the tO(e) in nippon

2007-06-05T00:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I've neglected this blog. I guess I just don't want to be redundant here if I've mentioned all my updates in my monthly emails.

It is June and this is the last stretch of this English teaching ministry. It's been 7 beautiful months and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. God's been taking really good care of me and I really couldn't ask for more. The people here are absolutely amazing. I'm really grateful and honoured to be able to play a part in the lives of the people that I've met here. My last class is on June 23rd but I won't be leaving Japan until July 3rd. So hopefully I'll make good use of the remainder of the time I have here!

Pictures to be posted later this month...tune in!

2007-04-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

It's time for an update!

Just finished the second week of classes for this Spring term. So far so good :D My students and I are definitely having a good time as we all laugh and learn from each other each class. Here is one of the laughs of this week:

[I taught simple phrases to my beginner's students and they were to use them in a conversation with each other]

Student A: I have a headache. Can you go to the hospital with me?
Student B: I'm sorry, I am busy.
[I'm already laughing here]
Student A: Where is the nearest hospital?
Student B: I don't live in this area (long pause)...let's go to the dentist together!

Bahahahahhaha...oh my. At this point, everyone bursted out laughing. Good times!

My two favourite responses from my students are "Ok" and "Wakkatta" (I understand). Those words just make my day! Especially coming from my kiddies! "Ok" is one of those words that they are confident enough to say. So cute!

One more week of classes and I get a week off! Golden Week! Nothing planned. But hoping to spend some time with students and some other ladies that we've met (and know English!)...as well as some young adults from Kasugai Church. I'd tell you what Golden Week is..but I don't even really know. A national holiday..that's all I know!

Last week, there was a Post-Easter celebration. An awesome time of fellowship with the people at Nagoya Church. A couple of students came and it was so nice to have spent the afternoon with them. A good time of fellowship, good food, and songs. Lots of laughs. It's great to see the community in these churches and how they really love and care for one another. Very encouraging :D

[teachers and students :D]

Next weeeeeeeeeeek I'll be going out for some sukiyaki with one of my classes! Last time we went over to a couple's house for Nabe (hot pot). We have plans for BBQ and eel in the near future :D Yeeeeh!

Spring Break is...over.

2007-04-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

My Spring Break is over... :( but I had such an awesome time! I'm very grateful and thankful for this chance to have travelled around, which I normally would not have been able to afford to. Anyway, here are the pictures!

[the nurse who knew my mother and perhaps even held me at some point when I was a baby. We are standing in the area where the babies (me being one of them) used to sleep!]

[Sendai: a place north in Japan; a beautiful place, indeeeeed! I stayed there a few days with Kristy and her family. we did some hiking and a lot of relaxing (well, I did, at least). A great time of peace]

[Sendai]

[Celebrated my 23rd birthday in Sendai. And Kristy's mother graciously made me a birthday cake (WITH ICE CREAM on the side!). I finally celebrated my birthday in the right time zone and not a day after my birthday!]

[in Tokyo...Shinjuku Park. A park filled with Sakura trees.]

[Let me tell you, not all of Japan looks like this, yet this is the image we have of Japan! This is Tokyo..but trust me...NOT ALL OF JAPAN LOOKS LIKE THIS!]

[More Sakura! This was at Iwakura, located in Nagoya. Went to Iwakura with a few ladies from church and Kristy. One of the 101 places to look at cherry blossoms. Beautiful, isn't it? God is quite the artist.]
Going to Iwakura and coming back to our apartment was quite the adventure. We thought the ladies knew their way...or so you would think. And they did..only by car. Ha..so we jumped in a few wrong trains there and back! It was quite funny. But then it began to pour when we were there....so that wasn't as exciting and fun to say the least. A good time to appreciate the beauty of this place.

Well, yesterday marked the beginning of my Spring Term..which is also my last term in Nagoya, Japan. Please keep this ministry in your prayers...that God may be known and glorified by those who hear His Word.

Expeditions!

2007-03-25T04:19:00.000-07:00

Spring Break has begun!

With the super cheap train tickets that Kristy and I bought, we have been making trips around Japan :D For 8,000 yen, we could make 5 day-trips anywhere in Japan via the JR Train. that is a steal! We are spendly $16 CDN on one trip that would usually cost about $70 CDN for a round-trip.

Our expedition started early in the morning on Wednesday. Oh my...we woke up at 5:30am to get ready since we had to leave the house by 6:30am. Our first destination was Himeji (where I was born!). That ride was loooooong--4 hours! We stood for 3 of the 4 hours because the train was so jammed pack. Yah, it was a national holiday and with the kiddies out of school, many families were travelling. We visited the famous Himeji Castle! Yup, also known as one of Japan's National Treasures since it was not re-constructed like other castles in Japan. The interior of the castle itself wasn't THAT stunning but the exterior and its surrounding were spectactular. You would have to be there to experience it in order to fully appreciate the setting and atmosphere. Don't be fooled by the Sakura (Cherry Blossom) tree...there was only one. Ha..but pretty nonetheless! After eating some amazing soft ice cream (black sesame--sounds interesting but insanely delicious) and visiting some souvenir shops, we had to catch our train to Osaka.
[Himeji Castle]

[looking out from the castle]

Osaka, Osaka, Osaka...oh my. What a lively place! Known for its Okonomiyaki (pancake-like food with cabbage and meat) and Takoyaki (fried dough with octopus in the centre)--both drizzled with a kind of sauce and mayo--we, of course, had to try them! And so we did (obviously)! Mmmm-mmmmmmmm! Lots to look at but no time! We went to Dotonbori and it was packed with people (mostly young people)! Very different from what we saw in Himeji which was more quiet and peaceful. As much as we didn't want to leave, we had to...trains stop running around midnight so we had to leave enough time so we wouldn't get stranded! Thus we got back to our apartment at 11:30pm. And naturally, we were pooped the next day.

