Potter!

 I met up with my college roommate and best friend on her annual trip to Florida.  This time, we went to Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure theme-park specifically for the Harry Potter section.  Jackie is a big fan and her birthday is coming up... so I volunteered. 

There was no arm-twisting though, it was so fun!  I mean, it was HOT and there were a lot of people, but totally fun.

The butterbeer was ridiculous--WAY too sweet.  The pumpkin juice was good though

The trippy thing about this park is that it really looks like you are in a wintery English village.  So while it is baking hot, you are looking at all these snow-covered houses.  ha ha ha.

Other Harry Potter- type things:

Wait a sec!  I'm wearing shorts!  Yes, I bought some shorts in Japan and it is probably my first time wearing shorts in public in years and years.  Thank you spider-vein sclerotherapy!

Jackie is a music teacher and most of her students are in elementary school.  She told me that they assigned all the teachers and students a house in Harry Potter.  She was unhappy that she got Hufflepuff.  I decided later in the day that I wanted to be in Slytherin, the mean house.  Come on, they get a cool snake on their crest and they wear green.  badass.

hypogriff

Wow, I learned A LOT about Harry Potter that day.  I think I've seen most of the movies, but I guess I didn't absorb much.  Kyohei complains that he hasn't seen any of the movies.  I'm pretty sure that isn't true.  We might start a HP movie marathon via Netflix.  Yeah, I am pretty much the most non-dorky person ever, ha ha ha.

The rest of the park was really fun too.  Oh, did I mention the Harry Potter rides were great!  We had the most fun making fun of this one ride called Poseidon's Fury.  It was so weird. 

They also had some of the worst souvenirs EVER.  Including things like a President's Day 2010 Spiderman pin and a mini Feb. 2009 Dora the Explorer button.  Why would anyone buy these!?

What would you do?

 On one hand, we know that the citizens for NorKor are starving. 

On the other hand, we can pretty much bet that if we give food to NorKor that the corrupt government and military will take off with it.  Now, one of the US' strongest allies is asking us not to give aid (though Europe already decided it would give aid)

I am categorically bad at forming opinions on grey-area issues like these, which is why I would like to hear what you think.  There are those that support ceasing all aid to NorKor to bring about a revolution that would overthrow Jim Jong Il 'n company.  That's one theory.  But how many people will suffer and die before that happens? 

Japanese lawmakers on Thursday urged US pressure on North Korea in a row over kidnappings and voiced confidence that Washington would reject the communist state's requests for emergency food.

1/2 year update:

 Since we've passed the halfway marker on the year, I like to take stock of how I am coming on my New Year's goals.

My Top 5 goals for 2011:

1) Not to be admitted to the hospital-  So far so good.  I just paid off last year's stay.

2) read 10 books--  Not so good.  I'm only at 3.  How pathetic!

3) double my savings-- I'm on track.  I have a good chance of getting this done if I stay the course and try hard.

4) tell 3 people my secret-- I don't know how committed I feel about this anymore, we'll see.  There is enough misery in the air for now.

5) visit a distant friend--  DONE, done and done again

So far, it's been a pretty busy year; a funeral, a birthday, 3 bachelorette parties, 4 weddings, a semester of Turkish + 2 Turkish Festivals, 2 concerts and an anniversary.  Nothing like front-loading your year, eh?

the weight

 ...of the world

I thought 2011 was going to be an awesome  year-- in my crackpot list of theories, odd years always seem to be better.  I shudder to think what 2012 will be like if I look back on '11 like the grass was greener.  Maybe the Mayans are right??  That said, it's only 1/2 over, so here's hoping for a bright 6 months.

Actually, I can't really complain.  My personal life is fine, if not pretty much great.  It's just that sometimes it seems like everything is falling apart around me.  So many of my friends are dealing with huge life crisis and life/death issues.  I feel very consumed with worry for them.  It's horrible, all these people I know and love are living through my own worst fears.  What can I do for them?

I wish I weren't so awkward and emotionally distant... and stronger.  Much stronger.

Jess & Mike

the 3rd wedding of the month!

One of the best things about this wedding was that the groom is a super enthusiastic beer brewer!  Rumor has it that he regularly wins ribbons in the Ohio State Fair and even grows some of his own hops.  SWEET!

That said, he brewed all the beer for the wedding!  There were 4 delicious choices. 

