This Wednesday, Ally invited me to a calligraphy class at Tokyo Lutheran. A member of their congregation is a professional calligrapher and gives a class once a week. He showed us how to hold the brushes and guided us through a few strokes before letting us try it out on our own for a while.
Ally was a natural and all the older ladies participating in the class oohed and ahhhed over her work. :-) Before we left, the instructor made Ally and I each a piece of artwork to take with us.
Friday was the night of the J-3 potluck dinner. (J-3 is the moniker for the program I'm in. 'J' for Japan and '3' for the number of years of service.) The past and present J-3s in the Tokyo area get together a few times a year for dinner and fellowship. Christine knew several of the people from her previous stint as a J-3 and Ally and I got to meet many of the others we've been hearing so much about since we arrived, in addition to getting to hang out with the amazing J-3s we had met already. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and friendly. And funny. I can't leave that one out. I don't remember the last time I laughed so much in one night!
Saturday, a big group of us met in Yokohama to go to Oktoberfest. It was similar to Oktoberfest in the States, minus the rides. We were there on the second to last day, so it was really busy. There were lots of picnic tables set up outside and a tent that housed many of the food/beer vendors, as well as a band. Ally and I went to explore the tent and got there just in time for the band to play “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The crowd went crazy! Picture several hundred mostly inebriated Japanese people scream-singing John Denver. If you can't picture it, check out the pictures on my flickr account. There are also a few videos on my youtube channel. (Last week I forgot to upload my videos from Sports Day, so those have been posted now, too.)
On a much more somber note, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my wonderful Great Aunt Rosie. She had been battling cancer for the last several years and lost that fight Friday. I am incredibly thankful that Phillip and I had time to see her and Uncle John over the summer before we both moved away. I am equally thankful for the wonderful memories from my childhood that were made in their house. While I take comfort in knowing that she is no longer suffering, her death has been a painful reminder of just how far away I am from my family. I will be thinking of you all Friday during the memorial service. Love you Aunt Rosie!
I am also grateful for friends who will sit with you late into the night, make you tea, and distract you with laughter. Thanks Ally! :-)
Lessons learned this week:
- The timer on my toaster oven functions even if the device itself isn't plugged in, creating the disappointing illusion of toast.
- If my magicJack is plugged in to the computer, the sound on Skype won't work.
- Cheap chinese food is still expensive in Chinatown.
Okay, when you write "Ally" I think you are talking about yourself in the first-person. Also, was unaware you had a YouTube page as well. *Subscribe*.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of her passing.
What's a majicJack? Sorry to hear of your Aunt's passing. Is that your mom or dad's sister?
ReplyDeleteI might go to Marcus Takach's funeral tomorrow, but it will be outside and it's really really cold.
I miss you!