One Boy, One Girl

Nine years ago today, a very nervous boy and a very nervous girl went on their first date. The date was three months, a million hours worth of phone calls, and a few notebooks' worth of notes in the making--remember, this was back in the days before IM or e-mail or Facebook played a part in budding young romances. She drove them to the theater, he tried to put his arm around her. She awkwardly rejected his advances. He persevered. They held sweaty hands inside the theater, during what turned out to be a seriously LONG movie, way too long for a first date, they later agreed.
The ride home was filled with silence and uneasiness...neither person knew what to say. The evening ended with a good-night kiss, which I will not dare to describe here. I will, however, be happy to re-enact it for you sometime, as it was pretty hilarious.
It's hard to believe that was nine years ago. If you'd asked us that night, we probably wouldn't have guessed that we'd be married today. But we are, and that makes me really thankful for that cold December night, nine years ago today.

Snow/Ice Day!

Last night's bad weather brought good news this morning--no Chem final for Mark and no work for me (not that I don't love my job and Mark doesn't love chemistry, of course). Here's the view through our camera lens, courtesy of my photographer husband:

Our car's antenna

Not the Pacific Ocean...just the  windshield 

Shannon Miller cries as she remembers her Olympic victory, and how she made Edmond, OK proud

No comments, just a question: how does this happen?!?

We Miss It

For our Japan friends:
In case you're wondering if we miss Japan, let me tell you about last night. While we were making dinner, Mark found and played SMAP and Orange Range music videos on Youtube. We listened and we cried and cried and cried.

(this picture is from "Good-Bye Sunday" at Mito Church. Not the most flattering shot. And I'm pretty sure this is how all of our Japanese friends and co-workers will remember us forever, because this is how we looked at every good-bye ceremony)

The Greatest Humanitarian Crisis of Our Generation

...and they're not even grateful for all of the awareness we've raised... :-)

How Can We Raise Awareness In Darfur Of How Much We're Doing For Them?


P.S. Cris showed us this easy way to help out humanity...I'm just waiting 'till The Onion parodies this, too (but I'll still enjoy it)

Seeing Is Believing

Our friends Damon and Amy recently bought a new bagless vacuum. They are much more faithful vacuumers than we've even thought about being, so I wasn't surprised by their enthusiasm about this new purchase. But once I saw how that baby worked, I decided that we HAD to have one too. Why? Because you can see the dirt and junk it picks up. It's so satisfying to see the results of your labor, right there in the clear little canister (in this case, the "results" of our labor included dust, dirt, hair, sand, and all kinds of mysterious muck...who knew that could be so exciting?!?) Now that we have our own little guy, I'm really excited about vacuuming. I liken it to the joy of pulling a Biore pore strip off of your face--maybe you know what I'm talking about.

I'm not one to get that excited about cleaning, so that got me thinking about the power of seeing results. I know I'm not discovering anything Earth-shattering here, but I have started thinking about how my motivation level goes up exponentially when I can see the outcome of what I'm doing. Last year, our friend Gavin shared with me a little article in some business magazine about this new group that allowed regular people to lend money to micro-financing projects. Kiva is now much more well-known and well-financed (that's what getting the attention of Oprah and Bill Clinton will do for you) and I think they have a brilliant set-up. The site allows a would-be lender to lend X amount of money and shop around for the person to whom they'd like to make that loan. As the borrower re-pays the money, the lender or lenders get e-mail updates regarding the status of the repayment. I'm always happy to see how my little bit of money is being slowly paid back and helping my borrower get her business started.

I guess I'm narcissistic enough to want to give when I can immediately see the results of what I'm doing. That's probably something I should change about myself, because I believe God calls us to follow Him, to do good without regard for what the results are. And I'm glad He treats us with the same kindness. But I also think it's smart of vacuum manufacturers and micro-financing groups to capitalize on that part of human nature (come on, it's not just me, is it?) by allowing someone like me to see the fruits of my labor, thereby motivating me to lend money/vacuum more often:)

Re: House Bill 1804

I'm with the Archbishop of OKC, and MANY others, on this one:

PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE

This letter has been authorized and signed in response to the recently approved law HB 1804. This law is fiercely anti-immigrant and does not reflect values that respect people or families.

