Seasons

Fall is coming to an end and old-man-winter will be visiting soon. I've enjoyed autumn in Sendai more than any other fall I can remember. The colors of the changing leaves have been gorgeous!  As my friend Laura said, some trees looked like they had red hearts in the center and then they would almost bleed into orange, yellow and green. It's hard to explain. The best part is this season lasted for about 2 months, which was so welcomed after a hot and humid summer. Crazy! In MN it seems like fall comes and goes in about 2 weeks, so this was a nice change.
As much as I'm enjoying the weather, I've decided to leave this job at the end of March. There are too many reasons to mention, but overall it's just not a good fit. I adore my students and will miss them so much. It will be hard to say goodbye, but I'm also optimistic that the next adventure will bring blessings that I can't understand yet. I just need to keep moving on and take one step at a time. Prayers for direction and wisdom as I seek His will in the next season of my life.

The Little Things

It's my birthday. Well it's almost over now, but I'm looking back on this day and it was a good one. When  I woke up today, I had a gift and card waiting to be opened from an old college friend (she always plans ahead and remembers dates and details). Then I turned on my computer and got a couple of phone calls (magic jack) from family and friends to wish me a Happy Birthday, Japan-time. You see there's a 14 hour time difference now, so this can mess people up. Understandable.

However, thanks to modern social-technology like facebook, we can all be reminded of when things are happening like birthdays and other special events. It's so convenient. It has saved me many times! And I truly do appreciate the little messages I get from others.

Anyway, my day at work went smoothly with no major issues or stresses. I got some cute little gifts from a few students (including a purple and pink scrunchie) and a cake from a Japanese co-worker. Then some friends and I went out to grab dinner at an all-you-can-eat Italian buffet. I didn't know those existed in Japan until tonight. It was good, too! While there, my good friend, Laura, thought she brought me a fancy rice pudding dessert. It was covered with a pan-fried banana and drizzled with chocolate syrup. Sounded great! However, when I tasted it I discovered that it was  buttered rice covered with a broiled fish of some kind. And the chocolate sauce ended up being some kind of soy sauce. Ha! Good memory for sure! She fixed it by bringing me a bowl of ice cream topped with fruit, sprinkles and chocolate syrup. Oh yeah! I also got a card and flowers. So nice!

So I'm home now. Checking messages online, getting some calls on skype, feeling the love. Thanks everyone for noticing and caring enough to say so. It's the little things that count!

What a difference

I've been thinking about how much life has changed for me in Japan from the first time I lived her back in 1998 until now in 2010. And wow...looking at that span of years I'm feeling a bit old. LOL! Oh well. In 98 I had just set up my hotmail account so I could instantly send messages to family and friends via email. It was such an amazing thing compared to mailing letters! We knew that we could send a message and it would be received in less than a day when the other person got online! So fast! The only delay was the fact that I had to use the school's computer lab to email since having a laptop and internet at my apartment was way too expensive. Phone calls were planned with appointments mostly, because they were so important and usually costly. I treasured them! I had a cell phone but no land line, so if I wanted to call anyone I had to literally go and use a pay phone with a calling card. I preferred the one in the subway, because it was quieter than the one off the street. Ha!

Then when I did the JET Program in 2001-2003, instant chat was all the rage. I could login and have live conversations with people from my computer, in my own apartment. It was so fun and really made me feel connected to home, in a black and white sort of way. I also had a land line with a discounted calling plan so I could occasionally call to the States and splurge in hearing the live voices of loved ones right from the comfort of my own home.

