Meet Mr. Kobayashi, my Japanese grandfather...

I first met Mr. Kobayashi shortly after the March 2011 Earthquake while volunteering at the base American Red Cross.  Not much was really going on as I had the early morning shift - Our tent was specifically set up for those workers that were flying in to help out with the Tsunami disaster some 100+ miles north of us.  So the rush was minimal, just soldiers milling in and out awaiting transportation.

My job was to keep the coffee coming and restock the tables with donated baked good and breakfast items, which during the "rush" wasn't all too tasking.  However, after the rush I went back to our little corner to wait and read a book I brought so I wouldn't fall asleep.  Others brought their crafts of crocheting, knitting, or the base paper...in other words, not a whole lot was happening! While waiting for our next "rush" in walks this tiny old Japanese man wearing an American Red Cross jacket with the sweetest smile and proceeds to sit down at our table. Of course, we all look up and smile and say, "Hello!".  He proceeded to sit down next to a lady at the end of the table as if he knew her, or so I thought.  He was wearing the Red Cross jacket so I thought that they were well acquainted with one another, but as I watched and "etheled" I could slowly tell she was feigning interest in him which clued me in she did not want to be bothered.

Watching this little old man with his bright smile trying to start a conversation in his best "English" next to the lady crocheting who couldn't be bothered was painful. I just had to go rescue him! As with all old people, I am curious to know their story ~ where they're from? How old are they? Married? Children? I'm fascinated with the stories I've heard over the years...and being in Japan, guessing his age, I assumed he might have been around during WWII.  I'm curious about these things..especially now that we have several US military bases here.  What do they think and feel about us being here? 

I suppose my fascination comes from growing up with my grandmother, who escaped the northern winters by spending it with our military family.  We always seemed to be stationed somewhere warm. She was a Seneca Indian born on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation from the Iroquois Nation in Western NY.  We always looked forward to her visits. At bed time my sister and I would take turns sleeping with her when she stayed with us. It was such a treasure. We'd scratch her back as she'd tell stories of when she was a little girl.  Mostly of what life was life growing up on the reservation where we're from and what it was like "back then".  She was born in 1903, so she had plenty of years of experience and my sister and I were always fascinated with her and her siblings and life on "The Rez"...I'm digressing, but I know that's where my fascination comes from. I want to know the stories behind those dimmed bright eyes, the story of the wrinkles on their hands and face.  I want them to know that they MATTER!

Upon moving seats I saw that he had two hearing aids, inwardly I groaned and chuckled, I knew the challenge ahead!  I wondered how this was going to go, especially since I didn't know Japanese and his English was very difficult to understand.  We soon found out that we both live in Kusabana, and after further probing on his part of where, we realized that we live on the same road about a mile apart.  He asked if he could stop by sometime and, of course, I said, "Yes!"  What made me giggle next is that he pulled out his cell phone and asked for my number and if we could take a picture with one another -  He was 81!! Those tech savvy Japanese!

Over the course of the year since we've met, he has shown David and I "his country".through "his eyes".  I love this man.  He has welcomed me into his home and into his life.  I can ride my bike to his home and take "tea" with him and his wife.  I am greeted with "Dozo, dozo" (come in, come in) by both of them.  Mrs Kobayashi does not speak a word of English, but her warm smile and eyes remind me of my grandmother.  There is such a kindness there that when I sit down on the floor at the table - I am home.

My grandfather died when I was 5. I miss him. I didn't have that experience of knowing him. But meeting Kobaya san has given me that experience of having a grandfather. He calls just to say hello and check on me.  When his garden produces the newest vegetable he shares it with me.  Oftentimes I come home and I know he's been by by the goodies on my stoop.  He has taken me to many local dance ceremonies at his shrine, I even went to the March 3rd "Bean Ceremony" where it's a mixed combination of Mardi Gras and Puxatawny Phil...that's for another story.  Last year on my birthday he showed up with the most beautiful two dozen tea roses I'd ever seen ~ it made me weepy, I was so touched.  So this June 6th he will turn 83.  What do I get someone who has EVERYTHING? He is totally enthralled with the Western culture and the US.  Volunteering with American Red Cross on base here he has met many important people who have given him various trinkets and tokens from America.  But he means more to me than some friend from work, he's family.  Each time I visit Kobiya san's home he's always showing me pictures. He's always taking pictures. Then I realized, that's it! I'm going to make a photo album for him of our past year together.  It's taken me all week to narrow down which photos I want, but what will make it even more special is that I will include pictures in there of our Gyoza Party tomorrow in my home.  What's so special about that?  Mr. Takahashi will be a guest here, as well.  They have not seen one another in 26 years.  I think that's pretty special!

Morning tea with Tak san

Yesterday morning I had the pleasure of having Tak San stopping by for a brief visit. It all started with a phone call to him about 8:45, except, it did not go as planned. You see, Tak San is 91 years old and a little hard of hearing without the help of is hearing aid. So our conversation went something like this...

Tak San: "Moshi, Moshi"

Me: "Hello Tak San, Ohiyo Gozymas" (Good Morning)

Tak San: "Moshi, Moshi"

Me: "Moshi, Moshi?"

Tak San: "Hai"

Me: Hello, Tak San this is Lori"

Tak San: Moshi, Moshi...

I'm sure you get the gist so after about 5 minutes of moshi, moshi and Chota matte, kudusai (just a minute, please) and Tak san readjusting his hearing aide we decided that it was best he stop by my home. He lives in an apartment about two minutes away...maybe about 5-10 minutes for him, depending on how he feels that day.

