Happy Birthday in Japanese is TANJOBI OMEDETO!
And I recieved so many of those today. :)
Nansaideska? (How old are you?)
nijusansai (23)
And something I haven't quite caught on on how to reproduce:
You're so young!!
hahaha grins
So, happy birthday to "young" Rachel. ;)
Today began, kind of, shortly before 7 am, when one of my dad's Mexican workers Pepe (also has partially adopted me as his gringa granddaughter) called me to wish me a happy birthday. I was way out of it (woke me up out of a very sound sleep) and I kept wanting to answer him in very broken and limited Japanese. It took me a little bit to get my mouth to follow my head in acknowledging that Spanish was being spoken to me and I needed to respond in kind. Poor Pepe.
I went back to sleep.
I was jolted out of sleep again by the evil alarm clock calling me to get ready for church.
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect out of the day, and what I got wasn't anything that I had come close to expecting. I enjoyed the church service (sitting next to my friend Keiko and the Pastor's son - married with a very adorable [menkoi] almost 3 yr old daughter - who translated the message for me). And afterwards we had the customary tea time with delicious snacks that always seem to run out too quickly. ;) Lots of tanjobi omedetos and nansaideskas and "you're so youngs". grins I stayed at church for a quick lunch, followed by Bible study. English Bible study. The first Bible study I've ever led. The first time with non-Christians. The first time with a group of Japanese people. Lots of firsts. Not the first time I wish I spoke perfectly fluent Japanese (hehe), though moderately fluent would have been just fine. Thankfully, there is a wonderful 24 yr old girl by the name of Ai who studied English for 3 months each in England and Malta and Mrs. T, the Pastor's wife, who has studied English for a number of years, and most of what I said was able to be understood. There is grace and blessing for you. I talked about milestones in my faith... trials, how the Lord brought me through and out of them... we looked at a lot of verses, and maybe I'll write it all out some time and post it. We had "Bible study" for 3 hours. It was an incredible gift to be able to share my heart with these women (there were 4 altogether plus Mrs. T). At the end of our time together, Junko - a new student, 40-something, who has been to my classes twice - said that she was very "moved." An older Buddhist lady, Tokiko, said that she was very touched by my story. And I know that those words were not my own. If Junko was moved and if Tokiko was touched, they were moved and touched by the power of the Holy Spirit. Another tanjobi omedeto.
Coming back to this on Halloween...
I went back to the church that night at 7 for a "birthday party." Delicious food, wonderful people (from church, English class, and friends I've met through friends), and wonderful fellowship... even though I could understand very little. ;) It was a very joyful night. After eating came music. One of my students, a 31 yr old woman, Isako, who is also deaf, picked up violin lessons 6 months ago because she decided she wanted to learn how to play (she doesn't let her "disability" keep her from doing ANYTHING). And she, accompanied by our friend Keiko on the organ, played a song for me for my birthday present. Her violin was badly out of tune, and the notes not-quite-right, but it was absolutely beautiful. One of those things that is beautiful because you know the heart behind it and in it and her heart is beautiful. It was beautiful to me. Then the lights went off and out came 2 little cake/pie/tarts lit up with candles, joined by a rousing chorus of 'Happy Birthday' and clapping. Delicious, of course. Then more fellowship, and finally presents. Surprise after surprise. Keiko asked me what my aspirations were for the year to come. And since most of that year - well, pretty much all of it - will be spent in Japan, I said: To learn Japanese well enough to be able to express myself (within reason) without needing an interpreter, and to build relationships with the people here. Eventually our group dwindled to the Taguchi's, Naoko, Keiko, Takaaki, and myself. The Taguchi's and Noako were talking together about Christianity (not sure exactly what because it was in Japanese, but I figured that's probably what it was because Naoko is not yet a Christian, but is SEEKING, super seeking.), and Keiko drew me aside. She and Takaaki were giggling and whispering and I thought... hmmm... And proceeded to be the first to know of their engagement and be invited to their wedding. Ah! hahaha They were so cute! Sorry, but cute is the only word that properly described them. For now their engagement and wedding plans are a secret. I'm not sure exactly why - something about not knowing which church they want to become members of or where they want to get married - something like that. So, wow! what a birthday present! After Takaaki said buenas noches, er um, I mean - oyasuminasai - Keiko and I joined the Taguchis and talked with Naoko till well after 11pm. Mrs. T asked me to share with her what I talked about during Bible study, I think Keiko shared with her a bit of her testimony, and that was my birthday. I couldn't have spent it in a better way here. It was a birthday full of blessings in all sorts of shapes and sizes and people. :)
TANJOBI OMEDETO!
