I've had this story since October, but I keep forgetting to blog about it.
For those who don't know, I teach English to Japanese children. In addition to our regular classes, we plan trips and various parties throughout the year. Naturally, we throw a Halloween party for each of our classes during the month of October. Even though Halloween isn't a huge hit in Japan, the children (and their parents) seem to love our parties. We put up decorations, play games, give out candy, and of course, we dress up.
Days before this year's first party I asked one of my co-workers, Yuka, what she was going to be for Halloween. I wasn't sure how to respond when she told me she was going to be a cigarette. I asked a second time, thinking I had misunderstood, but she confirmed her costume was indeed a cigarette. I had a hard time imagining Yuka dressed up as a giant cigarette, playing Halloween games with six year-olds, while their parents recorded every moment. But, she was a vetran Give Us teacher, so I let it go. A couple days later I was chatting with another co-worker, Andrew, about everyone's costumes. Apparently, he hadn't heard about Yuka's risque costume. When I told him, he couldn't believe it. He asked me if I misunderstood and I replied, "How can you misunderstand the word, cigarette?" He said he would talk to Yuka about her costume and left for class. An hour later, while I was getting my students to settle down, Andrew popped his head into my class room to say, "It's a secret." All of a sudden, everything clicked. Yuka wasn't going to be a cigarette, her costume was a secret!!! Lesson learned: listen more carefully.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
October: Swine Flu and Costumes.
I know it's no longer October, but better late than never.
Joe came down with the swine flu and was out of work for about a week. We went to the hospital on a Sunday, but they were closed to non-emergencies. A nurse sent us to an open clinic. This place was packed full of people (I'm assuming most of whom had the swine flu). Thankfully, the clinic ran like clockwork. After we saw the doctor we went downstairs to get the antibiotics. The pharmacy piled the medicine on. The medicine came in pill, capsule, and powder form. Joe received the Tami-flu capsule, two different pills for his fever, one powered to help his throat, and we're not sure about the last powered. All of the medication came with different instructions, but the people working at the pharmacy were really helpful.
I got sick the following Tuesday. All of Tuesday morning we were sure I had the swine flu. But, when I got to the doctor he said I had just a regular old flu. However, the same medication was prescribed for me.
All the pills, capsules, and powders worked wonders. Although, the doctor recommended that we stay home for a while. And yes, we wore sick masks both in public and inside our house.
(these are the bags our medicine came in)
Following the flu, came Halloween. At Give Us (my job), we throw Halloween parties for all of our students. This year, I was a piece of tamagoyaki sushi (the egg kind).
The costume didn't turn out the way I imagined it, but I can't complain. Notice the chopstick headband. A lot of my students thought I was trying to be Sponge Bob. And, I did get punched in the gut. I guess the kids thought the extra padding made it appropriate for them to sock me.
Joe dressed up for his English Club Halloween party. He was "The Swine Flu." If you pull down on the strings attached to the wings, they move as if the pig is flying. Clever. This hat could bring a whole new meaning to the phrase, "... when pigs fly."
Joe came down with the swine flu and was out of work for about a week. We went to the hospital on a Sunday, but they were closed to non-emergencies. A nurse sent us to an open clinic. This place was packed full of people (I'm assuming most of whom had the swine flu). Thankfully, the clinic ran like clockwork. After we saw the doctor we went downstairs to get the antibiotics. The pharmacy piled the medicine on. The medicine came in pill, capsule, and powder form. Joe received the Tami-flu capsule, two different pills for his fever, one powered to help his throat, and we're not sure about the last powered. All of the medication came with different instructions, but the people working at the pharmacy were really helpful.
I got sick the following Tuesday. All of Tuesday morning we were sure I had the swine flu. But, when I got to the doctor he said I had just a regular old flu. However, the same medication was prescribed for me.
All the pills, capsules, and powders worked wonders. Although, the doctor recommended that we stay home for a while. And yes, we wore sick masks both in public and inside our house.
(these are the bags our medicine came in)
The costume didn't turn out the way I imagined it, but I can't complain. Notice the chopstick headband. A lot of my students thought I was trying to be Sponge Bob. And, I did get punched in the gut. I guess the kids thought the extra padding made it appropriate for them to sock me.
Joe dressed up for his English Club Halloween party. He was "The Swine Flu." If you pull down on the strings attached to the wings, they move as if the pig is flying. Clever. This hat could bring a whole new meaning to the phrase, "... when pigs fly."
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Back in the Swing of Things.
One year down. Crazy to think we only have about ten months to go. We've been back in Japan for a few weeks now and we already feel in the swing of things.
Our trip home was great. Just what we needed. The time went by fast... three weeks is just not long enough. But, we took advantage of every second and filled our time with all the best activities being home can offer. Of course, there was a lot we didn't get to do and a lot of people we didn't get to see, but we know the next ten months will go by even faster than the last year.
From here on out, the plan is to focus on getting the most out of the last ten months as possible. We want to take advantage of any activity or experience we missed out on last year. There are plenty of restaurants, tourist attractions, hidden treasures, and random adventures to enjoy and we can't wait. One such activity was renting a boat at Nakajima park on a sunny afternoon. Check:
This weekend, we'll be going to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters baseball game with our friends Natsuko and Kiyomi. First live sports game since we've been here. Hopefully, we'll go to a soccer game later this year. Go sports! Or something.
For the most part, we're off to a good start for our last year in Japan.
Our trip home was great. Just what we needed. The time went by fast... three weeks is just not long enough. But, we took advantage of every second and filled our time with all the best activities being home can offer. Of course, there was a lot we didn't get to do and a lot of people we didn't get to see, but we know the next ten months will go by even faster than the last year.
From here on out, the plan is to focus on getting the most out of the last ten months as possible. We want to take advantage of any activity or experience we missed out on last year. There are plenty of restaurants, tourist attractions, hidden treasures, and random adventures to enjoy and we can't wait. One such activity was renting a boat at Nakajima park on a sunny afternoon. Check:
This weekend, we'll be going to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters baseball game with our friends Natsuko and Kiyomi. First live sports game since we've been here. Hopefully, we'll go to a soccer game later this year. Go sports! Or something.For the most part, we're off to a good start for our last year in Japan.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Big In Japan.
The rumors are true. I'm big in Japan... Or, I just happen to be one of very few foreign, English speaking, female, twenty-somethings in the Sapporo area. I'm going to go with the latter. My first shot at stardom came when I got an opportunity to make a recording for the Sapporo City Subway. Basically, I told passengers that they should inform subway staff if they notice any suspicious behavior or activity. I heard my voice for the fist time today getting onto the subway. Is it weird I wanted to tell the woman next to me, "That voice you just heard... mine."
