so I started the previous post last week and never got it done till today Sept 8th. It is a another cloudy and cooler day here today and I have been busy reading and working on sending pics of Honduran kids to their padrinos. I too have been very busy the last week and really enjoyed my visit on Sept 3rd with Shohei. It was so FUN to see him and hear all about his adventures in Canada and what he missed about Japan when he was there and what he has noticed since he came back. He was like a blossoming flower on his return and I could see more growth and opening up in him in the one month he had been gone. He seemed to have a new zest for life and learning and he hugged me with a big smile on his face when I opened the door. This is a big change from the nervous and no touching man I met last year in Chinatown. It is so interesting and very exciting to watch him open up and feel more sure of himself.
We had great conversation about all kinds of stuff and he was here till 10:30pm when I finally told him I had to go to bed as my eyes were beginning to shut. I met my match. He likes to talk as much as me:-) We look forward to our next meeting, but who knows when that will be as he gets very busy once school is in session again.
Sept 4th
Ally, I ,Jenny and Janice met up and went to the resale kimono shop to look for a real kimono for Jenny and maybe some yukatas for me and Ally. We had fun rummaging through the stacks of old kimonos, obis, purses, ties, hankies, ...I did find two yukatas that I can either use as housecoats or cut up later if I still feel like doing that. They were $10 a piece. I also got a cool old obi that I think I will use as a table runner or wall hanging. It is cream and rust Asian print with sakura cherry blossoms on it. Ally didn't find antyhing and Janice got a pretty scarf and a few littel gadgets. Jenny found a lovely kimono and said her Japanese husband was shocked when she tried it on at home that night. It looked beautiful on her. They wanted me to get one, but I am too BIG.. I think I need to tgo where the SUMO guys get theirs made:-) haha
We then got some snacks for lunch and went up the hill to the Soji-ji Buddhist temple. While we sat along a brick wall we watched a few different monks run down along corridor carrying some kind of box. It was very odd and we never did find out what exactly they were doing. We saw a few more walking down the corridor later with some ladies following them to another building. We enjoyed walking around the ground and saw many HUGE buildings and also some cool stone pagoda graves stones in the big cemetery as well.
On our way out we went into one of the buildings and made our way through the hallways and passed many monks walking down the the long halls in utter silence. We looked at some beautiful paintings on the doors and walls of what I thought were some of their prayer rooms and then we happened upon their garden area. It was very tranquil and quiet and Jenny said she felt like we were thieves sneaking about in restricted areas. I think it was OK, though, as no one said anything to us as they passed us by. We were being quiet and respectful and just wanted to see the inner hallways.
When I got back home and Jenny and I were bidding each other farewell in front of our house CJ surprised us as he came around the corner. He was back early, after a long week in China and e was tired. We ate some dinner and then found Project Runway reruns on the computer and so we finally got caught up with the first 3 episodes of that. My niece Sarah's friend is Christopher Straub. He is the guy that won the first night with his pretty red carpet dress. Be sure to root him on. It is so fun to tune into shows that you actually kind of know something about one of the folks participating.
The weekend found us just hanging out at home and relaxing. We probably should have been out side more, as the weather was absolutely gorgeous,and who knows how long that will last, but we were both tired from long weeks of walking and working. CJ likes to relax and watch movies and so I was busy on my computer with pics and or reading. We did get out Sunday for a walk down along the ocean and to the International Kids festival. It was OK, but most everything was in Japanese so we were not too sure what was being said. It was nice to get out in the beautiful sunny weather and we enjoyed a ferry ride back on the ocean after our walk there.
Monday found CJ back at work (no labor day here) and I cleaned the house, aired out futons and then went to the orphanage with Janice and Ally. We found out they have to change our visiting day to Wednesdays and so we are all hoping our walking friends can change the walks to another day so we don't have to miss out on that. All 3 of us really like doing both, so we are hoping it will work out. It's a bit frustrating for all of us.
