Miyajima- "An Island Where People and God Live Together"

Once our three days were done in Kyoto we were on to our next stop. No time to rest, we only had a few days to see some tops sights. We all boarded the bullet train, being especially careful to keep the pod together this time, and sat back for our 1.5 hour ride to Hiroshima. We arrived sometime in the late morning, dropped our bags at the hotel and headed to Miyajima, an island located in the Sea of Japan, and about another 20 minute train ride from Hiroshima City. This small, quiet island is considered one of the top sights in Japan and a sacred place to the Japanese. It is only accessible by ferry- it's establishment as a holy place dates back to 593 AD. The Japanese are a very superstitious people, always being mindful not to offend any Gods. For many centuries people did not build on this island, harvest the earth, or even give birth or die (although i'm not sure how well people could control this one) on the grounds. To this day there is not a clinic or cemetary on the island. In Shinto, the color red is believed to ward off evil which explains why the shrines, pagodas, tori gates, and even the bibs on animal statues are all doned in red. While walking around I was able to feel the peacefulness and tranquility. A massive torii gate stands tall over the water; although i'm not sure for what, I know it stands for something- it caused me to think just how insignificant I/we are in the world. That thing has been around longer than the USA has been organized, longer than I can trace back my geneology, longer than a million other things I can't think of at this moment. When I am gone years from now, what will I leave behind- what would I have stood for?? Will it even matter? Then again, who cares? The memories created with my family is what's most important. Carpe Diem cause tomorrow's not promised.

A 3 City Whirlwind-- First up, Kyoto

With the 3 amigos/stooges (up for debate) reunited, we grabbed our luggage and headed to our hotel in magnificant Kyoto. We arrived before check in so we ditched the bags and went on our first excursion. There was no time to waste- Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan and requires much more time to take in the sights than we could afford, so we had to strategically plan out our day and hit the pavement. Thankfully we had a half hour bus ride until our destination- just long enough to give the rents a much needed cat nap. The first stop was the Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Temple). As you can see from the photo of mom and I, the entire temple is covered in a gold film. It was built in 1397 as a country villa for a shogun. In 1994 it was registered as a World Culture Heritage site. Next on the checklist was a famous Zen Garden. A little fun fact about my family- we love rocks from different places. And if you're not familiar with a Zen garden, it consists of big boulders surrounded by pebbles that have been raked into precise lines and circles - score! Buddhist monks maintain the garden for meditation and viewing pleasure. Apparently the longer you stare at the rocks and lines the deeper into contemplation you fall. After walking a great deal and feeling serene from meditating we were ready to head back to the hotel and call it an early night. It being only the second full day in the country, mom was still battling the jet lag. We did have one snag in the plan. I wanted to give mom and dad full Japanese experience so I booked a Japanese style room on that first night's sleep. When Marissa and I stayed at a traditional inn there was a room for eating and a room with the futons. Well, apparently things got lost in translation this time cause we got into the room and there was a very nice table, a tv, great views, but no beds! Mom was ready to collapse so this was not good, not good at all. I sent mom in for a soak and shower and called the front desk. Ah- the beds don't get made until 7pm and since it was only 6pm the staff hadn't come around to pull out the futons from the closets and make the beds. Well, with some simple English words like, airplane, long time, sleepy, and have bed now- they got the picture and came up to put us to bed. A great first day.

