Sunday, June 3, 2007
Nippon Initiative Mascot
The youngest member of our team is almost two. Often in the stroller or held in our arms, yet Toby has been an important member of the team as he has opened up several opportunities to speak with Japanese people. Go Toby!
Evan's First Days
6/2/07
So I made it to Japan after a wonderful 12 hour flight. I have been very busy for the past few days learning how to read the train schedules, introduce myself, use chopsticks for every meal, and swat up to 8 mosquitos per second. It's taken quite a bit of effort to get adjusted to sleeping when I should be awake and the other way around. By the e nd of the day, I just kind of glaze over and drift away.
Today, Mariah, Elsbeth and I went to a wedding in Koriyama at the camp where I'm staying. It was not much different from a wedding in the U.S. although the girl getting married was half an American. We helped get everything ready for the reception, which was great fun. The reception was outside so we had to carry all the tables, chairs, food, and old people (just kidding, but seriously we did) out to the lawn. The groom, Shigeo, recently became a Christian and it was great to hear his testimony about how he his life changed when he met Kristine, his wife, and became a Christian.
At the wedding, we were able to meet some other Americans who are in Japan teaching English. It gave me a good idea of what it would be like if I come back this fall. The language is difficult to learn and would be the biggest barrier for me, I’m having a great time and hoping to help the Takahashi’s as mush a possible in the short time I’m here.
6/3/07
Today we went to church with the Takahashi’s where Romi, their daughter, translated for us so we could understand what was going on. Pastor Takahashi spoke on Ephesians 5:15-17 and how we need to conform our will to God’s. He also talked about how we need to really understand God’s word. In Japanese the word for understand is “satori” but to the Japanese Christians this word brings to mind meditation as in Buddhist meditation, which has a negative connotation to them. However he said this is what we need to do to truly understand God’s word.
After the service, we had a meal and then Mariah, Elsbeth and I went with Romi to an Easter Program put on by the Americans we met at the wedding. It was amazing to see all the Japanese kids, over 300 in all. English is a huge attraction for the Japanese, so when something is advertised as being an “English” event, a lot of people will come just for the English no matter what’s being presented.
I am really enjoying getting to know the Takahashi’s. They are a very humble, generous, and hospitable family. Tonight they took us to an Onsen, which means hot spring. What an experience. It was like a hot tub on steroids. First, you take off all your clothes throwing all caution to the wind (men and women are separate, in case you were wondering). Then you go into a shower area that has a huge tile tub overflowing with water hot enough to poach an egg. Upon stepping inside the room, you go over to the shower area and wash off while sitting on a little plastic stool. After about five minutes of washing, you get into the lava water. Now the key to this part of the episode is to sit in the scalding water right up to the edge of death. At this point, it is essential to command every physical and mental resource to keep from passing out and doing a nosedive into the water as you step out of the tub. Then, if you’re still alive, you stagger back over to the shower section, sit down on the stool and take several deep breaths trying to regain as much strength as possible for the remaining duration. As you sit on the stool panting, you’re supposed to wash yourself as thoroughly as humanly possible, scrubbing every single dirt particle into oblivion with what seemed to be a blue piece of sandpaper. You are able to move on to the next of the process when and only when skin color matches that of a raw steak. Now, you stumble back over to the boiling tub and sit for five more minutes trying to kill any malevolent bacteria that may have survived the scrub. Next, once you are unable to see straight you get out of the tub and go back to the shower for the final washing, which lasts about 10 minutes, or until you go unconscious. Don’t get me wrong, I’d do it again in a heartbeat, I just need a little time to recuperate and buy some skin balm for all of the scratches and burns. If anyone knows of any good lotions, I would greatly appreciate it.
So I made it to Japan after a wonderful 12 hour flight. I have been very busy for the past few days learning how to read the train schedules, introduce myself, use chopsticks for every meal, and swat up to 8 mosquitos per second. It's taken quite a bit of effort to get adjusted to sleeping when I should be awake and the other way around. By the e nd of the day, I just kind of glaze over and drift away.
Today, Mariah, Elsbeth and I went to a wedding in Koriyama at the camp where I'm staying. It was not much different from a wedding in the U.S. although the girl getting married was half an American. We helped get everything ready for the reception, which was great fun. The reception was outside so we had to carry all the tables, chairs, food, and old people (just kidding, but seriously we did) out to the lawn. The groom, Shigeo, recently became a Christian and it was great to hear his testimony about how he his life changed when he met Kristine, his wife, and became a Christian.
At the wedding, we were able to meet some other Americans who are in Japan teaching English. It gave me a good idea of what it would be like if I come back this fall. The language is difficult to learn and would be the biggest barrier for me, I’m having a great time and hoping to help the Takahashi’s as mush a possible in the short time I’m here.
6/3/07
Today we went to church with the Takahashi’s where Romi, their daughter, translated for us so we could understand what was going on. Pastor Takahashi spoke on Ephesians 5:15-17 and how we need to conform our will to God’s. He also talked about how we need to really understand God’s word. In Japanese the word for understand is “satori” but to the Japanese Christians this word brings to mind meditation as in Buddhist meditation, which has a negative connotation to them. However he said this is what we need to do to truly understand God’s word.
After the service, we had a meal and then Mariah, Elsbeth and I went with Romi to an Easter Program put on by the Americans we met at the wedding. It was amazing to see all the Japanese kids, over 300 in all. English is a huge attraction for the Japanese, so when something is advertised as being an “English” event, a lot of people will come just for the English no matter what’s being presented.
I am really enjoying getting to know the Takahashi’s. They are a very humble, generous, and hospitable family. Tonight they took us to an Onsen, which means hot spring. What an experience. It was like a hot tub on steroids. First, you take off all your clothes throwing all caution to the wind (men and women are separate, in case you were wondering). Then you go into a shower area that has a huge tile tub overflowing with water hot enough to poach an egg. Upon stepping inside the room, you go over to the shower area and wash off while sitting on a little plastic stool. After about five minutes of washing, you get into the lava water. Now the key to this part of the episode is to sit in the scalding water right up to the edge of death. At this point, it is essential to command every physical and mental resource to keep from passing out and doing a nosedive into the water as you step out of the tub. Then, if you’re still alive, you stagger back over to the shower section, sit down on the stool and take several deep breaths trying to regain as much strength as possible for the remaining duration. As you sit on the stool panting, you’re supposed to wash yourself as thoroughly as humanly possible, scrubbing every single dirt particle into oblivion with what seemed to be a blue piece of sandpaper. You are able to move on to the next of the process when and only when skin color matches that of a raw steak. Now, you stumble back over to the boiling tub and sit for five more minutes trying to kill any malevolent bacteria that may have survived the scrub. Next, once you are unable to see straight you get out of the tub and go back to the shower for the final washing, which lasts about 10 minutes, or until you go unconscious. Don’t get me wrong, I’d do it again in a heartbeat, I just need a little time to recuperate and buy some skin balm for all of the scratches and burns. If anyone knows of any good lotions, I would greatly appreciate it.
While on the train...
Michelle and her son Toby made friends with three university students on the train who were willing to practice their English.
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