Big Mansion

Walking home today I met a very nice Japanese man. He really wanted to talk to me and he did. . . mostly in Japanese. I told him I only spoke English, but that didn't seem to bother him at all. He tried to tell me his name, but I was having a hard time understanding. So to help me he took off his hat to show me his name. It was so cute- his name and phone number were written inside! Anyway, it didn't really help me since his name was written with Japanese characters. I think he said his name means "Big Mansion" but he could have been describing his home, he also tried to tell me where he lived. He asked me where I lived and if I used this road everyday. I think he was trying to ask me about trimming my hedges? Well he was very nice and tried really hard to have a conversation with me. In the end he said something and then said "Bye bye" with a wave. I like Big Mansion. 

Pancake Log 10.15

My flight from Tokyo to San Fransisco was cancelled. Of course I did not find this out until I tried to check in (the email notification came 40 min after that). They moved me to a flight on Singapore at 6:45pm which was then delayed to 7:10pm. Also my connection changed to having a layover in LAX, the most confusing airport. But the worst part, the WORST part other than having to spend an extra 8hrs in airports was that I had gotten an upgrade to first class on the original flights! But no more, back to regular economy- I know my life is so hard.

But why is this post under the PancakeLog title you ask? Well ... as hard as it was being relegated back to my usual economy I still got to order my vegetarian meals. AND the vegetarian breakfast was... dadada... PANCAKES! They were a great surprise and actually pretty good. Didn't have my camera in my seat so sadly there is no picture of my wonderful surprise pancakes. Pancakes are great but when they come a surprise, I think they may be a little better.

Kinugasa Park

Went for a walk near my house. The view from the top was amazing! I can't believe I have lived here for over a year and just found it. But on my way down I saw a lady walking a horse! Seemed a little odd but hey this is Japan and I always seem to find the most unexpected things. 

Far East Math

First day of Far East Math ...

• Amazing "real" mathematician was our keynote. I love listening to math- I know, I know...
• Listened to some really smart students talk about math and its connection to different disciplines.
• Watched a sea cucumber take a wiz on a student.

Overall I felt the first day was a success.

2.5 = 5.5???

Today I have arrived at Far East Math! Students from all around Japan, Guam, and Korea have come together to participate in math activities. Sounds like fun right?!?! Well it does to ME. We left base at 6am (meaning I was up before 5am). Our flight took off on schedule at 9am, we were supposed to land at 1130 (2.5hrs) but due to bad weather we ended up landing at 2:30 (5.5hrs). We got to our resort just in time for dinner at 6pm. Luckily my students are great and basically napped the time away. But that meant when we arrived they were wide awake and definitely not happy about their 9:30 curfew. I know I am exhausted and ready for sleep. But this resort rocks! I can't believe we are staying here.

Switchfoot

Tonight Switchfoot did a free concert on base. It was great and we had amazing seats!

Pancake Log 10.06 & 10.07

I lost the picture of the pancakes I had on Pi day! Completely deleted from my camera and computer, one day I am sure I find it filed under some wierd name in some until then unheard of file. But until then you will just have to believe me. Just like today. I did have pancakes on my plate but was too hungry to take a picture first. It was breakfast for dinner day and I did not want to wait.

From Pancakes

I did eat that last bite. (Couldn't just let is sit there all alone!)

This one time I followed Japanese people.

Easter started out normal and nice enough. Began with 8am Mass, went to the early one since the fewest people go to that service. Did a little shopping, new books for spring break. Met some friends for brunch at the Officers Club- watched children freaked out and cried when approached by giraffes, monkeys, and bunnies (not actual animals, people in costumes).

When I got home I decided to go for a short walk. While walking I noticed many Japanese people walking to and from "some place." Now I didn't know where they were coming from or where they were going but there was a steady stream of people. So having nothing better to do I got in line. I followed and walked and walked and walked. Finally I ended up on top of a mountain at a park with the most AMAZING view. I could see Tokyo Bay, Hayama, the base, ... miles in all directions.Since I had only planned on a short walk I didn't have my camera, so no pictures for you. Next time.

