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...

Travel Entry - Miyajima and Hiroshima

Over the past month, we've had two groups of visitors from the US! Katie and Kelly visited us for nine days at the beginning of July and Katie and Tim visited us for twelve days after that! With both groups, we took a day-trip to Hiroshima and the neighboring island of Miyajima. Even though is was technically rainy season - we lucked out with beautifully sunny (yet scorching) days.

The day started with a 2.5-hour Shinkansen ride to Hiroshima, followed by a 35-minute local train and 10-minute ferry ride to Miyajima. After exploring Miyajima, we enjoyed Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (made with noodles) for lunch before spending some time in Hiroshima. We arrived back in Nagoya just before 10pm.

Here's a bit more about both places...

Miyajima

Miyajima Island is about 20km from central Hiroshima and has been named one of the three most scenic spots in all of Japan. Miyajima is most famous for the great Torii - which acts as a boundary between the spirit and the human worlds. The first torii was built in 1168 and it has been rebuilt eight times - 1875 being the most recent rebuild. Interestingly, the torii is not buried deep in the sand - it is actually supported by its own weight. The box-shaped upper portion is also filled with about seven tons of stones the size of a human fist. The torii is painted such a bright color because bright colors were (and still are) believed to keep the evil spirits away. 

Visitors can view the Torii by simply walking around the island - or get even more up close and stunning views from within the Itsukushima Shrine. There is documentation about the shrine's existence dating back to 593. Apparently, before the shrine was built many people worshiped the island itself as a goddess. Like many places in Japan, Itsukushima Shrine was destroyed many times - by fire, weather, etc. - and changes were made to its design each time. The Shrine standing today was built in 1571, named a Natural Treasure in 1952, and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. 

One of the neatest things about the Great Torii and Itsukushima Shrine is that they look different depending on the height of the tide. The first time I visited, it was high tide and both the torii and the shrine looked as though they were floating in the water. The second time I visited, it was between high and low tide. The shrine did not have any water under it - and the torii was submerged in much shallower water. We were able to walk about half way out to the gate. Hopefully next time, we'll go at low tide - so that I can take a picture standing under the gate...and then decide at which stage of tide I like the torii and shrine best! 

High Tide

Between high tide and low tide

Miyajima Island also many shops that make and sell momiji manju (small cakes in the shape of a maple leaf and filled with sweet bean paste, custard or chocolate). I had never seen or tried this treat before - but enjoyed it quite a bit! I think my favorite flavors were chocolate and peach because neither of them had the consistency of bean paste! ;)

After exploring Miyajima, it was time for lunch. Hiroshima is famous for their version of okonomiyaki (the cabbage pancake I blogged about earlier). Hiroshima's okonomiyaki is different because it contains either udon or soba noodles in addition to the cabbage and other ingredients. As I was researching the best places to eat okonomiyaki, I came across Okonomi-mura. Okonomi-mura is actually a collection of little stalls (each a different restaurant) where you can eat okonomiyaki (and they will cook it right in front of you). There were probably about 10-15 stalls on three different floors of the building. Not knowing which was better than the other - I randomly picked a place that had the most people each time we visited - and we were not disappointed. I think the "safety" of Japan's food is rubbing off on me because I am not sure I would have even entered a place like this in the US. The building is quite old and run down - but as always - the stalls were spotless and the food was delicious! 

All of our visitors preferred Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, Kaz prefers Osaka-style, and I love both!

Hiroshima

Most of our time in Hiroshima was spent wandering through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The park contains many memorials, monuments, and museums for visitors to view. First we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (currently only half of it is open due to construction) and then we walked around some of the highlighted monuments and memorials.

I have to say that I was initially nervous about visiting the museum - I guess it was the fact that America bombed Japan and I am an American in Japan. I mean, I know I didn't play a role in the bombing...and I know that Japan did bad things to the US in the past...but there was just an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. I was also expecting to come away from the museum and city with an overwhelming feeling of sadness. And, while, I definitely felt a lot of grief and sadness - I was overcome by the message of peace and hope. Actually, when reflecting on the visit, all of our visitors agreed that the message they took from Hiroshima was one of hope as well. 

I was also surprised by the size of Hiroshima. I thought that it would be rather small - but it's a pretty big and bustling city. It is absolutely amazing to me that this city was completely destroyed in 1945 and by 1958 - it's population exceeded post-war numbers. And, now it's the 11th biggest city in Japan. That definitely says a lot about the resilience of the people in Hiroshima. And, the people there were also some of the friendliest I've encountered thus far in Japan. 