AWESOME!  We received hand-etched beer glasses as favors too!

Another great thing about this wedding was getting to see all my sorority friends again.  It's been soooooo long (like either 5 years since my wedding or 8 years since graduation).
 Now most of them are married and had their husbands in tow. 

wow, I love cake

It's amazing how gown-up everyone seemed and at the same time, it was like no one had changed at all.  What a blast.

Congrats!

I flew home to PA the next day, July 3, in time to catch some Independence Day festivities.  My consumption of beer coupled with a turbulent landing resulting in my inaugural use of the airplane barf-bag.  Luckily, no one was next to me.  Nothing says "class" like hurling on a plane.

I only got two days at home because work-- and well, it's not like I haven't been taking my fair share of vacation days lately. ha ha ha.

My mom made this pineapple upside-down cake for a picnic.  It was super. 

Anyway, it's always good to be home for a few days.  I got to see lots of the cousins and family members too.  Always nice.  That concludes this month of back-to-back-to-back summer wedding travel (Boston-Japan-Columbus).  I tallied 12 different airports this month-whhooot!  I should be a dang flight attendant! 

hitobito

Japan, 2011

My relationship with Japan has changed over the past 10 years.  What used to be a place of study and exploration is now a second home.  That being, instead of going there to see new things and "tour" I am now there to spend quality time with the family and see old things and reminisce.  A trip to Japan is now more like a trip to Pennsylvania rather than a foreign country. 

This is fine with me, although it may come as a rude awakening to anyone who wants to piggy-back on my travels to the country (sorry, I don't think I can tour-guide anymore).   Most of the time, I just hung out with the family and even managed to squeeze a couple of visits to friends into the week.

What made me the most happy was how well everyone seemed to be doing.  Everyone has made positive progress in their life since I was last there.  I even got to go visit my old dance studio which has since expanded dramatically!  The place is awesome now. 

Since I was in Japan in 2009, Kazuno and her husband have since completed construction on their new home with her cafe attached. 

Her daughter is so big now too-- already in kindergarten!

Her cafe is lovely!  I think I'm going to schedule my meet-ups here from now on

Maki and I pick cucumbers out of her friends' garden

Kaori and her dog--cute

Notita!  Never a dull moment or a lag in the conversation   Her daughter wants to come to college in the States-- I hope she comes to UF-- it will be like having a cool foreign-exchange student that I already know!

I went to see the little kids I used to tutor... how they've grown!  Good thing they are still young enough to enjoy the toys I brought.

.... and a trip to the game center!

These kids are so good at the UFO catcher-- they 'caught' all sorts of prizes for me

Stupendous Lady Gaga display at a bookstore

Kyohei and his best friend, Sukko

Sukko is definitely part of the family (at the family restaurant again)

Our last night there, Kyohei and I registered our marriage in Japan.

Now our union is internationally recognized (as el_nor put it)!  We thought we should do something special for our big 5 year anniversary.

On the bus ride back to the airport. I just really like the way Japan looks

One of my souvenirs from the trip-- lion slippers that clean the floor as you walk, lol

Other random bits

* I got a $20 facial (usually $80).  I saw the ad in a local magazine.  I don't know if it helped clear my pores at all, but having my face electrocuted was interesting.

* I did acupuncture again.  This time Kyohei tried it too.  I know its critics say it is "fake," but it really is a crazy sensation.  I can feel jolts of energy/nerves run down my limbs as orange starbursts explode behind my eyes. 

** The entire time I was there, I was determined to give a gift (hand out of money, food, or drink) to a pilgrim.  I was given these gifts nearly everyday I was on the route.  I feel forever indebted by this kindness.  I really tried to find another pilgrim.  We were driving along the route several different times and I never saw one.  I was pretty disappointed.  Then, at the last possible minute, as we were waiting for highway bus back to the airport, a pilgrim walked up the road.  I was thrilled!  I ran out and gave him 200 yen.  fate.

Things of beauty

Japan, 2011

 
Sukko lent Kyohei his Convertible Kompressor for the week.  NICE

 

Kyohei and I went for a drive up the mountain.  Japan always looks good in the mountain and from the mountain.

Then I found this huge patch of hydrangeas.  I was in heaven!

I've always liked Japanese Maples too

The next day, Kyohei surprised me by taking me to this shrine that he used to go to with his grandfather.

