Wednesday, August 30, 2006

The County Fair

So, a popular summer event in America (especially small hick towns) is the county fair. I arrived in America on Friday and found myself on Saturday night walking through barns full of animals, eating greasy food and listening to country music. This was my re-entry to American culture. The whole time I was there, I was thinking, " I wonder what my Japanese friends would think of this." I have to say my favorite part was the baby animals.

Baby pigs

Baby goat

baby cow

Me as a farmer :)

Oh....and I saw Josh Gracin, a former American Idol star (that's for you Katie)

Sunday, August 27, 2006

they survived

Just to let everyone know, Yumi and Banana survived the flight!!! They are now American citizens. Welcome to the good life.

A long trip home

After 9 and 1/2 hours from Japan to San Francisco, 2 hours to Seattle, 10 HOUR layover in Seattle (I have a new appreciation for the movie Terminal now) and 1 hour to Spokane, I am now at my parents house typing this. I still can't believe I am home. I can't believe so many people came to meet me at the airport. Even though it was SOOOOO sad, I am blessed to have so many friends. When I got here I realized my English still needs a little work because when I saw on of my friends I almost said "hisashiburi" but instead said "long time." I then used the word "nostalgic" when refering to a chair and kept calling a gas station "convenience store." I think they should make a rule that everyone in America learn Japanese. It would make life so much easier! Tonight I am going to the county fair. Yee-haw! More to come...

Friday, August 25, 2006

またね

This is my last blog entry from Japan. I am leaving today in 6 hours. I still can't believe it. This place, that I have come to call home and hold so dear, I have to say goodbye to today. I will miss it. I will miss the food and riding the train. I will miss bowing in front of the gate before I enter the school. I will miss my students and the way the would run up to me and talk with me. I will miss shopping in Umeda with friends and having crazy Lost/Survivor/Amazing Race movie marathons. I will miss laughing at with all of my friends here. Most of all, I will miss the people here who I have become to close to. I am so blessed that I had this opportunity. I know I will be back, but saying goodbye is still hard. Right now, this verse is the only comfort I have...
"For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans to help you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
To everyone I have met in Japan and who has been a friend to me; Thank you and I love you!

mata ne

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Mighty Morphin Power Shiona?


Looking for a job is so hard. I have been thinking about a lot of different places,
but after today I think the superhero business sounds cool!

Friday, August 18, 2006

a mini vacation

Wednesday I hopped on a train with Koni, Kaori, Maya, Liz and Katie and headed towards Kyoto. Three hours later we were at Kaori's dad's hotel in the middle of the country, next to the ocean. It was beautiful scenery. We relaxed, went to an onsen ( Japanese hot spring) where a little crab came out of the wall, had a BBQ by the ocean, did karaoke, swam in the Sea of Japan and went to a famous place called Amanohashidatte. It was a blessing to be able to get away and hang out with those 5.


Amanohashidatte. People say that if you look at this view upside down through your legs, it looks the same because the sky becomes the sea and the sea the sky. I couldn't do it right.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

too much stuff


What started out as 5 boxes quickly became 10. I am finishing my packing today with 10 boxes. 10! Katie came over and "helped" me yesterday. I got a lot more done with her around actually. Even though we paused to watch TV and record ourselves for our Amazing Race video, and take pictures...I really did get alot done. You can't tell from the pictures though.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Thanks Katie

I got this from Katie's blog. Originally you were supposed to list the last 15 people who have made comments. But only 13 different people have made comments on my blog, so I changed it.

Go to your page and list the last thirteen people who have left comments. If someone has commented more than once, skip to the next commenter.

1. Tami
2. Bekah
3. Jason C
4. Katie
5. Chihiro
6. Grayden
7. Charlie S.
8. Fuzzy Jefe
9. Takako
10.Jennifer H.
11.Chelsea
12.Wendy
13.Yui

And here's some fun questions...

