what I've been up to (the picture edition)

Sorry to abandon the blog and leave you all holding your breath! ;) I won't make excuses of being busy because that goes without saying for everyone, right? The truth is I HATE updating photos on Blogger! It's slow and tedious. Anyone have any pointers for me? Okay, enough venting...

I was unable to host a full-blown Thanksgiving dinner for my students as I had hoped because of a nasty cold. Instead, I had a smaller group over for dessert. I made brownies (Thanks, Kendra!) and Pumpkin Pie. Everything tasted great and it was a good chance to get to know some of my students in a different way. I know they were curious to see how this American lives. I think the big, American size coffee mugs and the variety of teas and coffees left a big impression. I went to Tokyo in November for the Fall Staff Meeting and for an American Thanksgiving dinner. It was a great time for me to be formally introduced to everyone on staff in Japan. This picture is from the day after the meeting when the staff was joined with others needing a taste of American Thanksgiving. It was a great day filled with food and games. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time! Gramma Mazie’s cranberry salad turned out great!

My face isn’t very clear, but Mt. Fuji wasn’t shy and made an appearance on my return trip from Tokyo. This was a rare sighting, I’m told, because usually it is too cloudy to see the full thing. I was mesmerized and wasn’t ashamed to take a picture.

I love asking strangers to take pictures of me! It's a good way to practice Japanese (even if all I say is "Please"!).

This tree really suprised me. After I took this picture, the lights started changing colors. Leave it to Japan to have a high-tech Christmas tree...

Here's my not so high-tech Christmas tree. I love it because it's tiny and precious. It brings a smile to my face and peace in my heart everytime I plug it in.

thoughts on Mary

Mary’s reply to the Angel about the news that turned her world topsy-turvy has been ringing in my ears for a while. I am amazed by her faith and courage to face certain uncertainties. In some of my English classes, we have been studying the Nativity Story in small chunks over the last month. I’ve been trying to imagine what it would be like to hear this story for the first time; it’s a beautiful story. It’s a story that becomes more and more real to me as I experience life in all its fullness-joy, sadness, doubt, fear, anxiety. It’s a story that I can’t explain. It’s a mystery that makes me shake my head in wonderment of a God who would choose humility as a tiny baby born under strange circumstances and eventual humiliation on a cross. It’s a mystery. I don’t understand it, but I lift up my head and agree that, Yes, nothing is impossible with God.

Japanese Christmas culture

Many of you have asked me what Christmas is like in Japan. Well, sadly Christmas in Japan is probably even more consumeristic than it is in the states. Japanese people are really interested in knowing about American Christmas traditions, so it 's a good opportunity to tell them the true meaning.

One of the unique ways that Japan celebrates Christmas is with a Christmas Cake. They would be shocked to know that this isn't an American tradition! The cake is usually a sponge cake with white icing and strawberries. Bakeries stock up on this cake and families will gobble it up on Christmas Eve. I've read that the price goes down considerably on the 25th, and what is leftover after that is considered old and I imagine is tossed out. A cultural note I learned today. Unmarried women are referred to as unsold and outdated Christmas cakes.... ergh!

Another Japanese Christmas custom has to do with Kentucky Fried Chicken! I took this picture of Colonel Sanders (who looks a bit Japanese, by the way) wearing a Santa costume. There's a really cute commercial on TV right now for KFC with a little girl and her Snoopy cup and plate that's available now for the Christmas season. People can make reservations with KFC for the Christmas Chicken Dinner, and I've heard that people line up to pick up their chicken like they were waiting for the final Harry Potter book!

The focus at this time of year is actually more on the New Year. It's probably one of the biggest holidays for the Japanese. Gifts are given to bosses, customers and teachers to show appreciation. Actually, many Japanese would say that this is an obligation and passing on it would be certain public disgrace. The stores have special ordering stations, where you can choose a box of apples or a box of beer (or pretty much anything that can be boxed up) to be sent to the person. It's really convenient because they wrap it and send it for you. It saves a lot of time and work. Children receive a special gift of money from parents and other relatives. Greeting cards are sent to relatives, friends, business acquaintances (just like our Christmas cards).

What is this?

When I went hiking recently, I found this sculpture thingy at the top of viewing area. I was totally enthralled with it. It took me a bit to figure out what it was. The ladies I was with asked me if I brought my lock and then had a little chuckle. What are your ideas of what this sculpture is?

life is a highway?!

I don't care what the song says, life is not a highway. It's more like a hike up a rugged mountainside on an unpaved trail littered with tree roots and loose rocks, followed by brief moments of flat terrain where you can catch your breath. The descent offers a different type of workout--exercising different muslcles. Until your legs are jello and want to just lie down or take a hot shower.

adventures despite it all

What did I expect? If you travel on crowded trains for hours at a time, you're bound to catch a nasty cold! Now the cold's nearly gone, but has left behind a hideous cold sore smack dab in the middle of my upper lip. Hideous.

Somewhere in between the sniffles and coughing, I had some amazing little adventures. Cheryl and Bernie brought some Americans with them from Tokyo when they came to Tarumi last weekend. We took some time to see some sights near Kobe.

I've been to the public baths a number of times, but always find more courage when I go with other Americans. Strength in numbers, or something? This time I thought it was pretty hilarious when Abby and I were trailed by a 4-year old boy with a whole lot of curiosity for naked foreigners. The Japanese are always really surprised to know that I've been to the baths and have actually enjoyed it. It's very relaxing! And no, I do not have pictures!