I'm drawn to this sweet man. I think because he reminds me of my grandma Blueye.  He is a very soft spoken man, who is very hard of hearing and likes to make jokes, too.  He says that his Japanese friends don't understand him because they don' t have a sense of humor. This makes me chuckle because he got a big kick out that just telling! There is also a gentleness to him and I suppose that's what brings about the similarities.  I wish that I had a picture of him and I didn't think to ask him yesterday while we sat outside in the morning sunshine drinking tea.  His brief visit lasted 2.5 hrs and ended when the noon whistle blew.  I wish it hadn't, I would have loved to have visited with him longer...but in those few hours this is what I learned:

Tak san was born Jan 30,1921 in Ohme City.  He grew up in Tachikawa and attended University in Shinjuku where he studied engineering. When he was 12 he studied English from an American lady who married a Japanese man.  Back then it was rare for Japanese to learn English. Back then if you were educated in the Sciences you spoke German, and if you studied the Arts it was French because those are the two countries where many attended university.  He was 19 when Tokyo was first bombed during WWII.  He was eating Soba noodles and wondered why the Japanese military were doing practice runs on their own people? They never imagined that it was the US.  He said the emperor's guards hoisted balloons around the palace so that the pilots would know not to bomb it.  It was only later did they realize that it was General Dolittle who bombed them then crashed in China.  He said that the Japanese had the highest respect for him because it took a lot of courage, bravery, and sacrifice to do that knowing he might not return home. This statement surprised and awed me.  It's hard to wrap my brain around what they must have thought and felt towards America back then being an American living here now. 

Tak san was married for almost 63 years and  they had 4 children - 3 sons, and 1 daughter; and 8 grandchildren each with one boy and one girl.  His sons live around the metropolitan Tokyo area sadly, he never hears from them.  This includes the son that lives in the same apartment complex as his. This saddens me. You can tell this makes him very sad, but he bucks up and says that they must work all day to provide for their wives.  His wife passed away Oct 26, 2010. He misses her every day.  On the 26th of each month he visits her grave and brings her flowers.  When he wakes up he tells her good morning, and before he sleeps he tells her goodnight and thanks her for staying with him throughout the day and night.  He says that not a moment goes by where he wants to share something with her, or he is reminded of her.  When he threads a needle, he is reminded of her. When he pours tea, he is reminded of her.  This made me cry...it was hard not, but he just went on to say that to him she was the Best Wife.

Currently, he is staying in a small apartment that his son rents for him until his son's house is built.  Then he'll go live with them upon completion. He gets very lonely if he stays cooped up too long during the day so he amuses himself by riding the bus around town and people watch.  He makes me laugh!  He says that he wonders why Japanese are so serious all the time..he watches their faces on the bus and wonders what they are thinking? Where are they going? They must not be happy people because nobody smiles.  I can't say for sure whether they are unhappy, but I do know that it's rare to see Japanese people smile out in public unless they are amongst their intimate friends.  Sometimes, he'll ride the bus to the local mall in town just buy some candy or he'll go to a store that sells international foods so he can send it to his daughter up in Hokkaido, where she lives in a small country town.  During one of his outings he found a little hidden cafe where he'll have lunch at sometimes.  That's if he's "feeling physically fit to walk there" he proclaims with a chuckle.  This statement made me laugh out loud because at 91 he walks EVERYWHERE!  He has promised to take me there sometime - we'll walk, of course!

Meet the Nakamura's, my Japanese parents!

Meet the Nakamura's, Junko and Hideo san. Or as I call them, oka and oto san.  I first told you about them in one of my first posts and how I met them walking Oliver.  We have come a long way since that first meeting. My japanese is recognizable but minimal and their english is much better, although none of us agree on the others opinion...so we have concluded that we speak "J-ENGLISH"  In the beginning when Oto san was not around we would go out together and carry notepads to converse.  The japanese can read english but they can't speak it, weird I know.  But since then, life with them has been a whirlwind!

Junko san is the silliest and sweetest person and one can't help but crack up when around her. Not that she is funny "haha" a jokester she is not, but if there was ever a blonde japanese woman, she is definitely it!   On top of her many "blonde" moments she is probably the most truthfully blunt person I've ever met.  She means no harm in her bluntness but it's so funny that she is so completely honest on what she thinks or feels.  She does not beat around the bush.  Kae, her daughter, says its her blood type and she can't help it.  The japanese believe that blood type drives the personality.  For instance, I walk Oliver several times a day here I've run into many, many people inquiring about him. She's curious to know who all I have met or talked to, which ususally ends with me describing them because she doesn't recognize their name...I have to laugh because almost everyone I describe to her upon recognition she tells me to be careful because their crazy, and I hate to say it, she's right. (smile) Another example is,  I started training for a half marathon in August and around October she tells me, "Lori San, you look good. When I first met you when you sit down your belly would stick out (as she gestures with her hands)!" Yikes! Junko san, be gentle! LOL I was a size 12 to which I'm a proud size 10 working towards an 8.  She can't believe how "fat" americans are.  You see there are very few "heavy" japanese which is mostly due to them eating every kind of vegetable imaginable with very little meat...but I can't help but think that their thin because they WALK and BICYCLE everywhere!!  Nonetheless, she worries about me being alone all day, about me walking barefoot all the time - it's not good for woman to have cold feet; and she's always surprising me with little things she's found at the store.  I couldn't ask for a better friend, or mother...she's always feeding us.

Mr. Nakamura - Oto san. His english is much better than Junko sans and when I first met them he did all of our translating for us.  I give him alot of credit because it was mostly girl talk! You know, "where do you shop?, Who cuts your hair?, etc " He even drives us shopping and waits in the mall lounge.  He is a good man.  He is also a force to be reckoned with, and I suspect a very shrewd businessman.  He once worked for a large printing company here and retired 10 yrs. ago.  Last spring I decided to try the japanese version of the "Schwann" man.  This was fine and dandy except that every time I received a bill it was higher and higher..so I went to him for an explanation as I can't read kanji.  He was not a happy man because upon answering several questions he told me I should cancel my business with them and demand a refund.  His reason, because all my catalogs and order forms were in japanese and they were charging me for them, along with hidden "fees" that I actually had the option of declining - this was NOT explained to me.  He immediately set up a meeting with the company and it was not like anything I've seen before. I thought I'd just sign a few papers to close my account and they would act as my interpreter.  Instead, we had formal tea with the gentleman and got the niceties out of the way he immediately started talking with him harshly. I immediately felt like I was 12 yrs old and knew that this was a scolding - Kae and I locked eyes and we just sat there with our hands folded. I was too scared to move!  I don't know exactly what he said but whatever it was the gentlemen immediately bowed the lowest bow I had ever witnessed along with a very earnest and repeated "Gomenasai" -I'm sorry then turned and repeated it to me.  This meeting not only cancelled my account but also had the company return to me all hidden fees and reimbursement for weekly papers and order forms. His reason?  If they are going to have american customers then they need to have all paperwork in english.  I felt bad for the man!

