Q & A Session 2

More Questions and Answers from my "mail" that has officially all been delivered!  I LOVED each and every postcard, card, and letter that you wrote to me.  BOO that it's over!  :(


Q:  Have you managed to find a bra that fits you?  How about birth control?  Do they have spanks with peeholes in Japan?
A:  Jamie, you are CRAZY and that's why I love you!  I brought tons of bras so I don't need to go looking but for those of you who don't know, apparently bras here are no larger than 34B.  Our insurance doesn't cover birth control.  Abortions are the common form of birth control here, unfortunately.  Don't worry, we've got everything under control!!!  I have NO idea if they sell spanks with peeholes here, but my guess is YES!  Come visit and we'll go looking!


Q:  Are there any good chain restaurants in Japan?
A:  EEK!  I'm ashamed to answer this question with a YES!!!  There are two REALLY good (and one is famous) ramen restaurants that we LOVE and they are both chains!!!  Can you believe that we would frequent chain restaurants?!


Q:  Is Japanese wine different than sake?
A:  This is hard to answer...Sake is a rice wine but it is more like liquor.  It is rare to be able to order wine at a restaurant here.


Q:  Have we had any new adventures?
A:  YES, LOTS!  If you're reading this blog, then you know about them!  ;-)


Q:  Is Rosetta Stone working?
A:  Tim says, "Yes, it does work and is very easy to do.  However, like any foreign language, you have to put the time into it which hasn't been easy.  There have been competing priorities."  Sarah says, "Maybe if I'd start using it!"


Q:  Are we able to speak the language?
A:  Just a few words here and there.  We are completely illiterate, though, which is very frustrating!!!


Q:  How is the food?
A:  FABULOUS!!!  We can't get enough of it!  Veggies are SO inexpensive, fresh, and easy to find.  Ramen, sushi, rice, okonomiyaki, yakitori, etc. are ALL delicious!  Read up on our food post!  And, yes, there are plenty of McDonald's but we haven't eaten there yet and don't plan on it.


Q:  How's my class?
A:  My Kindergarten class of 10 is a great size!  They are cuties who wiggle and want to play like all kindergarteners across the world.  They like to sing and complete art projects the most.  I would love to introduce them to you on Skype!  I'm scrobins0703 so add me to your contacts!


Q:  What books am I reading that they like?
A:  I am missing all of MY books from home!  The library didn't have The Kissing Hand when I came but the WONDERFUL librarian ordered it and it just came in!  That's also happened with 3 other books!!!  She fell in love with the book when it came in.  I've also read another favorite, Chrysanthemum and many others that I can't think of right now!  My brain doesn't work after school hours!


Q:  Are these letters helping with my homesickness?
A:  I'm not really homesick.  I definitely miss my friends and family but I'm not homesick.  I've cried once (not including my jet lag meltdowns) while PMSing.  It was a good cry for sure!  These letters definitely brighten my day when I am missing everyone at home and they bring a smile to my face!!!  THANK YOU!!!!!

Meet Simon and Gar"funk"el...

Our new turtles who live at school!  I won them at the Hojoyo Festival.  Tomo's mom bought a larger home, some plants, and food for them.  When I told the kids the names of the turtles, one child said, "My mom said that's [Funk] a bad word.  I can't say it!"  ;-)

Simon in his old home.

Gar"funk"el in his old home.

We call him Funk or Funky because his shell is very elaborate compared to Simon's.

They love to sun themselves on the shell and swim as well.

They love to snuggle!

Best buds!

Japanese Holiday Weekend #1, Part 2 (finally!)

Sunday:  Asian Festival (Lori, Dayle, Maureen, Tim, me...ran into Linda, Jane, and Vicki) was full of tourism representatives from countries all over Asia, lots of food/beer/crafts from the different Asian countries, and my personal favorite, Asian dancing from lots of different places!  Check out the dancing videos below!

sign for the Asian Pacific Festival Fukuoka 2009

cooking squid balls...delicious, seriously!

Sarah and Tim standing with some city's mascot

one of a zillion tourism booths

Do I look Korean, Seon?