Second opportunity came less than a week later. My agent (Andrew Lopez, a.k.a. my co-worker) informed me of an audition for a Mazda commercial. Mazda was looking for two young women to play the parts of school teachers for elementary kids. The team was from Tokyo, but they were shooting the commercial in Sapporo. After a call back I got the "gig" (as we say in the biz). We had to wait out the rain, but eventually, we spent a whole day shooting the commercial. It aired in the beginning of July, nation wide. Here it is, if you want to see it. Scroll down until you see the Biante car. Click on the Biante and let it load. Don't expect too much, I'm barely in the commercial. If you pause it right after you see "I stop" I'm on the right. You can also see my hand waving at the end.
I know, big stuff. What can I say. It was a fun experience though, something I'll never forget. I'm just waiting for the big offers to roll in.
Myself and the other "school teacher" Jo after hair and make-up. She's a ballerina from Australia. Her Japanese was amazing, I'm a little jealous of her.
Second opportunity came less than a week later. My agent (Andrew Lopez, a.k.a. my co-worker) informed me of an audition for a Mazda commercial. Mazda was looking for two young women to play the parts of school teachers for elementary kids. The team was from Tokyo, but they were shooting the commercial in Sapporo. After a call back I got the "gig" (as we say in the biz). We had to wait out the rain, but eventually, we spent a whole day shooting the commercial. It aired in the beginning of July, nation wide. Here it is, if you want to see it. Scroll down until you see the Biante car. Click on the Biante and let it load. Don't expect too much, I'm barely in the commercial. If you pause it right after you see "I stop" I'm on the right. You can also see my hand waving at the end.
I know, big stuff. What can I say. It was a fun experience though, something I'll never forget. I'm just waiting for the big offers to roll in.
Myself and the other "school teacher" Jo after hair and make-up. She's a ballerina from Australia. Her Japanese was amazing, I'm a little jealous of her.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
One Year Anniversary.
On May 25, 2008 we became a family. This year has gone by fast and it's hard to believe we've been married for a year. During our anniversary weekend we spent a lot of time reminiscing, laughing, and talking about our engagement and, what is now, our first year of marriage.
We honestly don't know how we made it through our engagement. Between graduating, moving, the play, the commencement speech, finishing up senior projects/papers, working, preparing to move to Japan, other weekly commitments, and of coarse, planning the wedding in less than four months, life was a little crazy. The pressure was intense at times, but thanks to all of our wonderful friends and family we made it out alive. We want to take this moment and thank everyone that helped us out during that insane time. And, we apologize for any weird behavior during those few months. Normal eating and sleeping habits went out the window sometime around March and with them went normal social interaction. We're better now.
Our first year of marriage has been many things. It has been challenging, adventurous, romantic, surprising, and at times, absolutely hilarious. Really, we couldn't ask for anything better. We feel thankful for the last 12 months and are looking forward to the next 12.
We honestly don't know how we made it through our engagement. Between graduating, moving, the play, the commencement speech, finishing up senior projects/papers, working, preparing to move to Japan, other weekly commitments, and of coarse, planning the wedding in less than four months, life was a little crazy. The pressure was intense at times, but thanks to all of our wonderful friends and family we made it out alive. We want to take this moment and thank everyone that helped us out during that insane time. And, we apologize for any weird behavior during those few months. Normal eating and sleeping habits went out the window sometime around March and with them went normal social interaction. We're better now.
Our first year of marriage has been many things. It has been challenging, adventurous, romantic, surprising, and at times, absolutely hilarious. Really, we couldn't ask for anything better. We feel thankful for the last 12 months and are looking forward to the next 12.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Golden Week.
It's been a while and we apologize. We've been in desperate need of sunshine and warm weather. Now that it's arrived we have a refreshed outlook on life and we're ready to blog again.
Today is the last day of Golden Week. A string of national holidays creating a five day weekend. Constitutional Memorial Day, Green Day, Children's Day, and Substitute Holiday are celebrated Sunday through Wednesday. For Joe and I, Golden Week meant Spring Cleaning Day, Cherry Blossom Day, and Sushi Lesson Day. Not to mention sleeping in, watching movies, enjoying the sun, and studying for the G.R.E.
On Saturday, we took a long walk to pick up some supplies for our Spring cleaning and on the way explored a bit more of our extended neighborhood. We woke up early on Sunday to get a good start on exfoliating our home and finished off the day with trip to Costco. The next day, we made it out to Maruyama park for a BBQ with some co-workers and friends. Eventually, we wondered up toward the field of cherry blossoms trees while we enjoyed a chocolate covered banana and the sunset. Tuesday brought hours of studying for Joe as well as our first sushi lesson. My co-worker and friend, Natsuko, came over and brought a friend of her's named Kiyomi. Natsuko walked us through the different steps of making sushi rolls. After dinner Joe left to meet one of his co-workers for drinks while Natsuko, Kiyomi, and myself watched Mama Mia. Finally, Wednesday was a day to relaxe and enjoy the remains of Golden Week.
A golden week indeed!
Today is the last day of Golden Week. A string of national holidays creating a five day weekend. Constitutional Memorial Day, Green Day, Children's Day, and Substitute Holiday are celebrated Sunday through Wednesday. For Joe and I, Golden Week meant Spring Cleaning Day, Cherry Blossom Day, and Sushi Lesson Day. Not to mention sleeping in, watching movies, enjoying the sun, and studying for the G.R.E.
On Saturday, we took a long walk to pick up some supplies for our Spring cleaning and on the way explored a bit more of our extended neighborhood. We woke up early on Sunday to get a good start on exfoliating our home and finished off the day with trip to Costco. The next day, we made it out to Maruyama park for a BBQ with some co-workers and friends. Eventually, we wondered up toward the field of cherry blossoms trees while we enjoyed a chocolate covered banana and the sunset. Tuesday brought hours of studying for Joe as well as our first sushi lesson. My co-worker and friend, Natsuko, came over and brought a friend of her's named Kiyomi. Natsuko walked us through the different steps of making sushi rolls. After dinner Joe left to meet one of his co-workers for drinks while Natsuko, Kiyomi, and myself watched Mama Mia. Finally, Wednesday was a day to relaxe and enjoy the remains of Golden Week.
A golden week indeed!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Unlikely Papists
In addition to challenging our ideas about acceptable food condiments (mayonnaise on pizza) and cold medication (Chinese herbs instead of NyQuil), living in Japan has forced us to rethink the North American notion of church shopping. A couple weeks ago, Kellyn and I decided to resume our search for a church home. Previous Sunday mornings spent trying to bumble our way through sermons and praise choruses in Japanese caused us to opt for the only English language church service in Sapporo: 12:30 mass at the downtown Roman Catholic cathedral.
