Year End Onsen Party

This is year two of going to one of the famous onsens in the area. Here, we cook dinner, exchange gifts, and drink until the night is young. Of course along with many many baths. It was a very different group from last year which made the traditional gathering new and different. We had a delicious Greek Chicken dinner and two beautiful Christmas cakes. Ron and I ended up with a random Froggie set of goodies and we enjoyed our evening with baths, massages, baths, card games, baths, and great conversation.

Golden Week Vacation- Bimbo Ryoko!

びんぼ旅行
Bimbo- "poor" Ryoko- "vacation"

Ahh! It feels like college again. Golden Week is one of the largest group of national holidays. So many and so close together that they call that week "Golden Week" and many Japanese families take this opportunity to go north and see the Cherry Blossoms or somewhere south to just rest. Basically, everyone in Japan is on the move during this week. Not to miss in the experience, Ron and I too were planning a trip of our own. With many summer plans in the making, Ron's change of job, and a new house, we've decided that using the minimal amount of money was necessary for future living. So we decided to go to Yamagata, a prefecture where many Moriokans refer to as the "Ohio" of Japan, why go? BECAUSE WE CAN!!

During the three day trip, we slept in the car in sleeping bags, took rest in 24 hour supermarket parking lots and convenient stores, cooked with our little stove in the trunk, and took baths in nearby onsen. Some may say that's barely living, but in that trip, we did more things than I could imagine any Japanese person could do. We saw a brilliant amount of sights and tasted the delicious food. We saw a famous war reenactment festival, tasted their famous cherries, dipped in the most famous onsen, saw "take your breath away" temples and the Pacific Ocean scattered with small islands, and a gigantic crater. In the end, we spent $350 on the whole trip, transportantion costs included. By pinching pennies (yennies) and trying to find the best deals, it felt like our own reality show adventure, minus the drama and the backstabbing.

Yonesawa Festival











Yamadera- A mountain hike lined with temples






Yamagata City- known for it's cherries ($100 for one box of cherries!)





Okama- In Yamagata it means "Gigantic Crater", in Ichi-ko it means "Gay" :( Either way, to me it means " freakin' cool)



Matsushima... This place is one of the three best sights of Japan. This beach area near Sendai is peppered with mini islands. Real pretty, but we came when it was a little overcast. I think the next time we go on a beautiful day, it will show it's true beauty.






Truly unconventional ね?

"Bento" means "March" in Japanese

Because of all the graduations, exams, corrections, farewell parties, and welcoming parties, I have had my fill of food this month. The best part of this month, however was in the free bentos that our school would give the teachers. So, to give everyone a chance to feel the Japanese spirit in the best way, I want to share with you my school bentos. I wish you all can taste it. It is as good as it looks. Now I have to wait a whole year for more bentos.






Itadakimasu!

Reverse Culture Shock New Year

In the JET Program, many people will talk about the effects of leaving your Japanese home and re-adapting yourself to your former home. This has the term "reverse culture shock." I happened to feel this without even leaving Japanese borders. Now, in Iwate, Morioka is the mecca, the cosmopolitan of the prefecture. But that's pretty much just saying Topeka, Kansas; it's not nearly the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles or New York. Now after being here for five months, most of the city girl within me has left, except for the shopping pangs which I'm sure will never really leave.

I am now a Morioka country girl.

So now, to treat ourselves to the new year, we ventured to the world of Tokyo. Now, when we first arrived, we thought that the culture of Tokyo was the culture of Japan... our American minds were quickly changed. Being in Tokyo Station, waiting for the massive amounts of trains, reading the neon flashing signs, and trying to keep up the pace of the Tokyo power-walker, I started to feel a little... overstimulated. Luckily, just as I adapted to Morioka, I soon adapted to Tokyo, especially with the yummy food of my friend Kunino's mom. We were fortunate enough to spend the new years holiday with our college friend's family and they showed us the ropes of a real Japanese New Years. Throughout the week, we did some amazing things.

First... DISNEY SEA!



It's amazing the amount of detail that Japan puts in their amusement parks. Everything about the park was amazing and the little clothing souveniers of Mickey Mouse ears, beanies, and little clip hats, were so irritatingly cute that even I had to buy one.

Second... NAMJA TOWN.




Think of a theme park filled with food, there you will find Namja Town. Inside a shopping mall you will find Gyoza Stadium, Dessert Land, Ice Cream City, among tons of other attractions. We ate about $40 worth of gyoza and easily killed 4 hours there. It was the most magical place ever.

Third... EVERYTHING ELSE. For the remainder of our time, we enjoyed New Years OSECHI (a preserved meal with yummy symbolic food), Ueno Zoo, Beer Museum, the Science Museum and just the wonder that is Tokyo. Once we finally got home, we enjoyed our vacation with another vacation...SLEEP!



Let's ring in a wonderful New Year!