the Tower

Emily, we are not in Hamamatsu anymore!

It was a rainy, snowy day

Guess who had fun taking pictures!!!!

The entrance to the Emperor's Palace

You can't actually go in!

Some scary looking guy who jammed up my camera's "smile setting"

Asasuka's famous gate

(Dieter, remember your Christmas present?)

Chinese pagoda in Asasuka

As always, we have to eat ice cream!!!

They went for vanilla/green tea swirl (blech!) I had Japanese plum (yum!!)

Hello Kitty Bus

A Peek into My Classroom

Singing "That's What Friends are For"
Practicing all those pesky phonetic sounds

Not paying attention to Emily...

my vice-principal giving the rules of the English speech contest

(I have no idea what the face is behind her)

one of my students giving a speech on Kyoto

(with a picture of Okinawa's aquarium behind her!)

another student explaining his favorite place in Japan -- our school!

I Love English in Japan (Pickles Bersion)

Just in case you can't read the small print: "To a fresh radish preservative with salt and malt and greens pickled overnight..." and to all a good night!

My Most Favorite Thing...

...brown paper packages, filled with harp strings!!!

Yes. Your eyes do not deceive you. Thanks to a wonderful "Harp Mover Dad" who has incredible experience in all things harp, all things "Big Boxes", all things international shipping, and all things "Emily's crazy ideas" I'm going to be a harpist again! In fact, at this moment, I feel more like an expectant parent attempting to adopt a beautiful girl internationally. We have had to deal with so much red tape trying to get my newest daughter (Madame Eglantine is staying home, this is her new "baby" sister) over the ocean and across the border! But finally, the gears are in play. It looks like she can be shipped out soon... Oh, and for those of you wondering about size. Let's just say that the 7-foot grandfather's clock is peeking out from behind the box!

Just Because My Kids are Cute!

Usually when I'm not teaching, I am in the staff room grading papers or lesson planning. Earlier this week though, I happened to be up and around the school and I found some of my third-year kids practicing their baking skills. Its really fun to be with these kids because their English is decent enough to make basic sentences and since we have a good relationship, they try really hard to explain things (at least some of them!). Beyond snapping pictures, I ended up walking around with a spoon tasting some of their creations!

Sponge cake with strawberries, real whipped cream, and a very happy cook!

Close up on the cake with a side of homemade vanilla pudding

The ubiquitous "peace" sign.

(As an aside, in Japan, it is perfectly natural/expected that you will have your "own" version of the peace sign which depends on its angle and placement)

Boys doing the dishes?????

Some delicious strawberry, puffed pastry dessert

In Japan, its also perfectly normal to be a middle school boy wearing a teddy bear imprinted apron that you made, a purple bandanna in your hair, and a medical mask.

(Its also perfectly normal for the boys to hug each other, sit on one another's laps, and hang off of one another like monkeys)

Another "boy-washing-dishes" spotting!

Elisabeth's Entrance

The first photos of Elisabeth were finally released today so I am taking the liberty of sharing them... And, just to answer the question, "Does she look like Clara?" I have randomly inserted one of Clara's first baby pictures in the bunch. Can you figure out which one it is?

So, according to everyone back home, Elisabeth, Erin and Nathan returned today. Clara has done a great job adapting to a big sister. It was a little touch and go at first -- she was more excited about getting ice cream at "Chick-a-fay" than she was about spending time with "baby sister." However, it sounds like now she is ready to play and keeps on saying "baby sister down" and "baby sister in tent"...

The "Ts" have another "E"

I now the proud auntie of a new niece -- Elisabeth Irene Polderman. She is 8 lbs something or another ozs. Erin and Elisabeth are both doing well. Hopefully I will have pictures and more info soon.

Waiting....

Quick note to say that Erin is having regular contractions and has been admitted into the hospital. My mom left at 4:30 this morning for Houston. Will keep you updated!

Saved by a Sensei (teacher)

It's hard to believe, but my passport is about ready to expire. Yes, it has already been ten years since I first visited Japan. Because I now have an overseas working visa, I can't apply for renewal like most Americans. Instead, I am required to apply through the Japanese Embassy, which really doesn't seem like it would be a big deal. However, I found out this week, that it actually isn't as easy as it seems. First, the Japanese passport photo requirements and American photo requirements are different. This means that you can't just go to the local photo shop and request a passport photo. Thankfully, I found this out before coming back after the holidays so I was able to bring a photo set from home. Then there was the mailer -- it had to be a certain envelope only purchased at the post office. This, too, wasn't too big of a hurdle! However, the final challenge came with the International money order. I'm not going to even attempt to understand the reasoning behind the money order. All I know is that it could only be obtained at the post office. After two failed attempts (this specific counter is closed after 4 -- I get off at 4:10 -- and on the weekends), I finally asked my vice principal if I could run to the post office during work hours. She said it was fine and wished me luck! Well, the closest post office to my school obviously doesn't get too many foreigners wanting to renew their passports because the postman seemed clueless with the form. Unfortunately I wasn't much help either, but together we struggled through it. After I had painstakingly filled it out, he reviewed it and started asking me what state APO boxes are in... Well, several years back I shipped the equivalent of a semi-truck to an APO but frankly, I'm not so good at explaining it all in Japanese. The postman soon realized I wasn't going to be much use so he called the big guys (maybe those at the main branch?) which informed him that I had indeed filled at the form wrong. Form"Take Two" went a little faster but still required review.... By take three, I had been at the post office for about an hour and I couldn't help but wonder when my vice principal would start to worry about me. As I pondered this thought, who would walk in but an English teacher!!!!

