Mochi Day

One of the Japanese New Year’s traditions is to eat Mochi (ground up rice) for three days straight.  The Kindergarten celebrates by having a Mochi pounding day.  All of the 3, 4, & 5 year olds get to pound the rice and then eat Mochi for lunch.  As always, they like to include us Americans in on the fun.  Unfortunately we had to teach while they were doing the pounding, but they made sure to send us home with plates of the mochi.

Above you can see one of the two plates of “delicious-ness” that was sent home with us.  Interpret “delicious-ness” how you wish.  I interpret as “culturally interesting”. The different kinds from left to right:  Natto Mochi  (fermented soy beans, with a very slimy texture and taste); Nori Mochi (mochi wrapped in seaweed); Powdered Edamame Mochi; Anko Mochi  (beans on top of mochi)

Blessed

The other night Chris and I were talking and he asked me if I like it here in Japan.  I had to pause for a moment and think about how to explain my feelings about Japan.  So here’s what I came up with…

I don’t love it here.  I don’t hate it here, either.  Ok, let me clarify before you jump to any conclusions.

I am really happy with the place I am at emotionally about Japan.  It was a huge adjustment for me – Chris handled the adjustment way better than I did.  He’s amazing like that, though.  He’d be able to adjust to any place in the world.  But it was the first time  I moved away from home, besides living at camp for a couple of summers.  And well, you all know how important our families, friends, church, and support system back home were.  And so getting to adjusted to life in Japan always had (has) a void of all the wonderful people back home, that support system, and a solid church.

So, I think what I’ve realized is that for being here for 10 months, I don’t know that I can love it yet, because there is still such a huge void.  But while I may not love the place, our hearts have opened up with a great love for the people here.

The other thing I’ve  been thinking about a lot is how blessed we really are here in Japan.   We were provided with a fully furnished apartment – with more things than we ever expected or needed; the cost of living is more expensive here, but each month we are provided with a stipend that well meets all of our needs; we have a couple here that is such a blessing to us; even though we’re in the middle of nowhere, there is a town only 25 minutes from us where we can enjoy a getaway for some Starbucks – and really so much more that I know as I’m writing, I’m forgetting about.  God has really given us more than we need or deserve!

Well, I didn’t think I’d really be writing all of this, but even though some days it’s a challenge to be in Japan – whether it be the language, food, or some cultural issue we can’t understand, we really feel content with where God has us for now.

Glimpses of Home

Some people have passed on few pictures from when we were home, so here are a few glimpses of our time in Chicago.

Christmas Eve with the Olsons

Acting out the Christmas Story

Chris with Adeline

Our annual Christmas Tea - so fun to have a new girl join us this year (Adeline)!

Me and Julie! Hopefully the next time I'll get to see her will be in Japan (hint, hint)!

Chicago

Well, we have been back in Japan for 5 1/2 days already, but it seems like so much longer.  As soon as we got back, we kind of just fell back into the routine of things.  I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing…I guess kind of both.  I’m glad to be back and know what to expect each day and to have a routine again, but it was SO wonderful to be in Chicago.

We had a wonderful break getting to see all of you wonderful family and friends.  It was so refreshing to get to talk in English all of the time, to get to get to eat delicious American food, to just feel so relaxed even though we were on the move the whole time we were home, and to get to worship at church.

Our last night (Sunday night) we were at our church’s encounter service and it just felt so normal and so right.  It was a wonderful way to our trip – in worship with a community of believers.  But at the same time it was so sad to have to know we were leaving it the next day.  Worshipping in community is one of the things we miss the most.  We know God has a purpose for us here, but sometimes it’s so challenging going to church in another language and just relying on our team Bible studies, for that community.

We met 7 new babies while we were home – they were all so cute!  I spent as much time as I could holding onto Adeline, since I know she’ll be so much bigger by the time we get home!  However, I don’t have much to show for it.  I was terrible at taking pictures while we were home – I took NONE!  I guess I was just too focused on enjoying my time with everyone!  So sorry about that, but I’ve “borrowed” one from Brooke and put it below.

Thanks everyone for making our time at home so wonderful and refreshing!  We love you and miss you all so much already!

Me with cute Miss Adeline!

7 Days!

Well, I’ve not been very good at blogging lately – sorry about that.  From having visitors, to getting sick, to trying to finish up all my term reports and parent letters – it has been a very busy few weeks!  But…we are so excited that in 7 days we’ll be on our way home!

7 days!  I can’t even believe we’ve made it this far.  My friend, Ashley, and I made a paper chain when we had 90 days to go – and now my paper chain is so small!  It makes me so happy and excited!

I am feeling SO much better – I think I’ll actually be healthy for Christmas!  (Something I was starting to doubt.) Thank you for praying for me – I really appreciate it!

I will try to post some pictures in the next few days, but we’ll see if I get time.  Now that my schoolwork is all done I have to finish making some Christmas presents and pack and all that fun stuff!  But at least you’ll see our faces IN PERSON soon…that’s better than pictures!