Now it's 2010. I can video conference into my niece's birthday party via Skype with a high speed, wireless internet connection while lounging in my bed. I can see people's faces, moods and even a Mille Lacs sunset (thanks Tara!). I can do this basically for free. I almost don't feel the distance from home in many ways, which is nice. Facebook lets me know what's going on....who died, who was born, who got engaged or is dating etc... But I wonder how it would've been this time without all of this instant information and ease of communication. I'm not complaining. I don't want to live without it, but I'm not immersed in Japan this time around. I'm more like 1/2 and 1/2 between Japan and America. This is just something I'm thinking about lately...how technology has changed things and my life.

what's goin on

Things are going well in general. We just finished up the "biggest event of the year" at my school and so I feel like a HUGE burden has been lifted from me. The weather is still spring-like, but I adore that since spring is my favorite season! I miss everyone a lot, but as I'm busy here it distracts me from thinking about summers on Mille Lacs. I truly love being home on the lake with family and friends. I'll be home for a visit in August, though, and I can't wait! Well, this is all for today. If I don't allow this short and sweet version, then I may never write. Jya ne!

Sakura

I've been informed that I'm overdo for my next blog post. The fact is I haven't felt inspired by anything in particular.  A lot has happened, but I almost don't know what to choose. So...I'll talk about....cherry blossoms! Ha! It sounds strange, but cherry blossom viewing is a big deal out here. Every spring, families, friends and coworkers gather together at parks to enjoy picnics and the beautiful scenery.

                  My boss decided to take those who wished to go to a similar place to see the sakura. This area was on a riverbank and had over 1,000 trees cascading at its edges. It was truly beautiful. There were vendors selling food from grilled chicken on a stick to corn on the cob to octopus balls. People sat around, played music on guitars, hiked up and own the river and just enjoyed the season.

MeySen

Many are wondering what my job is here in Japan so I'll attempt to explain. The school I work at is called MeySen. It was founded over 40 years ago by some missionary families who were looking to start a business in order to raise funds for their ministries. As a group, they decided that a kindergarten would be the best option and so they began.
Now the school has grown into two main campuses and they have also created immersion, friend's club, high school, toddler,  software and production studio branches. They also have developed their own curriculum and it's being implemented in schools all over the world. It's very overwhelming and I don't fully understand how it all works, but the fact is that God has blessed this ministry. Many of the original family members are working and leading in these businesses. They are really special people and love these kids so much. It's pretty cool.

The school works hard to have beautiful campuses and a fun, loving environment. The playgrounds would be major liabilities in the States, but here it's OK:) The slides are seriously scary and steep. The kids have a lot of fun playing and running around before class. My goal is to give them a good time and tire them into submission. Ha!

My position is as a Friends Club Teacher. I teach elementary kids English in an after-school program. They each come three times a week to play for 25 minutes and then we have about a one hour class. In class we sing songs, listen to stories and recite poems and chants. There is no Japanese translation allowed, nor is it necessary. Kids can pick up English as it's used in context. It's really fun to see them communicate and succeed! MeySen is a Christian school, although most kids are not Christians. Teachers are allowed to share our faith and there are Bible lessons given throughout the year in Japanese. The 5th graders are given Bibles, too.

Here is a typical classroom. In Japan, the teachers share an office so we don't have desks in our classrooms. The classrooms are equipped with a microphone/headset so we don't lose our voices,  whiteboards, a computer with power point and cupboards to store teaching materials.

Also, here's a picture of a lobby area inside the classroom building. They have aquariums, fireplaces and places to sit and talk. It's really beautiful!  They also have stables on campus with horses, lambs and goats and cages with rabbits, guinea pigs and all kinds of animals for the kids to pet and play with.  Well, I hope this gives you and idea of where I am and what I'm up to. If you know of someone who would be interested in working here. Just let me know. They're always recruiting for teachers and interns! Also the website is www.meysen.ac.jp if you want to see more details.

Easter and the Fall

Easter was fun this year! I went to a church somewhere in the country with a local pastor and a group of coworkers. They had a live band for worship and we had translators to let us know what was being said. Afterward there was a nice potluck and they even had Easter eggs with Christian messages on them! Just like home:) Also some of the kids had made some kind of egg ornaments for a craft so a bunch of us got one of those, too. The head pastor had studied in Dallas so his English was really good and he was very welcoming. It felt so nice to be at an Easter service, although I missed my family on this day.