"I'm a bicycle!" and other brilliant attempts at Japanese

There is a reason that these days portable electronics are brightly colored. If somebody happens to drop one on the bus, they can be easily spotted (not like I have any experience doing that, heeheehee..) Well, I am pleased to report that in my own collection of items, my cellphone is neon green, my Ipod is in a hot pink protective case, and my camera is an a turquoise and pink bag. So, in the case of a spilled purse all items are easily identified. Unfortunately, my most important electronic these days -- my Japanese/English dictionary -- is not a member of the "ABBC" (A.K.A. the "All thing Bright and Beautiful Club") Due to its lack of eye-catching appeal, it can easily slip under a bus seat unnoticed (Not like that has ever happened either!) For the sake of the argument, let's just say it did happen... Well, for starters, I would not tell my school, my neighbors, or my LOLs that I lost yet another thing.... They would deport me for sure (and currently I don't have a passport)! So, it would make more sense to file a missing items report myself. Knowing that Japanese people usually are honest and assuming that I correctly filled out the report, let's just say that I received a phone call from the Bus Station's Lost and Found (LF) Department saying that the missing item had been located. Let's now eavesdrop on the "pretend" all-Japanese conversation

LF: Hello, thisis completelyindistinguisablespeedspeakingperson
Emily: Hello, this is Emily Toelcke
LF: Hello? Hello?
Emily: Emily Toelcke
LF: somethingsomething did you lose blahblah
Emily: Dictionary. Yesterday.
LF: Do you understand Japanese?
Emily: A little...
LF: Just a moment...
Emily: Okay
LF: Emily-san?
Emily: Yes.
LF: somethingelsecompletelyindescernablethatwaswaytoofast
Emily: Yes
LF: blahblahblahblahblah close in ten minutes. 7 o'clock. Okay?
Emily: Yes, yes.
LF: Tomorrow somethingwillhappenmaybeitsbettertocometomorrowbutfranklyIhavenoidea
Emily: Today. Now. Come. Dictionary.
LF: lkadfsijfslaskdjfoiwerjlaksdjfoijewlrkajdfoidsuajlskdjroaweiruadbflkdsjfaosifhs
Emily: Thank you.
LF: lkjasdofielakjwfoidsajlkejraosidfuskajrf;lewiaskjdfh

Knowing I only have ten minutes to obtain my communicator, I high-tail down three flights of stairs, weave through hoards of businessmen leaving work, and race (as fast as one can run in heels) toward the bus terminal. With three minutes to spare I fling open the door and announce "I'm a bicycle!!!" What I of course mean to say is I lost my dictionary, but alas, that too is failed to be expressed. However, the Lost and Found men are quite bright. Not long before a dictionary had been returned. Here in front of them stands a blonde, proclaiming herself to be a man-powered two-wheel person mover. Could they in some way be connected? Nah...that would be too obvious!!!

Just When I Thought School Lunch Couldn't Get Any (you fill-in-the-blank)...

...I found this on my plate. Squid it may be, but calamari it isn't!

(It was about the size of my hand!)

Lessons from a Leaf

I bought a bamboo plant yesterday. I don't know why I once again felt it was necessary to subject a plant to "The Terror of ET". Anyone who knows me well knows that I can kill a plant just by looking at it. In fact, when I was at Stetson, my roommate Allison had somebody else come in to our room to water her lovely leaves while she was gone. I didn't take it personally -- I hate having the proverbial "blood on my hands" (or should I say sap?) But, I am going off track now... Back to the current bamboo. So, after I repotted this cute little dude I realized that there was another reason why I had avoided purchasing green living things. The only sunlight that enters my apartment comes from the sliding glass doors behind my bed. So, if I want to give him one of the essentials of life, he is going to have to sit on my pillow!