With the advent of this new law, we unite ourselves in opposition and defiance of this unjust and immoral law. This law makes it a felony to aid, assist, or transport an undocumented person in the state of Oklahoma and "on violating the provisions of subsections A or B of this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year, or by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Our faith teaches us to do good to all people. There is no exemption clause for those persons who do not have documentation of their citizenship status. We will not show partiality against those who are in need of humanitarian assistance. Because this law is overly punitive and makes a felony out of the act of providing humanitarian assistance to an undocumented person in need, we the undersigned clergy, religious leaders, and lay people of conscience will not and can not obey this law. We will continue to aid and assist all people regardless of their legal citizenship status, with charitable care and spiritual counsel.

We people of faith and conscience refuse to allow ourselves to be intimidated by Oklahoma's law which makes those who serve others into felons. To the contrary, as persons of faith, hope, and love, we call for the repeal of this anti-immigrant law and for immigration reform that provides justice for all of God's children. We are united in solidarity and in defiance of this law because of our allegiance to a higher law, the love of humanity.

This Time Last Year...

Blog for Burma

Today has been designated "Support Burma: International Bloggers' Day." I don't have anything insightful or eloquent to say about Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, trade relations with China, etc. All I want to say is this: I've been following the events in Rangoon with great interest since the monks first started marching. That's because, in my mind, Burma has gone from being a slightly obscure place prone to dramatic name changes, to a place with people who are my neighbors. And if you live in Oklahoma City they're your neighbors too. If you live in El Paso, ditto. Same for Indianapolis. And Charlottesville. Families who fled their homes ten or twenty years ago, mothers who have given birth to and raised children in camps in Thailand, young men who have hidden secretly in tiny apartments in Kuala Lumpur, are now a part of America. They are settling here--working, paying taxes, sending their kids to school, shopping at Wal-Mart. It's pretty easy to change the channel, to click on another link or to turn the dial when news about violence and oppression comes on. But that's gotten a harder for me to do since getting to know our Burmese clients. They're my neighbors. And yours. And I can't forget what Jesus said about how we should treat our neighbors.

YATTA!

Another good reason to move to New York someday...

Things I Learned in Japan

Sometimes I like to read through my journal entries from past months and years. Tonight I was so happy to come across this one: a list I made back in March entitled "What I've learned from my time in Japan-- a sampling." I miss and think about Japan often, but some of the details and memories of our time there are starting to fade. This is for anyone else who might be in the same situation...let's take a trip down memory lane and remember what we've learned (cue the Wayne's World finger wiggle):
*sometimes the stuff you can't stand becomes the stuff you crave--for me, it was green tea and tofu
*you don't have to be proficient in a foreign language to be a good cross-cultural communicator
*and if you ARE proficient in a foreign language, it still doesn't guarantee you'll be a good communicator
*driving on the left side of a narrow road is totally do-able
*you can either like bread or like rice--those are your choices, and what you choose says a lot about you
*monkeys are funny to kids in every country
*it's possible to live a quality life without watching TV
*buying TV shows on iTunes is a fabulous idea
*it's possible to get your pants hemmed, in the store, for just $3
*Louis Vuitton is for the masses
*there is indeed something special about Japanese rice
*4th graders represent humanity at its best
*a heated toilet seat can change your day for the better
*it's possible to survive a cold winter without central heating
*bringing a down comforter with you when you move is a worthwhile use of suitcase space
*an apology covers a multitude of sings (edit: I meant SINS...but sings is true too)
*some of the least popular kids are the best communicators
*it's possible for 35 first graders to prepare and eat school lunch in their classroom every day
*kids stop wanting to dance when they turn 11
*sometimes working together as a group is better than maximizing efficiency
*a cherry blossom tree in bloom is one of the most beautiful sights in the world
*Disney characters and McDonald's have universal appeal
*there are A LOT of ways to jump rope
*sometimes it's a compliment to be told you have a big nose
*never underestimate the power of the "Backstreet Boys" to bring someone to faith in Jesus
*you can eat lots of stuff (e.g. seaweed) if it's coated in yummy dressing
*you can say a lot with a few well-chosen words
*if your co-worker says his wife is terrible and very ugly, he probably doesn't actually mean it
*if you're starting to get comfortable and confident, you will soon do something very embarrassing
*it's strange to not know your own blood type
*you can know a person's personality if you know his/her blood type
*you're capable of riding a bike a lot farther than you think
*you're capable of handling a lot more stress than you think
*crying in a bathroom is a great way of relieving stress
*there are a million ways to play UNO
*kids in school uniform=kids at their cutest
*safety is in the eye of the beholder
*third graders walking home alone for 45 minutes isn't dangerous
*neither is letting fifth graders keep their own box cutters in their desks

