Coming to America (I love that movie)

So, it's just after midnight here in Japan. My flight doesn't leave until 1:30 tomorrow, but I'm taking the 5:47am train to the airport. I'm doing this so that I can ride with 2 others people I know. This unfortunately means I will be getting to the airport over 4 hours early. I know I could just take a later train and not have to waste so much time at the airport, but I don't want the hassle of traveling alone. Naomi is Japanese and by going with her it means I won't have to worry about catching the right trains, etc. This means my total travel time, including train, layover, and flight time will be right at 24 hours.....YUCK!!! I'm staying up as long as I can tonight to try to get on schedule with the Eastern time zone. I also hope to sleep as much as possible on the flight. Hopefully I won't be a total zombie when I get to Charlotte at 3:30pm on Wednesday!

I don't know why I am so stressed about coming home, but I am. I guess there are just so many things I want and need to do. At the same time, I also really want to relax and just enjoy being home. I really hope the trip goes well.



Now I'm going to go finish packing up a few last minute things...I hope I don't forget anything! See you all tomorrow!!!

My Elementary School Culture Festival and Making Mochi

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Well, the past few weeks have really been flying by...which is a good thing since I am so anxious about coming home (IN 2 WEEKS!!!). On Thanksgiving Day, my elementary school had it's culture festival. The chorus and brass band from my junior high came and performed for the students. Then there were a few hours set aside for students and parents to tour the school to look at the art exhibits created by the students. I am always so amazed at the art created by the students here. They really spend alot of time on their art projects. I only included a few pictures in the slideshow above, but their were tons of amazing art projects. The end of the day was when the students were to attend special classes. I had been asked to teach an English Conversation class. I would have much preferred to teach something more exciting (like the hip hop class I taught at my junior high's culture fest), but I tried to make it as much fun as possible. We played lots of games, did the freeze dance, and I gave out lots of prizes....which always helps! After the first few minutes, the kids really got into it and it was alot of fun.

After culture festival, I went to Audrey's for Thanksgiving dinner. Luckily, the cooking took so long that I didn't miss anything. Audrey's grandmother had sent lots of supplies and ingredients to make traditional Thanksgiving food. We had stuffing, pumpkin pies, etc. We had everything but the Turkey. It was the best meal I've had since arriving in Japan.

This past weekend, I went to a Mochi making event put on by the Ise International Society. Mochi is a traditional Japanese New Year's Day dish. You take steamed rice and put it into this huge wooden bowl thing and pound it with a wooden mallet, a huge one! One person pounds it while another turns and flips the rice. Eventually the rice becomes this condensed....well, hard to explain substance. It is made into lots of little paddies and rolled in various ingredients such as seaweed, raddish, sweat beans, etc. Some are spicy and some are sweet. I actually don't like Mochi, big surprise right? It was lots of fun making it though.

Well, over the past few weeks the cold weather has really hit us. There are a few different factors that make it much worse than winters in the US. 1-I have to ride a stupid bike,haha! I freeze every morning on the way to school. 2-When I get to school, I can't get warm because schools in Japan don't have heat or air conditioning. I teach in my coat, scarf, and sometimes even my gloves. I don't know how the kids can stand it. 3-The buildings here have very poor insulation. Of course, since the people at my school insist on having all the doors open, it doesn't really matter. So, basically I'm going to freeze my butt off all winter. Expect to hear more whining about the cold!

The picture of the little girl in the Kimono was taken at the shrine near my house. Lots of times people will just get all dressed up in their kimonos for no reason. People wear them out just as they would normal clothes. I wanted to buy a kimono, but I found out they cost thousands of dollars. The fabric used to make them is beautiful, but so expensive. There are places in Tokyo, Kyoto, etc. where women can pay around a hundred dollars to get all dressed up in a Kimono, hair and make-up done like a geisha, and get pictures taken. You even get to walk around the city for an hour or something. Amy did it and has amazing pictures and said it was so cool to do....so, Caren, Kelley, what do you think? Any interest in doing it? I'm going to do it at some point, but I'll wait till you guys come if you want to do it.

So, 2 weeks from tomorrow I'll be home. I hope these 2 weeks fly by as quickly as the past 2 weeks. I'm so excited to come home and see everyone. I did get some bad news....long story, but I won't be able to meet my friends in Thailand when I get back from the US. But, I'm going to take the money and put it towards a spring trip...with Habitat for Humanity!!! I will be going to either Thailand or the Philippines. I will know more details in a few weeks. One thing I have to do over the next month is to raise a $500 dollar donation that is required of all participants. This is in addition to my own personal costs. So...over Christmas I am going to be auctioning off various services. Check back Next week for more information!!! Habitat for Humanity is an incredible cause and I can't wait to work with them.

Take care and I'll see you soon, very soon!