True Friendship (with a side of brussel sprouts!)

As a surprise, Sarah bought me a plant today -- even though she knows I will kill it!
God has truly blessed me with a wonderful "wall-mate"!

Maybe That IS What It's All About!

A month ago ago or so, I had a discussion with my dear cousin Heidi about the Hokey-Pokey. I don't exactly remember how we started the discussion or the actual point of it, but the resolution, at least on my side, was the "Hokey-Pokey" actually does teach some life lessons. I mean, so often (and especially here in Japan) we have to do the "right" thing and follow societal rules. But, occasionally it is okay to just wave your arms and dance freely and do the "Hokey-Pokey"! This past Friday I was asked to teach a special class to the fourth graders on English "play" songs. Needless to say, we learned the "Hokey Pokey" along with "BINGO" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" Now, I usually don't teach this young of an age, but I wish I did because they were so much fun -- so energetic and so oblivious to societal "don't express your true feelings" mask that most of my kids have developed. Here are some pictures of our fun... (and if you look closely you might notice my fashion changed during the course of the day as I attempted to stay as cool as possible during the 4 hour straight "Hokey-Pokey" dance routine -- boy did I feel old and stiff when the day was over!)

The kids also taught me some Japanese "play" songs including...

"the Bottomless Soup Pan"

the Japanese version of "One Potato, Two Potato"

the Japanese version of "Red Rover, Red Rover"
(which involved sticking out your tongue and making an ugly face -- sorry no pictures! -- and accidentally flying slippers)

A crazy bounce the ball, clap your hands, kick your leg, turn around game...

...needless to say, I spent most of my time chasing my ball and avoiding kicking it into one of the kids faces (I was smart enough to remove my slippers by this time!)Then as a special treat, the in-coming first-graders visited from the local kindergarten
(in their masks of course!)

雛祭り(Girl's Day): Emily Style (A.K.A. Japan goofed!)

This coming Thursday is Girl's Day the fabulous sounding holiday where Japanese girls visit other girls homes and look at their beautiful dolls and eat special sweets and sushi. I think it is the most exciting holiday -- a giant national tea party -- what could be better!! I used to want buy my own dolls, but since I don't have an extra $800-$1500 lying around I haven't (I keep hoping I can find a cheaper version!) However, my dear friends at Baskin-Robbins offered a wonderful different alternative! Yes, a hina doll set made out of ice cream!!!!! Can you think of anything better or more appropriate?!?!

I was sooooo excited I couldn't stop talking about their cuteness. So, I decided to have my own doll viewing party. First, I recruited Sarah and Helen. The three of us bipassed the traditional sushi for pizza. (Hey, it was my party. I could do whatever I wanted ;-)


Then we opened the frozen box of goodness. Except something wasn't quite right.... Below is the advertised set and below it "my doll set." Can you spot the difference? Look closely ;-)

Spring is Coming!

My Attempt at Jewelry Making

Last weekend I was at the mall where a bunch of stores were having a "Going Out of Business" sale. While poking through the stuff, I found this necklace. I at first thought it was really hideous (the picture doesn't actually do its ugliness justice)...


...but I really liked the metal bead. So, I bought the entire necklace and decided to completely remake it.


With the help of some pliers and several random jewelry connector thingies that I bought at the local craft store...
...I was able to make a really fun new necklace and "matchy-matchy" earrings!
I was so successful, I decided to attempt another project and convert a pearl kimono fastener I had to buy for my New Year's kimono into a bracelet.


It, too, came out pretty spiffy if I do say so myself. Now if I only could figure out how to fix my Promise ring I could become a professional jeweler ;-) (It is heading back to the shop for the third time!!! Which is actually quite funny because every time I get it after its long absence, my kids are totally convinced that I got engaged over the weekend!)

I Did It!!!

Now it's time to study for Level 4.
Wish me luck!

