Back in Chiba

Hello from Kamatori, Japan. I arrived safely back in Tsukishima from Kyoto on Wednesday and then came to Chiba yesterday afternoon... Getting here was an adventure in itself, since I missed my train to Shin-Kiba and had to wait for the next one. That caused me to be just in time for a local train to the next stop, rather than a preferred rapid train. When I finally got to the next station where I was supposed to change lines, I found that there was a 30 minute delay on that line due to the typhoon! Overall, I was almost an hour late getting to the Kamatori station.
I enjoyed my three days in Kyoto, although I think I like Nikko better... I finally found one Japanese food that I don't like. I'm not sure what it was, but I did not find it to my taste. I have also come to the conclusion that I like raw fish better than cooked fish, a discovery rather shocking to me at first! I have lots of pictures from my last trip, but haven't had the time to empty my camera card since I got back. (I'll post those later.) Wednesday night I went out with Keiko and Iako for monjayaki, which was really delicious. After we got back to the house, we had donuts that Iako had brought! I had a green tea filled donut with no beans this time, and it was quite good! That night all three of us stayed in Tsukishima. Yesterday morning I washed a load of clothes (something I had really been needing to do) and hung them out to dry, after which I had a 7-11 lunch and finished off the last donut. :) Then I had time to chat with my family for a while. I really enjoyed it since it had been so long since I had been able have internet access. Then I was supposed to catch the 4:06 train to Shin-Kiba, but missed it by about 3 minutes! So anyway.... I got here safely.
Well, I should probably go for now since it is nearly lunch time here...
Love,
Hannah

Back From Nikko

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know that I have safely returned from Nikko. I had a great time! I really loved the mountains and waterfalls and farms that we saw and visited. I wanted to post just a few of my favorite pictures that I took as we traveled around Nikko on Wednesday. You can see the rice field beside my host's house with the beautiful mountain behind it. This mountain was actually one of the smaller mountains in the surrounding area, but I just had to snap this photo while I had the chance! The second picture is one of my absolute favorites. I took this picture while on top of one of the mountains. We visited a farm. This farm, while mostly famous for it's dairy, is a place where visitors come and get to pet the animals, play on a play ground, and buy souvenir type things. The last picture was taken over the Shin-Kyo bridge...the famous bridge of Nikko. Well, today we are headed off for Disney Sea to spend the day. Only Keiko, Yukiho, and I are going to be able to go... Last night we had lots of

fun! We went out for monjayaki, which is Tsukishima's trademark dish. I really like it. Today my allergies have been bothering me already, even though it's only 7:45 AM! Hopefully they, along with my sunburn, will not bother me much today...

Well, now I think I will go and fix everyone a true American style breakfast... We're having cereal, because that's basically all the food that was left here during the vacation... :)

All my love,

Hannah

Vacation Part 1

I don't have much time to write, but I just wanted to check in and say 'hi' before I leave for Nikko. I made it all the way from Tsukishima to Kamatori by my self, using the train schedule I printed... On the way back, I made it all the way from Soga to Tsukishima by myself without a train schedule! (And I didn't ask anyone for directions either...) I felt proud of myself. :) Last night I had a lot of fun with Sayaka and her parents. (and her dog Chocola.) They let me participate in a green tea ceremony with them, and then we had sushi for supper. Japanese sushi is not like what you get at the local Chinese restaurant. This sushi is a square of seaweed, with some special sushi rice, a slice of raw fish, and sometimes a few vegetables or something. I even tried salmon eggs... Not my favorite... Then for lunch today we went to a Ramen restaurant. I decided that my favorite Japanese foods are probably ramen and gyoza. :) During supper last night, we talked a lot about Mississippi. We talked about animals, farms, visits, and hurricanes. I found out that they heard about Katrina, and remembered hearing how bad it was. Then we all agreed that they should name typhoons something besides 'typhoon 1', 'typhoon 2', etc. :) I also took my first real Japanese style bath... In Japan, you take a bath and a shower. First you get clean in the shower, and then you can soak in the tub. The bathtubs here are really nice! The water fills the tub, and the tub keeps the water warm. I have always wanted a tub where it's so deep that when you sit in it the water comes up to your chin... Thats the way Japanese bathtubs are! :) I have decided that I like it.