10.31.2005
tanjobi omedeta!
the birthday crowd... minus Naoko, who was taking the picture and Taguchi Sensei who went somewhere... :)
hangera!
woops! that would be the African continent, eh? grins Mrs. T and Taguchi Sensei are MENKOI. adorable. :)
happy birthday...
friends are wonderful. what am i saying?! the God who gave me these friends is wonderful!
10.26.2005
Teggs... grown-up?
I would like to feel like a grown-up (maybe)... fill the shoes I'm supposed to be filling. Right now I'm struggling to remember how much I get paid every month (my mom keeps asking me. I can never remember and don't care enough to check. Maybe that's bad.), I can't remember which utilities are paid for and which I have to pay for (it's way too confusing, even for a college grad), and I've discovered... well, rediscovered, that I really don't like washing dishes or vacuuming, so I do them as little as possible. It's easier to get away with not vacuuming. ;) And I stay up way too late. I can't kick college time. I like it too much.
*sigh*
Maybe I can grow up in a little while.
*sigh*
Maybe I can grow up in a little while.
1000 words
flowers in Becki's hair
i wish i knew their name... (can anyone help me out?)
On top of the WORLD!!
er... well, uh... Kimimachizaka...
close enough grins
AKATOMBO
New Japanese word. It means red dragonfly (aka - red, tombo - dragonfly). They are my favorite bugs... bug isn't a noble enough word to categorize them. They're all over the place here, and I periodically hold my finger up in the air to try and get one to land on it (they're much braver than the dragonflies in the US).
There's a folk song about dragonflies - called Akatombo, in fact - that I REALLY want to learn. I've heard it a couple times and it's beautiful.
sorry for all the pictures (kind of... not really, but sorry)...
but a picture really is worth a thousand words
and today's culture is driven in many ways by images
so, here's to jumping on the visual bandwagon in a small, entirely innocent and most defintely beneficial way (so all of you can see a little of "my world")
it's a way for me to keep connecting to you from my end
i wish i knew their name... (can anyone help me out?)
On top of the WORLD!!
er... well, uh... Kimimachizaka...
close enough grins
AKATOMBO
New Japanese word. It means red dragonfly (aka - red, tombo - dragonfly). They are my favorite bugs... bug isn't a noble enough word to categorize them. They're all over the place here, and I periodically hold my finger up in the air to try and get one to land on it (they're much braver than the dragonflies in the US).
There's a folk song about dragonflies - called Akatombo, in fact - that I REALLY want to learn. I've heard it a couple times and it's beautiful.
sorry for all the pictures (kind of... not really, but sorry)...
but a picture really is worth a thousand words
and today's culture is driven in many ways by images
so, here's to jumping on the visual bandwagon in a small, entirely innocent and most defintely beneficial way (so all of you can see a little of "my world")
it's a way for me to keep connecting to you from my end
10.25.2005
A series of adventures... :)
Well, life is an adventure isn't it?
Here are 3 weekends of my life.
The first being the exploration of
beautiful Taiheiko... which led to
the 3rd weekend. And sandwiched
in between is a bit of exploring
I did on my own - the highlights
being the beautiful sunsets.
continuing the adventure...
Arnie and me...
on top of a mountain overlooking the Japanese Sea, several towns, and a Buddhist shrine. I must say that he's one of the coolest dads I've ever met. I'm really enjoying getting to know him.
'tis the season for changing leaves...
