For those who may not know, my first year in Japan I lived in the northern island of Hokkaido. So this past Wednesday I flew up here to spend some time with my friends and say good-bye. I even get to go snowboarding on Monday!! A few months ago the church I used to attend started having monthly worship events at the local community center. I am thrilled to be here for this month's event, I'll try to have some pictures for you guys later.
That said, I may not have many blog entries until I return to Tokyo, at which time I hope to have several more pictures and stories to share.
Have a fabulous weekend! And as my friend, Chris Wright, always tells me...remember to have fun!!!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Friday, March 17, 2006
Pictures, pictures!
This was my last week of teaching English here in Japan. Teaching is not necessarily my favorite thing anymore, but I have absolutely loved being with my students! We've had lots of fun times! This week was full of good-bye parties and good-byes (which I won't talk about), and some other fun stuff. Enjoy....I know I did :-)
Monday: Yumi San (back right) and Yumie San (front right) have been wonderful. We had a final lunch at my favorite Indian restaurant in the neighborhood. Yumie is not a Christian, but I have been privileged to see the Holy Spirit working in her heart. I've been amazed at how many times over the last year God has given me opportunity after opportunity to simply give testimonies of what He's meant to me in a particular week. She mentioned a few weeks ago that she wanted to start reading the Bible daily. On Monday she explained that if the Bible was so important and made such a difference in my life, then it must be important for her too. Wow! It was all I could do to hold back my tears. I was floored at what God was allowing me to be a part of. With all of my flaws, mistakes, and ugly sins...God STILL chooses to use me? "Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world." ~Psalm 98:1~
Mizuki and Natsumi. My two favorite kids to teach! Oh yeah, that's Shirley next to me! She's my replacement. If she were not here, I don't know if I'd have the same peace about leaving.
This is my Canadian friend, Kara. I just met her in November, but we hit it off and I have been so grateful for her friendship these last few months. She and her husband will be here until June. We love Starbucks!
Here's a unique man, Nakamura San. He's a character. Please pray for him as he continues a friendship with Donnie McDonald.
I only a few more times with my Starbucks ladies :-( (Interesting sidenote: the only time I've actually been at SBUX with them was when I met them! But somehow the nickname just stuck) Anyway, I've prayed for a few months now about 'transferring' my friendship with them on to Shirley. Of course I hope to continue from the States as well, but it's not the same. A few weeks ago they were really nervous about meeting someone new, but God answered my prayers and we couldn't have asked for a better time. Shirley liked them and they all liked her!
Left: Shimotomai San, a very sweet Christian lady. She's a great addition to this English class. Right: Nobu San, who from one day to the next can be open and inquisitive about the Gospel, or against it.
I don't know where I'm looking, but they all look great! The lady on the floor to my left (your right) is Etsuko San, she is one of the leaders of the Good News church and helps teach the Bible section of our English classes.
Top: Shimotomai San, Nobu San, Yamakawa San, and Nemoto San
Bottom: Nozomi San, me, and Etsuko San
Well, that's all folks! I'll be back later with more...there's always more.
Monday: Yumi San (back right) and Yumie San (front right) have been wonderful. We had a final lunch at my favorite Indian restaurant in the neighborhood. Yumie is not a Christian, but I have been privileged to see the Holy Spirit working in her heart. I've been amazed at how many times over the last year God has given me opportunity after opportunity to simply give testimonies of what He's meant to me in a particular week. She mentioned a few weeks ago that she wanted to start reading the Bible daily. On Monday she explained that if the Bible was so important and made such a difference in my life, then it must be important for her too. Wow! It was all I could do to hold back my tears. I was floored at what God was allowing me to be a part of. With all of my flaws, mistakes, and ugly sins...God STILL chooses to use me? "Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world." ~Psalm 98:1~
Mizuki and Natsumi. My two favorite kids to teach! Oh yeah, that's Shirley next to me! She's my replacement. If she were not here, I don't know if I'd have the same peace about leaving.
This is my Canadian friend, Kara. I just met her in November, but we hit it off and I have been so grateful for her friendship these last few months. She and her husband will be here until June. We love Starbucks!
Here's a unique man, Nakamura San. He's a character. Please pray for him as he continues a friendship with Donnie McDonald.
I only a few more times with my Starbucks ladies :-( (Interesting sidenote: the only time I've actually been at SBUX with them was when I met them! But somehow the nickname just stuck) Anyway, I've prayed for a few months now about 'transferring' my friendship with them on to Shirley. Of course I hope to continue from the States as well, but it's not the same. A few weeks ago they were really nervous about meeting someone new, but God answered my prayers and we couldn't have asked for a better time. Shirley liked them and they all liked her!
Left: Shimotomai San, a very sweet Christian lady. She's a great addition to this English class. Right: Nobu San, who from one day to the next can be open and inquisitive about the Gospel, or against it.
