gLee in Japan!

Some of you have probably heard of the American TV show, Glee, a warmhearted semi-melodrama about high schoolers in the Glee Club in school, who are, therefore, by definition, losers and on an eternal quest to fit in... blah blah blah. Well the big draw of this show is that they preform songs, singing, dancing, lights. It's just fun.

Well I am very happy to say Glee is now being introduced to Japan! Horray! Check out their promo

so much fun! It will be in English, with subtitles. The big sumo wrestler is the very-famous-in-japan Akebono, who would definitely be a role model for the sumo kids. Did you notice the scrunchie in one of the dancer's hair? I did. (I told you, scrunchies are big in Japan!)

I really miss Japan. :(

Stress.

Let's talk about stress. I think Dave and I are prime examples of it. Luckily, it hits us at different times, so we are able to balance and support each other.

Basically, even though everyone has known about this for months and months and months, it's as if someone just decided everything two weeks ago. Everything is last minute. Everything.

You mean we're going to have to schedule plane tickets for all the dependents to exit the country? Well, we'll just put them on the military freedom flights. Oh, those flights are open to all military personnel, and we can't just charter them for our needs... hmmm, we'll just wait until 12 hours before any given flight to issue a ticket.

It's really quite ridiculous.

And then there's the car debacle... We all - all 200 or so families - have 10 days to sell their cars or junk them. We aren't supposed to get a Power of Attorney for someone else to sell it for us. Ugh.

And then there's just everything that goes into moving to or from overseas... I have to return my cable box, pick up my "lost" medical records, find my dental records, close my bank account, find out how to get my deposit back from my housing agency....Oh and clean my house so it's spotless...Meanwhile, we are trying to finish deal on the house we've rented in Lemoore.

And I'm trying not to deal with the fact I'm super depressed to be leaving the friends I've made here. Ugh!

about time~

We finally got our HPC (home port change) letter, and now things appear to be moving smoothly forward. The letter came out on Monday, and on tuesday I scheduled the movers to arrive on monday, dec 7. I've faxed in information to begin my Honda's voyage from storage in South Carolina to Richmond CA. I'll be reactivating my state-side cellphone next week. All this and Dave and I attended the squadron Christmas party on Tuesday night! busy busy times...It will be hard to leave the life we've made in Japan, the friends, the experiences, the Japanese in general. But I've been waiting for months to move forward, and now I am! Lots to do.

I will probably fly to Lemoore on the 13th or 14th of December, quickly sign a lease on a house, camp out at Cam and Lauren's. Dave will arrive on the 18th or 19th. Then we have Christmas leave! On the 22nd we are flying to DC, where we will spend Christmas! On the 26th, we plan to purchase a new-to-us car: 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. I want the dealer to put a big bow on top, as it's our christmas gift to each other. On the 27th we'll hit the road, with all the animals in tow, and stop for the night in Nashville, visiting Dave's sister Sarah. Then on the 28th we will arrive in Olive Branch until Jan. 1st or 2nd. Then we'll pack up our family and head west: Lemoore or Bust! We plan on stopping by the Grand Canyon! If you have any places you think we should visit on our road trip, please let me know!

This of course is the PLAN. We'll see what actually happens.

A Gift

Yesterday, we received a going-away gift from our Landlord, Ai Ijima-san. In her perfect handwriting, her card says:

Dave and Annie-san,
Thank you so much for living in Casa Jardin (C) for about eight months.
You are a good family!
We were lucky to see you.

This is a small good-by gift as a token of our gratitude. Please enjoy!

We hope you will arrive in America safely.
Good health and happiness to your family!

Sincerely,

Koichi and Ai Iijima

(P.S. Please excuse me for my poor card.)

I will upload a photo of the gift once Blogger deals with its internal issues.

Threats of Violence...