I have lived walking distance from the most beautiful hike for 1.5yrs and never knew. All I had to do was turn left.

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter!!

From twitter

Sake to 10k

This weekend began with a Sake tasting. Some friends and I attended a Sake Seminar at the officers club. We tried 8 different types, didn't love them all but most were GREAT. Can you belive that I have lived in Japan for almost 5yrs and this was my first taste of Sake.

From Feb.'10

Sunday morning I particpated in the Tokyo Marathon, only the 10k though. It was rainy and cold but I did it and  met my goal. The worst part of it was standing out in the rain for an hour waiting for the race to start. The opening song was of course an 80's classic- Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven is a place on earth". By the end of the run it felt more like I had gone swimming than running. Overall the experience was great, running with thousands of people through the streets of Tokyo.

I don't have any pictures of my run, the only proof I did run it can be found here: http://p.tokyo42195.org/numberfile/7818.html

Pancake Log 10.04

Pancake & Waffle from the Officer's Club

From Pancakes

Last week Caroline, Guero and I went to the brunch buffet at the Officer's Club. The pancakes aren't all that great but the fresh made waffles are wonderful. I really love Sunday's where after church I get to spend time with good friends (especially when we eat my favorite food). They even let me use their kitchen that afternoon so I could make cookies in an actual oven.

Two weeks ago I was able to take a tour of the USS George Washington. It was really cool to be aboard. I even got to sit in the captains chair! I did get in a little trouble though... They wouldn't let me turn the steering wheel and there were buttons everywhere I had to push one! I managed to hold back but then while sitting in one of the really cool chairs I was playing with the phones and accidentally pushed a button. Then someone came on over the intercom and yelled at me not to touch anything. Since I haven't been tracked down I must not have broken anything or caused some sort of international event.

From GW

Orchestra

I feel very cultural today.

After church this morning Jill and I went to a community orchestra concert. They played Beethoven and it sounded beautiful. The instruments were mostly played by local students (one of which being a student at YMS) and the chorus was almost entirely older Japanese people.

ATTACKED!!!

I was attacked in my own home!! Okay maybe I am being a little dramatic but wait for the story.

Here I am sitting on couch just finished with dinner and I decide I would like to paint my nails. Unassumingly I head upstairs when half way up what do see just as I turn the corner?? A HUGE SPIDER!! I am not exaggerating at all, see photo below. Having no bug spray in my house I get a bottle of 409 from the kitchen. Just as I begin to spray he runs away, UP the wall! So I go after him... once I am upstairs he changes direction and starts to head towards ME! I continue to spray with all my might. He starts to run downstairs and then stops, KNOWING I won't come anywhere near him and am therefor TRAPPED upstairs with a low running bottle of 409. I considered switching to hairspray but it is pump and probably wouldn't act fast enough. Luckily I find a pair of shoes I had taken up stairs. I throw them at him and I SWEAR he DUCKED so both shoes missed him. Looking around upstairs I decide the only thing I have left to throw at him are my bags of garbage. Only having two bags I have to quickly fill other bags to have enough weight to throw. Three bags later he is on the floor. I spray a huge pool of my remaining 409 and wait 5 minutes just to be sure. Thankfully I had finally won!

I am now okay but tomorrow I will be buying bug spray.

1st Day Half Done

I checked my car and it is MOLD free!! At least visable MOLD is gone, I am going to have it professionally deep cleaned. I will not have it cleaned today since we are at TCOR1- meaning a typhoon is supposed to hit soon. According the weather service we should expect it around 6pm. We are supposed to go straight home ASAP after school.

And here it is!

My MOLDY car!

And my MOLDY boots:

Got Lost

Again! This weekend I went for a short run (about 4mi). I thought I knew the route I was taking, I had run it before...

But when I ran it before I had gotten a little lost and very luckily ended up where I need to be. Very lucky, since I expected my house to be on the right side of the road but it on the left up hill!

