Things to keep you comfy in Japan

I reckon (more British English) when people tell me they are proud of me for moving to another country that they don't know how much I whine about missing things from home. Well...whined! "You never know what you've got till it's gone?"

Things that are a must-have for us NorthAmericaners:
The Flying Pig is not an actual pig that flies around Japan (though I'm sure in some arcade somewhere there is one). It's a great website that is linked to Costco and will deliver those foods we miss from home. I also found I was allergic to ah hem..."personal" items in Japan (not a fun discovery) and alas, after begging a friend to buy the biggest box from Costco- I found they sold what I needed on the website. Those and black beans!!!

An umbrella (they sell them everywhere) and you will need it during rainy season and to block the sun because it DOES get toasty. (Take my advice, I'm from Phoenix, Arizona).

The nearest 100 yen shop. It will do wonders for decorating your apartment, furnishing your apartment and increasing your supply of toilet paper or snacks.

Skype! Calling family back home has never been so free.

Friends. So, that means...studying Japanese. I find that Japanese people are shy, but so am I. However, many are open to practicing English and making you their friend, so smile and sometimes you may have to take the first step. I have improved on my Japanese speaking skills. I cannot have a conversation AT ALL. Imagine talking to a one-year-old and smiling at their gibberish (as they aren't really making any words at all) then clapping because they said: cat! That's my Japanese. It is horrible, but the little teeny tiny bit that I know helps.

The internet. There are many internet cafes around Japan, but being able to get onto Facebook for an update or blogger to escape your mind definitely helps with homesickness.

A ticket home! Feeling homesick is normal, but visiting home can often get expensive, so go home and hug your loved ones. No.1 Travel is a big travel agency in Japan that will help with booking tickets. Sometimes you can make payments on flights.


A toaster oven/oven. One that has a dial on it- with different temperature settings- will help greatly with baking small goods as Japanese apartments generally don't come with real ovens. Oh ovens how I miss thee.

An electric heater in the winter (my best friend) and an open door in the summer; some bug spray (because Japanese bugs are bigger than Japanese people). And an open mind. Have fun, travel, be safe.

A weekend in Beppu

To get away from my city, work stresses and the cold- I went to Beppu for a weekend to relax in an onsen. An Onsen is a natural hotspring in Japan where one may bathe in. So here are the rules in a nutshell:
Get naked. Take a shower (before getting into the hotspring). Relax in the onsen. Beppu is a gorgeous city and it was a simple trip of snacks and laughter, beautiful sights and relaxing.

Here are some photos that I took (Mud hotspring) (The view of the ventillation systems throughout Beppu) (More ventillation):

The top picture was just for show. We went to the actual onsen a little way up the road. It was cool; not my favorite though. My towel still smells like sulfur after washing it.

We also stopped in Yufuin and Hita on the way to Beppu. It was a wonderful, relaxing trip that I plan on taking next month.

Earthquakes...Tsunamis...Japan...Oh My...

Those were the words of an email my friend, Staff Sgt. Koehler sent to me. As usual, I was out of the loop. I find it fairly difficult to watch the news, CNN, or anything of the sort. It stresses me out, gives me anxiety and makes me think far too much. I normally rely on friends and family and instincts to keep me informed. I'm one of "those" who hasn't a clue what's going on in Lybia and found out briefly about the uprising in Egypt from a Facebook post. Being in Japan-with little to no understanding of the Japanese language- has not changed at all.

"Are you okay?" "Are you near the earthquake?" "Call me please!" Were all subject titles to what would later be revealed to me as the biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 100 years (cnn.com).

The closest I came to the earthquake was complaining about my cold, drinking coffee and getting a lecture from my sister about "being informed!" A map of Japan:
Map of Japan

Shows just how far I am from the epicenter (NorthEast Japan versus SouthWest).

I feel blessed to not be anywhere near the turmoil and sickened that so many are suffering. However, despite how horrible things look, I have a sense of peace. Thank God for my faith and for those constantly praying for me!

To not make this post entirely about me. I'm watching as workers struggle to dismantle the debris that was caused. It is a job that seems so much bigger than one could handle. The reporters are wearing helmets...

Some reportings from Cnn.com:

CNN updates

Things that I have found online:

Ways to Donate


Shelter Information for English speakers as well


Ways to Pray



Ways to prepare for another earthquake


Relief efforts started shortly after the quake and of course will continue until...well Japan is relieved. It's amazing as I watch a boat- the size of my apartment building- laying, on its side, in the middle of what used to be a rice field. It's amazing how natural disasters are so...horrible. But, what doesn't amaze me is that it's been spoken about for years:
Mark 13:7-9 ESV / 19


And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.