The Beautiful Butterfly Believer

So Wednesdays seem to be my new church devotional night. Here is this weeks:

When I taught kindergarten several years ago, my students did a study on the life cycle of the butterfly. For two weeks, we observed the tiny eggs, the fat awkward caterpillars, and three beautiful green and gold chrysalises. Then, one day, one of the jewel-colored homes turned black. Through the clear shell, the folded-up butterfly could be seen. Several hours later, the chrysalis started to wiggle and jiggle. Very slowly, the butterfly began to break free...

Recently I read somewhere that butterflies must break out of their chrysalises by themselves. The struggle of pushing through their protective covering pumps blood through their wings and gives them the strength to ultimately fly. If an outside source -- such as a seemingly helpful human -- interferes, the butterfly will be permanently damaged and unable to flutter away.

When I look at the butterfly, I think of how we should be as Christians. As the egg holds the gift of life, we as Christians have the precious gift of faith. Like the hungry caterpillar, we should fill ourselves with the richness of the Gospel. Like the chrysalis, we should wait patiently for God's direction. And like the butterfly, we should push through the difficult times. These challenges will teach us lessons and make us stronger so that we can minister to others in their need. For like the butterfly, we are bearers of beauty -- Christ's beauty - and He has given us the power to soar above the worldly distractions that keep us from doing His work.

Skiing in Hakuba, Nagano

Friday, February 11th, was National Foundation Day. Now, I don't know what National Foundation really is. All I know, is it was a holiday!!! So, in celebration of National Foundation (or maybe just because ;-) a group of us from the English church decided to go skiing. Now before, I go too far into my story, I should mention that I have "skied" once -- more like tumbling down a Santa Fe, New Mexico mountain wearing a pair of skies and hoping that a dear Terhune friend or two would rescue me. Sarah, on the other hand, has never skied. Everyone else -- well, let's just say that they were probably born in skies. Anyway, back to my story... To properly ski in Japan, one must trek to Nagano (the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics). Its not particularly close to Hamamatsu so we took at night bus.

First we left at 10 p.m...

...then we arrived at 3 a.m....

...we awoke to a lovely snowy sunrise around 6...

...and ate chicken Caesar wraps at Subway for breakfast...

...took a group shot in all of our bus-head glory...

...then it was time to hit the slopes!!

How naive we were!

And stylish too!!
(thanks to one of my teachers, I didn't have to rent any skiing gear
--- I got to borrow his 80s ensemble instead!!)

But we were fearless...

...because we had expert teachers such as Suguru-san (above) and Daisuke-san (whose picture sadly got buried in the snow in a tumbling camera -- not mine I might add ;-)

So up the ski lift we rose...

...with our skis waving free!

Look at those innocent smiles!

And then we skied...
(if you can call it that!)

Finally we had the faces of reason...

...but no broken bones!!!

...and some really cool pictures of very snowy homes...

...okay, I admit, I don't think they were homes, but what else would rhyme with lodge...

...except maybe a mountain mirage?

Setsubun

February 3rd, the day before the official start of spring, was Setsubun (A.K.A. Bean-Throwing Festival). According to tradition, people are supposed to throw beans outside of their houses to scare the "evil" (or devils) away while welcoming in "happiness." Last year, my only celebration of Setsubun was being hit by some beans while a little girl was shouting "oni wa soto fuku wa uchi" ("devils out luck in"). However, this year, I had the chance to enjoy several Setsubun traditions including two full Setsubun meals at school (sorry I forgot to take a picture -- twice). However, they included lots of beans (if you eat the number of beans equal to your age you will supposedly get good luck) and whole fish (supposedly hanging the fish skeleton's scare the demons away too). Then, that evening, Helen asked if I would eat the traditional uncut eho-makizushi ("lucky direction roll") (see below). Neither of us are sushi fans but it was the experience, not the food, that was the point.