What is the best memory you have of #10? When we went down to Shishikui together and Jennifer taught me how to surf, while she was pregnant. It was a lot of fun and now, thanks to her, I can say that I like surfing, have been to Shikoku and Hunter (her dog) and I are no longer enemies :)
Why are you friends with #9? Because Takako and I are twins. It's true. Actually I met Takako only a few months ago, but she is fun to be around. I love teasing her and joking with her.
When's the next time you will see #6? In almost exactly 2 weeks, when I go back to America.
What does #12 love most in the world? I can confidently say that in the whole world, Wendy loves Jesus the most.
Tell something juicy about #4: We are going to be on Amazing Race together! is that juicy?
What impresses you about #1? No matter what happens in her life, Tami holds on to Jesus Christ. She is an amazing woman who I look at and think, "God is going to do something amazing through her."
What do you like about #8? I don't really know Fuzzy Jefe. He just left a comment on my blog because we both teach in Nishinomiya. He seems nice though.
What's your favorite memory of #2? I think when we had a Hawaiin party at her house when I was like a freshman in college and her evil cat TJ tried to kill me.
What was your first impression of #7? I started emailing Charlie about 3 years ago about coming to Japan and from his emails and vision of what him and his wife were doing in Japan I thought he is a man who desires the heart of God for Japan.
How did you meet #3? I have never met Jason. Only via blog. Maybe someday, or in heaven :)
Do you think #13 could kill someone? Yui is one of the sweetest girls I know. No way could she kill anyone.
Who does #5 spend the most time with? Well, recently Katie and I. Climbing Mt. Fuji, slumber parties, dinner. We're tight!
What is the last thing you did with #11? Let's see, the last time I saw her was March. I think the last thing we did was eat dinner at mom's house together. Yummy! But I get to see her in two weeks-yea!!!
Have you ever been to #3's house? No, being as we've never met and he lives in another country, that would be difficult.
How do you know #4? Weelll, let me tell ya' I met Katie through another missionary in Japan. She was the only American girl my age that I knew and we've been friends ever since. She's the cute one and I'm the funny one...in case anyone asks. ;)
Do you think #5 is sexy? Oh yeah, Chi-chan is too cute! She is so fashionable and looks good in any hairstyle. And believe me, I've seen her in a LOT of hair styles.
Have you ever liked #7? Well, as a friend yes. Dude, he's married with kids....who came up with this question?
Where was the last place you went with #8? Well, Fuzzy Jefe and I have never met, so...
Are you real close to #9? Well, we're twins so...of course!
What kind of relationship to you have with #10? Jennifer is awesome. She's sweet and genuine. I am so blessed that I got to know her for the short time I did in Japan. And now she's gonna have a baby, so sweet!
Have you ever been to the movies with #12? Hmmm, I don't remember. I don't think so. I'll put that on my "things to do when I get back to America" list.
Have you ever gotten in trouble with #6? Well, not me, but he's gotten in enough trouble on his own;).
What do you and #11 talk most about? Well, recently boys. She's married and I'm in a relationship so, boys. Other than that just random sister stuff.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

boxes, boxes, boxes

Well, the typhoon never came, but the slumber party was still fun. My packing boxes have arrived and I am sitting in my house surrounded by a mess of unorganized stuff ready to be "neatly" packed into 10 Japanese size boxes. I have a week to do this. It seems a bit daunting. It is honestly hard to believe that I have 2 weeks left here. I was reading back in my journals yesterday, reading what I wrote when I first arrived here. Things have changed so much. I have changed so much. It's hard to believe it is coming to an end. But at the same time, as I have been praying about leaving and thanking God for such a great opportunity, I have also been able to praise Him for what lies ahead. I am not leaving this place and shutting the door completely. I will keep in contact with many and actually two Japanese friends will be living in Spokane from September. In a way, I am excited. I can't cling to the past and hope it never leaves me. I have to embrace the future and not forget the past. There are still people who need to hear the gospel. There are Japanese in Spokane. And there are people I love, who I haven't seen in a really long time. So, I just praise God, who holds my life in His hands and knows the plans that He has for me. Plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Plans to give me a hope and a future. That's my God.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Typhoon

What do you do when a typhoon is coming? Have a slumber party of course! I was planning on going to watch fireworks with friends today but it was cancelled because of a typhoon that should hit at around 4pm today. This is my first typhoon of the year. When I first got to Japan we had like 5 typhoons and 1 earthquake. I remember thinking to myself, "what is going on here?"
Here is a picture of the weather forecast.

Monday, August 07, 2006

surprise, surprise, surprise

Last night, after returning home from Mt. Fuji (a.k.a. "giver of pain") I went out to dinner with a friend. to my surprise, when I met her she had brought one of the students with her who is going to Spokane and who I helped teach English. So, we all went to eat dinner together. Akiko, my friend's name, was my second group of students when I was an RA in Spokane. So, we have known eachother for about 3 and a half years. So, we ate and talked and then all of a sudden two more of my friends showed up and later another until finally there were 10 of us all together. Yeah, so I was definitely surprised. At the end Akiko had a cake brought up and flowers as a going away present. The best thing was this: when I was her RA, just before her and her group left to come back to Japan, I wrote them a song as a goodbye present. Akiko recorded this on her video camera, so as a present to me she had given the tape to her friends who are in a band and they did a remix of the song (which is much cooler than when I did it on my guitar) and she made a CD and had it playing while they brought my cake out. I couldn't help but cry. It was the sweetest present I've gotten. Thanks Akiko! daisuki!

Sunday, August 06, 2006

a girl and a mountain and what was I thinking!

