Ocean Day

So, last Monday was Ocean Day! I'm not exactly sure the point of the national holiday, but to celebrate, a group of us from the English-speaking church decided to go to a local river! We spent several lovely hours swimming, jumping, splashing, diving for yours' truly's glasses, and enjoying the time of fellowship and beautiful weather!

the river and big rock

three pale foreigners wearing black suits
(Sarah, me, and Joanna)

Mami and Yuko
(two adorable young Japanese Christian ladies)

Per Tiki's request -- a contrast of colors!
(He is too heavy for "three pale foreigners in black suits"!)
Ultimate Frisbee
(I had to quit after I face-planted and ended up with a bruised and bleeding shin)

attempting to blindly climb the big rock

blindly jumping off the rock!
(It's great I can't see without my glasses, or I probably would have never jumped)

a splash ending to a fabulous day!

Conveyor-Belt Sushi

Believe it or not, I decided I wanted sushi for my birthday. Now, the sushi I really wanted wasn't the "normal" kind -- you know, the incredibly raw stuff that is still moving -- but instead moved in a different way. Known as kaiten-zushi or kurukuru sushi (an onomatopoeia for the sound it makes as it goes around) this sushi is just as much of the Japanese culture as the really fresh, wiggly stuff. Anyways, Sarah offered to go with me -- though she did insist we sit at a booth instead of the counter (I think she was embarrassed that I was playing "foreigner" and taking pictures of everything!) Anyway, here they are...

The conveyor belt is behind me and weaved throughout the entire restaurant. To order, you just pressed the touch screen TV (for special orders) or took whatever you wished off the belt as it passed by

A close up of the TV as well as the table's hot water dispenser (each one had one) for making tea

The automatic rice-dispensing machine

Two of the more interesting flavors of the evening:

bacon sushi (above) and hamburger sushi (below). Neither of which were as good as the fried shrimp sushi or the shrimp salad sushi.

Sushi wasn't the only thing that rode around the restaurant.
Below is Sarah with a piece of melon...

a carton of chocolate milk...

and dessert (though I opted for the cream puffs instead of the pudding)

When we were finished, we pressed a door-bell like button, an attendant appeared, counted our plates (they were colored differently for the varying prices) and off we went...

My 27th Birthday!

Ever since I was little, it has been tradition for my daddy to buy doughnuts and make his famous scrambled eggs for my birthday breakfast. Unfortunately, shipping eggs was a bit challenging, but he did send me yummy coffee (and I provided the doughnuts!)...

It has also been tradition for Mommy to wrap presents in pretty bows and place them on the dining room table so I can look at them (I love looking at my presents days before my birthday). She was kind enough to mail them early so I could do the same here in Japan.

The day of my birthday was relatively uneventful, until during one of my second-year students' classes we started practicing how to ask and answer "When is your birthday?" in English (the topic had been pre-planned weeks ago and it just happened to fall on my birthday). My answer led to an impromptu rendition of "Happy Basuday" led by my vice-principal, which was very cute. That evening, Sarah and Helen-Marie planned a little party at Sarah's apartment.

Me entering -- notice that I am happily holding a bag of Cheetos (heavenly food from Grandma!)

Cake, balloons, presents, candles!

Beautiful scarf from Auntie Hildi

Modeling my new eye mask -- the latest attempt to not wake up with the sun at 4
(The sun really does rise in the East!!!!)

My newest "must have" accessory -- scarves!

Pink passport holder from my favorite nieces!
(and guess where I get to go in August)

Matthew (another ALT) and Massu the bear

The yummy multi-berry, custard tart birthday cake

Attempting not to be pelted by balls of wrapping paper (by the boys) while being serenaded by "Happy Birthday" in French (also by the boys)

Blowing out the candles (and then it was off to take purikura where attacking the birthday girl seemed to be a recurring theme)

Be sure your sins will find you out...

After three days on IVs and a week on rice porridge and Pocari Sweat (Japan's appetizing name for their version of Gatorade), I was finally deemed well enough to eat normal foods. Of course since the Japanese definition of "normal" foods and my own often conflict, Sarah recommended that I asked my doctor if pizza was included on the list. With a go-ahead from him, I excitedly ordered delivery pizza for dinner. Well, the last time I posted about ordering pizza, I didn't tell the whole truth. You see, Sarah and I used our combined powers to get the pizza -- I didn't do by myself -- and I failed to give credit where credit was due. However, this time, I tried to order solo. I thought I was successful and patiently waited the allotted hour; however, when an hour and half passed and no pizza showed up, I started to worry. Finally, after an hour and forty-five minutes passed, the doorbell rang. I excitedly answered only to find Sarah -- my face definitely showed my disappointment. Admitting my inadequacy and her stronger Japanese skills, I begged her to make my pizza appear. After reading the order form, she pointed out that the restaurant's computer system had crashed and they had never received my request. Because it was already almost ten, I gave up on my craving, fried an egg instead, and vowed to try the next weekend. A week past (where I practiced eating slightly blander foods), and I bravely tried again. I ordered my pizza -- this time getting an email confirmation, a good sign! -- and waited patiently. However, when it once again failed to appear, I panicked and called Sarah. Come to find out, to successfully order a pizza in Japan, you first place your order, then you get an email, then you must respond to the email within 30 minutes or your request will be canceled. Unfortunately, I had forgotten about this obstacle course. My third attempt was the charm, and my pizza finally arrived, piping hot (and with corn and potatoes on top!) Now that I am no longer hooked up to a drip, I think its time to hit the Japanese books again!!