See you soon!

The Verdict is In…

I’m happy to say I have a sinus infection!

I know, strange that I’m happy about this – but first of all, I’m happy that none of my recent pain is due to my wisdom teeth, and MORE IMPORTANTLY – I’m happy that our doctor here sent me to a ear, nose and throat specialist today!  You see, going to the doctor here is one of my worst fears and annoyances.  It’s hard enough being sick, then to not understand what they’re saying, throw in a couple of mis-diagnoses…well you get my point.

So today, when he said  ”you have to see a specialist” and he turned me away – I was so excited!  And  when the specialist actually took X-rays and checked me out – even though I couldn’t understand anything he was saying, I was so excited to feel like I was seeing a real doctor!  So even though the diagnosis is that I have a sinus infection – I am just happy to know that what they were telling me actually seems accurate!

So I left with 4 different medications and have to go back a few times a week for treatments, but I’m hopeful that I’ll finally be feeling better in a few days.  And I’m confident that I’ll be ready for America in 16 days  (YES, you read right – 16 days!)

I promise to post pictures of Andy and Laura’s visit soon – but just wanted to share my praise of the day with you and say you can still keep praying for us as we start to head out of the woods.

Sick…again!

This week we have had Chris’ sister and brother-in-law visiting from Chicago.  It has been fun to get to show people from home around Japan!

Unfortunately, I’ve been sick the whole time they’ve been here.  I’m getting really frustrated – feels like I’ve been sick with something or other for a month and a half now.  Please pray for me – that I will get better soon, that we will figure out what’s going on.  Interestingly enough, I’m starting to think that this time my symptoms may be caused by my wisdom teeth.  Yes, I’ve never had them out – my dentist told me just a year ago that I didn’t need to.  So…we’ll see what happens.  It’s just hard to be away from home and be sick so much recently.

On a positive note – we’ll be home in 19 days!  We can’t wait!

Thanksgiving?!

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving to all of you back home!

This year was a very strange Thanksgiving for us in Japan.  Probably due to the fact that since we live in Japan, it was like any other normal Thursday.  We had classes and went to school, and really it didn’t feel like Thanksgiving.   It was kind of strange, but I did teach some of my classes about Thanksgiving, and the students find it so strange that we eat turkey.  They don’t eat turkey here – they don’t have turkeys here – most of my students probably won’t see a turkey in their life.  Kind of funny, huh?  They also don’t eat mashed potatoes.  They have potatoes, but they would never mash them.  So to explain the deliciousness of Thanksgiving was kind of difficult and funny at the same time.

Don’t worry though – we did get to eat turkey!  Our team was able to celebrate the Saturday before Thanksgiving…and let me tell you I don’t think turkey every tasted so delicious before in my life!

But even though we didn’t get to celebrate on the day, and even though I had to keep reminding myself it was Thanksgiving – we still have a lot to be thankful for:  Family that has come to visit us (we never believed someone would actually take such a long plane ride to come see us!  It really is terribly long!), after being here for 8 months finally starting to understand some of the language, a cozy little home here, new friends – both American and Japanese, wonderful family and friends from back home who send us wonderful packages and letters so we don’t miss home too much!, the fact that we get to go home to see those wonderful people in 25 days!!!!, and a turkey dinner that we will be enjoying on Monday with Chris’ sister and brother-in-law!

So…Happy Thanksgiving to you all!   We do have a lot to thank God for this year!  And in case you missed it above – we get to come home in 25 days!!!

 

8 Months

Well, I finally updated the blog – lots of new posts and pictures for you.  We are finally feeling better, but still have little bouts of sickness, so please keep praying for us.

We have been her almost 8 months now – I can’t even believe it.  Sometimes it feels shorter than that, and sometimes it feels way longer than that.  We are having our first visitors from home this week.  We are SO excited!  It will be so much fun to get share our lives here with someone from home.  It just seems like it will make it all a little bit more real.

We are also so excited because in 32 days we will be home in America!  I can’t tell you how much we are looking forward to this trip – to getting to see friends and family, getting to eat American food, and getting to shop at Target!

Please be praying for us this next month – for health and safety.  It will be a busy month with visitors, and then lots of Holiday/end of the year obligations that are coming up, and then finally traveling home.

Ekiden

Last Sunday, one of our teammates, Jeni, ran in the Fukushima Ekiden.  The Ekiden is a long-distance relay, where each runner runs from 4K-9K.  It’s a big race and a big accomplishment that she makes it onto the team every year.  We had so much fun going to watch her run her leg of the race!

 

Right where Jeni was running there happened to be a big rainbow in the sky - it was so beautiful!

Mr. Maki (aka - Encho Sensei), Lis and I waiting for Jeni to come by. It was really windy waiting there!

Here comes Jeni - everyone in our area knows her because she's the only non-Japanese runner in the race.

Our cheering squad - Mr. Maki, me, Patty, Bethany, Lis & Chris (who's taking this picture).