It also amazes me just how much people will band together in a crisis. That, in itself is the most amazing. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.

Still on Kyushu...

It's been ages since I've written on my lovely little blog. A lot has changed since the last time I've updated; yet much has stayed the same.

I'm still on Kyushu Island, still in the South and still overtaken by Japan everyday.

The changes...

My apartment is about 2.5 times the size of my last one, it's definitely older, but the kitchen is bigger!

I started a different job and will be officially working as a Kindergarten teacher coming this April. I've met loads (and by loads I think 11-12) of new people and have been taken out of my comfort zone on many an occasion.
I suppose I'll start with the job. I'm in a city where, apparently the highest number of Yakusa live. Yakusa (I believe that is the way it should be spelled) are the Japanese mafia. You can recognize them by their richly dressed attitudes, badly died hair (for the most part), tattoos and ridiculously flashy cars. I think, I've heard of one family and have seen one car... Kurume is a city...think Chandler (for you Arizonans) on the outskirts of Fukuoka city; which I still love.

The city itself is big enough for me to not be bored on the weekends and small enough for me to want to travel to Fukuoka for some "big city" life. I really enjoy it and find out new things everyday. One of which: I need to smile more.
I've never been so stressed out, in my life, over a job. But, this stress is good stress. It's wanting to do the best I can and waking up with the motivation to do better than the next day. It's gotten so bad that my Japanese teacher has been telling me for a week to: relax. Quichia sensei: please relax...(relaxing gesture) smile (smiling face) and then she laughs at me. To be more intense than my Japanese teacher should be illegal in Japan. She's an "obachan" as she's been at my school since it opened (around 25 years or more) I believe. She knows what she's doing when it comes to teaching and I look up to her and respect her ideas because I generally don't know what I'm doing.

I teach the 3-4 year old Kindergarten class; which is the second youngest (we also have 2 year olds). And when I'm not begging for their attention, I'm changing my voice for the recital of the ABC's...I'm dancing in front of 24 giggling fetuses (Lydia is that the correct spelling?) and I'm praying they understand the main lesson. I'm also always yelling at one girl whom, had she not been so cute, I'd never recognize her face because she's always turned around talking to her neighbors.
Despite the fact that they climb up me (yes, literally grab onto me and hoist themselves up my legs and onto my torso as a small monkey would), make me want to just lay on the floor and take a nap and give me cigarette cravings (once anyway)...I absolutely adore them. I accidentally picked a bloody booger once...

I also do classes in the afternoons and my favorites are an Adult class and a baby class. The adults are just as adorable as the babies and oh so fun. And they bring me snacks. The baby class...one baby has this smile that would brighten up any room. I finally know why people try so so hard to get babies to smile...it's like God enters the room and you're just peaceful and happy. I adore that class. AND they are sooooooo well behaved. Aw

The new people...
Having co-workers is nice. Having co-workers you get along with is great. So far, I have been welcomed warmly. I've been able to go on dinner dates, intrude for afternoon coffee; have meaningful conversations; Sunday Funday/Sunday relax day...and for the first time in a long time, I don't feel so lonely in Japan. My boss has been nothing but supportive and nice to me. It's really a blessing to have been surrounded by so many nice people. I even enjoy karaoke now (especially with whistles!).

I hate snow. It snowed in Kyushu...yes, it's pretty to look at...but to be in? To live in? To freeze in? Um...no thanks.

Japanese boys have become more appealing to me...

Valentine's day= Chcolate= um...yes, please! I eat chocolate now?!

The things that are still the same...

I'm still homesick. I miss my friends, my family, my American sushi and Jack 'N the Box. It's gotten so bad, that I've had a dream that one of the teachers told me there was a Jack in the middle of town... I'll see/eat all of them/that soon enough though. Golden week :)

I'm still running. Spring is blowing us kisses from afar and the weather has been rather lovely (British English 101). My bike has been dusted off and my running shoes still fit properly. Bring it on Spring...I want to explore my city. My friend just told me that there is a running path on the mountain that my apartment faces and there is a potential waterfall...sugoi!!!
I plan on playing there very soon and probably frequently.

Cooking...I've cooked. Thanksgiving dinner was great; even the pepper cake :)
We've had a couple of dinners here and there and I still love cooking. I still want to be a chef when I'm older (forse an obachan).

I'm still teaching.

I'm still in love with my Italian Stallion and my nephew is still amazing.

Here're some pics:

Karaoke night in Kurume :) (outfit compliments of Fukuoka City Zara)

My school: first "snow day" I've ever had...

My sensei playing :)

How could you not fall in love with chocolate when it looks so cute?

I got to visit my beau for Christmas and was able to bring Japan and...China to the table :)