Random Banter 2!

So it is after Christmas and I am still at work. I am enjoying a peppermint chocolate latte though thanks to a wonderful gift of peppermint coco! But I have just experienced a few thing to which I can not leave to myself.

As I was reading my daily word of the day from Merriam Webster, I saw this add and it struck me with such force it took me about 5 mins to recoup and to explain in Japanese why I was on the floor. It said click here if you want to win a free green card. Come to the US everyone is welcome! (this sound like the movie The Island.) if you haven't seen it this is not an ad to watch it. WOW I went through most emotions you would feel in a comedic/ horror film- those do not come out very much so if you do not understand just imagine! Again, BEhhhhh? Free green card- they had people form all over the world on this ad and it was sad, funny, but random. Sad because many people who want green cards can't get them yet this site is "giving" them away. How Ironic- lets let that one set in..... and if you need one try this site maybe this time you will be chosen!

Well just for clarification, I do not go about reading the dictionary for just any reason. It is not my free reading book or at no time will you hear the words "oh free time Let's get the dictionary!" But to this I say I am a sucker for language and SCRABBLE. So anyway I can keep sweet words flowing in my head the better chance i have to spell the quintessential word on the board! Lately some faves are vex, furcation, speculation, fruition, grapple, collage (always a fav), maverick, merry textmas (using texts for Christmas greetings), tomodachi (friend in Japanese- man I need to study! So for the most part I am pretty ridiculous but love Scrabble. Maybe I will make Scrabble my hobby-(in Japan you can only have one and it is what you spend all your time doing.) 

You would think I could get away from ugly Christmas sweaters in Japan. Well, not get away but maybe see less of them- well NOT TRUE! They are the RAGE now! From the Christmas sweater dress to the Christmas sweater boots wow I feel the need to get one just because I see it everywhere! To only feel this in the states! well maybe not and commercialism is kinda getting to me but Oh the possibilities! They are endless. with a bright future in casual suits with tennis shoes! 

Well this must be the season for blogging because I will be pumping out many here soon! So please enjoy this!

Remember: Even when you are a week behind your blog it is still worth publishing- who knows who will enjoy it!

~MOlly

I don't want a lot for Christmas but there is just one thing i need...

Things have been jolly ever since December began. There are many things to jingle about and many things to rebuttal. To which this next verse shall harken to your memory.

 On the first day of Christmas,  Santa came to my house first. HA HA. I mean HO HO. The 20th was my Christmas via Skype. I saw Momma Kissing Santa Clause over skype, and the headless wiseman under the Keese tree, also the Iowa snow. I also was witness to the Christmas traditions over skype. We read the Christmas Story, from Matthew this year, then ripped a new one into the presents. If you were every so lucky all my kin received hashi (chopsticks), inden (japan deer skin), and usually something to the effect of a Dragon Ball Z eraser (to those who we catch watching this TV show on Saturdays- not to name any reindeer but DAD you are ridiculous!). Well we were definitely rocking around the Christmas Tree and enjoyed Christmas early. (ps if you didn't notice I completely Jingled the bells (wrote a part of a Christmas song) in every sentence- just checking your pulse to see if it is set for Christmas!)

On the second day of Christmas, There was a Staff Christmas party called an Bon Enki. (a Christmas bonus party- hence bon enki!) It was well lets say interesting. I had some firsts. One first was I was asked what my blood type was! It is a common thing here for there is a belief that different blood types mesh better than others. (who came up with this I am not sure but the saying is true- know your blood type before coming to Japan.- ok I made up that saying but it is true!) Also, I was asked what my hobby is. (again in Japan the word Hobby has no plural- you only have one) SO I said- I am an American so my Hobbies are golfing, running, ect ect... (not to bore you). (this person was kinda surprised). Another first, I was refereed to as Japanese. To that I gave the Japanese BEHHHHH? I asked why and to this truthful account- He said "I was not like most American women who were loud and chatty but quiet and elegant." (put that in your pipe and smoke it!). I felt very unsure at this moment what I should do, either bow or bow lower? Three stereotypical Japanese things happened BEFORE the party! To this I graciously pass to you entrusting that you will use the information as evidence that I can be somewhat Japanese. ( I am short, ELEGANT, QUIET, I take my shoes off everywhere I go, I say Behhhh as much as the rest, I say Summimasen and Gomenasain in every sentence, I tend to bow often even when I do not know if I should, yeah you could say I am pretty Japanese). (oh ps- i have already asked if i dye my hair and wear colored contacts- To this I say no I was born this way- sorry to offend your previous stereotypes of people with green eyes and blondish hair!). 

