Shikoku

Thursday was a holiday this week and because I worked last Saturday for Sports' Day, I got this Friday off, too. So, the four-day weekend was a perfect opportunity to take a trip with my LOLs.
This trip's destination was Shikoku Island -- the smallest of Japan's four main islands.

We flew over this cute little island, too, but I don't know what it's called.

Our first stop -- and main purpose for visiting the island -- was to see the Naruto whirlpools. These whirlpools are created when two different sea currents collide. We decided to take a boat ride into the center of the whirlpools. Although there was a big boat and a little boat that gave the tour, we decided to ride the little one because it was departing first. Personally I liked it because it had a glass bottom observation room.

Here is a mini naruto

Once we got into the center of the whirlpools, we were allowed on deck. I braved the top deck and felt like Jonah as we tossed and turned. Unfortunately, we didn't go at the changing of the tide (the best time) but it was still quite a sight to see.

Below is a picture of a picture taken by a professional of the naruto in peak season.

Once we arrived back on shore, it was time for me to introduce my now very green LOLs to the wonders of ginger-ale for an upset stomach. Thankfully, the boat tour's souvenir shop sold it!

After we all found our land-legs again, it was off to the Sistine Chapel!

Okay, I lie. It was actually the Otsuka Museum which prides itself in having accurate, life-sized reproductions of many famous paintings. So, they were accurate and life-sized, however, they were also big poster panels! To me it was like walking through a bunch of rooms with a bunch of fancy wallpaper. Oh well, I guess you can't win all the time!

To me, the coolest part of the museum was this robot who independently scouted around talking about the different pictures. He and lunch (real pot roast with real mashed potatoes accompanied by real butter and real bread!) definitely made the poster museum not a complete disappointment!

Next it was off to the bridge over the naruto. This bridge had glass panels so viewers could see the whirlpools. Unfortunately, they were really small at this point, but I still enjoyed taking pictures of the scenery. There was also the really sweet old guy who worked there and was so excited to use his English that he gave me two postcards and some origami as a "Thank you for visiting Shikoku" present. My LOLs were jealous :-)

That night we stayed in a lovely hotel with a "Make your own Japanese noodles" buffet for dinner and a "Make your own sandwich" buffet for breakfast. While I didn't do too bad in the morning, dinner was a bit tricky. Instead of choosing between either meat sauce or alfredo sauce like in an Italian restaurant, the choices were such things as raw eggs, seaweed, fish flakes, sesame seeds, and ginger!

The next morning found us at the Bando Museum -- a memorial for German POWs who were in Japan during WWI. Unfortunately, most of the displays were in either German or Japanese, but I did learn that the situation was integral in introducing the Japanese to the West because the POWs taught the locals how to bake breads and cake and make butter. Also, there were a lot of musicians in the camp, and they gave the first concert of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Japan. Who, what, where, when, how, and why escaped me in the translation, but hey, I got a photo with Beethoven (and a yummy German Bratwurst for lunch!)

The next three hours found us driving deeper and deeper into Shikoku. I slept quite a bit because I was absolutely exhausted, but managed to snap a few pictures along the way.

We finally reached the kazurabashi -- a suspension bridge made of vines dangling forty-five feet above the ground! It was originally made a long time ago, and has since been preserved to show how ancient Japanese crossed incredibly rocky and fast-moving rivers.

While I wasn't too afraid of it breaking (it had thick cable supports throughout) it was a bit scary to realize that the holes between each rung were bigger than my foot. Knowing that I am the worlds' biggest klutz had me clinging to the side the whole way across. I didn't want to lose a shoe or anything else important if I tripped!

After crossing the bridge, we found a really pretty waterfall...

...then it was off to our incredible ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) for the night! Here we were greeted with tea service in our tatami room.

After changing into our provided yukata, we road a cablecar up the mountain to a private outdoor bath.

Once we reached the top, we found ourselves in the midst of a magical forest complete with koi fish ponds, tea houses, stone lanterns and bamboo.

(Here is a picture of the bath I stole off of another website since I didn't dare smuggle my camera into the actual bath part!)

After a relaxing soak, we found ourselves whisked away to dinner...

...complete with fish on a stick cooking in the middle of our "table". I tried to imagine it was a chicken leg -- a tad bit challenging when the fish was staring back at me the whole time I was chomping down on its flesh.

After returning to our room, we found our futon beds already laid out.
It was like one big sleepover that night with really comfortable sleeping bags!