Why do I tell you all this? Well, as I have been pondering how to best take care of my bamboo buddy, I was reminded of my violet in graduate school. With this specific plant, I was determined not to kill it. So, in my usual "Let's take all matters in my own hands" way, I decided that it would be best to keep it on my kitchen counter. That way, I could keep it under my watchful eye (and maybe actually remember to water it). I figured that if I kept the lights on over the counter, I could provide it with enough light to keep it living. (For those of you who think I am absolutely insane, yes, this really was my logic! Do you understand now why I kill everything green and growing?) Well, the outcome of the violet wasn't surprising. Within a couple of weeks it started to look puny. I was determined to give it life, so I fed it some special food and kept the lights on... Sooner or later, I realized that the violet needed something that I couldn't give it. So, I finally humbled myself enough to put it in my front window and promptly forgot all about it....

Why do I tell you all of this? Well, months later when I happend to open the front shade (I always kept it closed because of safety reasons) I saw one of the most miraculous things. My violet was not only green and happy, it was completely covered in beautiful flowers. Immediately, I wanted to take credit for its beauty, but then was quietly reminded of a very important fact. When we take matters into our own hands we will suffer and struggle. However, when we turn those matters over to God by placing our full confidence in Him, he will provide. We must be willing to let go. He is the giver and sustainer of life. He will turn our handicaps into beauty -- all in his perfect timing. His time!!!! Not ours... We must be patient. Patient!!!!

Just like I deal with plants poorly, I also struggle with patience. Many of you know that I have recently been struggling with what I should do next year. Do I stay in Japan? Do I go home? What is God's will for my life? Well, I am excited to tell you that today I came to an important conclusion. Last week my parent's pastor gave a wonderful sermon on Romans 8:26-27. My mother highly encouraged me streamline it, which I finally was able to do today (and I encourage you to do so to at http://stpaulpca.sitewrench.com/default.aspx?p=40271&maid=904) . It made me laugh, it made me cry!!! I fit his description to a "T" (even if I already am a "T"). It was such an encouragement to be reminded that sometimes, we just don't know, but that is okay. God knows!! We are not alone. He will never leave us or forsake us. Even when He feels silent, He is with us. If we truly seek His will, He will reveal it to us. In fact, as my mother likes to add "We are in it!" As far as my decision, well let's just say we shall all wait and see... It is time to wait for God's time. Meanwhile, I would appreciate your prayers as I prayerfully seek His will and not mine. Oh, and I am sure my bamboo buddy would appreciate your prayers for his life, too. Our Heavenly Father is always faithful in taking caring of his own. I, on the other hand, often forget :-)

With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise. II Peter 3:8-9

A Whale of a Tale

This past week was "School Lunch Week." I experienced the entire week and am still not exactly sure what the point was. However, there were several obvious additions during the week. For example each day from Monday through Thursday we got a special "dessert" (fruit, yogurt, pudding etc.) which is a usually a rare occurrence. Also, Friday was "eel" day! But it was Thursday that was the most special of days. On this day, we actually got to choose our main dish! This choice was made sometime mid-November (see the "In the Past 24 Hours..." post). Our options? Either a hot dog or whale. Now the obvious choice for this non-fish-loving individual would be a hot dog. Hot dogs are safe. Hot dogs are American. Hot dogs are, well, normal! But then again, life in Japan is not normal. For example, when would I ever, ever have a chance to eat whale? And the mere idea of it -- one more strange food to add to my eating resume. How bad could it be? I mean, I eat lunch everyday in the staff room. Therefore, if I don't like lunch, then I can always throw it away or pass it on to another teacher. The staff room is the safe place to be during mealtimes. It's where teacher's split and share their oranges to compare their sweetness. It's where the school's "jack-of-all-trades" serves me smaller portions and cuts off the heads of fish for me so I don't have to see my food stare back. It is where I can trade my fermented beans for strawberries. If I was going to eat whale, I wanted to eat it in the staffroom! Not to mention, there's a microwave there so if lunch was particularly awful, I could always heat up a bowl of instant oatmeal! All this to say, way back when in November, I blindly ordered whale. What I didn't know at the time was during "School Lunch Week" its a tradition to invite various teachers to join the kids in their classroom for lunch. So, about a week ago, I received a handwritten note from one of the first-year classes to join them for lunch -- on Thursday!!! Now the rules of eating in the classroom are quite different than those used for eating in the staffroom. For example, you must eat everything on your plate, because you must be a good example to the students. There is no complaining, no gagging, and no throwing up! (Okay, okay, I admit, I made up the last two rules!) There was also no backing down. I had ordered whale and now I was going to have to eat it like it or not.... Thursday arrived with me feeling absolutely awful. I was catching a cold and even morning coffee sounded disgusting not to mention afternoon orca. As the day proceeded and all kinds of unusual smells wafted from the kitchen I dreaded lunch... The day dragged on, the minutes ticked by, and then the chime rang 12:20. Lunch was served. My first-year student escort arrived eager to take me to his classroom. There I was greeted by the students already in the process of serving lunch. I was surprised -- though I'm not sure exactly why since this is Japan after all --most students had opted for whale, too.

