Saturday

Good morning everyone! I hope you enjoy your Saturday as much as I have enjoyed mine. This morning I quite accidentally slept until almost noon... I had not meant to sleep that long! I guess closing the curtains was not the best idea? I had just woken up when Eastin popped his head in my door, closed it again, and then loudly announced to his mother that "Hannah is still 'sleep. I know she is." Then he started loudly banging on the piano. When I opened my door he was staring intently at it. As soon as he saw me he said "You were still 'sleep. I was trying to wake you up." I thanked him, and haven't told him yet that I was already awake. :)
Before lunch, I had a little time to read The Fellowship of the Ring. After my breakfast/lunch, I left for La Laport (the huge mall that I had visited earlier this week). It is only one station away, so it is easy to get there. My intention was to just walk around and explore the place, and check out all the huge sales. It took me nearly 3 hours to do that! If you have ever taken me shopping before (or, if you're my Mother :) ) you know how I love clothes shopping! I was proud of myself, however... After walking in and out of countless stores, all of which had sales going on for 10-80% off, I only spent about $40! (And that includes the Starbucks.) I bought two shirts from one store, and a cute scarf from another. After I bought my two shirts, I walked into the GAP store and found similar things for nearly twice the price! One of the shirts is dark grey, and the other is a purple-ish blue color. Then I wanted to find a scarf that would go with both shirts... (since I love things like vests and scarfs.) I looked in every store for something I liked, and only found ONE scarf that I thought was acceptable... ;) I was truly surprised that I could only find one that I liked, since Japanese seem to enjoy accessories so much! After that I finished up the trip with a dark mocha chip frappachino. I think I like La Laport! :) I did realize while I was there that going places by yourself is not as bad as I thought it would be... This is the first time I've really done anything by my self since I've been here. I expected it to be boring and lonely. It would have been more fun if I had been able to ask someones opinion about things, I think, but I had fun. I have also found that even though I don't know exactly what people are saying, I usually know the general meaning of it... Did you know that when you go into a fitting room in Japan you are supposed to take off your shoes and leave them by the door? Thankfully I knew that. :) Also, I don't remember any mall I've ever been in in the states where people stand outside their store with loudspeakers announcing their sales. Another thing I noticed was how crowded the Starbucks was. In American Starbucks', there are usually one or two couches and a table or two over by themselves... In this Starbucks, there were lots of tiny tables, and it looked more like a McDonald's than a Starbucks. I keep having to remind myself that Japan is a group society. They enjoy being in large groups where everyone does the same thing. They like being close together, unlike Americans who enjoy their 'space bubbles'. I've learned to accept the fact that people are going to brush past me, and run into me, and sit next to me on the trains, etc.

Well, that's about all I did today... It's after 5:00 now, and I don't know what I'm going to do the rest of the day... Probably not much...

I hope you have as much fun as I did today! I was able to take my daily walk in an air-conditioned area, I bought two really cute t-shirt type shirts and a scarf, I got my favorite type of frappachino, and I got to sleep late, and had lots of time to think. I had my favorite fruit for lunch (peaches) and I get to have rice for dinner. (I love rice now.)

Know that God's blessings and my love are with you today!

Hannah

Too Long

Hi all, I'm sorry it has been so long since the last time I posted anything... This week I have had a different schedule than usual. On last Friday the boys 'officially' got out of school, but they have had half days every day this week... Well, Eastin has anyway... On Monday Aidan got dehydrated from being outside most of the day for soccer. On Tuesday and Wednesday he ran a low grade fever and couldn't go to school. Eastin left at the normal time every morning (8:45) and got home about 11:00. This week I taught Eastin how to play Go Fish with my deck of cards. After that, he nor Aidan wanted to do anything besides play card games with me for three days! I even had to hide my deck so they wouldn't start games without my consent. :)

Yesterday afternoon I kept all three boys for a few hours. We made delicious cookie bars while Coen was napping. Maybe sometime soon I will post that recipe. It was another of my made up successes. Last night I also made the Mediterranean pasta dish that I love to make. I will tell the recipe for that, because it was excellent! I added to and changed a few of the regular ingredients. I also used rice pasta rather than wheat pasta so that it would be family friendly. I think I like the rice pasta better, because it soaks up flavor more than regular spaghetti and because it's stickier. The flavors stuck to it rather than falling off when you pick it up. After dinner, I washed some dishes, and got to read a chapter out of one of my favorite books to the boys. I read Farmer Boy. Then I put all three of them to bed and had time to talk to my family and watch one I Love Lucy episode.