AND, FINALLY...

* the title "teacher" is a bit of a misnomer-- you spend more of your time doing the learning rather than doing the teaching

There's No Place Like...Somewhere Else

Two weeks ago, we said good-bye to a young missionary about to embark on an adventure in Brazil. Sound familiar? My sister, Cris, followed in my parents' footsteps by moving far away to rediscover her Brazilian roots and teach people about Jesus. And, my guess is, learn A LOT about Jesus as well (for anyone who's interested in reading her tales, check out crisinbrazil.blogspot.com). As I stood at the airport, saying a tearful good-bye, I realized how hard it is to be the one being left behind. I've rarely, if ever, been that person-- I'm usually the one tearfully saying good-bye, hopping on the plane, and finding that my tears are mostly dry by the time I'm over the nearest major ocean. Mark's always been the "leaver" too, so we're now getting to experience the other side of things.
And it's awful! While your counterpart gets to flash her passport and enter a new, exciting, colorful land, you're stuck in the same old, same old place. Even if it's a place where you have family, friends, and a job you love! It all starts to seem a little drab. My inability to be completely content where I am--or, to put it differently, my constant desire to go somewhere else and try something else-- really became clear to me after another recent episode.
We recently watched a documentary entitled "God Grew Tired of Us," which tells the story of several of the Lost Boys of the Sudan as they journey from Kakuma Refugee Camp to begin a new life in New York. I had read the book by the same title this summer (in my Summer of Sudan, as it turned out...there are SO MANY good books about refugees out there, especially about the Lost Boys!) In fact, I read several books about the Lost Boys and other refugees this summer, back when working with refugees was something I really hoped I'd get to do someday. And now I do! So what was my reaction to this documentary? Did I smile smugly and think "yes, that is indeed what refugee resettlement is like" ? Did I get angry because the filmmakers didn't accurately capture the essence of what refugee resettlement looks like, "if only they had consulted ME, they would have gotten it right" ? No. Actually, my thoughts were more along these lines: "wow, that is so cool!" "can you imagine?!?" and, most astonishingly "wouldn't it be amazing to be involved in something like this? I'm so jealous of those people [the resettlement staff]" And then I remembered that that IS me. I am involved, quite heavily, in the refugee resettlement process. In fact, it's what I spend all day doing, and I get paid for it. And I really enjoy it. It's what I've felt called to do for a long time now. But, for some reason, seeing it on a TV screen made it seem to exotic, and I found myself wishing I was there instead of here. Even though, in this case, here is pretty much the same as there.
I feel so blessed to be doing what I want to do in the here and now. But there are always a thousand other places I'd also like to be. So I suspect that the Big Life Lesson I am supposed to learn right now is to enjoy where I am, especially since it's where I prayed for so long to be. And one Big Life Lesson that I've already learned somewhat, but which God is still reviewing me on, is that the things I'm learning now will prepare me perfectly for whatever comes next. In fact, there's a lot I could say about that, so I'll leave it for another time, because I've got to go--I've got airline tickets to look up:)

Since We've Been Gone...

from the blogosphere, that is. If you're the kind of person who checks your friends' blogs to see what they've been up to, rather than just calling and asking them, then you're just like me! And you might have wondered where we've been--we haven't posted in awhile, after all. Though I must say that only a few people have complained about our lack of blogging, and those were certain family members who see us fairly regularly anyways:) But in the off-chance that someone else out there really cares what we've been up to, I'll tell you what's been keeping us away from the computer:

*my new job--it is amazing how a full-time job tends to eat into your free time:) Fortunately for me, I wouldn't trade this job for anything. I'm working with refugees who live in the Oklahoma City area and, though I came on board at an incredibly chaotic time in our agency, I'm loving it so far. Every day is filled with crazy happenings and funny mis-communications. I'm glad that know that those daily occurrences didn't have to end just because we moved away from Japan.