I'm beginning to consider resorting to threats of violence ... I just know that letter is sitting on a desk. Under a paperweight. Dusty. Probably a coffee stain or two. Just pick up that pen to your right, and SIGN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tokyo for Kelly's Birthday

On Friday, Kelly, Laura, Gizelle and I made the trip up to Tokyo to celebrate Kelly's birthday. We had a room at the New Sanno, and an awesomely fancy dinner at Wellington's, a restaurant located in the four-star hotel. We shared a romantic bottle of wine gorged ourselves on tomato bread. I was highly impressed with Wellington's: I'd completely underestimated it! Now, if only I can get Dave up there with me at some point....They had these great red velvet couple's booths, so posh! Our meal lasted two whole hours!!


All dressed up with someplace to go! Annie, Kelly, Gizelle and Laura in front of the fireplace at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo


Afterwards, we jumped in a cab and hunted for Feria, a club scene that was recommended to us: it has four levels each with a different theme: wine cave, dace floor, crystal floor, and rooftop bar. After being ID'ed at the door - first time that's happened in Japan! - the bouncers directed us upstairs to a club called Midas.... it was 10:30 and we were the first people there! And the music was not to our taste.... after a drink there we decided this was not the place for us. Descending the stairs we realized the bouncers had directed us to the Right, and if we'd gone to the Left, we'd have been were we wanted to be! After a cover charge of $20 - which included two drink tickets - we found ourselves lost. Just leave it to Japan. We couldn't find the button for the elevator - couldn't find stairs as an alternative - we were duped by the waitstaff who told us to follow him, where he proceeded to the kitchen, or someplace not a bar....! Bah! We knew this place had four levels but couldn't find them! Eventually we figured it out, after many laughs.

The downstairs club was interesting. It was playing retro music, but that was fun because it was like karaoke, we knew the words, woot! The age group there was a little interesting, anywhere from us twenty-somethings to women in their 40's, and men in their 50's or 60's?! We are pretty sure we saw some kind of "for hire" couple.... this girl was young and was allllll over this old guy... "all over" in terms that we were all pretty disgusted by their behavior! It'd be one thing if we'd discovered the couple in a darkly lit corner, but in the middle of the bar?! Not ok.

Another interesting aspect to the bar were the reserved tables. The bar area was a free-for-all, but if you wanted to sit somewhere other than a bar stool, you had to pay per person. for 1,000Yen a person you could have a seat around the bar; 2,000Y per person AND two BOTTLES of alcohol you could have a large booth, and for who knows how much you could enter the glass box overlooking the dance floor. Yes, that was two bottles of alcohol - not two drinks per person. Given that a bottle of house wine was 10,000Y, we were not about to use that option. Crazy!

The rooftop bar was fun. With heated tents, it was comfortable to be up there. Ont he rooftop, as we exited the elevator some french persons referred to us as "magnifique!" Yaaay! Also on the rooftop we encountered our soon-to-be-Italian-friends, Leonardo and Raphael. No joke. Leonardo claims to have worked for Ferrari.....which i'd believe if i saw it. The bar seemed to be mostly europeans. We're pretty sure there was a group of models, all perfectly skinny and wearing black. Over the course of the night, we heard French and met Italians.


The Tokyo club scene is pretty unique, partially because it doesn't pick up until almost midnight and lasts until 5am, when the trains start running again. As we all made it back to the hotel around 4am, we'd agree it was a fun time and worth the experience, but not something we'd do over and over and over.

Sumo in Tokyo

More Kyoto

Shinkan-sen photos - Dave was as excited as Sam to ride it and photograph it.




My favorite, Nijo Castle!!




Kinkaku-ji Temple - The Golden Pavillion




Dave enjoying a Kinkakuji treat. It was red bean paste (sweet) with a single salted soy bean inside. It has real gold on the outside and is the official snack of the Golden Pavillion.



Kiyomizu water fountain. The three different streams represent three different things: (Right to Left) Good Luck in Study, Good Luck in Love, Good Luck in Long Life. Most students drank from Study to assist in their up coming exams.





Dave drinking from Kiyomizu Temple's special water. Dave chose Long Life. I chose Long Life too, since I'd already found Love and graduated from University.



Me and my Nija husband!



