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>