Yet another underway has come and gone. Yes, that's right, our boy was out there doing man overboard trainings and navigating through low pressure systems like only a Navigator can. Mark realized that, although we're living in Japan for a year and a half, with all these underways and a four month deployment starting in early May, he really won't get a chance to soak up much of the country or it's customs. Keeping that in mind, we made sure to pack as much as we could in this past weekend. On Saturday we went to our first Japanese pro baseball game. Clearly this was no Phillies game. There was no mixing of fans- they sat according to for whom they were rooting. One side wore blue or blue and gray showing their spirit for the Yokohama Baystars and the other wore yellow or yellow and white for the Tokyo Tigers. There were no metal detectors as you filed into the stadium. And, most obvious clue we weren't in Philly? People could bring their own food and booze! Mark and I laughed as we could picture people hauling quarter kegs on their backs up to the nose bleed sections. Check out the video to see how organized their cheers were, I mean E-A-G-L-E-S has nothing on these guys. We were sitting behind the drums and horns- they took the repsonsiblity very seriously.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Spring has Sprung
These days the mercury is consistently hovering around the age of retirement, with some days reaching that 'bless her heart, she's still going at it' level. The cherry blossoms are peaking and roads are being covered in pastel pinks from their petals. The breeze from the cars cause them to swirl as if it were a dusting of snow. Kids, pets, and couples are coming out of the woodwork. Parks and beaches are busting with activity on the weekends with picnics, kite flying, baseball catches, and soccer games. We even saw a man taking his cat out for an evening walk- on a leash! Some pics of the house after a some yardwork.
Mark and I have taken advantage of one of the endearing qualities of being in the Navy family, proximity to the sea. You'd think this boy would be tired of seeing the ocean, but it is a love that is unconditional between a man and mother nature that only one with the same passion can understand. The other weekend we headed to the beach for Mark to have a surf and me to watch him master the waves. It's soothing to watch him glide back and forth effortlessly through the water on his board. His athleticism never ceases to amaze me. I wish I could have the same relationship with a surfboard- I've tried, we just don't get along well. It's too big for me to bully and never does what I ask.
So this past weekend we enjoyed a pastime that we both could partake in; fishing. The start of the adventure what somewhat shaky at the local fishing store, Tackle Berry. We got some hooks, sinkers, and my favorite purchase, the rattling minnow imitation but we still needed some bait. Ok, we're at a fishing store so they'll surely have bait, right? But what is the word for bait? We looked in the phrase book earlier and didn't see it so we just winged it. "Sumimesen, bait doko deska?" (excuse me, where is the bait?) The man behind the counter perked up right away, "Hai, bait-o." (yes, bait) Mark and I looked at each other with hope-no way, we got it right-o! "Hai, bait-o," Mark said back with a smile. We had already put our items on the counter to ring up. One second hand pole: 1,200 yen. One bag of fake worms: 480 yen. One rattling minnow imitation lure: 560 yen. One bag of sinkers: 58 yen. Then the confusion started. "Bait-0" the man picked up the fake worms and showed them to us like we hadn't known what they were. "Uh oh, i think we need to bust out the phrase book," I said to Mark. "Oh man, here we go," he replied. "But what word can we use to describe bait? Ah ha, here's live. How about live?" He showed the man the word in Japanese. He looked up, smiled and seemed to be waiting for something else. "Ok, let's try alive. Nope, no alive in here. Maybe squid? Nope, no squid." We said live again. He repeated it,"live" but just smiled like he had passed the pronunciaion test. Defeated and confused we threw up the X to show nevermind and just said, "gomenasai, arigato" (sorry, thank you) and motioned at our purchase as if to say, this is it buddy, please pretend the last 5 minutes didn't happen. On our way to base we stopped at the local fish market and picked up some sardines to use as bait-o. Base fishing is supposedly pretty good because it's isolated from the local fisherman so you've got more space to yourself.
In the couple hours we were out there I landed two blowfish. Quite fun to take off the hook but they weren't big enough to bring home. Besides, they're poisonous and if we don't filet them properly, they can be deadly. Not how we want to end our first fishing trip. We just enjoyed the afternoon and laughed at how we still can't get over living in Japan.
