Today our students leave back to their farms. Their American home stay is over, and Yuki and Ryo must return to those farms from whence they came.
Yuki is returning to his rice farming in Colorado for two more months. He'll have no more marathon stays at the library, no more dodging English conversations, no more hotdog fests.
Ryo gets to go back to his apple orchards in Williams for two more months. No more fermented beans, no more having Genna throw objects at his head, no more muggings.
We have had a really fun time with these two. On the whole, it was a very positive experience. We wish we could have gotten to know Yuki more, but he was far too elusive. Ryo was much more involved in our family, and we actually hope to see him some more, as he will only be a 1/2 hour away, and he has made some friends in church.
We love that our girls were exposed to more culture - different languages and appearances and foods. They also had to learn how to share - afterall, Yuki did steal their play room for his bedroom. But we are also very much looking forward to having our privacy back. We are slowly becoming empty nesters - two kids gone, three to go. My how they grow up.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
A Bad Combination
I spent all yesterday afternoon, evening, and night in a variety of stomach flu-induced positions - fetal, tortured, and my favorite, 'homage to the porcelain throne.' Vomiting - and other flu related expulsions - triggered fits of coughing and sneezing which caused my neck pain to flare up every time. And I couldn't sleep well because of all the pain. It was wonderful.
It was around 10:30 last night when I finally got comfortable enough on my many pillows to try to fall asleep. I had almost drifted into a drug-hazed slumber when I caught the smell of whatever our Japanese students were cooking (yes, at that late hour!). I fought wavesof nausea at the smell while Annie tried to soothe me. Weariness finally overcame me, and after about 10 minutes of warding off the stench of their cooking I fell asleep.
Annie discovered the next morning what they had cooked. They had unearthed another package of natto - fermented (rotten) soy beans - and cooked it up with ... guess ... go ahead and guess ... that's right - HOTDOGS!
I am drafting legislation to outlaw such concoctions. It is unholy.
It was around 10:30 last night when I finally got comfortable enough on my many pillows to try to fall asleep. I had almost drifted into a drug-hazed slumber when I caught the smell of whatever our Japanese students were cooking (yes, at that late hour!). I fought wavesof nausea at the smell while Annie tried to soothe me. Weariness finally overcame me, and after about 10 minutes of warding off the stench of their cooking I fell asleep.
Annie discovered the next morning what they had cooked. They had unearthed another package of natto - fermented (rotten) soy beans - and cooked it up with ... guess ... go ahead and guess ... that's right - HOTDOGS!
I am drafting legislation to outlaw such concoctions. It is unholy.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Pumped Up
My neck pain continues to be a real problem for me. Things were getting so bad that, in the middle of last week, both hands and even my feet were tingling or going numb. On Friday my doctor perscribed Prednisone - the most powerful oral steroid available. It is supposed to kill the pain and end the inflammation.
My regimen now consists of Vicodin, ibuprophen, and Prednisone. My neck is improving - no more numbness or tingling - but the pain is still there. What do all of these drugs mean? If my work wanted to do some drug testing on me, I would come up positive for narcotics and steroids. My hope is that on the other side of this I will look like this guy ...
Annie can't wait.
My regimen now consists of Vicodin, ibuprophen, and Prednisone. My neck is improving - no more numbness or tingling - but the pain is still there. What do all of these drugs mean? If my work wanted to do some drug testing on me, I would come up positive for narcotics and steroids. My hope is that on the other side of this I will look like this guy ...
Annie can't wait.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
FHE Gone Wrong
Last night we had a very ... interesting family home evening. Our Monday nights can be a bit tricky - it isn't the easiest to keep two 2-3/4-year-olds and a baby entertained through a gospel lesson, but we do our best.
We opened up with rousing renditions of "Popcorn Popping On The Apricot Tree" and "Once There Was A Snowman" and then had a prayer. Annie taught the lesson, which consisted of holding up a painting of numerous animals, depicting the Creation. The twins had a fun time pointing out the different animals - whales, seals, lions, birds, etc. Annie then asked, "Who made the animals?"
Kate's answer: "Patty!" (their nursery leader).
Annie suppressed her laugh and said, "Yes, Patty draws animals for you. But who created all of the animals."
Silence.
Annie, pressing on, said, "Jesus made all of the animals, didn't he?"
