Mariko's Wedding

Last weekend, I went to Mariko's wedding.  For those of you that don't remember Mariko, she was the home economics teacher at my junior high school three years ago.  But more than that, she was an answer to prayer.  Before the new teachers arrived at my school, I prayed fervently for a friend.  I wanted another young, unmarried female teacher to whom I could befriend.  God was so faithful in answering my prayer by bringing Mariko into my life.  Even though we only taught together for one year, we have remained good friends!  I was so excited when she invited me to her wedding.  It was such an interesting cultural experience!!  I couldn't have received a more warm welcome from her family.  Everyone was so kind and looked out for me -- the lone foreigner.  I was so overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness, I can't even explain all of the ways they took care of me during the weekend!  Anyway, for the full album of pictures look here

Don't say "kekko" until you have seen Nikko

Last weekend, I embarked on my trip with my LOLs.  Due to their health issues, we had to cancel our trip last year, so this one was extremely important.  In fact, they planned it over seven months ago!  The destination was Nikko (literally "sunlight") -- a city north of Tokyo and up in the mountains.  The purpose of the trip was not only to see the sights, but to also enjoy a special musical package which included two concerts (a string quartet and highlights from the opera, The Barber of Seville) and a stay at the famed Kanaya hotel.

I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful trip.  It appealed to every sense and equally touched every aspect of my soul.  The scenery, the music, the culture, the food -- everything was truly perfect!  But the best part was definitely the company!  Some people might think it is strange that I enjoy hanging out with a group of 70 year olds but I honestly love it.   Life doesn't always have to be face-paced crazy adventures (though those are equally as fun!)  Sometimes, it is nice to take everything at a slower pace and enjoy the deeper and more cultured aspects of life.  I believe that there is so much you can learn from people who have had more experience in life, and it is even better when these people are solid Christians who can offer sound advice as well.  Since my LOLs once lived overseas themselves, they have a great compassion and patience for my current state -- its struggles and victories!  They have helped me and stretched me (in fact, they insisted that the conversations of this entire trip be done in Japanese!  And they encouraged only polite Japanese from me as well.  I saw quite an improvement in my language skills -- but my brain was completely fried by the end!!) 

Its hard to believe that I met them my first week in Japan.  During these past four years, I have been blessed time after time by them.  They have really loved me and taken me under their wings.  They have seen me in my best times, but even more importantly, they have seen me in my worst times.  And, when someone can love you even in your worst time, you know that you are truly loved!  As for the amazing trip, the pictures can be found here 

Oh so true!!

My third-year students were recently required to write a short description of an aspect of traditional Japanese culture.  While marking their papers, I came across this one.  The topic being the Japanese language.  I love this short essay in more ways that I can express!!!

More Cooking Experiments

So my most recent challenge was the Japanese root gobou (牛蒡：burdock).  It is quite delicious and food I definitely will miss.  But, I won't miss the scrubbing, peeling, and chopping of it!! 

The results....  kinpiragoubo (braised burdock root with carrots) and iridofou (炒り豆腐), a sauteed tofu, egg, and vegetable dish that is in my opinion the Japanese "comfort food."

Lauren's Birthday

Several weeks ago, Sarah, Kathy, John (Lauren's cousin) and I  celebrated Lauren's first birthday in Japan with kaitenzushi (回転寿司：conveyor belt sushi) and ice cream!

The birthday girl

How many people does it take to take a picture?

"Where's the sushi?"

Special orders were delivered by shinkansen!

We insisted on ordering Lauren hamburger sushi

What is "the first bonito concrete floor" sushi?

This is (supposedly!)

Acting silly as usual

How many plates of sushi can one birthday girl eat?

Ready to do some serious baking!

The Phantom of the Opera chandelier...

...at Cat's Cafe

Unsuccessfully trying to take a picture of all of us

Kathy and Sarah being crazy Kiwis

The birthday girl and her French toast sundae (Yes, only in Japan can you get French toast in your ice cream!)

It was his idea to put cream on his own nose....  Why?  I have no idea!

