A New Mile Marker...

I have successfully navigated the bus from and to my destination of Izumi-chuo!!! This is a big deal! I have in the past experienced great frustrations because I have not known what bus to take. My co-workers have stated time and time again that I need to get on the "right" side of the bus. This would be great advise had anyone else been standing in a line waiting for my bus. However, as on all occasions, there was no one there but myself and a couple others (who hadn't any better idea about what bus to take than I), we got on the bus. The first time, the driver understood enough English or rather the words "Mey-sen Kind-er-gart-en", that he dropped us off in front of our very own apartments. I have no idea if that will ever happen again but it was nice. The second time, we got dropped off 40 minutes walk from our lovely apartments. I didn't like walking in the cold, at night, when I had just spent 5 hours walking downtown. After that experience I was most definetly avoiding the bus system if at all possible. That was about 2 months ago. Then, yesterday, my coworker Becky showed me what she has been talking about all along....getting on the right side of the bus. I know this seems so simple yet, when you see the pixs, you will understand why I had no clue. So, although, I wasn't so fond of the way in which she pointed out it's simplicity, I was happy that I finally got an answer as to getting on the "right" side always. This is another mile marker in my Japanese Adventures. To be able to get to and from home, simply and assuredly, has to count for something, right?!



This is the Bus Terminal Schedule for coming home. It is okay to read but still causes a bit of trouble sometimes This is the Bus Terminal Schedul for going from my house. Green means M-F Blue means Sat and Red means Sun & Holidays.

This is the sign where I am to always get on the bus on the "right" side. Now looking at this bus, would you know if everyone stood on the right side or the left side? Yep, me neither! This is, in fact, one of the buses that would take me every where but my house. A definite "No Go!". So I have learned that I must look for a symbol that reminds me a Tahitian god and then an asterisk tree (one asterisk on top and two right below it). That is my ride home!

Tokyo - I'll add captions after work on 5/2 - start at bottom

Cherry Blossom Fair

Teachers and Staff at Meysen. We went down by a river and looked at a cherry blossom fair. It was fun. Different than what I was expecting but, then again, everything is different! Cherry is also known as Sakura. The "a" is soft like in the old style "amen". And the "r" is curled like in Spanish. fyi

Backrow: Marina, Becky, Me, Annie

Frontrow: Kim

These girls all work with me. Very nice people. Kim is the only one who is came out with me in February.

This was a menu to choose a flavor-filled crepe wrap. Good luck figuring it out! I just pointed to ingredients after someone tried to translate the menue. You know me, I can pretty much figure out how to communicate no matter how silly.

This is Samuel. This is Samuel eating, while driving, with chopsticks! Does this bother anyone else? Samuel is so funny. He swore that he could do this, no problem. So down the road we went. He obviously was successful, since none of us died! He is in charge of another side of Friends Club at Meysen.

A Sakura- Cherry Blossom - tree in the front garden of Meysen. It almost reminded me of a weeping willow. The blossoms were on the tree for, maybe, a week. Like overnight the tree exploded in color, then overnight everything was gone. That is the way of the Sakura. Also, anything with Sakura on it - dishes, clothes, bags, stationary - only are available during April. I bought some wall art in April b/c I didn't know if I would stay on till next April. : P

April in Review...

I can hardly believe that April is over with and today is the first day of May. So many things have happened it is hard to know where to begin. What I do know is that God has blessed me greatly. I am thankful for the good and the bad I have experienced here in Japan.

When I was in college, Jonathan and I talked of visiting Washington D.C. one spring to see the cherry blossoms. The only problem with that was that every year the blossoms came at different times. You can't exactly predict when they are going begin blooming. So, we never went. Then my friend Eric moved to D.C. and I thought, "wow, now I have someone else to go visit and see the cherry blossoms!". But that never happened either. All of this story to say, the whole of Japan blooms for an entire month! The Lord brought me to a whole COUNTRY planted with cherry blossoms! They are truly a beautiful sight to see. In early April, my friends and I took the bullet train and went to Tokyo. That was the beggining of the season. Here in Japan, it is a big deal. Families sit on blue tarps and get drunk under a cherry blossom tree. It lasts for all day or as long as they desire to stay drunk. Interestingly it is not as messy as one would imagine. There are recycle stations at various locations that they can put their glass, burnables, and plastics appropriately trashed. I need to tell my brother to come visit me next April, that is if I am still here.

I started teaching full time this April. That was a different kind of experience. It took me some time to adjust to what was asked of me and to get into a rythm with the kids. The Japanese don't typically enjoy change and, me, I am all about change. These two ideas don't mesh too well. So I am trying to give the kids mostly what they are used to but, also, change it up a little bit, too. Communicating with staff and co-workers is different, too. What is said is not always what is said. Understand? Me neither. That is my problem. But, ultimately, when words don't make sense, I just have to look at their hearts and realize that malicious intent is not in them. I need to learn to take what is given to me and filter it with love, and pray that the Holy Spirit fills in the gaps.

That brings me to the next thought, I miss my church! I miss everything about it. Funny, how that is one of the greatest holes in my heart that cannot be filled. Everything else can be filled with a skype call, phone call, or package. But being apart of my home church cannot be filled. I realize that this is the path for me but it doesn't mean I don't long for home on Sundays.

I have made some good friendships. I have learned the bus system, mostly, except for the exact bus that will drop me off in front of my house. I am still working on that one. It is hard when there are three options, varied only by a little unknown symbol. However, I can walk because I know where I am going, that is good. Things feel less strange and more comfortable. For this, I am grateful. The weather is warming up, so, I am not freezing anymore. I am grateful for this. Being cold is not my forte.

I miss my peeps! I love you all! Write or call when you can. I will purpose to be better with updates and such on my blog. I know ya'll like seeing and reading about what is going on over here.