Becki, Jon, Arnie and I were out to witness the natural beauty.
that's where we were just standing.
cool, eh?! grins
KARAOKE!!
Here are Jon (another English teacher from Minn) and Hiroki. And Karaoke is oh so much fun. I say this a bit sheepishly... in the U.S. I always kind of thought it was a bit ridiculous and could never picture myself doing it... yet there I was. ;) And having a blast. hehe God has a sense of humor. And I am a bit more humble.
sunset on adventure day numero dos (# 2 for all those non-Spanish speakers out there)
sunset on adventure day numero dos (# 2 for all those non-Spanish speakers out there)
Originally uploaded by auro-borea-rs.
light refractions
Riding my bike along the river on the way to the beach. Spontaneity is great! I wasn't expecting to see the sunset that night, but hey! I was "just around the corner" from the beach (30 min bike ride), so why not! :)
10.21.2005
Author, Producer, and Audience
"Now the moment of prayer is for me -- or involves for me as its condition -- the awareness, the re-awakened awareness, that this "real world" and "real self" are very far from being rock-bottom realities. I cannot, in the flesh, leave the stage, either to go behind the scenes or to take my seat in the pit; but I can remember that these regions exist. And I also remember that my apparent self -- this clown or hero or super -- under his grease-paint is a real person with an off-stage life. The dramatic person could not tread the stage unless he concealed a real person: unless the real and unknown I existed, I would not even make mistakes about the imagined me. And in prayer this real I struggles to speak, for once, from his real being, and to address, for once, not the other actors, but - what shall I call Him? The Author, for He invented us all? The Producer, for He controls all? Or the Audience, for He watches, and will judge, the performance?
- C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm
- C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm
10.17.2005
fun even in the rain
Yes, it rained. Or threatened to... all day long. But why let it stop you from having a bit of fun. :) Ever eaten Japanese food under an umbrella in a cementary? hehe
chiselled kanji
So what does it say on the monument? What would you have written on yours?... if you were to have a monument.
the view from my grave
This was my view while I ate lunch and read and prayed no one would come to burn insense or say prayers at the grave monument I was sitting on.
looking glass... er, stone
Experimenting with shiny objects can be so much fun! I feel like a little kid. :)
10.16.2005
A blog-worthy day...
What a day! (Friday) My bike had a flat on the way to the train station. I parked it behind a barber shop and prayed no one would take it or... do something incredibly inconvenient for me... like turn it in to the police station or something. Already running a bit late, I ran to the train (a good 10 min.) and just made it, sweating pouring from every pour of my body. grins I wonder what the Japanese people thought of this strange, flushed gaijin (foreigner). :) And I got to the Kindergarten in time. Whew! I walked in the door, stood around and distracted any child who happened to be wandering the hall, and promptly found out from a teacher that my K classes went on a field trip... Oh well. haha Asi es la vida. So... what next? Lunch, of course! Hunger struck. I was going to walk to a little park by a small river - creek size, really, except more of a "manecured" creek... the banks being flat blocks of grey quartz, perfectly cut, perfectly square... the creek-bends geometric in shape. Anyway, so I was going to walk to this park that I've walked past, or ridden my bike past on several occasions, but my feet were killing me from running to the train station in shoes that weren't meant to be run in. I figured I'd punished them enough - my feet - so I headed in the direction of what looked to me to be a park. heh heh Nope. A cementary. oops. Timid and disappointed, I started walking away, and then decided - well, no one's around, so why don't I just go to an inconspicuous back corner, eat, take pictures (I'd been wanting to take some pictures of their cementaries. Perhaps a morbid fascination, but I was curious.), read, and journal. Cementaries are typically peaceful places; people seldom visit, not a whole lot of traffic, nice and quiet - a welcome contrast from the craziness of the morning. And although I didn't want to abuse the stereotype that foreigners-are-strange-so-their-strange-behavior-is-somewhat-excusable (should anyone see me there) attitude that most Japanese tend to allot foreigners, there are times when it comes in handy. Like when my feet are killing and I'm hungry and I don't want to walk anywhere else. And so, I found myself killing time till my 3:15 class, surrounded by cremated people with huge black polished quartz monuments that had lines of chiselled kanji I can never hope to read, my tummy full on pickled ginger, onigiri, inori, and cold rice noodles with crunchy vegetable-looking things, experimenting with my camera (some of the results of which you can now view), and underlining and writing in the margins of David Dark's book, Everyday Apocalypse (I've only just begun to read it, but from what I've read I highly recommend it.).