Lost in 60 Seconds

It was 6.15am on Tuesday and we were on the Shinkensin (bullet train) platform waiting for our 6.57 train to Kyoto. Get it? We were EARLY!! Yes, the Paykos Pod was ready and waiting to start the first leg of our trip across Japan. It's pretty hot and humid here in Japan, even in the early morning hours so I headed back to one of the station convenient stores to grab some agua for the ride. I remember smiling to myself as I strolled back toward the down escalator thinking about the adventures ahead and how incredible it was to have had my great aunt visit and now my mom and dad here. As i stepped onto the escalator I saw my mom walking toward it at the bottom shaking her head back and forth with an annoyed look on her face. Naturally, I thought there had been a coffee mishap down the front of a certain someone's (ahem, dad) white collared shirt and the tide stick was missing- nothing unusual. When I got halfway down I looked at her and said, "What's wrong?" I did not expect her reply. "Your father's gone." Dumbfounded, I smiled and said, "What?!!? What do you mean gone?" I thought maybe they were playing a trick but it was way too early in the morning for games. My mom was more worried than mad and I was just confused. "Yes, he's gone. The train came and he put our luggage on, went to ask an attendant a question, she made some motions toward the luggage, so he got back on to get them and then the doors shut and the train left! And he's on it! Without any ticket. Where is he going?" I got this nervous smile on my face- the one you get when you know you're about to play a prank on someone and they're trying to call you out but you want them to fall for it anyway. I looked around and my dad was really gone. So I did what anybody would do at that time. I started cracking up- I couldn't stop laughing- just the absurdity of it. I mean bent over, slapping my knee laughing. Of course things were going too smooth with the pod! "Pull yourself together, Alisa!" After a bit of a game of charades with the attendant we figured out that all trains on that track head to Kyoto, so that was one relief. Here is the jist.

It's been a Family Affair

Ever since the flights were booked and the dates set, I've been anticipating the family's arrival. In the past three weeks, I've been blessed to have my Dad, Mom, and Aunt Louise come to visit, take in the sights, surround me with love, and leave me with some priceless memories. I miss them already. I've always heard that as you grow older your parents will become your friends. When I was told this, maybe at 18 I thought it would never be. Looking back over the years, I realize this has been coming true. We do more listening to each other instead of hearing, we laugh more, argue much less, and help each other through tough times instead of being the source of tough times for each other. This trip was the most awesome time I've spent with my mom and dad. We did miss Marissa and Mark, but time just the three of us was something that we hadn't done in a very long time, if ever. Aunt Louise met my Dad and I mid week and because I still had work we were only able to get out and about a couple of the days. It was worth the wait- they were great days. Here is a picture of Aunt Weezie and I at one of the waterfalls in Nikko. That weekend we picked up my Mom at the airport and headed to a great hotel in Tokyo so we could be at the fish market when it opened early Monday morning. Mom battled the jetlag like a trooper. After saying goodbye to Aunt Louise we then headed to Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nara for the rest of the week. We got home just in time to rest up for a few days before we climbed Mt. Fuji. I haven't posted in a while and I'm kicking myself because it's hard to capture all the great times all in one. So here is a snippet and there is more detail to come on our trips. Much love to all.

Embracing the Art of the Onsen

A start to a July 4th weekend that was like none other. Last year I was basking in the sun on Hilton Head Island with the family, content in my denial that forces greater than thou had hold on my life. This year I was looking forward to something different- I needed something different. And sure enough this time, when I asked, I recieved. A friend and I jumped in the car and decided to stop talking about seeing this and doing that and to actually go and do it. It's easy to complain about the Navy when you're on the base and so many things you can't control are in your face (so getting off base is muy importante-a huge reason why I wouldn't be caught dead living on base). We were on our way to Hakone. To get to the town, one would just hug the coast and drive about an hour west of Yokosuka. Athough it was a Friday there were tons of people enjoying what the surf has to offer- the towns we passed through reminded me of Ocean City without the bars, boardwalk, or neon lights or as many people- come to think of it, it wasn't like ocean city at all- i guess the beach houses were a little similiar. Let me start again, just like the Jersey Shore, the waves weren't great but people were out there trying to carve it up nonetheless. We made our way up the winding hills and lush forests to one of the most famous spots in Hakone. At this time the name of the Onsen (hot spring) escapes me but I'll be going back there again, so it will be in my next report. First thing one must do when headed to an Onsen (Hot Spring) is to leave your pride and modesty at the door. No swim suits allowed! You will be the odd person out. Fret less, men and women are separate. When you first enter the building you take your shoes off. You do not walk around inside with shoes on, ever. You can see from the picture, thatify ou wish to go out to the deck they provide you slippers. Once we headed down the halls and stairs we arrived at the women's locker room area and there is such a sense of serenity. It's not like a gym locker room, but more like a spa locker room with wicker furniture, soft soothing colors, and carpeted floors. After you drop your drawers you get your towel and head to the shower. But these are not showers like we know showers. I turned the corner to find a row of shower heads, about shoulder length, lining the wall. Each stall, although there are no doors, has a wooden stool so you can sit and rinse off your body. Then the fun part. I walked outside to the fenced in springs. There were 5 different ones to choose from. You can't really tell in the picture (i snuck it) but vaguely you can see one to the left, two to right and one towards the back of the photo. They are all piping hot and so relaxing. Chill music is playing and everyone is calm and content. At first my friend and I had to giggle our nervousness away, but after realizing we were the only ones feeling embarrased we said, enough is enough and just let the ambiance take over. If your hot spring moment made you sleepy the place also had a room where you can lay down on the floor and continue to meditate or fall asleep before checking back in to reality. Anyone who is coming out to visit, get your mind and body ready, cause you can't leave Japan without experiencing the art of the onsen.

