HOME - Month 8 in Review & Reflections

Month eight's review will be a little different from other "Month in Review" posts as most of August was spent back home in the United States. Toyota grants us a two-week home leave each year - and we decided to schedule our leave just before the week-long Japanese holiday of Obon. So, that gave us just about three weeks in the United States. Three weeks may sound like a long time - but I can tell you that it FLEW by and we didn't even manage to see all of the people we had hoped to!

I was curious to see what - if anything - felt different when we returned home. In March, most things felt normal - but I had only been gone about eight weeks at the time. And there's a big difference between eight weeks and eight months. 

I thought I would write a little bit about what our home leave entailed and then reflect a bit on my observations. 

So, here's Month Eight! 

The Happenings of our Home Visit

San Antonio, Texas

The first few days of home leave were spent in San Antonio, Texas visiting Kaz's mom and Bill. They moved to San Antonio about two months ago for Bill's job - and are in the process of closing on a house. We spent some time exploring the city and even visited Mission San Jose and the Alamo. We also enjoyed our fill of Mexican food - as that's one cuisine they don't really have in Japan. And I miss it! 

Kaz stayed in San Antonio and I began my journey to Camp Shout Out!! I flew to Cleveland - spent the day with my friend, Scott, and his family...which included meeting little Karis, a trip to the fair, a drive-in movie, and pizza! Another food I have missed! The next morning, we began our drive to camp.Camp Shout Out

Camp Shout Out is a camp for individuals who stutter and is held in Muskegon, Michigan for a week every August. This was actually my sixth summer at Camp Shout Out and it was as amazing and magical as always! I always have such a hard time describing camp to those who haven't been there - because it is so much something you just feel and experience!

Cincinnati/NKY

After camp, Kaz and I headed to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky for a few days. On our drive back, our rental car's engine gave out about thirty minutes south of Bowling Green and we spent some time sitting on the side of the road waiting for Hertz to come. To make a super long story short, we ended up riding in a tow truck to the Dayton airport, picking up a new rental car there, and then driving the rest of the way to Cincinnati. Miraculously - this whole ordeal only added two hours on to our trip.  

Once we arrived in Cincinnati, we filled our days with doctor's appointments (hopefully lessening the need to see a doctor while in Japan), errands (to fill the empty suitcase we had brought home with us), and of course time with friends (wish the visits had been longer)! 

Michigan 

The last part of our trip was spent in Michigan visiting my family. And, pulling off a very successful surprise retirement party for my dad...who despite our suspicions had NO idea about the party! 

Reflections

-I can communicate! It was definitely nice to be back in a place in which I could communicate (and read) without thinking twice about it. I will say that when the TSA agent spoke to me in English at the Detroit airport - I gave her a blank stare for about 30 seconds before I realized that I could answer her back in English...and didn't need to take a ton of time to formulate my response. Other than this experience, and a few moments throughout the trip when I was reminded of how nice small talk can be during quick interactions with strangers, it felt natural to speak English again and I didn't really give it much thought. I will say, though, that there were some moments in which I had the urge to say "excuse me," "please," or "sorry" in Japanese. 

-Chores take less time (but things are a bit harder to get to). I have to say that I really did enjoy my washer and dryer when I was home. I couldn't believe how quickly I could get laundry done. I also enjoyed knowing what cleaning supplies to use for what - and also where to go when I needed to buy things. Aside from the washer and dryer, things were made easier just because I knew where to go. And, I recognize that this comes only with living in a place for long enough to establish your routine. I am sure that by the end of my time in Japan, I will have my places there too. Truthfully, I am already starting to. I did miss being able to walk to my errands like in Japan. In MI, OH, and KY...I had to drive everywhere!

-Two ends of the spectrum. One thing that I come to expect in Japan is consistency. No matter the store you go to - you are greeted in a similar way; the servers at various restaurants follow the same scripts; and, you know that the product or service you are going to get will be good. Japan's culture really centers around consistently doing things well. Hotels are clean (even if they are old and look quite run down); food is good (even at a 'fast-food' restaurant); and people are respectful (even if they may not be the most friendly). Sure, there are some differences - some amazing restaurants, some super friendly people - for sure...but you begin to expect 'at least' a certain level of service. 

When I was home, I realized that America seemed to fall more toward the two ends of the spectrum. People were either really friendly or really rude; food was either really awesome or really not. And, when we were calling to try and get a rental car - one person told Kaz there was no way he could help and when we called back another person told us that they could help for sure. Neither is good or bad...just a difference I've noticed...and one that doesn't surprise me, I guess, when I think about individualistic nature of America and the collective nature of Japan. Each with their own pros and cons. 

