Ever since my Grandpa Hamelly started it, I have been celebrating (or at least remembering) my half birthday. It's something important to me because I shared with my grandpa and something for which I have a lot emotional attachment. Usually if I do anything at all it's maybe having a half cake. I remember my grandpa making some kind of cake, but instead of baking it in cake pans, he baked it in 2 bread pans. My half bday over here has been ok.
It's great in the sense that I got lots of presents! Ok, so they aren't 1/2 bday presents, but it was nice to get some packages anyway. Steph sent a belated Christmas box full of sweets, Twilight paraphernalia (including a wicked cool shirt), and pretty dragonfly earrings. My parents set a box of needed warm clothing, sweets, and Mass read alongs and meditations. I thought it would old clothes, but there was a nice black suit and a sparkly blue sweater! I'm gonna be so cute tomorrow in my new clothes!
The bad side, balancing it all out to an ok, is that I am coming down with something. We went for a friends bday party Sunday night, and I stayed out later than I planned on. I already wasn't feeling too hot, but I just drank it away and enjoyed myself at the party. Today has been the worse day so far. My voice is scratchy and I know my skin looks pale and sickly, but unless I have a high fever I can't shake I have to go to work. I don't have enough vacation or sick time to take off just because I don't feel well.
Yesterday I went to the pharmacist to get medication, but of course I couldn't read any of the boxes and the pictures weren't too helpful. Starting with "Suimasen ..." (excuse me) I pointed to my nose and tried to gesture drippy. Guess I'd be great at Charades cuz he understood me immediately. It was more humorous watching him try to gesture out 3 capsules a day, one every 8 hours, eat first.
Today in the office I was a bit snippy with ppl. When I explained about 1/2 birthday, the new guy it was ridiculous, or stupid, or something along those lines to which I curtly replied, "No, it isn't."
I gave short answers all day in the office, but I was nice to my students. Maybe it's because I'm sick, maybe it's because I was offended, maybe it's because that new guy always seems to rub me the wrong way, or maybe it's just a combination of lots of reasons.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Cottage Party at Lake Inawashiro
Today is the "Coming of Age" holiday in Japan where everyone turning 20 this year dresses up for a big ceremony to celebrate becoming an adult. The girls are gorgeous in the multicolored, flowered kimonos withe hair whisked up into loose buns and hanging curls. Because it's winter, and especially windy in Koriyama, many of them have fur shawls, usually dyed in a color to coordinate with their kimono.
Some friends of mine decided to hold a big birthday party out at a cottage near Lake Inawashiro. I think it had more to do with the number of winter birthdays, and the fact it was a long weekend, versus an actual Coming of Age celebration. (Everyone I know is over 20.) We left around 8pm Sunday in Kame-chan's car. No one knew exactly where we were going, and since we were driving in the dark it felt really long, but it only took about an hour to get there. Lake Inawashiro is in the mountains, and it's really amazing how quickly the scenery changes. Snow was piled up all along the road, and in the fields it looked like a solid layer of crystallized sugar. I never knew why some people used glitter for fake snow, but even in the moon like the snow sparkles like pixie dust!
There were about 25-30 people at the cottage. Though, when I say cottage, I mean a 2 story loft house near the ski resort with a kitchen, dining room, 3 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms. It's like the places I've gone with my family when we use the time share in winter. There was, of course, drinking, eating, and exchanging gifts (we all brought a 500 yen gift and answered trivia to decide the order of picking a gift).
After the beer and wine made us feel all toasty and warm, Pete called for a snowball fight. Only about 7 of us went out, and even after I was told how to make a snowball I couldn't do it. I think the snow was too powdery for everyone, because quite soon chucks of packed snow from the side of the road were flying through the air. At some point someone got the bright (I say this sarcastically) idea to play "Push the girl in the snow" and I was tackled at least 4 times and thrown to the ground, where I was almost buried by snow each time. Luckily, some of the guys inside decided all of us outside were an enemy troop coming to steal the beer. Attention quickly turned from shoving me down to ducking packed snow from the balcony. The guys were pretty good at throwing snow back, but I wasn't so I climbed under the balcony to see if I could get a better shot. I had to retreat and roll down the hill (which I'm pretty sure was really bushes covered in snow). Needless to say, by the time I went inside it looked as though I had been swimming. Snow was caked on my jeans and gloves until the next morning.
Back inside, most people went to bed by 10, but those of us who stayed up late drank more, danced to techno music, and eventually pulled out all the futons and blankets and found a place to sleep. Many people got up early to go to the slopes, but it took a while for me to get up. I've never been much of a morning person, and Monday morning I was extra tired. We had to be out of the cottage by 10, so we packed up and hit the road. My car (Kame-chan, her bf Alesandro, Lisa, and Pete) decided to go to breakfast and then to an onsen (pronounced own -sen). Many of you who party hard know that after you leave a bar or club it's common to stop for a bite to eat to help stanch the alcohol. Many popular places are Taco Bell, IHOP, or Denny's. Guess where we go in Japan to help that hang over - Denny's! No, I'm not kidding. We went to Denny's for breakfast.
