Mochi Party Date

We attended the annual JMSDF (J Navy) Mochi Pounding Party last Thursday. Mochi is a soft dough like food made from (traditionally) pounding cooked rice with a mallet. It is chewy and gooey and not for everyone, but this fresh mochi that they were making was the best I've had. Cover it with some peanut powder or other condiments and it's a yummy snack.  I don't get the chance to see Glenn in his SDB's (Standard Dress Blues) very often and it's probably one of my favorite uniforms. Although, what uniform doesn't look good. A fun night of drinking, eating and hanging out with our friends!

How did it take me 28 years to discover these?

For Badgirl ball, I wore fake eyelashes cause it seemed to fit the era and they sell them in 2 packs for $1 here! OMG, I love them! I want the wear them everyday. Why did I knot wear them for my wedding? So fun. I think I need to stock up before I leave Japan.

Sorry for the mega-closeness of only 1 eye. I had taken one eyelash off and my makeup before I decided to take a picture. And I was kinda drunk.

I had an iPad for 3 hours...

One of my students is obsessed with Apple. Ridiculously obsessed. To the point that he couldn't wait an additional 4 weeks for an iPad after the release date in Japan was pushed back. His solution? Ask me to order one from the US. Which has all English apps, requires use of American itunes (which requires an American credit card and mailing address). He went through all that for an iPad 4 weeks early. Ok! So here's the iPad I had for 3 hours...

He of course paid me back for the iPad, shipping, taxes, forwarding service (since Apple won't ship to FPO addresses..boo!) and my trouble, but when we made the exchange, he brought me the cutest Japanese cakes. That is true Japanese style. Do something for me, I will give you something wonderful or edible. Or wonderfully edible.

PS. Did you notice it has a little ice pack since it was hot out last week. So smart. So J.

Thanks Osami! And no Annie, I didn't take his picture, but I wish I would have! He was very excited! He drove all the way to base to pick it up!

Mochitsuki

Glenn attended the JMSDF (Japanese Martime Self Defense Force) annual Mochi Pounding event. Unfortunately, the event was the same night as a squadron Christmas party that I had already committed to babysitting for so I could not attend.

Mochi is made from taking rice and pounding it with large hammers (the traditional way) or putting it in a mochi maker. It comes out as a chewy rice flavored sticky goo like substance. It's actually pretty good as unappetizing as my description sounds. Many times it is filled with another substance or coated in a substance to give it flavor. My personal favorite is mochi filled with ice cream!

                                     

Glenn said it was a great event. The Japanese are always so good at putting on events and this was no exception.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Last month at my Japanese Friendship Group meeting, we got the opportunity to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I've heard a lot about the ceremonies since we moved to Japan, but I had never seen one. The ceremony is almost like a meditation technique for those that study it. Many people study for many many years before they are fully "trained". Our teacher was Aya, the daughter of a member of the friendship group, but also a friend of mine. You may recognize her from the Yokohama bay cruise pictures and Octoberfest.

Aya made tea for us and told us when to eat our sweets, how to sit, how to hold the tea cup, how to rotate the cup and wipe it before the next person drinks! So many rules and methods to doing things, but only one motion or movement is done at a time. I think that's what makes it a meditation.

After Aya showed us how to make the tea, she gave me the opportunity to do it as well. It seemed so easy watching her! Pick up the whisk, put in some tea powder, easy peasy. It was not! Each motion had to be exact and with the correct technique. It was a lot harder than I was expecting, but I really enjoyed having the opportunity to try.

At the same friendship group meeting, a few of the Japanese ladies also played the koto for us. It is a Japanese harp like instrument. Mom, you will be happy to know that with those couple years of piano lessons, all I can play is Yankee Doodle. :)

I'm thankful to have all these opportunities to experience the Japanese culture while I'm here!

Engrish

We often see signs that don't make any sense in Japan. T-shirts or signs where the English is just not quite right. Many people have told me about www.engrish.com. Seriously though, all that stuff is true. It makes me realize though, what a difficult language English actually is. Just changing a preposition can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

When we were at the Red Brick Warehouse the other day we saw this sign. It took us a minute to figure out what they were even trying to sell. Can you figure it out?It's a coat hanger. :)

Engrish

My friend, Mari, posted this on her blog and it was just too funny to not pass on. Mari lives off-base and her landlord needed to check the windows before rainy season starts to make sure they are waterproof. Here is the note they left on her door:

"The request Mr. Krueger, Christopher
I become caring.
There is request.
As for 1 nail, I want to exchange an old pope in the place of the water supply meter from this pipe part at the water supply.
This construction can do construction when absent.
I report later what time to construct if it is possible to get a permission.
2 nails be able to point to the confirmation indoors because they do the soundproof construction to do at the Defense Agency in Japan and I want to get it on Friday or Saturday of this week.
As for the construction fo this time, I plan to exchange a window and a shutter at the 2nd floor big rooms.
I think whether or not that it is possible to enter construction is completed next year probably.
Decide Metoki if it is possible to have gotten a permission.
I request cooperation.
Make not injure physical condition because the day of rain on about 40 days increases from now.
June 9th
Sanyu Housing"

She was thoroughly confused as well. Japan is so fun sometimes. This is similar to the emails I get from my students when they need to cancel or change class. One of my students kept saying they could not meet for 27 days when really she meant the 27th. I had to explain the difference to her. I probably sound the same when I try to speak Japanese though.

Japanese classes are going well though, we started verbs this week! There is no such thing as conjugating verbs in Japanese, awesome! Just a different ending for the tense of the verb, but the verb stays the same all the time. Here is a short lesson for you:

Watashi wa 7-ji ni oki-masu.
I wake up/will wake up at 7:00.
(present/future)

Watashi wa 7-ji ni oki-mashita.
I woke up at 7:00.
(past tense)

Watashi wa 7-ji ni oki-masen.
I won't wake up at 7:00.
(present future negative)

Watashi wa 7-ji ni oki-masen-deshita.
I didn't wake up at 7:00.
(past tense negative)

Hopefully I'll still remember all my Japanese after I take the month of July off. I'll have to keep practicing!

Japanese Classes

On Wednesday, Heather, Laura and I started Japanese classes. Our teacher's name is Kengo Fugita and we will meet with him every Wednesday morning. I'm excited to start learning more and hopefully being able to understand some Japanese!I don't expect to learn kanji, but at least understanding the romanji would be nice. Romanji is when the Japanese is spelled out with roman letters. It would be nice to know hiragana and katakana too, but seriously, how many different written languages can you really learn? If I could speak some more Japanese, I'll be happy.

Hopefully I'll impress you all with my Japanese when you come visit. Who's gonna be the first to book a ticket? Anyone, anyone?