Morning came with another bath and then a traditional Japanese breakfast.
However, seven fifteen is a bit challenging to eat eyeballed fish and fermented beans (especially with no coffee as a comfort!)

After breakfast, we began our three-hour trek back to the airport only stopping to take pictures of the Obokekoboke Valley (try saying that three times fast) and to get coffee for the young blondie who could once again not keep up with the energy of her three LOLs!

Come to Me You Who Are Weary....

When I first started teaching here in Japan, I thought that my students were perfect. After-all, they were polite, they would bow to me, the baseball boys would greet me with a swoop of their hats, they would carry my books, they would escort me to classes... I never heard a foul word, I never saw a weapon, I never saw a fight!

That was two years ago. In two years, one can learn a lot of things like the actual state of my kids' lives. Recently, I have come to realize that my dear girls and boys are just that -- girls and boys so desperate to be loved, but oh so very lost! The state of my children breaks my heart. Yes, my children may seem more disciplined than many students back home, but it doesn't mean that they don't have issues. In fact, my school happens to be one of the rougher schools in the area.

Oh, how my heart breaks when I hear of yet another student dropping out or how the school had to hire weekend help to replace yet another broken window or wash away yet another bit of graffiti. Oh, how my heart sobs when my school nurse escorts a fourteen-year-old girl to the abortion clinic. Oh, how I want to hug the fifteen-year-old whose parent committed suicide. Oh, how I want to love the unloved -- the boy who smokes, the one who comes daily with dirty clothes, the one with dirt-caked fingernails, the one who smells, the one who tried to give himself a tattoo with drastic results.

When I first started teaching, I had visions of creating a bilingual school. However, I have come to realize that my kids don't want to speak English. They don't see the point. They don't see the need. After-all, their expectations and dreams hardly go beyond the onion and potato fields they work in. What these children really need is Love.

Oh how I want to love my children. Oh, how I want to take care of them. But, oh, how inferior I feel! As the foreigner, I can't say much -- I don't understand much. When I have a smile on my face, I feel so fake. My happy-go-lucky attitude just doesn't seem right when I know that my students are grieving -- although half of the time I really don't know why. Sometimes, it is honestly easier to get caught up in the stress of the other teachers.

My dear teachers -- I grieve for them, too! Their lives completely revolve around school. They are responsible for these kids because Japanese parents think that it is the school's responsibility to raise them. If something goes wrong, it is the school that is first contacted. It is the school that has to get the students from the police. It is the school that has to apologize to the community. And these poor teachers hardly know how to deal with the stress. Usually their coping method involves heavy doses of alcohol and tobacco (and an optional insurance-covered brain MRI to make sure that they don't have an aneurysm).

This is the life I face everyday. What should I do? What can I do? I desperately desire to be a light to this dark nation. I want the love of God to radiate through me. I want to love the unloved. But, I am so tired and weary. I interact with an average of 1500 students and 60 or more teachers a week. Sometimes it is just too easy to be caught up in my own life -- in my own attempts to survive in this foreign land. I find myself imitating the non-smiling "wooden faces" of the Japanese and turning a blinded "its not my problem" eye.

But, is that how Christ loved? Is that what He did when He was on this earth? Some people think that I care to much for this nation that is not my own. Some people think that I love my students too much for not really being a teacher. I question if they are right. What really can I do? What can one illiterate foreigner do?

Why am I here? Why did God call me to such a challenging place? Oh, it would be so much easier to run home to the loving arms of my family. To the smiles of my nieces -- to the protective care of my parents. How I sometimes wish I could. People ask me why I don't. I ask myself that same question. The answer is short, but not easy -- its because I know that I am here for a reason. God has called me to this land. Why? I don't know. I don't know how I can impact, but I can only pray and trust that I can, as a broken vessel, do the service to which he has called me.

Today in church the pastor spoke on Matthew 11:28-30:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

What an encouragement! What a gentle breeze in desert! What a deluge of cold water for the parched soul! What words to bring tears and draw one to their knees.

Please pray for the lost country of Japan. They are so lost. So desperate. In the past month alone, over 2500 people have committed suicide. How they need God's saving grace. Please pray for me as well. I have been emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted this weekend. Pray that I can know how to best help my students and teachers. Pray that I can be a witness and that I can truly live up to my Japanese name -- emiri: a reason to smile.

