Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley recently came to visit me in Japan! He arrived in an envelope. Dressed in his Nebraska Husker apparel, he and I went on many adventures together!

Flat Stanley is a character from a childrens' book, written by Jeff Brown. In the book, a bulletin board falls on Stanley, and he becomes 1/4 inch thick. He wants to go on a trip, so his parents fold him up, put him in an envelope, and send him far away. To learn more about Flat Stanley and his growing popularity, visit this website. Now, elementary schools around America are taking this idea and doing extended learning projects. Students create a "Flat Stanley" in the form of themselves, and then take him on an adventure, or send him somewhere far away. From Omaha, Nebraska, to Japan is about 6,000 miles! I think my Flat Stanley traveled the furthest!

A friend at school, on the jungle gym!

Eating a picnic with some Chinese friends!

"Ashi-yu" which means "foot bath"

Visiting a fire truck!

Eating School lunch

Making Halloween crowns!

Mt. Fuji Climb #2

It was a dreary morning. It's been a dreary month. I'd say 6 out of 7 mornings I wake up to fog or, super low clouds of grey, or rain. That is rainy season in Japan for ya. So, it was 5:30am, overcast skies, and my Japanese teacher, Wato San, picked me up outside my apt. Bless her soul, she woke up at 4:30!! But Wato San is an avid mountain climber. Climbing is her hobby. She wants to climb any and every mountain in Japan, and she probably will succeed. Sometimes she wakes up early, drives to a mountain, and spends 10 hours climbing it, just for the sheer enjoyment of the activity. I really admire her strength and endurance.

We arrived at the 5th station on the mountain at 7am, and took in the view: fog and strong winds whipping the trees back and forth. "Hmm, what should we do?" we thought. We ate our breakfast in the car, then put on our rain gear and decided to climb as far as we could. She said we definitely wouldn't make it to the top (10th station?) because if the wind was strong here, it would surely be furious up there. So we loaded only the little gear we would need for a somewhat "half-hike."

Happy to be hiking!!

Climbing Mt. Fuji is literally just that: CLIMBING! from the 5th to the 6th station is just hill work on switch-backs. Once we reached the 7th station we started to actually climb up the rocks. Its really amazing; molten rock makes for really good climbing rock! Knobs and ball shapes make great handles and foot grips. Maybe these rocks have been corroded by rain and snow, making them this way. Either way, we were climbing up and up. My climbing stick became a little "jama" as they say in Japanese (it means "in the way"). But on the way down I really used it to brace myself. I think I would have fallen 50 times if not for my stick! ** I was thinking, as I climbed and listened to only the sound of rain pelting my hood, "Now I know why Moses carried a staff when he climbed Mt. Horeb!" But then I thought "How did he ever climb down with two stone tablets?!?" Horeb must have been a little more "ameteur-hiker friendly."
A view from one of the 7th station buldings. You can kinda see the switch-backs.

New camping/living building. That hose on the left is a rain water hose. There isn't any pipage to bring water up the mountain, so for people who live up there during the climbing season, their source of water comes from rain- which is caught and hosed into these giant vats.

A picture of our reflection in the nice new windows of this camping/living building. That's my backpack and climbing stick on the floor.

We reached the 8th station and knew this was the furthest up we could go "safely." We'd already passed some snow and come above the rain, but there was fog and wind above us too. We sat and had a snack: She brought grapefruit *good job*, I brought chocolate cookies *so me*. Hey, when you're climbing a mountain, you need some comfort food!
Here we are, standing under the 8th station sign.
The way down was tricky; a couple times I lost my balance and fell back a bit, and the wind really whipped me about a few times. But God always caught me, I know his hand was with me, just like it is now, and will be forever, Hallelujah!

What I learned on Fuji Climb #2:
1.The Abraham thing.

2.Fuji is not for the faint of heart.

3.Don't complain about tired legs, blistered heels, cold wet hands... The whole point is to climb the mountain in the midst of these elements.

4.Focus on the goal , not all the things that try to take me away from it .

5.Patience! Patience! PATIENCE!! The slow and steady can keep the pace and finish the climb. Really, you MUST go slow on Fuji, its the only way to finish!

6.Don't rush or you'll ruin!

Sioux City came to Japan!