Supposedly eating eho-maki in silence while facing the year's "lucky direction" (this year it was southeast) will bring additional luck. Helen decided to try -- though I am not sure it was exactly in silence!
I on the other hand, decided to break traditional practices and "undress" my sushi. I honestly can't stand the seaweed! Our dinner concluded with hot fudge sundaes. Unfortunately once again, I forgot to take a picture of my take on the Japanese holiday -- "demons out (and take your sushi with you) happiness in (always in the form of chocolate and ice cream ;-)"

The Linchgate Oak

This week I was asked to write for the English church's thought-of-the-day/devotional. Here is my blurb for your reading pleasure:

I took the above picture a few weeks before I came arrived in Japan. The tree, called the Linchgate Oak, is quite well-known in Tallahassee, Florida. Though Florida's droughts, hurricanes, and intense heat have affected the oak, it still has survived. In fact, its enormous size shows that it has not only survived but actually prospered!

The Linchgate Oak is a great visual reminder of the Psalmist's description of the blessed man. "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalms 3:1) The prophet Jeremiah states it this way "He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out it roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:8)

To be blessed is to be like the Linchgate Oak. Just like the tree must depend on God to provide the necessary sun and water for nourishment, we must rely on Him to provide for our every need. The tree has deep roots that keep it in the ground when Florida hurricanes come. We, too, need to be rooted in our faith so that we aren't defeated by the challenges we encounter daily. However, the part I think that I like best, is the fact that the tree "yields fruits in its season." God has a plan for each of our lives. Just like the pastor said on Sunday, we should not compare ourselves with others. God's will for our own life will be revealed in time -- in God's time! To be "blessed" is to grow and be fruitful in Him.

On Peace

Today was the day I dreaded all Christmas holidays. Today was the day I had to officially declare my intention for the August 2011-August 2012 school year. Way back when, I thought this day would never happen. You see, most ALTs don't make it this far. Three years is usually the maximum. However, I was offered the position to stay a fourth.

Had you asked me this summer what I was going to do, my answer would have been a whole-hearted reply "I'm going home!!!" Honestly, this past year has been really, really tough. I know I haven't gone into much detail on this blog, and there are reasons for that decision (mostly because 1: the purpose of this blog is to remember the positive experiences of Japan and 2: all of the toughness led to very little free time -- hence no postings of any sort). But back to the summer, yes, I probably told many of you that there was no way I was planning on surviving yet another year in Japan. Don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed my time in Japan -- I really have, but the stress of living in such a cold country (both weatherly and emotionally) does take its toll.

However, right before Christmas, the offer to stay another year was given. Oh, how I struggled, pondered, prayed, played the devil's advocate, and asked every member of my family's opinion regarding what I should do. I wanted someone to give me the answer. But nobody could. Even God seemed silent. "Why, oh why?!?!" I pleaded. However, I didn't want to make a hasty decision. I didn't want to go home because it was the easy way out nor did I want to stay in Japan because I have a stable job. I wanted to go where God was leading me. So I prayed for peace.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

You know, it's interesting. Every time I come to a difficult decision, the same thing happens. I get worried. I fret. I am anxious. I ask God to let me know NOW!!! He never does. It's not until the very last minute that all the details work out. But, they always eventually work out, and then I never regret the decision because I am so confident that that is what he wants me to do, that I am at perfect peace. This time was no different. All through December and January I have fretted. I have prayed. I have probably driven more than one family member or friend crazy as I rehashed over and over the pros and cons of staying or leaving. I have struggled with my emotions. I have wrestled with God's will. I have sobbed....

But today, I had my meeting and you know what, I feel at perfect peace!


As for next year's plan? Well, don't ask me - only God knows. All I know is that it involves fish ;-)

For Daddy:

It's a kite-flying mechanical clock!

What Japanese Does to the Brain...

So, I don't know a thing about sleep cycles, but I find this really interesting. This graph was made by my iPhone Sleep-Cycle clock one Sunday night after a full day of English. It shows a pattern (i.e. actual cycles) and is typical of my lots of English days.

This second graph was taken on a Thursday night and is a typical example of graph taken after a full-day of Japanese at school and several hours of studying at home.

Guess what time the garbage truck came barreling down the street!