Sat July 7

So, today, after waking up at 8:30 and skyping with Dada and Sangi Foi, I went out for a run in the park. Now, granted it was quite hot, but it was still an amazing run. I was, however, out of shape, and after one broken lap (each lap = 850 m) I needed water. At first, I looked near the toilets, and there were no water fountains (BTW, the men's urinals are not inside a legit building, while the women's bathroom is.). Then I remembered there had been one in the playground about half way home, so I decided to look in the playground in the park. None. I was wondering how on earth they could have a park with no water fountains; granted, there were vending machines everywhere, but still...Anyway, I was very thirsty so I went to the one half way home. Then, on the way back to the park, I happened to stumble upon a nice little shaded seating area with a water fountain. As I walked back to the park, I realized such sitting area were everywhere (2 pix attached.). It's not that there were not water fountains, I was just looking in the wrong places (I was looking where American water fountains would be...)

Anyway the running was great. And one of the characteristic things about Naha in the morning is the cicadas -- see attached pix of their shed skin :)

Anyway, after that I came home, bathed and had lunch (Hakka noodles again and I have figured out the recipe, very simple), and then worked with Otousan to complete his Morse Code device (soldering the wires.). He also explained to me the theory of Morse Code and how you communicate with people around the world and Morse Code's own version of "Text Talk". It was very interesting!

Anyway, since we had until 5 to go to the concert, I went to the mall (that is the huge benefit of city life -- everything is SOOO close -- I honestly walked to Naha Main Place! Anyway I was just planning to look around and buy cool stuff that caught my eye, but it was hugely overwhelming. First of all, the pathway between shops was very narrow, but more importantly, unlike American Malls where there are shops along the perimeter and a lot of space in the middle, this literally had shops everywhere! Much more like some sort of market or bazaar! It was pretty hard to figure out where one shop started and another ended! Anyway, in my wanderings, I found a toy store and bookstore, which were the only places I spent money in. I looked at all the various clothing stores and honestly, even for good quality, the clothes were rip offs! $50 for a half sleeve collared shirt with a floral design! $200 (minimum) for a blazer! And even the few sales barely helped! So yeah I didn't end up getting any clothes, but I did just wander and look around for quite a while. There were Tanabata-Bamboo-Trees all over the mall where kids could write their wishes and hang them from the trees! There was a theatre there also showing Spiderman!

Anyway, after that we came home and went to the concert, in which, contrary to my beliefs, Otousan did not sing. Anyway, it was an Opera concert. I had never heard legitimate Opera before in my life, and boy, are their voices amazing! Not only can they manage very high and low pitches, without mikes they were able to project through the whole gigantic concert hall! It was really really incredible, and the singers were very talented. I really enjoyed myself :)

However, I am more enthralled by how huge of a cultural melting pot Japan is -- there is ancient Japanese culture, Italian culture, Ballet (which I am not sure where it originated from but I am pretty sure the specific dances I watched had some Middle Eastern influence), Indian (Curry and Rice), etc. it is amazing, especially for a nation that stayed isolated for so long! I would definitely say it is much more of a cultural melting pot (not ethnic because there are not many foreigners here) than US. US is much more of a salad bowl -- there are many many micro cultures but they do not coalesce into one. Or maybe thats just the Bay Area, "Little Asia", point of view :)

For dinner we went to the same udon and tenpura place as last time -- it was delicious. I would have offered to cook but it was really Kate and I would have taken a lot of time. Anyway though I am supposed to cook tomorrow do that's fine. Meanwhile tomorrow Otousan and I are going to the Prefectural Art Museum in the morning, and then off to celebrate Tanabata! Goodnight!

Fri July 6!!!!!!

Today was an amazing day! There is sooooo much to write about!