-Home. For me, our visit back to the US was filled with so many moments in which I just felt home. Yes, there were definitely moments in which I thought to myself - Things are different. I am different. My family and friends are different. I have missed so much. We met three new babies in this trip home! But, there were more moments in which I just felt home. Visiting family and friends reminded me of how nice it is to be around my people - and just how normal things can be even though you haven't been around someone in a long time. Being at camp - surrounded me with an intense feeling of home as well. At camp, I was reunited with many close friends and in a place that I have come to know well. And, being back in my professional element reminded me of my passion for working with people who stutter.

It's funny because people asked me - What do you HAVE to do when back in America? What are the things you are looking forward to doing, eating, etc.? I really thought that I would have those lists - those things I had to do when I returned home...and I was surprised to say that I really didn't. Sure, pizza and Mexican food were delicious AND I could have done without them. For me, all that I wanted when it came to being home was to spend time with those people who make me feel home. 

Of course, I have many more reflections - but these were the major ones! I'm sure I'll have more on future visits home too. Now that I am back in Japan, I have been thinking more about my time at home - and also thinking more about the ways I want to continue to challenge myself and grow while in Japan. Refreshing my growth mindset, I suppose. 

I thought it would be fitting to close this post with the following quote - since it seems to so perfectly sum up our experiences at home.

“Home is people. Not a place. If you go back there after the people are gone, then all you can see is what is not there any more.” - Robin Hobb, Fool's Fate

Sun, clouds, and lots of love!

~Jaime 

Climbing Mt. Fuji (富士山）

One of the activities on the top of our "To Do" list while in Japan was climbing Mt. Fuji (better known as Fuji-san in Japan). The climbing season for Mt. Fuji is actually quite short and usually spans from the first week of July until the first week of September. The goal for most climbers, other than reaching the summit, is to enjoy the sunrise from atop the mountain. 

Initially, Kaz and I had considered saving our Fuji hike until next year - since our July was full of visitors and August was spent in the US. However, we've come to realize that Fuji-san can be a bit temperamental when it comes to weather...so just in case the weather didn't love us on this trip - we decided to give ourselves next year to catch the sunrise if this year didn't work out. Spoiler alert...we almost had to schedule attempt #2...however, in the end, we lucked out! ;)

Mt. Fuji is Japan's tallest mountain - at 3,776 meters (12,389 feet for those of us who don't use metrics). Fuji is known for its almost perfect shape and is considered one of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains." In 2013, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's estimated that close to 400,000 people climb Fuji-san every year! Mt. Fuji is actually an active volcano. The last time it erupted was in 1708 - and if you talk to anyone in Japan - they will tell you that it's long overdue for an eruption (which is terrifying given that Tokyo is really, really close to Fuji). 

The buses had "pull-down" middle seats!

Our journey to Mt. Fuji began on Friday evening. After Kaz got off work, we drove about three hours to the "Fuji Area" and stayed at a small hotel about 45 minutes from the mountain. Because the busiest part of climbing season was deemed over as of August 31st, we were told that we would be able to drive to the 5th station of the mountain (where we would begin our climb). On Saturday morning, we began our drive to the 5th station. Upon reaching the entrance to the mountain road - we were told that it was at least a five-hour wait to get a parking spot. So, we abandoned that plan and took the bus up to the 5th station.  

As we drove, the clouds became thicker and visibility was rather low once we arrived. The 5th Station was like a little mountain village - it had some stores (to stock up on last-minute supplies); some restaurants (of course, it IS Japan); and even a sacred shrine (which we visited to ask for a safe journey up the mountain). Spending some time at the 5th station also gave our bodies a bit of time to acclimate to the altitude before beginning the climb. I also purchased my "hiking stick," which became one of our motivators as we climbed - along the hike, you could stop and get various stamps on your hiking stick...which makes for an awesome souvenir! 

Our "tickets" to climb! 

Clouds!

As we hiked from the 5th to the 7th station, the sky turned bright blue and we were able to watch the fluffy white clouds pass around us at all angles. I couldn't believe how fast the clouds were moving! The toughest part about this aspect of the hike was allowing my body to adjust to the altitude. I found myself out of breath easily - but as we hiked - my heart rate slowed and I was able to breathe much easier. Phew! There was a clear path to follow - with a steady flow of people. Although I knew Mt. Fuji was a volcano - I don't think I was expecting the trail to be as rocky as it was! And, I had also forgotten about switchbacks. Those little trails that zig-zag up a mountain to lessen the steepness as you hike. They are super misleading too! So much of the climb - you could see your next destination...and it looks oh SO much closer than it actually is!

