Massive mall - shopping with friends

Massive mall - shopping with friends: LINK: http://jacquelinejoseph.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/massive-mall-shopping-with-friends/

http://jacquelinejoseph.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/christmas-gifts/

Who will I give gifts to? It is that time of year! I know Christmas isn't as much about the gift-giving here in Japan, but this is one obvious opportunity I see to share my faith with my friends. It could be helpful to any of you who may be looking to do the same. So, here is what I am doing. I first made a list of people I wanted to give gifts to. How do people make the cut? I first chose all co-workers. I thought it would be difficult to sneakily give my "favorite" co-workers gifts only. So that

Company BBQ Take 2!

PICTURE GALLERY: http://jacquelinejoseph.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/company-bbq-take-2/ So, back in August our company had a barbecue. IF you missed the post, check it out here: http://jacquelinejoseph.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/picnic-day-with-friends-from-work-wonderful-fun/ We did it again! This day, however, was in the cold December! We went to a different town this time, it is called 'Hitachi-naka'. Which is right along the ocean. We went to a beautiful, large park. This whole city was so expansive that it reminded me of the States! The park was along the ocean so it is colder than where I live here. We all met there at around 10 am. The park has a large wheelbarrow you can rent for your things. We took one of those, and paid an entrance fee before getting in. Today no one was there it felt somewhat eerie. Did I mention it is beautiful, though? Haha! We set up for the barbecue, etc. My friend and I skipped off to the nearby playground which was soo neat! It reminded me of the good ol' days as a youngster running around Japan's parks. (Their parks rock by the way) A Japanese barbecue is different than an American one in a number of ways. The one that stands out the most is that in the U.S. we usually cook everything, prep everything, then put everything in bowls on the table to sit down and eat together. In Japan, it is like an ongoing process. You all sit or stand near the grill, cooking things two at a time and then put them into your bowl or plate, etc. Surprisingly unorganized for being Japanese. Let's see how much of today's menu I can remember...Small rice balls, Oolong Tea, Enoki (long white mushrooms) with mayo topping, eggplant with oil/soy sauce, Sweet white potato, beef slices, clams, shrimp, anko (a type of fish), another type of fish that they put a stick through and salted, yakisoba, potatoes, another type of fish with miso flavoring, juice, soup, and tangerines. It was so yummy and fun. We talked about many things and laughed a lot. After clean up, we drove to the other side of the park where there is an amusement park. The park is very large but had very few working rides. It wasn't necessarily run down or dirty, everything just seemed to be out of service. We rode a roller coaster which was fun, and played a few games. Then it was time to head home! Lovely time. Here are some pics.

Nikko - World Heritage Site

LINK: http://jacquelinejoseph.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/nikko-world-heritage-site/

Just one of those days...

Fall weather makes me feel relaxed. If I were at home right now I'd be making puzzles and drinking hot cocoa with the fam. I love this weather. I also feel like this gif describes that vibe. :)

What Jesus says...

The world says: You need to escape reality for a while. Jesus says: Give me your burdens, and I will give you real rest and real freedom. The world says: You only live once, so make it count. Jesus says: I bought you with a price, and you are mine forever. The world says: Try harder, and figure it out. Jesus says: Your sins are forgiven. Follow me. The world says: You’re on your own. Jesus says: I am eternally for you, and I am with you always. The world says: Follow your heart The Bible says: Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Strengths & Weaknesses: Japan and America

Japanese Television Programming I have been thinking about Japanese TV programming. To me, it is the worst. I can't understand when good shows are on. American "prime time" is around 5-7pm, right? Well, in Japan shows on at that time are no different than the rest of the day. And channels don't discriminate. Channels show whatever they want, when they want. You'll be watching a cooking show, then at a quarter past the hour an infomercial will come on that lasts 15 minutes. After that, it could be the news, it could be an animated show. You really don't know. What's more, the shows are...pointless? I once watched a show about married people. Everyone wore stickers on their shirts that said how long they'd been married. Then, one-by-one people would come up to tell their marriage problem. There would be a video re-enactment, and then everyone would give their advice. (...Continues below)

A walk through the city...