Kate responded, "Yes! Jesus made all the animals with a magic wand!" She then thrust her hand out, as though waving said wand.
That was it. We all started cracking up, including my siblings who were in attendance. Clearly, the world of Disney had once again been blurred with the Gospel. I can only imagine that Kate had in her mind some image of a fairy godmother/Christ being, complete with blue robes and a wand, creating animals. After all, doesn't the fairy godmother transform mice into horses, dogs into footmen, etc.? We need to get this all straightened out, and soon!
We opened up with rousing renditions of "Popcorn Popping On The Apricot Tree" and "Once There Was A Snowman" and then had a prayer. Annie taught the lesson, which consisted of holding up a painting of numerous animals, depicting the Creation. The twins had a fun time pointing out the different animals - whales, seals, lions, birds, etc. Annie then asked, "Who made the animals?"
Kate's answer: "Patty!" (their nursery leader).
Annie suppressed her laugh and said, "Yes, Patty draws animals for you. But who created all of the animals."
Silence.
Annie, pressing on, said, "Jesus made all of the animals, didn't he?"
Kate responded, "Yes! Jesus made all the animals with a magic wand!" She then thrust her hand out, as though waving said wand.
That was it. We all started cracking up, including my siblings who were in attendance. Clearly, the world of Disney had once again been blurred with the Gospel. I can only imagine that Kate had in her mind some image of a fairy godmother/Christ being, complete with blue robes and a wand, creating animals. After all, doesn't the fairy godmother transform mice into horses, dogs into footmen, etc.? We need to get this all straightened out, and soon!
Monday, March 27, 2006
Traditional Japanese Cuisine
On Saturday, some friends from church took our student, Ryo, out to the farmers' market and the Asian market to procure some ingredients for a couple of Japanese dishes they wanted to prepare for us for dinner. Annie was apprehensive - she isn't the most ... adventurous eater.
The first dish they cooked was okonomiaki. It is pancake-shaped food, made of flour, eggs, cabbage, green onions, sliced pork, fish flakes, and okonomi sauce. It was wonderful. It wasn't until after dinner, though, that we found out that okonomiaki flour consist of not only wheat and every other grain, but also ground up remains of multiple fishes and other delectable - not for use in your average bread recipe.
The other entree wasn't a hit - in fact, none of the women folk would try it. Once I heard that the dish, known as natto, was a 'traditional' Japanese food, I knew it was going to be scary. It starts off with some white rice and green onions - not bad at all. But then Ryo added in some raw egg. The final ingredient was fermented/rotten beans that literally smelled like week-old gym socks.
Now, I have always made it a point always to try any food placed in front of me. I took a big spoonful and ate it without complaint. I then spent the next ten minutes trying to convince myself that I hadn't eaten Shaquille O'Neal's socks.
It turned out to be a good dinner, and we were very thankful that they went to all of the effort of making us dinner. But why does every 'traditional' cultural food have to be disgusting?
The first dish they cooked was okonomiaki. It is pancake-shaped food, made of flour, eggs, cabbage, green onions, sliced pork, fish flakes, and okonomi sauce. It was wonderful. It wasn't until after dinner, though, that we found out that okonomiaki flour consist of not only wheat and every other grain, but also ground up remains of multiple fishes and other delectable - not for use in your average bread recipe.
The other entree wasn't a hit - in fact, none of the women folk would try it. Once I heard that the dish, known as natto, was a 'traditional' Japanese food, I knew it was going to be scary. It starts off with some white rice and green onions - not bad at all. But then Ryo added in some raw egg. The final ingredient was fermented/rotten beans that literally smelled like week-old gym socks.
Now, I have always made it a point always to try any food placed in front of me. I took a big spoonful and ate it without complaint. I then spent the next ten minutes trying to convince myself that I hadn't eaten Shaquille O'Neal's socks.
It turned out to be a good dinner, and we were very thankful that they went to all of the effort of making us dinner. But why does every 'traditional' cultural food have to be disgusting?
Friday, March 24, 2006
My Lips!
Here is a story that my mom and sisters can relate to ...
The twins had just finished eating, and Annie had gotten Genna down from her highchair. She had just walked back to the kitchen, when she heard Kate start crying from her highchair, loudly. Annie turned to Kate and asked her what was wrong. Kate said, "My lips! My lips!" She continued to cry and then pointed to Genna, "Sleeping Beauty has my lips!"
