Singing for the warmer days!

I got to go out for KARAOKE with MY GUYS!! Karaoke, in Japan, is one of the best pastimes in the world!! It's easy to spend at least three hours- which flies by- and I know people often go for four hours or more singing away.




This is the massive Karaoke-Game Center called C-DOME. I couldn't believe it when I saw it being built about 10 years ago. The Japanese have a new odd-okay- modern sense of taste when it comes to new buildings!
It's about four blocks from our house. And from our bathroom window we get the airport-like swinging-the-sky lights at night flashing from there all night long.





And here's our dear home-school. Ischin lives upstairs. I'll asked the landlord after summer to trim that massive tree. Over the summer, that tree is gorgeous blocking the heat and typhoons from hitting straight on!

The classroom is in the bottom left corner room of the house...it's been so quiet with no boys bouncing basketballs on the street there. Gosh- tomorrow Zen and Taka are back for a visit- tears almost come to my eyes imagining them out there again! shooting hoops!

Spring, and Birds and Bugs are in the Air!!

(Still trying to get Photos in here!! xoxoxo)

A week since Valentine's, and a week 'til Taka and Zen arrive!
TWO weeks until we party to celebrate marrying in Japan.

From 2/28 Taka and Zen will visit Japan- in time for Sheon-chan's GRADUATION 2/29 until 3/11. I'll leave the next day with Nagisa, our friend's daughter, who will rent a room in our apartment and go to college.

But here, first let me share a couple of photos I took in Nagoya yesterday.
Here's a photo of my OTHER WORLDLY dear friend Clarissa! (I must admit- I try to remember where she's "from"- just well- can't pinpoint it to tell you the truth! Just SO glad she's in MY life!).

And then the party we're working out for 3/8, which happens to be the date of our first kiss ELEVEN years ago...
oh, fun it looks like it will be! AND it appears to be an auspicious day on the calendar! Sweet!

Well, to tell you the truth, from 11am Taka and I will meet his family in Okazaki for lunch. He has to introduce his "new bride" eh?! Gosh. I find solace in the fact that I know one of his cousin's families (living in the next town from Santa Cruz) and have met Taka's aunt there who supposedly spoke well of me (Taka's father's brother's wife). Also that Taka cares for his mom's family- cause his dad and his side have given Taka grief for years. His not marrying, his weight, his not bearing children...
So, after taking care of that ceremonial meeting- then I will be ready to PARTY! (Taka could be ready for a nap, himself!).

Valentine's and Good Stuff!

Sayako's Valentine's birthday... with hubby Shinji, and Julie (who took the photo) and her man Prahbu- at a very popular TOFU restaurant in town... I don't even know it's name!!!

Today, Sayako and Julie, who has worked for me before and we aim to have work again, the two of them helped me find the places to have our March 3rd Japan Parties to celebrate Wed-ding!



On the way home, I drove past this wonderful statue. I mean, as I mentioned before, there are just so many of these gorgeous...places.


We drive by this one to work every Monday.



And as you can see, this is a humble place. Yet I'm sure it's the neighborhood's revered cemetery, and the center of festivals at certain times of year.

This cemetery, each gravestone houses the ashes of many family members.












And if I'm correct- these small statues represent children who have died before or at childbirth.










Finally- another "exotic" statue- located outside the Thai restaurant "KUK KIK" where our "first" party for marrying will be held~~

My Firstborn's 24th~

My oldest child's 24th birthday, Ischin- "One Heart"!
He's now the age I was when I came to Japan with two children.

But it was cool tonight, I was hanging out and talking with our friend, housemate Matt-chan. He's in the photo behind my three older kids (also in the photo is Ischin's girlfriend Kahori to his right.21 year old Naomi is to Ischin's left,, and to her left is Sheon, 18).


Matt-chan told me tonight, he always gets energy from my kids. That was so cool! The first explanation I must admit I thought of- wanting to attribute that to, was that I tried hard to birth those kids respectfully. Not only their birthing, but, as I told Matt-chan, I breastfed them, and respected that they didn't want to stop until they did. I didn't make them stop breastfeeding until they were ready to stop. Those two things, along with a "family bed" where we all slept together until they wanted to move out, was what seemed very important for them and me. I think their being given that respect allowed them to move on when they were ready. They could "grow up" when they were ready. Also with the schooling- I sort of realized tonight too- they went to school when they were ready. As a result... those things greatly, and positively influenced their "passage" into society in this 21st century generation .