Despite our attempt at an inconspicuous entrance, a 6’6’’ African acolyte approached us less than 45 seconds after we sat down in a pew near the back. After a warm hello, he asked if we would lead the Old Testament and Epistle readings for the day. Our perplexed stares caused him to open our service bulletins for us, point to the passages in Isaiah and Thessalonians, and repeat his question. We sheepishly consented and moments later found ourselves processing toward the altar in the company of the priest and said acolyte. Kellyn and I now made up two of the four people leading the mass. Wondering how we ended up here, I remembered someone once saying that we don’t find Jesus, he finds us. It must be roughly the same with Catholicism.
We stood altarside awaiting our cue. I glanced out at the pews and tried to guess how many of the 40 or so congregants knew that Kellyn and I had no idea what we were doing. Following the opening lines of the liturgy, Kellyn read from Isaiah and led the repository psalm as if she’d been a papist since birth. I then voiced my best rendition of Pauline prose into the microphone, after which we scurried back to our distant pew and spent the remainder of the service comfortably out of sight.
At the conclusion of the service, we were called to the front, asked to introduce ourselves to the congregation, and invited to practice Christmas carols with the international choir for Christmas Eve mass. Our acceptance of this invitation led to a meal and a three-hour practice during which I learned that I don’t know how to sing any other part but the melody, which isn’t helpful because I’m a baritone. We left the cathedral not sure if we were fully prepared to sing in the Christmas Eve mass, but, then again, we weren’t prepared to help lead the mass on our first visit either.
I’ve often heard that churches outside North America function more like families than country clubs, but, until two weeks ago, I didn’t understand that this might make church shopping a little more difficult. Our friends at the cathedral viewed us more as participants than onlookers, and I don’t think it would make much sense to them for us not to come back. This is perhaps a much-needed challenge to our conception of church hunting.
Despite our attempt at an inconspicuous entrance, a 6’6’’ African acolyte approached us less than 45 seconds after we sat down in a pew near the back. After a warm hello, he asked if we would lead the Old Testament and Epistle readings for the day. Our perplexed stares caused him to open our service bulletins for us, point to the passages in Isaiah and Thessalonians, and repeat his question. We sheepishly consented and moments later found ourselves processing toward the altar in the company of the priest and said acolyte. Kellyn and I now made up two of the four people leading the mass. Wondering how we ended up here, I remembered someone once saying that we don’t find Jesus, he finds us. It must be roughly the same with Catholicism.
We stood altarside awaiting our cue. I glanced out at the pews and tried to guess how many of the 40 or so congregants knew that Kellyn and I had no idea what we were doing. Following the opening lines of the liturgy, Kellyn read from Isaiah and led the repository psalm as if she’d been a papist since birth. I then voiced my best rendition of Pauline prose into the microphone, after which we scurried back to our distant pew and spent the remainder of the service comfortably out of sight.
At the conclusion of the service, we were called to the front, asked to introduce ourselves to the congregation, and invited to practice Christmas carols with the international choir for Christmas Eve mass. Our acceptance of this invitation led to a meal and a three-hour practice during which I learned that I don’t know how to sing any other part but the melody, which isn’t helpful because I’m a baritone. We left the cathedral not sure if we were fully prepared to sing in the Christmas Eve mass, but, then again, we weren’t prepared to help lead the mass on our first visit either.
I’ve often heard that churches outside North America function more like families than country clubs, but, until two weeks ago, I didn’t understand that this might make church shopping a little more difficult. Our friends at the cathedral viewed us more as participants than onlookers, and I don’t think it would make much sense to them for us not to come back. This is perhaps a much-needed challenge to our conception of church hunting.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thanksgiving and Christmas
We had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas! The season wasn't quite the same without our friends and family, but all in all we had a wonderful holiday season. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to send us various holiday items that helped make our celebrations so special. In addition, we are truly blessed every time we are able to talk with or receive an email from anyone back home.
Our non-turkey dinner turned out to be rather delicious. We weren't able to find all the necessary ingredients to make a complete traditional dinner, but we came pretty darn close. We had a chicken (thank you Costco), mashed potatoes, German potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and rolls. We also started with an appetizer of cheese, olives, and crackers and finished off the meal with pumpkin pie and yukimi daifuku (You might know yukimi daifuku as mochi. Mochi is actually just the rice that covers the ice cream.).
Christmas was just as memerable. For those of you who aren't aware, Joe was born on Christmas. We decided to celebrate his birthday a couple days before. Kellyn took Joe out to dinner then they returned to their house for birthday cake and presents. Christmas Eve was spent Christmas caroling (see next blog for more info). On Christmas day we made french toast for breakfast, read the Christmas story, opened our presents, went to the fish market to pick out our crab, then prepared dinner. Cooking and cleaning the crab was a new experience for both of us, but it went better than we thought. The crab was scrumptious as was the garlic mashed potatoes, salad, and chocolate pie (until the pie fell on the floor).
We had a wonderful holiday and we hope all of you did as well. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Our non-turkey dinner turned out to be rather delicious. We weren't able to find all the necessary ingredients to make a complete traditional dinner, but we came pretty darn close. We had a chicken (thank you Costco), mashed potatoes, German potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and rolls. We also started with an appetizer of cheese, olives, and crackers and finished off the meal with pumpkin pie and yukimi daifuku (You might know yukimi daifuku as mochi. Mochi is actually just the rice that covers the ice cream.).
Christmas was just as memerable. For those of you who aren't aware, Joe was born on Christmas. We decided to celebrate his birthday a couple days before. Kellyn took Joe out to dinner then they returned to their house for birthday cake and presents. Christmas Eve was spent Christmas caroling (see next blog for more info). On Christmas day we made french toast for breakfast, read the Christmas story, opened our presents, went to the fish market to pick out our crab, then prepared dinner. Cooking and cleaning the crab was a new experience for both of us, but it went better than we thought. The crab was scrumptious as was the garlic mashed potatoes, salad, and chocolate pie (until the pie fell on the floor).
We had a wonderful holiday and we hope all of you did as well. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Holidays in a Box
Last night we both got home after a rather long day at work and were looking forward to relaxing when we got our second knock on the door. The first knock was a plastic bag salesman. He came in the middle of cooking dinner... perfect timing. And about a hour after the first knock came the second. Initially, we thought Plastic Bag man was back for more. Thankfully, we were wrong. Since we were in the middle of dinner and we thought it was another salesman we dragged our feet in opening the door. When Joe finally did open the door what he saw was no salesman but our glorious mail carrier. He was just about to get back on his bike when Joe popped his head out. Thank you Lord for split seconds.
