Wum, Wom, Warm

Was just out in the brisk breeze to pay a couple of bills (Health Insurance and Water) at the Seven-Eleven. (When they say convenience store here, they mean it!) I was waiting at a crosswalk for the light to change, and a couple was standing slightly behind me. She said something to him I didn't catch and he answered, "wum." She said emphatically, "wom." They said the same words to each other, with the lady clearly enunciating each time, "wom" to which he answered, "wum." The light changed, as we started across, I turned to the lady and said clearly, "warm." We all laughed heartily.

Notice Anything Different?

All around the neighborhood for the past two weeks have been signs of pre-New Year activity. In a word - cleaning. The wall around the garden. All the screens from the house windows lined up to be washed. Larger piles of discarded household items set out on the Wednesday pickup day.

Starting the new year with a clean house, a clean slate, a chance for a do-over. The sad part is that there is no significant change in the hearts of the people, and that's the only way to initiate real change.

Has your heart been changed, cleaned, made new?

Luke 11: 24-26

Christmas in Ginza

Went to Ginza with Yasuko to have lunch, see a movie and shop. It was a National Holiday - the Emperor's Birthday, so the traffic was blocked on the main street and things were decorated for Christmas. They've done a lot with LED lights in the trees along the street, and banners. Lots and lots of people walking and looking around. It was a beautiful sunshiney day.


New vocabulary bura - bura = shopping around
Gin - bura = shopping around in Ginza
kamameishi = meal cooked in a heavy pot on the stove featuring rice in the first layer and greens and in this case chicken and slivers of yuzu peel on top. Oishii

Christmas lunch at Quilting Class

We had a carry in lunch with two classes combined at Quilting today. 5 Japanese ladies and me from 11 to 4. Think Japanese Immersion. I felt a bit waterlogged by the end of the afternoon. I did learn how to turn a sharper corner on my applique pieces today. We discussed Obama bowing to the Emperor and his wife. We talked about Emiko-san's son the "Food Fighter." And, they talked about a lot of things while I did some applique.

The lunch was wonderful, as usual and we all were sighing "Ippai" at the end.

Pictures of the quilt-in-progress are on Picasa in an album titled Japanese Memory Quilt. Just double-click on one of the slide shows to the left and the click on "My Photos."

Welcome to My Neighborhood

Where can you find a garage full of Minis next to a Harley shop? In my neighhborhood - Osu Ichikawa Japan. Visit new pictures in my Picasa Albums by double clicking on the slideshow running at the left.

Anniversary

I arrived in Japan for my fourth time one year ago. It looks as if I may be able to stay for about one more year, thanks to the generosity and prayers of many of you, my friends and supporters.

I must say that I would like to push thoughts of packing and moving as far into the future as possible, just on general principles. Ugh!

I have been able to re-establish relationships with most of my friends from past visits as well as making some new ones. I've learned how to do some new things - mostly with computers. have honed some skills, mostly in sewing and have even learned some Japanese, though woefully little compared to the vastness of the language.

I ride a bike now instead of jumping in the car, use yen instead of dollars, call people using my computer and eat cold rice for lunch by choice.

It's a different way of life, but one that I enjoy most of the time.

So, for a while longer you can check in on me here. Thanks for following even when I haven't had much to say. Write a comment - I read them all and answer most. Mata neh - till next time.