Well, I am probably going to be picked up in a few minutes, so I will go for now....

All my love,

Hannah

Off Again

Good morning everyone! Happy first day of August! The title of this post has two meanings... I do realize that it took me a whole week (day off to day off) to post something new. Things have been rather crazy around here this week... Also, I am off again on another adventure as tomorrow is the start of my two week vacation. Tomorrow I am leaving the same time as the family, except I am going to Chiba to spend one night with friends. Then on Tuesday I plan to come back to Tsukishima around lunch time. Between 2 and 3 pm Rev. Fukuda is coming by here to pick up his van. His family is taking me to Nikko where he grew up. We are going to stay there until Thursday. On Friday Yukiho is coming here with me so that we can meet Keiko for dinner. On Saturday we are going to Disney to spend the day and see the fireworks. Then we come back here and Yukiho spends the night with me so that we can go to church together on Sunday. Then on Monday morning I leave bright and early for Kyoto and get back on Wednesday. After that I spend the rest of my time in Chiba. Although it may sound a bit hectic, I think I will enjoy it. Most of it will be spent outdoors somewhere besides big city. Nikko is in the mountains, and Chiba is mostly a farming city, and Kyoto is 'classic' Japan... I just hope I can remember all of the tiny details such as who to call when, where to put what key, and what time to leave... :) Other than that, I'm looking forward to it! I will take along my camera, and hope to take lots of pictures.

My week went well, though, aside from being busy. I had 'English camp' with Hinako and Eastin. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Hinako came over and we had a short lesson. After that, I let them help me make something. On Monday we went to the park and played house. On Wednesday we made peanut butter playdough, and rolled into balls to take on the camping trip. Friday was a little different, since Hinako had to leave a little early. We had just enough time to get some brownies in the oven. I thought it was fun!

One day this week Eastin told me that he was going camping and that I was sad that I couldn't go camping with him, and that I have to stay here by myself until he gets back. I told him I was going on vacation with Hinako and Yukiho and Satoshi. He told me that I couldn't go with Hinako because he likes her. And Aidan told me I couldn't even be friends with Yukiho and Satoshi because he was their friend while I was still in America. :) They both still think I'm sad because I can't go camping with them...

On Saturday I slept until 8:30. After a nice hot shower and belated breakfast, I was able to watch a few Andy Griffith episodes before Abi and Aidan got back from Soccer. I had the house to myself from about 9:00 to 12:30. Then around 2:00 we started getting ready for the party that night. I made (all gluten free) meatballs from scratch, cream cheese brownies, and sweet tea. I decorated a fruit plate, and helped make rice paper/vegi roll things. I was in the kitchen from about 2:30 until 5:30. I'm not complaining, but I do have one suggestion for the future... When you plan to do lots of cooking and then have a party where you stay up 'till 10:00, stand on one foot while you cook. Then, you can switch for the party, and keep going. :) While I was in the kitchen, Abi was at the store getting ingredients and drinks for the party. I kept the boys occupied watching Song of the South, the movie about Brer Rabbit. I told them the Tar Baby story on Friday. They loved it and actually begged for more. I gave them some choices, and they chose to hear how Brer Rabbit caught Brer Fox with the cheese in the well. :) We had a party on Saturday for two reasons; reason no. 1 was that it was Abi's birthday, reason no. 2 was that from our window we have a GREAT view of some of the most famous fireworks in Japan. They were really incredible. They lasted for nearly two hours!

Today went well. This morning I made bread for communion at church. Then I made another batch for the family to take with them on their vacation. Coen got his appetite back today after about a week of not wanting to eat. He has had an ear infection this week, and as grumpy as you can imagine most of the time. Today at church he started fussing, so I took out a jar of baby food to offer it to him. I didn't really think he would eat it, but it was worth a try... To my complete astonishment he ate all three jars I had in the diaper bag!!! He also seems to be feeling much better this evening. This is the first time this week he hasn't minded playing with something by himself, and not insisting to be held every minute... (not that I mind baby hugs at all.)

Well, I should probably let that be all for now, since tomorrow will most likely be pretty hectic too... :)

My love to you all!

Hannah

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