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Published: January 11th 2006
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I realize this is a bit late, but my excuse is that we live in Japan! The plan was to write this up on the 4th after our Internet was installed, but for reasons we still can't comprehend Yahoo (the net provider) had some difficulties and will not be able to install it until the 26th.
So far 2006 has been a great year. Colin had a week off work and we had a car so we were able to see much more of Japan. We went snowboarding twice, which was lots of fun. Colin seemed to enjoy the fact that I scream every time the snowboard moves. I'm starting to get the hang of it, but the two hour lesson in Japanese is obviously not enough. Thankfully, a friend lent me a helmet and I have had an offer from an experienced snowboarder (who speaks English) to teach me.
Our Japanese is coming along slower then we hoped, which does not have anything to do with the fact that we never study it anymore. My plan to unconsciously absorb it, isn't working as well as I hoped. So we both made New Years resolutions to study more, although
Dinner
Yuriko's mom pulling appart somekind of crustacean we still haven't cracked a book... In our defense it is a difficult language!
Both of us know katakana, the Japanese alphabet that is used to write words that are borrowed from English, for example bidio (video). This has been helpful and we have fun trying to figure out what they mean, which is even more difficult since there are rarely spaces between the words. I still remember hirigana, the Japanese alphabet, from the three years of Japanese I took in school (I'm impressed I retained any of it), but I rarely understand what I'm reading. They also use Chinese characters which make it impossible to read. The characters are so detailed and there are thousands of them. Also, when they use them in different combinations the meaning changes. I take comfort in the fact that many Japanese have difficulty with them. We have memorized the ones for Takizawa (where we live) and a few other places so we can get around.
We have had great success living with our limited Japanese, but are looking forward to being able to communicate more effectively.
OK, this posting was supposed to be about New Years, which is a quiet, family
Washing our hearts
Before praying we needed to "wash our hearts", which involved washing our hands and rinsing our mouth... The pic is of me and Yuriko oriented holiday in Japan. We spent New Years Eve at home drinking champagne, hoping to hear the bells from the shrine near our place. Our friend Yuriko invited us to spend New Years day with her family. She brought us to Hachiman-gu, the biggest shrine in Morioka, to pray with hundreds of other people. Thankfully, our guide book fully prepared us with the proper sequence of bows (one shallow, one deep, clap twice(to get the Gods to pay attention to you), ring the bell, pray, bow one deep and one shallow). It was a great experience and we are very lucky to have been invited to go.
Afterwards we bought fortunes, which we later tied to string outside the shrine. My fortune was the best possible one there is, so I'm supposed to have and amazing year if I take care of my back, my feet (which at the time were the coldest they have ever been in my life) and stop taking such good care of Colin. Colin's said he'd have an ok year, which he figures is because I won't be taking care of him =)
After the shrine we went back to Yuriko's and they dressed us
Hachmangu
The line to pray, we were very cold by the time we made it to the front! in Kimonos!!!!! Colin wore one of her dad's and I wore one of her's. They were so beautiful! It took four people 45 minutes to dress us! It was quite the event and definitely worth all of the effort.
Afterwards, we sat on the floor (of course) and ate a special New Years dinner. Most of it was cold, sweet seafood and was an experience on its' own! I tried abalone for the first time (not a fan) and a few mystery things. We also ate lots of mochi (pounded rice cake) and sweet beans. It was great to eat with a Japanese family.
Next we went to Kareoke!!!!!! In Japan you get your own room to sing in and just need to pick up the phone to order drinks! It was lots of fun and we got to hear some good Japanese music and lots of kids songs (Yuriko's 3 year old niece came with us).
All the best for the New Year!!!!!!!!
Love Maddy & Colin
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Adam
non-member comment
Steph and I enjoy reading your blog
Hey Maddy and Colin, Steph and I have been enjoying your weblog. Sounds like all is well with your side of Japan. Thanks for adding us to your weblog. Take care and come visit us in Wajima.. :) -Adam http://photos.kahtava.com | http://blog.kahtava.com