[Okonomiyaki]

[Dotonbori]

On Friday, we made another journey...this time, to KYOTO! OH man...what a day. We trained for about 3 hours to get there but there was still not enough time to walk around! First, we went to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple). Yes, the temple was made of gold! It was pretty..and the surrounding was aboslutely serene. Tried some Japanese sweets (of course!) and we had to make our way out so we could visit some souvenir shops and complete the rest of our itinerary!
[Golden Temple]

We visited Nijo-jo, which is a castle that has squeaking floors. Why? Well, the squeaking floors work as a security measure so when people snuck in then they would not go unnoticed. Picked up some souvenirs and left!

Thereafter, we went to Kiyomizu-dera via Gion. Ha..we walked around Gion and there were shops all around up till our destination! It was soooo neat! Imagine a street and having all these unique shops on both sides which only take like 5 steps to cross over. Again, very lively as it is a famous tourist attraction. We had a really good time there just looking around and shopping :D I even got to try tofu ice cream! Haha...it was...tofu'sh. I mixed it with another kind of flavoured tea ice cream which was quite sugoi! But the shops all closed at 6pm!!!! *sigh* So we had to make our way back to the main station. But because it was so jammed packed, 3 of our buses passed by us because it was so full that the 3 of us (me, Kristy, and one of my students) couldn't get on. Let me tell you...hunger and fatigue do not work well together. We finished the night with a nice bowl of ramen and dessert :D Mmm-mmmm... yup, and we got back home at 11pm. Again, needless to say, we were super pooped by the next day.

[a great satisfying dinner after a day of walking]

[Geisha? No, apparently someone told us that they are only people who paid to dress up as geishas. What's funny is that this lady stopped them to take a picture. So I decided to take a picture of her taking a picture of them..hah..tourists!]

A great blessing to be able to travel around and to see so much. More trips to come... tune in in April for more updates :D Great memories, indeed. Not to mention that I took 400 pictures in just 2 days..haha. GOOD TIMES!

2007-03-17T04:29:00.000-07:00

Hello!

As usual, I ask myself, "where is time going?" March 19th marks my last day of the term! I've finished teaching two terms in Japan already! This is craaaazy! This means that 1.) I'll be on holiday for the next little while, and 2.) I only have one term remaining before heading back to Toronto.

One more term on the Island. Many of you are probably thinking the same thing... "WOW." Once the Spring term begins, that means I have 10 weeks left to serve here in Nagoya. And we all know that these 10 weeks will fly just like that. It's bittersweet. Here on the one hand, I miss my family and friends and church in Toronto and I really do look forward to going home and seeing what God has prepared for me. On the other hand, I love my students so much. I enjoy teaching them English soooo much. I'm still learning how to be a missionary and I know there's still a lot to learn. And there are students whom I'm beginning to know, or are warming up to me. I don't know the kind of impact I've made or will make on my students, but what I do know is that this experience has really given me the chance to think about missionary work...and world missions, in general, as well as my role as a disciple of Christ. Still digesting what I've been reading and learning; it will take a lifetime!

Vacation! I'll be travelling with my housemate for the next little while! I do look forward to seeing more of Japan! Yes, and I'll make sure to post some pictures up when I get the chance to. Most of all, I'll be visiting the priest who helped my family out when we were in Japan. I'm definitely excited about that! I'll get to visit my past and learn a bit about my history and my family's history. I'll get to see the hospital that I was born in! Yeeeh!

I've had some really good fellowship'n time these past weeks. A married couple (my students) invited me and other people in the class over to their house for some NABE! It was so generous of them to open up their house to us. We had such a good time just laughing and eating good food. Again, it's wonderful to have two different cultures meet and regardless of the language barrier, we still had an awesome time with each other. [Nabe is like HOT POT. There's a pot of broth that is boiled and you continue to add vegetables and meat into the pot. You eat as you cook].

Kristy and I had the chance to share our testimonies to our English-speaking fellowship at Nishi-church. Hearing Kristy's story, I can't help but to be absolutely amazed at how God works differently in each of our lives..each and everyone of our lives. We are so different with such different backgrounds, but somehow, somewhere, our paths met. And here we are, living together and serving in the same ministry. God showed His glory to us in His own specific way to us at the perfect time.

Last week, on my day-off, I went to the mall and randomly bumped into a couple from church. First we chatted over some coffee with my limited Japanese. Then, they invited me over to their house for lunch! Again, some really great fellowshiping time just talking about everything. A great time for me to practice my Japanese and for them to use their English! Works for me!

Overall, I am very thankful to be here doing what I am doing. Watashi wa genki desu ( I am healthy) regardless of the changing weather and with people coughing around me. Ha... Alright, more updates coming your way in a few weeks (or less).

Thanks for making it all the way to the end of this post! Thank you for caring!

4 month anniversary

2007-02-25T19:44:00.000-08:00

I've been here for 4 months now!

Here are some updates :D

Open-House Party
The open house party was fun! At one point, 20 people showed up! We didn't have enough chairs so some had to stand. We were blessed with a mountain of food. IT WAS A MOUNTAIN!!! Some home-made and some store-bought. These ladies are so sweet. A few of them literally stopped by, dropped off the food, and left. Their sincerity really blew me away. Unfortunately, because there were so many people, Kristy and I were busy making things and serving them. Thus, we did not have time to just sit down and chat with them as what this party was intended for. We learned our lesson though. A few came later in the afternoon, and that's when we actually got to sit down and show them pictures of our lives in Canada and enjoy each other's company. The next day, we invited a few more to come over for lunch to help us finish off the food. And that was some more good fellowshiping. I really enjoyed that. Lesson learned: we can only handle 4 people at one time. On a side note, we still have a lot of junk food left from the party.