Since I lived to write this tale, I obviously did not have too horrible of an experience with the whale. In fact, in all honesty, it really didn't taste that bad. Oh, by all means, it wasn't good, but it really didn't have much of a flavor. In fact, if somebody had told me it was a slightly dried out chicken, I would have probably believed them. But, my experience did teach me something really, really important....

... do you know the term "mystery meat"??? Well, it has a whole new meaning!!! Bon Appetite! :-)

Operation Keki Part 2

It's been over a year since I posted my rice cooker cake, now it's time to unveil the microwave version. I don't have a cool video to go with this post, but I do have a recipe!!!! Thanks to Nikki P. I am now only five minutes away from chocolate cake at anytime of night or day and you can be too! Welcome to the "World's Most Dangerous Cake!" Can you just imagine the possibilities? Mix everything up in a Tupperware, take it to work and "wallah," you have a great addition to your coffee break. Don P. suggested that it would be even more awesome with ice cream. I wholeheartedly agree even if he is a Gator fan :-) Also, if you stick a small dark chocolate bar in the middle before cooking then you can have a delicious gooey center. Enjoy!
¼ cup flour
¼ cup sugar
2 T cocoa
1 egg
3 T milk
3 T oil
Splash of vanilla

Put all dry ingredients into large coffee mug and mix well; Add other ingredients and mix well.
Put in microwave and bake for 3 minutes on high.Cake will rise up over top of mug but will settle when you take it out. Allow to cool slightly and tip out of mug or just eat from mug.

I Love English in Japan (Car Sticker)

So Erin, I was going to buy this and send it to you but then realized that Bitty Boo will probably arrive before my letter does!

Home Sweet Hallway

I finally managed to find a day where I had both a clean apartment and a lack of wet laundry drapes (most likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience!!) So, it seemed like a perfect time to show you around... However, I must provide a disclaimer -- neither I nor my camerawoman (Sarah) are professionals ;-)

Christmas!

So, I had way too much fun at home during the holidays to think about taking pictures. However, I managed to collect a few from fellow photographers. Here are several of my favorites.

Aren't we cute!!! All five of us!!!

(Yes, there are five. I'm sure Bitty Boo is smiling in Erin's tummy :-)

I'm not sure who had more fun with Clara's Christmas present...

Don't you just love Clara's look of sheer delight??

It was so wonderful having the opportunity to play with her all day every day (even if she did wake me up every morning at 7:15 with "Emmy sleeping? Emmy gonna get you?"!!)

After Christmas I had the wonderful opportunity to fly to Durham, NC to see my dear friend Allie and my newest niece Madeline Ellyse. Don't you just love her middle name?

成人式 Coming of Age Day

Tomorrow Seijin no Hi or "Coming of Age Day" in Japan. It is a celebration for all the youth who had turned twenty in the previous year. They return to their hometown and celebrate with their junior high school peers. In all actuality, the occasion is like a large class reunion since the young adults' former 6th grade elementary school teachers and 3rd grade junior high school teachers are also invited to attend. My vice principal's younger daughter's ceremony was today and so she invited me to come along. Other than the twenty-year-olds, there were only a few mothers and a group of public officials in attendance. Needless to say, I stuck-out. Come to find out, the ceremony really isn't open to lots of people and my vice principal had to get special permission for me to attend. Below are some pictures I snapped. The girls' kimono, known as furisode, are the most formal style since they have long sleeves. They are made from silk, have multiple layers and require a professional dresser to put them on. A nice rental one can cost anywhere from $1000 up so one can only imagine what a new one would cost! Most of the boys wore suits and ties though a few wore hakama the traditional Japanese male dress wear.

The guy in the middle of the picture is wearing a hakama. Like a kimono on top, it has billowy pants on the bottom
The people wearing "western-styled" wear are some of the students former teachers

A close up of some of the gorgeous kimonos and fancy hairstyles

My vice principal and her daughter.

They both have really nice smiles, I guess just not for cameras!

Yep, I'm Back in Japan

So, my plan tonight was to post my Christmas holiday pictures... However, in one of my more brilliant moves, I accidentally left all of my photos at school (which, all things considered, isn't half as bad as calling my Japanese teacher a vegetable to his wife's face). Anywho, you are just going to have to wait for more posts (but since you now have so much free time, maybe you can help me Google polite Japanese expressions of apology :-) Until then, enjoy the below "only in Japan" photo I snapped with my cellphone.

Little bottle of water = 110 yen

Big bottle of water = 110 yen

*Well, you could say it's two for the price of one!*