On the Third Day of Christmas,  we have made so many snowflakes that my eyes are going buggy. Well I am to teach Christmas to students- to which I can answer but three words- JESUS Jesus' Birthday and Christmas trees (well that is more than three but forgive my lack of erasing that and writing five). So I used pics from home to officially blow these children's minds. I make sure they think that most every American goes to Church on Christmas, that we really celebrate Jesus' Birthday, and maybe we have headless wisemen- (the third is a lie but I wanted to). I thus start this Christmas decoupage of Christmas Pics from favorites of mine. The lights in my apt, the my house (to which they say wow so big- and its midori (green)), Christmas Cookies (what no Christmas Cakie??) and The biggest ham (hamu) I could find on the internet- looks like a spiral ham on vacation! They are just completely blown to shreds then I add we are making snow and they fall off their chairs and we call 119- the (911) of Japan. (Ok maybe they fell off their chairs because my presentation was horrible and they were falling asleep but they did fall. Anywho- I tell them how to fold the paper and give the best model snowflake possible. It rocked- I was pretty sure they could not top it. Well much to my no-so surprise- they did. They are way older than my second graders and well lets say these things are like masterpieces. ( Thus I have been practicing ever since). Dag yo! Well at least Jesus was brought up many times and he gives grace to my lack of snowflaking ability! 

ON the fifth day of Christmas, a my blog gave to me, unbelievable falsehoods... (please return and sing the last line like the song thus proposes). Ok, I have received some quite shocking quite outlandish comments from lets say the last blog I wrote... To these who will remain name scrambled rabeD, and miJ....HWHAT? this can not be accepted not agreed with. Lets take a little walk in the past..... Last blog (imagine a dream bubble appearing and yeah you get the drill) I was writing about how I saw Brittany Spears on Japanese TV and how she was not good in America so she needed the humble "I will clap even if it is horrible" style of the Japanese culture to cure my need for fame. And after this such clever remark I am thus ripped a new one by remarks such as Brittany is my "hero" and "I agree with rebeD". Can this be born, it can not!  and Will be shot in three for two shots are not as cool as three. How can such an alliance of falsehood be brought about? This liking of one who is so far below the line of sanity? Is this to reflect my clever rebuttal of her sanity? To those who think my past rant as a twisted cry for her honor, I say- If I had a poster collection of heroes there would be five posters. Jesus for he is def number 1 and does look sweet on posters, Jon Chu (director of Step up 2) who satisfies my need for break dancing by keeping it alive and plugg'n it with more BASS, Gene Kelley who dances, sings, and directs (seriously does anything else need to be said),  well probably Martha Stewart- before the felonies, and an origami Crane- because they are sweet! As you see Brittney didn't make the top five let alone the top 100 of my heroes. So with this quick and painless vial of truth the rebuttals are blow to pieces. I only say this because it takes one to accuse and two to solidify the cement (because two people blowing air on the cement defiantly makes it dry faster than one!) NO more drying cement! No Brittney! 

So this is Christmas Eve in Japan. I am enjoying a great movie and making Christmas Cards for my teachers! Later yall! 

Remember: Snow is not bad unless you have lots of it! Be careful out there!

