Happy New Year!

My Best of 2005:

The last 17 months (since I've moved to Japan) have been full of new experiences, meeting new friends, constantly learning new things, having adventures, making memories, taking photos, sharing experiences, and just living my life in Japan!

It's hard to pick the best of it all, but below are some pics that represent my favorite things from the last year (since I got my digital camera)!

My town is famous for a few things: jumbo watermelon, seaweed, rice, delicious water, and tulips! In late spring, you can see fields of Tulips everywhere! With the snow covered mountains in the background, it's easy to forget how miserable the winter was! And seeing the fields always reminds me of my grandmother, whose was Dutch and loved Tulips. And driving by always brings a smile to my face!

Last winter I started snowboarding!! You need to do a winter sport in this part of Japan, if you don't, you suffocate of boredom and freeze from the cold on the weekends! It was so fun, and I can't wait to do more of it in 2006!

I enjoyed hanami, eating and drinking under the cherry blossoms! A very very Japanese thing to do! There were more people outside, enjoying parks & rivers, than I have EVER seen at any other time of year! The cities, towns, and villages were ALIVE!

My sister, her friend and I visited Nagasaki! It's impossible not to be touched by the beauty and radiance of a city that was flattened by a nuclear bomb and now promotes world peace and a nuclear free world! The cranes are a reminder of all the people that were killed that day!

Spring in the Japanese countryside is spectacular. All the rice paddies are full of water, the skies are crystal clear and the combination makes for some amazing sun sets over the Japan Sea!

When my sister visited Japan she attened all my classes with me. One day we ate lunch with an 8th grade class, 2-2, and I took this photo. I submitted it to the CLAIR/JET Calendar and it was chosen for the desktop calendar! Yippee! I can't wait to see it in print!

This summer I made it back to India, my fourth trip, with a group of JET's and some American friends! We spent most of our time at the SEED Center, an afterschool/weekend program in a city slum. The kids and volunteers there are some of the most amazing people I have ever met! It's impossible not to love each and every one of them! I can't wait to go back!

I live in the country and after the harvest, a lot of fruits and vegetables are hung for drying! I LOVE seeing this! It's one of my favorite things! Seeing onions, persimmons or daikon hanging in front of someone's house makes me so happy! I can't explain it!

My schools don't have metal dectectors or locker checks! Instead we plant rice, feed the chickens, keep rabbits and grow vegetables! Living in the country is a real education!

In May, some Toyama ALT's and I took a 2-day ferry to Amami Oshima, an island just north of Okinawa! I found this scene near our campsite! Luckily it was just warm enough that we could swim in the ocean and do a little snorkling!

In September, three friends and I climbed Tsurugi-Dake (2998m)! Japanese climbers refer to it as one of the most difficult (aka dangerous) mountains in Japan. You don't need equipment, but there are chains, ladders and bridges to help you navigate across, up, down and over cliffs, drops, ledges, etc! It was one of the most amazing physcial adventures I've done!!

2005---See You!!

And so, these are a few of my favorite things from 2005! Of course there are more, but I'll spare you the details and keep it at this. I'm looking forward to 2006 and seeing more of Toyama, Japan and the world! I don't know where I'll be in 12 months, but I know I'll be having adventures and loving life! I hope the same for all of you!!!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Japan Style

December 23rd--The Emperor's Birthday

There have been a multitude of Christmas parties all month! But in the last few days, I've really hit the jackpot! On the 23rd, I was invited to two Christmas dinners back to back. The first party was hosted by two students from my eikaiwa (english conversation class). I thought it was going to be a quiet dinner, but the entire neighborhood showed up! I was feed until it hurt and ate Christmas Cake on top of that! And then it was on to the 2nd dinner. I tutor a 5th grade student in English once a week. Her family invited me over for their Christmas feast. Luckily, it wasn't as big as the first one but I still had to eat my fair share and another piece of Christmas cake on top of that!

Later that night, my friends and I rang in Christmas Eve at a local bar! We drank and ate more Christmas goodies!



December 24th--Christmas Eve

After getting 5 hours of sleep, my neighbors and I piled in the car and headed for the slopes! Last year we started snowboarding in mid-January, but this year the ski hills opened a few weeks ago! There is a plenty of snow and there was lots of powder at the top! It was a beautiful day and we got enough runs in to feel the burn! Bring it on!