Link

Business ideas a missionary can start today

Recently I've learned of many people who are struggling to raise support as missionaries. Thankfully, most missionaries (by their very nature) are entrepreneurial. So, therein (I think) lies the solution for many people. Many may have a fixed idea in their minds of what a missionary is. Why can't a missionary be someone who is working in a foreign country? Sharing your light, your story of what God did for you can be done anywhere without reservation. There are examples of this across the board. One is my Uncle. He has lived as a missionary in Japan for most of his life by his own support. My Uncle is a very creative person and has found his niche in writing. He has written many books and most of these have become very popular in both Japan and the U.S. which has allowed him to support himself. Here are a few ideas. Don't feel stuck to any of these - the point is simply to start thinking! 1. Graffiti Removal Description: Call on the property owner and get to scrubbing. Fees: $150-$300 per job. For longer jobs, $50 per hour is reasonable. Tools of the Trade: cleaning chemicals, scrub brushes and possibly a power washer. Tip: You’re working with nasty chemicals, so be careful. Abide by federal disposal regulations. Hidden costs: A vehicle for transporting equipment to job sites. In many cities, you will find graffiti. Each city has different laws and ways of dealing with it. In Los Angeles, for example, the cities pay for a graffiti company. There is a number to call when you see it, and the service is free (covered through taxes). This means graffiti has become easy to remedy and not as commonly seen. 

Lately: Picture Update

PICTURE gallery LINK

Japanese Language Class

Well, I am nearing 2 months in. Naturally, my co-workers thought my language skills would have progressed more over this short time. I, however, was not so naive. Of course I am learning but I don't expect it to come so quickly. My co-worker does admit that my hearing has improved. What she may not understand is that I am not naturally talkative in English to begin with.

A Japanese Funeral

Hey there. I have just come home from a funeral - for my boss' son (See previous post). I wanted to jot down what it was like a) so that I can remember and b) in case other people are curious. IF you didn't know, I am a Christian and grew up in Los Angeles. So, my funeral experiences are dramatically different than what I experienced here. That is what I would like to share. The day the baby died, we were all told at work. People were crying and my boss was crying. Other than that, the work day was normal. At the end of the day all office staff walked over to the boss' house. There, we greeted the grandparents. We sat on our knees in one room together huddled around the baby's body, with the parents (my boss and his wife). There was a small table with burning incense.

A call for prayer

Two days ago my boss' son passed away. It is very sad. The boy was three years old, but had suffered a heart defect that limited his growth. The boy never aged past a few months old. This is a hard time for my boss, my boss' wife, their family, as well as my co-workers. The day it happened the office was in full panic. Everyone was crying. That night we went to the family's home, sat with the baby's body and visited with the family. I was very saddened, too. It was very tough and I've never seen things like I saw that night ever before. All this to say, what a seemingly good way to share God's message to everyone involved. The good news is that while that baby suffered here on earth, the Bible tells us that since he was too young to know good or evil he is with God in Heaven. Better yet, he is in a new heavenly body - healthy and full of life for eternity. If you can pray for me specifically through this time. Tomorrow is the service and I am preparing to be of any use. Please pray that I get an opportunity to share God to these people. I want to be on call for the Holy Spirit here specifically. Thank you!

Lessons in hospitality / etiquette

The Japanese (for the most part) are extremely well-mannered and consider manners, etiquette of utmost importance. I've struggled with some aspects of this for sure. I'm keen on pushing myself to learn them and accustom myself to them, though. Not only will following these rules help me to fit in and not offend people, they can help me in the future regardless of where I live or who I am with. Manners, I'm learning, are important. Here are just a few Japanese etiquette guidelines I've come across when it comes to hospitality. Rules - Hospitality Always bring something when going to someone's house for dinner Always help with the dishes - to completion Always be over-thankful Show your gratefulness and surprise at anything given to you Start helping - rather than just offering Always over-offer When people refuse, offer again. If they refuse again, just give it to them anyway

Feeling reflective...

Maturity is...growing to be more free, growing to know how to choose the good and walk in it. “Love is the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth... Love is as love does. Love is an act of will -- namely, both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.” ― M. Scott Peck

Tokyo DisneySea August 2013

PHOTO Gallery Link

Why I get in trouble at work: Perfectionism

I keep getting in trouble because I serve customers drinks wrong. There are 6 seemingly-identical cups each with a different purpose. i.e. One cup we use for customers who only stay a short time. #itshardnottolaugh #tryingtokeepup #Japanesedetail Every day I have to ardently try to turn off the American-esque creativity in my brain in hopes of accustoming myself to Japanese ways.

Church Sunday

We had an incredible time at church Sunday. A couple who are missionaries came. The wife played the koto and her husband shared his testimony. It was beautiful. Plus, two junior high school boys came to church for the first time.