Maiko photo: )




The best part about Kiyomizu were our guides. As we were walking up to the temple, four japanese students asked us if they could practice English with us and give us a tour of the temple. They were univeristy students from Tokyo. They were in an club where they practice English by giving tours of tourist spots. We didn't take many pictures because we were so involved with them. This was our group picture at the end. They wanted to pose as "BOLT"... we also posed as James Bond. Haha.


Waiting for our departing train, we ate at Very Berry - little restaurant that sold all sorts of fruit-based pies. Delish!

Summer Party

A few weeks ago I was hired to plan an American-style party in celebration of summer for Japanese students aged8-12 who are learning English. After two weeks of planning and crafting the day arrived. It began with presentations by the students in English.


Toyoma made "Fish Shaped pancake Stuffed with bean jam." I think these are made for Boy's Day, when fish are all around us. He gave the presentation in English, made two of the delicious treats, and everyone played rock-paper-scissors for who would get to eat it.




Yuri, assisted by Miyoko-san, read from the book "Swimmy."




The older kids presented a shortened book version of Peter pan.





My friend! I don't know her name, but she was sooo eager to spend time with me. Sitting next to me in every game, cupcaking, and all other times.





The youngest kids sang Doe-A-Deer from Sound of Music, their teacher played piano and led. It was suuuuper cute.


After their presentations, we played games (that's what i was in charge of planning). We played Musical Chairs, Hot Potato, Pin the Tail on the Donkey and Simon Says. Then it was noon, definitely time for some sugar. I'd baked 3 dozen cupcakes. The students each got one, and were able to frost it and decorate it. It was interesting. I put the icing on the table, and they just stared at me. American kids would be fighting over who gets the chocolate frosting before the icing was even on the table... They sat there and looked at me until i demonstrated.


One boy's cupcake - took all the different color gel icings and mixed them on.





Then it was time for outdoor activities. We had a waterballoon toss. But the balloons were childproof! They wouldn't pop! So this game lasted along time as all the balloons rolled around the ground. Then it was Pinata. I made the pinata myself...that's why it looks like a balloon, because I papier-mached over a balloon. They had a great time. As I was getting ready to walk to the train station, Miyoko - the lead teacher - asked if I would be interested in doing a regular bi-monthly conversation class for some high schoolers and their parents. So we'll see if that materializes. It was a lot of fun.

Pottery Bard Disaster

Usually, I would not be one to put those two concepts in the same sentence. I heart PB. But, PB, you have failed me. Granted, I'm not placing total blame on you. Some of it was my fault. But some of it was your fault, too.

Quiz: After reviewing the photos, please answer the following questions.

1. What's wrong with this photo?
a) two different color threads were used.
b) different stitching is overlapping.
c) All of the above.




2. What's wrong with this photo?
a) two different color threads were used.
b) why are your sheets so wrinkly, annie?
c) why are only your initials on the sheets? doesn't Dave sleep here too?
d) All of the above.


If you answered "All of the above" for each question, you get a gold star. Indeed, the thread color does not match, Dave's pillow cases' monograms are overlapped onto the design-stitching of the sheets - only accentuating that the two thread colors are different. Additionally, I didn't think that the sheets would be monogrammed (stupid me) and so yes, those are MY sheets, not dave's. poor dave. Also, i didn't realize the monogramming would be in a box. Uck. I also managed to choose the ONLY monogram that the middle letter isn't bigger... so now I'm Ann Wrigley Saunders and Dave is David Wrigley Jordan. So Smart. So that's how this is my fault.

However, this is how it is Pottery Barn's fault: First, monogramming available, but not in the same thread color?? Really? I chose the only blue on the list, believing that pottery barn is higher than not offering thread colors... Silly me. Second, Dave's monogram is poorly done. Period. It's just bad. Overlapping? Really? I checked to make sure the extra pillow cases I ordered were the same size that came with the sheet set, and yes, yes they are. Their fault.

So my first monogramming experience is a debacle. My first personal Pottery Barn experience is also a debacle. To add to this, monogrammed items cannot be returned or exchanged. Perfect.