Kathy and her green tea cheese cake sundae

A closeup for ice cream sundae-making study purposes

Sarah and her strawberry-choco sundae

More specimens

Somebody was framed!

Strawberry mango -- YUM!!

No birthday is complete without purikura!

And the diagnosis was....

Whooping Cough!!  After over two months of crazy coughing, many visits to the doctor, multiple ineffective cough medicines, several asthma-like attacks and a battery of tests, I finally was diagnosed with whopping cough.  Who would have known?  Even though I had the vaccination as a child, I still managed to get it somehow.  In fact, my blood work was off the charts (normal people are a 9, I was a 1232 -- and that was two months after I got it!)  It is truly a miracle that neither Sarah nor anyone I know never caught it as it can be extremely contagious in its initial stage.  As for the below picture, it is the inside of my inhaler. 

I was curious to see how the medicine was distributed and since I am a hands-on learner I decided to open a finished container.  Come to find out, powder was inserted into a tiny packet made by two sheets of paper.  Each time, I opened the inhaler, the paper was peeled away leaving the medicine exposed.  Okay, so now that I write this, it seems quite oddball.  Why on earth am I writing about medicine distribution?  Oh well, maybe this is a "fizzle" post but, honestly, up-close the engineering is really cool ;-)

Trust

 

 

“Can't you trust me,” Tiki asked. We were dancing the waltz and while he was taking a step forward, I was taking one to the side. We weren't working together. I wasn't following him, and consequently, our dance was falling apart.

The question hit me hard. Could I trust him? Could I give up my desire for control and just follow where ever he lead me? Even though the direction he was going wasn't the way I wanted to go or thought was good. Could I just calmly follow without any resistance?

In ballroom dancing, the man leads, the woman follows. Therefore the woman needs to give up her desire for power – for control. She is usually going backwards, therefore she needs to trust him to guide her. If they work together, the dance is beautiful. If they don't it completely falls apart. Of course, the man doesn't have complete freedom to do whatever he wants. He must follow the rules of the dance, he is responsible for keeping the woman from running into walls (or other dancers). At times, he even lifts her up, being careful not to drop her. He is there to make her look beautiful. To be her partner. Dancing truly is a lesson in trust....

I contemplated this question for a long time during our rehearsal – not being able to come to a solid conclusion. I still thought my way was better than Tiki's. I still wanted to go my direction – not his. I wanted to lead. I wanted to be in control. I didn't want to be submissive. No matter how hard I tried, part of me still wasn't willing to trust him fully.

Later that evening, during my personal devotions, I was faced with the original question again. “Can't you trust me?” Currently, I am doing a wonderful Beth Moore Bible study on King David, and the evening's assigned reading was Psalms 91.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

As I contemplated these words, I asked myself. Do I really trust God? I say I do, but in my heart, do I really? Am I willing to completely submit to His leading even when I can't see where I am going? Do I truly believe that He will guide me through the dance floor of life guiding me through obstacles and challenges. Do I rest in him, believing that he will lift me up and never drop me? That His plan is more beautiful and wonderful than I could ever hope or imagine?

In the accompanied reading to my devotions, Beth Moore reiterated that we must trust in God at all times. At ALL TIMES. She also pointed at that we can trust people to be people, but we can't trust them to be god. In fact, man makes a very poor god. She stated that the question isn't “Can we trust another person?” but instead “Can we trust God with the person?” As I contemplated this question, I changed it a bit. It usually isn't people that I struggle with, but more situations. So, my new question became, "Can I trust God with the situations that I am currently facing?"

Can I trust HIM to work out a way to ship my harp home, that won't cost $13,000? Can I trust HIM to find me a job even though everything looks so slim right now? Can I trust HIM to work out every detail in my life even if it isn't what I had hoped or dreamed? Can I trust HIM to have a perfect plan for my life even though I desperately wanted to go to graduate school and it really seems like I might not be able to? Can I trust HIM with the lives of my family, my friends, my students, my teachers – everyone that I hold so dear and daily pray for? Can I trust HIM to do a good work in my life even though I have no idea what it is that He wants me to do? Can I give up my desire for control? My struggle for power? My desire to be in charge? Can I meekly and faithfully follow his leading knowing that His path is far better for me than I could ever hope or dream? Can I give up my fears of the unknown?