So, I got up in the morning, ate breakfast, and left for school. When I arrived, there was a sign on the back blackboard saying "Amal, HBD!.". The kids wished me and sang for me, which was very nice. (The English Sensei and Homeroom Sensei also wished me.). Anyway, then we started the day, beginning with English, then Math, Japanese, an English Vocab Test, World History, Cross Culture Understanding, and a long Homeroom. In Math we got the test we had taken earlier back and I got a 40/100 -- they were really silly rushing (I felt there was not enough time) or misunderstanding mistakes. For example, there was a question asking me to add two decimals with dots over certain digits. At first I was confused, and then figured it must be some sort of indication of Significant Figures, so applied those rules to it. Today I realized those dots are the Japanese version of our "Bar", which indicates repeating decimals. But the class average was 30, and it was just really a test to see where we stand, do it didn't count.

Also, for the Vocab Test I got 60/100, again not an amazing score, but better than last time. It was on what they called idioms, but I would really just consider common, confusing expressions, such as "let alone," "take in," "put an end to," "help out," etc.

Anyway, during lunch many of my friends gifted me snacks, which was very very nice! I had a delicious Shekwesa Tea, which was so amazing I want to bring some back if I can find it, and great pudding. I was honestly stuffed. For those of you who thought I would lose weight here, I am pretty sure I am doing the opposite. There is such amazing food (wait until I tell you about tonight's dinner) I am pretty sure I am gaining weight! I wore my convertibles today, which's belt I had adjusted and not touched since CA, and it was right across my waist! I am pretty sure I have put on a few pounds :)

Then, in our Cross Culture Understanding class we made cards to the new ALTs coming for next year -- even though I would not be here I still made a card welcoming them.

Anyway, in the evening, after a long phone call with Amma and Baba and Nani and a VERY long Skype w/ Dadda and Nellie (till 2 in the morning) I went to my old Host Family's house for a small party. It was AMAZING!!! We had an amazing dinner of Curry-Rice, Salad, Sushi filled with Natto which was honestly very good, rolled up Omelets with mircha (Chilly Peppers,) and some delicious vegetable tenpura and fried sweet potato. There were slso amazing fresh fruits: pineapple, watermelon, pear/apple, grapefruits, and various grapes. Then, we had some musical performances -- the Sanshin played by the granddaughter, a Karate performance by the grandson, some songs we all sang together, a piano piece by the son, etc. I also tried the Sanshin, and it seems hard but very interesting. Then we had a cake, which I am pretty sure was homemade and was absolutely delicious, and they gave me presents. All were wonderful, but I truly loved a photo book handmade (like computer-hand-made) by Okaasan logging my trip so far, and with empty pages for the rest. That photo book really meant a lot to me!

Afterwards, we went outside to burst Hanabi, or sparklers/firecrackers. It was really really fun, and while perhaps not as explosive as the ones in India, it was very safe and amazing. We lit a spinning wheel at the end which changed colors! It was truly amazing.

Also Okaasan was very interested in how I crocheted the hotpads so I will show her next week and she will show me how she had made many cool things around the house!

BTW, during our long Homeroom after school we did a mock Tanabata celebration (Tanabata is tomorrow.) We wrote our wishes down on small decorative pieces of paper and tied it to a paper bamboo tree in the class. Oh, and also there is actually school tomorrow for all the other students, but since they are taking exams it is a holiday for me.

Anyway, after that amazing party we came back to my new host-families house and had a small birthday celebration here also. It was truly amazing, and I can honestly say this has been my best birthday ever.

BTW, my old Host Families grandchildren are in love with Amelia Bedilia -- they had to do a bit of research to get the pins but they all loved it!

Also, I realized just how lucky I am! First Bday in Yellowstone, 2nd in New Jersey (right?), fifth in Yosemite (I am sure there was something in between 2 and 5), 15 in Paris, 14 in Pennsylvalia, and 16th in OKINAWA!!!! I don't remember any more at this time of night but I am sure there was more (did I have a Bday in Greece?)

Anyway, I really have to go to sleep, so goodnight! I am absolutely loving it here!!!