Mark and I have taken advantage of one of the endearing qualities of being in the Navy family, proximity to the sea. You'd think this boy would be tired of seeing the ocean, but it is a love that is unconditional between a man and mother nature that only one with the same passion can understand. The other weekend we headed to the beach for Mark to have a surf and me to watch him master the waves. It's soothing to watch him glide back and forth effortlessly through the water on his board. His athleticism never ceases to amaze me. I wish I could have the same relationship with a surfboard- I've tried, we just don't get along well. It's too big for me to bully and never does what I ask.
So this past weekend we enjoyed a pastime that we both could partake in; fishing. The start of the adventure what somewhat shaky at the local fishing store, Tackle Berry. We got some hooks, sinkers, and my favorite purchase, the rattling minnow imitation but we still needed some bait. Ok, we're at a fishing store so they'll surely have bait, right? But what is the word for bait? We looked in the phrase book earlier and didn't see it so we just winged it. "Sumimesen, bait doko deska?" (excuse me, where is the bait?) The man behind the counter perked up right away, "Hai, bait-o." (yes, bait) Mark and I looked at each other with hope-no way, we got it right-o! "Hai, bait-o," Mark said back with a smile. We had already put our items on the counter to ring up. One second hand pole: 1,200 yen. One bag of fake worms: 480 yen. One rattling minnow imitation lure: 560 yen. One bag of sinkers: 58 yen. Then the confusion started. "Bait-0" the man picked up the fake worms and showed them to us like we hadn't known what they were. "Uh oh, i think we need to bust out the phrase book," I said to Mark. "Oh man, here we go," he replied. "But what word can we use to describe bait? Ah ha, here's live. How about live?" He showed the man the word in Japanese. He looked up, smiled and seemed to be waiting for something else. "Ok, let's try alive. Nope, no alive in here. Maybe squid? Nope, no squid." We said live again. He repeated it,"live" but just smiled like he had passed the pronunciaion test. Defeated and confused we threw up the X to show nevermind and just said, "gomenasai, arigato" (sorry, thank you) and motioned at our purchase as if to say, this is it buddy, please pretend the last 5 minutes didn't happen. On our way to base we stopped at the local fish market and picked up some sardines to use as bait-o. Base fishing is supposedly pretty good because it's isolated from the local fisherman so you've got more space to yourself.
In the couple hours we were out there I landed two blowfish. Quite fun to take off the hook but they weren't big enough to bring home. Besides, they're poisonous and if we don't filet them properly, they can be deadly. Not how we want to end our first fishing trip. We just enjoyed the afternoon and laughed at how we still can't get over living in Japan.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Our Final Adventure as the Three Amigos
I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to fill you guys in on our camping excursion on Shinkine-jima. Being this would be our last adventure as the three amigos, Mark took off two days from work so we could enjoy a long weekend together. To say it was relaxing and peaceful is an understatement. To get to this jima (island) we took a 10.5 hour ferry ride from Tokyo south into the Pacific Ocean. This ferry ride was far from cushiony; sleeping in our clown car would have proved to be more comfortable. You’re assigned a number on your ticket that corresponds to a 5.5 x 2.5 rectangle on the floor which is plotted out by duct tape. We slept side by side on the bottom deck of the ship, picture sardines in a can. After about 100 people boarded at 10pm our ride was underway. 
No sooner did people lay down their furry ferry supplied blanket and plane sized pillow, did they bust out their Kirin, Sake, or Sapporo. We didn’t realize this was a party boat! Marissa played Uno with some Japanese students and swore they cheated. Mark and I sat back and laughed at where we found ourselves. Midnight rolled around, the lights went out, and a man came around saying, “Shh, sleepy time.” So it was. 9am the next morning we stepped outside to see our island approaching. From a distance it looked like a big rocky hill with patches of green tree tops, nothing too spectacular. But after mooring and disembarking the water became crystal clear and allowed us to see sea life 20-30 feet down. Looking the part of rustic campers with hiking backpacks and sleeping bags latched on, we started our trek to the village office. Fortunately, a nice woman stopped along side us and asked us if we wanted a ride. Well, she had to motion to us as well since we all know we had not a clue what she was saying. After an enthusiastic, "Hai, hai, arigato gazimous" (yes, yes, thank you very much) we were taken to the office to register. The season had just opened and we were some of the first campers they had seen all year. The island is only 12 kilometers in diameter and has 600 people living there year round. Needless to say, they were very happy to have the tourists starting to trickle into their local economy. With map in hand we crept along the road trying to figure out where to turn. Of course we missed the spot, so we asked a nice lady driving by "Simesen, camp-jo doko deska?" (Excuse me, where is the campsite?). She pointed down this dirt path but we were very skeptical because it looked like it was more a ditch that drained rainwater. She could see the skepticism in our faces so she got out of her car and motioned for us to follow her. She led us
through the woods and to the most beautiful beach I have seen in a very very long time. Our campsite was just to the right of us and it looked out at to the crashing waves, crystal clear aqua blue water and lush green hills.