Overall, I found the museum to be very neutral. The exhibits definitely tugged at your heartstrings and made you feel sick - but they seemed to state statistics and facts and then allow viewers to formulate their own opinions and ideas. By looking at the brochure, I noticed that many of the exhibits under construction were ones that seemed to interpret the situation more - so I'm curious to see if those exhibits feel as neutral as these did. Either way, I definitely plan to visit Pearl Harbor (hopefully in the near future) - as I truly believe there is tremendous power in understanding all sides of any situation. 

The Memorial Cenotaph and Peace Flame

Children's Peace Monument

There were stalls full of thousands of paper cranes made by children all over the world. We even read that there is a registry that keeps track of everyone who donates cranes to the exhibit. 

Cenotaph for Korean Victims

It is believed that over 45,000 of the victims were Korean. The inscription states that "souls of the dead ride to heaven on the backs of turtles." 

Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound

Contains the ashes of the 70,000 unidentified victims of the bombing. 

President Obama's Peace Cranes

President Obama visited Hiroshima in May. He was the first US president to visit while actively serving as president. There was small exhibit at the museum about his visit - which was viewed very positively by the people of Hiroshima (and Japan).

The A-Bomb Dome

The bomb hit just a few meters from this building (actually in the exact spot where the museum stands today) and this is what was left of it. Apparently, there was some debate over whether to keep the building up or to knock it down. Some people felt it would be a constant reminder of pain and suffering while others believed it would be a sign of hope.

I would say that the trip is doable in a day - but I definitely want to make a weekend trip out of it - and spend even more time at Miyajima! I read that you can hike Mt. Misen and see primitive plants in their natural setting. Plus, you can make your own momiji manju! I think Miyajima may now be in the running for my favorite place in Japan thus far! And, I am hoping that the other half of the Peace Museum opens before we leave - so that I can visit that as well! 

Sunny Moments: Beauty; exploring new places in Japan with friends; yummy food; super friendly people; messages of hope

Cloudy Moments: Sad reminders of what war can do

Month 6 in Review

This blog post is a few weeks late as we've had two groups of visitors over the past three weeks! More about that in future blog posts - as we spent a lot of time exploring new parts of Japan and enjoying getting to show our guests what life in Japan has been like for us!

On July 4th, we celebrated not only America's birthday - with the most American meal we could conjure up in Japan - randomly finding Johnsville brats definitely helped - but also the quarter completion of our stay here in Japan! It's rather wild that six months have passed already! 

In mid-June, Kaz's coworkers invited us over for a gyoza making party...so I thought that gyoza would be a good food to feature in this blog post. I have to say that gyoza is one of my favorite Japanese foods...and was one that I loved even before coming to Japan (You can find them in many international grocery stories in the US). I would say that gyoza closely resembles a mix between a dumpling and a potsticker. 

Gyoza actually originated in China (where they are called jiaozi) and are typically filled with ground pork, chives, green onions, cabbage, ginger, and garlic. Then, they are dipped in a sauce which is a combination of soy sauce, vinegar, and a few drops of sesame oil. Gyoza can be steamed or panfried. I tend to like a combination of both - you panfry them to get them nice and crispy and then steam them at the end to get them nice and hot. YUM! :)

And without further ado - here's month six! 

Places Visited (and Activities)

-Belgian Beer Festival (Osaka): As I was researching some fun things to do in Japan, I stumbled across a Belgian Beer Festival that was taking place in cities all over Japan. So, along with our friends, the Bauer's, we headed to Osaka to enjoy the festival. We had a lot of fun trying new kinds of beer, yummy snacks, and even enjoyed listening to a band from Belgium. I am quickly realizing that Japan goes all out with their festivals - making them as real and authentic as possible! 

-Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum (Osaka): Yep, you are reading that correctly! Japan has a museum dedicated to instant ramen noodles (and the person who invented them). The museum is actually really neat and quite informative. I never realized - or gave thought - to the fact that the invention of instant ramen noodles helped to feed so many people after the war. At the museum, you get to make your own instant ramen noodle cup to take home with you...and you can also enjoy a nice lunch of ramen noodles too. They have vending machines FULL of ramen noodles from all over Japan! YUM!! 

-INAX Tile Museum: I joined a few other expats and explored the INAX Tile Museum in Tokoname. Tokoname is about a 30 minute train ride from Nagoya Station. The museum has many exhibits featuring tile replicas from all over the world. There is also a studio where guests can make their own tile designs. I made one of Mt. Fuji! 