Thurs July 5

Today was a great day! At school we had Math, which was fine, Japanese, Biology, and Computer. In the Computer class, the kids started on a group project in which they had to make infomercials, or information packed commercials, in English. (They have one English class, a Language Lab/Computer class, and a Culture Understanding class, all of which they have to use English in.). Anyway then after lunch the rest of the day was spent watching (projected live on the TV of our classroom) the school Speech Competition, and the school's version of MSJ TV, their own high school's TV broadcast. That was quite interesting, though I didn't understand much. Afterwards, on the way home, I stopped at the Hubdred Yen store to look at stuff and got some pretty cool stuff. I also stopped at a clothes store but none of the clothes really stood out to me and they were very expensive (I know they are good quality, but since I didn't exactly like any of them...). Either on Sat or next week I will go to the mall nearby and look for clothes and other cool stuff there.

I learnt how to make Japanese Aloo Tikki's today -- I will make them when I get home!

I also helped Otousan make a Morse Code machine (I helped with the wiring) and it was really very fun and stimulating. I didn't exactly remember my Physics so I just tried stuff out to see how it worked!

I think that is all, goodnight!

Wed July 4th

I actually didn't realize it was the fourth today, but happy Independence Day!

Anyway, today was a pretty normal day. We had English first, then an assembly for the freshmen about their futures, then a math test, which I wasn't intending to take but ended up taking. It was not too bad, though I think I may have misunderstood two questions which I think were asking for a factorization but I completed the square. (I had asked the teacher and to demonstrate he showed me completing the square -- however, as I talked with students after the test I realized that in Japan completing the square and factoring are both the same thing. And I really only partially completed the square because that was all that was possible, so we'll see.). We also had Japanese, two periods of Computer, in which we are learning very simple stuff such as Excel graphs and useless stuff like making a collage in word (useless because all the computers have photoshop and there is so much more to do and it is so much easier in Photoshop.). Then at the end of the day (I realized they have this most days) we had a lecture, today's topic being stress.

Anyway, after school I stopped at the Family Mart outside of school to see what other cool stuff Japan had to offer, and ended up buying a really cool and yummy packaged ice cream. And as I was walking home, licking the Ice Cream, I realized it had been $3, which was outrageous! (We buy 12 Drumsticks for $6, this is one for half the price.). Anyway, then I started thinking about prices and realized that it is, honestly, quite strange here. Taxi's are very cheap compared to American taxis (I have ridden two do far for decent distances and it came to about $10 each time) but busses are very expensive, $5 each way! Whole meals are relatively cheap (I have had a salad and Curry/Rice for $10 and Tenpura and Udon Noodles for about $13) but small snacks are very expensive! It is a strange conundrum how some things can be so expensive in relation to the US while others so inexpensive -- probably related to what is considered important in Japanese culture compared to American culture.

BTW, I just found out that there is no such thing as a public high school in Japan, given the American definition of those words (not sure about elementary and middle schools.). Apparently all high schools have entrance exams and tuition fees, and theoretically you could get a job after middle school (9th grade) if you wanted to. That was quite a shock to me.

Oh and it's funny how the teachers, or at least one teacher, wakes up student -- s/he takes a pencil puts the eraser on its back on the kid's head and turns it back and forth. While I doubt it hurts too much, it is probably uncomfortable enough to get them to wake up, because it works!

Okay I think that is all for now, goodnight!

Tues July 3

Today was a pretty normal day at school. We had two periods of math, two periods of Shodo (calligraphy) one period of Japanese one period of PE and one long home room. I really like the Shodo class (and the Sensei is very nice). Today I drew 永 and 空, the latter which is my favorite kanji, don't even ask why. Anyway, our PE was a free period, so we just played volleyball which seems very popular here (and in a circle rather than across a net.). Anyway, then in our long home room we changed seats, and I realized in Japan moving seats actually means moving your desk. (They are the type of desks we had in elementary school, where there is a compartment below the desk to store stuff. However, I for one think it would be much easier to take the stuff out of the compartment and move rather than move the whole desk...

Anyway then I went to Kumon and I actually legitimately did what the kids do (work with a teacher who assigns and corrects the work.). It was hard but I am learning new Kanji so that is good.

I think that is all, goodnight and happy 4th of July!

Mon July 2nd

Today was an amazing day at the beach! I left the house at 10:00, headed for Naha Kokusai High School where I met my other kumi members (or the ones that lived close by.). We then caught the bus, headed for the beach.