On the non-business side, he now keeps himself busy gardening, or as the japanese call themselves, "Farmers". I laugh because its really just a small, small, small garden.  I will not knock it though because he grows everything under the sun.  I am very grateful that he shares his garden with David and I. Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, lettuce, eggplant, sky beans(kinda like edamame) snow peas, green beans, watermelon, corn...I'm sure there's more but that's all I can remember right now.  Everything from his garden is fresh, delicious, sweet and juicy...it reminds me of my grandma's and the Bruning's garden. Yum!

 I am glad that Junko san was brave enough to speak to me last February, my life here and my experiences would not have been the same.  I have seen and done more things with them that I would not have been able to experience had David and I lived on base instead of out in town.  Because of them, I now know where to go for all the best deals on food, shopping, furniture outside of the "mainstream".  I have friends that I can pop in unannounced for a cup of tea. I no longer have formal tea with them in the living room and have moved into the kitchen.  This gesture alone made me feel part of the family! However, we still have our tea in proper cups and saucers, it makes me wish that I had brought mine that my great aunt and grandma had given me (they are in storage)...they would definitely been put to good use!

Jan 1st - Mochi time!

Last year our friends Skip and Rei Bennett invited us to go on a Mystery Tour on New Years Day.  This year our new friends the Nagatsuka's gave us mochi made by one of their family members.  David and I were very appreciative of this gesture, the only problem was was that we hadn't a clue how to prepare or eat the blocks of mochi given us.  This mochi looked like hard white bricks, and the mochi I was familiar with was supposed to be chewy and it's shaped like an orange with a bean inside. Why didn't we ask them how to prepare you wonder? Well, you see the Nagatsuka's do not speak ANY english - AT. ALL.  Eriko san and I do all our  conversations by charades.  I did have her over once for tea and Rei as our translator, and we had a lovely time but I digress...!  Thankfully, our friends Kae and Nobu Matsuzawa, were more than happy to teach us.

What is Mochi?  Mochi is made by pounding rice over and over again. The pounding of the rice makes it quite gummy and pliable. Last Fall, David and I were able to see how mochi is made and it's a very long and physically drawn out process along with a large dose of trust.  The tools used to make mochi is a very large mallet and pestle. As one person used the mallet, the other person turns the lump of rice in a very quick and rhythmic pattern.  I found out that its then shaped and dried.

On New Years Day, Kae and Nobu san came over for lunch and then for dessert we had mochi.  I wasn't sure how these hard blocks of rice would turn gummy.  To me they looked like dried out indian corn bread and I was very tempted to heat it up, butter and salt then eat!  Instead, Kae gave me a pan that allowed me to toast on top of the stove, which can also be doubled as a toaster.  This process was quite easy to do, the moc hi is simply heated until it starts getting puffy.  Once it poofs, you poke it with a chopstick, if its oozes it's done!  Of course it must be done on a very low heat or it could burn, like the one in the picture.  Once heated  it can be eaten several different ways; soy sauce and seaweed, crushed soybeans with sugar, or with soy sauce and sugar.  Each one is quite tasty, but the soy sauce and seaweed was our favorite!! Oishiikatta!!

Top 10 2011 memories of Japan

Where did the year go?  It's hard to believe that it's been 10 months since I've last posted. I have about 20 posts started but not finished...there is just so much to tell that by the end of each day I'm too tired to write and then I tell myself that I'll finish it tomorrow.  Well, we know how that turned out!! So my goal is to post at least once a week in 2012, but again it started out with a bang and just keeps getting busier.

Here is my Top 10 experiences for 2011!

1. Jan 1st David and I went on a Mystery Tour to 4 different prefectures of Japan, and to this day we still don't know where because our entire tour was in Japanese..to include our brochure!

2. In February during my daily walk I met the Nakurma's - Junko san and Otosan along with their daughter, Kae who is my japanese BFF.  The Nakurma's have proclaimed themeselves as my Japanese parents and their 3rd daughter. Im a touched beyond belief and humbled by the generosity of their friendship, home, family garden, and much much more. They have made my first year here unforgetable!

3. March 11.  I woke to the most beautiful red sunrise and never imagined that later on that day a 9.0 magnitude earthquake would devastate Japan and rock the lives of the people here forever. It was and still his heartbreaking.  One of my acquaintances lost her best friend of 40s.  She lived in Sendai where she was taken away in the Tsunami.  I could only hug her in my arms as she cried.

4. After the earthquake, I volunteered at the the base American Red Cross and met the sweetest old man, Mr. Kobyashi.  After getting to know one another that day we found out that we live only a mile apart...to which he frequently rides his bike to my home delivering fresh vegetables from his garden. Oh and he's 83!

5. Due to a large amount of people evacuating back to America. Many english classes were left without a teacher.  I was contacted about substituting for these classes and I have not slowed down since! I teach 4 days a week, various hours...I'm really quite busy.

6. Summer went by in a FLASH...it was quite hot but David and I were able to visit downtown Tokyo, only to find out it was a holiday and everything was closed! But we did get to visit the Tokyo Tower.

7. Oh! Forgot about the Cherry Tree Season!!! Gorgeous, beautiful, breathtaking don't even come close to expressing how spectacular the blossoms are here. It's like walking under a canopy of PINK! My favorite color by the way!

8. Went to several different types of festivals that were interesting. Ginger festival, Tanabata festival, Firefly...apparently there's many many more but due to the Earthquake in honor of the 10,000 plus lives lost most were cancelled.

9. We climbed Mt. Takeo and Mt. Mitake.  They each have their own beauty but Mt. Mitake is my favorite!

10. We have a running club here and I decided to join.  In December I ran my first half-marathon! Yeah Me!!

Okay so I said 10, but....

