Day # 6 Tsugaike

Sunday, February 25th, 2007

You can't teach an old dog new tricks....routines are just to hard to break! Five of us loaded into Tomo's car at 7am. Our only option given the weather...Hakuba! The cheapest and best option in Hakuba...Tsugaike! So that's where we ended up. The lines were long because it was a beautiful Sunday morning!! But by mid-afternoon the hills were quiet and there were no lift lines and it was still beautiful!! We spent the day roaming around the upper backside, exploring our favorite forest runs. We finally made it to the lake side restaurant for lunch. Earlier in the season we tried to get there, but with the weather being foggy, we couldn't ever find it. There wasn't any powder, but the snow was cut up enough that it had a soft layer on top that held the edges. The day felt good overall! It wasn't till the end of the day that I hit an icy spot, caught my edge and hit my bum pretty hard. But that's to be expected! We're holding out for 1-2 more weeks of boarding! Pray for a bit more snow and cool temps! My tulips are about to bloom! Eek!

Here are a few pics from the day!

Is this legal in other countries--a baby strapped to a skiers back?? It seems so so dangerous! And really, what's the point? If you can't find a babysitter, you shouldn't strap the kid to your back and hope for the best. If the kid wants to be outside, let him/her build a snow man or go sledding! Or pay for ski lessons!

I'll never understand the child safety laws in Japan. That goes for seat belts (the lack of), car seats (where are they?), bicycle helmets (elementary & high school kids are exempt), and skiing with a kid on your back! Oh my!

A Hidden Treasure

Below is one of the first blog posts I wrote (May 2005), but when I accidentally deleted my blog (October 31st, 2005) it also disappeared. Luckily, I had this one saved in word! I'm re-posting it because I recently visited this temple again and I'm still in love with it. It's one of my favorite temples in Japan.

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A few months ago, an ALT brought me to a beautiful living Buddhist temple. I say “living” because of all the temples I drive by everyday I never see any life among them. They all just sit, seemingly unused, unwanted and ignored. For example, the Aoki Temple by my house had dancers, drums, and loud festivities for a week last fall, but I haven’t seen or heard anything since. No one visits the grounds or the deity from what I can tell. It just sits in silence, like a forgotten tombstone in an aging graveyard.

But this temple is ALIVE! The temple isn’t in the guidebooks, it’s not on a major highway, and it’s not in a big city. It is in the foothills of the mountains, hidden away behind some buildings and up a step set of stairs. It spreads out over the hill and is even built into the hill. There are several little alcoves and buildings that make up the entire temple, each probably added on or built to signify a different phase of in the life of the temple. Some of the buildings and deity installations are obviously newer and have been added and built around several older cave shrines. The temple is unique in my mind for several reasons: the main hall houses a large deity that has been carved into the side of the mountain, the cave temple is reminiscent of living temples I have visited in India, and fresh mountain spring water cascades from the mouths of dragons.

Near the mouth of the dragons, the small cave temple can be seen through some trees and across a koi pond. As you walk across the bridge, up the steps and duck your head to enter the dark cave space, the scent of incense is overwhelming and extremely calming at the same time. The small cave shrine houses 20-30 individual deities or saints all clothed in different colored apron-like dresses. Inside, your eyes have to adjust to the dark and the haze left by the burning candles and incense. The cave is damp, cool and alive! On the three inner walls of the cave, the deities are lined up, each one probably with a different story, a different name and a different face. And in the dark, I felt their presence in this sacred space. Food and flower offerings had been left at the foot of the central deity and there is a large box in the middle of the floor for monetary offerings.

Outside the sound of water is thunderous as it falls from the mouths of the dragons. Temple visitors can stand under an awning or sit on a bench to watch and listen in deafening silence. Many people bring their own water jugs to fill with fresh mountain spring water.