Trust – reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence

Going back to the dance floor, I have reason to trust my teacher, Suzuki先生.  He knows more than me. After all, he is a professional dancer and knows far more than for me. As for Tiki, we are both students. We are at the same level. We are both learning, so following his leading is sooooo much harder. But why is it that I can trust Suzuki先生 but not God? Hasn't God been even more faithful? Hasn't He always lead me correctly? He has worked out every detail in my life before. Just like Suzuki先生will guide me on the dance floor gently directing with just a tiny signal from his hand or body, so God will guide me on “life's floor."  Although it may be a bit contrived, I recently read a description for the word “guidance”: God, U and I dance. He leads, I follow.  Can I truly do so? He has ever been faithful so you would think that I could. But currently, I can't. I am struggling..... Please pray for me.  I want to be a beautiful "dancer" but I need Grace!!

DWTG Dance Party

This Sunday was our ballroom dancing showcase performance.  Go here for more pictures!

The Great Clothes Out

This past weekend, Sarah and I decided to have a give away of everything we can't take back with us.  I never realized that the two of us actually accumulated so much!

In Memory....

When I first came to Japan, I had so many problems riding the bus (remember this post?).  This picture is a positive reminder of how far I have come -- it is the "stop bus" button.  Four years later I can not only proudly stop the bus at the right stop, I can also read what it says ;-)  I'm hardly fluent in Japanese, but it is nice every once in a while to look back and see how much I have improved!

Eclipse!!

Surprisingly, I got relatively decent pictures on my cellphone camera while waiting for the bus to school!

How four years will change you...

Not too long ago I completely bypassed a hamburger, chips, and Coke to satisfy my craving for a natto onigiri (rice ball stuffed with fermented beans), Japanese pickles, and barely tea.  Four years ago, I would have never predicted it!!

I love English in Japan!

Fruit and Cheese Night!

Because Kathy and Lauren were desperately craving cheese several weeks ago (a common craving for foreigners here in Japan) so Sarah and I decided to host a cheese and fruit night.  (No, it wasn't anyone's birthday, we just used the birthday plates so we didn't have to wash dishes ;-)

Breathe, just breathe...

Thanks to Sarah, the adventures of today have now forever been saved in picture form.  Yes, that's me hiding under the blanket.  What you don't see is the bowl of steam I am desperately trying to inhale, the look of panic in my eyes as I gasp for breath, or the tears flowing down as I realize I can't breathe.  

I am so grateful to have been blessed with dear Christian friends who know how to handle asthma attacks and hyperventilation, who insist upon taking me to the hospital, and who are willing to assist me through all the Japanese medical stuff.  God has been so gracious!!!

My Happy Place

Hamamatsu -- the city of water and pines

I went home yesterday....  I went back to where my adventure here in Hamamatsu all started.  I went back to my little fishing village -- Bentenjima.  I have been meaning to go back for quite a while but each time something happens and I don't make it.  But, yesterday, I was determined.  I wanted to go back.  I wanted to feel the sand in my toes again.  I wanted to see the ocean again.  I wanted to splash in the waves.  And I wanted to properly say goodbye.  I was so blessed.  It was so  beautiful.  I have never seen the weather so gorgeous or the water so clear!  For hours, I just enjoyed my quiet beach.

the Bentenjima torii gate

the bridge to my old apartment (the wind destroyed many an umbrella on this bridge)

my neighborhood boats

shells drying -- they have quite a unique "scent" -- one that I finally have learned to appreciate

breakfast -- homemade melon pan (a Japanese bread I have come to love)

the clear, clear water

My time here in Japan may be like footsteps in the sand -- soon to be washed away in people's memories.  But, for me, the experience will always remain.  The journey has been too amazing.  Oh, how I will miss this country, its people, and all that it has taught me!