On Wednesday I went with Abi and the two older boys to the mall. It is HUGE! There is a cinema on one end, and the top floor is the food court. The rest of it is small stores like in our malls. There was an L. L. Bean store, and a Uni Qlo, and a GAP, and lots of other stores.

This morning I woke up at 5:00 to the sound of the building creaking and swaying. There was a very small earthquake. This one was smaller than the first one I remember. The after-sway didn't last as long. Roger said that he felt it. I didn't feel it so much as just hear it... I think what I hear every time is the giant springs underneath the building as they move. It's kind of freaky...

I have been able to go for a walk yesterday and today. Yesterday I walked across the river on one bridge (to the left of us), walked along the inside edge of of the neighboring island, and then walked across the other bridge (to our right), and came back here. The whole thing only took about 45 minutes. Today I walked across yet another bridge, to the other neighboring island, and walked along the river about a mile and back. That took 30 minutes. The heat index today is 105 degrees. Thankfully there was a small breeze some of the time to keep it bearable.

Well, tomorrow is my day off, but I don't know what I'll end up doing. I have an engagement from 7:00 to about 9:00 AM tomorrow...I plan to sleep... And I won't be woken up by 6:45 piano lessons, since the teacher(Roger) is on a camping trip this weekend with the oldest student(Aidan).

I have learned the past two weeks that on clear days the sun is really bright by 5:45. So maybe tonight I'll close my curtains. ...This would be a good night for Netflix... :(

Well, next week my days will be even busier since I'm doing three days of English with Eastin and Hinako, and Eastin doesn't have school next week at all.

I may post something tomorrow, depending on what I decide to do...

My love to you all,

Hannah

Another Week

Good evening, everyone! I hope your week has gone well. I can't believe I haven't posted anything all week! I think that is because I haven't done anything really out of the ordinary this week, even though we have been incredibly busy.

Let's see... On Tuesday morning Staff meeting was here. Only Rev. Fukuda came, since the other family is leaving for the Netherlands this week, and Mrs. Fukuda was busy. That evening Keiko came over for dinner, and to work with Abi on the music for church.

On Wednesday night, Abi and I walked down the street to another festival they were having. While the last festival we went to was just their fun summer festival, this one was the beginning of the time where the ancestors supposedly return to their homes and look after their families for a time. So the Japanese did dances that welcomed the spirits back. Neither Abi nor I participated. We watched and talked about how sad it is that an entire city can come together and do this for three nights in a row, dressed in their best clothes, and that they all know the dance (even the children), while we who really have a Protector that lives and rose from the grave sometimes forget just how wonderful a gift we have been given!
Oh. Another thing I remember about Wednesday is that when we came home from the festival I actually got cold! It was cold outside in the middle of July! I slept with my window open that night, and it was really nice.

On Thursday Abi and I went with Miho-San to a HUGE Japanese department store to buy a boys' yukata for Aidan. Miho is the mother of Aidan's best friend. They also live in this building... I could have spent all day at the store just looking at all the stuff! The store was about 4 or 5 stories tall. There were clothes, shoes, dishes, camping gear, etc. etc. etc. On the bottom floor there were also groceries. Just that floor was probably the same size as our Wal-Marts! This one store had it's own food court. It was probably the biggest single store I've ever been in! On Thursday night I printed all of the things I wanted Eastin and Hinako to do for their English lesson.

On Friday morning after I went for a 45 min. walk and had my quiet time, I made finger-paint for the children. Neither Aidan, Eastin, nor Hinako had ever finger painted before! They loved it! Even though they didn't really paint a 'picture', they just squished their fingers in it and loved it. In Japanese schools they don't really encourage imaginative creativity or play. I think that's one thing the Sato's miss about the American preschool Hinako was in, and want me to encourage.

So today, I am hoping to get my hair cut. If I do, I'll try to send pictures. My goal is to not have to cut it again while I am here, since a haircut is so expensive!

Since this is my day off I think I will find something to do for a few hours until Abi gets back from soccer. If things go according to plan, we'll go get the hair cut. :)

Good night all!