Turns out we had a rather hefty sized packed from our wonderful brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Kai. We had no idea what was inside so we tore into it with great excitement and curiosity. Like two children on Christmas day. The first item out of the box was a book. At that moment it became clear this box was indeed a care package. Kellyn could have stopped there; it was enough to know that the box was stuffed with little treasures, most of which can only be found in the States and it was stuffed full of love (cute line, huh?). Of coarse we didn't stop there. Within minuets the surrounding floor was covered with all kinds of treats. We won't name everything in the box, but here is a sample: pumpkin pie mix, taco seasoning, Christmas stockings, packages of thank you cards, salami, sharpie pens, books, DVD's, games, pictures and notes from them, and lots more.
We couldn't believe our eyes. All we could do was look at each other, laugh, and say "this is crazy." We truly feel blessed by their generous and thoughtful gift. THANK YOU CHRIS, KAI, OLIVIA, ANNA, AND MARY!!!
And thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send us a card, an email, or given us a call. It truly does mean so much us. Life is really good here and we aren't planning on rushing home anytime soon. However, we miss our friends and family as well as those "comfortable" things back home that we often take for granted.
Turns out we had a rather hefty sized packed from our wonderful brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Kai. We had no idea what was inside so we tore into it with great excitement and curiosity. Like two children on Christmas day. The first item out of the box was a book. At that moment it became clear this box was indeed a care package. Kellyn could have stopped there; it was enough to know that the box was stuffed with little treasures, most of which can only be found in the States and it was stuffed full of love (cute line, huh?). Of coarse we didn't stop there. Within minuets the surrounding floor was covered with all kinds of treats. We won't name everything in the box, but here is a sample: pumpkin pie mix, taco seasoning, Christmas stockings, packages of thank you cards, salami, sharpie pens, books, DVD's, games, pictures and notes from them, and lots more.
We couldn't believe our eyes. All we could do was look at each other, laugh, and say "this is crazy." We truly feel blessed by their generous and thoughtful gift. THANK YOU CHRIS, KAI, OLIVIA, ANNA, AND MARY!!!
And thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send us a card, an email, or given us a call. It truly does mean so much us. Life is really good here and we aren't planning on rushing home anytime soon. However, we miss our friends and family as well as those "comfortable" things back home that we often take for granted.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Hunchbacks of Hokkaido
At first, we thought it was kind of funny that our house was a little to small for our dinosaur sized legs but now we are a concerned for our health. No joke, we are afraid we might return to the States with hunchbacks. We realized most of what we do when we are home (besides sleeping) involves us hunched over. Our kitchen counter top, as you can see, requires no explanation.
Our living room table is the perfect height for a coffee table but not for a dinning table, computer table, movie screen, and an "all purpose" table. In addition, all the mirrors, sinks, and the fridge in the house require hunching. And finally, Kellyn gets the added bonus of sitting in chairs built for elementary school children the entire time she is at work.
Just so everyone is aware we are not complaining. We love it here. Our purpose in posting this blog is so that no one is frightened when we walk off the plane making Quasimodo look like Frankenstein compared to us.
Our living room table is the perfect height for a coffee table but not for a dinning table, computer table, movie screen, and an "all purpose" table. In addition, all the mirrors, sinks, and the fridge in the house require hunching. And finally, Kellyn gets the added bonus of sitting in chairs built for elementary school children the entire time she is at work.Just so everyone is aware we are not complaining. We love it here. Our purpose in posting this blog is so that no one is frightened when we walk off the plane making Quasimodo look like Frankenstein compared to us.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Field Trips Equal Getting Kicked in the Crotch
Last Saturday Kellyn's place of work took a field trip with about 100 students to a Hokkiado fruit farm. Due to the large amount of kids and the small amount of teachers (100 kids, 8 teachers... and a couple bus drivers) Kellyn's boss, Mr. Ohtani, asked if Joe would be able to join the team. Since Joe doesn't work on Saturdays there was no way out for him.
We woke up at 5:30 on Saturday morning, hauled ourselves over to the office, drove another half an hour to meet our bus load of kids at their school. We were in charge of 20 students (Kellyn only knew about 6 of them from her classes). We eventually met up with the rest of the groups at a "fruit" park were we played "organized" games then had lunch. After a tour of the facility we headed off to the fruit farm where we were all allowed to pick apples off the tree and grapes off the vine. Although, we were quite exhausted by the time we reached the farm, picking the fruit was a unique experience. Since we have never had real/natural grapes straight from the vine this was the best part of the day. We never imagined that eating grapes would expose us to cultural difference as well. In Japan (and possibly other parts of the world) one doesn't eat the skin of the grape and all grapes have two or three seeds inside a very chewy and slimy nucleus. It took a while, but the grapes grew on us.
Now you might be wondering why going on this field trip equaled getting kicked in the crotch. Well, despite the adorable exterior of the children Kellyn works with lies a force of energy that manifests in the form of a punch or a kick. In addition, most of the arms of these children are in perfect position for punching a sensei dead on in the crotch. We haven't quite figured out why it is acceptable for a child to punch their teacher in the crotch, the stomach, the leg, or anywhere else for that matter, but it is. It is possible that these kids are an acception, but either way we knew a trip like this would not end without at least one child catching us off guard and making full frontal contact. Thankfully, not every student is this rambunctious. Some of them just want to hug you, some just want to play, and some just want to talk. Kellyn is getting use to this environment and has gotten pretty good at blocking the attacks. Unfortunately, there was one child in particular that seemed to have it our for Joe. This kid was a five year old wizard at the surprise attack. One time this child was blasting Joe from the back so Joe pulled him around the front thinking "If I have him in front, I will be able to better defend myself." Wrong. As the kid was being swung around he wound up his fist and let if fly. PUNCH to CROTCH.
Kellyn's now just waiting for the Holloween parties that are fastly approaching.
We woke up at 5:30 on Saturday morning, hauled ourselves over to the office, drove another half an hour to meet our bus load of kids at their school. We were in charge of 20 students (Kellyn only knew about 6 of them from her classes). We eventually met up with the rest of the groups at a "fruit" park were we played "organized" games then had lunch. After a tour of the facility we headed off to the fruit farm where we were all allowed to pick apples off the tree and grapes off the vine. Although, we were quite exhausted by the time we reached the farm, picking the fruit was a unique experience. Since we have never had real/natural grapes straight from the vine this was the best part of the day. We never imagined that eating grapes would expose us to cultural difference as well. In Japan (and possibly other parts of the world) one doesn't eat the skin of the grape and all grapes have two or three seeds inside a very chewy and slimy nucleus. It took a while, but the grapes grew on us.
