Ok so today I got in trouble again and was told that bad people sleep in... well I'm going to hell then haha!
Ok but anyway, Today I got to use a saw to cut up wood to take to an incinerator... that was fun. But yeah I also cut the grass... I use a "weedeater" type thing but instead of line I use a saw blade... it's kinda fun in a scary, accidentally cut off your foot way. So yeah but then I got to go to the incinerator with Enomoto-sensei and get rid of the wood I cut... so cool. Oh and side note, the wood was just old 2X4s but they had to be shorter than a certain length... and I used an electric hand saw. Sooo, back to the story. After we were done with the incineration of the wood, we went to the local train station and by local I mean LOCAL... the train I had taken was like 8 cars and was the "Tokaido Line". (I'll explain later) But, so I went on this train to a town near here called Mori. I then met up with the Ota family, who I went with when I found my yukata (summer kimono), to Mori High School to watch the archery club practice. It was very interesting to see all the formalities and customs/traditions that go into all of it. Very cool.
And so then I came back home via same train and ate supper... which was interesting mainly because it was a meatloaf hamburger... so Ketchup was needed. haha.
So that's about it for me today... Hope you enjoy!
What is the hardest thing about understanding the Japanese in conversation?
I don't know many words so they say things and I have no clue because the words are foreign to me haha
Do they speak fast, like we do?
Yes... and while the other person speaks it is polite to make some sort of noise while they talk to show you are interested...
If you asked them to slow down, would it be easier?
Sometimes but still, I don't know that many words so see first question.
Did the Japanese classes teach you the words as they use them?
No. We used as much English as possible so we didn't learn much Japanese in the English class :)
Do they have many slang words that could throw you off?
Yes but they are harder to remember than the words themselves...
One more question - have YOU driven their car and experienced the left side driving?
Nope I need an international license.
Or are you a passenger with cars whizzing by on your right? That would freak me out for sure!
Yes I'm just the passenger but if I sit in the back of the van I can block out the road and just think to myself
One more - what was that word Michelle used when she referred to herself as "your..."?
Hmm, one more and then another question thrown in and now this "one more"... Ha, she called her my Onee-chan... it means big sister. cuz she's like my sister and she's older than me...
Anywhoooo, do you speak Japanese with people at the church?
--not really, I usually talk to them in english because we have a few ppl who speak english and translate.
Are you able to understand much conversationally?
--bits and pieces really
What the heck is LLL Yukata??
--XXL Summer Kimono... Only have found one so I bought it...
How fast did the train go?
--It went fast but near as fast as the bullet train... the bullet train passes us like we're going 20 in a 70 mph area...
When do you stay with Bro Board?
--July 9th to the 16th
Do you help with the dishes after meals?
--sometimes I wash off my dishes but Nahoko-sensei usually does them
What do you eat?
--lots of noodles... some meat... mainly noodles or rice
Do you use chopsticks?
--As often as I can. Even when the family uses forks I usually use chopsticks.
Have I told you that I LOVE THE IRON MAN MOVIE???!!! (It was amazing!)
--No you hadn't mentioned it... it is pretty cool
Enough questions yet? *snicker*
--nope!
What surprises you most about Japan? Get busy answering!!!
--driving on the left... I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal but it was... now not so much because I've been here for a while.
こんにちわ！お元気ですか。私のコンピュタは日本語をはなします！今日はすごいです。私はいわたにいきました。僕に室おさんの家をいきます。
Ok, so what I just said was this, "Hello! How are you? My computer speaks Japanese! Today was amazing! I went to Iwata. I went to Muroo-san's house."
I was helping her to teach children English. It was shaky at first but soon it was good fun and we had a blast just messing around with them. The 2 classes we had were age 5 (first class) and age 7 (second class). I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Oh and I'd like to mention that I went to a famous temple in the area and let me tell you... I was freaked out the whole time we were there. It was so dark and just plain evil there. I was hit by the sense of something wrong when we got to the gate. I kind of wish we hadn't gone. I was crushed the whole time we were there because it just felt like there was no light in that place. However I took comfort in the fact that 紙さま was there and all around me. I felt his warmth as we walked around the temple and knew he was watching over us as we looked around. I took pictures but I won't post any of the ones Enomoto-sensei took of me. I don't look happy at all and I'd like to make sure no one sees that. Selfish I know but I just was crushed by the evil there and I don't want anyone to see that on my face.
ok well I will see you all later!