All my love,

Hannah

This Week

Hello all. I hope that your week has started out well. My week has already been busy. On Sunday before church, I helped make spaghetti sauce. We put it in the crock-pot so that it would be ready by supper. We had three people come over for supper, and then a fourth came afterward for rehearsal for the next two Sundays. Monday was another busy day. First, I gathered materials for an English lesson with Hinako and Eastin. Around noon, I walked down half of the stairs in the building and back up. By 1:30 I had not eaten lunch, but didn't have enough energy at the time. I went to lie down for a little while and ended up going to sleep and sleeping nearly 2 hours! Oops! Afterward, Eastin and I went to Hinako's house for the lesson. We had so much fun! I let them make a paper chain using pieces of paper that they had written words on. They liked it. :) Today has been busier than yesterday, considering I didn't have time to take a nap today. :) After my shower I fed Baby and ate my cereal, after which I had about 10 minutes to chat with family. Then I started lunch. Abi had staff meeting here today, so we made lunch for Rev. Fukuda. I chopped 3 potatoes, 1 carrot, and 1 onion, and boiled them so Abi could make curry. Then I washed the leftover dinner dishes and the breakfast dishes. I had a half gallon of sweet tea steeping while I did that. Then I made my chai and made time to read my Bible. I also read a wonderful prayer out of the Valley of Vision entitled Savior. Then I had a chance to make bread. It was another success! I used the same recipe, and we tried it as soon as I took it out of the oven. It's Wonderful! I think most of it is gone already! I also went for a walk today. I walked down the stairs to the first floor, and then went walking in the neighborhood. I walked back up to the 17th floor of the building. After my walk I did English reading with Aidan before he went to karate. After he left, I did reading with Eastin too. After putting Coen down for a nap I sat down here. Today we found out where I can get my hair cut without going to Chiba. I could not believe it, but the salon is in Ginza, the main shopping hub around here. Mrs. Fukuda told us about a place I can get a hair cut for less than I was expecting... Only about 2800 yen, rather than the usual 4000. :) Hopefully I'll get it cut soon now.

I did want to make an observation about Japanese culture. One thing I have noted is rubber boots. Since I come from working on the farm, I love wearing rubber boots. In the Sates, I used to bug my sister when she wore shorts with her rubber boots, and I thought it was funny when she rode the ferris wheel last year at the county fair in her shorts and rubber boots.... I have learned since I've been here that if you are going to wear rubber boots, you don't wear long pants. All the 'fashionable' ladies always wear shorts when it rains, just so they can wear their boots. I thought that was so funny when I realized it! :)

Well, I guess I have written enough for now. The past two days have been so packed that I really can't remember anything else that happened ... Tomorrow morning there is a Japanese lesson going on here, and I think there's something in the afternoon, I just can't remember what it is right now... I'll remember when I need to remember. :)

Good bye for now...

All my love,

Hannah

Saturday

Here I am near the end of another Saturday. Today was unlike any Saturday in my whole life...in several ways... First of all, I literally didn't wake up until noon. I have never slept that late in my whole life, even when I've been sick! My body must have been begging for sleep! Another way this Saturday was different, was that for the first time in my life I went and bought a lunch (by myself) and went to the park to eat it (by myself). Then I sat in the shade where there was a breeze by the river for about two hours and read Fellowship of the Ring (by myself). Maybe this is because I come from a large family, but I have found that being by yourself is B-O-R-I-N-G most of the time. Other times, it is something that I really need... Going somewhere that I can be alone really helps me relax. One more way this Saturday has been different, is that I wore a yukata for the first time! Miho-San came and helped Abi and me put them on at 4:00, and at about 4:30 we left here to go to the Summer festival held on this street. I had lots of fun! Yukiho came too. We both got a Japanese style snow-cone. Later we ate the dish that Tsukishima is well known for, and finished it off with a vanilla ice cream cone! I got home at 7:45, and just had to show you my pictures! One more note about the Yukata... although it looks nice, it feels more like a corset! First, you wrap it and tie it with a cotton strip of fabric. That part has to be very tight, to keep the fabric from slipping. Then, you tie the obi (the pink sash). This also has to be very tight for some reason. Most of the time, you have to use the obi to tie your own bow in the back, but thankfully mine came with a pre-assembled bow. So after you tie the obi, you stick the bow in the back and tie it in the front, and hide the string under the obi. The whole thing is rather complicated... I have worn an Indian Sari, and I can't decide which is harder to properly put on! :)

My love to you all!!!

