Month 9 in Review

I've been finding myself falling a bit behind on blog posts lately...especially as I have been getting back into the routine of school/work this month...so this entry comes a little late. October 4th marked the end of our ninth month in Japan...three quarters through Year 1! Wow! 

Although I'd been hoping that the weather would cool down a bit as soon as September hit...it has been hot and more humid than it was this summer (which I didn't think was even possible). September, also to my surprise, is said to be rainier than the summer "rainy season" as it is often when the typhoons hit Japan and the surrounding areas. If I had to approximate, I would say that it probably rained at least 20 of the 30 days this month. YUCK! 

To wrap up summer, I decided to feature kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) as my food item this month. Kakigori differs from the traditional snow cone in many ways. First, it has a much fluffier consistency as a hand-cranked machine is used to spin and shave the ice. Second, kakigori is eaten with a spoon - not out of a cone. And lastly, in addition to being flavored with syrup - condensed milk is often poured over it to make it even tastier. 

Kakigori is found all year round, but is most commonly eaten during the summer months - probably because it's so hot! Restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores actually have a sign that they hang to indicate that they serve shaved ice. Somehow, even though it was recommended to me numerous times, I didn't actually try kakigori until a few weeks ago. Probably because I am more of an ice cream girl at heart. I tried green tea kakigori, which was sweetened with condensed milk, and then wine kakigori, which happened to be filled with a mysterious jelly-like substance. The verdict is still out on exactly what it was! Overall, I enjoyed it - and will probably try more next summer...however, I think the Japanese soft serve still ranks higher in my book! 

Now, on to the happenings of Month 9! 

Places Visited and Activities

-Mt. Fuji (see previous blog post)

-Rakugo: One of the most challenging things about attempting to enjoy and experience Japanese culture is that a lot of the traditional events and experiences require you to both understand and speak Japanese. Luckily, there are occasionally local events that are catered toward the "ex-pat" community and are offered in English. Earlier this month, I was able to attend a rakugo performance. Rakugo is a form of verbal entertainment in which a lone performer sits on stage and tells comical stories. The stories usually contain dialogue between at least two characters and so different voices are used. I enjoyed the performance and chuckled a few times when the performer attempted to use English slang...and it didn't quite fit! 

-Inuyama ("Dog Mountain"): Inuyama is a small town about a thirty-minute train ride from Nagoya. The most famous attraction in the town is Inuyama Castle, which is located at the top of the mountain and overlooks the Kiso River. A neat fact about Inuyama Castle is that it is the only privately owned castle in Japan - and it has remained unchanged since it was built in 1537 (making it the oldest original wooden castle in Japan). 

After exploring the castle, we stumbled upon a super modern rooftop beer garden...which seemed so out of place in the old town. However, we enjoyed a refreshing beer on the hot day! 

-Pottery Making in Seto: I joined a group of women from CCEA (Cross-Cultural Exchange Association - a group here meant to connect women of all ethnicities) on a day-trip to the nearby town of Seto. The town specializes in pottery - and Kaz and I actually visited Seto a few months ago. Our sensei, who spoke wonderful English, helped us to make a few pottery pieces of our choice. I managed to make two teacups and two rice bowls. I was aiming for them to be the same size...however, not so much! 

I was surprised by just how hard making pottery on a wheel can be! The professionals make it look SO easy...and it's not! They were keeping a close eye on me throughout the whole class...as I struggled to make my pieces the same height, thickness, etc. At one point, my fingers even went through the pot...ooops! Nevertheless, I had a great time...and have an even greater admiration for those who make pottery professionally. 

-Taiko Drumming: Thanks to an invite from our friends, Katie and Jeremy, Kaz and I were able to try out taiko - Japanese drumming. Katie had found a local group, which practices twice per month at a local community center. One of the members spoke some English - and warmly welcomed them to attend a class. They had a great time - and so they brought some of us along to the next class.

Taiko was quite the workout - especially for my arms...and was rather challenging for someone who struggles with keeping a beat. However, we had a blast! The members were super patient with us - and worked really hard to help us learn the cadences and beats of the song they were learning. I found it helpful that they sang the beats aloud and there were mirrors everywhere so we could watch the person who was leading us! I loved the sound of the drums - especially when all played together...so powerful and calming! 

-Taipei (See previous blog post)

Cafes Enjoyed

-Zarame (yay for "American-style" donuts!)

-The Cups (our favorite cafe opened a new location!)

-Fika Fika Cafe (Taipei)

-GaBee (Taipei)

Kit Kat Flavors Tasted
-Pumpkin Pudding
*Here's a fun fact...while Halloween is not actually a holiday in Japan - they sure love to celebrate it! There are decorations and candy everywhere...and I've even seen kids and adults dressed in all kinds of costumes.