After Denny's we drove to Bandai Atami, a city famous for onsens. Onsens are really relaxing, but it's very Japanese. I wish they had them in the USA, but I don't know if it'd go over very well. There's so much to say about a trip the onsen, so I'll just have to write a separate blog for it one day. Now I'm back home, and still exhausted. I'll probably call it an early night.
Some friends of mine decided to hold a big birthday party out at a cottage near Lake Inawashiro. I think it had more to do with the number of winter birthdays, and the fact it was a long weekend, versus an actual Coming of Age celebration. (Everyone I know is over 20.) We left around 8pm Sunday in Kame-chan's car. No one knew exactly where we were going, and since we were driving in the dark it felt really long, but it only took about an hour to get there. Lake Inawashiro is in the mountains, and it's really amazing how quickly the scenery changes. Snow was piled up all along the road, and in the fields it looked like a solid layer of crystallized sugar. I never knew why some people used glitter for fake snow, but even in the moon like the snow sparkles like pixie dust!
There were about 25-30 people at the cottage. Though, when I say cottage, I mean a 2 story loft house near the ski resort with a kitchen, dining room, 3 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms. It's like the places I've gone with my family when we use the time share in winter. There was, of course, drinking, eating, and exchanging gifts (we all brought a 500 yen gift and answered trivia to decide the order of picking a gift).
After the beer and wine made us feel all toasty and warm, Pete called for a snowball fight. Only about 7 of us went out, and even after I was told how to make a snowball I couldn't do it. I think the snow was too powdery for everyone, because quite soon chucks of packed snow from the side of the road were flying through the air. At some point someone got the bright (I say this sarcastically) idea to play "Push the girl in the snow" and I was tackled at least 4 times and thrown to the ground, where I was almost buried by snow each time. Luckily, some of the guys inside decided all of us outside were an enemy troop coming to steal the beer. Attention quickly turned from shoving me down to ducking packed snow from the balcony. The guys were pretty good at throwing snow back, but I wasn't so I climbed under the balcony to see if I could get a better shot. I had to retreat and roll down the hill (which I'm pretty sure was really bushes covered in snow). Needless to say, by the time I went inside it looked as though I had been swimming. Snow was caked on my jeans and gloves until the next morning.
Back inside, most people went to bed by 10, but those of us who stayed up late drank more, danced to techno music, and eventually pulled out all the futons and blankets and found a place to sleep. Many people got up early to go to the slopes, but it took a while for me to get up. I've never been much of a morning person, and Monday morning I was extra tired. We had to be out of the cottage by 10, so we packed up and hit the road. My car (Kame-chan, her bf Alesandro, Lisa, and Pete) decided to go to breakfast and then to an onsen (pronounced own -sen). Many of you who party hard know that after you leave a bar or club it's common to stop for a bite to eat to help stanch the alcohol. Many popular places are Taco Bell, IHOP, or Denny's. Guess where we go in Japan to help that hang over - Denny's! No, I'm not kidding. We went to Denny's for breakfast.
After Denny's we drove to Bandai Atami, a city famous for onsens. Onsens are really relaxing, but it's very Japanese. I wish they had them in the USA, but I don't know if it'd go over very well. There's so much to say about a trip the onsen, so I'll just have to write a separate blog for it one day. Now I'm back home, and still exhausted. I'll probably call it an early night.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Nothing special
I don't have anything exciting to blog about right now. I just thought I'd update as practice while I sit here in my cold (and dropping temp) apartment. I'm just sitting here because I am waiting for the toyu truck.
toyu - kerosene (sounds like toy - you)
I ran out of heat a couple days ago, but couldn't buy more until today because today is PAYDAY!! Whooppie! Luckily, Lisa lent me a can of toyu which I was able to spread to this morning.
Today it's snowing outside. It's probably the first time since before the new year that is has snowed during the day. Falling snow is pretty, but maybe prettier at night. During the day it just makes the whole area look dreary. Of course, this is only the beginning. Everyone says the real winter hasn't started yet. When there is a good snow, there'll be 2 feet of snow on the ground. I'm gonna hate trudging to work through that!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
So the toyu truck finally arrived! I thought it'd be in the main parking lot, but I never saw him drive up. I decided to wait downstairs, and when I took my gas tanks down, he was waiting right there by the staircase on the road side. I filled up 3 tanks, a couple gallons each, and it cost me about $40.
The hardest part of using gas, I think, is lugging those heavy tanks back up the stairs. I live on the 4th floor, for crying out loud, and there's no elevator! It's really inconvenient. And carrying those tanks gives me rough hands. Which, maybe is a good thing since I want to start rock climbing (I don't think I mentioned this yet).