We paid to have a prayer done for our general safety and well being.  Then Kyohei told them that I am interested in Shinto and sometimes teach about it at my University.  (how embarrassing)  The priest's wife ended up giving me a copy of a book that they only had 10 of and was out of print... wow!  She said the gods must have made me to teach others about Shinto and nature..... hhmm.... no pressure, sheesh!  It was really nice though.  I've been hoping Kyohei would get more into religion for a while, it was a nice experience for us.

Stuff we ate in Japan

 
 Besides the wedding, the majority of my time in Japan was spent eating, shopping and hanging out with friends and family... but mostly eating.

Sashimi after the wedding rehearsal.

This is Shiso.  I'm always going on about how much I like Shiso and here is what it looks like (the leaf).  It tastes so good with sashimi OR, as I discovered later in the week, as a shredded topping to pasta.

For whatever reason, it is so hard to come by where I live.  I totally broke protocol and snuck some seeds back in my luggage.  I'm going to plant it in a pot, so don't freak out.  Actually, on the back of the seed package, it said that the seeds where cultivated in the USA, so.... no invasive species danger?  Whatever the case, I hope I can successfully grow some.

There are many rotating sushi bars in the city, but this is my favorite!  I was so happy to go back.

Now they are covered.  That is a nice change.  I wish we would have rotating sushi bars in the States, but people around here are such jerks, they would probably do stuff to the food and wait to see who eats it OR steal the plates so they wouldn't have to pay for the food.

Kani Miso.... Crab and Crab brains.  Foolishly I thought it was the miso of miso soup.  I realized once I ate it how wrong I was.  Oh well.

Kyohei ate this one

Sukko's favorite (and one of my favorites too) Cream Corn sushi!  I could eat 12 of these

gold plate= expensive

look at the stack of plates growing

I think this was ika shiso-- Squid with shiso!  LOVE

I am not all about the salmon roe

Count up those plates and give us our check!

I love vending machines.  Georgia Blend canned coffee and Royal Milk Tea are my favorites

Kyohei has a thing for Hokka Hokka Ben...  it's a chain of boxed lunches to go stands.  It's OK

Starbucks.... I think it tastes better in Japan. 

delightful green tea mini-cakes

Maki, being an excellent Japanese wife now, made Shinsuke, herself and I bento lunches for our visit in the hospital.  How cute!

Of course we ate at Kyohei's family restaurant a few times... but I mean, how many times can you eat Kobe beef and foie gras in one week.    I know, I know, champagne problems!

The Tanabata- themed cakes were already out.... so we indulged.

Ohhhh Misu-Do! Or Mister Donuts.  How I love thee

I think this was some sort of meatloaf wrapped in croissant-type pastry. More of Kyohei's scene. 

Fresh tomatoes from Kaori's mom's garden!  What a treat.

Always with the damn fish head.  I cannot escape it

This was some good izakaya food though.  A good find by my friend, Nolits!

Fried Chicken!

Come to think of it, I ate a lot of sashimi this time around.

Good ol' potato salad and sliced tomatoes... see it's not all raw fish

and sometimes the fish is grilled with some sort of irregular breading so it looks really scary, but is actually delicious!

More cake!  These kids... oh I love them!  I used to teach them English after school once a week.  Now Taiga is 12!  He was 5-6!  Wow... it's really been that long since I lived in Japan.  Anyway, they are still great kids and I was happy to get to play with them for an afternoon.

Japan, the kingdom of green drinks.  Here: melon soda and green tea latte.  Where else, at GUSTO!  It's like Perkins of Japan.  I LOVE IT.

More sashimi and sushi.  I should have myself checked for mercury. 

Whatevs, it was good!

akadashi-- soup

A thing of beauty, really.  Now that I am back in the States, I can resume eating 'sushi' with cream cheese and avocado. 

I always talk about how much I like corn dogs in Japan.  I finally got one for the bus ride to the airport.  Just another example of Japanese people taking an American idea and making it so, so much better.

Look at that!  A little packet that evenly distributes ketchup and mustard on your corndog!  It's amazing. No fumbling with messy little packets, just one bend and there you are!