Plum Blossoms
Went to see plum trees/blossoms yesterday! Absolutely gorgeous! It's definitley neat to see the variety in God's creation...and the beauty of them. I must say that the sky here seems to look a lot nicer than the one I see in Toronto! But how vast it is...that, I cannot fathom. And...I tried the most amazing mattcha ice cream at this Agriculture Centre that we went to see these trees! *drooool*

Growth
Definitely learning a lot being here. The best of all is having the quiet time to myself to reflect and read. As I'm re-reading the Old Testament, beginning from Genesis, I can really see how God's been just right there waiting for us. Each time that we turn away, He is always calling us back and providing us a way to draw closer to Him. And this is only one of the many lessons I've learned or have been reminded of from reading the beginning while thinking of the New Testament. As I reflect on my time in Japan, I thank God for providing me with all the spiritual feeding that I've gotten back in Waterloo and Toronto. Because there is a language barrier here, fellowship can be a bit difficult, let alone the expression of our faith in an understandable language. But He provides. With Kristy here I've been able to share my faith with her and talk about our walk with God. And even though there is a language barrier, we nonetheless have a lot of fun trying to figure each other out. One of the best moments is when these ladies use as much English as they know and I use as much Japanese as I know to communicate. With Kristy knowing a lot of Japanese, she translates for me. But when she doesn't understand, we ask the other party to write it in Kanji (chinese characters), and I would then translate. So we back each other up. It's fun! And it also forces me to use my Japanese, which is fun too, because I know I'm breaking all the grammar rules and using all the wrong particles and words. But OH WELL! It's the effort that counts :D

Love
Thank you all for supporting me. You know who you are :D
And I thank God for always providing and meeting my needs each and every day.

I am healthy (Genki desu). Doing very well! Only 4 more months here. Please pray that God will use me in these remaining months here in Nagoya, Japan.

To School People
Continue running the race! April is around the corner!

[to end off, here is a typical Japanese home]

2007-02-04T01:28:00.000-08:00

February already! I apologize for taking so long to update (again). There are some days where I'm just so drained because I have evening classes and then I have to take the train back home. Nonetheless, it's all worth it. In one of my classes I got my first question after a bible message :) This student is actually interested in learning more about Christianity! Praise God for that. It's very encouraging to hear! Please keep this ministry in your prayer. They are looking for teachers for next Fall...so if you're a single female and is interested in serving the Lord in Japan.....then feel free to ask me about it! Or check out the link: http://www.efcc.ca/index.cfm?pageID=122

My mother learned how to use skype! My brother and I never thought our mother would go near a computer..but she did it! Now we get to chat with each other...and see each other on the webcam!

We have an open-house party at my apartment in 10 days! A way to connect with our students. I'm looking forward to that! It'll be nice to chat with them outside of the classroom and church setting :) Hoping to make this into a more regular event... maybe once a month...or twice? Time to pick up the Japanese language. But body gestures are great too!

Everything is great here :) I'm healthy and happy! Weather is still good..gets a bit chilly every now and then but better than Toronto on any given day.

We had a tacoyaki party :) Don't worry guys, I'll buy the mold and make it for you when I'm home! It's basically batter with a lot of other things like ginger, onions, cabbage...and whatever you want to throw in there. We even put in chocolate at one point..... :|

Kristy and I made chocolate chip/banana "muffins" with the "oven setting" in the microwave. It turned out alright...looks kind of..."different" from the normal muffins we bake in the oven. But hey, I guess it's the effect of radiation! Ha..but here is the cross section of our deadly creation....eating half of it destroyed us.

I made fried rice...and cupped them (with a mold) into these shapes! Okay, it was my day off..so I had time to have fun with my food.

Some of my students :)

Alrighty, that's all for now. E-mail me if you want more details about how I'm doing in life...or in general..or if you just want to catch up :)

2007-01-21T02:42:00.000-08:00

Bonjour bonjour!

So what’s new? I have a housemate! A major blessing indeed. We are getting along very well. It’s a big change in my life. It was hard not having anyone to talk to aside from the times I’m at church teaching. With Kristy here, there’s someone to eat with, watch tv with, talk with, and just bum around with. It’s great!

Classes this term just resumed. Although I’ve had to give up some of my classes (so Kristy and I can teach the same number of classes), I do have new students joining the ones I am teaching. I’m really enjoying my time in Japan :) But it is still my goal to get to know my students better. But how? It’s difficult when I only see them once a week, or when classes are one after another, so there’s not much time to chat with them. Well, Kristy and I are going to open up our apartment in February and invite our students over for some snacks and games :) OH yeeeeh..well, that’s a step. But if you have any ideas, please shoot them over!

Much thanks for all the encouragement and prayers I’ve been receiving. Your love and support really matters to me. It’s great to feel and know that I am loved (even though I’m half way across the world)! I really thank God for sending me all these angels (you boys and girls) to keep me going, and of course, with the strength I draw from Him.

Here are some pictures that we took as we ventured at Osu Kannon. There was market outside (that occurs twice a month) so we went to check that out. Got myself a used kimono in pretty good condition for 1000 YEN (= $10 CDN). Yupppp, but the question remains: when will I wear it? Halloween? Haha..one day.
[kishimen in miso soup]

[deep fried curry--basically a "bun" with curry inside and is DEEP FRIED....soooo good. About $1.70]

[DEEP FRIED DONUT..so I call it. I don't remember the name. But there's "an" [bean paste filling] inside and the outside tastes like a doughnut. costs about $1.20]

[mitarashi dango: very popular in Japan. It's basically rice balls made with flour and sugar? But the sauce on top of it is AMAZING. It looks simple but it's gooood! Costs 60-80cents for one stick]

Yes, my "I love my food" expression are all the same :)

P.S. I had creme broule (sp?) today :) Hehehe...

New Year 2007 on the Island

2007-01-02T05:33:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! Welcome, 2007!

This will be a good year...I can smell it! Well, this year came to a good start!

Blessing #1
Spent the day with a Japanese family today. My students (a father and daughter) invited me over to their home for a family celebration for New Years! It was such a warm feeling. Unfortuntately, I don't know enough Japanese to communicate effectively with them, but the family members made the effort to communicate with me in English. I had such an amazing time! I got to taste some really really really delicious traditional Japanese food! Mmmm....absolutely priceless. This family knew that I'd be alone this New Year, so they were kind enough to invite me over so I would have somebody to celebrate this New Year with. I feel so loved. I even got to try on a kimono!!!! And what's more heart-warming is that I got to be part of their family photo :)

[raw fish...yummmmmy!]