Korean lady serving me tea

Korean Tea Ceremony

Maureen, Lori, and some lady who obviously wanted her picture taken,
enjoying the tea ceremony.

sipping my tea...mesmerized

bowing at the end of the ceremony 

that was so relaxing to watch

...let the dancing begin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0Pq56iQ8SI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryXTViGV2kY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsHx_Bi4-oE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu1i4pxssho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGl8j_VjGsE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrM_AND0k3k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkzsY7Ta8NA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19u_u2GrU5w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTO7PKKiJho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjMxxkyS4Cs

and the dancing ends with my personal favorite...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Uz5likYJM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZcU5cxlESQ

more Asian Fest photos...


http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0IZN27ls5YsWLA

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Monday: day trip to Dazaifu (Tim and me), date night at Ichi (yakitori restaurant) and dessert at Baskin Robbins


We took the subway to Tenjin and took the train from inside a shopping mall to Dazaifu.  It's about 45 minutes away and great for a day trip.  We thought it was going to rain the whole time but the clouds kept the sun off of us and the rain held off until we were leaving. 

orderly way to line up for trains

our train taking us to Dazaifu...for you, Alex!

First we ate lunch at some Japanese restuarant.  I had to drag the waitress outside to the plastic food to show her what we wanted.  We both ordered Udon noodles with tempura shrimp in a broth.  Tasty!

Lunch in Dazaifu

enjoying Udon noodles

enjoying tempura shrimp in the soup

While in Dazaifu, we walked down the main street that sold well known Umegaemochi rice cakes and wooden bullfinches (more on these later) and made our way to the Komyozenji Temple.  I could have stayed here ALL day!  It's a Zen temple that was founded in 1273 by a Buddhist priest named Tetsugyu Enshin.  The temple is known for it rhododendrons, autumn leaves (that were beginning to change), and Karesansui (dry landscape) stone gardens.  It is the only temple in Kyushu (the island we live on) that has stone gardens.  The moss plants and white sand in the inner garden represent the land and ocean.  The rocks in the front garden are arranged in the shape of the Chinese Character for light.  Not sure I noticed all of that...guess we'll have to go back to see it again!  It was an unbelievably peaceful place!

I want to rake the Zen gardens!

pondering life

Leaves are beginning to change colors!

So peaceful!  Didn't realize how shiny my hair is!  :)

Next we walked to the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.  It's a beautiful walk over a bridge that had three sections; one for the past, one for the present, and one for the future.  Before you enter a shrine, you're supposed to wash your hands.  You take a cup with a long handle,  fill the cup, wash your left hand, wash your right hand, wash your mouth, left hand, and clean the handle (Someone correct me if I'm wrong!).  

Tim washed his hands before entering the shrine.

main building at shrine

This shrine is dedicated to Michizane Sugawara, the God of Learning...quite appropriate for me!  Apparently there is the main hall (I think we saw this!), the Tobiume (a legendary plum tree that we missed), and the treasure hall (I'm fairly sure we passed by this.).  Depending on the season, you can see plum blossoms, camphor trees, or irises.  Not sure what we saw!  


The shrine is home to several festivals throughout the year.  The Usokae (wooden bullfinsh exchange) and Onisube (purging of demons) is held in January.  The Kyokusui-no-en (poetry reading along a stream) is held in the spring.  The Jinkoshiki (harvest festival) is held in autumn.


We continued walking past the shrine, by LOTS of spiders (Tim had to stop and speak to each one), and up a hill with LOTS of steps (felt like we were back in Positano, Italy) and ended up at a smaller shrine that overlooked the Dazaifu-en Amusement Park.  We think this shrine was the Kamado Shrine.  We washed our hands and entered.  It was cute but very woodsy with many spider webs so I had to leave quickly!

Teena, want this as a pet???  EEK!!!!!!!!!!

GROSS!

Tim's friends...my enemies!

gates to the shrine

I washed my hands before entering...

...and my sailor mouth.  Maybe they should provide soap!

We made it up to the tiny shrine!