...well, Miss Sioux didn't actually come to Japan, but a delegation of four people from Morningside College came, representing Sioux City as an entity.

President John Reinders, Mrs. Robin Reinders, Gene Ambroson, and Terry Curry made a memorable journey through the land of the rising sun. I'm sure they'll never forget their travels here. And I'm sure, they'll always remember their experience at Kusakabe Elementary School.

The foursome arrived on a blazing hot afternoon, wearing their suits and ties! At the entrance of the school, curious 2nd graders greeted them with popping eyes and wide grins. I don't think the kids had ever seen such big people! I was so proud of the students; they introduced themselves in English! YAY!

After touring the school and poking our noses into a few classes, we made our way to the 6th grade class, which I was to teach, and they observe. We started class with a surprise "American Dance," aka the "Cha Cha Slide!" Terry and Robin gladly joined us, which thrilled the students!

The "Cha Cha Slide" featuring Mr. Uehara's 6th grade class!

After gettin' our groove on (and sweating like mad) the kids settled down, but my heart was still racing. It's a big deal when your alma mater comes to observe what you've done with the education you've been given. Kind of like in the Bible, it says "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and to him who has been entrusted with much, much more will be required."(Luke 12:48) I felt the weight of that truth, but I must say I also felt love and grace just emanating from all four of my guests. They smiled and took interest, and took lots of pictures (Gene!).

Don't the kids look hot? But they really did a good job!

We are using the map on the board to practice giving directions, like "turn right, turn left, go straight, go back, stop."

I think one of the highlights, though, was after class. All the students wanted autographs from all the Americans! It was so great, they just swarmed around them, thrusting pens and notebooks in their faces, and saying "Sign! Sign!" I was even asked to "sign!"


As the group left the school for their next tour (they were booked solid!) they encouraged me so much, reminding me that what I'm doing is important. The way I treat my students, build relationships with them, encourage and teach them, is making an impact in their little lives. Sometimes I feel like English is the "side item" that most people don't care about. But actually the students have a great time in English, because we play games and sing songs. This exposure to the English language at an early age is preparing their eyes, ears, and minds to embrace this ever-increasingly international language. They absolutely WILL NEED to know English in the future, and I get to be a part of teaching them. Wow. My job is awesome!

President Reinders shaking hands with Principal Amemiya; a neat connection!

Thank you, Sioux Citians, for making the long journey overseas. Your encouragement to me personally, and your connections made with the Sister City relatonship are invaluable.

Baptisms!

Baptisms are so exciting! On earth, and in Heaven, there is rejoicing that another soul has been won for God's Kingdom!! Recently in my church, New Life International Church, we had two young adults get baptized! Praise God, he is alive and at work in the hearts of Asian people!

The first to be baptized was Cho Kun.

"kun" is a Japanese term of endearment used for boys, like saying "little Cho." He came to Japan from China one year ago to attend Eiwa University, the same campus where our church meets. Adeng, my boyfriend, was and is instrumental in bringing Chinese students to church, and helping meet their needs as they arrive from China. Last year Adeng had a gyoza party, and invited many new Chinese students to attend. Many of these students also started coming to our church, and are still attending! Cho was the first to give his life to Christ, and we already see evidence of God's hand at work, helping others strenthen their faith too! Hallelujah!

This is Cho Kun and a friend making gyoza (Chinese dumplings) last year, upon arrival.

The second to be baptized was my dear friend Priscilla Chau.

She is from Hong Kong, and came to Japan one year ago to study Japanese at a language school. Priscilla has had God working in her heart for many years, but didn't commit her life to Christ until she started coming to church in Japan, and was encouraged to take the next step. Now Priscilla and I meet once a week for devotions and prayer, to help her build a stronger faith and get in the habit of reading God's word and praying. She is also a member of our Thursday night English Bible study group (which always ends up being bilingual= awesome!!)

Below, from right, Ewah, Priscilla, and me, at my apartment for Bible study!

Please join me in prayer for our new brother Cho Kun, and sister Priscilla, as they begin their new walk with Jesus.

Bible study girls below, from left, Ramona (Jamaica), Bethany (Washington state), Joy (Iowa), Ewah (Hong Kong), Chaung (S. Korea), Kari (Hong Kong).