Anyhoo...today it is Tuesday and I have been reading some more and then figured I had better get some more updates on my journal here. I also heard from my brother that my mom and dad may now have an opening in the assisted living place they have been waiting for. They have been on a waiting list since last year. So I hope to find out more about that later this week. I may need to come home sooner than I think to help them pack and move? I was hoping I could stay here till Dec 18Th, but who knows now? I do have lots of things planned with the orphans, ladies clubs, walks and CJ and I had hoped to get to Korea next month.. I really don't want to miss those events either,so we shall see.
I need to run now, and get on the train so to get my haircut and meet up with CJ after work for a walk home down the wooded path. Kalen is well and busy with work in Chicago and may look for another job so to make more money and keep her busy. Graham was in a Rugby tourney in the UP of Michigan last week and he started his last year of college at Duluth in MN today Sept 8th. He will student teach in January..site yet to be determined.
Tomorrow I am off for an all day walk in the Kanda region of northern Tokyo with the Jay Walkers and then on Thursday I have the ladies orientation tea. Friday I will get things ready for CJ's cousins Hanne Marit and her brother Johan to show up on Saturday for 10 days. They are the adult kids of the relatives from Norway where Jean and I stayed in 2007 and then CJ, I and Graham were there last June 2008. We are looking forward to showing them around and to do some hiking. These two are like billy goats and LOVE to hike in the mountains of Norway. Hanne Marit can even jog backwards down slopes and they are about 20 years younger than us so I hope I can keep up with them. This will be the first time someone will walk my a-- off instead of me walking off theirs I'm afraid... :-) more soon
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Sept 3, 2009 A week of walking and exploration with Int'l Girls
Good Afternoon--Konnichiwa
It is almost noon and a gray and cloudy day here in Yokohama. Looks like rain, but the skies haven't let loose yet.
Had an early meeting at the Yokohama Int'l school to try and get more new parents to join the Woman's Club. Met lots of new ladies from Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, ... Some are interested in my work with the Kofu Kids, so who knows what might come of that.
Back home and waiting for my friend Shohei to show up for a visit. He just got back from Manitoba, Canada where he spent the month of August studying English. He is coming to share his Canadian stories and adventures.
I never did get out of the house Monday for the Kofu kids and I must say I miss them. It was just too darn wet and windy and I emailed them and they told me to stay home. SO I did and enjoyed reading a book and chillaxin on the couch. Good thing I had a day off as I have been busy and walking every since.
Tuesday Sept 1, 2009 the Jay Walking Int'l girls and I went north west to Machida and made our way to the Temple flea market. It was fun to look at all the old Japanese things and to see what items caught other folks eyes. I found a few little Japanese treasures, wooden doll, some wood candy molds and think I am now going to buy some old yukatas and make a quilt. I learned from the other ladies that they are only 500yen or $5.00 a piece and I'm thinking you probably can get quite a few squares out of one big one and so I think I will look the next time I go for a certain color scheme perhaps? Maybe when I am older and have time to sit... I can piece one together. I know it won't be while I am here In Japan, as I have too much to see and do and also my machine is back in MN. It will be fun searching out the fabric I think.
After the flea market 9 of us squeezed ourselves into a little tatami table room and around 2 grill tables to make our own egg omelets( okonomi-yaki)for lunch. This was a new experience for me and it was fun, tasty and quite filling as well. They gave each of us a bowl with chopped cabbage, egg, some batter, dried shrimp, pickled garlic, onion and then you stir it up in your bowl and then pour it onto the grill and shape it into a circle with your two spatulas. Once it is cooked on one side you flip it over and do the other. Then we cut it into 1/4s and shared while the next person's bowl of veggie batter was poured onto the grill and cooked. They had mayonnaise and a brown hosien like sauce to top it with and dried bonito fish flakes if you like as well. The other table of girls got pork and raw shrimp in theirs as well. Our table had the veggie version. We had lettuce salad to and then mango pudding or ice cream sundaes for dessert. One lady had black sesame ice cream ? while others had melon, blueberry, chocolate or vanilla. I enjoyed the mango pudding. We made our way to the 100 yen shop and all went our separate ways to gather the needed items . It was a 6 floor 100 yen shop. I got a headache actually looking at all the stuff.