It's funny. People have said "You must be proud". I kind of interpret that as "proud of myself"- as their mother. It's a statement I'm trying to figure out. I can't say I take credit for more than having birthed as I did and raising them as we did- "pride" in that ... Ok, that's where I can take pride. Otherwise, what they have made of their lives is their doing. I just keep loving them. I can't take credit for any more. I just am SO happy they chose US to be their parents!! And we could have them in OUR lives!!!


(This photo of Naomi and Zen is from when Naomi visited California over the holidays... SOON Zen will be visiting Japan!)

FINALLY Snow to go with the COLD

In this town, where we hardly get snow, traffic almost comes to a standstill. People have no snowtires... well, skiers, and there ARE many, many- snowboarders and such- THEY have chains and all. And will be putting them on now I guess.
So I took a little walk this afternoon to get some shots. It's seriously hard to do such beauty justice. And, I mean with the white, bright reflections, and trying to operate my camera... but I try.

Before my camera ran out of frickin' battery again- I got the beer machine around the corner. I tried to get creative with it!



Oh, yes, those machines do shut down at 11pm. It had appeared some 7 or 8 years ago that people would have to insert their driver's licenses to be able to buy beers. But I have had to only do that once or twice in my 21 years here. So... this country is ALMOST a drinker's paradise.

The High School KAKUJOGAOKA

I must admit, uniforms make less pressure to impress peers with name brand clothes- in school.

This school, for the past five years, they have had me teach about eight classes every winter. The students do get better and more outgoing every year.

Still, for example there was one girl, and after three classes I finally asked her- "Haven't I taught you somewhere else before" and she smiled and reminded me she'd been at one juku (cram school) we've been working for. There you have typical Japanese not making it a point to single themselves out!

I will try some day- to get the kids to NOT all make that peace signing! That became a popular pose about...15 years ago? When they didn't know it really meant PEACE. Now, at least, they know.

Funny, I just noticed the boys (and teachers!) don't feel obliged to make that pose along with the girls!!

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Conveyer Belt Sushi~~

Check out the faces of other customers! Do they look happy??






Gosh, WE were happy!!




Usually I don't care for cold sushi in winter, though Japanese are SO into it any time of year. Perhaps it's also their New Year's custom of not cooking and keeping cold food around that makes them all tolerant of it in the middle of cold winters!


In any case- to hang out with Amy and Yasuyo, I agreed to sushi. With the beer it didn't make it bad-even weird CORN sushi!! It's not hard to enjoy, and all the distraction by us, the staff was watching us cause I was taking so many photos for you here!(Like a typical new foreigner to Japan!!) They do love attention, because also otherwise, with other Japanese they don't get such attention at all!

I knew the guy to the far right was listening to us speak English, he was enjoying it, and I imagined he was wishing to somehow communicate something, so I was just waiting to get a shot of him with others! Yeah, check it out , he doesn't have the typical PEACE sign- but Hawaiian sign instead!!!






I mean, look at other customers- they look so sad!! Gosh, in spite of such good food, and warmth! The little old woman, can you see her down there? I wonder if she could enjoy.

But so, here you can check out the plate prices. See, that's how they do this. You just pick what you want, take it off the belt and those plates are calculated, later, by color coordination!






So, this here you have one of the"chefs"
(we realized we never see women back here!!) Check out how he "cooks " some fish!!
He uses a little firing tool!!!


We aren't supposed to pick at the pieces going by with our chopsticks- which Amy told us her sister did while she was in the restroom! That day, the cooks let that picked-at-piece just go rolling on around- perhaps hoping Amy would get it off the belt next time around- gosh- they aren't used to "out of the ordinary" happenings!! .





At the end of meals in these "KAI TEN ZUSHI" places, we get checked out- and today was the first time I experienced technologically getting "checked", this cute woman (who also took the photo for us!!) posed with her calculating equipment!!




THEN, after me making all that commotion with all the photo taking, on the way out- from the back- one of my long time ago , very smart students, came out and I recognized him! (he and my 18 year old daughter keep on as friends) so- what a nice FINALE!! to a luncheon in Nishio!!!


There's nothing like all of the "Peace, Peace, Peace" signing in Japan!