See those "switchbacks" on the left side?!

From the 7th to the 8th station (8.5th, really) - the trail became extremely rocky. I could barely take in the beauty surrounding me because I had to spend so much time focusing on determining exactly where I was going to put my foot! I ended up using my hands - almost as though I was climbing on all fours - so that I wouldn't fall. I hadn't even considered that hiking with a backpack could throw your center of gravity off quite as much as it did! 

Getting a stamp!

We reached our "hut" for the night - at about the 8.5th station - after close to four hours of hiking (with food, water, and stamp breaks - of course). When researching our climb, we read over and over that climbing Mt. Fuji all in one day was not recommended. Most sites suggested that hikers stay in a hut around the 8th station and wake up early to hike the rest of the way to the summit for sunrise. We decided this was our best option - plus, I've never stayed in a hiker's hut before - so I was quite interested in the experience. 

The hut was just that....a hut. It had a main room - in which they served you dinner in shifts (curry rice - woo, woo!). There was a back room that had two sides divided by a narrow walkway. Each side had an upper and lower level (think bunk beds) that was filled with sleeping bags (placed so close together that rolling over or wiggling while sleeping was COMPLETELY out of the question). Luckily, we arrived early enough that we were given a corner spot - so I "rested" between Kaz and the wall - and he "rested" between me and some random stranger. The bathrooms were outside (and actually way better that I imagined - think park bathroom) and were 200 yen to use. You had to pay to use all bathrooms on the mountain since there is no running water and all water is brought up by truck. BUT - there were western toilets - so I was able to avoid the squatty!! WOO! 

We had the "5pm dinner slot" so after we ate - we nestled into our sleeping bags. The hut was super noisy (as other were still eating - and then chatting with each other) - so it was difficult to sleep. Plus, it was hours before we usually went to sleep. However, we both knew that the "1am wake up time" would come early...so we did our best to snooze. At 1am, we were woken up by a long announcement in Japanese (thank goodness Kaz could understand). Basically, they were telling us that it was raining and they felt it was too dangerous to attempt the summit. They told people to climb at their own risk - but the clear recommendation was to wait a few hours to see if the weather would break. There were a few groans - and then most people went back to sleep. My heart sunk, for sure. We had already come so far...and the thought of having to turn back and then attempt again next year...was VERY disappointing. Kaz was much calmer than me (as usual) and suggested we just wait it out. As he snoozed - I tried to make friends with Mother Nature. 

Here we go!

Around 3:30am - the weather lightened up and the radar showed a few-hour break in the weather...so we decided to take our chance (along with almost everyone else in our hut). We knew we wouldn't make it to the summit for sunrise; however, we had chosen to hike the trail that promises you can see the sunrise from anywhere on it as long as the weather cooperates. There are actually four trails to the summit of Mt. Fuji - but the one that we chose is the most popular - probably because it has huts, food stands, and toilets)! As we climbed - we could see that most of the clouds were below us...so we knew that if the weather stayed the same - sunrise was a strong possibility! Climbing in the dark was definitely an interesting experience. We had our headlamps - which definitely helped - and as you looked above and below you - you could see the lights of other climbers twinkling in the night. 

The sunrise is coming!

At about 5:15am, we found a little spot to stop and watch the sunrise. We probably could have hiked a bit higher - as my judgment of when the sun will actually rise - or set - based on the sky is usually at least 30 minutes off! On our honeymoon, we "watched" the sun set for close to two hours! There are really no words that can describe the beauty of watching the sunrise from what felt like the top of the world...so I'll let the pictures (and video) paint the picture for you. 

After the sunrise, we continued our climb to the summit. I couldn't believe how many people were on their way to the summit at the same time. We were actually in line climbing to the top...at times we were even standing still...which is something I hadn't imagined. As we climbed, the clouds blew in surrounding us in mist. Not even 10 minutes after we had enjoyed the sunrise - we were SO lucky!! 

The "LINE"

The top of Mt. Fuji was crazy - I couldn't believe that there was a little village up there. Some bathrooms, restaurants, souvenir shops, and even a post office (though we were never able to find it). As we reached the top - I was overwhelmed with emotion...pride (and relief) that we had reached the summit, appreciation for the fact that the weather had held off, and awe of the beauty that was surrounding me.

We spent about a hour on the top of the mountain - enjoying some hot instant noodles and peering into the crater of the volcano. The crater is huge...and as you peer into it...you are reminded that you an on a volcano and not just a mountain. Then, we began our descent down the mountain.

