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.