*Mark's chemistry class--I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly acknowledge that Mark kicked chemistry's butt this summer. HE was finally that kid who gets mad about getting an A- on a test...it's refreshing to have another anal nerd around the house.

*playing tennis and sunning ourselves--though I'm no longer a student, I refuse to give up the idea, the spirit of summer vacation. So we've thoroughly enjoyed our weekly tennis (for the guys) and swimming (for the girls) Sunday afternoons with Damon and Amy.

*establishing the Saturday-morning-Farmer's-Market-visit tradition--that about says it all. We're happy to be within walking distance of the Edmond Farmer's Market, and we've spent many a Saturday morning picking out fresh zucchini and perfectly ripened tomatoes.

*spending time with the international family of God-- we're loving being a part of the International Class at our church. In many ways, it feels more natural to be there than in a class of regular ol' Americans like us!

*practicing Espanol and Portugues (the sticklers for detail will realize that both of those words aren't properly accented, but I don't know how to do it on this computer so, yes, I KNOW)-- Mark's been spending many of his Thursday nights at an inner-city ministry in OKC, so that's allowed him to build his Spanish vocabulary. I think this has both helped and hurt his effort to concurrently learn Portuguese . He's taken the lemons of working by himself all day and made the lemonade of using the time to learn Portuguese on his iPod. Now our discussions at home and with the Carpenters are sprinkled with Portuguese phrases such as "excuse me, where is the Hotel Flamingo?" and "I can drink a cool beer. I have lots of money. Do you have money?"

*supporting local artists--mainly, Mark's younger brother, who recently starred in a local production of "Seussical: The Musical." We're looking forward to many more Joel Barneche musicals in the future!

So as you can see, we've had plenty to do besides spend our time blogging. Oh yeah, and we haven't had internet access in our apartment. Which probably explains why we've had the time to do all of these things:)

Natsukashii!

Much ink has been spilled regarding the repatriation process and how to make it a smooth and enjoyable one. I wouldn't say our process has been (or, I should say, is being) particularly smooth or enjoyable, but I have come up with my own little bit of advice about how to ease back in to American life: live in a place that makes you feel like you never left. "How," you ask, "could living in Edmond, Oklahoma possibly compare to living in Mito, Japan?" Well, I'll tell you, and I'll do it in handy list form.
HOW OUR CURRENT APARTMENT REMINDS US OF LIFE IN JAPAN:
1. Limited parking
2. Limited square footage
3. No central heat or air (but effective wall units)
4. A post office within walking distance
5. A 7-11 within walking distance
6. LOTS of Japanese people within walking distance
7. A public transportation route right outside our front door
8. A Korean restaurant nearby (okay, substitute "Korean restaurant" with "pizzeria")
9. A crazy Korean neighbor who likes to invite herself in while Mark is changing clothes--just kidding! I think you're only allowed to have one of those per lifetime, and we've already filled our quota

Thankfully, here we have a dishwasher, we haven't had trouble paying our utility bills, and we have yet to catch a neighbor snooping through our trash. These are all things that make us thankful to be living in the U.S. But we also spent an awesome two years in Japan, and I'm glad that we're reminded of that time on a daily basis--even if it is because our apartment is blazing hot when we get home.

I'm Not Dead Yet....I'm Getting Better...I Think I'll Go For A Walk...

