Boxing Day

Among my British friends opinions vary as to why it's called Boxing Day. Here in Japan in the Missionary community many times it is the first day in a long while where there are no deadlines or activities looming.  Church activities are over, family celebrations, if there's been time, are finished and in one last effort you reach out to others in your circle who are important to you. 

I've been invited over the years to share in leftovers of the Christmas meal at the homes of several friends.  This year Christmas fell on a Sunday, so that meant postponement of some activities until all the church events were wrapped up.

Monday, our Director and his Wife invited ten of us to their home for dinner together.  Two Americans, three Singaporeans, three Australians  a Canadian and an Englishman joined this German couple.

We enjoyed ham and chicken curry, rice and potatoes and lots of side dishes followed by pie and cookies.

Some time was taken to sing some songs together and share some encouragements we've received and pray together.

Outside our building our Japanese neighbors were busy taking down any Christmas decorations they may have put up and getting ready for their most important holiday - New Year's Day.

Weaving an Obi

Today Miss Sachiko and I had planned to go to a concert at the I-Link building, but when she arrived Sachiko said there was a Textile Exhibition at a little Gallery in Suwada and today was the last day.  Which did I want to go to.  She knew the answer - Textiles.

The exhibits were mainly obi and kimono or things made from obi or kimono. In the center of the room was a loom and it wasn't too long till a woman in kimono sat down to the loom and began weaving on an obi. She was clearly flattered at the attention of 5 or so people and happy for me to take pictures. Her work is incredible. For example the piece at the right.  It's something easily recognized in Japan - take no ko (maybe literally "little one of the bamboo") Americans probably won't recognize this as the source of their "bamboo shoots" but here it is sold in the spring - whole, looking something like this.

Here is the weaver at the loom happily chatting away while weaving.  Her base warp thread is white and her pattern was being worked in gold, bronze, green and yellow mainly. The loom itself was a thing of beauty. Her work was varied and really quite interesting.  I find that the photos I took show more dimension that I noticed when looking at them. I also found my own reflection in some of the framed pieces :-/




To see the whole set please go to the link here: https://picasaweb.google.com/107123733477272247567/AWalkAndAnExhibition#

A Year of Difficult Things

I'm sure I'm not alone in having difficulty remembering much of consequence that happened to me or that I did or saw this year prior to what everyone refers to as 3/11. The triple disasters in Japan have colored and changed much of what is said and done here even now, nearly 9 months later. Experiencing the earthquake in it's milder form here in Ichikawa was frightening, I was alone at the time. When the shaking stopped, no one quite seemed to know what to do next. It seems we've spent the days and months since making up our own script. It's been difficult, but taken as it was given, in increments, we were able to mostly figure it out.

The very day of the earthquake, my friends and coworkers, the Aylings learned of the return of a long dormant cancer that would change their plans, and mine too, in time. When it was determined that stronger action needed to be taken, they made preparations for returning to England for an early retirement. It seemed a natural decision to offer to step into the breach in running the Guest Home. I had, after all, done it before, albeit in a less busy era when I was ten years younger and, as I realize now, was much more actively supported by my co-workers.
 
It didn't seem, when I left the US almost exactly three years ago that I would ever be able to work here this long. My finances, while adequate throughout the time, are now on a different footing, and even though I am providing a service for the mission, and to quote our business manager, I'm "cheap as chips to keep on the field," I loathe the thought that I might not be holding up my end financially here. It's difficult.

As I said, I'm here three years - on a three year visa.  I had to make application for extension. The last time I did this was in 2002. I remember it as being a confusing process that involved lots of form filling and waiting with a large group of other aliens until one's number was called, then answering questions asked by officials in Japanese. Last time, a bilingual colleague went with me and fielded the Japanese. This time no one stepped in to that gap. Our Admin Assistant, however, was asked to prepare paperwork for me. I didn't like the idea of going on my own. I anticipated difficulty, and feeling stupid. Afterward, despite having to ask directions to the monorail several times and walking to the wrong building, it went exceptionally well. I especially appreciated all that our Japanese staff did on the paperwork/instruction side of things.

There were difficult separations this year as a cherished coworker got married  and moved to another part of Japan, a colleague and her family left for Home Assignment in Northern Ireland, and Our Dear Ruth went to be with Jesus.

So what's the moral to this story? I've got a little less than a month to decide.