11.  David and I finished out the year by having a traditional Soba noodles dinner New Years Eve with Mr. and Mrs. Kobyashi.  Soba noodles are very long and the Japanese eat them at the end of year to wish for a long life and good health for the coming year!  It was delicious!!

Stay tuned for 2012...!

When I am 90...

Spring has arrived - It came today bringing with it a bright sun, a warm breeze, a sky filled with blue and budding flowers and trees at every glance.   It also brought me a special dose of homesickness.  It reminded me of being back home on the Rez...the smell, the breeze, the river.  I wanted to be home taking a walk, not here in Japan.  I have to be honest I didn't really want to walk in this weather today it amplifies my homesickness. But Oliver's tummy is upset, so in fear of him throwing up in the house we went for a walk.

Along our normal path Oliver and I had the pleasure of meeting the sweetest 90 year old man. Yes, I said N-I-N-E-T-Y!  When we came upon him I did my usual head nod and smiled, sometimes I'll say, "Konnichiwa"  and sometimes I don't.  We've never seen him before  so I chose to do the first and he spoke to me instead.  Unfortunately, I can only understand a few catch phrases and I didn't understand him and answered with Gomenisai, ni hongo wakaru nai (I'm sorry, but I don't speak Japanese).  He then asked if I spoke English and when I answered, "Yes", to my surprise he said in perfect English, "Where are you from?"  This opened up a completely unexpected conversation.

Once our formalities were done, we walked along the river bank for two miles.  He was a little hard of hearing, and we walked a little slow but during this walk I learned that he had spent one year in Montgomery, Alabama attending the Air College  learning about a new aircraft that McDonnell-Douglas was building,  the Jet Engine!  He was chosen by his company to learn about the new plane and how to fly it.  I learned that it took him over a week to get America.  One day  for each stop - Tokyo to Wake Island, Wake Island to Hawaii, Hawaii to San Francisco.  He then traveled by train from San Francisco to Montgomery, which took 3 nights and 4 days.  PHEW. I'm tired of just thinking about it!

I also learned that he has four children, 3 sons and 1 daughter.  He has a granddaughter that just married an Australian and is to meet him in a few days.  He was very happy that he could practice his English on me.  I also learned that he is just visiting for a few days, but is looking for an apartment or home close to his son, whom he is visiting.  Our walk only lasted about 45 minutes, but I wished it were longer, he had to return to his son's house.  His daughter-in-law was coming to make lunch, then he was going to catch a train to Tachikawa for a dental appointment.   Did I mention he was 90?!! Yes, he was traveling by himself.

I never did catch his name, but that's alright because what I learned is that even though homesickness has a way of creeping up on you, push through it and find the positive.  I was able to feel past this, enjoy the beauty of today, this sweet man helped me recognize that when I'm ninety,  I want to walk two miles on my own with a sound mind!  So, "Thank You" kind stranger for sharing your walk with me on this beautiful Spring day.

Conserving Energy - Roulette Style!

Since March 11, Each day is a barrage of public service announcements and warning from the Giant Voice in our city.  We didn't have a CLUE of what was being said and the first few days we relied on rumors. Thankfully, Rei, our Japanese friend who lives on base, would kindly listen for the announcements and interpret them for us.  Now, finally, Fussa City gives Yokota heads up for those of us living off base and the announcement is then posted on FaceBook. Thank you, Mr. Zuckerman!

Oh yes, Public Service announcements...well,  we found out that the majority of them are notifications of our rolling blackouts.  In order to conserve energy, Tokyo is divided up by its suburbs, so to speak, and we are subject to 3-4hr rolling blackouts.  Sort of like Russian Roulette.  Instead of a gun it's with energy.   So some days it's from 12:30 to 16:30, the next is from 9:30 - 12:30, etc..you get the picture. Sometimes if the city has been good on conserving energy we get a reprieve by cancelling the next day's blackouts and don't always find out until AFTER you've altered you schedule. Grrrrr...!  These rolling blackouts have become quite the aggravation making it hard to plan my day around...I have an order to my day with regards to cleaning my home and making dinner.  So my housework rolls with the blackouts, too.  Not to mention, my walks with Oliver..he's a little discombobulated, as well. 

But amongst all this disorder...(insert evil hee-hee) David and I have found our humor.  A little tid-bit, the Japanese do not have four-way stops here, or even three-way stops for that matter.  Our first blackout occurred at 6:30pm and it was to last until 9:30 so we decided to venture out with Oliver for a walk.  David wanted to take my day route in the dark, I was like no way there may be Gah-hiite..(Ghosts)..there's a shrine along the route that has dressed up baby Buddha's. It's just a little creepy..he laughed and we headed towards Fussa...over the bridge...it was cold that night and the wind was whipping, what were we thinking??  Well all this second guessing flew out of our minds, forgetting the cold,  when we came across our first intersection with the lights out (it was pitch black).  Did I mention that the Japanese are probably the politest society I know?

Picture this, you have to, walking along, pitch black, no moon, and the wind being very, very cold...then imagine coming across a VERY BUSY four way intersection with no light signal and no one knows what a four-way stop is.  It was hilarious!  The cars were doing one of two things. 1) they were politely scooching up into the intersection, tapping on their horn or 2) just kinda creeping up then blowing through.   Now the tapping of the horn wasn't  a "hey, I'm here watch out" it was a "No, no, you go..." and then the other would tap back, "No. No. I insist, you go..." and back in forth this would go. We had found our evening  entertainment.  We stood on the corner for about five minutes watching the cars politely tap back and forth, going, not going, the heck with it, I'm barreling through, making up our own imagined conversation  of the drivers and couldn't stop laughing!!  I'm chuckling now,  just thinking about it. (insert evil hee-hee-hee ...)