I don't know where I'm looking, but they all look great! The lady on the floor to my left (your right) is Etsuko San, she is one of the leaders of the Good News church and helps teach the Bible section of our English classes.
Top: Shimotomai San, Nobu San, Yamakawa San, and Nemoto San
Bottom: Nozomi San, me, and Etsuko San
Well, that's all folks! I'll be back later with more...there's always more.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Rabbits
Not exactly real rabbits, although we didn't get my rabbit imitation on camera (good thing for you AND me!). But aren't we cute? This is Caroline McDonald, five years old and youngest daughter of my teammates Ruth and Donnie (their name is also McDonald...haha). She is hysterically funny!
Have a great week everyone :-)
Thursday, March 09, 2006
信じられない...unbelievable!
Boys and girls, have I got a story for you! Here's a taste of the brick walls you run into occasionally when you try to do anything outside the box in Japan...live and learn, right?
Yesterday was a beautiful day and I was ready to hit Tokyo for some gift buying, etc. On my way to the train I stopped by the post office to mail mine and my sister's walking sticks from climbing Mt. Fuji back in August. These sticks come up to my chin and I had taken the time to carefully wrap them and prepare them to be mailed. I walk in and up to the counter, here's how it went down:
Bethany: Good morning, can I mail this please?
Clerk #1 (or じゃまな人 1 for you Japanese readers): Just a moment please, I need to measure its length first. ........
I'm sorry, but I'm afraid it's too long and we can't mail it.
Bethany: You can't mail it at all?
Clerk #1: We can't mail it, it's too long for our regulations.
Bethany: Well then what should I do? How do I mail it? Please, this is really important.
Clerk #1: I'm sorry. We can't mail it, it's too long.
Bethany: I understand that, but how do I get it to America? (side note: no way I'm taking those things on an airplane!)
Clerk #1: We just can't do it, it's too long. Can you cut it in half?
Bethany: NO! They're Mt. Fuji walking sticks, they're really important!
Clerk #1: Just a moment please....
**Clerk #1 proceeds to call another co-worker and her superior to the rescue. They step aside for a few minutes and discuss the issue. The boss makes a telephone call behind closed doors. He steps back out to talk to me**
Boss: We can't mail this, it's too long.
Bethany: *internal feelings* AAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! how can you NOT mail something that is packaged?!?!?!?!
*actual words* I don't understand. What am I supposed to do then? I need to get these to America!
Boss: Let me measure it again. .... Yes, I'm afraid it's too long. We can't mail it. Can you cut it in half?
Bethany: NO!
**By now, I had already dug in my heels. I was not about to leave until they found a way to mail the sticks. I'm sorry, but I just had to be an obnoxious American for once. I thought about calling a Japanese friend to talk to them on the phone, but then decided I might have an advantage without that.**
A few minutes pass, of no one saying anything at all, and me starring them down. FINALLY! I hear the hallelujah chorus in my head...
Boss to clerk 1: Well, check with the EMS company, aren't their rules a little different? .......
Clerk 1: Yes, it looks like this might work. Is this company ok?
Bethany; YES. Please!!
Clerk 1: Ok, the price is 2,400 yen (*that's a little less than $24*), is that ok?
Bethany: Yes, anything is fine.
**After it was all finished I walked out backwards, bowing all the way to the door, excusing myself (in my head for being a foreigner) and thanking them over and over like any good Japanese person would after they've really been a burden.
A day in the life of a foreigner in Japan. This wouldn't have happened to a Japanese person (unless they were really strange), because the Japanese person would've known about the rules and never even thought to break them. :-) I was exhausted after those twenty minutes!
Yesterday was a beautiful day and I was ready to hit Tokyo for some gift buying, etc. On my way to the train I stopped by the post office to mail mine and my sister's walking sticks from climbing Mt. Fuji back in August. These sticks come up to my chin and I had taken the time to carefully wrap them and prepare them to be mailed. I walk in and up to the counter, here's how it went down:
Bethany: Good morning, can I mail this please?
Clerk #1 (or じゃまな人 1 for you Japanese readers): Just a moment please, I need to measure its length first. ........
I'm sorry, but I'm afraid it's too long and we can't mail it.
Bethany: You can't mail it at all?
Clerk #1: We can't mail it, it's too long for our regulations.
Bethany: Well then what should I do? How do I mail it? Please, this is really important.
Clerk #1: I'm sorry. We can't mail it, it's too long.
Bethany: I understand that, but how do I get it to America? (side note: no way I'm taking those things on an airplane!)
Clerk #1: We just can't do it, it's too long. Can you cut it in half?
Bethany: NO! They're Mt. Fuji walking sticks, they're really important!
Clerk #1: Just a moment please....
**Clerk #1 proceeds to call another co-worker and her superior to the rescue. They step aside for a few minutes and discuss the issue. The boss makes a telephone call behind closed doors. He steps back out to talk to me**
Boss: We can't mail this, it's too long.