[a special kind of sushi--it is shaped like a cake (and thick like a piece of cake)--"sushi cake" I suppose!]

[traditional Japanese food for New Years--"happy food"]

Blessing #2
Yes, more shopping. But most importantly, it's not the shopping but the fact that I got to spend time with Hiromi (my student--the same one who invited me to her house for New Year). It's so nice to have someone who wants to spend time with me. She took the initiative to ask me to go out. We both had a really good time. Even though we have this little age gap, but we still had a lot to talk about. I have a frieeeeennnnnd! A blessing indeed.

Blessing #3
I will have a housemate in 3 days :D There will be someone whom I can share this ministry with; someone to talk to and come home to. I really look forward to the months to come :D

I am definitely being looked after here in Japan. God has definitely provided...more than I can imagine or deserve.

Class resumes next week :D Tune in later!

2006-12-22T23:51:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas :D

My apologies for the super-delayed update. I guess I've been thinking about what I should share with you boys and girls.

Well, first off, Christmas marks my second month here in Japan. SECOND MONTH! Where is time going? It's already been two weeks since I last blogged! To be honest, the last two weeks or so have been really really tough...emotionally. I've been missing home. But I've been receiving a lot of encouragement from my family and friends to keep me going. Also, I know I am here for a reason so that has kept me going as well. As a pastor at home has told me before I left, I only have 8 months to serve in Japan (for now, anyway), so make good use of this time. Amen to that. Hopefully in the months to come, I'll get to know my students better and be able to share my faith with them.

The cutest thing happened last night. I taught the children how to use adjectives. So, I compared a "thick book" to a "thin magazine". As I tried to say magazine in Japanese, this 6-year-old boy corrected me. Hahah..he repeated himself 3x (slowly, might I add) so I could repeat after him. Because that's what I do to them all the time, so it was his turn to shine. I thought it was cute. I still can't pronounce it properly, I don't think. I was also very encouraged to hear yesterday that a student of mine really wants to learn English (although it has been a challenge for her) because she wants to be a minister. That uplifted my spirit--to see a young child be so passionate and determined.

I learned a new recipe today! I now know how to make OKONOMIYAKI :D It's an omlette/pizza dish..don't worry, I shall cook it for you when I come back to Canada :D It is worth the wait!

I've been listening to the online radio for the past few weeks! Anyway, they've been talking about how people are all so stressed out because they have no time to buy presents, etc. etc. etc...Christmas shouldn't have to be stressful! It's a celebration of hope...yet this important point is missed or even forgotten at times because of the stress of giving presents. Giving shouldn't have to be stressful, either! How silly is that. I hope we all prepare room for Him in our hearts this Christmas. Happy birthday, Jesus :D

MERRRRRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!! Eat lots and send some leftovers to me! Much love from Japan!

2006-12-08T00:23:00.000-08:00

Howdy friends!

I'm still here! And let me start off by saying that I did not get lost this week.

I had the privilege of spending the day with an older gentlemen and 3 younger girls (who are also my students) from church on Sunday. It was an afternoon and evening well-spent. I've never met my grandfathers so it was as if I had a grandpa for a day :D He took us (the "grand-daughters") to the Noritake Park, which is known for its ceramics. We each got to each choose a candy/chocolate of our liking and he bought it for us! Hahaa...that was cute. Then he brougt us out for sushi--with those circulating plates where you just grab whatever you like as it comes to you. "Grandpa" also treated us to that delicious meal :D Sweet man, indeed. We played with his dogs and we all walked over to Nagoya Station where the Illumination light works is held. Beautiful indeed...made me miss home a bit >_< It was an interesting day. Imagine 4 people who barely know any English and 1 person who knows very limited Japanese spending the day together....we managed. We had fun :D Or at least I know I did! At the store, a lady started talking to me but I told her that I wasn't Japanese and did not know the language. Then, she continued to talk to me in Japanese! Hahaha...I thought that was funny. She tried to use some English too. We managed...as well. Since she was promoting chocolate, she decided to give me a few more samples as "presents"..haha...cute. I like free.

Today I decided to be adventurous. I tried one of the Japanese's favourite food..... NATTO. It is some kind of fermented beans. Everyone is telling me that I should try them. So, I did today. I opened up the package and I was blown away by the strong smell of....some indescribable smell. It was strong. Then, I heated the beans up in a pan, and oh my......the smell got even stronger. I can smell it as I type...even after half an hour, and with the window opened, and with a scented candle burning, and after a few sprays of room fragrance. These beans are...SLIMY. It's weird putting something slimy into the mouth...yes, slimy is the word. The beans were soft and slimy...and strong in aroma. It came in a package of 3...not sure if the other 2 packages will be finished. Let's just say that it was alright to try; not sure if it will become part of my diet. I highly doubt it. Baaaa...my lips were slimy after I finished them. *shivers*

I want to make lasagna...but those pasta sheets are pricy here!!!! $6 for a package of like 12 sheets. And they're small, too. And I can't afford rice here, either. Why is rice expensive in a country where people consume rice in every meal??? I don't get it. WAKANAI!!!! ("I don't understand")

Tonight I had a student tell me that she is happy in English class. Hehe...that was definitely nice to hear. I must say that I'm discouraged at times when my students do not understand and say muzukashi ("difficult") or wakanai. But a friend reminded me that I can't expect myself to be good at everything. And he's right. I need to trust that God will empower me to do His work here.

Nagoya Station: "Illumination"

[can't forget about the doggy]

2006-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

The day before yesterday, I decided to go find this figurine for my friend. But when I got there, the store was not opened yet. So, I decided to venture around instead of going home and going back to the store again. And without a doubt...like the usual, I got lost AGAIN. I'm really good at getting lost. Not the best thing when one does not know the language of the country. Being sure that I was lost, I decided to ask for directions. As I stepped off of my bike to ask for directions, I fell. Not to mention that all this was in slo-mo. When I stepped off of my super bike, my foot got caught in this tunnel. My foot fitted perfectly into that tunnel, so I got stuck. Thus, I fell off my bike...slowly....as the guy who worked at the gas station witnessed the entire process. With a grin on his face, I wanted to dig a hole for myself. But getting home was more important because I had a class that day. God bless, I found my way back to my apartment :D Yah, getting lost has become a ritual for me. I'm better with the subway and trian system.