Other hikers had warned us that the hike down is often more difficult than the hike up - and I would have to agree. Your legs are tired, you have already "achieved" your goal, and you are walking steeply downhill for hours. Since the paths are rocky, you have to focus on where you are stepping while at the same time tightening your legs muscles enough to make sure you don't pick up speed and fall (think about a snowball picking up speed as it rolls down a mountain). Throughout our hike down, the weather continued to hold off...and the rain didn't start until we were about thirty minutes from the "finish line" (aka - the 5th station). By then, we were so tired and sweaty that we didn't even feel the rain! The first thing we did once we returned to the 5th station was enjoy a well-deserved ice cream cone...and then catch the bus back to our car (man, was the bus smelly - full of wet hikers who hadn't showered in 48 hours)

Climbing Mt. Fuji was definitely an adventure - and writing this post has made me smile, laugh, and grimace as I flashback to the moments. If you ever have a chance to climb Fuji-san, I would definitely recommend it - as it is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity (as neither Kaz or I really have the desire to climb it again!) 

Sunny Moments: Weather that held off; reaching the summit; BEAUTY!
Cloudy Moments: Rain; the bathroom smell that filled the hut during the night; sore knees on the descent. 

Month 7 in Review - Visitors!

Month 7 consisted of visitors! :) We had two groups of friends visit us in Japan. Katie and Kelly arrived on July 1st and stayed for nine days. Then three days later, Katie and Tim visited us for twelve days! Kaz and I loved having our friends in Japan! It was neat to have a bit of "home" with us here in Japan - and to be able to show our friends what our life in Japan is like. 

Kaz was able to take some time off; however, during the week, I was able to play the tour guide role - one that I don't get to play that often! I'm happy to say that most things ran smoothly and we all had a blast! All of our visitors were troopers - as we walked nearly 20,000 steps per day in an effort to show them as much of Japan as we could! 

This month's review will be a bit different. Instead of listing all of the places we visited with our guests, I created two videos - one for each trip - that showcased some of the highlights! Click on the link and ENJOY!! :)

Places Visited

*Katie and Kelly's Visit

Watch the Video :)

*Tim and Katie's Visit
Watch the Video :)

Cafes Enjoyed
-Drip Mania (Tokyo)
-Elks...again :) (Nagoya)
-Steamer Coffee Company (Tokyo)
-Asan Coffee (Tokyo)
-Light Cafe (Nagoya)

Kit Kat Flavors Tasted
Orange Cocktail Noir (Special)
Shekwasha (Special)
Kumamoto Green Tea
Wa-Ichigo
Hokkaido Melon with Mascarpone Cheese

Victories

-In my eyes, both visits went quite successfully! I was rather surprised that there were no major hiccups and I have to say I feel proud that I was able to navigate much of the trips on my own! 

-Like I mentioned in my previous blog post - I had several "communication victories" this month. I definitely put myself our there more, which is something I list as a "goal" every month. 

-After our visitors returned to the US, Kaz also returned to the US on a business trip. That meant that I was alone in Japan for a whole week. It doesn't seem like a big deal; however, I was a bit nervous. Aside from being a little lonely, I enjoyed some time recouping and also getting ready for our three-week trip home to the US. 

Goals

-We will be in the US for most of August, so I hoping to study at least a bit of Japanese while I'm gone...that way I am not totally lost when we return.

-Enjoy being "home" next month! 

Sunny Moments

-Friends in Japan! :)

-Being complimented on my Japanese language skills! 

-Getting interviewed by THREE different groups of students. 

Cloudy Moments

-Heat and humidity like I have never experienced!

-Only running about four times total this month...due to the weather and schedule. I am definitely looking forward to cooler weather so I can get back into running. I am even contemplating signing up for a full marathon next year. 

Sun, clouds, and lots of love!

~Jaime

The Language Journey Continues: High Highs and Low Lows

Over the past month, I've had a few of what I would consider "communication victories." I am quickly realizing that surviving in Japan involves communication as a whole - not just spoken or written language. I am pretty sure - the "deer in headlights" look that I flash on a daily basis says more than I could ever say in words! 

The victories involved successfully - with actually fewer hiccups than I mentally prepared myself for - helping two sets of visitors to see and experience Japan. Since Kaz was at work during the week, the responsibility was mostly mine! This experience helped me to realize several things about my language journey in Japan.  

1. An understanding of HOW things work can go a long way. 

Sometimes I feel as though I am not "progressing" as much as I thought I would be or as much as I want to be when it comes to speaking/understanding the Japanese language (especially after close to seven months). The thing is - I am not sure what "where I though I would be" actually looks like. 