Becoming weary travelers, Tim headed back to the train station to read while I meandered down the main street.  Of course, I shopped a bit...got some new chopsticks, chopstick stands, and a Ki-Uso Wooden Carving (wooden bullfinch).  I also enjoyed a hot umegae-mochi (rice cake).

shopping street

Dazaifu is known for the Ki-Uso wooden carvings and umegae-mochi.  The Uso or bullfinch is a colorful bird which has a bright red neck, red breast, gray back and belly, and a black head and tail.  Supposedly it sings beautiful songs.  Ki-Uso is a wood carving of this bird perched on a tree.  The carvings are used at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine for a special religious service that takes place on January 7 every year.  The carvings are loved by local people and are believed to turn bad luck into good!  We have one sitting on a bookcase now.

a Ki-Uso or wooden bullfinch

The umegae-mochi are hot rice cakes and I think they have red bean paste in them.  I know that doesn't sound appetizing but they are delicious!!!  Tim doesn't care for them but he doesn't care for many sweets.  What is wrong with the man???  The story behind these rice cakes goes like this...A long time ago there was an elderly nun named Jomyoni.  She brought rice cakes (mochi) to comfort Michizane Sugawara in a temple.  When Michizane died, the nun made an offering of these rice cakes served with a twig from a plum tree (umegae).  The umegae-mochi were named after her offering and are said to prevent diseases.  Guess we'll have good luck and health now (knock on wood)!  We enjoyed our day trip to Dazaifu and will most likely go back to visit places we didn't get to visit.

Yummy umegae-mochi

After we returned to Fukuoka, we enjoyed Yakitori (meat on a stick..and other things too) at Ichi.  We LOVE to eat yakitori!!!  Nobody was at the restaurant when we arrived so we got individual attention.  The staff was very friendly and spoke a little English but we were able to point to most of what we wanted.  My favorites were the steak and the okra wrapped in bacon.  I think Tim's favorites were the steak, pork, and sausage.

Ichi, our favorite yakitori restaurant so far.

Juicy steak!

Okra wrapped in bacon...YUM!!!

Pork...one of Tim's favorites!

I had a sweet tooth and tried to order one scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream at Baskin Robbins but ended up with two scoops.  Oh well!  Not a problem at all  The more ice cream, the merrier!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

more photos from Dazaifu, dinner, and dessert...


http://picasaweb.google.com/srhendricks78/DazaifuIchiAndBaskinRobbins909?authkey=Gv1sRgCK6Euae_9P2L-wE&feat=directlink


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Tuesday:  BBQ at the Mase's beautiful house (one of my students)

The Mase's house

Kana (the mother) invited Dayle (Pre-K teacher of Rin), Tim, and me (Tomo's teacher) over to a holiday BBQ.  We took the subway and then a taxi and ended up at their beautiful house!  There were several other people from school (the consulate's family and the art teacher) and some neighbors...really great people!  We ate TONS of food...veggies, meat, pasta, roasted marshmallows, cakes...  Delicious!


Tomo and Rin gave us a tour of their house.  When you walk in you take your shoes off and put on house slippers.  The family has HUGE shoe shelves with TONS of shoes when you walk in.  You walk by the traditional tatami room before getting to the modern living room with a ginormous flat screen panel.  This room is open and you can see the lofted area upstairs.  We walked through the living room to the dining room to the kitchen that had a dishwasher (I want one!).  After passing through the lovely kitchen, there is a hall bathroom on the left with an alphabet poster in it for the kids and a kids' living room to the right (so cute!).  Straight ahead is THE bedroom.  The master bath has a jacuzzi and a sauna.  By the way, the toilets all automatically lift the lid up and there are MANY buttons to press...way fancier than our fancy toilet.


Upstairs there are five rooms.  There are 4 play/sitting rooms, one for each member of the family and then a room that has dressers and closets as well as workout equipment.  Rin's playroom is pink, has a petite chandelier, is decorated with dresses hanging on the walls, and has a staircase that leads to a loft play area.  Tomo's playroom is blue, has a computer, a really groovy overhead light, and is full of trains, cars, etc.  He also has a staircase that leads to a loft play area.  Kana's sitting room is pink, has a gorgeous chandelier, beautiful furniture, and is quite lovely.  Mr. Mase's man room is decorated with fish that he killed and stuffed, deer, and other gamey things.  His room also extends into the garage where you'll find his favorite toys, 2 Porsche's!  One is newer, one is antique.


They have a nice backyard for the kids that is outlined by a garden.  LOVE their house!!!


Thank you, Mase's for having us over!  What a treat!!!

Dayle (Pre-K teacher), Rin (in Dayle's class, Kana (Rin's and Tomo's mother),

Tomo (in my class), Me

Dayle, Rin, Tim, Tomo, Me...such cute kids!

more photos from the Mase's BBQ...


http://picasaweb.google.com/srhendricks78/MaseBBQ909?authkey=Gv1sRgCJm66-2m4Y_x1AE&feat=directlink