Classes went well. The kids are hyper and I love them.
It was pouring as I took the train and bus home (not walking 40 min back to my apt. from the station), I walked in the door, changed into sneakers, and went to reclaim my recalcitrant bike. Thankfully, it was almost where I left it. Close enough.
My adventures came to an end at 10 pm... and there was much rejoicing. grins
So, a day in the life of Rachel D Schumacher. And what a day it was.
Classes went well. The kids are hyper and I love them.
It was pouring as I took the train and bus home (not walking 40 min back to my apt. from the station), I walked in the door, changed into sneakers, and went to reclaim my recalcitrant bike. Thankfully, it was almost where I left it. Close enough.
My adventures came to an end at 10 pm... and there was much rejoicing. grins
So, a day in the life of Rachel D Schumacher. And what a day it was.
10.14.2005
inspired
inspiredTomorrow night I'll have been here 1 month and a week, teaching 2 of those weeks.
I finally feel like my apartment is becoming mine... it's almost midnight and I still haven't started planning my lessons for tomorrow, my guitar is out and my fingers sore, dirty dishes in the sink, chocolate rappers in the garbage can, books and journals scattered about the room, pictures on the wall, a cup of half-full now cold coffee, magazine clippings scattered across my table and a now-finished birthday card for Amy. My TV still isn't functioning because I've been too lazy to untangle the vine-like mass of wires and find plugs for them all.
10.12.2005
The beauty of Creation, Taiheiko
reflections of the sun in mist
the sculptors
a masterpiece in a fern
translucent autumn leaves
soft vein of rock
the sculptors
a masterpiece in a fern
translucent autumn leaves
soft vein of rock
10.11.2005
A day at Taiheiko (Lake Taihei)
Taki - Waterfalls
Bonita and Arnie, my new mom and dad. Thanks Amy! :)
Bonita and I
I want to swim... but it was sooo cold!
I won't let you fall! grins Me and Becki, the other young female English teacher.
Bonita and Arnie, my new mom and dad. Thanks Amy! :)
Bonita and I
I want to swim... but it was sooo cold!
I won't let you fall! grins Me and Becki, the other young female English teacher.
The soul is like a bird,
shaken from its peaceful roost by the inclement
circumstances of life,
where windblown branches
and sudden gusts from darkening horizons
thrust it into weather that is wild and uncertain.
And sometimes, however hard we beat our wings,
we can't seem to overcome the elements galing against us.
We are thrashed about in the air,
windsheered and weary,
wondering if our cries for help are reaching God.
But then the tempest subsides,
for a while anyway,
and the updrafts of God's Spirit lift us to new heights,
above the wind, above the rain, above the earth.
And, for a moment,
we soar.
~Ken Gire
shaken from its peaceful roost by the inclement
circumstances of life,
where windblown branches
and sudden gusts from darkening horizons
thrust it into weather that is wild and uncertain.
And sometimes, however hard we beat our wings,
we can't seem to overcome the elements galing against us.
We are thrashed about in the air,
windsheered and weary,
wondering if our cries for help are reaching God.
But then the tempest subsides,
for a while anyway,
and the updrafts of God's Spirit lift us to new heights,
above the wind, above the rain, above the earth.
And, for a moment,
we soar.
~Ken Gire
10.09.2005
my weakness (one of many)
"Between heaven and earth lies the firmament of our prayers."