じゃじゃとしている
(Remain cool!)
Ok so to Mom, I do pretty much whatever needs done. From washing the car right before a rain storm to waxing the floors in the Church. I am a slave to the Family and I try and help out wherever I can.
Patrick, Japan is everything I hoped and more. It isn't the shiny amazing place I originally thought but before I left I knew it wouldn't be that way. It's very crowded and very confusing. Once you know your way home though, you're good. haha
Ok so only Patrick and Mom posted questions on here. I'm a little upset no one else wanted to ask me anything. But whatever. It's just a stupid blog that allows me to express my feelings to you guys while I'm here. So yeah.
Today was great though. One of the families from church came and got me and we went back to Hamamatsu. I love that place. It is a big city comparatively to SGF but it is small for Japan... I would get so lost in that town... But ok, we went to some random shop in the middle of the town and lo and behold! they have a LLL Yukata! just my size and one left! I wasn't picky about the colors once I learned I'd need to get a LLL size. It took us forever to find one in LL... But that's the beauty of this place. Everything you can think of, it's here... somewhere you just have to know where to look
Oh and I rode the train for the first time today... scary yet very fun. I had no idea where I was going and I'm just glad I made it back but now I know what to do and can be prepared for it. Well I'm off... if you have ANY questions ASK THEM!!! I feel like no one reads this anymore and so I'd like to get more questions from people.
Do any of you realize that I haven't received a single question yet? I mean come on! Does anyone want me to post another blog?? I want questions... even if you have a question and a comment that is fine... For example... Is this cereal taste as good as I think it does? YES! haha that's from Demetri Martin... he's funny but kinda cynical and uses foul language but yeah... funny guy lol
ASK ME QUESTIONS
Oh and thanks for the comments I got to have a nice time today talking to Enomoto Sensei and discussing things. Oh and I got up at 7 am today and was ready to work by 8:30 but he hadn't eaten so we started working at 9... boo yeah
So today I got a lecture because I am acting like an American. I woke up this morning at 7 am and tried to get the internet to work. It wouldn't so i spent the next hour and a half trying and trying to just check my e-mail. Gah... turns out the modem needed reset. But anyway, I walked downstairs to an upset pastor because in Japan people start work at 8 am... on the dot. I happened to come downstairs 30 min later than that time because we had planned on going to Mount Fuji but it was raining there and when it rains it is dangerous because the clouds will make it hard to see... so driving becomes difficult. haha. So because we had no plan I figured it would be no problem to be coming down at 8:30... oh how I was wrong....... Other Pastors, according to Enomoto san (no sensei today because, well, i don't wanna...), would have told me to go home to America because I woke up extremely early for me?? WHAT? I understand that he wanted me to understand Japanese people but do I, an American, need to get a lecture because I woke up early... Satan has his hand in this but I don't know what to do... I have prayed about this and I am gonna stick to the plan and not come home any earlier than July 21st. Thanks go to Heather for keeping me strong today. If not for you, I'd probably be trying to sell back the JR pass and leaving ASAP. I know that God is working here and that is why Satan is working hard too. I need your prayers in this tough time as I try to be the epitome of Japanese people. It's hard work but it'll help next semester when I will need to be up at 7 to be at work at 8 at the BSU...
Ok enough about that...
So.... I have no idea what else to write. If you have any questions post them and I will answer them in my next blog. If I can that is... don't ask me when Jesus is coming back cuz I ain't gotta clue. So no silly questions... got it? good.
WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!?!
I'm going to rant so if you don't want to read don't. Simple as that.