~MOlly

So there is Dancer and Prancer and Vixon and Brittney and Cupid

So Santa's Coming to town in less than a week well actually a week from now and Japan stops for nothing. To celebrate this they have a test the day after Christmas and it is still raining. 

It's beginning to look a lot like early spring everywhere you go!!!? Well this is what I got cold rain all day. I am so surprise that it is still raining? Where is the snow? Well I hear that this doesn't come till about middle of January and maybe early February and the temperatures are horrible so I will take a great rain for now! Well i think it has stopped mostly but it is still so cold everywhere.

Well you are wondering why is Brittney one of the reindeer. We you could say "If America doesn't like you come to Japan you will be a hit!" She appeared as a guest musician at one of Japan's music award shows last night. How did I catch it- it was fate I guess. She sang horribly and remains one of the worst singers around and so if you take that side then she did pretty well. She dominated the worst song and costume ever. She looked crazy and thus remains so. She did answer a few questions by saying thank you and thank you so we know that her vocabulary has grown a few words! So needless to say I was not impressed but at least Japan loves her (well they at least clapped). I guess that goes to show that Japanese people are nice even if you come out on stage wearing basically your underwear. Crazy! (please do not try this in the US please wait till you come to Japan).

On a happier note... last weekend I had the privilege of singing Christmas carols at nursing homes all over Kofu! Our Church does it every year and we could do it! I was so excited! We prepared by baking so many Christmas cookies and putting them into a baggies! We also handed out a track that was a true story about a samurai finding out about Christmas. (How Japanese I loved it!) We sang in Japanese and English- and I READ THE JAPANESE AND SANG ALONG. Ok I was pretty excited when I read all the hirigana and was able to sing along on my own! WOW Crazy how long have I been here? 4 and a half months! And God is blessing my language! So Sunday we sang all over town and greeted and hugged many older people which was such a blessing! I loved it! Even with the language barrier I just sat and listened. It was so fun! Also we have our Christmas service this week and I am in the play again! HOW fun! I love doing these! 

Well, as far as the bikes situation- I have a horrible bike but just glad that I have one! So no worries there! We are all just prepping for our December 27 th trip to Nagano (where they had the winter Olympics a few years ago) to go on a Family ski trip! ( it will be a lot more tripping for me then skiing but I shall try!) I hope to come back bettering my skills and enjoying my American/Japanese family- Joe, Sheila, Annie, and Angela! What a group! Pray for our safety and ability to relax before the second half of our teaching. (true January is my half way marker!) Crazy how the times flies!

Remember: When you put up wall hooks think about if your walls are made of pure plaster or not- because screws and plaster are pretty much not a good mix! 

~MOlly

What does that have to do with the price of rice in a rice-less country!

Here is a quick emotional journey through me receiving the biggest bunch of Christmas presents last night!

Are all of those for me?? What? Was I that good? And how did Santa San get into my house? 

My outward appearance of my inward feeling. (Contrary to popular belief, this is not me practicing my smiles for school pictures this is a look but utter surprise and Christmasy happiness!) Right after I got the presents.

Can you say Nativity? I can! KAWAII- where is the headless wiseman when you need him!

The bling bling of a tree! This is my third Christmas tree in my small apato! You could say I am my mother's child! (don't ask her how many she has- too many to count!)

Grandma J's famous cookies- blurry because I was so excited I was shaking! Also slobbering because these cookies are the BEST in the WORLD!

New addition of lights (which a set like that would cost around 60 dollars here) I am quite rich- oh wait rents got em for me! THANKS!

Ok, this is basically for the rents! Sorry to bore you with such a wondrous moment for me but I needed to share it with you all- for I was so joyful and surprised- not much happens here! 

Remember: Is that a piece of hair? NO, It's a piece of that stringy silver fringe stuff that you put on your tree. (Its such a hate love relationship!

~MOlly

HAMU, IESUKUREAMU... I want to by a vowel, can I buy a mu?