Much of this year (the past month giving testimony), is going to be about prayer - God teaching me how to have direct, meaningful communion with him. Most of my experience in praying has been through pain and loneliness... now especially, loneliness. I've no one else to talk to, to go to. As horrible as that sounds, it's the honest truth. I'm going to learn the hard way how to better commune with the Lord, have a better relationship with him, because it seems in this case that it's the only way I'm going to learn anything. Truthfully, I'm very lazy when it comes to prayer. I like to be busy (with periods of rest inbetween to catch up with myself), and I like to DO, and I like to be with people (friends, etc.). So, finding a quiet place to spend time praying is one of the things that gets set on the back burner first. Bad idea. And I honestly don't understand why I do it - because I feel the difference between when I've spent time praying, and when I've let it wane. It's also easier for me to pick up a book and read about prayer instead of actually praying (or even write about praying... grins). Reading girl meets GOD by Lauren Winner, I relate well to her in her struggle to maintain any sort of regular prayer life - not even a prayer life - just something as simple (seemingly) as a prayer time. Right now I'm incredibly excited about a book I found on the stacks of the humble library in Araya Church. Between Heaven and Earth by Ken Gire. In reading about prayer I feel like I prayed... kind of. With the exception that nothing substitutes the real thing. So, I guess right now my prayer is, "Lord, teach me to pray!"
Much of this year (the past month giving testimony), is going to be about prayer - God teaching me how to have direct, meaningful communion with him. Most of my experience in praying has been through pain and loneliness... now especially, loneliness. I've no one else to talk to, to go to. As horrible as that sounds, it's the honest truth. I'm going to learn the hard way how to better commune with the Lord, have a better relationship with him, because it seems in this case that it's the only way I'm going to learn anything. Truthfully, I'm very lazy when it comes to prayer. I like to be busy (with periods of rest inbetween to catch up with myself), and I like to DO, and I like to be with people (friends, etc.). So, finding a quiet place to spend time praying is one of the things that gets set on the back burner first. Bad idea. And I honestly don't understand why I do it - because I feel the difference between when I've spent time praying, and when I've let it wane. It's also easier for me to pick up a book and read about prayer instead of actually praying (or even write about praying... grins). Reading girl meets GOD by Lauren Winner, I relate well to her in her struggle to maintain any sort of regular prayer life - not even a prayer life - just something as simple (seemingly) as a prayer time. Right now I'm incredibly excited about a book I found on the stacks of the humble library in Araya Church. Between Heaven and Earth by Ken Gire. In reading about prayer I feel like I prayed... kind of. With the exception that nothing substitutes the real thing. So, I guess right now my prayer is, "Lord, teach me to pray!"
10.07.2005
rediscovering orthodoxy and iconography
Last semester at Houghton (spring 2005), we were visited by 2 people of Eastern Orthodox background or leaning, Priest Ugolnik and Christine Simoneau-Hales, iconographer, one complimentary to the other. Ugolnik urged us, as part of the church, to empower our artists: "The people who reach the outside world with the gospel are those who interact with it - who reach out to it - not those who separate themselves from it. We must enter every chink, every crack. Artists do this - so empower them to do this! They are your "warriors" in this "culture war"... We need to empower Christian artists to awaken the imagination, to release it... [Unlocking the imagination necessitates] mixing with the culture in which you live, encountering it and grappling with the people and beliefs and ideas that you find....
Protestantism established itself out of existence by identifying itself - establishing itself - with the nations. We blended and diluted its doctines, and they have slowly but progressively faded and fallen and corrupted. It was made "normative" and thus blended with the existing culture. this is not the rightful role of Christianity - to be normative - but to challenge the powers that be, challenge culturally accepted norms. Christianity's relationship with culture is a refining relationship. As we are brought through the refining fire to be purified and made more into the image of Christ, so Christianity is to refine culture so that it can be made more into the image of the Kingdom of God.
And so now we come to expressing Christian imagination and longing... transitioning from soul to oral to visual...
Hales says: "Icons are windows into the spiritual realm. As such, they are an aid in prayer which can inspire our connection to God. They, of course, are not meant to be worshiped in themselves but are a bridge leading the worshipper to greater understanding of God's power and glory in its many dimensions."