I will conclude with this -- a song sent to me many months ago by my dear friend Allison. It has been a blessing to me and my prayer

Radio Taiso

In honor of Sports Day, it only seems fitting to post the Japanese "Radio Taiso". "Radio Taiso" was first aired in Japan after WWII, and can still be watched early in the mornings on TV. It is designed to energize all body-types, and in fact, some companies actually use it as a morning team-building exercise. Its not uncommon to see the entire workforce doing it on the open-air roof veranda. My students sometimes do it, too -- a fact I learned two years ago at Sports Day. At that time, I found myself not only in front of all of my students' parents and grandparents, but also facing the entire school body doing these exercise. What initially was a very humiliating event (everyone knew what they were doing and I had absolutely no clue -- and hiding wasn't really an option) has turned into a great daily early-morning harp exercise for me. It's a wonderful stretch for harp arms and back!!!

おみやげ：Omiyage-- Japanese Souvenirs

In Japan, it is customary to bring back a small souvenir for friends and work colleagues (the latter to thank them for working hard while you were having fun!!!) The whole idea of gift-giving has become a national endeavor as every little town, area, and city has a special edible "omiyage" for which they are "famous." (For example, here in Hamamatsu it is eel pie!) Anyway, while Japanese people find it to be very obligatory -- and an expensive and sometimes annoying venture -- I personally find it to be great!!! The first day back from summer vacation is like Christmas with all kinds of fun cookies and candies piled on my desk. So what if most of them involve bean paste, its still fun to dig through the stash :-) This year, I maintained enough self-control to not eat any of the goodies before I was able to snap a picture. Can you guess which one I brought back from the States??

What's In a Name?

Pizza, as defined by the Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, is a "Food of Neapolitan origin. It consists of a flattened disk of bread dough, typically topped with olive oil, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese, baked quickly and served hot.

Pizza, as defined by the local Japanese pizzeria:

A black bamboo crust, topped with mochi (pounded rice balls), mini hot dogs, corn, mayonnaise, salmon, broccoli, teriyaki chicken, and the occasional tomato slice!

Grandpa's 90th Birthday Party

A fitting table setting for our WWII hero

Custom M&Ms designed by Mommy and Auntie Hildi

Close-up of the M&Ms

Grandma and some of her delicious yummies!

The Grill Master!

More food!

Jessica and Roger modeling what our family does best -- eating!!!

The kids' table!!
(Average age: 29)

Generations 1 and 2

The cousins!

The Toelckes

The Poldermans

Four-generations!

(Back row: Charles Toelcke, Nathan Polderman, Emily Toelcke, Dieter Bardy, Ryan Grady, Roger Stephan, David Boothroyd. Middle Row: Lilla (Boothroyd) Toelcke, Elisabeth Polderman, Erin (Toelcke) Polderman, Hilda Boothroyd (Bardy), Jennifer (Boothroyd) Grady, Jessica (Boothroyd) Stephan, Mary (Cooper) Boothroyd, Front Row: Clara Polderman, Anna (Pszyk) Boothroyd, Owen Boothroyd, Phil Bardy-King, Heidi Bardy-King. Missing: Jennifer Monaster-Bardy)

Highlights from Houston and Florida

Love at first sight!

Nathan's Yummy Birthday Cake made by Erin with snazzy colored candles provided by Emily

Blowing out the candles

Elisabeth discovering bubbles

Elisabeth discovering fingers
Clara enjoying a lollipop
(notice Hello Kitty in the airplane beside her)

Sharing a ride on the mall's carousel

Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory!!!

After-the-tour treats

My favorite girls with my favorite food -- what could be better!!

Don't you love the grin?!
(Of course what you don't see is my face of shock since this photo was snapped right after a spit-up explosion all down my legs!)

The oldest and the youngest -- Elisabeth and Papa!

Bath tea party time!

Tea party with Nana!