While talking to Enomoto-sensei I find out that my view of worship is "wrong" and that praising Jesus at the top of my lungs while crying my eyes out is not worship at all. That it is "bad". WHAT?! Most of you know David Crowder and know how he is a great worship leader. The song All Creatures of our God and King, which I love his version of, is not good because he uses an electric guitar?! Oh and the drums are bad too?! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could just scream at how stupid it is that I just got told that Second and Cherry Street and any other church which uses contemporary songs are not really worshiping God. WHY NOT?!?! because the change they undertook scares you?! Grow up JBBF! and learn from what is working and helping people grow. Whoever it was that told them the electric guitar was bad should come to Kakegawa so I can kick his butt. This "american missionary" was wrong. I love old hymns and I love rockin music... put it together and it's great! what the heck is wrong with that??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! TELL ME PLEASE!!!!!
Ok I'll stop but I am seriously ticked right now.
We are making soap today at the Ladies meeting and I have moved my computer down stairs to make sure I am around the family more and to keep myself safe from the horrid things which creep around on the internet.
So I have a surprise for you all. Most of you know that before I left, I HATED silence. Now I revel in it! It is so great to sit in my room and just listen to the wind blowing and the cars driving by the church. I am going to Mount Fuji on Thursday if the weather is nice and I am super excited. I am going to try and get as high as I can and just sit and listen to God's glory blowing by as I sit and look out over His wondrous creation.
I know this may or may not shock you as I'm not sure how many people knew I hated silence. This family is quite loud at times and I love to get to a place where it is just plain quiet. The youngest daughter, Sana, complains more than me when she is home and will whine and moan until she gets her way for everything. She isn't spoiled, she just knows how to keep up the whining until she would have gotten whatever it is she wanted.
Buy any who, I just wanted to invite all who read this to come and hang out with me on July 21st, 2008 after 4:30 when I get back. We will go do something fun and then we are going to go eat whenever you all have joined us. We are not going to any fancy restaurant. Just the one place I want to eat MORE THAN EVER! TACO BELL!!!!!!!! w00t!
Oh and Ma, the post man just delivered the JR Pass. It is 10:38 am on the 17th... 6 days after you mailed it. w00t!
Ok so that video didn't work. Sorry. I'll try again.
WORK!
See if this works haha
if not I'll just embed it right here...
Ok, so we finished celebrating father's day about 2-3 hours ago by going out to eat gudon which is amazing... It is literally beef atop rice... but so good. Well at church today the pastor spoke on how in Japan you NEVER say you love someone out of the blue. I have discussed this at lengths with the family because they have often heard me saying to Mom that I love and miss her... They were shocked to learn that I have told girls I love them and that they did not take it as a marriage proposal... because that is how much love means to them. The phrase, "Aishiteru", or "I love you", may be said by a japanese man maybe twice in their whole life. The pastor, while watching reports of the earthquake in northern Japan, heard his wife say, "we can never know when it's time." He immediately said "Aishiteru" to his Nahoko-sensei who was shocked by the phrase. Enomoto-sensei turned then to his daughter Sana, age 10, and told her he loved her and always would. She later asked her mom why he had said such a crazy thing. Love is so different here and on a day which is meant to show our love to fathers how many people really know the love our Father gave us? Enomoto-sensei pointed out that he usually sees this day as a day in which the children and wives give little gifts or cards to their father or husband. He then told us that if we are in fact Children in Christ, why are we not thanking Him and just spending the day loving Him more than ever?
Today I learned a lot about Japan and their idea of love. Some parents "love" their kids so much that they have earned the title "Monster Parents". link>
So if you go to the above link you will see what they are like... a play of snow white with no dwarves, no witch, no prince, no story. Just TWENTY-FIVE snow whites... what's the point?!
*sigh* Ok well there may not be any point but who cares about that really... lol On to my next bit of news. I have discovered two amazing singers... all thanks to the Enomotos. The pastor showed me a video of Paul Potts on Britain's Got Talent. The man is amazing. He can sing opera like no other I've ever heard. I love his voice. And he was so self conscious that he worked as a phone salesman because he thought he couldn't sing well enough... Whatever dude, you rock.