Now, first of all, the water had the most beautiful blue I had ever seen. Like bluer than Rio Celeste. An the water itself was crystal clear. And while it was not as warm as Costa Rica, it was still quite warm. The only bad part? There were jellyfish in the water so we were only allowed to stay in a tiny little buoyed area (and there were lifeguards to enforce that.)

So anyway, I went into the water and at the deep end it was up to my waste, and I thought, "Okay, this is nice, but there is really not much to do here...". I stayed in the water for a bit and then got out. (BTW although I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to see anything, because I could already see the bottom and there were not too many organisms, I still put on my snorkeling gear and snorkelled, because I figured that since I had brought it, I might as well use it! All I could see was a tadpole before the lifeguard tapped me on the shoulder and told me snorkeling was banned -- don't ask me why, because people were in that little area with huge rubber boats that was impeding into everyone else's space, and snorkeling did not at all do anything to anybody...Anyhow, I took of my snorkeling material and went back up, while I did not really get to snorkel, I am fine because at least I used the equipment...)

Anyway, then the tide started increasing, and that was when it truly filled up with water (between 3-5). At first the water at the edge rose to my shoulders, but then it rose to deeper than me! It was really very fun swimming and back stroking and such in that water :)

BTW meanwhile we had eaten lunch (a fabulous Obentou Okaasan had packed,) and I realized that a very inherent Japanese cultural aspect was sharing one's food. If someone has multiple pieces of something and there are people around them, they share! Over the course of the day, I ate a lot of other people's food and shared some of what I bought, and initially I felt like I was taking more than giving, but then realized if there are 30 kids and each has 30 items and gives one to each person, while any individual would have only given once but received 29 times, it would still be equal.

Meanwhile, first of all I am beginning to like Pocari Sweat, it is definitely better than Gatorade and does give you energy...And secondly I had the best frozen food ever today, Ice Fruits アイスの実, which was so amazing you have no idea! It was basically frozen spheres of different fruits/flavors. Think frozen grapes but 10x tastier and various fruits as oppose to just grapes! It was really amazing -- I really want to bring it back but it would melt...

Anyway meanwhile we also played volleyball on the beach and made a sand-castle/wave-barrier. It was really amazingly fun! I am sure I have more to say about the beach but it is really very late and I have to sleep.

So, anyway, after the beach we left for dinner. (BTW the showers at the beach were 100 yen for 3 minutes which I thought was outrageous so I didn't bathe there.). We went to a Curry House for dinner, which did have vegetarian curry so that was good. However, I would like to point of that what the Japanese consider curry is one specific taste of curry (lots of cinnamon and Khara Masala) as oppose to the Indian many flavors. Honestly the menu had all the same curry, just different vegetables/meats in the same curry sauce. Anyway, after dinner was when I truly came to appreciate Amma's weight on knowing how one is getting to and from various places (arranging rides beforehand.). I mean I always knew that was important but today for the first time I experienced the opposite. I mean the plan was to go back by bus, and had everyone stuck to schedule it would have happened, but everyone took their own leisurely time and then we changed the plan to taking a taxi (most people do not actually live close to the school, just me and 4 other guys.) Well, no taxi was coming down the road at that time, 9 at night (and it was pitch black outside.). Then we decided to call a Taxi company. Now that would have probably worked out but luckily a friend's mom offered us all rides, which was VERY nice. But anyway it was pretty frustrating that we did not have concrete plans.

BTW, on another note biking is very common here but no one wears helmets.

This was such an exciting day I am sure there is a LOT more to talk about but it is very late do goodnight! BTW Amma and Baba will be happy to know that after I came back I ironed for the first time in my life (my school uniform and Eisa costume) and it honestly wasn't hard or too tedious! (I already knew how from watching Amma, Baba, Baa, and Nani.). Anyway I think if I did wear formal clothes in the US I wouldn't mind ironing them because honestly crushed clothes look so nasty (and my clothes get extra crushed because they lie in the hamper for 5 months...)