As I headed back to the toy shop, a man (the owner, I presumed at the time) walked out. Good thing I caught him right on time, because he was about to leave. Apparently, they close on mondays. The character for Monday in Japanese is actually Sunday in Chinese. Thus, I thought they were closed on Sundays. Anyway, the man was kind enough to open up the store for me even though he was heading out. He didn't have the figurine I was looking for but he said he would look around for me! So kind of him. ANNNNNND....last month, I went there to ask them if they had Marukochan (a Japanese anime character). The woman at that time made a phone call to ask someone if they had any Marukochan toys in stock. However, they didn't have any. So, I asked this man..and it turned out that it was his wife who called him to ask about Marukochan and he remembered that someone asked for it. He reached over the counter and gave me a Marukochan keychain! A PRESENT for me!!!! Unbelievable...I was really touched. That definitely brought a smile to my face. A few weeks ago I got free tea leaves..now a keychain :D I feel special! A gift from the heart is priceless. I like being a foreigner! Haha...

1 down, 7 more to go.

2006-11-26T05:31:00.000-08:00

I have been in Japan for one month already! ALREADY! It really doesn't feel like it. I only have 7 more months here...I would hate to say goodbye to the people I've met thus far. Well, gotta enjoy the process right now.

On Thursday, a couple brought me to Mejimura! It is a village filled with historical buildings and artefacts of the Meji Period (that was when Japan changed and adopted many of the practices and culture of the west?). Boy..this place is SUGOI! Very beautiful. It's a good taste of Japan. I even got to ride the choo-choo train!

That's right! Not to mention I got to try some real Japanese curry! It's called Meiji Curry...haha..I guess curry from the Meiji period! It was interesting; it was a bit sweet. Different from the curry that I've tasted. Oishi (delicious) nonetheless. Yes, curry and rice is very big in Japan. I went to the right country!

[Meiji Curry. On the left is a piece of food from another dish. It's an omlette where rice is wrapped inside. Look at the next picture]

[Yes, food display! But people look at me funny when I take pictures of my food.]

On Saturday, so just yesterday, I went to the Robot Museum in Sakae (downtown Nagoya). Ha, I thought it was interesting. It wasn't as big as I had imagined but not too shabby. I got to see the evolution of robots across the world. Not to mention that TRANSFORMERS was part of the collection. Yeeeeh. There was this machine that when you pressed a certain button, it would play a particular song. Well, the instrument would move at a certain angle and speed to make a certain noise/note and would do that for the entire song. I have it on video, but I think it's a bit too big to put online. But the most impressive thing I saw was this robot that could move around on its own and greet people and bring tea/coffee around. AWESOME..I want one.

Today was the best though! I finally made some friends who are MY AGE!!!!!!! After one month, I finally have friends who are not a lot younger or older than me. There are 8 of them, too! I had such a great time with them. They were all part of the worship team, so we definitely shared the same interest! As they sang in Japanese, I sang in English to the same worship song....it was really nice. Good thing we had a translator! Ha...they took me out to dinner. Mmmm..I had some awesome Japanese food. Sorry, I didn't bring my camera..so no pictures. Some really fresh sashimi (raw fish) though! I tried some interesting things tonight....such as...deep fried WHALE! It was dark red/purplish...it tasted pretty good. Mmm...I also had some chicken heart! It tastes better than it sounds! Maybe everything tastes great when it's fried! haha...But Nagoya is known for its chicken wings! OH my...no joke. They weren't as meaty as the ones in Canada but the seasoning was absolutely impressive. I'm in love. Oh yes, I visited the fourth church today and they threw me a welcome lunch. hehe..more foooooood :D They are very kind here. I am definitely taken care of. And they invited me to sing with them for the Christmas concert :D

Every week Hiroko brings me a new dish to try. I tell you...she doesn't believe that I cook for myself. Haha..but I love her. A student brought me a bunch of bananas this week...haa....I didn't want to reject her gift, so I took it. Yes, my tongue still itches when I consume bananas..at least my chest doesn't hurt anymore! Go, banana!

A week of blessing, indeed. Now, time for some randomness:

[yes, drink pokka]

[the operation chair in the Meiji period...oh my....shady]

more randomness......

[my first successful rice ball]

[my creation: rice with ketchup, corn, green onion, green pepper, eggs, and cheese...and topped with some seaweed. Somehow seaweed and cheese tastes pretty good together. Another new discovery is that mayo and oyster sauce is a good combination!]

[my collection of tissue that people give out on the streets as advertisement! This happens in the central part of the city. So, my stash from 2 visits]

[my "TUB" of ice cream. I have yet to find a larger TUB...]

[the front page of a newspaper printed on my birthday]

Okay, enough randomness. All in all, this month has gone by way too fast. I'm doing fine and am loving every aspect of my life in Japan. I should really learn the language in order to be more efficient here...hee...maybe. ROLL-OUT!

Autumn Beauty

2006-11-22T03:58:00.000-08:00

[visited the miso house...and the owner gave us a tour of his soy sauce/miso factory! Here is a barrel of miso...6 tonne? Some crazy amount like that]

[A Japanese sweet. Mmm..it is like those chinese new year "leen go". Very soft and not chewy/sticky. The brown part has the flavour of brown sugar while the white one tastes like sweet potatoe]

Would I end a post without some food pictures? You know the drill.

Hiroko has been bringing me food every week. Ha..she is a sweet lady indeed. I think she is afraid that I'm not cooking for myself. One of the churches threw me a welcome party on Sunday. So, I was at church from 9:30am-8pm. Ha..after service we helped clean the church. I really enjoyed that. It was nice to see everyone get together and have this goal--and in this case, clean the church. ha..it's beautiful to see people come together. I got to meet some really great people.