Growing up in Los Angeles

I guess it was the conversations I've been having with my friend at work, comparing how we grew up, that have me thinking about how I grew up. It isn't something I've never thought about before, but I am looking at it in a new light. One of the biggest things is how the area of Los Angeles I grew up in was so ethnically diverse. If you didn't know, LA is a city, yes, but it is also a county - so I grew up in a city inside LA county. To describe this, you could just look at my neighbors. Across the street was a first generation Pakistani family - the dad was a doctor. To our left was a first generation

Waterfall and fireworks

Waterfall and fireworks PHOTO Gallery

Bible Study

Older people get me. Ever since I was little, my grandparents have been some of my favorite people to be around. At today's Bible study were six sixty plus adults and myself. I was enthralled.

I don't know what it is. Humor? Wisdom? Maybe it is their ability to focus on what is important. We shared laughs, we shared stories. After we ate, one lady taught us what she'd be learning in physical therapy. It was a hand/arm exercise. #mypeeps

It was the second one I'd been to since moving here. The people are delightful, the meals are great and the message is powerful. I don't yet understand a lot of what is said, but I can usually get the gist. I have an English/Japanese Bible that allows me to read the Japanese and get the meaning from the English so I am able to figure out what the message is. Any words I hear that I don't know, I pen down to look up and study. Today I wrote down about twenty.

Tropical Japan Weather - August

Many call August the worst month in Japan weather-wise. Overall, weather in Japan is extreme. When it rains, it pours. You get it. August is no exception - in fact it is probably the peak of extreme weather. Extreme heat. Extreme humidity. Extreme thunderstorms. Case in point...

It is Sunday today. Earlier, I rode my bike to church and back. It was humid, hot and sunny. When I got home I needed to charge my phone because I wanted to go to the pool and library that afternoon. I finish lunch and, "Bam!". Thunder. Lightning. Wind so strong the door to the bathroom was jiggling open. The loudest thunder I've ever heard! Strong, powerful sounds. Bright, bright lightning. And then...pouring, gushing rain. The library closes in an hour and I don't know the pool's hours but I'm thinking this is one day I will skip. Inside for Japanese studying and other chores. :)

How the unsaved Japanese have us fooled

Living in a city with such little Christian representation, I can't help but wonder...why? Maybe no knows knows about the need or maybe no one is leading. Then it occurred to me that from the outset the Japanese people have us convinced that they're fine. (As opposed to 3rd world countries) Right? They are an economic powerhouse; they lead in industry, in education, in health. For all of these reasons they have become engrossed with pride, arrogance, and hardness of heart. They don't think they need God. There is no apparent need. Similar to pharisees, Japanese live out of a deeply rich, traditional moral code. ,They exude kindness, respect, hospitality and selflessness in their daily lives.

They do need our love, God's love and the gospel, though. They experience family and work life that teaches shame and honor. They don't know grace. They need to understand Gods purpose for their lives. I'm wondering and calling on God for discernment if there is any way I can be of help in inviting more Christians to serve here, live and work here.

Work Dinner and KARAOKE

Work Dinner and KARAOKE - PICTURE GALLERY

KARAOKE. So, this night was fun. The whole office went together to Chinese food. It was okay food and the service was bleh but we all had fun. At one point our boss asked who worked hardest this past weekend. When we all voted, 2 people were clear winners. So to them he gave each 5000 yen - about 50 bucks. Pretty neat. We had fun talking. My friend Daisuke and I are practically the same age so we have a lot in common. Everyone around the table had beers and the two of us didn't. He said he didn't like the taste. I guess as the lowest on the office totem pole it was my job to refill everyone's drinks? So that was new. Oh, and Maki-san drinks a lot. Who-da-thunk-it? Anyways. Then, we walked to the Karaoke place. This place was neat. They had hats, masks, tambourines and macarenas. Which was fun because even if you weren't singing you got to play along.
Some key songs sung were:
Baby - Justin Beiber (I picked this one and they didn't know it but quickly caught on that there is only one lyric)
My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
Beat It - Michael Jackson
We Are The Champions - Queen
It was a blast. At one point, Komiya-san fell asleep but he still had his Toy Story plush mask on.
I laughed so hard this night. #whatablast