Back to this run... I thought I would get luckily lost again but nothing looked familiar. I was confused but didn't want to stop running to figure it out. Usually when I get lost I go though some magic vortex and end up where I need to be so I wasn't all that worried. Finally when I was reached the end of the 4mi I stopped to really look around. Turns out I had taken a wrong turn WAY back and had ended up running away from home almost the whole way. My little 40min run turned into a 2hr adventure.

That's life in Japan, you never know what to expect and getting lost is the norm.

This weekend

Sunday isn't even over yet and this weekend has been very eventful!

Friday night I planned on making enchiladas for my friends and then stay the night so I could wake up on base for the Sakura 5k race. I arrived around 5pm to begin cooking, everything was going just fine by 6 with dinner being on the table at 6:30. But at 6 there was an emergency, one of the twins suddenly got sick. It was very sudden, and very scary. My friends rushed her to the hospital, thank God I was there to stay with the other baby while they ran out quickly. I was very worried and the baby was confused, she just kept saying "Sister make mess". She didn't seem worried just a little unsure about what was going on. I tried to keep things fun for her, we watched cartoons, danced, read books, took a bath, sang (poor baby), and got to bed. My friends returned just before 9pm, it felt like forever for all of us. Turns out everything is okay, there was spike in fever and now she should be okay, this was hopefully a once in a lifetime thing. Thank you Lord.

Saturday I wasn't sure if we were still going to race but since the babies were both doing okay and we weren't actually going far to race (about one block away) the two of went. I reached my goal of finishing in less than 35 min, very slow but I have to start (or restart) somewhere. That night I watched one of the worst movies, New in Town, even Harry couldn't save that one. Afterwards we went for yakiniku, slightly unusual for a vegetarian since the whole premise is to grill meat. But I was able to grill veggies, have some soup and salad.

Sunday I went to Church to celebrate Palm Sunday and then went to the worst breakfast ever. Chili's should definitely not be making breakfast and for reason 5 total tables is very busy(?). The base is having an open base celebration to allow the local Japanese in for the day. I really wish I had my camera with me, how often do you see a group of elderly Japanese ladies in cowboy hats and boots? Sometimes things are just a little odd.

Spring break has now started. For the remainder of the break my only plan is to not go onto base. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Wicked

Saturday I went into Tokyo to watch the Broadway musical "Wicked." The show was identical to the one I got to see in London with one small difference. The entire thing was in Japanese, okay not the entire thing -- they said "Wicked" in English. There were a few other words that they left in English, apparently there is no adequate translation for a few phrases. It was a little strange to suddenly hear English in the middle, like wonderful, my dear, sentimental, etc. . . Overall it was a very good show.

Sailing

Saturday was a great day! I began the day on the phone as usual. Then I met Davia for lunch. Then. . .

I WENT SAILING!!! For the first time in my whole life I went sailing. I was a little afraid at first. Once I was on the little boat after not falling into ocean I got excited. Stefan is a great teacher and taught me to how to steer. And I am the BEST STEERER EVER! I didn't run into anything and was able to find the wind. I got to steer for almost an hour, probably because the wind was so light. The whole day was beautiful, the sun was shining and I was with some great friends.

Lost

So I got lost today. I wanted to find out what would happen if I took a turn I had never taken before. At first all was well, I completely recognized the area from my runs and previous life in Yokosuka. But then it got very . . . circley. . . I was trying to take logical turns but that never seems to work here in Japan. I found a Japanese army base (?), it was a base of some sort with lots of guards and fences and security. Past that I got to tour some of the country side, who knew it was so close. I found a lake, a strawberry farm, someplace I can't seem to describe but you had to pay to park there and there were A LOT of people there, bunches of schools, and a really good view of Mt. Fuji (I think that's what it was). Basically I spent 2hrs driving randomly. Finally I found a sign the the name of my neighborhood on it, drove through a reeeaaaalllly looooong tunnel and was suddenly home. A little strange but not at all unlike Japan.