It didn't occur to us to video tape this until AFTER we got home.  We have had several blackouts since then but not at night.  I promise to videotape the next time we have one at night.  We figure that videotaping them at night would be less noticeable than during the day.  The Japanese have a hard enough time figuring out how to cross during the day, let alone stopping to pause and wonder what those CRAZY Gaijin's are doing on the sidewalk??!  Our blackouts are opened ended until the reactors are controlled.  Things here are finding their own "new" normal - Gas has trickled back in, there are more cars on the road; shelves are still bare and when supplies do come in they are bought just as quick.  I, finally, saw some of my old dog walking friends this past Sunday.  I am happy. So until our "new" normal is here to stay... I will continue to find humor in my everyday living!

I Have No Words.

I Have No Words.

Today, is March 15, 2011.  I have no words.  David has been taking hourly readings throughout the day and first thing in the morning when we wake up.  They are normal.  Normal...to who? It has been four days since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit, along with an historical tsunami that has wiped out a minimum of 10,000 people in one town alone -  Sendei is gone.  Normal, it is not.  Oliver, my dog, keeps me busy and it's because of him that I know things are not normal.  Our daily walk along the river are now silent. Gone are the daily walkers; I don't know who they are or where they live, but  I miss them.  Gone are my new friends with their dogs. The ones who try to speak English to me as we let our dogs sniff and play. I wonder how they are.  Gone are the multiple birds along the river bank, did they leave?  Perhaps they've taking their cue by the absence of people.  This is not normal.

Normal.  I feel safe.  I am not alarmed.   I Skype my mother, my sister, my father regularly, my Facebook page is filled with concerns.  All is well in my household, we are safe.  Normal.  I have faith in the Lord, he will provide, reassure and comfort where man cannot.  I have faith that our military leadership will provide accurate information and care for us if the time comes.  Japan is in a very calm panic, If I may describe it that way.  The store shelves are bare of everyday items - rice, milk, bread, tofu.  There is no gas.  Our neighborhood driveways are lined with cars that no longer move, their owners are being frugal with what's left in the tank.  People are now riding their bikes to work or walking.  The majority of vehicles on the road now are commercial - delivery trucks, semi's, construction, etc.  I drove to base today to do my normal grocery shopping and I felt guilty.  Guilty, because I could drive, there's plenty of gas on base.  Guilty, because I could buy food, the shelves are well-stocked.  I purchased a 20lb bag of rice, just in case.  Just in case we starve? No, just in case we had to leave...I could provide something for my new friends Junko-San and her family and Fumiko-san, our shop keeper.  They have brought joy and laughter into this foreigners life and have made me feel more welcome here than I could have ever imagined.  I hope I do not have to say, "Sayonara".

My heart is overwhelmed by the multiple well wishes, thoughts and prayers;  more so, for the people of Japan.  I can only imagine what they think, or can I?  This natural disaster has affected their town, prefecture - their nation.  Even though we sit SAFE some 200 miles away, I've not seen a soul, they must be inside grieving. Grieving for the loss of their loved ones, the unexpected, for what might have been.  Or, perhaps they are being cautious for the "just-in-case" and are choosing to stay inside and conserve energy.  Twice, there was notice of a blackout. Twice it was cancelled.  The nation has done well conserving energy as their government, along with the United States and other nations assist in stopping a nuclear meltdown. We  were rewarded with the cancellation.  Tonight, there is a call for another one, perhaps that will be cancelled, too. 

David and I have no television or cable.  We obtain all our news from the internet, however, I've chosen to limit myself.  It's too much.  Too much grief, too much sensationalized journalism, it's just too much.  Every few hours a giant voice is speaking. It reminds of the exercises that I participated in with the Air Force, and on my deployment.  I wish I could understand Japanese...I hear Kudasai (please), arrigato (thank you), onagyshimas (I think that's "I repeat or I say again" - I've butchered the spelling, I know).  This is when I search the news for updated information.  This is when I am, again, confronted with what has happened.  I read the articles, I see the photos. I am overwhelmed with emotion -  I feel guilty, I have food.  I am safe.

I have no words.

March 11, 2011

When I first opened my eyes, I awoke to a blazing fire red sunrise staring at me...the first thing that popped through my head was "Red sunset at night a sailors delight, red sunrise in morn' sailors be warned" a little rhyme I used to hear my mother say when I was a little girl.  I shared this with David as we laid there looking at the beauty rising in our bedroom window.  He just chuckled, as he usual does at my little sayings and the thousands of useless little tidbits that I share daily.

At around 2:40pm I decided that I would work with Oliver to allow me to touch his paws.  I clipped his nails too close when he was very young and I am no longer allowed to touch them.  I now have a Pedi paw but I cannot get close enough to touch him.  I had just sat down on the floor with him when David called, our friend Kitty, wanted to know if I'd like to go to the movies..so we made our plans and hung up.  Little did I know that that small rhyme I recited earlier would have such an affect on a town, one nation, and the world.

At 2:46pm I heard what I thought was a huge gust of wind; they periodically come and go, out of the blue and just as quick.  From the floor I looked towards our front window, the wind sounded like a freight train...then all of a sudden the floor started shaking and I thought "Oh, my first little, big tremor".  I wasn't scared, so I just sat there..then it started getting bigger and the whole house started shaking and thought to myself, "What do I do? I should know..but I can't think" so I quickly got up and sat on the recliner for a second, then realized I should stand in a barrier supporting wall or doorway. Everything was so surreal, it felt as if I was on a roller coaster ride, clickety clacking on my way up to the drop.  Only instead of me dropping, I stood and watched my pictures frames fall, my spices rolling of the shelves and only imagined what else was falling.  At this point I still was not afraid, I can't explain it but I knew that I and David were safe.  He was at school and I know that Yokota had built very sound facilities.  During all of this my phone was ringing, but I had left it on the side table about six feet away I knew it was David calling to check on me, but I figured I better stay put.

So many things were going through my mind, like "Wow, my first earthquake ~ Crazy!" "This is a new house, surely its somewhat Earthquake friendly"..yeah, why I would think that? LOL..."I hope it's not too serious the bridges will fall....how will David get home?".. "I can't wait to tell my family".."I should be videotaping..oh man, my phones over there...darn." "Is this supposed to last this long..it feels like forever" In fact, I was told it lasted almost three minutes.  When all was done..Oliver came to me and the cats came downstairs.  I thought, so much for animal premonition. I told them they were useless! so together we surveyed our home.  Kitchen cupboards were open, drawers pulled out..spices on the floor.  In reality, we were very, very fortunate.  I went outside and saw the power and phone lines swinging, there were some elderly couples out for their afternoon exercise who definitely worked their core muscles to keep their balance, they were okay and giggling!