I also got another favorite convenience store snack: onigiri!  A clump of rice with different things in the middle (tuna in this case), folded into a beautiful seaweed triangle.  hhmmmmm.  I wouldn't have made the pilgrimage without these little treasures.

gyudon, beef bowl at the airport...

after party...

 In Japan, the after-party is a normal part of the wedding.  It's more like a wedding shower for the couple and their friends.

The couple, in yet another outfit, and I head out to the after-party or nijikai

More cake, more champagne, more pictures... what's not to like

we played BINGO for door prizes.  I ended up winning a sweet massage cushion.  I'm thinking about bringing it into work, ha ha ha.

 
Maki handed off her bouquet to Kaori and her boyfriend.  Here's hoping they are next!

After the after-party is the after-after-party or sanjikai

This typically takes place in a karaoke bar.  Shinsuke sang my favorite song, "karappo" for me.  I like this guy a lot already

Then, in the grand tradition of our family weddings [ remember Kyohei getting stuck in Canada for a month right after our wedding?] Disaster strikes.

1) I was jet lagged and fading fast by around midnight at karaoke.  Maki put me in a taxi and gave the driver instructions to take me to a supermarket near the family's house and then called her parents to meet me there.  After driving for a while, the driver asked me where he should go. 
"How should I know, I don't live here"
"Maybe if I drive around for a little while you will remember."
"There is no way I'm going to remember something I didn't know in the first place no matter how much you drive around."
...he drives around for a little while
"You really don't know where to go?"
"no"
"you seem troubled"
"I am troubled."
"What should we do?  I would feel bad letting you off here in the middle of no-where in the rain."
"There is no way I'm getting out here in the rain."
"what should we do?"
"well, if you don't know where to go, we have no other choice but to go back to the karaoke place.  I hope someone is still there.  It can't be helped."
"hhmmm"  drives around
"look, you are wasting time.  I don't care, I will pay you, just take me back to the karaoke place."
"really, you'll pay?  Is that really OK?"
"yes, I said it.  Please go."

So I get back to the karaoke place.  The fare is about $60, hand the guy $100 (10,000yen) and ask for change.  He gives me back a ten and ten in change.  WTH?  I asked where the rest was and he said, "no" 
"I just gave you a $100"
"no, you gave me $10 and asked be to break it up."
"no I didn't"
"yes you did.  Look, this is what a hundred looks like" 
[don't you fucking patronize me because I am foreign] "yeah, I know.  That is what I gave you."
"no you didn't, I just gave you change."
This went on for a while and I was eventually so fed up, I just gave him the $60 and ran into the karaoke place.

My friends were all gone. I didn't have a cell phone and I left my notebook with all the contact info at home because I had a small bag.  DAMN!  Eventually the karaoke place got a hold of Maki's friend Kaori who signed up for a membership at the club. 

It was around 2am when Kyohei came to retrieve me.  By that time, his family had already called the police to report a missing person.  We had to go to the police station to cancel the search.  I told Kyohei about the money and then he told the police.  They called the taxi co. and the driver had to come into the station.  I really didn't want to see him at this point, but what could I do?  Right after the driver shows up, Kyohei's mom, dad and sister burst into the station and suddenly the guy is surrounded by my loud Japanese family all shouting at him.  It would have been funny if it weren't so uncomfortable....and I weren't so tired.

The police just looked on while the shouting continued.  I had a moment of feeling happy I had such a fierce J-family in my corner.  Looks like you messed with the wrong foreigner, eh taxi driver?

We went around and around with this guy until after 4am.  We didn't really get anywhere.  I think my family just wanted an apology for causing so much stress, but eventually I just got my $60 back.

2) Poor Maki, what a fantastic wedding night.  After getting home at 4:30, her new husband woke up with a really high fever.  She drove him to the hospital where he was admitted! 

  honeymoon photo

That being said, they hospitalize you in Japan much more readily than in the States.  Here, if you have a baby or a surgery, the insurance co. & hospital kicks you out the door the next day.  In Japan, where they have socialized medical care, you actually get to see doctors and get treated for illness and then everyone lives into their 100s. :END GRIPE

Luckily, the couple wasn't planning their wedding trip until September when Shinsuke could get more time off of work (he works for a solar panel co., awesome, right?!)  He ended getting out of the hospital on Friday, so at least we go a couple days of hanging out with him outside his hospital room.

The joke of the week was, "at least it wasn't Canada." ha ha.  After 5 years, that is starting to get funny.