Hannah

In the first picture, you can see Yukiho and myself. In the next picture, I am with Hinako-Chan - the little girl I have been teaching English, and with whose family I am going on vacation in August. In the last picture you can see Abi, Yukiho, Eastin, and me in our Japanese clothes. :)

Day 57

I really don't have that much time to write, but I do want to tell you about the party I went to on Wednesday night... I went to the Fukuda's house on Wednesday night for a 'young members of the church' party. I really meant to take my camera with me, but forgot. I got there by myself, using the names of line changes that Abi had written for me... I got myself back with no directions! I was fine with it, but I understand that the Fukuda's kept calling Abi asking if I had made it home yet... I really appreciate the care that the Japanese people I know take for me when I go somewhere. I think there were 15 people at the party, not including Mr. and Mrs. Fukuda. I was one of three Americans there. I believe that everyone spoke English to some degree, most spoke it rather fluently... I was the only one who did not speak Japanese... I used to wonder how Mexicans feel in America....

We didn't really do anything besides eat and talk. I talked mainly to one of the Americans who is living here with friends for a few weeks. The food was really delicious, though. Everyone was surprised (for some reason) that I chose hashi rather than a fork... I think Japanese food is easier to eat with the hashi. And besides, I didn't want to be the only one who used a fork! :) Sometimes I feel so out of place here. And the people who do speak both languages sometimes seem to forget that everyone doesn't understand everything....

On the way home I got to walk through the rain! That's something I've been wanting to do for about a month. I forgot my umbrella when I left here, and it was raining when I left the party, so I was given the opportunity to walk through the rain! :) It was really funny, I left at 10:00 when three other people left. There was one Japanese, one American, and one Japanese guy who has lived in America for most of his life... Only the Japanese person had their umbrella. I was reminded how very much like Japan that is... In the States, when it starts to sprinkle, everyone just sort of ducks their head and walks a little faster. Here, if there are even a few drops, every umbrella around goes up, and a Japanese person is rarely caught without one. We three who recently came from the States were the ones without umbrellas. But I was really glad I forgot mine. :) I never realized how much I like getting wet in the rain until now when I'm in a place where no one does it!

I also just remembered that I didn't tell you about my yukata. A yukata is a cotton summer kimono. I bought one on Wednesday! It is purple and white with pink flowers and a pink bow/belt thing. It also came with the wooden flip-flops. The only problem is that the flip-flops don't fit me. :( Oh well... I am going to wear it tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get some pictures.

I suppose I should go for now, since I have lots to do this afternoon, like washing windows and mirrors, English lessons etc....

My love to you all,

Hannah

I Did It!!!

Hi everyone! I just had to let you know that I finally made a wonderful loaf of bread! I was so proud that I had to take a picture of it! I was even more excited about it, because I made up the recipe myself. Abi said it's the best homemade gluten free bread she's ever had. She said she never tasted anything better than it in Memphis. I have to give you the recipe...

Gorgeous Gluten-Free Loaf

1/4 cup Butter, softened

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

5 egg whites

3/4 cup plain yogurt

1/4 cup whole milk

2 cups corn starch

1/3 cup millet flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum

1 1/2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix together butter and sugar. Add egg whites and beat until very frothy. Add the other ingredients, mixing after each one. I used a regular mixer for the first part, and then a fork after I mixed in the flour. The dough will be thinner than normal bread dough, but it should be smooth. Separate dough into two mini bread pans (about 3x5 or whatever they are). Fill them a little over half full. You will have some dough left over, but if you over fill them, it will drip in the oven... I baked mine at 300 for an hour. But I am using a small convection oven that doesn't function the same way a regular oven does... So try baking it at 350 for 45-50 min. or until evenly browned.

I hope yours turns out as well as mine did! Let me know if and when you make it!

Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July with lots of fun, plenty of food, and time with family. Our 4th was nothing special, necessarily. It was just like any other Sunday. I was expecting it, though... I realized before I came that they would not celebrate it, but it didn't hit me until I was already over here that they (Japan) won't celebrate Thanksgiving either! I understand that they have their own holidays... This week is a celebration of the star god and goddess. All of the school children are supposed to write prayers to the god and goddess for this Wednesday when they supposedly cross paths and grant any prayer. I ask that you pray to the only God this week for all of these children... Especially for Aidan and Eastin as they are expected to do it too. Today Eastin had to turn in his 'prayer'. Roger wrote a prayer for him to the God who made the stars, but Aidan has to do his own. Pray that they will see and understand the truth.