Let's start on a happy note with the first bento I ever made

I took it with me to Mt. Fuji, but it didn't really make the trip :(

Okay, so Mt Fuji...what can I say? I am sitting at my house right now. My two big toes are black and blue with a bandaid on them. I keep finding new bruises on my body as well as dirt that hasn't come off yet. I walk funny and sound like an old lady when I sit down or stand up. In short...I'm in PAIN!!!
All together there were 8 of us; Katie, Liz, Amy, Kaylee, Shoko, Kaori, Chihiro and I. I brought enough snacks for a whole village. But, later I realized I didn't bring enough clothes (it was freezing).On the way to the top there are "5" stations. We started at station 5 at 8:10 pm on Friday. From station 5-6 it was a pretty fast, relatively easy hike. At station 6 we were still smiling, making jokes, taking pictures, etc... From station 6-7 was EVIL!!! It was this sandy rock surface where every time you took a step you slipped back a little ways. But we got there and took a longer break. Still, positive. Station 7-8 you had to use your hands and you legs. We were climbing up rock. And I hope my mom doesn't read this, but it was seriously scary. There was no rope separating you from the edge of the mountain. It was dark and we had flashlights, but there were some points when I thought to myself, "if my mom knew what I was doing she would be angry!" We finally got to station 8 and rested. At midnight we sang Happy Birthday to Katie. Then we hiked on. The last trek was the worst. It went on forever!!! Have you ever stood in line for something that was really popular and the line moved like molasses and you thought to yourself, "is this really worth it?" Apply those same feelings to Mt. Fuji. We wanted to be to the top by 4:50 am to watch the sunrise. We had been making really good time so we expected to be to the top by 3 at the latest. There were tons of tour groups so we moved so slow. It was this last leg that I lost it. Every time we came around a corner I thought, "I could just watch the sunset from here and be happy. What's so great about the top?" I REALLY wanted to give up . It was emotional, too. I knew we were closer than we were when we started and yet there was still so much left. I started to feel dizzy because of the altitude. I don't know how many times I heard people in our group say, "okay, who's idea was this?!"
We didn't make it to the top before the sunrise. We were close though. And honestly, it was beautiful. I didn't put this in, but on the way up I don't know how many times I just looked up and was amazed at God's creation. The sky was covered in stars, so close that it seemed we could touch them. It reminded me of the song "When I think about the Lord"


when i think about the Lord
it makes me want to shout
hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!
Hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!


So, we made it to the top, ate ramen, slept and hiked back down (probably the most painful). It was about 10am or so when we got back down. So that's 14 hours, up and down, in the middle of the night. If you are thinking to yourself, "those girls are crazy," I totally agree.
We rode back into Tokyo. Katie and I went to an onsen. We almost missed our bus back to Osaka. We literally were running all over, with our luggage and after climbing a mountain, asking for directions on how to get to the bus station. Amazingly enough the bus waited for us, even though we were 20 minutes late. And now, we are all home, back from our huge feat. We asked eachother many times that weekend if we would climb it again. My answer was always, "no way, never, I don't think so." But, I am glad I did it once. And the 7 girls I climbed it with were totally awesome. We became Fuji Family after that. It is a trip I will never forget.

Okay...I'll be quiet now. Here's some pictures

All of our luggage. I think maybe some of us (not naming any names) overpacked a little

in the train station-on our way to the mountain

At the 5th station; the cheapest toilet on the mountain. All the others cost 100 yen to use.

Us at the 6th station-still happy :)

Chihiro and Katie climbing. A little tired




The sunrise, much better in person though!

Thursday, August 03, 2006

On my way...

do-doo-do WOOO! Goin' to Mt. Fuji yeah! Gonna' climb a mountain yeah! Walk around a volcano that hasn't erupted since 1708 yeah!

...."3,776 meter high active volcano?"
"yep"
"8 hour hike...in the dark?"
"yep"
"possibility of eruption?"
"could be"
"squattie potties that cost 100 yen?"
"yep"
"freezing temperatures at the top?"
"yep"


BRING IT ON!!!

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

11 Things I love about Japan


* I love the little wet-wipe napkins they give you at restaurants and coffee shops (for free!!!)
* I love that you can get almost anywhere from the train station by foot.
* I love that I can use my Lagare ticket to ride the Hanshin, Hankyu and Subway trains!
* I love the little old couple that sit on their porch at night near my house, in their pajamas, fanning themselves with their fans.
* Takoyaki!!!
* Karoake and Puricura
* The cute little bags they put whatever you purchase in and the way they tape the bag so nothing falls out. Sometimes the tape works to well.
* Bowing, I love bowing
* I love the friendliness of little store owners.
* I love how they have three different cans for garbage- one for bottles, one for plastic and the other for everything else.
* I love hearing little kids speak Japanese

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Hima

I have decided that I do not do well with unstructured free time. Since July 21st I have had no job and therefore no "daily" commitments of any sort. So, recently especially, I have been staying up until 2 or 3 a.m. (I know, can you believe it? This coming from a girl who went to bed at 10, sometimes 9:30) and waking up at 10 or 11. I don't have my boxes yet so I can't start packing and the thought of just organizing without any boxes seems a little pointless. I guess I could do laundry. Point is, it's 1:15 am and I am tired but not enough to sleep. Doshio...