But it isn’t just the temple and its deities that make it so unique. Situated at the base of mountains amongst cedar trees and flowering plants, the air is also alive and vibrant. It’s filled with the smell of blooming flowers, cedar trees, incense and the mountain breeze. In addition, the view of the valley and the ocean are spectacular from up there. It isn’t overrun with devotees, but there are a handful of people walking around visiting each area of the temple, saying their prayers, collecting fresh water, offering gifts, and making their way up the hill. Everything about the temple and the atmosphere is alive….the air, the trees, the plants, the water, the deities, and the devotees.

This last weekend, a friend and I, accidentally (very happily so) came across this temple again. During my first visit I commented on how alive I felt after visiting the temple. And the same feelings overwhelmed me when I entered the cave space and took a deep breath. I felt life pouring into my lungs and my soul. It’s a space full of energy! It’s a hidden treasure in the mountains of Toyama. It’s a little secret that feeds my soul. And I want to go back for more. I need to go back for more!

The Edge

Approaching the edge
looking inside and out
beyond an age
contemplating the unknown

Nearing finality
falling down
flying up
impending next step

On the verge
of unfamiliar
unforgiving
undecided…

…Future
__prospects
__opportunities
__potential
__expectations

Evolution
___or
_____maybe
________personal (re)volution

Present

On Display

Two weeks ago a friend I met in Prague came for a visit. She arrived in Japan late Friday night and on Saturday afternoon was on 4 trains to find me in a sleepy fishing village. She made it without any problems. On the last train (1) she met some of my former students and they helped her carry her luggage off the train and over the stairs to where I was waiting. It was after 8pm and we were both hungry so we drove 3 blocks to main street and parked. As we got out of my car I saw a man walking toward us and he said “こんばんわ” or "good evening." (2) And then he realized he knew me. He is a retired principal at one of the elementary schools I work at. We used to sit in the same office together during the summer months. He’d been drinking and was happy to chat us up as we walked in the cold rain to the restaurant. After he wished her well on her trip and we said our goodbyes and indulged him in a few drunken handshakes, we stepped inside the izikaya, Japanese style pub. Inside we were greeted by (3 & 4) the waitress whose children I teach and by the owner who also knows me and my crew by now. Instead of taking our order, the waitress just finished all my sentences for me. I would start to say what we (I) wanted and she would finish my sentence down to the special requests for now super small shrimp in the yakisoba. (5) Before we started eating another friend of a friend walked by and sat down and we had a mini-eikaiwa for about 10 minutes. She’s super cute and sweet, but there were more than a few pauses in the conversation and I thought she would take the hint to go enjoy her meal, but she stayed and we kept up the chit-chat for awhile. When she finally did leave, it wasn’t for good. She came back to visit us 2-3 more times before we left and walked us to the door at the end of the night. In the course of 2 hours, from the train to my apartment, we met about five people who knew me and could help me welcome her to a small Japanese fishing village!

Last weekend I went to the grocery store with two friends (male…what a scandal) to buy food for our camping trip. I can’t remember the last time I shopped without running into someone I know. On this particular day at this particular grocery store, (6-8) I saw three students, (9) the owner of the aforementioned restaurant, and (10) a secretary at one of my schools. Both boys were a little surprised by all the people I knew. It is a little embarrassing to be recognized by so many people.

Later that night the camping group left camp and went into town, only 5 minutes by car, to an onsen, or hot spring bath. We had barely walked in the door (11) when my Vice Principal walked in right behind us. Oh my! Seriously, was this necessary? The VP in Japanese schools is up in everyone’s business and knows what’s happening with everyone at any given time. At least mine does! We have a love/hate relationship. I never really knows if he likes me, but he doesn’t show affection or give praise. He did, however, give me an international room and $300 to buy stuff for it. So, I think we’re on pretty good terms. But that doesn’t mean I want him knowing about my weekend adventures hijacking abandon cabins in the forest with a bunch of rowdies. Sitting in the lobby after we had bathed, (12) the Curriculum Coordinator from another one of my schools walked by and sat down and chatted for awhile. I had to laugh. I just can’t hide! I can’t do anything in this town without someone or everyone knowing about it.