If you get that pop culture reference you're either: 1.) way cooler than you think or 2.) a member of my junior high youth group. Or you've seen Spamalot lately. I find it a fitting quote for this season of our lives. The good news is that we're not dead and we are getting better. We can even go for a walk! Sometimes you gotta rejoice in the little things.
My mom recently gave us a really helpful book entitled "The Art of Coming Home." In keeping with the title of the book: sometimes I feel like my coming home experience is like a breathtaking VanGogh...lots of sad, deep blue hues (with some bright splashes of color), and it's mostly done well and with skill. And some days I feel more like I'm finger painting and really making a mess on the paper; it's clear that I don't know what I'm doing, but maybe it's also kind of funny. So I find "art," with its various manifestations, a fitting metaphor.
As far as housing goes, we are almost totally moved in to our new apartment. All I'll tell you on the World Wide Web is that it's really cute, Japan-sized, and located in what our friend Damon dubbed "Little Italy." We're happy to be there! Re-opening our wedding presents from two years ago has been fun, though we've managed to wind up with seven pyrex measuring cups and two rolling pins...and I KNOW we took back duplicates after the wedding. If there's one thing Japan taught us, it's what one can live without and what one can't live without. Conclusion: we can live without a TV, but we can't live without a KitchenAid stand mixer.
Now that we have housing, we're ready to have jobs! Actually, I've been ready to have a job for awhile. I'm currently waiting to hear some exciting opportunities. Waiting has been the name of the game since we got back. I've learned A LOT about patience, prayer, and perseverance and wouldn't you know it? Those are all things I've really needed to learn. But I'm done learning now, and I'm ready to have a job and to get on with life:) Mark's been learning a lot too, mostly about chemistry. He's in summer school and realizing that taking one class at a time is the way to go! I also think being married and not having a nearby beach helps with studying.
Well, that's life right now. We'd love to have more to share with you about, you know, general life direction and whatnot. But...well...we'll let you know as soon as WE know;)

More Scenes From The Wild West

Enjoying some Pepperdine pie with Obata-sensei: friend, minister, and KEYNOTE LECTURER!

Enjoying clam chowder from Malibu Seafood...we've been going through major fish withdrawals.

Sweet baby Cailynn...she was kind enough to let us stay in her room during Lectures at Pepperdine. It was so good to meet her and to see Hannah and Jay.

The first camping trip of our married lives. First stop: Sedona.

This is what Mark looked like at the Grand Canyon most of the time.

Mark taught Miss Macbeth's kindergarten class how to count to 5 in Japanese and how to bow. Jyozu desu ne?!?

On The Road Again, Again

The koncho...if you don't know what it is, you haven't been a teacher in Japan

It's pretty grand

Don't we look so small? No smart-aleck comments, please:)

The master camping chef, tending the grill

MORE TO COME...

On The Road....AGAIN?

Actually, we're no longer on the road. The road trips have ceased, and now it's time for real life to commence. In the past two weeks, we've been to...
-Albuquerque
-Flagstaff
-Sedona
-The Grand Canyon
-Riverside
-Miss Macbeth's kindergarten class
-Malibu
-all of our favorite restaurants in Malibu
-Pepperdine
-Santa Barbara
-Newport Beach
-Balboa Island
-Venice/Santa Monica
-Abilene
We're ready to be in one place for awhile (well...kind of...). I'm sure our car is ready to rest as well. We'll be posting pictures soon--stay tuned for sisters in caps and gowns, friends with babies and babies-on-the-way, canyons, beaches, and fish tacos!

Onward, Christian Soldiers

A songbook widely used in churches of Christ has a "Christian Warfare Medley" (#645). Does that make anyone else uncomfortable? I understand why it's there. But if I were planning a worship service, I sure wouldn't follow it with a sermon on Matthew 5...