I (Almost) got a day off

<p>Well, Saturday and Sunday were exhausting. It was probably the most tired - physically and mentally that I've been in a while. I worked alongside my office team to run a shaved ice booth for the city festival. (We were too busy to take any pics, sorry!) I was at the front of service commanding customers with 'Irasshaimase' (Welcome) and other phrases. Once the customer paid, I was the person for order pick-ups as well. At one point I kept track of how many customers we had in one minute and it was three. So, over the eight+ hours a day we worked...yeah, you can imagine how tiresome it was.</p><p>Today was our first day back at the office and it was obvious that morale was low. One of my friends lost her voice. Nonetheless, we got work done. Towards the end of the day I finished early and they said I could go home. My friend/supervisor randomly asked the supervisor if I could have the day off tomorrow. Embarrassed, I listened in while the supervisor said, "No." Bummer. The rest of the day I had previously planned Japanese study, web design work, and a bike ride. When it came down to it, all I had energy for was a bike ride. Trying to relax now with some light work. I don't want to get too behind but I know I am too tired to give 110% creatively right now. </p>

PICNIC DAY WITH FRIENDS FROM WORK! WONDERFUL FUN!!

PICNIC DAY - Picture Gallery

Lunch with co-workers on our one day off

My face when they told me that on our one day off from the office, we'll be having a work BBQ together. LOL

Dinner with Pastor Kawasaki and his wife Cheikyo

Sushi Dinner with Pastor Kawasaki and his wife Cheikyo. If you've never been to a sushi-go-round. You must. A lot of them in Japan are really basic and rustic - this one is more electronic. Hardly any server interaction. We had a lovely talk about their stories, their church, the city culture...etc. So wonderful!

My town in 30 seconds! Walking in Mito, Japan

http://youtu.be/TbpR1BA5ivs

My town in 30 seconds! Walking in Mito, Japan My second week in Japan - July 2013. I live and work in Ibaraki, Japan. For this clip, I used a recording of myself drumming.

Surprise gift from boss' wife/Friend

Today was a terrific first day off - I made my own Ramen bowl! #ceramics Went shopping and had incredible udon with Maki-san. Then I come to this surprise! The note reads: "Dear　ジャクリーン, Hi!! Thank you for helping work. Are you ok? Since such as absence at home. Set aside yogurt!! (ヨーグルト) Please eat!! Belicious See you." Adorable!!! And it was delicious yogurt for sure. *Feeling loved*

5-Day Report: Japan 2013

Today is Monday July 22nd. So far, this trip has been excellent. I wouldn't change a thing. I've been to busy too write so here is a collection from my memory on the past 5 days.

TV interview and a rainy night at Royal Host

The flight went by quickly and when I got off the airport the only struggle I had was carrying my enormous amount of luggage. Walking down to the trains, I was stopped by a TV camera crew and gave them a short interview. The train took about 3 hours and it was so annoying to carry so much stuff. I also received weird looks with so much luggage to carry. Nonetheless, I enjoyed looking out the window and seeing beautiful forests and rice fields. When I arrived at my home station, my boss and his family were there to pick me up. It had started to rain and I was so tired that if they hadn't have come this whole trip could have stopped right there. Thankfully, they had a large van to fit my things in. We went out to dinner at Royal Host, which is like a Denny's. That night they showed me to my apartment and what was what inside. Most of that night I can hardly remember seeing as I was lacking an entire night's sleep.

A tough day at the office with new friends

The next day I had work at 10:00 a.m., believe it or not. I woke up at 4 a.m. and took a walk to a convenience store. At work, I met the entire office staff. They all seemed really nice but I was, in general, confused as to what to do, what was expected, etc. The next thing I knew I had a meeting with the boss and we discussed my pay, etc. I'll be sure to document the differences between an American and Japanese office separately, but one of things I noticed that day was that there wasn't a private meeting room. The two of us talked on a table in front of everyone - which could mean they heard everything. That day, two of the girls took me to an apartment that was in between tenants and apparently it was our job to clean it? I was so surprised. I did it, though, with 100% effort. We scrubbed the floors on our hands and knees, and we were dripping sweat. The place was spotless. After that, they took me to the store so that I could get some necessary items for my apartment. This city is oddly set up. I still have yet to complete an entire map of it in my head. We had to drive 30 minutes just to find this household goods store and for Japan, that seemed odd. Then again, I've spent most of my time in Japan within the suburbs of Tokyo - so it is possible that I have not know "true" Japan. Later, the boss' wife took me to get a view things and she kindly paid for them, which I argued against her doing.