Lately, I've been really asking myself why I am given so much. Why I am so blessed with one thing after another. In Matthew 5:42, it says, Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. How can I give back? All my blessings are from God. I am given so much so I can give back to Him...to His people. But I am definitely humbled each day by His love.

All online applications and paper applications (except for Brock) are sent in. News on admission comes out in April/May. So more updates on that laaaaater. In the mean time, I am enjoying being an unqualified and uncertified teacher! Mwhaaha...

On an absolutely random note....let me teach you a new word: SUGOI! Oh man...I hear this word at least 5x a day. It means amazing, wonderful. So, what's so sugoi about this week is that I got in touch with my childhood friend! (HI, Kevin). We have known each other since we were 2 feet tall..ha...err..4-5 years old. It's always pleasant to hear from an old friend. SUGOI!

Blessings & Smiles

2006-11-16T03:15:00.000-08:00

Everyday is a blessing. It is a blessing to be alive and breathing without any trouble. Praise God for that.

Second week of classes. It feels like I've been doing this for a while. Not that I'm not enjoying, cause you all know that I am. Maybe because some of the lessons are repeated so it feels like I've been doing this for longer than..a week. Haha..Anyhow, I had one of the most amazing days yesterday. In one of the classes, the ladies and I were talking about food (I most likely was the one who brought it up). Then one of them recommended "Japanese Pizza," so one of them (the Pastor's wife) volunteered to make me one next week! (We eat lunch together at the church). That was very sweet of her. She also made enough lunch this week to feed me. She was the one who told me to put my instant noodles away when she found out that was my "lunch." A heart-warming experience, indeed.

Then, on my way home, I had to make a transfer at this station. Seeing that people were selling different kinds of goods (i.e. food--I was really there to try the mochi), I decided to walk around and wait for the later train. Captured by the smell of green tea, I decided to check out the kinds of tea that this little vender offered. This tea business belongs to a couple and they actually grow/make their own tea leaves. Anyway, in the process of understanding her variety of tea, we began to communicate with my limited Japanese and with their limited English. I had a really good time. They started asking about where I was from and told me their daughter will be going to Toronto to study soon. Anyhow, by the end of it, I bought 4 bags of tea from them..ha. As I was leaving, they gave me a free pack of tea as a present :D Awwww... so sweet of them! We only talked for like 10 minutes but it was the most pleasant thing ever.

[my unknown bag of tea leaves...but a present indeed :D ]

You know how I wrote in my last entry that my goal this month is to try real Japanese curry? Well, it came true! At my night class, my Japanese mother is my translator, and she brought me home-made curry!!!!!!! Another heart-warming experience. Not to mention that the day before, Naomi made me chocolate cake.

I am spoiled here.

[some kind of Japanese dessert: grass cake? I forgot to take a picture of it...then when I was about to finish it, then I remembered! Anyway...that's how it looks! You got the cross-section of it. It has a unique taste..in the pleasant way. Inside, red bean paste]

[The yellow coated mochi has redbean paste inside. I have no idea what the yellow powder is supposed to be. The one on the right has redbean paste (yes, again) and sweet potato. Pretty interesting]

[My Pringles have been replaced]

[Last but not least...nothing like some Japanese sports on TV. SUUUUUUUMO!!!!

On an absolutely unrelated and random note: I got new glasses :D Now I can look S-M-R-T.

[yah, not very convincing, huh?]

After a week and a half of teaching...

2006-11-14T04:44:00.000-08:00

Much praise to the Lord Almighty. I love doing what I'm doing in Japan. I enjoy every aspect of teaching. Coming up with the materials is kinda fun on my part although a bit challenging at times when I take all my students' skill levels into consideration...it's hard to accomodate to everyone. But this helps stimulate my brain, so I love it. I love teaching my kids. Yes, MY kids. They're all so beautiful. Just watching them learn is such a wonderful thing. Struggling with them is my joy. Ha..for example...."Boys and girls, the letters "I" and "N" together makes the sound "IN." Now, what is P-I-N?" I get various answers..like PINE. Ha... or "PA-N"...or they would get the "P" sound and not be able to say "IN" after. It's just so cute. We take for granted that English-speaking kids are good at rhyming. As for my older students, the adults, I enjoy being with them just as much. It's easier to communicate for those who have some background in English because I wouldn't have to look up the dictionary for the Japanese translation of the English word. We converse. And it's really pleasant. A tad bit harder for the ones who don't know much English. Another challenge to stimulate my brain :D It's good though. There's something about teaching. Or maybe it's the interaction with people that I really love. Thankfully there is a program on Microsoft Word that helps me translate my English into Japanese, which makes sharing the Gospel a lot easier! At least if they don't understand me verbally, they can still read the Japanese translation...or else this whole sharing can be pointless if they do not understand me.

So yes, I got "lost" again last week. Well, I didn't really get lost. Lost is not knowing where I am...and not knowing how to get back. I made the right transfers but got on the wrong train. Not fully my fault this time. The trains are usually very prompt but somehow the 10:02am train that I was scheduled to get on came late...so when 10:02am came along, I hopped on the wrong train. Waited 40 minutes for the next train to bring me back...and another 12 minutes or so to get to my destination. Yup, I was an hour late for my class. But my students were very nice about it :D

The weather here is absolutely beautiful. Starting to get a bit chilly though. Today a lady at church did some baking and shared her baked goods with me. I was very touched. I crossed her mind today...and that means a lot. I am treated very well here. God has been sending all these angels to look after me, so I am in good hands. Plus, I know I have a lot of support back at home and that is helping me to deal with living on my own in a foreign place. It is such a major blessing to be here. The question is: What can I do while I am here? What can I do not to waste my life/time away while I am here--specifically in Nagoya, Japan?

On another note: Teacher's College applications are due Dec.1. They are all done; I just gotta submit it now. Although I love teaching, I am not sure if this is my calling. Well, please pray that if the doors to teaching do close on me, that another door will open and that I will be able to see it. But yeh, I know I will be fine whether I get in or not; especially if I do not get in.

:D Peace be with you.