Well folks, It is that time of year again. When the rain falls, and people play tennis in outdoor courts! EHHHH? (for those of you who understand- that is the Japanese sound for what?) Yes, that is my fate for this year- 40 degree weather and rain in December. It is very weird to think that it is going to be like this- no snow- or very little, and cold rain! But thought the outdoors are quite un-IOWA Christmas like, I shall create for you a piece of Christmas in my apato.

You know when you don't have lots of nick nacks you some how make them... wrong I know..

Yes, I decided today, Sunday December 7th to venture into the beautiful weather and get some warming devices and more Christmas Decorations! They are very few but there are some so I went to explore my area. but first- after waking and cleaning out my apartment for a pre-Christmas Decoration ritual, I found my back tire of my borrow bike- completely flat. So It was sorta flat last night but today was completely flat- I love the idea of biked but not the ridiculousness of them. So I walked my bike to get air and then there was a popping noise- and the man went on to tell me- that I should get a new tire. (from what I understood- which was a good click of it). Well I asked where should I go- and he did direct me and I understood- crazy! So I went and using three words asked for a new tire and right then and there they did it and it cost somewhat of 40 dolla which for the price of  walking everywhere and not having a bike was pretty good! So I got it fixed and decided to take this new Bridgestone tire out for a spin.

I found a Nativity at the store! YEAH!

So, I went on a little Kokubo travel. I hense passed buy a Lawsons- a convinie as we would say- and peddled past the MAKONODONARUDO's ( yeah guess what that is) and turned to the big bridge. This bridge is a part of my short runs. I run to this bridge and hence pant up the stairs on the side to the top and then across and down and back and well you know the drill! So I got up and over with my bike- because they have sweet middle ramps on the stairs. These are fun to run up but some people bike down them and wow I still haven't gotten up enough guts to try!! Kinda steep if you ask me. Anywho I found my way to the D2 (not DQ as my dad would have it) and found myself a very small humidifier which uses a water bottle as the water reservoir. It is so cute- I want to take it home to the US but it says only to use in Japan-what is that? Any who found a few Christmas decs and some sweet Charlie Brown Japanese cards. (when you think Christmas you think Charlie brown don't you! I DO!). And then I got this hot water bottle, which is all the rage in Japan- the "we do not use central heating or cooling so we use as many objects to keep us warm as possible) between layers, hot water bottles and those hand warmer things- wow we all look like Eskimos! Any who it will find its way into the bottom of my bed as a pre-bed time warmer! SO D2 was successful! My bike basket was quite full!

Then on to Joy Mall (which by the way there are three by me- and they are very similar to Des Moines malls- def have a Merle Hay, Valley West and Jordan Creek style mall! so much like home). Anywho I went to Jordan Creek- I mean Joy Mall and approached the biggest DAISO ever- the Dolla store! Dolla stores are huge here! They have everything you ever need! Plus its a dolla who would not get something? Any who I was searching for some tea, and a few Christmas decs! And then it hit me like a car hitting a bike- a black tree?? yeah they have them here- not sure why but really that is not what hit me like a child realizing they have to go to the bathroom- a 90 cm Christmas tree for 462 en (yen) Like 5 dolla! WHAT? my little puny tree at home was not looking so great to this grandeur. So out of no where I grabbed it and some more Christmas ornaments and bolted! SO I got out side and was about ready to head back home to set this winter wonderland up and then I remembered- I was just at D2 and had a full basket- AHH! Thank goodness for bungee cords I roped myself a full basket and strapped the tree on the back of my bike and hauled that thing home!  and this is the outcome! KAWAI.

It is nothing compared to my sister's but inside I feel so much at home. I love this little tree- I get so much joy out of decorating the tree and bossing anyone around who does not do it like I want it (just ask the family!). I was completely free to decorate it how I wanted- I didn't have anyone to boss around- kinda missed that but it turned out wonderful! And Mom- after looking at this picture I did move that smaller green one around and switched a few of the glossy bulbs that were too close- no worries!).