Now you might be wondering why going on this field trip equaled getting kicked in the crotch. Well, despite the adorable exterior of the children Kellyn works with lies a force of energy that manifests in the form of a punch or a kick. In addition, most of the arms of these children are in perfect position for punching a sensei dead on in the crotch. We haven't quite figured out why it is acceptable for a child to punch their teacher in the crotch, the stomach, the leg, or anywhere else for that matter, but it is. It is possible that these kids are an acception, but either way we knew a trip like this would not end without at least one child catching us off guard and making full frontal contact. Thankfully, not every student is this rambunctious. Some of them just want to hug you, some just want to play, and some just want to talk. Kellyn is getting use to this environment and has gotten pretty good at blocking the attacks. Unfortunately, there was one child in particular that seemed to have it our for Joe. This kid was a five year old wizard at the surprise attack. One time this child was blasting Joe from the back so Joe pulled him around the front thinking "If I have him in front, I will be able to better defend myself." Wrong. As the kid was being swung around he wound up his fist and let if fly. PUNCH to CROTCH.
Kellyn's now just waiting for the Holloween parties that are fastly approaching.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Izakayas and Explosions
This weekend was once again full of adventure.
Upon arriving to work last Friday Kellyn received an invitation to go out with her co-workers after work that night. Since Kellyn had no plans, since it is culturally important to accept and be a part of gatherings outside of work, and since she has no friends in Japan and is looking for friends under rocks and behind bushes she was in. Later that day during a break between classes her co-workers extended an invitation to Joe and the plans were made. This sort of a gathering meets at an Izakaya. Basically, a bar of sorts where friends or co-workers get together to eat and drink... a lot. They decided the best plan of action was to find a place that had a decently priced "all you can eat and drink." Apparently, many of these bars have a chunk of time in the evening where either food or drink or both are "all you can consume." They found a place in Susukino for 2,500 yen (about 25 dollars) per person and we decided to meet at 9:00 later that night. Joe had already been to a place like this during his training in Tokyo. He was not all that impressed. But, nonetheless we were excited about the chance to hang out with people who spoke English and were closer to our age. Once the whole group arrived they turned the night into a "welcome Kellyn and Adam to Give Us English Academy" shindig (Adam started working at Give Us about a month ago). The whole night was a lot of fun. There was lots of food, some new things, some interesting things, and some delicious things. Everyone was forced to give a speech, joke were told, and Kellyn really felt like she got to know her co-workers better. What a great way to start a job!
Now for the explosion: Sometime late Sunday morning Joe went to start up the shower. Now, starting up the shower is no easy process. It involves multiple steps, many tries, and some tears from time to time. Kellyn was in a different room but could hear Joe give the shower a second or third try. Then all of a sudden KABOOM!!! Kellyn rushed to the shower to find everything intact but a very worried look on Joe's face. We are not quite sure what happened but something inside the shower heater blew up. Since it was Sunday there was nothing we could do. On Monday Joe told the proper authorities from work and they came over to the house to take a look. Within seconds they told Joe to not touch it and they would call a professional to fix the shower. Please God, let them fix the shower today! Tomorrow is a Holiday so if they can't fix it today, we're looking at either going four days without a shower or shampooing our heads in the sink. Neither are positive options.
Upon arriving to work last Friday Kellyn received an invitation to go out with her co-workers after work that night. Since Kellyn had no plans, since it is culturally important to accept and be a part of gatherings outside of work, and since she has no friends in Japan and is looking for friends under rocks and behind bushes she was in. Later that day during a break between classes her co-workers extended an invitation to Joe and the plans were made. This sort of a gathering meets at an Izakaya. Basically, a bar of sorts where friends or co-workers get together to eat and drink... a lot. They decided the best plan of action was to find a place that had a decently priced "all you can eat and drink." Apparently, many of these bars have a chunk of time in the evening where either food or drink or both are "all you can consume." They found a place in Susukino for 2,500 yen (about 25 dollars) per person and we decided to meet at 9:00 later that night. Joe had already been to a place like this during his training in Tokyo. He was not all that impressed. But, nonetheless we were excited about the chance to hang out with people who spoke English and were closer to our age. Once the whole group arrived they turned the night into a "welcome Kellyn and Adam to Give Us English Academy" shindig (Adam started working at Give Us about a month ago). The whole night was a lot of fun. There was lots of food, some new things, some interesting things, and some delicious things. Everyone was forced to give a speech, joke were told, and Kellyn really felt like she got to know her co-workers better. What a great way to start a job!
Now for the explosion: Sometime late Sunday morning Joe went to start up the shower. Now, starting up the shower is no easy process. It involves multiple steps, many tries, and some tears from time to time. Kellyn was in a different room but could hear Joe give the shower a second or third try. Then all of a sudden KABOOM!!! Kellyn rushed to the shower to find everything intact but a very worried look on Joe's face. We are not quite sure what happened but something inside the shower heater blew up. Since it was Sunday there was nothing we could do. On Monday Joe told the proper authorities from work and they came over to the house to take a look. Within seconds they told Joe to not touch it and they would call a professional to fix the shower. Please God, let them fix the shower today! Tomorrow is a Holiday so if they can't fix it today, we're looking at either going four days without a shower or shampooing our heads in the sink. Neither are positive options.
Monday, September 15, 2008
A Three Day Weekend
We just finished a three day weekend and boy was it fun. Although nothing drastically out of the ordinary, it was simply a great end to one week and a perfect beginning to another. We have found ourselves enjoying classic movies as of late so we took the extra time to knock out a few more. We watched Cleopatra, Psycho, and Lifeboat. All three were good, however Cleopatra was insanely long (Joe fell asleep for about an hour and a half in the middle). Joe loved Psycho and the conversation that followed the movie was worth the fright for Kellyn. Lifeboat was interesting but maybe not a movie we would run out and buy for our personal collection. The rest of the weekend was spent lounging around, sleeping in, going grocery shopping, experimenting with new foods, trying to make Kellyn's computer run better, exploring Nakajima Koen, and playing poker. The last two were the most fun.
Nakajima Koen (park) is quite near our house. In fact, when we get off the subway we are on the edge of the park. While we have walked through a small section of the park we have never fully explored it until this weekend. Within the park lies the Sapporo Concert Hall, a museum of literature, a place to rent rowboats, a Shinto shrine, a beautiful hotel, and of coarse the park itself. While walking through the park an older woman stopped us and had us take a huge handful of chestnuts from a bag. She spoke no English and either didn't care or ignored us when we said we didn't speak much Japanese. She kept talking and talking to us in Japanese and then wanted us to respond. All we could do was hold onto our chestnuts and laugh. Eventually, she gave up and we walked in the opposite direction. Thanks for the chestnust! Apparently, the park was built when the Olympics blew through Sapporo. We say, "Well done city of Sapporo. It's a beautiful park."