Bad Girl Ball

On Saturday is the annual Bad Girl Ball. It originated last year - is it too early to call it annual? - because all the men were deployed for the annual Bad Man Ball. So instead, why cancel the party? Let's have it be just us girls! Hence, this year, NAF Atusgi found another reason to have Bad Girl Ball - touting it as our "Half-Way Party." The Half-Way party is usually held half-way through a deployment and is meant to support and encourage spouses that you're almost done with deployment! While it doesn't really work as a half-way party - ohwell, it's still a fun and distracting excuse to plan.

Every squadron has come up with a theme. Some of them include 1940's military, original not-skanky Playboy Bunnies, and Hippy. VFA-192 - my squadron - decided on a Ghost busters theme. Yes, the classic 1984 sci-fi comedy. It's not sexy, but it sure is fun! We've got table decorations, costumes, and even a roll-call to the tune of the Ghost Buster's theme song all lined up. The creme-de-la-creme is the 18' papier-mache Slimer that Laura and I have worked on. But it really is the icing on the cake... Here's a sneak peak at what we've got planned.

Kelly, don't get jealous!! ;)





Slimer, not yet assembled.


Please refer to the plot of the movie to place what we're creating.



It wouldn't be as fun if our husband's weren't with us somehow!



Check back next week for the big reveal!

The Kit-Kats

In Japan, there are many things that are different, like vending machines. They operate the same manner as those in the United States of America, though using a different currency - the En, or "Yen." The other major way in which Japanese vending machines are different than their American counterparts is their merchandise. Think about what you find in American vending machines. There are usually two types: Soda and snacks. Soda includes either Pepsi or Coca-cola products but not both; snacks includes 80% candy, 15% saturated fat, and 5% gum/breath mints.

There are a variety of vending machines available in Japan: Soda-Coffee-Tea, Vegetables, underware. Those are just the ones I've seen. Something conspicuously missing? Candy. Snacks. Gum. After five months in Japan, I found my first vending machine distributing candy. It was one of 15 options - the rest being soda-tea-coffee.

Not only did it take me five months to find a vending machine that distributes candy, but there was only one option of candy - the Kit-Kat. One needs only to see my friend, Sabine's, collection of random Kit-Kats that Japan produces. While America has just branched out from milk chocolate into the dark chocolate and white chocolate varieties, Japan is way ahead of the curve with flavors that include, but are not limited to: red wine, plum soda, soy sauce, baked potato, and apple and lemon vinegars, respectively. Although I have only tried lemon vinegar, it was tasty.

The other noticable difference in the Kit-Kat was its packaging. It was dispensed in a small glass bottle with a plastic lid - read: 100% recyclable. For 200Y ($2.10) I received four smaller-than-fun sized Kit-Kats.



Ohh, Japan.

Bon Odori

Bon Odori is a festival held every August. It celebrates the spirits of your ancestors returning from the spirit world to have a visit with the living world and relatives. This three day long celebration starts with O-bon, when the spirits return, and ends with Bon-Odori, when the spirits go back to the spirit world. Each day the living relatives visit a shrine and leave specific offerings: a straw horse, for fast travel from the spirit world, mochi balls, fresh vegetables. The horse is lit on fire and the smoke tells the ancestors where to visit.

My friend Kelly summarized the traditions on her blog post. She's better at explaining it than I am :)

VFA-192 on Youtube.com

Check out this youtube video about the recent change of command in Dave's squadron. These are some of the guys Dave works with every day.

The Band-Aid

A very wonderful thing happened to me today.

My story starts in Australia. I went on a mini shopping spree at Target. I bought shoes! Woot! Today was the first day I wore one of the pairs. I walked up to the train station, and sure enough, 5 minutes into my commute to meet a teacher and plan a summer party for 15 Japanese students, I've got blisters. Really bad blisters. On both feet. Ouch! I get on my first train, thankful to sit. During my transfer in Sagmi-ono, I'm limping along. As I wait for the doors to open, i feel a tap on my shoulder. A Japanese woman smiles and hands me a band-aide. How nice is that? Definitely wouldn't happen in the States.

How is it I climbed Mt. Fuji and didn't get any blisters, and I walk five minutes and get two?

Annie Czapp's visit!

Annie's welcome sign, with her name in Japanese.