Last Sunday I went rock climbing with my friend Christine. She works for James as well, but at the Fukushima branch. Fukushima is the capital of my prefecture, but it's still a small city. The train ride from there to Kori is about an hour. Christine is from Settle, where she climbed for 6 years. We went to Trail Rock, and indoor climbing gym in Kori. Christine was like spiderman - climbing all over the walls and even upside down! while I did some climbing in college at the gym, I never got any good. So, I just stayed on the easy wall. Even so, after just an hour my arms were so sore I almost couldn't hold on the the rock pegs on the wall. On the downside, by left foot has been bother me all week. I think the shoes gave me some blisters on the top of my toes. I also whacked my foot into the wall a few weeks ago when I slipped on the stairs. I don't know if I interrupted the healing process from that, or maybe I strained a muscle, but it hurts a bit to walk on the outside of the foot, so I've been walking with most of the pressure on my toes or instep. Oh well! Just another klutzy moment of your truly!
toyu - kerosene (sounds like toy - you)
I ran out of heat a couple days ago, but couldn't buy more until today because today is PAYDAY!! Whooppie! Luckily, Lisa lent me a can of toyu which I was able to spread to this morning.
Today it's snowing outside. It's probably the first time since before the new year that is has snowed during the day. Falling snow is pretty, but maybe prettier at night. During the day it just makes the whole area look dreary. Of course, this is only the beginning. Everyone says the real winter hasn't started yet. When there is a good snow, there'll be 2 feet of snow on the ground. I'm gonna hate trudging to work through that!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
So the toyu truck finally arrived! I thought it'd be in the main parking lot, but I never saw him drive up. I decided to wait downstairs, and when I took my gas tanks down, he was waiting right there by the staircase on the road side. I filled up 3 tanks, a couple gallons each, and it cost me about $40.
The hardest part of using gas, I think, is lugging those heavy tanks back up the stairs. I live on the 4th floor, for crying out loud, and there's no elevator! It's really inconvenient. And carrying those tanks gives me rough hands. Which, maybe is a good thing since I want to start rock climbing (I don't think I mentioned this yet).
Last Sunday I went rock climbing with my friend Christine. She works for James as well, but at the Fukushima branch. Fukushima is the capital of my prefecture, but it's still a small city. The train ride from there to Kori is about an hour. Christine is from Settle, where she climbed for 6 years. We went to Trail Rock, and indoor climbing gym in Kori. Christine was like spiderman - climbing all over the walls and even upside down! while I did some climbing in college at the gym, I never got any good. So, I just stayed on the easy wall. Even so, after just an hour my arms were so sore I almost couldn't hold on the the rock pegs on the wall. On the downside, by left foot has been bother me all week. I think the shoes gave me some blisters on the top of my toes. I also whacked my foot into the wall a few weeks ago when I slipped on the stairs. I don't know if I interrupted the healing process from that, or maybe I strained a muscle, but it hurts a bit to walk on the outside of the foot, so I've been walking with most of the pressure on my toes or instep. Oh well! Just another klutzy moment of your truly!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Nyohoji (the Buddist Temple)
At Nyohoji there is a 2 day festival that will come to a close today. This festival runs straight through; the temple is always open, though I don't how many people would show up at 3 am to pray. After work yesterday I walked over with Yuri and Mitsumi (our Japanese office staff) and we met my Japanese teacher Fumiko. There was a really long line to bang the gong and pray at the temple. Many people had bags of New Years decorations - straw wreaths, bamboo, and other Japanese branches. The temple collects all the decorations and burns them to start the new year.
We didn't stand in the line to pray, but we did get in the line to ring the huge bell. It's the only time all year that the public is allowed to ring the bell. After ringing the bell we looked around the booths. Like all the other festivals, there were tons of booths with yummy festival (Japanese junk) food. Some booths were a little different for the New Year. There were lots of places where you could buy darma dolls (to make wishes), or cows (since it's the year of the cow), blessed arrows to purify your home or mini decorated rakes to rake in good luck, and plastic cherry blossom branches hung with old style money coins. The colors were amazing; like a bright neon rainbow littered with gold pieces. We were looking at the branches when all of a sudden there were 3 or 4 photographers taking our picture. It was like flies on honey. Was it because we were cute? Was it because I'm a gaijin (foreigner)? Probably the latter, but it was fun and nerve racking at the same time. I would have taken a picture of them, but unfortunately I didn't have my camera :(
We didn't stand in the line to pray, but we did get in the line to ring the huge bell. It's the only time all year that the public is allowed to ring the bell. After ringing the bell we looked around the booths. Like all the other festivals, there were tons of booths with yummy festival (Japanese junk) food. Some booths were a little different for the New Year. There were lots of places where you could buy darma dolls (to make wishes), or cows (since it's the year of the cow), blessed arrows to purify your home or mini decorated rakes to rake in good luck, and plastic cherry blossom branches hung with old style money coins. The colors were amazing; like a bright neon rainbow littered with gold pieces. We were looking at the branches when all of a sudden there were 3 or 4 photographers taking our picture. It was like flies on honey. Was it because we were cute? Was it because I'm a gaijin (foreigner)? Probably the latter, but it was fun and nerve racking at the same time. I would have taken a picture of them, but unfortunately I didn't have my camera :(
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