Annie looked over to see Genna standing a few feet away, with her hand held up and clenched in a fist as though she were holding something. She had a mischievious look on her face. "Genna, give Kate her lips back," Annie said. Without a word, Genna opened her hand and made a throwing motion towards Kate. She then ran away.
Kate, now reunited with her lips, stopped crying.
I love little kids' imaginations. They are so rich. Sometimes, though, they go way too far. What made Genna pretend to steal Kate's lips, and what made Kate think that Genna had actually stolen her lips? We will never know.
The twins had just finished eating, and Annie had gotten Genna down from her highchair. She had just walked back to the kitchen, when she heard Kate start crying from her highchair, loudly. Annie turned to Kate and asked her what was wrong. Kate said, "My lips! My lips!" She continued to cry and then pointed to Genna, "Sleeping Beauty has my lips!"
Annie looked over to see Genna standing a few feet away, with her hand held up and clenched in a fist as though she were holding something. She had a mischievious look on her face. "Genna, give Kate her lips back," Annie said. Without a word, Genna opened her hand and made a throwing motion towards Kate. She then ran away.
Kate, now reunited with her lips, stopped crying.
I love little kids' imaginations. They are so rich. Sometimes, though, they go way too far. What made Genna pretend to steal Kate's lips, and what made Kate think that Genna had actually stolen her lips? We will never know.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Robbed
Last night Annie and I were woken up by our Japanese student, Ryo, calling for my name. I emerged from my bedroom to find him standing in the entryway with another guy standing next to him. Ryo looked messed up. Here's what happened:
Ryo left the bus stop at the mall and was making his way home on his bike. At around 11:15 pm he was crossing an intersection - still biking - when a guy appeared from nowhere and punched him in the face, knocking him off his bike. A group of guys - around 4 - 5 of them - then surrounded him, kicking and punching him. They continued until a car pulled over. They then took his backpack and bolted. Per Ryo's recollection, they left in a car. They guy who pulled over helped Ryo get up, put his bike into his car and then drove him home. He was a Target employee who happened to be driving by when it happened.
Get this, though - the guys who attacked and robbed Ryo were around 10 - 12 years old! Thug kids assaulted my student and stole his backpack - including his wallet, electronic translator, and ID! They looked to be Hispanic, according to the Target good Samaritan. Annie called the police, and by 11:30 we had four firefighters, two paramedics, and police officer in our house. Ryo suffered some cuts and scrapes, both from falling off his bike and from the beating. All his vitals were fine, so he declined being taken to the hospital. Poor guy!
What really makes me mad is that this isn't the first time our students have fallen prey to criminal elements in our town. My sister-in-law's students have had a bike stolen, and the other was a victim of a hit and run! These students, all of whom are good guys, are going to go home with tales of how dangerous the U.S. is. This kind of stuff just doesn't happen in Japan.
We filed a police report, but no one seemed very hopeful that these punks are going to be brought to justice.
Ryo left the bus stop at the mall and was making his way home on his bike. At around 11:15 pm he was crossing an intersection - still biking - when a guy appeared from nowhere and punched him in the face, knocking him off his bike. A group of guys - around 4 - 5 of them - then surrounded him, kicking and punching him. They continued until a car pulled over. They then took his backpack and bolted. Per Ryo's recollection, they left in a car. They guy who pulled over helped Ryo get up, put his bike into his car and then drove him home. He was a Target employee who happened to be driving by when it happened.
Get this, though - the guys who attacked and robbed Ryo were around 10 - 12 years old! Thug kids assaulted my student and stole his backpack - including his wallet, electronic translator, and ID! They looked to be Hispanic, according to the Target good Samaritan. Annie called the police, and by 11:30 we had four firefighters, two paramedics, and police officer in our house. Ryo suffered some cuts and scrapes, both from falling off his bike and from the beating. All his vitals were fine, so he declined being taken to the hospital. Poor guy!
What really makes me mad is that this isn't the first time our students have fallen prey to criminal elements in our town. My sister-in-law's students have had a bike stolen, and the other was a victim of a hit and run! These students, all of whom are good guys, are going to go home with tales of how dangerous the U.S. is. This kind of stuff just doesn't happen in Japan.
We filed a police report, but no one seemed very hopeful that these punks are going to be brought to justice.
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