Mark, Marissa, and I wasted no time unpacking, setting up camp, and then looking for the first sign of a hot spring. Marissa, being the fish she is, found the spot right away. The hot portion was only in the shallow part where the hot air bubbled up to warm the water. Actually, some parts were down right scalding. Because this pool was directly connected to the incoming tide, the deeper you went the colder it got. I didn't even have my bathing suit on yet and she was already basking in the freezing water collecting shells and grinning from ear to ear.
We went on a hike to the top of the mountain, found some firewood, and made a great dinner on the outside oven. The first day was amazing and only got better the second day.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Monkey Business
March 22nd was the first time Marissa, Mark, and I were able to go on a tour together, so in honor of the occasion, we visited a place where they both belong- The Wild Monkey Park! This park is up in the mountains of the Nagano Prefecture,
5 hours northwest of Tokyo in ski country (think 1998 Winter Olympics). A group of about 270 monkeys inhabit the mountainside and come down to the park during the day to bathe in the natural hot springs. They are very accustomed to people being around so the monkeys will all but come up and jump in your lap. To sit and monkey watch made me think one thing- damn, despite what you believe, evolution or the seven days god made earth/man- we've still got some uncanny behavioral similarities. Moms still have this inherent need to lick their fingers and wipe smudges off of cheeks/noses/foreheads of their children. Little kids (as well as Mark and Marissa) are forever climbing up crazy structures and swinging from unsafe heights. And sibling continue to fight, whether is for real or play. As you know we sometimes have mishaps and this tour wouldn't have been complete without one. Before we left the bus the tour guide said do not bring food into the park but you could purchase it there.
Being the budgeting fools we try to be, we said, 'oh they just want us to spend money in there' and brought some fruit with us anyway. Evidently they weren't trying to get us to spend money, they were in fact saving us from another fun fact I had forgotten about families. What one person has the other one wants a taste of! As soon as Mark and I were ready to bite into a delicious orange we heard Marissa behind us say, "Uh, guys." We turned around to catch 8 monkeys barreling toward us! We had some goodness and there was no way we were going to come into their house without sharing. And since we weren't offering, I guess they assumed they have to take it. No sooner did i see their beady eyes coming toward
at us did I give my half back to Mark and darted away from the smell. Mark wasn't so lucky. He high tailed it up the hill with the monkeys in hot pursuit.
5 hours northwest of Tokyo in ski country (think 1998 Winter Olympics). A group of about 270 monkeys inhabit the mountainside and come down to the park during the day to bathe in the natural hot springs. They are very accustomed to people being around so the monkeys will all but come up and jump in your lap. To sit and monkey watch made me think one thing- damn, despite what you believe, evolution or the seven days god made earth/man- we've still got some uncanny behavioral similarities. Moms still have this inherent need to lick their fingers and wipe smudges off of cheeks/noses/foreheads of their children. Little kids (as well as Mark and Marissa) are forever climbing up crazy structures and swinging from unsafe heights. And sibling continue to fight, whether is for real or play. As you know we sometimes have mishaps and this tour wouldn't have been complete without one. Before we left the bus the tour guide said do not bring food into the park but you could purchase it there.
Being the budgeting fools we try to be, we said, 'oh they just want us to spend money in there' and brought some fruit with us anyway. Evidently they weren't trying to get us to spend money, they were in fact saving us from another fun fact I had forgotten about families. What one person has the other one wants a taste of! As soon as Mark and I were ready to bite into a delicious orange we heard Marissa behind us say, "Uh, guys." We turned around to catch 8 monkeys barreling toward us! We had some goodness and there was no way we were going to come into their house without sharing. And since we weren't offering, I guess they assumed they have to take it. No sooner did i see their beady eyes coming toward
at us did I give my half back to Mark and darted away from the smell. Mark wasn't so lucky. He high tailed it up the hill with the monkeys in hot pursuit.
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