Today has been my day off, since I had to work on Saturday. I have really enjoyed it. I think maybe I'll start wanting Mondays off rather than Saturdays... I am always more tired on Mondays anyway. I slept this morning until 6:15. Then I got up and closed my curtains and went back to sleep. I got up at 9:15. After I had breakfast I went for a walk. I started by jogging down 28 floors worth of stairs, rather than taking the elevator. If I calculated correctly, I went down 252 stairs. Then I went for about a 30 minute walk around the tip of the island and back. When I came back, I ran up the stairs from the first to the seventh floor. Then I walked from the seventh floor to the fifteenth floor. I took the elevator the rest of the way up. :) I was impressed with my self. When I got back I was so hot (because there is no air flow in the stairway), and out of breath (because I was hot), that I had to lie down on my futon to cool off. I went to sleep and slept for a little less than an hour. Then I had fried rice that Roger had made for lunch. He makes what is probably the best fried rice I've ever had! Then he and Baby and I went to get my signature stamp. That's what you can see in the pictures. It says 'H' in English, and then has my last name in Japanese. It is translucent green. I think it's really pretty, even though it's by no means the most expensive thing... The most expensive one I saw was something like 167,500 yen. Can you imagine?!! I included a picture of me holding it so that you can get a size reference, and then it in its case and a sample of the stamp. Sorry I forgot what it's called in Japanese.

We also picked up my alien registration card, or Gaijin Card. Gaijin is the word for foreigner, pronounced "guy-jean". So now I am a registered alien! It looks like a drivers license, except it's all in Japanese... It doesn't expire until 2014. Then we took the train down one eki (station) to open a bank account, but the bank wasn't open. So we came back here.

I also included a picture of myself. I did this so that you can see how long my hair is now... I took this picture this morning after I washed my hair. I haven't had it cut since early April. I realized this morning that my hair hasn't been this long in a very long time, and probably won't be again. I am getting it cut on Saturday, so I wanted to take a picture of it while it's still attached. :) I'll also post a picture after I get it cut...

Yesterday I made bread for communion at church. It turned out really well for the occasion. I ended up cooking it 50 degrees lower than suggested, and for about an hour and a half, rather than 45 minutes... It wasn't any too done, either! It tasted good, looked good, and worked well for the occasion, since it was just a little packy. I made it using potato starch, corn starch, and millet flour. I made it in one big loaf so that everyone could tear off a bit.

Well, I can't think of anything else very interesting to write about right now, so I suppose that will be all.

My love to you all!

Hannah

My Day

Well, I have just finished a wonderful day! I started my day today by rolling out of bed at 6:45. After a quick shower and bowl of corn flakes that Coen spilled all over me, I had an English lesson with Eastin. When Abi left to take him to school, I had my quiet time and hot tea. I am enjoying reading through Acts and Romans right now, along with The Valley of Vision. After that, I was really encouraged when I met a Japanese lady who has been a Christian since she was 10 years old. To hear her story was really encouraging. She also encouraged me in children's ministry. We also learned that all of her family is Christian as well. After that, I had some time to talk to my family. I was able to talk to my Mother, brother, and grandmother. I really enjoyed that time. I ended my chat with them when one of Abi's old English students came over for lunch. I enjoyed meeting her, and found out that she is a Christian. I enjoyed visiting with her, and eating coffee jello until around 2:30, when four of Eastin's friends and their mothers came over. We played a new game called "guess how old is Hannah-Chan". :D They left around 6:00, and then I went for a walk. The weather was so nice. There was a breeze, and the humidity was bearable... I came back after about a 45 minute walk and had dinner. Now I am watching Dr. Who!!! My wonderful family sent me 5 episodes of Dr. Who with my favorite actor, David Tennant. :D People ask me all the time what I like to do, and what I miss most about home. Besides the obvious (my family, and all the people), the thing I miss most is probably the animals. I just want to give you a few of my favorite pictures from back home... I hope you enjoy them!

All my love,

Hannah

Here you can see a true Mississippi sunset. I was telling someone today that while Japanese sunsets are beautiful, I miss a sunset through the trees or over a pasture. You can also see me clipping one of our young bulls sometime last September. Last but certainly not least, you can see two pictures of my baby and me... Ok, so he's not so little like a baby anymore.... He probably weighs around 3000 pounds by now, but he still recognizes me differently than he does others... It's like he tries to be gentle with me. He's my gentle giant, and I love him! :D

Day 50

Well, I really don't have anything amazing to say, I just decided to say something, since today is my 50th day anniversary in Japan. As of today, I have been here for 50 days.

This morning after my quiet time, I took a walk. It was really nice to feel the sun on my face and feet. After walking for about 20 minutes, I just sat down to soak up the sunshine. It made me happy. :) I am really enjoying a book called The Valley of Vision. It really is a good book, and I suggest everyone reading it.

Well, that's about all I have to write for now... I'll probably think of something I meant to say later....

Goodbye for now,

Hannah