And now to the main event. Haha Ok so there is this 6 yr old girl who was competing opposite Paul Potts. He won however and she has lost some of the attention but she is still going strong. Now... she is 6 yrs old and sings in her sleep... normally that would spell disaster... except for one thing... she's good. Well "good" doesn't work... she is amazing. I am posting a video here for you to see on YouTube so if you have a slow connection, mom, you may wanna wait til I get home and show you on my comp... seeing as I already ripped it from YouTube. You'll love her I'm sure. Ok well it is time for me to get ready for bed. Tomorrow is "rest" day and so I'll probably be talking to some of you soon and I hope you enjoy the video... while you are on YouTube check out Paul. He is a great choice to win. I couldn't have chosen. Haha
See you all July 21st at 4:30 pm... that's right. I'm coming home early. =) as if you didn't already know.
Larzinjapan
Ok, so I've had a request made to update this so I will. But this time I am doing a post for my fans. If there are really any out there. I went to a lily garden here in Kakegawa which normally costs 10 bucks to get into but we had coupons... lol The lilies were from the Buddhist Temple next to it and I chose not to go in even though I wanted to see the temple I had forgotten my camera so... Any who... while we were walking through such a beautiful place, I came across a very dark and disturbing scene. I wish I could have taken a picture and posted it here but as I said above, no camera. There was to the side, surrounded by beautiful lilies, a buddhist shrine where the people had placed coins as an offering to it... and I don't mean a few coins, I mean A LOT! it was so sad that people would do this and believe they are not sinning against the real God. I mean amongst all that was God's wondrous creation there was a dark shadow trying to creep out over the whole thing... So sad.
It looks like I am coming home on July 21st instead. God hasn't provided the funds for me to stay all I wanted... and that's probably why. Because it was my plan and not his. Haha ok well I will update you on this more later. I'm gonna go. See ya and remember I think you are all super awesome... Maybe some more than others ;)
Larzinjapan
Ok, so many of you know whats been going on and I'm not going to discuss it on here. Well, mainly because I just don't want people to excited over nothing. If anything happens great, but just remember it is not our decision but God's.
Ok well I just finished another Sunday here at the church and I am plumb tired out. I am surprised at what goes on here. First we had the service from 10:30-11:45 and then there was Sunday School from 11:45-12:15. Then we ate. lol The majority of the church eats together and has a great fellowship time... wish we'd do that at home. Ok, well after that there is usually a bible study but instead they spent 2 hours distributing the fliers for the Father's day deal. So after they got back I came upstairs and took a nap until about 5 pm when Enomoto sensei had to take Aya to work. When he came back we made the 40 minute drive to Fujieda which is a nice town that serves some great Ramen... and I'm not talkin that instant stuff... lol We went to that city to meet with one of the members of the church who lives in Fujieda and cannot make it to church due to the demands of her job. It was nice to meet her and get out of the house. I have recently been shutting myself in my room when I'm not needed and gluing myself to this computer.
Ok so last but not least I have been unsuccessful at uploading these stupid pictures to the blog or even Facebook so I may not end up adding them. Who knows maybe we can have a big slideshow party at the BSU or something... we can figure that out in August.
See ya in August, talk to you soon.
Larzinjapan
P.S. Patrick I'd be honored to be your best man
P.S.S. Heather I think you're swell no matter what happens = )
Ok so I know that some of you have been waiting patiently for the pictures from the castle but I have been very busy as of late... We are doing some hard work distributing all theses flyers... there are sooooo many. I would like to take a moment to say that it has been great talking to those of you who answer when I call. Sorry Rebecca... you're next on my call list. lol ok but anyway. I just wanted to say that I enjoy every minute of hearing your voices. Patrick, man, it felt great to hear your voice... I'm missin ya but havin fun without you... and yes she really is that cute... you have no idea. but back to the rest of you... lol I cannot wait to show all of you the wonders Christ has shown me through this trip. I ask that all of you just open up your bible sometime and just read a passage at random. God is amazing when he thought out the scripture because He placed everything where it is for a reason. I also encourage you to read a verse I read. Hopefully you do this and post your own response cuz I'd like to hear it before posting my own. The verse is Isaiah (Props to the Z-Man) 58:9-11 this passage rocks by the way. haha Hope you are all safe! Today is Enomoto Sensei's birthday and we went out to eat. It was delicious!
Ok well post your responses soon cuz I am looking forward to them. haha
Larzinjapan