After getting cleaned up and braving the snow and ice, Linea & I joined the Colare International Cooking Workshop group at THE Niikawa Christmas Eve Party hosted at the Unazuki Beer Gardens! We had no idea what we had been invited to until we showed up. We were dressed in nice jeans and sweaters, appropriate for a casual night out with friends. But, we hadn't been informed that this was a formal affair! There were people dressed in tuxes!! Oh no! And to top it off, when the key speaker, the YKK President, gave the welcome address, he mentioned that this was an international Christmas party because they had invited a group of foreigners! And being the only 2 blondes in the room, it was hard to hide, especially in our jeans! And to make matters worse, I was even wearing Toyama boots. I thought it was going to be a tatami sit down dinner....but no! I had to wear my Toyama boots with jeans all night!

But the food was good, the beer was great, and the music was spectacular. Linea and I even got to slow dance with some local community business men (after much persuasion)! And we got to meet the YKK President!! YATTA!

The last 15 minutes of the party, the lights were turned down low, the jazz band got back on stage and everyone was handed a song sheet and we all sang White Christmas and Silent Night to end the evening. Normally on Christmas Eve I might go to a candel light service, a similar set-up--the lights turned down low, the organ music, everyone full from a night of eating, dressed in red & green, and the sanctuary lit only by candel light! But we were at a beer garden, and instead of candels we were all waving glow sticks in the air--the neon kind: pink, purple, blue, green and yellow! I got all choked up looking around at the scene I was in. I wasn't sure if I should cry or laugh!

After our formal party, we headed to a local Nyuzen bar owned by this crazy woman with poofy hair who just left to spend 2 months in Mexico just hanging out. Lucky lady!! Anyway, she owns two bars in Nyuzen, and they are both AWESOME! The soccer coach gave Linea and I roses. Now, we are the lucky ladies. And performed a very special dance for us! "All I want for Christmas" by Mariah was on repeat most of the night! We toasted and waved the glow sticks again at midnight! And I think Linea and I were home just before sunrise. A crazy and very special Christmas indeed!!

December 25th--Christmas Day

We were up a few hours later to prepare Christmas brunch with Santa John! We ate, opened presents and talked about past Christmases and how different this year was!

After brunch I headed to Toyama for a movie with my crazy star wars teacher! She was recently diagnosed with cancer again and will be going into the hospital soon. I'm not sure when I will see her again. But I'm glad I got to spend an afternoon with her! She's a riot!

I'm a very lucky girl. I've been fed and entertained for days!! Even though I didn't go home this year, I've had a very Merry Christmas!

December 24th, 2005

Merry Christmas

from 入善!

Linea, Santa John & Kirsten

ィネア，サンタ　ジョン　＆　キルステン

It's easy to get wrapped up in the commercialism of the holidays (ha ha ha)! But spending time with family and friends is the most important part of the holidays for me. It's fun to give and receive gifts, don't get me wrong--I got some GREAT ones this year--but Christmas is about celebrating and honoring important relationships in my life! This year I decided not to go "home" for the holidays. Luckily, even though I couldn't be with my parents, sister, aunts & uncles, cousins, grandparentsand friends, I was able to spend the holiday with a lot of new family and friends in Japan. Thanks for all the parties, the food, the singing, the dancing, the craziness and most of all, thanks for being my home away from home!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

メリー　クリスマス！

Sobalicious そば おいしい ですね！！

Pat-the-dough, Pat-the-dough

Japanese man

Make me soba as fast as you can

Mix it, pat it, roll it, and cut it real fine

And put it in the pot, it's all MINE!!

Pat-the-dough, Pat-the dough

Japanese man

Teach me please, as fast as you can

Boil it, drain it, serve it and eat!

Delicious healthy soba, you knock me off my feet!

The Time Is Now

Since I haven't been blogging properly since tragedy struck on Halloween! Let's take a photographic journey back on the last two months of my life in Japan!

The journey starts on October 31st! Just hours after I lost my entire blog, I had to confront this group of hooligans! I was their trick-r-treat leader!

The last few months, I have been hiding out in my apartment "studying" or pretending to anyway! But now that the test is over, I can be a social again!

I did leave my apartment a few times! I ran the 5k Senjouchi Marathon in Nyuzen! It was freezing and my hip was killing me. But I got a free t-shirt! Probably the end of my running career!

3-4 nights a week, I teach extra English classes! I have two adult classes and three elementary school children! It's fun to interact with people outside of school, but a little draining at times!

Okay, Okay, so I haven't exactly locked myself in my apartment! I do go out! I have been social this month! This was a night out in Nyuzen...who knew there were bars in my tiny little town!

Takoyaki, ehh?? How does octopus cooked inside pancake batter balls sound?? It's delicious! Okay, well, actually, I prefer chocolate or cheese in my batter balls! But the octopus wasn't bad!

