Apple crisp...Halloween style!

The English Club members at Hitachi Second High School and I usually celebrate the holidays by cooking. This Halloween was no different. We gathered in the school kitchen after school today (since Halloween is on Sunday) for our celebration. I wore my Rilakkuma costume and students wore various Halloween headbands. We made apple crisp, quesadillas, guacamole, and pumpkin pie (made by the mother of one of the students)! The food was great! And a few students decided to decorate the apple crisp with gummy bats when it came out of the oven. Not a bad idea!

The result:

The Way of the Sword

October 16, 2010

Today was another one of those days when I feel so lucky to live in Japan. This morning, an English teacher from Tokai High School (one of the schools where I work) picked me up around 9:30am and we went up to Kitaibaraki (Kita = north, Ibaraki = my prefecture). Her Google map led us to a narrow street in the middle of a rice field. We were looking for a dojo, a martial arts practice room, where another teacher would be waiting for us. We finally found him and he directed us to a parking spot right outside his house, next to the dojo. I was really excited because I had never experienced firsthand any kind of martial art until today.

In the dojo, the two other English teachers and I watched Shinohara sensei as he demonstrated how to properly use a sword. The precision and ease with which he worked was unreal. The sword was always perfectly in line with his body. I could tell that he was in an entirely different state of mind when he was using the sword. Mind strength is much more important than body strength when it comes to kendo, and most martial arts. And women often excel faster than men in martial arts because they lack body strength. He said that in order to be successful, you have to be able to completely let go of all your thoughts.

After the demonstration, the teacher handed me his very expensive sword. I got to try using it a few times. The first time I succeeded because I wasn't thinking. I knew I did well because he told me that it's important to hear the sword cut the air when you strike. If you don't, you're thinking too much.

Honoruru Adventures

On September 18th, I returned to America to spend a week with mom and dad. But I didn’t go to California this time. To make things easier for all of us we met in Oahu, HI - a “middle point” between Japan and California. Our travels took us all around the island, from the Polynesian Cultural Center in the northern part to Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and various other scenic spots along Oahu's southern shores.

We ate really good shaved ice at "Matsumoto's Shave Ice," a famous little store in the town of "Haleiwa" on Oahu's north shore. Away from the Waikiki crowds and shops, we stayed in a nice condo on the north eastern side of the island. The location was perfect for us: quiet, scenic, and breezy. We even had a private beach in the backyard of our condo, which quickly turned into a hunting ground for Portuguese Man o' War once a girl pointed one out to dad and I one day. We even spotted a gigantic sea turtle (probably about 150lbs!) on our walk along the beach one night. But we didn't spend all of our time at the condo. We did go to Waikiki for some important shopping on one of the days. I loaded up on Mac and Cheese and my favorite makeup items on our Target trip, spending a lot more money than I should have...and not caring one bit.

 Dole Pineapple Plantation:

Welcome Aboard the Pineapple Express!



A pineapple won't ripen any further after it's picked.

Mmm...Pineapple ice cream adorned with fresh pineapple bits

Pineapple ice cream float - that was mine:)

One of many Portuguese Man o' War dad encountered (and insisted on examining) as we walked along the beach near our condo.

The view from the top of Diamond Head

We got our daily dose of "dairy" each morning.

Hawaii's state flower: Hibiscus 

The trip was really relaxing, yet productive at the same time. It was nice for mom, dad, and I to reunite after not having seen each other in about nine months. And it was the perfect getaway for me after a busy summer in Japan. The worst part of the trip was getting my Target taco sauce and barbecue sauce confiscated at the security check in the Honolulu Airport when I was getting ready to return to Japan. I guess there are some things I'll just have to live without until I return to America for good next year.