Victories

-Survived my first typhoon! Nagoya has been quite lucky this season - as it has not been directly hit by any typhoons. Apparently, there is usually at least one storm that closes the schools. I was kind of hoping to experience a "real" typhoon. About two weeks ago, a typhoon hit in the late afternoon/evening. After-school activities were cancelled and a lot of people left work a tad early - or stayed late - to wait the storm out. Here's a video! 

Goals

-Month 9 brings the beginning of my first (and only) full school year at NIS. Thus far, I have been experiencing the craziness of a new school year. To al my friends in the schools - I get it now! Most of the students I worked with last year have moved back to the US...so even though I expected that I would pick up where I left off...I am just about starting over. My goal for myself in the coming months is to keep an open mind...to put myself out there even more than last year...and to learn and soak up as much as I can from the students and teachers at the school! 

-Because the transition back to Japan has been rather rough...and I am finding myself feeling a bit "useless" (as my roles and schedule are different than when I was working full-time)...a big focus for me is to continue to be open-minded as I learn to challenge myself in new ways. I have signed up for a free 10-week online class about happiness and the brain (which I am hoping will be beneficial both personally and professionally). And, I was also asked to present at a small conference in Tokyo in mid-November...so creating that presentation will be both challenging and fun! I am looking forward to spending some time doing a bit of soul-searching about new challenges and goals for myself. 

-This heat and humidity really threw me this summer. This summer was probably the least that I have run and/or worked out in about five years. Not running, paired with falling into a routine of unhealthy eating, has left me feeling "blah." So, my plan over the next few months...is to give my value of "health" a bit more TLC! 

Sunny Moments

-Stepped outside of my comfort zone and immersed myself a bit more into Japanese culture. 

-Dad and Sherri will be here in a few days. Looking forward to showing them what life in Japan is like.

-Fall is approaching...and hopefully bring with it cooler weather, sunny skies, and foliage! 

Cloudy Moments

-A rougher transition back than I expected

-Rain, rain, and more rain

-Not getting into the Nagoya Marathon (they had 21,000 applicants for only 7,000 spots). We did get into the Half-Marathon though!

-A bit too much self-criticism and worry about the future. Time to get back to the mindfulness...being gentle to myself...and appreciating the present moment even more. 

Sun, clouds, and lots of love!
~Jaime

Travel Entry - 36 Hours in Taipei (Taiwan)

Have you ever watched "The Layover?" The TV show in which Anthony Bourdain spends 24-48 hours exploring a city before traveling to another. If so, you'll understand the title of this blog post. Kaz and I took on Anthony's role this past weekend...though we weren't quite as...rude! We've been wanting to explore outside of Japan a bit - but it's difficult because Kaz has limited time off work. So, we sat down and started planning some possible weekend/long-weekend trips. Taipei was first on our list...South Korea is next...and then China.  

Here's a bit of history about Taiwan...summed up as simply as possible. I found the history a bit challenging to follow; however, essential to understanding why Taiwan is the way it is! Geography-wise...Taiwan is an island off the coast of China and is officially known as the Republic of China (ROC). Not to be mistaken with mainland China, which is officially known as the People's Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan is currently considered a state...and not its own country. Taiwan was considered part of China until 1895 when it was ceded to Japan. However, in 1945, after WWII, China regained control of Taiwan. China placed Taiwan temporarily under control of Chiang Kai-Sheck (his name will come up later) and the Nationalist party. Then, when the Communists took control of mainland China, the Nationalists fled to Taiwan and the "temporary" control became permanent.  

Currently,  China regards Taiwan as a "rebel" nation and the two are at war. Taiwan is fighting to remain independent and China is fighting to reunite Taiwan with mainland China. Interestingly, China insists that nations cannot have official relations with both China and Taiwan...therefore, Taiwan has formal diplomatic ties with very few countries...and unofficial ties with many! 

Taipei is the biggest city in Taiwan and is actually considered the "unofficial" capital city - since the actual capital - Nanjing - is in mainland China. A typhoon had passed through Taiwan just days before we arrived - so we lucked out with lots of sun, heat (temps in the low 90s), and low humidity. The weather was definitely a welcomed break from the seemingly constant rain of Japan. 

Before I tell you about our adventures, here are a few of my observations about Taipei...

SCOOTERS!

1. Scooters are to Taipei what bikes are to Japan (and cars are to the US). There were scooters everywhere - and you really had to be aware of your surroundings because they commonly rode right onto the sidewalk.

2. Traffic does not yield to pedestrians...pedestrians yield to traffic - even at crosswalks. It only took one near miss for us to figure this one out! 

3. There is a lot more English than in Japan (especially when it comes to signs and menus)...however, you can get by quite far by speaking Japanese. Since Japanese tourists are some of the most popular visitors to Taipei...more people there seem to know more Japanese than English. Kaz and I found that people would first speak Chinese to him...and when he would respond in English...they would often change to Japanese. For me...they attempted English and it usually worked...unless it was a cab ride...then we all relied on GoogleMaps! :) And, in addition to the Japanese language - there are many Japanese restaurants and stores in Taipei too!  

