International potluck at church… Each year our church has an international potluck. This year the food tables were divided up like this: Korean, Japanese, Asian, and the rest of the world. Just a little reminder that America is not the only country in this world. It’s good to turn our heads once in a while and appreciate those differences. My favorite food was the authentic Korean beef bulgogi.
Caterpillar’s American football vs. the rest of the world’s football (soccer) game... I didn't attend because I happened to be in charge of the “Rest of the World’s” food table at church that day. But Darin and the boys did and had a fun time.
FedEx Frustrations… At the beginning of December, Japan put a 1 lb. weight restriction on all outgoing packages to the U.S. (per U.S. insistence). So instead of using the Japanese post, I decided to ship two packages FedEx. Easy enough, right? Nope. I learned one cannot successfully send a package containing food via FedEx from Japan to the US. At least not without a huge deficit of yen, patience, and time. Thank goodness the ban was lifted. Unbeknownst to me however, it was lifted during the very time I was filling out paperwork for my soon to be doomed FedEx shipment. Silly me. Had I waited just one more day I could have avoided the obscene amount of money I had to pay to have the package sent to the U.S, then back again. The package containing food got stuck in US Customs. And I mean stuck. They wouldn’t send it on without information from the food manufacturer. Now, how on earth was I going to contact a Japanese food manufacturer and request that information? Really? I had to consider the cost of having the package returned versus the cost of my admittance into a Japanese mental facility. I chose to have the package was returned. (Mostly because the institution meals likely consist of fish.) Once I received the package from the US, I was then able to successfully send it out (again) via EMS, the Japanese express mailing service. Not sure if that is really what is stands for, but that’s what it means to me.
Christmas program at church... It is always early in December since most people leave mid-month for holiday. Nathan took part in reading Luke 2:8-11 in English along with his American-Korean friend. The same verses were then read in Korean and Japanese. Again a nice little reminder there is a big world out there, and the word of God can unite us all.
Christmas goodies… I got together with friends one afternoon to make a Christmas goodies for all Caden’s preschool teachers. The teachers loved it of course. All but one are Japanese. They do enjoy American treats!
Kung Fu sifu (teacher) returned… Nathan’s Kung Fu instructor who had left for the US in October returned to Japan with an announcement that his classes would resume in January. Can’t even begin to describe the void that was created when he left. Not just with Nathan but with the other kung fu students as well. There were a bunch of happy kids when we got that email!
Christmas shopping with friends… We went to through the mountain…not kidding, through the mountain, to Sanda Outlet Mall. Unfortunately this is a high-end outlet mall with prices too steep for me, but still fun to visit. When we arrived the first thing we heard as we stepped out of the van was “real” Christmas music. Certainly helps with the Christmas spirit when one is so far from home to hear “Away in a Manger”, “O Holy Night”, and “What Child is This?”. Not just the superficial, religion-neutral holiday fluff. Believe it or not, I’m going to miss Japan during the Christmas holiday.
Grandma and Grandpa McCleery… Darin’s parents arrived December 16. They were here for three weeks. Darin was able to be off work for most of their visit. They saw many sights…Osaka Castle, Bird and Flower Park, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Mt. Rokko, Akashi bridge, Harborland and even a tour of the CAT facility. It was a little difficult to find activities during the last few days of December and first few days of January. In Japan, New Year’s is the holiday of the year, not Christmas, so many businesses are closed during that time.
Our break was enjoyable, but thankfully now all normal schedules have resumed!