Bethany: *internal feelings* AAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! how can you NOT mail something that is packaged?!?!?!?!
*actual words* I don't understand. What am I supposed to do then? I need to get these to America!
Boss: Let me measure it again. .... Yes, I'm afraid it's too long. We can't mail it. Can you cut it in half?
Bethany: NO!
**By now, I had already dug in my heels. I was not about to leave until they found a way to mail the sticks. I'm sorry, but I just had to be an obnoxious American for once. I thought about calling a Japanese friend to talk to them on the phone, but then decided I might have an advantage without that.**
A few minutes pass, of no one saying anything at all, and me starring them down. FINALLY! I hear the hallelujah chorus in my head...
Boss to clerk 1: Well, check with the EMS company, aren't their rules a little different? .......
Clerk 1: Yes, it looks like this might work. Is this company ok?
Bethany; YES. Please!!
Clerk 1: Ok, the price is 2,400 yen (*that's a little less than $24*), is that ok?
Bethany: Yes, anything is fine.
**After it was all finished I walked out backwards, bowing all the way to the door, excusing myself (in my head for being a foreigner) and thanking them over and over like any good Japanese person would after they've really been a burden.
A day in the life of a foreigner in Japan. This wouldn't have happened to a Japanese person (unless they were really strange), because the Japanese person would've known about the rules and never even thought to break them. :-) I was exhausted after those twenty minutes!
Monday, March 06, 2006
Bumbershoot
Props to my sister again, who told me about this word 'bumbershoot'. Apparently it's another word for umbrella, that is obviously rarely used anymore (except in England maybe?). Since I collect umbrellas I love this word!
I was having lunch at one of my favorite places here, Saizeriya, when I had an experience that I realized I won't have much longer. That is...listening to people talk about you in Japanese thinking you don't understand them. Granted I don't understand them 100%, but I get a whole lot more of it than they realize! Here's the gist of the conversation:
Friend 1: Do you speak English?
Friend 2: I studied it in high school, but I don't understand a thing!
Friend 1: Do you think she's an English teacher?
Friend 2: Probably, aren't most foreigners here English teachers?
Friend 1: What is she eating?
What's funny this time is that I was sitting between two tables, and both tables were having the same conversation. :-)
Here's the deal: if you're having a good day this doesn't bother you, and it probably makes you chuckle a little, but if you're having a bad day your desire to catch the next plane to the States where you are 'normal' kicks in. Thankfully today was a good day and I just enjoyed my lunch. Come to think of it, those off days have been less and less frequent. I realized too that my days for such experiences are numbered. C'est la vie. (That's life in French) しょうがない (It can't be helped, in Japanese)
In these emotional days it's a comfort and necessity to know, to really know, that I don't have to be in charge of my feelings all on my own. I would certainly be doomed to disaster and failure to handle them correctly without the work and power of the Holy Spirit. All I have to do is ask, and God will never say 'no' to the growth of his children and his own glory.
'"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit." ~Ephesians 3:16
"May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ-for this will bring much glory and praise to God." ~Philippians 1:11
Change of subject, I know that many of you who read my blog don't comment on it (which is fine) but this time I need some feeback! Please! When I return to the States should I keep this blog going? If so, should I give it a new name since I won't be in Japan anymore? Don't let me down guys, give me some comments.... :-)
I was having lunch at one of my favorite places here, Saizeriya, when I had an experience that I realized I won't have much longer. That is...listening to people talk about you in Japanese thinking you don't understand them. Granted I don't understand them 100%, but I get a whole lot more of it than they realize! Here's the gist of the conversation:
Friend 1: Do you speak English?
Friend 2: I studied it in high school, but I don't understand a thing!
Friend 1: Do you think she's an English teacher?
Friend 2: Probably, aren't most foreigners here English teachers?
Friend 1: What is she eating?
What's funny this time is that I was sitting between two tables, and both tables were having the same conversation. :-)
Here's the deal: if you're having a good day this doesn't bother you, and it probably makes you chuckle a little, but if you're having a bad day your desire to catch the next plane to the States where you are 'normal' kicks in. Thankfully today was a good day and I just enjoyed my lunch. Come to think of it, those off days have been less and less frequent. I realized too that my days for such experiences are numbered. C'est la vie. (That's life in French) しょうがない (It can't be helped, in Japanese)
In these emotional days it's a comfort and necessity to know, to really know, that I don't have to be in charge of my feelings all on my own. I would certainly be doomed to disaster and failure to handle them correctly without the work and power of the Holy Spirit. All I have to do is ask, and God will never say 'no' to the growth of his children and his own glory.
'"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit." ~Ephesians 3:16
"May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ-for this will bring much glory and praise to God." ~Philippians 1:11
Change of subject, I know that many of you who read my blog don't comment on it (which is fine) but this time I need some feeback! Please! When I return to the States should I keep this blog going? If so, should I give it a new name since I won't be in Japan anymore? Don't let me down guys, give me some comments.... :-)
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