This update started out much, much longer. I meant to get it started out a couple weeks ago, but Caden was sick with influenza A, then I got it. Not fun, but not horrible either. The aches and fever lasted a week. The congestion and sinus infection set in a week later. The day he went back to school, I got sick. Worst part…I knew it would take at least a week to recover. At that time I didn’t know about the imminent sinus infection for which we have both been treated. Thankfully we are better and no one else has shown any sign of illness.
At any rate I had to edit my message. It was way too long. In brief this is what our November was like…
We enjoyed two Thanksgiving dinners. One with Darin’s coworkers, the other with our Rokko Island Family. The latter was the best ever non-family Thanksgiving celebration. We had dinner in one apartment with eight other couples and a lot of yummy food. Two other apartments housed all our kids and their Thanksgiving feast of chicken nuggets and hot dogs. They weren’t unsupervised…we hired sitters. What a relaxing, enjoyable meal that was (sigh). Four hours with only adults and no interruptions!
Nathan’s latest kung fu performance at Rokko Island’s Cultural Festival can bee seen on youtube.com…www.youtub.com/user/kobekungfu, “Orbis Hall Rokko Island November 22, 2009.”
Nathan’s most recent, concerning endeavor is his afterschool club, Speech and Debate. He loves it, but does he really need more help arguing?
Our latest noteworthy Japanese culture lesson…
One Friday afternoon Nathan’s friend’s mom gave him a ride home from school. He had ridden his bike to school that morning, but had received a large book order that afternoon. Apparently his backpack was too heavy for him to ride his bike home. He planned to get his bike Monday after school. Which wouldn’t have been a problem had it been locked!
After school Monday he couldn’t find his bike. When he reported it missing to the school office the secretary suggested checking all three train stations on the island.
Long story short (I’m leaving out all the parental yelling parts…and there were a few) the following Thursday Darin found Nathan’s bike at the train station furthest away from the school. It was parked neatly in the bike parking area. Even the lock was there. No helmet though. The helmet was found later at school near the bike racks.
The cultural lesson: People here don’t “steal” bikes they just “borrow” them to get to their destination. Good to know. When I shared this story with our apartment Front Reception staff, her response was, “Oh, so somebody just borrowed the bike.” Okay, then, well…I still don’t think it’s polite unless the “borrowed” item is returned, by the borrower, to the exact location the borrowee originally left it. I refrained from sharing my opinion on the absurdity of Japanese “borrowing,” and how “borrowing” is considered a crime where we come from. I guess one could surmise, using Japanese logic, that the US doesn’t have a high crime rate, it has a high borrowing rate. And look where that got the economy?
Found another new Pepsi. This time the flavor is Azuki, red bean paste. Yes, red bean paste, mmmmmm. The azuki bean is boiled with sugar, which results in the bean paste commonly used in Japanese deserts. I’m actually a fan of the red bean paste in Japanese deserts. Just not sure how I feel about it in my soda…
After doing a little research I discovered there have been four unique Japanese Pepsi flavors that have been released during the past two years…Pepsi Ice Cucumber, Pepsi Blue Hawaii, Pepsi Shiso and Pepsi Azuki. We experienced Pepsi Blue Hawaii (pineapple and lemon flavor, not bad) on our home finding visit and recently had Shiso, but I’m terribly sad we missed the Ice Cucumber. I’m guessing it was green and…perhaps, refreshing?
It has been especially difficult to be away from home this Christmas season, but believe it or not I find comfort in the Christmas music. Nearly all the stores here play Christmas music. NOT Holiday music, CHRISTMAS music. Traditional Christmas carols, ones you would never hear in public places in the US because they reflect only one religion…”Away in a Manger,” “What Child is This,” “O Holy Night,” Joy to the World,” “Silent Night.” It is so uplifting to hear those songs when I am out and about shopping. Even at one of the train stations there is a window display done by the Art School of Kobe, that says “Happy Birthday” and “Merry CHRISTmas”. Can’t see that happening in a public place anywhere in the country that professes religious freedom. Ironic, too, as this country isn’t even one percent Christian!
One that note…
We wish everyone a truly blessed and safe Christmas filled with Christ and the remembrance of His gift and sacrifice. Not much point to the holiday (or life, for that matter) without Him.
Merry Christmas!!
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:17