"When we are flat on our backs..

...there is no way to look but up" ~Roger Babson

It's All About Balance....

...and not flicking your wrist!

This week I joined my elementary school kids in a Japanese calligraphy class. They thought it was hilarious I had never tried it before. For them, calligraphy is an important part of their education. In fact, the first-graders proudly post their first attempt at Japanese writing in the hallways outside their classrooms. Well, my sixth graders were kind teachers -- sharing their brushes, paper, ink, painting tips, and words of congratulations. Above is my masterpiece "lake" with ink-splatters and all!

Bento

Here in Japan, bringing your own lunch, means packing a bento box. Since I eat school lunch every day, I have had very few opportunities to try my hand at making this Japanese art form. And an art form it truly is -- students actually study a whole unit on bento preparation in school! There are certain foods you must include, don't include, and combine. However, what they are, I have no clue! However, what I do know is you can't just throw everything randomly into the cute little bento boxes. No, everything must be strategically placed... In fact, there all all kinds of bento accessories available for purchase -- seaweed paper punches, animal fruit picks, refillable sauce pens, egg presses -- you name it Japan has it. The particularly interesting thing, is that cute lunches are the norm, and I do believe that had my mommy been Japanese, she would have loved every minute of the minute details (like the below boxes I found online): My first few attempts at making bento occurred my second week here in Japan. School lunch hadn't started and I was required to pack my own lunch. I found out I had failed miserably after the third day of eating tomatoes and rice (the only two things I recognized at the grocery store) when my vice principal decided to take me on a field trip to the local supermarket. These days I rarely need to bring a bento to school but when I do, I either buy one to-go (you can get them everywhere!) or if I am feeling particularly rebellious, will make a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich! However, last week, due to Sports Day (see below post) I was required to take one to the elementary school. Now, if I am going to my junior high school, my crazy lunches are permissible. For one, only the teachers see me eating, and, two, they know I'm "quirky" (at least compared to a Japanese person). However, going to the elementary school provided its own new set of challenges. First, I eat with the kids and not in the staffroom. Second, to the kids, I am considered a "teacher and role model" (my junior high-schoolers think I am a novelty); therefore, I must model good behavior. Peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches were a definite out! A store-bought lunch wasn't such a good idea either. The solution -- a store-bought lunch unpacked and repacked to make it look like my loving mother slaved away in the kitchen to make my lunch!

BEFORE

AFTER

Sarah's cute bento box she let me borrow
(since I accidentally ruined mine the day I attempted to take Sloppy Joe leftovers to school)

wrapped up in a furoshiki which doubled as a place mat

All the goodies inside!
(My trick must have worked since one of my kids asked me what my mom packed me for lunch)

運動会：Elementary School Sports' Day

Spring is the time for Elementary school sports days here in Japan. Since, I teach at three elementary schools this year, it only seem appropriate to enjoy the activities at one (since they were all held on the same weekend). The morning found me rushing around in a panic. I had intended to wear a green shirt (since it was the lightest long-sleeved thing I had in my closest and sun-protection was a must!). However, before I left I remembered some important words told to me almost two years ago by a Japanese teacher. Color teams at Japanese sports days are really important. Therefore, as an "outsider" (i.e. not parent, teacher, student) it is either important not to take partiality. My choices -- either to wear none of the colors or all of them!!! Well, the blue hat was easy, and I figured I could switch my tank-top from white to pink (or an attempt at red). White socks completed the ensemble. However, for the life of me, I couldn't find anything yellow to wear. So, in my mad dash out the door I grabbed the only yellow thing I could find -- a dish towel!!!
As silly as I felt, I was glad for my decision... As soon as I arrived at school, the "green team" cheered at my shirt while the others had a genuine look of disappoint. However, when I pointed out every aspect of my wardrobe, I soon became the coolest teacher there. As for the dish towel, it stayed draped around my neck alongside my name card so the parents in attendance wouldn't be too concerned about the foreign clown talking to their kids. (Oh, and as a side note, I am sure I didn't look quite as silly as the dad wearing a purple Hello Kitty towel on his head!) But enough about me and my clothes. The sports day brought lots of cute kids. 1050 to be exact!

...some really creative samurai costumes...

...some really big balls...

...and really big shorts...

...a game involving a tire that I never figured out..

...a hula-hoop hop...

...a crazy ball toss..

...some really strong kids...

...and lots and lots of shoes!