Now for the poker. Kellyn has never played poker before but we had a deck of cards and it was about time that we start playing with them. Joe had a basic knowledge of the game and brought up some directions for Kellyn to glace at if needed during the first few rounds. Well turns out Kellyn is a natural poker shark. The current score: 3 to 0. For our second game we decided to make it a little more interesting. We bought some of our favorite snacks and used them as our chips. Butter-Bread sticks were worth 1, white chocolate filled pretzles were worth 5, and milk chocolate covered almonds were worth 10. Kellyn won that game with a four Kings, but she shared her winnings with her teacher, husband, and greatest fan.
Nakajima Koen (park) is quite near our house. In fact, when we get off the subway we are on the edge of the park. While we have walked through a small section of the park we have never fully explored it until this weekend. Within the park lies the Sapporo Concert Hall, a museum of literature, a place to rent rowboats, a Shinto shrine, a beautiful hotel, and of coarse the park itself. While walking through the park an older woman stopped us and had us take a huge handful of chestnuts from a bag. She spoke no English and either didn't care or ignored us when we said we didn't speak much Japanese. She kept talking and talking to us in Japanese and then wanted us to respond. All we could do was hold onto our chestnuts and laugh. Eventually, she gave up and we walked in the opposite direction. Thanks for the chestnust! Apparently, the park was built when the Olympics blew through Sapporo. We say, "Well done city of Sapporo. It's a beautiful park."
Now for the poker. Kellyn has never played poker before but we had a deck of cards and it was about time that we start playing with them. Joe had a basic knowledge of the game and brought up some directions for Kellyn to glace at if needed during the first few rounds. Well turns out Kellyn is a natural poker shark. The current score: 3 to 0. For our second game we decided to make it a little more interesting. We bought some of our favorite snacks and used them as our chips. Butter-Bread sticks were worth 1, white chocolate filled pretzles were worth 5, and milk chocolate covered almonds were worth 10. Kellyn won that game with a four Kings, but she shared her winnings with her teacher, husband, and greatest fan.
Our Home
This is a video of our house. The quality is pretty bad because we had to compress the file so it would load, but you get the basic idea. Our house is old but we love it.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Kellyn's New Job!
Yes the rumors are true, Kellyn now has a job in Japan.
Around the time we first arrived Joe found a posting on a JET forum website looking for an American or Canadian native speaker, living in Sapporo, and who is preferably a female. The job was teaching English to primary school children. We immediately emailed this woman but we didn't hold our breath since the post was put on the forum last spring. Well about a week or so later we received a response, not from the woman Alison, but from the director of the school. The director explained the position was already filled but he still wanted an interview. We sent him Kellyn's resume and set up an interview. We ran out to UniQlo to buy a "profession" outfit, practiced formal Japanese greetings, and thought through how to answer all the typical job interview questions.
Well, the interview was on Wednesday at 1:30. The subway ride took about 45 minuets and right before Kellyn left thunder, lightning, and a whole lot of rain hit Sapporo like a bag of rice. Thankfully, the building was easy to find and Joe didn't take the umbrella that morning. Kellyn arrived to early to be "professionally" early for the interview so she found a quiet corner to sit and fanned herself (terribly humid that day). Then 1:15 rolled around... it was go time.
Kellyn asked around until she found the director's office. He was not back from lunch but arrived moments later. When he walked in Kellyn expected the typical Japanese formal greeting but no such greeting happened. In fact, the director simply confirmed is she was Kellyn then walked away. When he came back he ushered her into his office for the interview. They ended up chit-chatting about everything from hobbies to the differences between Seattle and Sapporo. Apparently, he lived in the States for five years and goes back every year to visit. The interview was very informal and probably shouldn't even be called an interview. After they were done chatting he jumped into wages, hours, and a small description of the job. It was at this moment Kellyn realized the job was hers if she wanted it. Once the details had been established Kellyn was informed that her training would start that day. She met with another teacher who taught her TPR (Total Physical Response) a teaching method for ESL children. Then Kellyn was handed over to another teacher who was about to teach a class that Kellyn was meant to shadow/assist with. There are about four other schools that the teachers travel between so they hopped into a van and took off for this other school.
The class had five students all around the age of 5 and they were adorable! For the most part Kellyn just copied what the two other teachers did but she was expected to hold her own when it came to TPR. In fact, the director drove over to the school (a 20 minuet drive) to observe Kellyn in the classroom. The class went well and the one of the teachers was very encouraging. The director then drove Kellyn to the nearest train stop and confirmed she could start on Monday.
Training last 7 days and if Kellyn passes she will have a secure job and one that pays well. The position is only for 16 hours a week but hopefully more hours will open up.
We are very excited and thankful this job came along. It was the first one we looked into but it sounds perfect. Thank you Lord!
Around the time we first arrived Joe found a posting on a JET forum website looking for an American or Canadian native speaker, living in Sapporo, and who is preferably a female. The job was teaching English to primary school children. We immediately emailed this woman but we didn't hold our breath since the post was put on the forum last spring. Well about a week or so later we received a response, not from the woman Alison, but from the director of the school. The director explained the position was already filled but he still wanted an interview. We sent him Kellyn's resume and set up an interview. We ran out to UniQlo to buy a "profession" outfit, practiced formal Japanese greetings, and thought through how to answer all the typical job interview questions.
Well, the interview was on Wednesday at 1:30. The subway ride took about 45 minuets and right before Kellyn left thunder, lightning, and a whole lot of rain hit Sapporo like a bag of rice. Thankfully, the building was easy to find and Joe didn't take the umbrella that morning. Kellyn arrived to early to be "professionally" early for the interview so she found a quiet corner to sit and fanned herself (terribly humid that day). Then 1:15 rolled around... it was go time.
Kellyn asked around until she found the director's office. He was not back from lunch but arrived moments later. When he walked in Kellyn expected the typical Japanese formal greeting but no such greeting happened. In fact, the director simply confirmed is she was Kellyn then walked away. When he came back he ushered her into his office for the interview. They ended up chit-chatting about everything from hobbies to the differences between Seattle and Sapporo. Apparently, he lived in the States for five years and goes back every year to visit. The interview was very informal and probably shouldn't even be called an interview. After they were done chatting he jumped into wages, hours, and a small description of the job. It was at this moment Kellyn realized the job was hers if she wanted it. Once the details had been established Kellyn was informed that her training would start that day. She met with another teacher who taught her TPR (Total Physical Response) a teaching method for ESL children. Then Kellyn was handed over to another teacher who was about to teach a class that Kellyn was meant to shadow/assist with. There are about four other schools that the teachers travel between so they hopped into a van and took off for this other school.