Our visitors helped me in many ways to recognize that while I may not be able to say or understand as much as I would like in Japanese - that doesn't mean that I am not learning how to live in Japan. I realized that things like navigating the subway, knowing where to buy tickets, understanding the restaurant routine, etc. actually help to make traveling in Japan much easier. And, if I take a step back - I can definitely acknowledge that these are things I wasn't able to do seven months ago. 

2. When others are depending on you, you may do things that you didn't originally think possible. 

A reoccurring goal for myself each month is to put myself out there more language-wise...to just make attempts to talk even though I may be terrified or the situation may not go as I had hoped. I have to say - this is really hard for me! I have lost count of the times I have avoided going into a cafe or asking a question at the store because I am not totally sure what to say...and I am not feeling brave enough to just try. 

However, when our guests were here, I found myself just "going for it" - and most of the time without giving the fact that I had to talk much thought. I ordered our tickets, I ordered our meals, and I even hailed a cab. Sure, most of the time, I stumbled through my message. I would say as many words as I could in Japanese and then fill the rest in with a type of telegraphic English. In the case of restaurants, I was also usually able to point (thank you Japan for your picture menus)...and in the cab, I usually had GoogleMaps pulled up just in case. Most of the time my message was understood - and the other person responded with a similar mixture of Japanese and English. 

On a few occasions, people were a bit ruder than I had hoped; however, kindness has way outweighed rudeness thus far in my experiences. One of the best moments was at a restaurant in Hiroshima. The restaurant was run by two ladies who seemed happy that we were enjoying the food they were making us. I was familiar with the food and able to order in mostly Japanese. As we were leaving, I told one of the cooks that the meal was very delicious (totemo oishii katta desu). She smiled and replied by telling me that my Japanese was very good. We then went on to have a mini-conversation (my first with a person that I don't really know - or without Kaz around). I told her that I was living in Japan and taking Japanese lessons. I managed to tell her that we were here for Kaz's job...I forgot the word for husband so I just pointed to my wedding ring and then said Toyota. She seemed to understand. She asked where we were from - and when I said America, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a keychain that said "Seattle." She told us that she had lived (or visited - not quite sure) there when she was little. She even wanted to know which states we were from. At that point, I had totally exhausted my Japanese skills - so we just smiled and bowed to each other. I left the restaurant smiling wider and walking taller than I had in a while. 

3. Struggling with language makes you more aware of other's struggles with language!

Before coming to Japan, many people told me that I would frequently be stopped and asked to help others practice their English. In my first six months in Japan, this had never happened to me. However, I was stopped three times in the time that our guests were here! Perhaps a group of foreigners traveling through busy train stations stand out more than just one foreigner walking around Nagoya. 

On two of the occasions, a group of high school students asked us survey questions. After answering them, we had to comment on their English skills. This exercise actually reminded me of surveys that I've had my clients do in the past - whether to work on building speaking confidence or to practice a specific target. Even though I've been able to empathize with the emotions my clients experience before and after these types of exercises in the past...my current language journey has taken my understanding to a whole other level. Even though I know that surveying people to practice my Japanese skills would be a wonderful idea - just the thought of it makes my heart rate instantly increase! 

I commented before on the fact that my language journey seems to mirror my work as a speech-language pathologist...and the similarities continue to arise.  Last week during one of my lessons, sensei asked me to repeat a sentence that she had said. I realized that this task was almost impossible for me. I was able to repeat the first two words - and then I had to have her repeat the sentence at least four more times before I was able to imitate it. I now see just how hard of a task this is when the language is so new and different to you. (To my fellow SLPs out there - I promise there will be a blog post with all of these similarities and realizations in one!) 

Fast forward a week from the victorious lunch conversation, and I am heading through customs at the airport (for our home visit back to the US). I hand the man my passport - and he asks me something in Japanese. I have absolutely no idea what he said - and in that moment - totally resort back to a "freeze" response. Instead of asking him to repeat what he said, or to say it again slowly...I just stared at him - unable to say anything. Luckily I was at the airport - and he then asked in English - When will you be returning to Japan? I answered him and the situation was over - but as I walked away...I realized...I know all of those words...I could have asked someone that same question...and yet, when he spoke to me - I didn't catch any of it. It was like he speaking a foreign language - oh wait, he was! 

It's in moments like this one that I realize even more how improvements in one area of language (like increasing my expressive vocabulary) - do not necessarily directly or immediately carryover to other areas - like understanding what someone says to me, speaking in sentences, having a conversation, reading signs at the grocery store, watching the news on TV to determine the weather, making friends....etc.

Phew...learning a new language is complicated and such a HUGE task...seems even more amazing and fascinating to me now that most of us develop language without really "working on it."


And so the journey continues...