For a long time I've wanted to see the country-side of Japan. I'm in a smaller city, but still feel crowded by the tight spaces jammed with people and buildings. (Just wait until I go to Tokyo this weekend!) We drove about 1 1/2 hours outside of Tarumi, away from the ocean, toward the mountains. We saw an old house with the original thatch style roof off the main road. Cheryl decided to turn off so we could get a closer look. I'm so happy we did! When we pulled up, we saw an old man and woman standing outside. They greeted us warmly and had no problem with our requests to take pictures of the house. We thought it might have been strange for them to have 5 foreigners suddenly show up on their doorstep, but it seems like their house has often attracted attention from foreigners. We were not the first.

The man told us this house is 260 years old. He hasn't changed anything from the original building. When we stepped inside, he showed us some framed prints that he had made from wood carvings. They were amazing. The woman was so cute, with her giggles and her shyness. She said to her husband "Why are you showing off that dirty house?" and then giggled. So cute!

The next day, we braved the wind and went to see Himeiji Castle. It's been over a week, and I'm still impressed by what I saw. There's so much there. It's hard to explain--I'm still unpacking some of my thoughts. I'll share those someday when they're a bit more orderly.

Until then, enjoy the pictures!

stumble and bumble along

Everyday, I am bombarded by signs with scribbles that I can’t read (yet!). I'll have to do a post someday of fun signs I've seen around Japan. When I see something in English, my eyes jump to attention and my brain scrambles to compute the message. Sometimes the English makes absolutely no sense and does nothing else but make me chuckle. Other times, I am struck by the sheer messages of Truth that are found in the strangest of places. Recently, I saw a sign at a construction site that caught my attention. Instead of the typical “Under Construction” sign that I’m familiar with, I saw this sign that read, “Reborn.” I don’t want to over-spiritualize this, but I do find it interesting that the signs of Truth are everywhere here in Japan. I saw another message of Truth as I was waiting for a traffic light to turn green. I glanced over at a small parking lot and saw a blind man walking inside a fenced-in area. It didn’t take me long to realize that he was disoriented and was feeling his way around, trying to find the exit. Fortunately, there was a woman with her daughter walking by that was able to steer him in the right direction. Tears came to my eyes as I witnessed this act of kindness happening in front of me. I thought about the spiritual blindness of this country. Paul described man as having such a need for God that we fumble about in the darkness, trying to grasp unto Him. I can’t say that my spiritual eyes are perfect. I stumble around a whole lot. But, I have hope of one day seeing clearly and knowing fully the One is who calling me deeper and deeper into the unknown.

weekend fun

After preaching on Sunday (it went very smoothly, by the way), my friend Sue and I went to a nearby botanical garden. It was amazingly beautiful! Right now the Rose Fesitval is wrapping up, so we could see all kinds of varieties and colors of roses. Again, I was reminded of God's creativity.

Quite possibly the biggest rose I have ever seen.

Amazing color. This one was my favorite.

Sue asked me which way I wanted to go down the hill, meaning down the steps or the ramp. This slide was really tempting...

a little bit of normal

Okay, beyond playing with snails, I have been quite busy. Tomorrow is Sunday and I am preaching. I will be speaking in English and have a church member translate in Japanese. Please pray that she is able to decipher my words. She's plugging away right now in her preparation. It's kind of ironic because my sermon is about the simple message of God's Love, but I'm not sure how simple my words will be for her to translate. Praying for God's divine wisdom for her...

My new friend Suemune (Sue) and I spent the day together last Saturday shopping for a warm comforter for my bed. Sounds easy, right? Nope. All factors combined (price, limitation on sizes available, my pickyness), we were hunting around Kobe for about 6 hours. Of course, I ended up buying the first one that I liked AFTER I went to about 4 other stores. I'm really happy with my choice. The man even gave me a generous discount because Sue asked him "She's American. Would you mind giving her a discount?"

You may think, "What's the BIG deal? It's just a blanket. As long as it's warm, that's all that matters." It's all a part of making a home. I need to feel comfortable here. I may have unpacked all of my boxes and suitcases, but I need to unpack myself emotionally. I have to do whatever it takes to make my life normal in a very un-normal place.

I do feel like things are beginning to fall into place. Praise God I am making new friends who I can have coffee with at Seattle's Best Coffee! Kendra is a new friend who is living in Kobe with her husband. They have connections with Asian Access. They also attend the Kobe Bible Fellowship church, which is the International church I've been writing about (I think...). Kendra came to Japan about 10 years ago doing the same sort of thing as me. When we met this week for coffee, she told me stories of her first couple of months of adjusting to life in Japan. I could do nothing but laugh because of how similar our stories are. It's good to find commonality in a place where I am SO different. I found peace in knowing that at least one person out there knows exactly what I'm going through.

a snails pace

I can't help it. I'm a dork. I spent about 15 minutes this morning on my back patio playing with snails. The weather has been off and on rainy, so the snails have made their debut. I remember seeing slugs in Wisconsin when I was hiking with my HoneyRock friends. We didn't really enjoy finding them in the morning. They usually left a slimy orange trail behind them. They were especially unwelcome in our hiking boots. These snails on my patio are really neat to watch. They have a beautiful spiral shaped shell that they lug around with them. I guess I've always been fascinated by nature. It's just amazing to me that God thought to make so much variety. You better count your lucky stars that I didn't put the video on here!