Sun July 1

Today was a very very fun day! After waking up at 9:45, the latest I have slept in yet in Japan, we went to Otousan and Okaasan's church for their Bazaar. (BTW the greeting everyone says to each other while shaking their hands is Shunoheiwa, which literally means "The Lord's Peace."). Anyway the Bazaar was really fun -- I helped by spreading ketchup and mustard on the hot dogs and hamburgers and putting lettuce on the hamburgers (It's funny how I, who have never eaten a hot dog/hamburger, was making them!). I didn't really mind though, especially since it was just like making veggie burgers and I was wearing gloves.

Anyway then I had lunch (from the Bazaar, which was a kind of vegetables con arroz except instead of rice in the middle it was noodles.). It was basically noodles, eggs, seaweed, and cucumbers, and you were supposed to mix it all together and eat it, which was delicious. I made the mistake of getting some mustard on the side (traditional Japanese mustard, not the tame American one) which was so spicy it went straight to my nose! It's funny how fresh Wasabi honestly tastes amazing and is not excessively strong, but packaged Japanese mustard is a killer! I then had a lemon/vanilla yogurt desert (it was vanilla yogurt on top of Lemon jello), Dango, or rice balls with some sauce on then, and a lemon Icee (freshly made.). Then I walked around the various stalls. Everything was VERY reasonably priced and all the used items looked brand new! They were selling very good quality used clothes for only 100 yen (about a dollar) and they had amazing suits in there -- the problem was they were way to small for me... Otherwise I would have bought them! However it brought to mind what Dada said about Japanesr clothes being amazing quality, so next time I go shopping I will see if I can get some clothes.

After the bazaar we went to my host niece's ballet performance. Although it was a long event, all the performances were excellent (she dance in three of the thirteen.). It was funny how one thing that was explicitly told to the ladies at our YFU orientation was that showing the stomach was banned, but most of the ballet costumes all showed the stomach! However, I have noticed that in regular everyday life showing the stomach is not done. And while teenagers do walk around (outside of school) in shorts all other males wear formal pants all the time.

After the ballet we went to an amazing Tenpura and Udon noodle place, where I had vegetarian Tenpura and Udon noodle (the Udon noodles had a steamed (I think?) egg in it and chopped up spring onions and it was really amazing.

I don't know if I posted this yet, but about Bollywood, on my first or second day of class one of my classmates asked me if Indian movies were musicals, and I said, "Yes," and asked her if she had seen any, and she said no but she had seen clips on TV. So yes, while not very influential, Bollywood is still around in Japan!

Oh and before going to the ballet we stopped at the Post Office. And you know how Anericans have to lick their stamps, right? And if you have many letters your mouth eventually dries up (there was an I Love Lucy episode like that.). Well guess what, the Japanese have a solution for that! Wet a sponge with water, and then just tap the stamps on the sponge! Quite ingenious!

And BTW, the road system: no seat belts needed here, drive on the left side, and people tend to enter the intersection when trying to make turns and such even if they cannot necessarily clear it. But nowhere as much chaos as India! (And people tend not to Jaywalk here.). But anyway, 2 things that impressed me: 1) There is an overpass over many major streets built specifically for U-turns! The left most lane climbs up to the overpass, you turn right on it, right again, a d come down onto the other side in the other direction! Very convenient to avoid u-turning chaos on the road! And 2) this may also be around in America, but today Okaasan had to get out of a parking lot straight onto a road (in America the equivalent would be getting out of a driveway onto a road, such as Chiltern) and as oppose to backing out into the road and straightening up in one go, she straightened up to the parallel of the road in the parking lot itself (with a many-point-turn) and then went straight into the road (like going into the road after having pulled over on the side. And that technique was so much safer and less chaotic, given the busy road she had to enter, that it really blew my mind!

And about the Blue Zone: I talked to my Host Sister about it and she said that Okinawa does have the longest lifetime in Japan, but now it is breaking down and people are getting unhealthy. Probably a combination of diet (everything they eat is VERY VERY fresh,) exercise, tea (I have had soo many different varieties you would not believe it,) sea air, etc.

Kk, Good Night! :D