It wasn't until David came home to share with me the horror that the earthquake brought, a tsunami 160 miles away that wiped out a town of 10,000 plus people. Not including other small towns up and down the coast.  I felt horrible, I had already taken Oliver back out for a walk and waved to the other dog walkers as we charade (d) across our experience to one another.  How could we be so close but yet far enough away to go on as normal, never realizing that such a travesty occurred?  We have no television or radio. Our sole source of news is the internet.  When I first looked on the news, there wasn't anything so I went about my day..only for David and I to read much later of what was to come.  I am blessed.  We are blessed, the Lord has kept us from harm. 

Celebrating Valentine's - Japanese Style...

Last week, Rei, asked me if I wanted to go to Tachikawa to shop for a Valentine's Day gift for David.  Yes!!! Valentine's Day,  even though it is one of those commercialized holidays, its the one I've always wanted to celebrate.  There's just something romantic and magical of receiving a secret valentine that I can only imagine makes your heart pitter-patter off the chart!  You see, I was one of those girls that would watch the other girls receive secret candy grams and florist made bouquets delivered during class from some secret admirer, <sigh> just holding my breath that one of those beautiful flowers would be mine.. it didn't happen *sniff* :)

Fast forward - I am finally married to a man that I have loved almost my whole adult life and knew that someday we would marry.  This year will be our first Valentine's Day physically spent together, EVER!  Flashes of past daydreams dancing in my head imagining what kind of Valentine's Day we would have..it was going to be romantic and, well...magical.  Imagine my surprise when David came home to tell me that he specifically liked Dark Chocolate, but I could forgo the flowers.  I'm like..WHAT are you talking about??!!  He quickly, and very happily, I might add, that in Japan the men receive flowers and chocolate, not the women.  I thought he was joking because he knows I can be quite gullible, but I was not going to fall for this trick.  Unfortunately,

Rei confirmed this sad bit of information. No it's true...the men receive all the pretty valentine flowers and chocolate. 




 

This past Wednesday, Rei and I went to Tachikawa. I could not believe my eyes, this is no joke, the japanese women take their Valentine's Day shopping seriously.  It looked like an end of season clearance sale at Macy's. Counter after counter, kiosk after Kiosk was a bevy of chocolates! Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, truffles, bon-bons...and women everywhere.  It was a chocolate haven and I suspect that some of those women pushing and sampling couldn't help but make a few hidden purchases for themselves!  Sales ladies passed out chocolate samples like the perfume lady in front of Macy's, only instead of being nauseated by the smell of perfume, we were nauseated from sampling too much chocolate!  In fact, this trip reminded me of buying perfume. I liken this experience the same as trying to find the best chocolate to finding the perfect scent but because you've smelled so many, you can't remember which one was your favorite. I knew David liked dark chocolate, but which one?  There were just so many to choose from.  In the end, I selected one that was sprinkled with 60% dark cocoa over Dark Belgian...ooh so yummm.

But wait...what about the girls??  We get a marshmallow.  Yep, it's called White Day and its celebrated in March.  Apparently, the men give their sweethearts a marshmallow, hence the white.  I don't know who's bright idea that was but I'm with Rei, screw the marshmallow..I want chocolate!

Watashi no inu wa friendly desu! translation: My dog is friendly

The simple phrase of "Watashi no inu wa friendly desu" meaning, "my dog is friendly" has been such a blessing to me this week.  I walk Oliver three times a day - 5:00 am, noon, and at 7pm;  30, 60 and 30 minutes, respectively, with an occasional 15 or 20 minute one, mid-afternoon.  During these walk we often pass the same people out with their dogs and are suspiciously looked at as if to say "Who is this very tall woman and her extremely large dog?" to which I can assume they're really thinking...will her dog eat my dog?!

I wanted to let them know that my dog was friendly, so I ask my friend Rei how to say it.  This simple phrase has opened up my lonely days.  Lonely only during the day, as every English speaking person I know, works.  I pass Japanese people all day  and I feel suffocated because I do not , yet, know the language.  And for those of you that know me, know that I enjoy people and love to chat. 

I have to laugh because on Monday, a curious gentleman stopped to chat with me.  I wasn't sure what he said, but I did use my new phrase to which he then asked me in perfect English, "What kind of dog is he?"  We've met Yoko and her dog, Moku and hope to pass them again.  We've only put Mee-Maw's fears to rest that Oliver will not eat her dog that's just as old as she is, and I can only assume really, really old!

This morning was the best!  I met Mrs. Jun-ko and her daughter's dog.  It seems the biggest question, is what kind of dog is he?  Jun-ko informed me that we walk by her house everyday and I could stop and say hello.  However, I apologized because I didn't understand her directions and she let me follow her home.  Her home is one that I often admire and was curious about. She has a garden that I can assume is quite beautiful when in bloom.  She brought her husband out to interpret as he has lived and traveled abroad to England.  She is a domestic goddess as well, and he is a Farmer.  He is also the man  I see practicing his golf swing each day along the banks of the river when we walk.  This photo is of a Japanese radish, known as Daikon, which he proudly grows.  David and I often see it at the farmer's market and wondered what it was..now we know!  Mr. Jun-ko gave this to me as a gift, I felt so blessed and touched that they would extend this kind gesture to me a stranger.   I look forward to eating it. 

"Watashi no enu wa friendly des" has opened a door for new friendships.  Because of this simple phrase, Jun ko has invited me and David back to her home.  A visit I look forward to!

The growing pains of using a Japanese kitchen

Moving to Japan has been such an eye opener.  Meaning, and I'm generalizing here, that we as Americans have way too much stuff in our life - space, possessions, clothes, etc.. and while that is not always a bad thing, do we really appreciate it or need all it? I have always wanted a big beautiful kitchen, you know the one with the stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, a kitchen bar with rustic, yet trendy stools that your friends and family can sit at while you're cooking a meal...*sigh*.. yeah, not happening here!