Back on the train and home again to relax and read another book.
Wednesday Sept 2nd, 2009
Got up early and met the Jay walking girls for another walk this time we took the train to Chigasaki and walked along the beach boardwalk. There were many a surfer out there waiting to catch a wave. It was a cloudy day with cool breeze in the air. Not much wave action as we walked along. Three of the girls got into a good conversation and groove and took off. I on the other hand was into taking photos as this was a place I had not been before. Two other ladies walked at a slower pace as well. I have only been on strolls with these ladies prior to today I found out, and so I realize I must not wear my flip flops next time. I had a hard time keeping up with them walking that fast in the wrong kind of shoes. I leisurely enjoyed my walk along the beach boardwalk stopping to take pics of surfers, shore fisherman, some kids on a field trip and then before we stopped for lunch I watched a few girl beach volleyball players doing some bump and serve drills. I wanted to sit outside and watch them as I ate, but the ladies who had been there before, said the birds are too bad and will swoop down and eat your food, so we sat in the building. :-(
After lunch we made our way further along the beach and into the town of Enoshima where many guys and gals were busy taking down all the portable beach restaurants. It was the a definite sign of the end of summer at the beach for another year.
We walked a little further along as the traffic jam began as beach goers and rush hour traffic merged together. We caught up with the little electric train back to Kamakura where we stopped to have a fancy honey vanilla ice cream cone with chocolate and almonds. Very tasty. It is Setsuco's favorite place and she was very sad to hear it will be closing in October due to poor sales. I suggested they move it to a higher end type area such at Motomachi...shoppers there would not have a problem paying 570yen for a cone as good as that.
Back on the train and home once again where I decided to stop and get a much need oil massage. I have sadly only have had one other shiatsu massage in the year I have been here. I always have plans to go and then something else comes up that I don't want to miss and I by pass it. Needless to say after my fast walk in flip flops I thought this was the best day of any to treat my stiff and aching body to a nice relaxing hour. I was very happy to find they had a shower so I could first clean all the sweat and sand from my body before relaxing and thoroughly enjoying her strong fingers working out all the kinks and numbness from my overly ignored body. Yes I waited much too long for this treatment and about went thought the roof when she hit a few spots on my feet arches and shoulders. I vowed right then to myself that I must get back on my monthly massage schedule. I still need to find a chiropractor too. They gave me a glass of ice tea before my shower and massage and then a nice cup of hot tea and a few little pieces of cake after. My what treatment. When realized I could take a shower and got all those goodies too,it was well worth the 9000yen. I did sign up for a membership card too, so they gave me 10 percent off.
It is almost noon and a gray and cloudy day here in Yokohama. Looks like rain, but the skies haven't let loose yet.
Had an early meeting at the Yokohama Int'l school to try and get more new parents to join the Woman's Club. Met lots of new ladies from Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, ... Some are interested in my work with the Kofu Kids, so who knows what might come of that.
Back home and waiting for my friend Shohei to show up for a visit. He just got back from Manitoba, Canada where he spent the month of August studying English. He is coming to share his Canadian stories and adventures.
I never did get out of the house Monday for the Kofu kids and I must say I miss them. It was just too darn wet and windy and I emailed them and they told me to stay home. SO I did and enjoyed reading a book and chillaxin on the couch. Good thing I had a day off as I have been busy and walking every since.
Tuesday Sept 1, 2009 the Jay Walking Int'l girls and I went north west to Machida and made our way to the Temple flea market. It was fun to look at all the old Japanese things and to see what items caught other folks eyes. I found a few little Japanese treasures, wooden doll, some wood candy molds and think I am now going to buy some old yukatas and make a quilt. I learned from the other ladies that they are only 500yen or $5.00 a piece and I'm thinking you probably can get quite a few squares out of one big one and so I think I will look the next time I go for a certain color scheme perhaps? Maybe when I am older and have time to sit... I can piece one together. I know it won't be while I am here In Japan, as I have too much to see and do and also my machine is back in MN. It will be fun searching out the fabric I think.