It's late, and so I apologize if the connections I'm making in my head aren't being very well expressed in writing... but by the grace of God may they encourage you in a way I never can of my own mind. I included Hales' website in my list of links. Check it out.
"St. John is shown here as a man of the wilderness. His gaze is piercing but loving. He shows that God often chooses as His messenger the lowly and uncivilized."
"Hildegard was an eleventh century abbess in Germany to whom God gave a vision while in her forties. God told her to get up and write, and create to glorify Him. From that time on she composed music, wrote poetry, and illuminated spiritual truths while also founding and directing Monasteries." I'm drawn to this woman... she lived from 1098 to 1179. She was a visionary, prophetess, musical composer, and wrote much on nature, spirituality, and Creation.
Protestantism established itself out of existence by identifying itself - establishing itself - with the nations. We blended and diluted its doctines, and they have slowly but progressively faded and fallen and corrupted. It was made "normative" and thus blended with the existing culture. this is not the rightful role of Christianity - to be normative - but to challenge the powers that be, challenge culturally accepted norms. Christianity's relationship with culture is a refining relationship. As we are brought through the refining fire to be purified and made more into the image of Christ, so Christianity is to refine culture so that it can be made more into the image of the Kingdom of God.
And so now we come to expressing Christian imagination and longing... transitioning from soul to oral to visual...
Hales says: "Icons are windows into the spiritual realm. As such, they are an aid in prayer which can inspire our connection to God. They, of course, are not meant to be worshiped in themselves but are a bridge leading the worshipper to greater understanding of God's power and glory in its many dimensions."
It's late, and so I apologize if the connections I'm making in my head aren't being very well expressed in writing... but by the grace of God may they encourage you in a way I never can of my own mind. I included Hales' website in my list of links. Check it out.
"St. John is shown here as a man of the wilderness. His gaze is piercing but loving. He shows that God often chooses as His messenger the lowly and uncivilized."
"Hildegard was an eleventh century abbess in Germany to whom God gave a vision while in her forties. God told her to get up and write, and create to glorify Him. From that time on she composed music, wrote poetry, and illuminated spiritual truths while also founding and directing Monasteries." I'm drawn to this woman... she lived from 1098 to 1179. She was a visionary, prophetess, musical composer, and wrote much on nature, spirituality, and Creation.
10.06.2005
My African Violet, Barb
Here it is - she, I should say. My beautiful African Violet which I named Barb. The moment I set eyes on it in the flower shop it reminded me of Barb Arensen. :)
"mission accomplished"
It's kind of exciting and thrilling (and sometimes hair-raising) when at the end of every day, or perhaps even several times throughout the day, I walk in my door and proclaim to myself: "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" with an incredible amount of satisfaction at having communicated without words, almost fallen off of my bike but not quite :) , taught an English lesson to a class where I had 4 new kids and only 1 was supposed to show up (in addition to the 2 regular attendies), and laughed at myself instead of crying. grins Life is good in so many ways. Cheers. La'heim (sp?) with Amy's coffee mug at Takanosu. Good choice, Amy. :)
10.04.2005
Keiko
I made a new friend last night. She's living at Eiko church (a 2 min walk from my apt) and her name is Keiko. She speaks enough English so that we can have a pretty good conversation and she's teaching me Japanese words along the way, too (Wed I start my Japanese class). I get awfully lonely at night, and I think she does too (she's 31 and single - a lot of women are). So, hopefully I'll be getting to know her really well. I like her a lot. And I really need a friend who is close by. One of those tangible things. She's a gift and I'm thankful.
Here's a view from my roof. Behind me is a very nice black fence that I climbed over to sit where I'm not supposed to - necessary, of course, to get the best view. :) I love the mountainside view. By the time I left the roof, though, the west side was looking pretty spectacular with a stunning sunset. I've never seen the sky in ripples like that before.
Here's a view from my roof. Behind me is a very nice black fence that I climbed over to sit where I'm not supposed to - necessary, of course, to get the best view. :) I love the mountainside view. By the time I left the roof, though, the west side was looking pretty spectacular with a stunning sunset. I've never seen the sky in ripples like that before.
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