I have always enjoyed cooking and baking, but my greatest challenge was that it was just me.  If I tried all those scrumptious recipes who would eat them?  Me? I'd have and had a freezer full of leftovers. You see, I don't do cooking small portions well.  Living by myself and cooking for one was always easy.  I enjoy cooking and baking I also don't mind living off of chicken, rice, and green beans for dinner every night.  I'd simply change up my seasonings and vegetable.  Voila, a different dinner!

I grew up helping my mother cook for a family of six, or seven when my gram stayed with us during the winter months. It is ingrained in my mind that I must cook large meals.  Having been recently married, I must now cook for two,.  This has been a challenge because my husband is a meat and potatoes man.  He could eat some type of roast every night.  I don't mind that but my challenge was leftovers...it got very boring.

Before moving into our new house the kitchen consisted of a tiny counter top with sink, and a three- burner stove top with a fish oven.  What is a fish oven you ask?  It is an 8x12 inch broiler that sits under the stove top, that's it.  No big stainless steel oven for me!  Prior to moving in, David was able to procure a convection oven that is, in reality - a very fancy microwave!  It has the capabilities to bake, convect, and microwave all in one.  Sadly, it so small that I am unable to use my regular size pans for baking leaving me to use it for it's microwave capabilities.  This past Christmas I had the bright idea of making three different type of cookies - sugar cookies, peanut butter chocolate chip and, of course our family favorite, cinnamon stars.  Like a silly girl, falling back onto old habits, I doubled my recipes only to realize that my cookie sheets were too long and I had to rely on my pampered chef stoneware - bar plate.  Needless, to say I spent all weekend baking four to six cookies at a time.  Did I mention that I doubled my recipes?! 

How do I make those roasts that my husband adores so much?!  Two words - Crock. Pot.  It has been my life saver.  I have now mastered a roasted chicken with thyme and rosemary, beef roast, pork roast, chili, and bean soup.  In fact, I had two and gave one to a friend who is learning how to use hers as well.   What about the fish oven? Well, while I like eating fish, I'm not fond of cooking it. The fish oven  now acts as my own personal grill.  When David does not want to stand out in the cold and rain, he'll ask me to use my grill.  I can grill up a pretty mean pork chop, steak, and Italian sausage, not to mention roasting vegetables tossed with olive oil and garlic. And on occasion, toast.

I'm almost broken of cooking large portions as I am unable to house a freezer of meals or vegetables in my small refrigerator.  All leftovers are sent with David the next day for his lunch.  The lesson I can take away from moving here is take what you'll use, not what you think you'll need.  Although I've downsized and have a complete kitchen stored somewhere in permanent storage heaven, I now realize that I'm quite capable of cooking a very scrumptious meal with a crock pot, an iron skillet, a griddle, a saucepan and a fish oven. I challenge you to try that and let me know how it works out!

January 1, 2011

 This New Year's David and I did not ring in the new year.  Instead, we chose to rise early. Skip and Rei (Pronounced Leigh) invited David and I to go on a mystery bus tour with them. We were promised five stops to various tourist attractions around Japan.

Five a.m. came way too early, we caught the 6:40 train to meet our bus in Tachikawa at 7:30.  Our drive to the first stop took us along the Pacific coast, the view was gorgeous.  Unfortunately, the sun was coming up and I was unable to get a clear shot of the ocean, but it was a spectacular view.  David said it reminded him of taking Highway 1 along the California coast.  As we neared our destination we came to a town that was embedded into the coast with surfers catching their first surf of the new year.

Our bus stopped at the top of a hill in the Izu prefecture (compared to a state in the US) where we were to climb up 170 steps to the Shirahama Shrine,  famous for ensuring a long and everlasting love in your relationship!  There are actually 600 steps  that start at the coast...!
  

 Japanese, for the most part, do not celebrate Christmas.  They celebrate New Year's and it is a big production, one of their big traditions is to go to temple (a shrine) and pray for health and happiness for the new year.  Here is just a picture of the shrine. I hope that the link provided works, it also inclues more pictures from our trip. 

I'll not bore you with details of stops two through five. Rei explained that the japanese love their souvenirs, they feel compelled to buy a little trinket for all their loved ones when traveling about.  Along with shopping for souvenirs, Japanese also love food!  This was a definite factor when the tour company planned our trip.  Stop two was an all you can eat buffet where you can gorge yourself on every type of japanese food imaginable.  I must say, it was well thought out and thoroughly organized.  They have to make a killing, at any given time there were about 10 tour buses in the parking lot with about 40 people per bus, with the buses rolling in and out like an assembly line. Afterwards, you are invited to peruse their food and souvenir section.

Our first stop was the only significant attraction on this trip...stop 2 was lunch.  Stop 3 was a wasabi factory with a huge grocery store inside.  Stop 4 was a natural cold spring with, of course, a place to shop for souvenirs...by this time the four us we're just silly..because we realized  that this was just a shopping tour..Stop 5 was...a grocery store!  No really, it was! Here is where I thought this was interesting,we found a wasabi flavored Kit Kat.  I was not, however, ready to lay down $10 to try this tasty treat!

Overall, this day was not a bust.  I was hoping for Mt Fuji, even though I know it's closed this time of year. There are lakes there where one can visit during the winter.  The reason I was hoping was that each stop took us closer and closer to Mt Fuji...the view was almost surreal.  We seemed so close, but still far. In the end we had a wonderful time just riding, laughing and chatting with one another and I really cannot think of a better way to spend a day! 

Fresh Food

Please forgive me for neglecting my blog.  I have taken tons of pictures and have a million stories running through my head.  In my mind I have to have a story and it has to come out just right.  My mother's advice is to break it up into short stories, those of you who know me, KNOW, I can never give a cliff note version of ANYTHING!  So, I ask that you bare with me as I continue to learn my way through this blogging forest of do's and don'ts.
 