Goal for this month: try some real Japanese curry!

randomness in the apartment

2006-11-09T03:26:00.000-08:00

[old skooooool! Full House in Japanese ]

[lil drinks for lil people like me]

[cocoa pretz!]

[chicken & veggies curry: my first decent home-cooked meal other than udon/noodles]

[another beautiful sunset taken from my balcony]

Well, my first week of classes. They went really well. I enjoyed every single class thus far. It's funny how my students, whether they are children or adults, are so suprised to know that I'm only 22. Then it throws them off when I greet them in Japanese and then I tell them I don't know Japanese. Ha... I must say that it helps a WHOLE lot knowing Chinese characters in Japan. Many things are written in what they call 'kanji' and I figure a lot of things out because I know a few kanji here and there. It also helps when my older students need some sort of definition and I can write it down in Chinese :D Yay! Go, 7 years of Chinese class! But this week has been amazing. I have two more days of classes. Can't really say which ones I enjoy the best. I love chat'n up with the adults and it's easier for some because they have some background in English. On the other hand, I like the challenge of explaining to adults who have limited exposure to the language. Then, there are the kids. Most of you know I'm a sucker for kids. So, having the chance to teach them really brings joy to my life. I love their energy and smiles. It is a challenge but thankfully I have a translator when I work with the kids, so that makes life a LOT easier. Commuting isn't that bad. The furthest church I travel to probably takes an hour in total. All in all, I'm really hoping to make a difference while I am here. Not just in teaching English but befriending my students and even the people at church and making myself useful. I really want to shine for Him. God-willing.

Hmm...on a totally different topic....food here is really good. There are so many different kinds of sweets! Even at the train station, there are venders selling Japanese sweets. Then, at the subway station, there are all these bakeries and goodies...ahhh..so tempting! Don't wanna come home with 20 extra pounds!

Alright, more food pictures coming up...tune in!

2006-11-06T03:03:00.000-08:00

I had my first English class in Japan today :D I was blessed with 3 little girls as my students. They were very sweet. Although one of them was falling asleep! Ha... I was told that she slept late the night before. I do hope that was the case and not my boring teaching. I really enjoyed myself. I taught them phonics!

My mother in Japan knew that I really wanted to borrow a guitar here in Japan, because we saw one sitting around at church. She asked the owner of the guitar this weekend and the person was willing to lend it to me during my time here! Ahhh! Amazing! Now I won't be bored! God provides :D

I'm going to have my adult classes tomorrow at Nagoya church! Wish me luck :D

[so, some things CAN be expensive in Japan. would you pay $7.14 for a box of brownie mix? Forget that, I'm coming up with my own mix!]

I FOUND THE MALL!

2006-11-03T23:22:00.000-08:00

Konnichiwa! Watashi wa Anna desu. Nihon-go wa wakarimasen. Doomo arigatogosaimashita.
[translation: Hello! I am Anna. I do not understand Japanese. Thank you very much]

I've been getting around with those words. Hah....oh, and, of course, "____ doko desu ka" (where is _______? ). Even if the person does know, I still have no idea what kind of directions they are giving me. So, the best is body language. Let's go back to the basics. People here have been very kind. Helping me along the way as I have gotten lost MANNNNY times. Baaa..I can't believe how sucky I am with directions! I should really listen to Eric and just drop some crumbs or use strings to find my way back. Funny how I found the mall as I made some turns...not really knowing where I was going. But heading home was the toughie...I got lost. Good thing I treated myself to a good meal and a ma-cha (green tea) ice cream for lunch...or else it would have been frustrating to be lost and hungry :|

On a brighter note, Hiroko (my mother here in Japan) brought me to central Nagoya yesterday. We walked around..window shopped :D And she bought me food. Tasted my first Starbucks beverage in Japan..of course, another green tea drink--Macha Frappacinno. They have a lot more snacks than the Canadian branches.

< taken at starbucks >

< more visual displays of fooooooooood >

< mmmm....cake. The Japanese pronounce it "ke-ku" >

Alrighty friends, until next time. Teaching starts soon! Please keep me in your prayers.

2006-11-03T03:13:00.000-08:00

Sorry dear friends, I have now changed the setting so non-blogger members can leave comments :D CHEEEERS!

Bachelorette Pad

2006-11-02T17:28:00.000-08:00

[ starting with the hallway ]

[ to your right is bedroom #1 ]

[ to your left is the bathroom: with the Japanese tub and a shower...and a mirror ]

[ separated by a sliding door is my sink and washing machine ]

[ a few more steps down is the SUPA TOILET!!!!! I have yet to try out the many functions ]

[ through the door, you'll see the kitchen and living room area..and further down is the balcony ]

[ the stove/sink/counter to cook my udon and many kinds of noodles ]

[ my fridge with a lack of solid food ]

[ but at least I brought my Lays from Canada...although that will be gone soon ]

[ then if you turn right again, you will see the other 2 bedrooms, also separated by a sliding door ]

[ then there's the balcony view....yup, the church is right across "my" apartment :D ]

[ but it ain't the same without you guys around. I even have to take my own picture...*sigh* ]

my ministry

2006-11-02T01:12:00.000-08:00

I think I should really share about my ministry here in Japan.

I am primarily a missionary but am using teaching as a tool to my ministry. I am working amongst 4 churches: Nishi, Kasugai, Nagoya, and Minami. During my time here, I will be teaching conversational English to children and adults (whom are primarily house wives). Within class time, I will have the chance to share the Gospel with them as part of the program. As well, I will get to build relationships and share the love of God with them. The classes consist of 5-9 students, so it is easier to get intimate and carry deeper conversations. It will be easier to know them more personally, which I think is important in order to open ourselves up to each other.

My first class starts on Monday. Please pray that God will use me in this ministry so He can be seen by these people and be glorified.

(To: Pink and Jamazn: Thanks for being my committed readers :D )

2006-10-31T23:26:00.000-08:00

[let's go the berbar to get my haircut!]