4. If you've been to Hong Kong and Singapore...Taipei seems a bit like a cross between those two places. I can't really think of a good US city to compare it too...I need to travel more in the US! 

Since we arrived in Taipei around 1am (with every other visitor...I've never seen an airport SO busy at this time of the morning) and spent a bit of time getting a cab (after a failed ATM attempt and the need to use "card not cash"), our Saturday morning began with coffee! Of course! :)

Cube Latte at Fika Fika

We enjoyed a cube latte and a Western breakfast at Fika Fika Cafe. I had read that Taipei's coffee scene has been developing quite a bit recently...so I made a list of the recommended places. We hit two in our visit...not bad! 

After Fika Fika, we visited Lungshan Temple of Manka. The two main religions of Taiwan are Buddhism and Taoism...and it was really neat to see a place in which both of these religions existed together. I loved all the bright colors and intricate designs...very different from Japanese temples, which tend to be wooden with very neutral and muted colors. We were lucky enough to be able to watch a prayer service of some kind...and to witness tons of people making their own prayers and offerings.

Offerings...

From there, we headed to Liberty Square (also known as Freedom Square). Liberty Square is a large square with a massive building on each side. There is the Freedom Square Memorial Arch, Chiang Kai-shek (the person credited for essentially "founding Taiwan") Memorial Hall, the National Concert Hall, and the National Theater.  This area reminded me a bit of Washington DC...and being able to walk from monument to monument. Except...the buildings seemed so much larger! And did not have the same type of architecture, obviously! 

The Damper

Taipei 101

After a morning of temples and monuments, we were ready for lunch. So we headed to Taipei 101. Taipei 101 is currently the 5th tallest building in the world - and from the top - provides amazing 360-degree views of Taipei and the surrounding mountains. Taipei 101 also has a really neat wind damper in the middle of it. The damper moves back and forth during earthquakes, typhoons, and other storms to reduce the amplitude of mechanical vibration and prevent discomfort and/or damage. In 2015, the damper actually moved a full meter from center during a storm! 

Making the dumplings

Gotta have a mascot! 

On the first floor Taipei 101, is the famous restaurant Din Tai Fung, which is known for its xiao long bao (soup dumplings). We are lucky to have some of these restaurants in Nagoya - but when in Taipei, one must eat soup dumplings (oh, and drink bubble tea). 

With full bellies, we made our way to a really neat little area called the Songshan Culture and Creative Park in the Xinyi district. This area houses former tobacco factory warehouses, which have been turned into exhibition spaces and shops for local artists and designers. We were able to peruse tons of galleries and shops, which was tons of fun! It looked as though there were also several events taking place...featuring different types of art. We didn't end up checking any of those out, however, because there was an entry fee and the events looked to winding down for the evening. 

After our super-packed day, it was time to relax - Taiwan-style...which meant massages! Taiwan is known for their massages - specifically their foot massages - and there are shops everywhere. Some of which don't look as though you would want to visit them. Luckily, we had a Japanese travel book - with some highly recommended spots. So, we checked one out - and were not disappointed. We both enjoyed a 15-minute head and neck massage followed by a 45-minute foot/reflexology massage for less than $35 each!  This is a MUST DO for anyone visiting Taipei! 

The last stop on our list for the day was the Shinlin Night Market. Picture a narrow street lined with random shops - now add thousands of people and tons of little carts selling random food. Overwhelming in every way! We soaked in the experience, sampled a yummy beef bun, drank some bubble tea...and then made our way home before I became any more overwhelmed! I have to say that I am getting more used to big crowds since moving to Japan...but these market-type things are still a bit too much for me!

These are 6,000 years old! 

The next morning, we got to the National Palace Museum just as it opened so that we could beat the crowds as much as possible. The National Palace Museum houses one of the largest collections of Chinese artifacts in the world. Chiang Kai-shek is credited for sending as many of these artifacts to Taiwan as he could - so that they could be preserved (and not destroyed by the Communists). I think the most fascinating thing about some of the pieces in the museum was not their beauty, but their age. We actually saw some artifacts that were more than 6,000 years old. It's hard to even fathom that idea!


After the museum, we filled our bellies with some more coffee and a yummy brunch at Gabee. Gabee is the Taiwanese word for coffee and had a really hip and modern vibe! They even had coffee mugs from coffee shops all around the world. Then on to the airport it was for our flight back to Japan (we may or may not have squeezed in another quick massage on our way).

I would definitely say that Taipei is a doable "layover" or weekend trip...especially if you focus on city-only activities. I am hoping that at some point, we will be able to return to Taiwan to enjoy more nature-type activities in some of the less populated areas. 

Sunny Moments: A break from the Japanese rain; yummy dumplings; bubble tea; relaxing massages; and, getting to experience a new place and culture!

Cloudy Moments: Expired ATM cards; close encounters with scooters; and, overcrowded markets.

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