The class had five students all around the age of 5 and they were adorable! For the most part Kellyn just copied what the two other teachers did but she was expected to hold her own when it came to TPR. In fact, the director drove over to the school (a 20 minuet drive) to observe Kellyn in the classroom. The class went well and the one of the teachers was very encouraging. The director then drove Kellyn to the nearest train stop and confirmed she could start on Monday.
Training last 7 days and if Kellyn passes she will have a secure job and one that pays well. The position is only for 16 hours a week but hopefully more hours will open up.
We are very excited and thankful this job came along. It was the first one we looked into but it sounds perfect. Thank you Lord!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Our First Guest
A few months ago Kellyn ran into an old friend from high school at the mall. While talking they discovered they would be in Japan at the same time. They made plans for Sarah to come up to Sapporo and stay with Kellyn and Joe for a few days. 
We took Sarah through Odori Park and while we were there we noticed a camera crew from a local TV station. They had gathered a bunch of kids from the park and were getting shots of them interacting with the characters. When the crew saw us they decided to gets shots of us as well. They had the characters, Five and Finee, stand behind us while we shouted in unision "We love Hokkaido!" Only we said it in Japanese.
Sarah was with us for two days and three nights. We had such a blast. We took her through Odori park, to see the Eiffel Tower TV Tower, to Ramen Alley, all around Susukino, to the Nijo Fish Market, the Factory Mall, and around our neighborhood.
Probably the most exciting element our her time with us was completely unplanned. The first morning Sarah was here she asked if we could take her to a hospital. Sarah's throat had been sore for a while and now the left side of her neck was a little swollen and sore. Sarah had just come from Thailand where she volunteered for a month. In about a week she would meet up with a friend and they would spend the next three months traveling throughout S.E. Asia. We didn't want her condition to worsen before she left Japan so we went to the hospital that morning. Apparently, hospitals are not "open" on Sundays. They have a limited staff for emergency situations. Thankfully Sarah had travelers insurance and we were able to find a nurse that spoke decent English. In addition, while we were waiting for the doctor to arrive a couple visiting a patient walked through the lobby where we were sitting. All three of them spoke English (although the man had lived in Australia for a while and spoke English fluently). The couple went with Sarah to her appointment and translated between her and the doctor. While we waited the Japanese patient waited with us. Turns out this woman has traveled through the States and attends a Catholic church in Sapporo. She was wonderful! We enjoyed our conversation with her so much we are planning on meeting her at her church next Sunday. She gave us her phone number, directions to the church, and then bought us drinks from the vending machine. The doctor explained Sarah has a viral infection in her lymph nodes and gave her some antibiotics. We returned to the hospital the next day for a check up and the doctor ushered us not to be worried.
We enjoyed having Sarah with us so much. She was the perfect house guest, it was fun taking her around, we loved having someone to talk to, and Kellyn loved having an old friend to catch up with. It's possible we may have smothered her a little, but we were just so excited to have her.
We took Sarah through Odori Park and while we were there we noticed a camera crew from a local TV station. They had gathered a bunch of kids from the park and were getting shots of them interacting with the characters. When the crew saw us they decided to gets shots of us as well. They had the characters, Five and Finee, stand behind us while we shouted in unision "We love Hokkaido!" Only we said it in Japanese.
Sarah was with us for two days and three nights. We had such a blast. We took her through Odori park, to see the Eiffel Tower TV Tower, to Ramen Alley, all around Susukino, to the Nijo Fish Market, the Factory Mall, and around our neighborhood.
Probably the most exciting element our her time with us was completely unplanned. The first morning Sarah was here she asked if we could take her to a hospital. Sarah's throat had been sore for a while and now the left side of her neck was a little swollen and sore. Sarah had just come from Thailand where she volunteered for a month. In about a week she would meet up with a friend and they would spend the next three months traveling throughout S.E. Asia. We didn't want her condition to worsen before she left Japan so we went to the hospital that morning. Apparently, hospitals are not "open" on Sundays. They have a limited staff for emergency situations. Thankfully Sarah had travelers insurance and we were able to find a nurse that spoke decent English. In addition, while we were waiting for the doctor to arrive a couple visiting a patient walked through the lobby where we were sitting. All three of them spoke English (although the man had lived in Australia for a while and spoke English fluently). The couple went with Sarah to her appointment and translated between her and the doctor. While we waited the Japanese patient waited with us. Turns out this woman has traveled through the States and attends a Catholic church in Sapporo. She was wonderful! We enjoyed our conversation with her so much we are planning on meeting her at her church next Sunday. She gave us her phone number, directions to the church, and then bought us drinks from the vending machine. The doctor explained Sarah has a viral infection in her lymph nodes and gave her some antibiotics. We returned to the hospital the next day for a check up and the doctor ushered us not to be worried. We enjoyed having Sarah with us so much. She was the perfect house guest, it was fun taking her around, we loved having someone to talk to, and Kellyn loved having an old friend to catch up with. It's possible we may have smothered her a little, but we were just so excited to have her.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
We Have Found the Mother Ship
All of our wildest dreams have come true. We're talking peanut butter, salsa, muffins, and Costco pizza. It was strange wondering through the land of bulk foods, we really almost felt like we were back in Kirkland yet there was something distinctly different. For starters, the place was rather empty and very quiet, we were still the only white people in the building, and there were no samples. We were so thankful when we got off the bus and saw the big, block, letters that read "Costco." However, this all came at a price and we're not just talking yen (although our total was pretty chu-ching). We were very proud that we were able to find it. The subway ride was rather complicated and the bus ride took over a half an hour. The return excursion was a whole other story.
After we had our dinner (the pizza taste almost exactly the same) we packed up our goods into our backpacks, with the exception of a pie and box of macaroni that wouldn't fit, and headed out the door. Now this night was our first night riding the bus, since we were so excited to get to Costco we didn't stop and think about figuring out the rules and routes for bus riding. Turns out this was our first mistake. 
Basically, we got on a bus that headed in the right direction to start but within a few blocks had us going in the opposite direction of our subway destination. We made the decision to get off the bus and walk to a route we knew wouldn't fail us. This walk turned out to be a hour hike, in the dark, and carrying our Costco sized groceries. In addition, not only we were weighted down but strolling at a leisurely pace was not an option. We were concerned that if we didn't move quick enough we might not make it to the subway before it closed for the night which meant either spending a lot more money on a cab or walking four hours to get home.