After the flea market 9 of us squeezed ourselves into a little tatami table room and around 2 grill tables to make our own egg omelets( okonomi-yaki)for lunch. This was a new experience for me and it was fun, tasty and quite filling as well. They gave each of us a bowl with chopped cabbage, egg, some batter, dried shrimp, pickled garlic, onion and then you stir it up in your bowl and then pour it onto the grill and shape it into a circle with your two spatulas. Once it is cooked on one side you flip it over and do the other. Then we cut it into 1/4s and shared while the next person's bowl of veggie batter was poured onto the grill and cooked. They had mayonnaise and a brown hosien like sauce to top it with and dried bonito fish flakes if you like as well. The other table of girls got pork and raw shrimp in theirs as well. Our table had the veggie version. We had lettuce salad to and then mango pudding or ice cream sundaes for dessert. One lady had black sesame ice cream ? while others had melon, blueberry, chocolate or vanilla. I enjoyed the mango pudding. We made our way to the 100 yen shop and all went our separate ways to gather the needed items . It was a 6 floor 100 yen shop. I got a headache actually looking at all the stuff.
Back on the train and home again to relax and read another book.
Wednesday Sept 2nd, 2009
Got up early and met the Jay walking girls for another walk this time we took the train to Chigasaki and walked along the beach boardwalk. There were many a surfer out there waiting to catch a wave. It was a cloudy day with cool breeze in the air. Not much wave action as we walked along. Three of the girls got into a good conversation and groove and took off. I on the other hand was into taking photos as this was a place I had not been before. Two other ladies walked at a slower pace as well. I have only been on strolls with these ladies prior to today I found out, and so I realize I must not wear my flip flops next time. I had a hard time keeping up with them walking that fast in the wrong kind of shoes. I leisurely enjoyed my walk along the beach boardwalk stopping to take pics of surfers, shore fisherman, some kids on a field trip and then before we stopped for lunch I watched a few girl beach volleyball players doing some bump and serve drills. I wanted to sit outside and watch them as I ate, but the ladies who had been there before, said the birds are too bad and will swoop down and eat your food, so we sat in the building. :-(
After lunch we made our way further along the beach and into the town of Enoshima where many guys and gals were busy taking down all the portable beach restaurants. It was the a definite sign of the end of summer at the beach for another year.
We walked a little further along as the traffic jam began as beach goers and rush hour traffic merged together. We caught up with the little electric train back to Kamakura where we stopped to have a fancy honey vanilla ice cream cone with chocolate and almonds. Very tasty. It is Setsuco's favorite place and she was very sad to hear it will be closing in October due to poor sales. I suggested they move it to a higher end type area such at Motomachi...shoppers there would not have a problem paying 570yen for a cone as good as that.
Back on the train and home once again where I decided to stop and get a much need oil massage. I have sadly only have had one other shiatsu massage in the year I have been here. I always have plans to go and then something else comes up that I don't want to miss and I by pass it. Needless to say after my fast walk in flip flops I thought this was the best day of any to treat my stiff and aching body to a nice relaxing hour. I was very happy to find they had a shower so I could first clean all the sweat and sand from my body before relaxing and thoroughly enjoying her strong fingers working out all the kinks and numbness from my overly ignored body. Yes I waited much too long for this treatment and about went thought the roof when she hit a few spots on my feet arches and shoulders. I vowed right then to myself that I must get back on my monthly massage schedule. I still need to find a chiropractor too. They gave me a glass of ice tea before my shower and massage and then a nice cup of hot tea and a few little pieces of cake after. My what treatment. When realized I could take a shower and got all those goodies too,it was well worth the 9000yen. I did sign up for a membership card too, so they gave me 10 percent off.
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