Fun With Pocket Translators

This just showed up in my inbox and it's too precious to keep to myself. Before reading it, you should know that the author is one of my favorite teachers from my school in Mito. You should also know that other teachers are in awe of his English abilities, mostly because he tends to bust out a pocket translator and make it all seem so easy...judge for yourselves. I miss Japan!
Hello
Kelly teacher
How is it spending?
The e-mail, thank you very much.
We printed a photograph soon and saw it.
Thank you.
There was a beginning formula in the midorioka elementary school on April 6th.
Also, there was an entrance ceremony on the 9th and 194 fresh children entered.
Now, it is doing the home visit and it is very busy.
Then, Kendon teacher of AET came from the 20th, was teaching an English conversation.
Kelly teacher be careful healthily and exert.
Good-by
The midorioka elementary school
Yamamoto & teachers
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Speaking of precious things, check this out. I'm not one to cry at blog posts, but this one had me reaching for a tissue. My sister is possibly the best writer in the blogosphere (and I realize I'm revealing my nerdiness by saying that).
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Speaking of blogs and my nerdiness, wouldn't you LOVE to hear from Mark? Don't you find his writing clever, hilarious even? Don't you think it's strange that our blog's entitled The Barneches, but you mostly hear from A Barneche? Just a thought.

Back At The Ranch...

Well, we're "back" at "home," whatever that means:) We've been in Oklahoma for about a week. Lots of good stuff so far: sleeping in, time with family (including a sister who lives in Texas and grandparents who live on a farm), cheap hardware and tools at Wal-Mart (one of us is way more excited about that than the other), seeing old friends,a public library FULL of books we can read, fresh bagels, and wide open spaces. Some sources of re-entry "culture stress": overly cheesy and friendly waiters who like to make small talk, driving on the "right" side of the road, portion sizes at Johnnie's hamburger joint, and shopping at Wal-Mart (cheap tools aside, it's an overwhelming place to be). What are our "plans," you ask? Stay tuned. We're working on it. And now, in John Stewart style, we'll leave you with our Moment of Zen:

What We've Been Up To Lately...

Teaching EBC readers/friends how to make chocolate chip cookies (and how to use a mixer!)

Eating fancy food at a fancy going away dinner

Trying not to laugh while being "banzai"-ed at said dinner

Taking serious, Japanese-style pictures at the ume festival

Taking pictures of the ume blossoms at said festival

Cool Things In Japan #3:Onsen

Ah, onsen. Several hours and nine dollars' worth of pure bliss. Soak your troubles away as you sit in a steaming pool of salty water, talking with your friends, listening to the waves crashing on the shore, knowing that a visit to the sea-salt-scrub room on your way out will complete the evening and leave your skin feeling baby soft for days.
We will miss this Japanese ritual. We will miss our local onsen. We will miss the freedom of walking around naked in front lots of old folks of the same gender (can't let that go unacknowledged) :) Nothing in America can replace that!

**For those of you who live in Mito and, more specifically, those who need directions to Nozomi Onsen in Ajigaura, here you go. We will be directing all inquiries to this site from now on. Yoroshiku;)

If you're out in our part of town, take Rt. 51 towards Oarai.
Turn left off of 51 onto the IC. Take a ticket and get on the IC going towards Hitachinaka (not Tokyo). When you come to the first tollbooth, don't exit to the left like you would if you were going to Joyful Honda or Kaihinkoen. Instead, go straight through, stopping to pay. Once you've paid, continue down the Interchange until you reach the next exit--exit left. Follow that road as it winds around, and you'll come to a "T" where you'll have to turn right or left. Turn right. Go straight down that road, through a light, and you'll come to another signal and a "T" (the ocean will be right in front of you--that's why you can't go straight). Turn right. Now you're running parallel to the coast. Follow that road until you see Nozomi on your right! Call us if you have any questions!

Cool Things in Japan #2: Clothes That Fit

(picture: outside of the UNIQLO in Ginza)
Unless you're my mom, my best friend from 7th grade, or Mark, you don't truly know how hard it is for me to find clothes that fit well. You might think you know, or you might think you can sympathize, or you might purposely choose to not sympathize because, "cry me a river, don't we all wish we were 'too small'." But until you've searched all the racks for the non-existent extra small skirts with me, or until you've had to endure my post-shopping cranky mood, you don't KNOW. But maybe you can imagine. So try to imagine my delight at living in a country chock-full of small people! As one of my LST readers a few years back put it..."Japan is Kelly-size."
It turns out that Japan is Mark-sized too. That's why shopping has become a fun activity for us! Really fun. Probably too fun. We are on a first-name basis with the clerks at several clothing stores around Mito--one of them even knows our birthdays. While I realize that it would be better if we spent our money on worthier causes (I do acknowledge there are worthier causes out there), I also realize that, in a few short months, we will be back in the land of the ever-expanding waistline and the long lengs. So now, we view each shopping trip we make as an investment in the future...each pair of pants that fits will be a pair of pants that we'll probably wear for the next five to ten years:)
One more thing...not only does Japan have stores with cute clothes (this is a matter of dispute among foreigners who live in Japan, but I happen to like most Japanese fashion), reasonably priced clothes (American equivalent: Target or Old Navy), and smaller clothes, but most stores even offer in-store alterations! Ready in less than one hour! For $3! And the alterationist (?) comes right to your dressing room!
What's not to love about that? Japan, we will miss you. And I suspect you will miss our Yen.


