White Day

It's a dark, stormy night. I'm in my sewing room, sewing together a quilt backing, when my apartment rings with the sudden sound of the doorbell. Am I expecting anyone? Not at all. But I open the door anyway and get bombarded with a big blast of wind and stay raindrops. Outside stands a delivery man shielding a package from the weather. "Sign this!" he says, and I read that the package is from Amazon. I just got my pack of oatmeal from them the other day, so what could this be? Now I trade the receipt for the box and retreat back into my warm, dry front room to open it up.

The box is light for its size. I search the address for any evidence of a sender name, but all it shows is mine and my address. Snip, slice, teeeeeear, and it's open. Inside the mysterious package lies a box of my very favorite Lindor truffles.  Now I'm getting an idea about why this package came, but still not a clue of from whom.

The next day I come in to school as usual. The teacher's room is a buzz of activity as everyone is finding their seat before the morning meeting bell rings. I walk through my row with the usual ohayou gozaimasu to the normal teachers, and some bright good mornings to my nearby English teachers. Instead of the normal head incline and paper shuffle, I notice some of my neighbors watching me. A moment later, when I look at my desk, I see why. There's a pile of gift bags, both big and small, covering the surface. It's White Day!

I have to clear them off before the meeting starts, but later on I get some time to look through them. Cake, an assortment of fancy cookies, rice crispy balls, an adorable handkerchief, sakura tea, sand[wich] cookies, red bean filled marshmallows, and more. In the afternoon I get a call from my Japanese granny saying that she's in the parking lot at school ready to drop something off. She deposits a cute box of goodies and snoopy towel in my hands, pats my cheeks to say I've lost weight, and runs back to the car to drive away.  

So what is White Day? It's a part of Japan's Valentine's tradition. You see, in Japan the boys are a little shy. They leave it up to girls to give out chocolates and homemade sweets to their sweethearts. Boys wait in anticipation of receiving something that day, and their heart breaks a little if they've been completely passed over. There are a few types of chocolate to give. Tomo-choco, or Friend chocolate can be for any and everyone. Giri-choco, or Obligation chocolate, is what you give to superiors or people you're indebted to. And finally, Honmei-choco, or true love chocolate, is a special kind made with love for that special someone. 

You may think this seems unfair to girls. Why should they have to go through all this trouble and get nothing in return? Well in Japan, you can't receive a gift without considering something in return. So a month after Valentine's Day, on March 14th, guys return the favor by giving back to each girl who gave him something, usually way more elaborate or fancy than the original gift.

On Valentine's Day this year I cooked up a big batch of mini chocolate muffins, 60-70 in all, and gave them away to English teachers, students, my pastor, and J-granny.

Today I lived the Japanese proverb, "With shrimp you catch tai." In other words, "Give a little, get a lot."


PS- after further investigation, the truffles came from my pastor! I should have known since he kept reconfirming my address at church the week before.

Bellwork Blog

Hey there!

One of my goals this month is to branch out more into creative writing. I have endless practice in recounting days through letters and diaries, but want to push myself into new territory. The plan is to post 25 entries in March, so it should be updated pretty frequently. Care to follow along? Then hop on over to the link below.

http://backtobellwork.blogspot.jp/

Jipangu

Once a month I have a bible study and meal with the young folks at my Japanese church (age range: 21-45). Usually we meet at the pastor's house and his wife cooks dinner for us, but the other day we tried something new. All I knew about it beforehand was that it was in an obscure place that I'd never be able to find on my own, so one of the other members would pick me up.

When Sunday night came and the car pulled up, I was ushered into a typical white Japanese boxy car. Kuma, a denture-maker and lifetime attender of Bethel Christ, was to drive us. In the back seat sat miss Sega, a kindergarden teacher who matches every stereotype. Cute, young, and sweet. Then there was one more girl who I vaguely remembered seeing once before. I was relieved of the task of remembering her name by someone else's bringing it up in a passing comment. Ms. Koi, that was it!

On the way there I was too engrossed in making conversation to mark any definites about the route, but only have a vague sense of winding through little country roads, across streams, and into the darkening night.

"Here we are!" Mr. Kuma announced as we pulled up to the glowing windows of a building shrouded in trees. To get inside we had to walk along a raised wooden walkway. It was covered with an arched roof and lined with lanterns, illuminating the dark outlines of garden plants down below. It reminded me of many an evening watching people march a similar path on their way to Tribal Council.

We were inside and seated before I could get a good look at the whole place, but it seemed like a traditional Japanese house-turned restaurant. The whole wooded interior was flooded with a warm light, exotic nick-knacks, and almost empty. Our group got a whole room to ourselves, complete with a shoji lantern, plants, and blues music playing from a stereo in the corner. The atmosphere was mysterious and decadent, so much was my surprise to open the menu and find the prices to be reasonable, too.

After ordering, we all sat folding our napkins in origami patterns. There was a fortune teller, a crane, and a man made out of two napkins put together. Conversation was polite and faltering, as it always is between our collection of semi-strangers. Soon Mrs. Tana, the pastor's wife, came in and saved the day with her talk of her exam in Kyoto that day. She's getting a master's in education. It wasn't much longer before Mr. Azu, the last member of our group arrived. He's a tennis instructor and always comes a bit later after his lessons.

When the food came, all our choices displayed the variety of their offerings. I got bacon pizza, there was cheesy toast (I didn't measure, but the bread must have been at least 1.5 inches thick), mountain veggies over soba, a meat platter, chicken nuggets and fries, and omrice (an egg, rice and ketchup omlette), all with salad and tea on the side.

