Marla Nelson
Having never visited Japan before, making the move for an entire year was very intimidating. I had no idea what to expect, much less an understanding of the language or culture. These barriers have been slowly fading, and I have found the Japanese people to be amazingly accomodating. The term *Minnesota nice* must now be applied to an entire country!Marbar
Travel Blog Posts
July 21st 2007
Sayounara! Asia » Japan » Ehime » Matsuyama By Marbar July 21st 2007 The aparto is looking bare. My head pounds from the last 3 nights of sayounara parties. I haven't eaten so much grub in this country since I got here. It's all part of the sayounara process here in Japan. I thought Minnesotans were long on goodbyes. My process here started 2 months ago and snowballed into the past five days. People I thought I had already bid farewell to continued to call for one more dinner. Oh, you're busy? How about lunch? You must eat one last real Japanese meal before you leave! Now I have just over 24 hours to scrub the flat, cancel cell phone accounts, close b... read more
June 24th 2007
Sometimes its those little things you never noticed before that bring a smile to your face. Like the signs posted at my train station about proper self conduct while riding. Or the excitement on the faces of new 1st grade elementary school students who have never seen you before and realize they can actually communicate with you. And one ought to never forget the joy of playing "dress-up" with her girlfriends. Even though the bulk of my "travels" are done I am still finding things are not too boring in the small inaka (country) town of Hojo. ... read more
June 10th 2007
The end is near, and instead of simply packing up and heading out, I feel my ties within the community have gotten stronger. Two weekends ago I took an hour trip south by train with my friend, Vania, to visit the orphanage in Uwajima. Most of the children there still have parents. It's just the parents are unable to care for the kids for some reason or another. Therefore, adoption is not an option, and most kids see their biological parents at visits once in a while. Also, its pretty taboo for Japanese to adopt unless they can't have their own kids and even then its not the norm. Family blood is a very important thing here. The visit was awesome. We ate lunch at the home and gave the kids presents for their birthdays ... read more
May 24th 2007
Here's some photos from the rest of the trip. Uber happy that Dad got to come out and visit with us, even if for only a day and a half. Spent 2 nights in Shinjuku with Craig catching up on the sights, then 2 nights in Ikebukuro with Dad and Craig. Ikebukuro is a shoppig mecca. When Craig and Dad left early on Sunday, I was sad for a while. Then I got a 20 minute massage in the train station and went shopping! Everything went well until the ANA computer disaster that stranded Craig and I both, he at Narita and me at Haneda. ... read more
May 22nd 2007
How lucky for me, my lovely brother decided to make the trip out to Japan this May and arrived in Matsuyama the morning of my birthday! The Handa family was kind enough to drive me out to pick him up at the airport, skipping the train and bus commute routine. Luckily Craig had packed the U of M shirts on the outside for Sayoko Handa and her daughter, Sawako. I am still attempting to convince Sawako to come live in Minnesota with my fam next year after she graduates high school. She's an uber talented student and speaks English pretty well. Maybe because her mother is a private English teacher. But thus far she plans to attend college and then become a housewife. I just want her to experience a little of the US of ... read more
May 1st 2007
After using the majority of my holidays for trips with Mike and the family, I decided to stay home for Golden Week. Turns out there was plenty to do in the little town of Hojo. From exploring in the mountains on my bike to beach barbecues and even a little matsuri (festival), the days were kept quite busy. I even spent time visiting former teachers and wearing kimono in a poor attempt to become Japanese. The blossoms were in full bloom up in the mountains. Coi flags were strung up all over town in celebration of Children's Day. The coi represent a family with a son. But you know if I were the daughter of one of those families I would have my own set of coi flags flying over my head! Sunday night I ... read more
April 22nd 2007
Missing you whist far from home! The countdown is on...just over 3 months left. Then we'll be back at the cabin in no time. Until then, Happy Birthday, and I miss you much! XOXOXOXOXOXOXXO love, Marla... read more
March 20th 2007
Ok, I'm lying alittle. I am writing this on the evening of April 6th, after bidding farewell to Mike at the airport and drowning my sorrows at the Junior High school teacher's enkai (drinking party) held for new teachers. But whilst Mike was in town I had absolutely no time to write and now is my time to catch up. Therefore, please excuse any typos to my teary tired eyes and read on about the crazy events we encountered along the way. From now on out I am on my own, so I have plenty of time to update, add and adjust these pics. So sad, yes, but it also gives me time to search for the job I will be needing upon return to the states in July. Hmmm, yes, probably a good idea ... read more
High fire Tobeyaki and high flying Uchiko kites
Published: March 17th 2007Asia » Japan » Ehime » Matsuyama
March 17th 2007
So back in March, I forgot to mention one of the most memorable free tours I have had yet in Japan. Mike and I joined an EPIC (Ehime Prefectural Information Center) tour offered to foreigners living in Ehime. They provide these tours for free to get us out and about more (knowing not many of us own cars) and to explore the surrounding areas. Our tour started with a visit to the Tobeyaki pottery factory. Modeled after Korean pottery kilns (the original stone kilns flank the hillside, and spread as they move up like an ampitheater to efficiently use all heat) the Tobeyaki factory prides itself in offering original handmade ware at affordable prices. Much of the ceramics in Japan, as my parents quickly learned, is extremely pricey. The tour of the factory was awesome. ... read more
February 25th 2007
yes, one MORE time! third time in Kyoto was the charm. I think I have finally gotten enough of my real life adventures in Japanese Art History. I took off Thursday and Friday to have more time to travel with Mike. Hopped on a 5 hour bus from Matsuyama Thursday morning after some quick Dunkin Donuts and arrived in Kyoto that afternoon to a warm sunshine. Dropped our bags at Tour Club hostel (great place!) and checked out Nishi Hongan ji. There was a service in session so we sat for a while with the monks chanting, admiring the gold work inside the huge wooden structure. A long-ish walk to Nijo Castle to check out the nightengale flooring. Lots of other white people there just at the same time for some reason, but it was interesting ... read more
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