So, I spent 3 hours biking around the neighbourhood. Well, the goal was to find the mall........but that didn't happen. Evidently, I gave up and ended up spending the rest of the day at home. It's really hard to venture out when I have to get back to my apartment before 5pm or else it will be too dark for me to find my way around. Still trying to get used to living on my own. I need to talk to people!!!

2006-10-30T06:21:00.000-08:00

It still smells like burning! I am told that farmers are now burning up their fields since harvest is over, so it smells like burning all day. Then, it doesn't really help when I live on the 7th floor. Hehe..however, I am very thankful for being here. God has provided more than enough for me. Aside from the materialistic aspect such as a roof over my head (might I add, a 3 bedroom apartment for one of me...and a bidet that I dare not to use!), He has given me a wonderful group of people to watch out for me and to care for me. Greeted by my host family for 4 days in Tokyo, I am once again greeted by even more people now that I am here in Nagoya. I have a "mom" here in Shippo, Nagoya, and she hugged me when I first met her. I was really surprised but it was very pleasant because she was excited to see me. It's amazing because we don't even know each other. Christ love. It is through Him that we can have this kind of relationship with one another. Sick :D

In Tokyo, my last day there, I went to an International Church for Sunday worship. I was blown away that morning. Worship was excellent! The first song we sang was in English, which was followed by Japanese. Not knowing how to sing the song, I just stood there and absorbed my surrounding. It was the most beautiful sound ever. It was absolutely astounding to be reminded that we all belong to God and are His children regardless of our background. Here, there were people of different ethnicity and background worshipping this one Christian God. Unity is beautiful. Imagine the things that we can do when we work together as a body. Ahhh...."You are beautiful beyond description..." (love that song).

Hmm..what else? Well, I got skype today! Anyhooooz, that's it for now. I took videos but they are too big to upload on this page. Sooooooo...too bad. Teaching starts next week :D More updates soon!

a look @ nippon

2006-10-30T05:46:00.000-08:00

[one of the houses in tokyo]

[typical street...VERY NARROW might I add. Please look to your very right and left and there you have it--"sidewalks" for pedestrians and cyclists]

[a visual display of the menu]

[a mountain :D captured on the bus on my way to nagoya]

[6 hours later...still on the bus to nagoya but good scenery (when I was not sleeping)]

["trucks" on the road....any vehicle except for a smart car in Canada can run them over!]

[would you pay $105CDN for a box of fruits????]

[around 4:30pm in nagoya...after my adventure. however, this time I didn't reach my destination...it doesn't help when streets do not have names!]

[my very first home-cooked meal in nagoya...by myself *sniff*...come on guys, come visit :D]

Anna and the Map

2006-10-28T03:50:00.000-07:00

[cleaning my glasses at a random stand at the underground station]

Day 3 in Tokyo.

With the map Dale (my host in Tokyo) drew me of the neighbourhood, I decided to venture out by myself. I, inevitably, got lost. It was fun though! It's exciting to explore a foreign place and get lost...(no sarcasm there, seriously!)..well, it's only fun when one finds his/her way at the end. Left the house at 9:30am and got home at 4pm. Of course, by then, my legs were about to break off if my feet did not decide to give up on me from all the pressure I've applied to them for almost 7 hours. Yup, non-stop walking. Making a few wrong turns here and there, I got to enjoy the architecture of some places and just the general atmosphere of the area.

Some things I've noticed along the way:
-vehicles are so small!
-Seeing that Canadians drive on the other side, compared to the Japanese, I got thrown off a few times while I was walking--thinking that the car will run me over.
-the roads are super-narrow!
-the sidewalks are wide enough for one person to walk on
-people are soooooo friendly! (ok, even if I don't understand everything they say, one can tell by their facial expressions and gestures)
-there are guards everywhere! Guards for parking lots, crossing...annnnnd people who stand at elevators to greet you and tell you when to get in/out

Of course, the highlight of the day was at the market. I walked around the place (it's like an outdoor flea market with other stores on the side) and found a man selling kimonos. With my almost non-existent Japanese and his electronic english/chinese/japanese dictionary that he did not operate very well, we managed to make a transaction after 30min. of "talking". In between, there was a lot of me saying "wakarimasen" (I don't understand) and smiling/laughing by both of us. I thought it was kind of fun because we both tried our best to get our points across to each other. He was a very friendly man. Come to think of it, I really wanted to take a picture with him but that may have been a bit weird/awkward. But a friendly old man, indeed. Oh, then his buddy and other customers came and they all began to talk Japanese to me even after I told them I did not understand it. I thought it was cute because I guess there was some hope that I would pick up a word here and there if they kept on talking :D Sweet people though. They were all very helpful. One lady taught me how to put the obi on the kimono while another showed me how to fold the kimono properly.

Well, I get a week off before I begin my first class. I'm excited! I get to see my apartment in Nagoya tomorrow as I take the 5-hour bus ride there.

I think things will start to settle in and finally hit me once I am all by myself. Right now, I'm being taken care of by my host family and they really do look after me! I'm being fed with some really good food everyday :D This orientation is teaching me a lot and it really helps with the transition. Praise God for that!

Okeee dokes, that's it for now! Pictures will come soon...to be posted in the next blog entry! Tune in!

Day 2 in Tokyo

2006-10-26T01:57:00.000-07:00

I'm here!!!! In one piece, too!

God is good. I made it through the flight without puking :D I almost missed my flight (from Vancouver to Japan because of a delay in Toronto) but I made it right when they were doing the last boarding call! 15 hours of sleeping and eating and watching TV.

However, my luggages aren't here. But that is okay because they will be delivered to me tomorrow. I am currently staying with my host family in Tokyo and they are absolutely awesome! I am being taken care of :D

I must say, it still doesn't feel like I'm away from home/Canada! But it should hit me soon!

More updates to come later!

2006-10-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

Things are finally taking shape. I'm all packed and ready to leave for Japan in 8 days!

Almost everything is taken care of at this point in time.

To do:
-confirm flight
-insurance
-pick up visa

Prayers much needed; especially for adjustment, to be articulate in sharing the Gospel, to hear and follow Him....and that I have my to do's completed before I leave!