John, Amy and I were invited to a very special 4 hour tea ceremony. We watched as a very special tea container was opened for the first time since it was purchased. We viewed many many tea containers, special bowls, vases, etc. And we enjoyed both thick and thin tea! Plus an interesting meal of Japanese delicacies and several sweets!

The Nyuzen Christmas Party was just as crazy as last year! The Power Rangers did a little dance and Hard Gay pulled a genki drink out of his pants and gave it to the Mayor! The highlight: I won the grand prize--one night at The New Otani Hotel in Unazuki for 2!

In fact, here is a picture of the onsen at the fancy hotel I get to stay at for free! How did I get a picture of the women's onsen?? Hmm?!? Some things are just better left untold, especially on a family blog like this! (but there are more pictures)

Christmast at Colare was SPECIAL this year. Niikawa's own, The Bad Santas, showed up and performed some magical numbers! And my two favorite girls were there! They are the CUTEST kids in Kurobe!!

Linea, John and I hosted a dinner at my apartment with the Superintendent, our Japanese Mother, our Supervisor and friend. It was a delicious meal: lasagna, salad, bread, pumpkin, asparagus, and pumpkin cheese cake for dessert! Yummmy!!

Next time you are at Sakura Sweets, I recommend ordering "The Kirsten," "The Linea," or "The Kanako." Yes, the cutest bartender ever, Daisuke, made us our own drinks! Now we need to get them on the menu!!

This week I was invited to Linea's English Conversation Class Christmas Party. This was exciting for several reasons: lots of good food and too much good dessert. But really the best part was being served an icicle! I kid you not! Yes, it was broken into pieces and put in a glass bowel and passed around the table for everyone to suck on. This icicle was harvested from a cave in the mountains near the fancy hotel I'll be staying at soon! We ate/sucked on illegal icicle! And we drank coffee made from a glass bowel that looked like we should be making some illegal!

The snow started this week! My students have internal heaters and can run around in the snow for hours! I on the other hand, prefer to stay indoor unless I'm on a snowboard.....and I hope to be very very very soon!

To Do in Japan

The 3rd year decision hasn't been made yet, but I need to start making sure all my "to do's" in Japan are getting checked off. So here is my first unofficial list:

Places I want to Visit:

• Kamakura
• Nikko
• Yokohama
• Hiroshima
• Tokyo Disneyland
• Hokkaido
• Yudanaka in the spring

Things I want to do:

• Go Snowboarding almost every weekend this winter
• Celebrate Japanese New Year's with a Japanese Family
• Pass 4-kyu
• Climb Hakusan
• Climb Fujisan
• Eat Fugu Sashimi completed November 6th
• Stay in a Love Hotel
• Hitchhike Somewhere
• Experience a Sumo Tournament
• More to be added......

It's So Cold I.....

• wear a wool hat to bed
• sleep with an electric blanket, a comforter and fleece/flannel pajamas (in layers)
• have at least 2 heaters going at any given time (kerosene & electric)
• drink hot tea like it's the elixir of life
• wear long underwear and at least 3-4 layers on top to work
• wear 2 pairs of socks (1 wool) everyday
• use disposable foot heaters in my shoes almost everyday
• wear a wool coat, gloves and a scarf to school assemblies
• scream when my butt touches the toilet seat (unless it's heated)
• avoid leaving my apartment or other heated buildings whenever possible
• am constantly tensed up because I'm so cold
• have to do more laundry in the winter because I'm wearing so many layers and instantly start sweating when I enter a classroom because there is no temperature gauge. It's either HOT or COLD
• heat my clothes/pajamas on my radiator before I put them on
• can see my breath in the hallways at school
• can see my breath when I brush my teeth at home
• can leave food out overnight because it's the same temperature in my kitchen as my fridge
• can't feel my toes or fingers most of the day

It's so cold, it doesn't matter if it gets any colder, I'm gonna be cold until May--at least!!

今年　すごい　さむい　でしょう！

今週の金曜日

クリスマス　パアテイー

コラレ　 ６時３０　～　８時３０

５００￥と　５００￥プレセント　持って　ください！

飲みほだい　パアテイー

トトカカ 　　９時　～　１１時

３０００￥

楽しみ！　　金曜日　またね！

To My Uncle Randy

I hope the trip home was as beautiful and more peaceful than your time here! Thank you for blessing us all with your sweet southern style, your calm collected personality, and your love of life! You fought with dignity and are an inspiration to us all! You are loved and missed!