Also, here are the jump rope pictures I promised. Not great, but maybe you can get the idea.

2 Years and Counting...

Last Monday we celebrated two years of marriage. Two awesome, happy years of marriage. And it just keeps getting better. We're thinking that, at this rate, we'll at least make it to #3 ;)
Words can't really express how thankful I am for Mark, so I'm not even going to try. If you really want to know how I feel about him, ask me sometime--I'll be happy to tell you all about it!
So...happy two years to us! Here's to many more!

Cool Things In Japan #1: Jump Rope

I'm bringing you the first installment of a series we'd like to call "Cool Things In Japan." Today's edition: Jump Rope.
It's winter, the school hallways are freezing, and, though the classrooms have heaters that are quite effective, the teachers leave the windows to the outside open during class. How do you combat the cold? Send the kids outside. With jump ropes.
Jump roping season is here. Students spend their recess time counting each other's jumps. Classes compete with each other to see who can keep up the jumping for the longest amount of time* (quickly rotating students in one-by-one). New styles of jumping that I've never seen, much less thought possible, make their debut. By seven-year olds.
I think the emphasis that Japanese schools (or at least ones in Mito) put on jump roping is really cool. With one drawback: I have a hard time keeping up! I didn't grow up practicing all of those different styles of jumping (though Mark's gotten really good at them this year), so I can't deliver when recess time comes. Nor can I match the kiddos in endurance department. What's a foreign English teacher to do?
If I want to make my mark on the playground, I'm left with one choice: teach them American jump rope rhymes. I have a loyal troop (and troupe)of second and fourth-graders who've already mastered my childhood favorite, "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around." Versions 1 and Two. We have teddy bear spinning around, touching the ground, going upstairs, and saying his prayers, among other things. My kids have never seen a jump rope routine like this, and they'll easily spend all of recess (and several days in a row) trying to perfect it.
Some of them are already ready for a new challenge. We've tried to come up with new versions, but all that's been suggested so far is "teddy bear, teddy bear, sit on the toilet" and "teddy bear, teddy bear, wipe your butt" (loose translation). I haven't approved those new lyrics yet, but if I want to keep up the jumping in a style that I'm good at, maybe it's a good idea. And I think I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep warm.

*Pictures coming soon. It's quite a sight.

Time to say goodbye

It's hard to believe it's been almost 6 years since these sweet suede, rubber-soled, Velcro-strapped babies slid on my feet at one of the world's coolest clothiers. (www.spf.com) At that time they were the hip footwear choice for Euro-university students in Heidelberg, Germany and I immediately paired them with Euro-essentials: pea coat, scarf, and bike (with basket and bagettes for added Euro-chic effect.)
They were dandy shoes, for sure. And I mean dandy in the early 20th century, Oscar Wilde, way. Yet, I immediately began taking them on all my adventures. After all, velcro doesn't get the chicks, but when the train attendant starts yelling Polizei, you better be able to pack your bags and get your shoes on quick.



One trip led to another until after traversing 4 continents and almost 30 countries later they surrendered after a 3 hour rained drenched night, followed by a 4 hour descent down Mt. Fuji. They are survived by a pair of Adidas and remembered fondly for sailing the Mediterranean, zip-lineing (sp?) the rainforest, climbing volcanoes in Japan and wading through muck in China. Shoes, I'm gonna miss you baby.