Maki and Shinsuke's wedding

6-19-2011

(Photo BOMB!)
I have so many photos from this and it's hard not to share lots with you, so.... here it goes

at the reception desk, cute!  Nice work with the sunflower theme

After doing make-up at home, Kyohei's mom and I headed over to the hotel/ event place for our hair and kimono appointment.  Here, one of the stylists opens my kimono!

Half-way done.  After the joys of being undies and nipples with all of Kyohei's and Shinsuke's female relatives.... good thing that is only awkward for me.  I was annoyed that I couldn't wear a bra.

Also, I wish they would have set my hair with Diet Coke cans, but alas.  Here the stylist is fastening a rolled up towel around my waist (how NOT flattering, I thought).  It was a good thing it was there to soak up all the sweat from wearing 6 layers in the summer.

Finished product!

Kyohei's grandma told me over and over again that I looked nice and that a kimono suits me.... because from behind you couldn't even tell I was foreign!  I'm just going to decide to take that as a compliment.

After getting ready, we all met in a big room so the families could face each other and give formal self-introductions.  This was a bit nerve-rackingly formal, even some of the Japanese people messed it up, so I didn't feel so bad.
When I first saw Maki though, I couldn't help by cry, which Kyohei made fun of me for.  Whatevs!

We love this ridiculously oversized blue sofa that turned out to be a secret door into the photo room.

GORGEOUS, am I right?

During the photos, some family played games in the waiting room

The Ceremony! 

I was, regretfully, cringing the entire ceremony.  It was one of those fake "Christian" weddings in a fake "Chapel" I hope the priest was at last real, even if he is a total sell-out.  GRIPE: Ok, I just went to a fantastic and beautiful wedding the week before where two non-Christians had a very lovely and moving secular wedding ceremony.  This proves that you don't need Jesus to have a wonderful wedding ceremony.  I really don't understand why Japanese people want to have a wedding absolutley dripping in Christianity.  I mean, there was more Jesus and "before God" than there was in my wedding and I AM A CHRISTIAN.  We prayed to the Lord, we prayed to Jesus, we read from the Bible and sang 3 hymns!  WTF!!!  I was so irritated that everyone was just nonchalantly saying Jesus-this and Jesus-that and using something that is profoundly important to me as mere theatrics.  END GRIPE

Did I get some fantastic photos or WHAT!?

Grandma and I pose on this amazing leopard print chair in the lobby.  If only this would have fit in my suitcase.

Kyohei, his dad and Kaori: one of Maki's best friends who came to Florida in November with the family. It was good to see her again

Kyohei's cousin and Aunt "Ha-chan"  I stayed at her house for a few nights when I was doing the Pilgrimage (her house has since burnt down)  I was so happy to see her again and hear that she is doing OK.

Kyohei and his best friend forever, Sukko

himawari

Kyohei giving a speech.  He was so nervous, he stayed up till the wee hours with Sukko practicing.  He did great, though!

Good work on your speech!  This is one of my favorite photos of Kyohei!

Mom & Dad

The cake!

the paparazzi of friends I had to fight to get a photo

Time to eat

Outfit #2

Adorable

I should probably have my head checked for posting this online, but here is the video:

Nat King Cole's "L-O-V-E" Yes, I chickened out and did an English song.

Disclaimer:  The sound quality is not good and I am NOT a singer.  Also, Kyohei stopped the recording right before I did a little impromptu dance with the fan and before I REALLY broke it down in the second verse.  Just saying.

I was so nervous because the wedding planner told me my song was after they changed into kimonos.... yikes!  Here I am relieved to be done.  People cheered a lot and told me it was good... so I'm just going to choose to believe them.

The next act was Shinsuke's friends.  He likes horse races, hence the costumes

More food!  After the song, I hurried through the rest of the courses to get to the cake

icecream of sorts

In Japan, the couple goes around and lights the candles at each table together

At the end with parents

Before this, though, the video crew had already put together a short film of the wedding.  It was unbelievable that they already had something edited and ready to show.  I was impressed.

Happy couple in outfit #3

Grandma and her sister

Kyohei's relatives

I love this photo

After that, we went back to the house to get changed.  I headed out with Maki and Shinsuke for the after-party!

I'll stop there for now.  Hope you enjoyed!