温泉: The Japanese Bath

The last few times, I have flown home, I have always left from Tokyo's Narita Airport. One absolutely fabulous thing I have found there is a rental shower place. Completely spick-and-span, it offers 30 minute use of a private shower. There is nothing like feeling squeaky clean before the long flight home!! Unfortunately, this new-found desire obsession recently lead me to an interesting encounter.
So, when I left for the States this August, I booked my flight out of Nagoya instead of Tokyo. Whereas Tokyo is designed for international travelers of all countries, Nagoya appeals mostly to Japanese flying to other Asian countries. Their bath situation, for one, models the Japanese system...
Now, before I proceed with my story, I need to give you a little background information regarding Japanese baths. Designed with the community (and not individual) in mind they are an ancient Japanese tradition. Separated by gender, the baths include two important elements -- a washing station and the actual bath. One enters the bathhouse (yes, I know what you are asking and the answer is yes, completely naked), sits on a little stool, suds completely down (you want to show the other patrons that you are really, really clean and won't contaminate the water with your germs), and then rinses off. Once all bubbles (and skin cells) have been removed, it is now safe to enter the bath to soak and relax. Some baths are jacuzzi-styled, others have jets or electrical currents to relax the muscles. There are thermal baths, cold baths, seltzer baths... you get the point (I even saw a picture once for a wine bath)
Anyways, before I came to Japan, I figured I would never be brave enough to enter a Japanese bath. However, during our first week of training two years ago, our teachers tricked us into entering one. (It wasn't until after having us all run around getting sweaty in the unairconditioned gym doing team-building exercises that they told us that they only baths available were Japanese style). After that experience, I realized that Japanese baths were definitely not as bad as Turkish baths! (Yes, I have tried those too, and no, I am not going to describe the process online... If you are interested, I can give you my cousin's email and you can ask him, right Dieter?? :-) In fact, they are actually quite relaxing (the Japanese, not Turkish) and since then I have enjoyed the onsen several times (including with a teacher -- female of course -- from my school and my LOLs).
Back to Nagoya Airport.... Unlike, Tokyo's private showers, Nagoya only has an onsen. During my entire bus ride to the airport I debated if I had the guts to enter one alone -- every other time I had somebody else around. However, the 90 something degree weather and a two-hour flight delay finally ruled out and I decided that I would bravely bathe solo (Okay, now that sounds a bit odd!) Entering the bathhouse, I was faced with a problem in the form of a vending machine. For some bizarre reason, one had to buy tickets at the machine to bathe, only to give the tickets to an attendant. Unfortunately, the attendant wasn't particularly quick in picking up that when I said that I couldn't read Japanese, I really meant it... A ticket into the male bath later, I finally was ushered into the right place. This of course also meant putting on the designated "toilet slippers" when entering the toilet room (and forgetting to remove the aforementioned footwear, when leaving!) Proudly (and obliviously) stomping around in slippers marked "TOILET" on the toe was the least of my worries! I soon found myself in front of locker with only an itty-bitty towel (think washcloth) to cover my entire torso. I felt a bit like Adam and Eve as I headed to the bathing area. This feeling soon changed as soon as I opened the door. No longer was I the only human on the planet. I was now the "unclean" person. Within minutes, the entire bath cleared out. Not a soul stayed. I soon found myself, enjoying all of the amenities by myself. Had the water been deep enough, I could have even swam laps! It was the most relaxing experience watching airplanes fly by, while soaking in the tub. Soon, though I heard a noise. An unsuspecting patron opened the door. I slowly turned my soaked head around.... When she caught sight of my eye-shape her jaw dropped, and I was once again left alone to enjoy Japan's community bath!

花火: Fukuroi Fireworks

So, here in Japan, a favorite summer pastime is to wear yukata and watch fireworks (literally "flower fire"). Not to be outdone by the Japanese, it seemed like a perfect cultural experience! So, Sarah and I recruited several Japanese friends to help us out (after-all, dressing in a yukata is a bit challenging and if you put it on wrong, everyone will point out that you are dressed like a dead person!!) Fireworks occurred basically every Saturday in August, but we chose the Fukuroi City ones because they were supposed to be the biggest display in the area. Local companies sponsor the fireworks (or as Sarah aptly put it "their tax write-offs go up in smoke -- literally!), little food stands set up on the grounds, and it becomes a complete family-night out. We definitely weren't disappointed. For two hours straight, fireworks of all shapes and colors including strawberry fireworks, smiley faces, and pastel burst of color, banged in the dark. Unfortunately, I'm not so talented in taking firework photos, but here are a few of our fabulous evening...

Sarah getting wrapped, squashed, and tied up in her yukata.

Me modeling the latest fashion -- three-quarter sleeve and ankle length yukata
(Ah, the joys of being a tall foreigner in a tiny world!)

Enjoying food and fellowship while waiting for the sun to set

Lots and lots of people!

Satoko, Mami, and Sarah
(Satoko is currently a seeker at the English speaking church. Mami is a member)

The sun is going down!!

A pastel burst before it was too dark

Another random firework

We finished the evening by going into Hamamatsu City, where decorations were set up for another Festival. The bamboo and sparkly-paper adorned road was to pretty to pass up.