What a wonderful home- like feeling- my favorite thing to do during Christmas is to come home and turn on the Christmas tree and sit in the dark and just relax and look at it! (lame but true)

Here is a little of what the new arrangement looks like- more home-y I think. Also, I like the dissonance  I feel since the rug is not straight and the table is shifted- no joke it is a sweet feeling!

Ok. This was the tree I had at first- and really is this enough? NO! And if you haven't noticed- I have used all of these wonderful mini-quilts my grandmother made for me to take as gifts- as perfect decor for christmas. OK I promise to give them away but it is hard- they are sweet!

OK I couldn't find garland so I opted for ribbon and these snow flakes that were left for me! I think it is kinda sweet- just more Christmas please!

So as you see, though I may step out into sunshine for Christmas- and work- I can still come home and find a bit of Christmas just like I would have at my home in the US. What a great feeling of home! I just wanted to share this with all of you! It made me remember Christmas and home! Also, in classes now I am teaching Christmas lessons and can freely say JESUS as much as possible- so we talk about him all the time! LOVE IT! What a great feeling of release- no worrying about rules or being fired for believing what our founding father believed in. (kinda strange that that happens!) Well, from this side of the world I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas Holiday! Please do not get caught up in the rush and business of Christmas to not take time to remember Jesus and him being a gift to all of us! 

Remember: Why want more for Christmas when you get to wake up everyday and Glorify God with your life! 

~MOlly

abcdefghijk mnopqrstuvwxyz.........

\

May I brag a little- This is my sisters tree! Rock it girl!

Herro! My name is Tomoya. I like to run. Do you like to run? How is the weather? Nice to meet you! Your Friend- Tomoya. 

So today's topics will be of a variety of brainwaves and will encompass a huge yama (mountain) of nashi (pears) (hence put them together and you get yamanashi- where i live- hehe) Ikimashow- Let's Go:

First: I just finished my first All English- my teacher wasn't here so she said you get to do whatever you want to do all in English- class. We extended their ability to introduce themselves and created letters to send to America. As I was the only one who was in control of the class and I wrote a few Japanese phrases to help me out- It went really well. I thought there would be utter chaos and there would be a rampage of little Japanese children running around the room saying HERRO HERRO MORRY TEACHER. That was not the case-  I used my scary teacher eye (that I got from my DAD) and my limited Japanese to effectively teach.... well tell them about sending letter to America. While some of the letters will look very similar to one to which was "written" to me by my friend Madeline (sorry I had to use a name and wanted it to be interesting and she lives in California which they felt was so cool!). So needless to say, a good majority of students chose to opt for the I will copy the teachers letter and sign my name on it route but A good few did  a great job of writing an original work. To this I say- SUGOI! I was so excited! I loved reading them. Any who, it was worthwhile and I think we both learned something. Also I knew enough Japanese to help most of the students and some students helped me so much! I felt so good! It was fun! Now I get to do this 3 more times! How great! I expect only more interesting things to come!

Second: It is raining in Japan. Document this- it is December 5th (or fiveth as students would say), and it is raining. Samui desu- it is cold but raining. So strange to me. The temperature has been so warm lately I haven't needed to wear so many layers- I hope it stays like this for a while... but I can only hope!

Third:  I just got thermals from the rents- thanks they are much needed. Also, I got some window coverings to keep out the cold. I thought yeah this will be so easy and no problem. I have three windows and a door with an opening on it! Well it turned out to be quite the ordeal. I got the smaller window up with little problem since it was small but the huge window like that time I tackled and wrassled myself a codfish in the Indian river. I got the tape on but didn't have anyone to help hold the wax paper so the wax paper kept getting stuck and and I had to stand on a chair which had wheels on tatami which is not the most level and then when i got it on it was too cold outside so when i wanted to seal it with a hairdryer I also needed my personal halogen light heater beside me to warm up the wax and on and on. But I did get it done and my apato (apt) is so much warmer than before. Ok that is a lie because we do not have insulation so it is not warmer but leaks less! So thank you for the paper and hope this never happens to you..