Karaoke - in the authentic Japanese fashion.



Portable shrine day - once a year they parade the shrine through the streets.



I got to help carry it - my shoulder's still bruised 3 days letter.



Annie and I on the start of our adventure to climb Mt. Fuji






So attractive.


At the bottom! Again!


In our celebratory T-Shirts.



Today we went to Tokyo Disney!


Cinderella and Prince Charming - not asian.

Beauty and the Beast - also not asian.

Too fun. We have had an awesome fun jampacked 4 days. Tomorrow we are going to Yokohama and will watch the Yokohama Baysider's baseball team. Wednesday we are going to Tokyo!

Learning to Bow

The name of my current read is Learning to Bow: Inside the Heart of Japan by Bruce Feiler. My friend Heather was kind enough to loan it to me. I started reading it today on my train ride to meet my conversation student, Osami. I found it so entertaining that I was laughing out loud on the train, receiving curious looks from my fellow travelers. The book is about an American man who spends one year teaching English and American culture at a rural school in Japan and consequently his encounters with the Japanese culture. One of my favorite sections so far:

Several weeks into my stay, Mrs. Cherry Blossom [yes, that is her real name, translated into English]...hosted a welcome party for me along with some of her friends. As the party began, spread across the table at the center of her living room floor was a marvelous assortment of traditional Japanese party fare: heaping trays of sushi; bowls of pickled vegetables, tofu, and potatoes; plates of salads and compotes. In front of me, however, she had discreetly placed a small plate of egg salad sandwiches with a knife and fork tucked beneath a napkin. Moved by her thoughtfulness but by then quite completely accustomed to dining with chopsticks, I plucked a pair from the center of the table and joined with the other guests in prying nuggets of food from the trays and putting them into my mouth.

I had not lifted the first bite of raw fish halfway to my lips when the whole conversation stopped dead and everyone turned to marvel at my unimaginable skill.

"That's amazing," swooned a lady to my left as she focused her glasses on my fingers.

"So skillful," said another.

They were so genuinely impressed that they beckoned our hostess from the kitchen to witness this display of manual dexterity by the foreigner. She came rushing to my end of the table, dripping her serving spoon into my lap, and exclaimed, "Can you use chopsticks?"

I laughed out loud again on my train ride because this exact situation had happened to me just a few minutes prior. I've been meeting Osami for lunch every week for 3 months now. The location of our lunch depends on our mood, though pasta and Italian tend to occur frequently either because he enjoys the cuisine or thinks I won't enjoy something else, or a combination of the two, I'm not sure. (Those "western style" restaurants tend to have forks and knives on the table instead of chopsticks.) Today we ate at a steak restaurant, although I'd stated the Japanese restaurant would be fine.

This was a very Japanese style steak restaurant, chopsticks carefully arranged on the table. As our multi-plated meals came out to us, Osami was shocked as I picked up my chopsticks, broke them apart and dug into my salad.
"Ohh!" he said, quite surprised. "We can get a fork, it is no problem."
"Oh no," I responded, "this is fine," and ate away. He just kind of stared at me - "You can use chopsticks? You learned to do that here [in Japan]?"
"Nope, I used them in America, too, at Asian restaurants." This really distorted Osami's world. I tried to tell him I can't hold the chopsticks the Japanese way, so I must have learned from a Chinese restaurant, but he was very impressed.

While this wasn't the first time I'd used chopsticks in front of Osami, it might as well have been.

Butler's Cafe

Annie, when you visit, I we should go here.
Butler's Cafe

The Sign

This was a sign posted on a vending machine we encountered at the Nijo Castle.



By all means, please tell me what it means!?! I asked my conversation student, Osami, what it could mean. This was his response: I'm also not sure the meaning of the sentences in English in the picture. But I could understand its meaning from Japanese in it.
Maybe it means like the following... (please correct it! I also don't have confidence..)
"Please make sure not to bring a PET bottle or similar thing into the park.
If the PET bottle is being capped, you can bring it along with you in the park, however, if not, please don't do that. Thank you in advance for your understanding." (PET is a type of plastic bottle)