This week I was sitting at my desk at one of my schools patiently waiting for my students to come and fetch me for class. There had been two men wandering the school all day to check the electrical system and the fire alarms. They sat down by my desk for a coffee break. Before they got up to get back to work they started asking me questions. (13) It turns out they met my sister, or somehow knew of my sister and remembered her name. What? My sister visited over 20 months ago. They looked vaguely familiar but I have no idea how or why they know my sister.

The examples of living on display go on and on. They happen everyday and they are part of the fun, adventure, and monotony of living in a small fishing village in rural Japan.

Baby Emerson

Congratulations!!

My cousin, Anna, gave birth to her first baby a few weeks ago.

This blonde cutie, Emerson Walter, was born at 4:40 p.m. on February 3rd, 2007. He's a big boy! His birth weight was 9lb. 5oz., and he was 20 inches long. He's only 2 weeks old and has out grown his newborn diapers!

I think Emerson is my cousin once removed, but I'm not exactly sure how those familial relationships are categorized. Either way, Anna has always been one of my best friends and like a big sister to me. So, even though Emerson already has two amazing aunts, I hope I can be like an aunt to him--maybe that crazy aunt who'll take him to Egypt or Tasmania or rafting down the Grand Canyon! You name it boy...let's do it!!

I can't wait to meet you!

The New 7 Wonders

Can you name the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World?? Only one exists today, the rest can only be read about and imagined in books.

There is a campaign to officially name 7 new wonders. I'm not really sure why it's important that there only be 7, or that there be a list at all. But everyone seems to like having neat lists, especially people like me who like to check things off their list. Anyway, if you want to jog your memory about the 7 Ancient Wonders or see what's made the final cut for the next new 7 wonders or you can Vote Here for the new 7 wonders!

My personal opinion...the wonders should be ancient, not made of concrete or steel girders. And it should have required some unhuman type strength and engineering to have created the wonder!

Next question...how many have you visited?? I'm a bit depressed to say, I've only been to three. And three of the most boring if you ask me. Damn, I still have a lot of travel to do!!

Valentine's Day Treats

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Or as we like to call it around these parts...Happy Singles Awareness Day! Whatever you are celebrating and whoever you celebrate it with, I hope there is lots of chocolate involved! Everyone deserves lots of good chocolate on V-day/SA-day!! The unfortunate part of living in Japan on V-day/SA-day is that women are expected to give chocolate to men and it isn't reciprocated until March 14th, or White Day. That's when the men give cookies to the women, or gifts worth 3x the value of the gift they got on V-day. Hmm? That might not be so bad! But honestly, I rather just get really good chocolate! But I have to give in order to get! So, after school I went to the grocery store to be inspired...and there they were, at the front door and on sale.....STRAWBERRIES!

1. First you need to wash and draw the strawberries. Insert a toothpick into the top.

2. Next melt white chocolate and dip the strawberries in the chocolate, covering about 3/4s of the strawberry. Set the strawberries on wax paper to cool.

3. After the white chocolate has hardened, dip the strawberries in dark chocolate on both sides, creating a V shape. Set these aside to cool.

4. Next take a toothpick and dip it into the chocolate and dot the strawberry with chocolate buttons and a bow tie. Now you have "Tuxedo Strawberries."

Click here to watch how to make Tuxedo Strawberries

5. I ran out of white chocolate, so for my neighbors, I made dark chocolate double dipped strawberries with a white chocolate heart. Enjoy neighbors.

Teachers at my JHS will be getting the tuxedo strawberries!

Winter Camping

Saturday morning 6 of us packed up the cars and headed for the mountains, but not to snowboard...we wanted to camp in the snow! We brought more gear than necessary, but we realized we wouldn't be hiking in, it would be a car camping trip. Our first few ideas were shot down, almost literally. We put snowshoes on to check out a road in the hopes of making it up to a trailhead and camping there. After our initial reconnaissance mission we drove our car up the road, but the snow got deeper, the road stepper and more slippery. Just as we were decided to bail and turn back, a bigger 4WD SUV came down the mountain. At first I thought it was mountain patrol and they got out and were making gestures and motions that we shouldn't be there. But in actuality it was a hunter also doing a reconnaissance mission. And he warned us that camping in these mountains might be a bad idea because rabbit and wild boar hunting opened in the morning. Eek, how would we have EVER known that??