Fourth: as far as the stolen bike- it is not back yet! It is still missing and I am using a children sized bike from Kamijo. ( which fits me well because I can finally stop my bike and stay seated on the seat (otherwise it is too tall and I have to get off every time). You would think this would not be such a problem in Japan but there is somethings to a granny bike that I will never understand- chopper handles and huge tires!But you gotta love the kid bikes! Mine is now maroon with flames on the side - or will soon have them ( I think nail polish will work). But any who all is well on the Japanese ghetto side- I am no longer fighting the gangs for street time! 

Fourth: The children do not drink milk during the winter because it is so cold outside which means a combo of milk and instant coffee on my desk! HOLLA

Thanks for listening to the ramblings of Just a Guz they were brought to you buy Wakki Wakki- a chocolate treat that you can eat while you walk! 

Remember: When you see a piece of gum under railing it is not free candy! (love that movie)

~MOlly

Bike-less in Japan

こにちわ

Hello from the kerosene smelling room of Kamijo Jr. High School. The preferred heating system used in Japan is kerosene which is quite cost effective but not smell effective. As of now, I believe I am high off of these fumes, I feel tingly on my finger types and I crave Cheetos. Well, I always crave Cheetos so that is nothing new!-(plus even more since the "Cheetos" here taste sweet not cheesy). I have a few updates which to me are quite relevant and non-negotiable to the public justice systems in Japan.

First, to my not-so-unnatural surprise, I grow hair on my legs. I know this is very unheard of and should never be blogged on... Well, I began to grow this hair in November or (late October) and finally reminded myself that this growth was no longer natural about December 1 (today). This was quite the easy excursion for the cooler weather forces even the warmest of people to bundle into so many layers that nothing but your nose shows. Thus I "forgot" this bite of hygiene.  Well, this takes me back to my college years (7 months ago), where this male dorm would do what is called a no-shave-November. This was practiced by many a male and female who dare to be different and feel the fir. Well, much to anyone's surprise- An Ego no Sensei in Japan still upholds this timeless event. you may question the maturity of this Sensei- a grown women not shaving her legs? Well (shout out to the women) you all do it too! I just chose to document it. So here is a few documentary pictures to prove this most honored experience. (warning these next pictures are not for the skweemish!)

Second, much to NOT my surprise again- I had a new experience in Japan. One to which few can boast... Watashi no jidensha was stolen- My bike was stolen. Well, after my good luck with riding the bike and getting a new one! WOW what to my surprise as I woke and walked outside to run but my bike spot was empty. I had both keys to my bike and that means it was locked. So, without any sweet digs I shall be walking to most places- and will not be able to do near as much as before. Oh my experiences! Thankfully I can laugh and enjoy a shorter walk to school due to my switching schools to the closer school. Or I would have to walk about 40 mins to school. Oh well funny story! Breaking news- I just found out that there are no extra bikes now so I will be bikeless for a week or so till they find it or get a new one. I will miss lessons this week and may have to spend long hours walking to places or getting a ride in a taxi- oh well!

Third, and most exciting is the most recent new I have just found out- the Vikings won against the Chicago Bears. MEANING they are number ONE in their division. This does not mean that they are fantastic or even really good (based on their division) but with their most recent past-the past two years of transition and painful loses, they seem to be heading in the right direction- towards the super bowl! I am so proud of them and glad they dominated. 34-14! What a great day!

To this day I say- What a new journey. Maybe this even more slowing down of my life will encourage some needed reflection on what life is like in a new light! When conveniences are taken out and language is all you have.

Remember: Kerosene is quite potent no one light a candle. 

~MOlly