Photoshop-ping, and language learning techniques in question

Another day of work came and this day was all about pictures. A guy in the office and myself drove out in one of the office cars - which is bright gold like the office logo. We went to probably 10 apartments to take photos. He let me take some but negatively critiqued each and every one. When we arrived back at the office, it was my job to edit the pictures for the internet. 'Aha!' I thought, something I know how to do. That night I made my own dinner - rice, meat, and salad. Super good. Usually at home I study Japanese. The language has become more complex the more time I've spent listening or speaking it. One of the interesting things I've noticed about my Japanese knowledge is how incorrectly it is formatted in my head. When I can't remember a word I know I have to say or think the word in English first, then the word comes. I realized this is probably because in Japanese school, the teacher would say, "Scissors". Then we would reply, "Hasami". In this way, the Japanese word is always connected to an English word. Somehow this seems incorrect and I think there has to be better ways to learn languages. Nonetheless, I am studying a lot. Studying verbs, nouns, conjugations and Kanji.

New friends at church. A broken bag and heels. 

Yesterday was Sunday and my co-workers had allowed me enough time to go to church. A few weeks back, a missionary family to Japan visited with my family and I in LA. When I told them about my upcoming trip, they suggested I get in touch with the pastor of this church. It was such a God thing because I had been looking for one, and they happen to know this pastor very well. I used the navigation on my cellphone to find my way there. It was a 30 minute walk and about 8 minutes in, I heard a "Konnichiwa" from a car behind me. Sure enough, it was the pastor himself. He offered me a ride and I was happy to get a chance to get to know him. It turns out he has partnered with Evergreen - a church close to home where a lot of my friends attend. He says that many groups come to visit from Evergreen. Before church started, I met his lovely wife and some other church members. For whatever reason, Japanese names come into one ear and leave through the other. That is something I need to work on. I met the church's oldest member, a lady who is 99 years old. I realized then that she was the oldest person I'd ever met. Church went longer than I thought it would, so my trip back to the office was more of a run-walk. I had the privilege of walking alongside the city's main lake, Sakura lake. In the Spring, the lake's trees are blooming with Sakura (cherry blossoms). As I was walking I noticed my heel's buckle tearing. Then, snap! It was broken. I had to walk funny in order to keep that shoe on my foot. A few steps later, my purse's strap snapped. I was a peculiar sight - foreigner walking very quickly with frizzy hair, a limp, and holding her purse with her arms. I made it to work with enough time to grab lunch at the store nearby. After work I stopped by the grocery store and limped all the way home. Like I said, this trip has been a dream so far. I know it is only because the Lord has gone before me. It is evident that he is working on my behalf. I can do nothing to receive this kindness, but I can thank him, I can serve him, obey him and listen to him. I am His.

Narita train station, Japan (なりた)

Narita train station, Japan (なりた)

Mito, Ibaraki, Japan (水戸)

Mito, Ibaraki, Japan (水戸)

日本 (Japan) - Day 1

http://t.co/PZ28YWUx5R Apartment tour, morning walk and random ramblings. Annotations by my evil twin.

Why Japan? 2013

Why are you living in Japan?

If you didn't already know, both my sets of grandparents served as missionaries in Japan. Here's a generic timeline of events. - Post-war, my dad's parents move to be missionaries in Japan - A few years later, my mom's parents move to be missionaries in Japan - My parents move to Los Angeles to attend college - My parents marry and settle in LA - I'm born in October, and take my 1st trip to Japan to visit my grandparents at 2 months old - I continued to visit my dad's parents in Japan at least once a year - In 2008, I begin college in LA - In 2010, I spend the summer in Japan working & home-staying - In 2013, I am leaving to Japan for 1 year to work & live / love & share / learn & more

What is so cool about Japan?

This is the question I get the most. And through my journey experiences, I hope to illustrate a good answer. But for starters, here's a quick list. - Safety, low crime rate - Kindness, community feel - Cities are built well - where it is easy to bike or walk to anything - Public transportation: Cheap & efficient - Food: Delicious, varied and everywhere! - Attention to detail - Hard-working people - Work for the good of each other - Family-oriented - Good taste in design, aesthetic [youtube=http://youtu.be/INaEELIEhH0] For another good look at this, check out this blogger's take here: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/josephkimx/2013/08/12/why-japan/

Passing on a good devotional

Hey! I hope you have had a restful Christmas time with your loved ones. I know I did. I was overjoyed to have time off to go home to Los Angeles and spend time with my family and friends. I felt surrounded by Christ's love and blessing. I am now safely back in Japan in the cold weather. I wanted to pass along a wonderful online devotional from Hillsong's Brian Houston. People poke fun at current worship song writers because they sometimes get their theology wrong. Well, here is a guy pulling straight from the Word. I'll link one of the posts here: http://hillsongcollected.com/maxlife/day-8-guaranteed-victory