*I mentioned our Thursday night Bible study. There are 6-8 girls who attend regularly, and we have a blast studying, praying, laughing, crying, and eating together. Our home countries include: Jamaica, Hong Kong, Mongolia, S. Korea, & America. This group has helped each one of us girls as we are all living in Japan, away from our families, and striving to survive in a foreign culture. God is working in each of our lives, and sharing his blessings has been powerful!

Recently, we Americans introduced Mexican tacos to our Hong Kong friends. They really liked them! What fun to share our cultures through food :)

~Spring in Nippon~

Winter has finally subsided and spring is slowly creeping into Japan. Spring brings the most beautiful of landscapes in this country. Spring (in Japanese "haru") means that all the plum (ume), peach (momo), and cherry (sakura) trees bloom, and the whole countryside becomes one big pink puff! It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. The pink flowers, above, are peach blossoms. The cherry blossom in Japan carries a very significant meaning to Japanese people. I will quote (indirectly) from a book, because the author puts it so well ....


"Cherry blossoms are a very important part of Japanese spirit. They do not fade or wither like other flowers. At the height of beauty, they drop. You see birth, beauty, death. Sakura season is the end and beginning of the Japanese school season. The Japanese fiscal season. Everything. "
~ From "Moon Over Tokyo" by Siri L. Mitchell.


Interesting, isn't it? One great tradition that comes with Sakura (cherry blossom) season is called "hanami" which literally means "flower watching." Offices, schools, families, you name it, will have hanami parties where they picnic and relax all day underneath the cherry trees, just enjoying the blossoms, and the magical shower of flower petals when the breeze blows. These parties are so popular, that some businesses will stake out or rent a "spot" in a park, even the year before. Then they'll send the man on the bottom of the totem pole to go lay blue tarps and sit in their site, very early in the morning, on the day of the party. The Japanese are serious about their sakura. I hope to attend a party this year, however I live amongst peach orchards. They're only a stroll away, and for free. Nice!


As the season for school change rapidly approaches, I'm preparing for change too. Next year I will not teach with my teaching partner, and dear friend, Sachimi Sensei. She will be moving. I'm not sure what my "post" will be next school year; the BOE could change my schedule to teach at other schools. Actually, every teacher faces this same possibility for change. Can you imagine-you are a 3rd grade teacher this year, but in one weeks' time (last week of March) you could receive news that you're being transferred to another school, maybe 45 minutes away, and you'll be moved to 1st grade. You have one week to prepare. Good luck! ... YIKES! But that's just the way it works here. I've never heard a Japanese teacher complain about it.



Here are some cute pictures from school recess. My girls are SO talented at the unicycle. It is my goal to unicycle in Japan before I leave!

Here, the boys are making paper flowers (yes BOYS making FLOWERS!), Preparing for the 6th grade graduation ceremony. The students all prepare to send the 6th graders off by decorating the gym, preparing performances and cards ... you name it, they do it! They are so awesome!

TACO anyone?

TACO! TACO! TACO!
I just said three different words in two different languages, spelled three different ways... allow me to explain.
A TACO to most of you is a crunchy or soft shell, inside of which is meat, lettuce, cheese, salsa, and what have you. Sounds delish. I could go for some serious Taco Bell right now... But in Japan, a TACO is certainly NOT a taco, for several reasons. First of all, Mexican restaurants are seriously lacking in this country- which is surprising because of the surplus of rice and veggies we grow.
Secondly, in Japanese the word TACO takes on two other meanings than that delightful Mexican wrap.
In Japanese TACO, spelled with this kanji-蛸- means OCTOPUS. If you want TACO sushi, you don't want a taco on top of sushi rice, you want OCTOPUS sushi- not my favorite.
In Japanese, TACO, spelled with this kanji- 凧- also means "kite," as in "let's go fly a kite" with Mary Poppins.
This week I've had run-ins with both of the Japanese TACOs, as I'm teaching a sushi lesson to the 5th graders, and the 2nd graders are flying kites! Kite flying after the new year is a Japanese tradition. Eating sushi is just Japanese. I'm in the right place for TACOs... but I could still go for a Taco Bell run...
So there you have it:
TACO=Mexican cuisine
TACO=Octopus, 蛸
TACO= Kite, 凧

TACO! TACO! TACO!