-Hiking the Magome to Tsumago Trail: Kaz and I spent an afternoon hiking a portion of the old Nakasendo (the road that connected Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo period - 1603 to 1868). We started in the post town of Magome, which was really beautiful. The roads were cobbled and lined with shops and restaurants. Along the way, a man waved us into his house (or maybe garage) - which he had set up as resting spot for hikers. We enjoyed some tea and met a group from Scotland. We enjoyed lunch in Tsumago, which had a slightly more rustic feel. Both towns really gave you the feeling that you were stepping back in time! Along the way, we passed many bells meant for hikers to ring in order to keep bears away - thankfully we didn't see any! It might have been because I was sure to ring every bell! 

-Nagoya Aquarium: Kaz and I spent an afternoon at the Nagoya Aquarium. I really enjoyed the whale, beluga, and dolphin shows. They felt a bit more like Sea World to me than what you usually see at the aquarium. The dolphins even bowed to thank the audience for coming! I also learned some Japanese names for the marine life (whale: シャチshyachi; dolphin: いるか iruka). Most of the exhibits did not have English translations (which is typical) - so I was glad that aquariums are not a new thing for me.

-Rugby Game: Kaz and I attended our first rugby match ever. We headed up to Toyota City to watch Japan play Scotland. Neither of us have ever watched rugby - so we spent the train ride trying to get a basic understanding of the rules. Overall, we enjoyed the game - I was shocked that more padding wasn't worn by the players...and I found it to be more entertaining than American football!

-Kirin Brewery Tour: Since my 30th birthday fell on a rather rainy weekend - we enjoyed some fun activities around Nagoya. We toured the Kirin Beer Brewery (which is about a 25-minute train ride from Nagoya Station). The beer tour was free and featured a 25-minute period at the end where you could drink and sample as many beers as you wanted. I have noticed in Japan that they rarely - if ever - check IDs. Instead you have to verbally state that you are over 20 years old and you have to tell them how you arrived at your location and how you will be getting home. If you are driving a vehicle of any kind, you are not allowed to drink. The have a 0.00% rule here. 

Cafes Enjoyed

Ants (Osaka)

Tully's Cofee (we had to go to the cafe with the same name as our cat!)

Elks Cafe

Trunk Coffee

Kit Kat Flavors Tasted

None this month...I am having a really hard time finding new flavors. I am starting to hypothesize that perhaps no one eats Kit Kats in the summer months?!

Victories

-June marked the end of the Nagoya International School school year. I have really enjoyed the past four months at the school and have learned a lot! I am excited to start a new school year in August - and to have the entire year to learn and grow even more. 

-I got my first haircut in Japan. The salon was recommended to us because the owner worked in New York City for several years and has great English. Kaz also goes to this salon - so he was able to let them know that his wife speaks very little Japanese. I was happy with the way my hair turned out - and I LOVED the head massage! 

-So far rainy season has been very...dry! Which is apparently quite atypical. For the most part, I haven't had to battle mold or too many bugs just yet. We still have a few weeks - but hoping this dry spell continues for our visitors! 

-Kaz passed his driver's test and now has an actual International Driver's license! This whole process has solidified to me even more that I am just fine not driving while in Japan. 

Goals

-Next month, we have two sets of visitors arriving in Japan. Since Kaz will be at work most of the time - I am going to be doing a majority of the speaking and navigating on my own. I hope I am up for the challenge - and that I am able to "go with it" the best I can...especially when things don't go exactly as I want them to...which is bound to happen! 

-Figure out how running will work in the heat, humidity, and possibly rain...I struggle with this type of running weather!

Sunny Moments

-The sunniest moment of this entire month was definitely the surprise video that Kaz made for my 30th birthday. Without me knowing, he emailed many of my family members and friends and had them record a birthday message for me. On my birthday morning - there was a card sitting on the computer. It read "push play" - and when I did...the video sprung to life. I cried, laughed, and felt SO much love! Being able to see and hear people - as though they were in the room with me - was amazing! I have watched the video many times since then! 

Cloudy Moments

-Being illiterate. Some days the fact that I can't read much of anything in Japan can really get to me. Signs, menus, our mail, and even random texts look like meaningless scribbles. Sometimes I can read parts of the message if I take my time - but it usually doesn't help me to even figure out the gist of the message. 

-This month has brought lots of births and big events for family and friends - and it's hard not being there in person to share in those special moments! It's times like these that really make me realize how far away I am! 

Sun, clouds, and lots of love! 

~Jaime