Everything I'd learned about Ms. Koi when we last met was forgotten, so I got to know her as for the first time. She's my age, lives with her mom in Tokushima city, and works as a mortuary assistant. Her manner is the most dreamy, thoughtful, and childlike I've ever seen; almost like a character from a Yoshimoto Banana book. She's the kind of girl that might walk barefoot outside under full moons, build miniature furniture, or talk to cats. (actually, her cat is gorgeous!)

Wow, this is getting long. Can you tell we have no classes today at school?

Anyway, after eating and talking we had our bible study/discussion group. We talked about everyone's emphasis on doing things to please God, when He still delights in our just being. We read the story of the prodigal son. It wasn't until after we began discussing that we realized the people who don't know the bible didn't understand. The father in the story represents God and His acceptance, of course. "Ohhh!!" came the cries of understanding.

All in all, it was a really nice evening. I'd love to introduce it to friends someday ... if I can ever find my way back there.

If you've read all the way to this point, then check out the link with pictures!
http://ameblo.jp/attenborogh/entry-10284532104.html

Good Food

I've been eating a lot better ever since I realized how much carbs and sugar affect my moods.

Here's an example of one of my recent trips to the grocery store.

Jicama, apple cider vinegar, spaghetti, avocados, carrots, mochi, mikan, apples, tofu, creamed corn, & yogurt. 

Carrots, leek, lotus root, burdock, jicama leaves, cabbage, and udon noodles. Can you find them all?

In order to easily consume all those veggies, I've been making lots of soupy things. It's convenient to eat, but I still have to figure out how to make decent broth...

Well, that's all, folks!

Aikido Enbutaikai

Well! Looks like I have a lot of videos displayed on Youtube, and even more buried in my Unlisted section.

Here's one that I ran across just now of our Aikido demonstration back in October. I had to keep it unlisted so that it wouldn't dwarf Gangnam Style's popularity right away. The action is just too intense. 

Not only is it a demonstration of a traditional Japanese martial art, but it's also a perfect example of Japanese ceremonies. Announcing, bowing, giving everyone a turn, bowing some more, and an absolutely infinite supply of patience from the audience. There were about two hours of demonstrations like this from all the different schools in the prefecture. From age 3 to 80 (or so it looked!), everyone was about to show off what they've been learning to a friendly, supportive crowd. 

At the end we got to watch the Master go at it with all the other school heads. Here's a video of him beating up our teacher, and here's a choreographed fight to finish it up with. Watching him made me see where they got the idea for Yoda. Also, on the last video, note how much time he spends contemplating the Japanese flag before bowing. All in all, pretty cool event. :)

Just Thinkin'

Just some recent thoughts, in no particular order.

When making my students' final exams, I have all the power!
    It's fun to know that I won't be taking it. Hah!

Fruit might as well be another variety of candy. It's so delicious!
    I've been eating mikan, or mandarin oranges like crazy these days. About 24 per week.

Beauty is one thing, but many a plain face looks beautiful when there's a smile on the lips and life in the eyes.
   Interview tests have given me plenty of time to reflect on my students' faces. I've always thought the energetic kids were extra cute (they are!), but there's nothing that different in their physical makeup. What really makes them stand out is the energy that bubbles out from within.

My bed is the bomb.
  It's all winterized now, which means a fuzzy-wuzzy sheet on the bottom, thick fuzzy blanket as the top 'sheet', a down comforter, and another comforter on top of that. Every night I climb into bed with my rice bag and get smothered by the weight of warmth. I love it!

I'll be home for Christmas!!!!!!
  If ever my thoughts wander these days, it's to this. Only two weeks away! "What do you miss most about America?" someone asked me, and it's definitely the people. Japan is very livable, but there is no substitute for the sweet faces of people I've known all my life. Until those reunions, though, I have a lot to finish up around here!

Sunny Saturday

It's been a good day!

This is my 5th top now with no completed ones. >.<

In the morning I finished my latest quilt top and rolled around in my ever-increasing supply of pretty fabric.

Then I got a call from Nody. We're having a lasagna night this Monday with a couple other teachers from school, so went on a mission to find the ingredients. YouMe Town, our fancy new mall, has a foreign import store with plenty of cheese varieties. That's where we started, gawking at the high prices while enjoying our free coffee, mango, and nut samples. Rather than buying huge amounts of the spendy Ricotta and Cottage cheese, we determined to make it ourselves!

But to make cheese you need a cheesecloth. Which happens to be headachingly difficult to find in Japan (just pretend YouMe Town represents all of Japan). After searching the grocery and home goods store with no luck, finally settled on 100yen gauze from the drugstore!

We had some Napolitan spaghetti for a late lunch. I made her do the unthinkable in eating unpeeled persimmons. Gasp! Although she claimed that her teeth are hard enough to knaw on walls, she still complained about the hard peel the whole time.

Then came the cheesemaking.

Can you guess which kind this'll be?

I never knew milk could smell so delicious.

We used a mixture of English and Japanese recipes, then let them sit in their warm, whey-y goodness for a couple hours while we went out on a walk!

Look, the sun is setting! 

The toilet paper is always nicely folded after she leaves.

(it took me about 5 minutes to recreate this scene on my own)

Post Script!

Everything turned out great. I may not be making it again anytime soon, but at least I know I can. : )

Tada!