Food is definitely a need.  Living in a foreign land can have it's drawbacks if you can't read or speak the language making it hard for one to find a grocery store. However, working on a military installation allows us to shop at the commissary where fresh produce is much to be desired there.  Produce currently offered is shipped over from the US leaving it not so fresh.  A recent acquaintance took me a local Marafuji supermarket, a chain. I was quite impressed with the produce, but not the prices.  Potatoes here - $8.00 for about five lbs, tomatoes - $7.00 for four, broccoli - $4.00 a head. But they are FRESH. 

Through David's work we met a wonderful couple, Skip and Leigh Bennett, who have been a big blessing in helping us find our way around  the local area. Skip, is a science teacher and his wife, Leigh, is a Japanese national and domestic goddess, such as myself. 
 I was so excited when Skip and Leigh invited us one Saturday to go the farmers market with them.  I couldn't wait..it was our first time doing something off base and with new friends, e-e-e-e... how exciting!!  They took us to the Akigawa farmer's market, which turned out to be about a mile and half away.  I can walk there.  Everything was so nice and fresh, beautiful, and even better, cheaper! There were so many different types of vegetables there.   I haven't a clue what some are, but the japanese love them. There were even fresh cut flowers - lilies, my favorite offered there.  A whole stalk of them for 400yen, about $5.50.  Needless to say, everytime I walk in my house now  a bouquet of fesh lilies greet me at the door!  We even pick up fresh soba and yakisoba noodles here, mind you my stirring technique is still wanting but tastes good.  I was unsure about how to take photos of the produce inside but here are some of the gardens surrounding the market place.  It looks like the countryside but believe it or not this is part of Tokyo, crazy.  It is so crowded here, yet they find space to grow gardens, I love it! The farmer's are so proud of their produce that their name is on all their items sold, and oftentimes you will see them rearranging their produce to catch your eye.  Now I go there about three times a week and the farmers and cashiers are getting used to seeing me - I'm quite tall and very foreign! This is a well hidden secret from the base and I'm thankful that Skip and Leigh trusted us enough to share their secret market with us.

Searching for Fall and feeling like Gilligan!

This past Sunday, David and I were hanging about the house and it was one of those days you ask yourself, "Do you, or don't you leave the house today?"  The morning had been blah and the afternoon was feeling the same... drizzly, windy, not quite freezing, but not too cold. We had planned on biking about town, but I just wasn't feeling it.  I was really missing the Fall season and all the festivities and smells that come with it - Apples, cider, visiting the pumpkin patch with Lisa's boys, and most of the the Leaves. I just love the Fall palette, it's my favorite!

David, then, suggested we take a drive to the mountains.  According to his co-worker it wasn't too far away, and an easy four hr drive. Two there, two back.  Perfect! I was ready and dressed in 45 minutes, really, I was...no Indian Time here!!  We had also thought of springing Oliver from the Kennel for the day but it was closed.  Well we followed the suggested path, ooh-ing and ah-h-ing, and just enjoying ourselves and were well on our way when it ended...hmmmm...that wasn't supposed to happen! So we decided to throw caution to the wind and go left!  This was the first view of Fall that we saw...I was a Happy Girl!!This is in Ome. We stopped the car and walked the bridge to take this spectacular view. My mother used the word breathtaking. I would say it's gloriously breathtaking!!

 After this first stop we were excited to drive further winding round and round, higher and higher, through more tunnels than I could ever have imagined and in awe of the view each turn. We finally, ended up at a dam, and since the sign was in Kanji, I do not have a name for you! Here are a few photos of our view where we achieved our cardiac exercise for the day with a daring mountain walk and jumping.  Jumping  has now become a family tradition to help our cousin, Alex's cause to prove that Jumping Pictures Will Save the World! And if you haven't thrown all caution to wind and jump in public, no matter your age, skill, and audience I would suggest you do. I promise you the rest of your day will be a happy one!!  

 









Did I mention that we I did NOT bring a map? Daring aren't we?  Well not knowing just exactly WHERE we were, we thought we would attempt to read a billboard map of the surrounding area. Off we went, round and round, higher, and higher. It was also getting cooler and cooler!
By this time I'm saying to him, I'm not sure we're going in the right direction? David is saying, "No, it'll be okay, lets just see where this goes". Now for those of you who know me, I have a great sense of direction and I also like to be in "CONTROL".  I was definitely not in control.  I started to pray and ask the Lord to just let me enjoy this ride and for once I was not driving..I was going to learn how to not be in control.  The ride was just beautiful, albeit, nerve wrecking - I was watching the sun quickly setting. We say tiny shrines, walking clubs of seniors that would put the 40 something club to shame, but that's for another time.  We even stumbled upon small baboons, I wish that I had not put my camera away because there they were sitting on the guardrail face-to-face with me.  It was amazing! 

I had finally settled back, nerves relaxed, all was OK...everything was OK. David and I were still oohing and ah-h-ing, all of a sudden, something in the horizon caught my eye. "Is that..? I think...I think that's Mt Fuji?!" I thought it couldn't be we were going the OTHER way. As the view broke again between the mountains...I yelled, "that IS Mt. Fuji!!! We are going the WRONG way!" By then there wasn't much we could do but finish the path we started. We were almost through the mountain pass and crossed our fingers that whatever town we ended up, someone could speak a teeny weeny bit of English.  Did I mention that we didn't bring a map? Just checking.  I have to laugh now looking back; we found out that we were three hours out of our way and the nice elderly gentleman was wonderful in helping us find our way home.  He couldn't speak English but I remembered what my newcomer's orientation speaker had said.   Just say Yokota the way the Japanese do and they'll help you.  We as Americans tend to say it in two syllables instead of three.  Once I said that, the look of surprise on his face, well...it was priceless! A blend of Jerry Lewis and Mickey Rooney flashed through my head as he said, " YO-KO-TA?!! Hai, TOKYO? Hai, oh-h-h-h, far, far away!!  So we outwardly laughed, inwardly groaned, and made our way back home. Our four hour day trip, turned into an Eight hour tour I couldn't help but think of Gilligan's Isle and their three hour tour. I'm so glad we had gas!