Then comes something I did on Wednesday (I think...the days are blurred), which was the day before classes started. A group of teachers and I went to a dollar store to get some supplies. Long story, short...I was mocking a friend as we walked and I didn't see the upcoming curb. Somehow, I made a slow but hard decent to the ground with all of my bags. I rolled my ankle and managed to bang up both knees/legs. At first everyone thought I was just sitting or joking, but oh no! It was the real deal and I nearly burst into tears. I couldn't get up for a bit and then needed help walking. Embarrassing, but it was funny and I know I deserved it. Here are some pictures documenting my battle wounds. I think God healed me quicker than normal, because I've been fine walking on it and riding my bike. It's still sore, but tolerable. Thank you, Lord!

First Day of School...kind of

Since I've been here, I've had about 2 months worth of training. This included learning new curriculum for about 6 different levels of proficiency, observing other teachers and practice teaching in a variety of classes for elementary kids. Today, however, was all me. Well, kind of.
There were people supporting me (and the other new teachers) left and right. They kept checking in and helping us with the kids. The day is done and I'm totally wiped out.  Mentally fried. To give you an example here's a quick story. We (the teachers) wave goodbye to the students as the buses leave. I was waving at a bus, it left and no other buses were behind it. However, I kept smiling and waving at random people in cars passing by. Thankfully my friend Ally noticed and rescued me. Thanks Ally!
This week has been tough and a lot has been thrown at me that I didn't anticipate. I think I'm really going to like this job, since I do already, but it will take time to get into my groove. Prayers lifted up would be appreciated.  My students seem to be good so far. No major problems occurred as a result of me. That, in and of itself, is success in my book.
The day ended as it should....with a congratulatory dinner at the local Mc Donald's. It was my first time going there since moving here, and I must say, it was amazing.  I'll be back!

My arrival and new corner in the world.

When I first got to Tokyo, they bused me and the other 10 or so new recruits up to Sendai. It took about 5 hours in an ice-cold, luggage and weary traveler-filled bus. I think we got in around midnight and I was totally exhausted & yet exhilarated to have finally arrived. We all got split up at different stops and finally it was my turn to be dropped off. A tiny Japanese woman & a white girl with a big smile took me and a few others in a van to our new homes.

I remember a red light bulb in the entryway of my building and thought it was kind of creepy. The little Japanese lady (small, but strong) was up to the third floor with my largest suitcase in no time at all. I could hardly keep up. She opened the door and my apartment was all warmed up, which is nice since there's no central heating in Japan and it was like 30 degrees outside. There were all kinds of preparations done; slippers waiting for me at the door, a hot water kettle ready for me to make tea with, my bed made and turned down and the fridge stocked with eggs, milk, bread, cheese and other basics. Wow! I was impressed! And grateful! This isn't all they did, but it gives you an idea of the care put
into making us comfortable in our new "places".

I only hope that my home can be a resting place for me and for others who visit. I love being in my little corner of the world. When I'm here, I'm at rest. I can have my quiet time with God, read my kindle, journal, take lovely baths, watch movies, listen to music, cook in my mini-kitchen and connect with loved ones online. It's ideal. I love it! Thank you Lord!

So for those who wonder what my home is like...I'll post some early pictures of the inside for now. I've decorated since but it's not clean now and, therefore, not ready for a photo shoot of any kind:) It's small, but it's really all that I need. What more can I ask for?

My first blog ever.

So I've been meaning to start a blog for years. I'm not sure why I haven't yet, but I suspect it's because I'm not sure how much time this will take. I have to think about the purpose of a blog and why I should or shouldn't do it. Being abroad again has motivated me to actually get to it! Also I just watched the movie "Julie and Julia" which also encouraged me to move ahead. lol!

As you may know, I'm back in Japan. Again. I hope the saying "the third time's a charm" applies to me here since this is round three for me in Japan. Why do I keep coming back? I never in a million years ever thought I would end up living here. I could see Italy in my future or someplace tropical, but not Japan. The strange thing is I really love it! It's like my second home. Don't get me wrong, it's not perfect nor am I. But it's comfortable for me and I like being here. For now, that's good enough for me.

So I will try to catch up on what's happened so far and continue on from there. This is a good start for today:)