So we headed back down the mountain and decided to drive around a little pond in the hopes of finding a place for our tuna sandwhich and soup lunch. As luck had it, we found a shelter unlocked with a platform perfect for 7 sleeping bags (chica joined us later) and a fire pit in the middle of the building! We got lunch going, set up our stuff, and before dark set in we headed back to the main road and into the onsen, 5 minutes away!! It was PERFECT!!

It was a fun-filled night. And even thought we didn't get our snow camping in, it was probably a blessing in disguise, plus it did snow in the morning.

My camera battery was dead, but I stole Shinji's pics. For more pics, please visit San Tache It's worth a visit!!

Day #5 Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort

It was a last minute decision. We got a text from the early car and they made the decision on the road...Charmant. It's known as a "Natural Terrain" hill. There are two or three groomed runs, but if there is enough snow, it's a free for all. But that's only fun if you're really good and you can get in and out of deep powder and between trees with ease. So, most of us stayed on course!

It wasn't a great day, I have been fighting a bad cold for a few days. And on the way to Charmant my funky toe kinda went dead. So I had to heat it back up in the lodge and make sure the blood was flowing before I got my boots on! Should I be worried??

Here are a few pics...nothing too unusual!

Decision Made

To celebrate the day of decisions, the Nyuzen crew dated at a NEW French restaurant in Nyuzen. JP picked us up limo style (he opened the door for us) in his new Vietnamese made 3-piece suit and winter jacket. Linea was sporting a classic black dress with a beautiful pearl necklace. I (not owning a dress) wore a satin skirt, my cowgirl boots and a black shirt with my new very grounded tree of life necklace (thanks Ing!). We made the 5 minute drive through the dark and narrow streets of sleepy Nyuzen and there it was....a white sparkling new building with spotlights shining on it and with its big windows you can see inside to the open bright room with a bar, 4 tables, and a small kitchen. It's like a single star in the middle of a cloudy night sky!

I had made reservations (unnecessarily) and they had our table ready and waiting for us. There were two other women in there finishing up their meal. We shouldn't have been surprised, but after seating ourselves, hanging up our jackets, and starting to decipher the katakana-french menu, one of the women approached us. It turns out, she was at the big 4-hour tea ceremony we had the weekend before! Small town! Can't go ANYWHERE without meeting SOMEONE!!

After about 5-10 minutes of staring at the menu and asking each other if anyone knew what it was, the only waitress came over and in a very clear accent said, "Can I help you?"


Ahh!!

Yikes, we've been here 3+ years and we still can't read a menu?? That's embarrassing! But to our credit, trying to read French through Japanese isn't easy! She helped us figure out the menu, we ordered and were delighted when our beautiful teas came! We had to take a picture. Next we got our first course. JP got a pate like thing and Linea and I got smoked salmon salad.

Next came the bread, a pasta, and finally our main course!! I ordered beef marinated in red wine, Linea got duck and JP got a lamb pastry. We all traded bites and each was delicious!

After savoring each bite of the main course we had the terrible misfortune of having to decide on dessert! Yikes, that was almost a harder decision than the one we'd all made early that day. In the end we all selected different things and again got to sample each. And again, not a single one was bad! In fact, I'd go so far as to say, they were all incredible!

We sat there for almost three hours, just the three of us; chatting about the weather, the amazing food, life as an ALT, our best lessons of the week, where we should go boarding tomorrow and what are plans are for next year....to stay or to leave! Three friends, three neighbors, and three partners in crime for three years....but each of us has a very different life path. I can honestly say, I feel fortunate that our three paths crossed for these three years!

And so the decisions have been made, the papers have been signed, and supervisors have been notified. And that's all I feel like saying for now.