At one point, while walking through a dark and quiet neighborhood a cabdriver spotted us. At first we kind of laughed because he clearly was trying to get our attention by slowing down and waiting for us to catch up with him. We were not interested in paying that kind of money so we walked passed. However, this guy was persistent. He drove up and down the street maybe three or four times and each time waited for us to catch up to him. One time he even turned around, drove down a driveway, waited at the end of the driveway until we passed, and then drove back out on the street. We both were a little freaked out by his aggressive approach but he eventually got the hint and took off.Thankfully, we used our skills in reading a Japanese map and made it to another bus stop that was sure to take us to the subway. We got a little nervous when it was late cause we knew if it didn't come we were literally going to sprint to make the subway. But it came and we made it to the subway with plenty of time to spare.
In the end, it was all worth it. The little jar cost us almost $5 on sale at the foreign food store whereas the larger jar is about $8 and almost four times as much. What a great deal! It's a little embarrassing how much we love Costco right now.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Bring on the Snow!
So we don't really mean that, but whether or not we want it winter is coming. Today's date is August 23, 2008 and we no longer feel cozy going outside in a tee-shirt and shorts. After walking ten feet out of our front door we turned around to grab our coats. Sad but true, summer is over and before we know it the snow will come. One of Joe's students told him Sapporo gets about four to six yards of snow each year. Insane. We'll let you know if this student was right in about seven months. One might wonder what Sapporo does with all that snow. Well apparently, the snow is loaded up into dump trucks that transport the snow to a magical land outside of the city.
It's possible the snow will reach the top of our house. It'll be fun living like Eskimos.
Nothin' like a chilled August walk to the grocery store. We are beginning to think we are a couple of weenies.
It's possible the snow will reach the top of our house. It'll be fun living like Eskimos.
Nothin' like a chilled August walk to the grocery store. We are beginning to think we are a couple of weenies.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Success. Full Sucess!
There have been a handful of victories that we are particularly proud.
First, figuring out how to hook up our internet even though most of the directions and prompts were in Japanese. We are increasingly thankful for pictures and drawings. Second, Joe's first day at work. He was prepared, the students were great, and the whole day went smoothly. Third, becoming better and more confident in ordering food at restaurants. After Joe's first day at work (and receiving our first paycheck) we thought it was time to celebrate. We left behind our day to day meals of rice or noodles in exchange for Japanese Domino's. The cheapest pizza was the American Special, which we were already excited about since it was pepperoni and onions... perfect! Fourth, getting better at riding the subway/public transportation. When Joe got home after his first day of work we decided to try and make it to a government office downtown before it closed at 5:00 so we could pick up some paperwork that was ready. We were able to make it from our home to the building in about 15 minutes. Of coarse this meant sprinting from our house to the subway, then trying to weave our way through the hundreds of business people and students at our transfer, and then sprinting again once we reached the street. The best moment was when we realized the office didn't close until 5:15. Nonetheless, we were proud of our subway riding capabilities. Finally, being able to take out money from the ATM and not having our cash card removed. Since Joe doesn't get off work until the ATM's and the banks are closed Kellyn was in charge of taking out the necessary funds. Apparently, Japan works mostly in cash. In addition, our ATM is not open 24 hours a day. Since Kellyn does not have her own cash card, doesn't have the same last name as Joe, and doesn't speak Japanese it didn't seem like a good idea to try and convince a teller that she could indeed take out money from Joe's account. This left the ATM. In all confidence Kelly ventured to the ATM, walked up to the machine, and did her very best to extract the proper amount of money. However, she failed. After pushing a handful of mysterious buttons the machine froze. Thankfully, the ATM's are easily seen by bank employees and one very nice lady came to her rescue. After some time the machine unfroze and she walked Kellyn through the process. Success!
There are many more experiences left to conquer... like tackling the post office, figuring out how to speak Japanese, finding a church, and wrapping up our cleaning project. We are quite pleased with ourselves, as is obvious by the Domino's celebration, yet we look forward to the adventures that are still before us.
First, figuring out how to hook up our internet even though most of the directions and prompts were in Japanese. We are increasingly thankful for pictures and drawings. Second, Joe's first day at work. He was prepared, the students were great, and the whole day went smoothly. Third, becoming better and more confident in ordering food at restaurants. After Joe's first day at work (and receiving our first paycheck) we thought it was time to celebrate. We left behind our day to day meals of rice or noodles in exchange for Japanese Domino's. The cheapest pizza was the American Special, which we were already excited about since it was pepperoni and onions... perfect! Fourth, getting better at riding the subway/public transportation. When Joe got home after his first day of work we decided to try and make it to a government office downtown before it closed at 5:00 so we could pick up some paperwork that was ready. We were able to make it from our home to the building in about 15 minutes. Of coarse this meant sprinting from our house to the subway, then trying to weave our way through the hundreds of business people and students at our transfer, and then sprinting again once we reached the street. The best moment was when we realized the office didn't close until 5:15. Nonetheless, we were proud of our subway riding capabilities. Finally, being able to take out money from the ATM and not having our cash card removed. Since Joe doesn't get off work until the ATM's and the banks are closed Kellyn was in charge of taking out the necessary funds. Apparently, Japan works mostly in cash. In addition, our ATM is not open 24 hours a day. Since Kellyn does not have her own cash card, doesn't have the same last name as Joe, and doesn't speak Japanese it didn't seem like a good idea to try and convince a teller that she could indeed take out money from Joe's account. This left the ATM. In all confidence Kelly ventured to the ATM, walked up to the machine, and did her very best to extract the proper amount of money. However, she failed. After pushing a handful of mysterious buttons the machine froze. Thankfully, the ATM's are easily seen by bank employees and one very nice lady came to her rescue. After some time the machine unfroze and she walked Kellyn through the process. Success!
There are many more experiences left to conquer... like tackling the post office, figuring out how to speak Japanese, finding a church, and wrapping up our cleaning project. We are quite pleased with ourselves, as is obvious by the Domino's celebration, yet we look forward to the adventures that are still before us.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Raindrops on Roses and Something with Mittens...
A list of some of our favorite things (in Japan):
- The Engrish we encounter. "Facial tissue, nicer to your skincare. All comfort and contentment are yours."
- The random summer festivals
- Instant ramen
- Playing two-person Catch Phrase
- Reading Silence together
- Riding the subway
- Having a western bed to sleep on
- Bowing in place of speaking Japanese
- Japanese ice cream, fizzy drinks, 1$ snacks, and the convenient stores where we purchase these treats
- The internet
- Exploring our neighborhood
- The bakery at Tokyu
- People who speak English to us
- And the over sized crows. Okay, we don't actually like those, but they are crazy to look at.
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