Reflections

I’ve been in Canada a week now. It is really good to be with my family, spend some time with my sister, and settle into my new place. I like it here but I am really missing Japan. It’s just different. The weeks also given me a chance to reflect on my year in a different culture to see how the time has shaped and changed me. I am really thankful for the past year and all that God has done in me. In the looking back here are a few of the good memories:

Liz Size
Turning Japanese
Vending Machine Fun
Maki’s Car
In Hiroshima
On Mt. Fuji

I’m going to be without a permanent internet connection till about September 7th. So I guess I’ll see you then.

Memoirs of a Moose

Over the past year I’ve shared my experiences of life in Japan. It is now the Moose’s turn. I still get some funny looks and questions about the Moose. So for those curious his name is Melvin. Before I left the New Hope youth group gave him to me so that I would have a traveling companion-bodyguard-mascot-something Canadian. Here are some pictures from his journey: Just thinking

Taste from home

Samuri Sanders

Yum Yum Green Tea

You say goodbye and I say hello

Tried to post this the August 4th, when I was leaving Japan but the internet decided to be mean.

I'm Home safe.
Life is good.
I've moved into my new place.
I miss Japan.

Gedo Senki

Maki and I went to see the newest release from Studio Ghibli, the company that brought us Totoro, Kiki, and the Howl’s Moving Castle. The biggest difference this one wasn’t director was not the acclaimed Hayao Miyazaki but rather his son.

I really enjoyed it. Only I have next to no idea what happened because my Japanese isn’t that good. I did recognize a few words but not enough to understand. Maki tried to explain after but that didn’t really work, she did a good job but there were just too many themes to explain. Still good times. I did like it. Some of the editing choices were interesting haven’t decided what I think of that. The movie is based off the Earthsea’s series I think the Farthest Shore. Thinking about reading them when I get home.

Then we went shopping and dinner. Can’t believe tonight is my last night in Japan. I hate packing.

God Wants You

Perfect Day

Creation Wonde

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;

and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.

GOD WANTS YOU!

Sending you a warm hello!!

Got to love Engrish

Picture Club

One of my favourite ways to end good days is with a fun "pu-ri-ku-ra" (pronounced pu-lee-cue-la) It’s all the joy of a photo booth but the added fun of adding words and things after. The more friends the better. And they are printed on a sticker back. Most of times Maki and I go out we try and get a purikura done. Here are just a few from the past year:

And heres the process:

Word Up: Kawaii -Cute

Fun and Fireworks

Spent the evening with Yoko and her family. Good times. There was a great food and huge fireworks show. The only downside of the night was walking up the hill to their apartment and returning home after. Stairs are still my ultimate nemesis…and I found two new blisters. I think it was thought it.

One of my favourite parts of learning Japanese is use of foreign words. They sound so close yet so different. For example cheese becomes cheezu, coffee become co-he, Liz becomes ri-zu. Yoko shared with me that on trip to America she brought a music box for her sister and American brother-in-law as a gift. After opening the gift she was asked what it was. She said "It’s a orugooru" which is Japanese for music box. They didn’t understand which surprised Yoko because she thought orugooru had come from English. With that idea she tried again, time using her best English inflection and said: "all-gold". Classic language fun.

Word Up: Enjoy-ta Kudasai –a mix of English and Japanese to request you to enjoy, please.