One for the Money, Two for the Show

What do you do when you're burnt out from work, exhausted by a grueling schedule, tired of catering to the everyone's needs except your own? Some of us may turn off our cell phone, retreat to a hot bathtub, or head down the beach for some R&R. But what do you do when you're famous beyond your wildest dreams? Growing up, my mommom Fidati and I would watch tons of old classic movies- Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, Singing in the Rain, everything Fred Astaire, and anything Rodgers and Hammerstein. We also watched documentaries and concerts of Elvis. Up unil now I (and i bet you, too) were under the impression that Elvis permanently left the building for a big encore in the sky. Boy, were we fooled! Apparently the only way to get away from the pressures of fame was to come out to Japan and start his own look alike club. This way Elvis's proteges could entertain for him while he disappeared into history. Well, maybe that's not how it played out, but I don't doubt anything can happen here in Japan. Yesterday I went to Harajuku to check out the local festivities that occur each week and was expecting quite a scene. Needless to say, I was not let down by either the wierd nor gifted acts that were around me. Along the park path I found people sitting on a blanket plucking away at guitars, others beating on some drums, a group of dancers practicing some choreography, kids playing baseball, runners moving quickly as their pets jogging along side of them, and people practicing flag twirling. There were some very memoriable sights, but the best of all was this group of 20-25 who were dressed as Elvis or James Dean with high hair, tight leather pants, and black boots grooving to some rock n roll. They cranked up their music, covered their hair in aqua net or dippity doo, gave themselves one last check in the mirror and then twisted and shouted for a good hour. It seemed like each group tried to out do the other- causing the crowd to shift our focus from one spot to another, seeing who had the best moves. Here are some pics and a video from the day.

The Rain is Falling

There is nothing like being woken in the middle of the night by a feeling that something is crawling in your bed. Whoever came up with alarm clocks had it all wrong by thinking some incessant beeping or buzzing coming from the nightstand couldn't be ignored. However, if a system was devised to unleash little ants or creepy crawlers onto your bed at the stroke of a hand, there wouldn't even be a need for a snooze button. I thought of this the other night around 3am after finding myself standing in the middle of my bed, covers on the floor, my right arm wet, and my heart beating like I had just ran to the top of Mt. Fuji. Confused and a now itchy, I hit on the light and smiled at the absurdity of my discovery- oh it's just the rainy season. Evidently, I did not anticipate such high winds and heavy rains during the night so I didn't think to shut the screen door that leads out to the balcony that is a couple feet from the bed. I shook my head while I watched a small puddle on the floor beside the door ripple in the wind as our blue curtain whipped high into the air. Ah, that's why my arm is wet! The tip of the curtain is long enough to land a few inches of damp fabric against the bed- and my arm was in it's path. What a relief! So with a new found sense of peace and calm, I slid the door shut, pulled the sheet from the floor, turned off the light, and found myself wide awake from the commotion. I began to think of what it means to be in a rainy season.

Back home in NJ, it rained during all the seasons- we don't have any particular months dedicated to rain- I guess April showers brought May flowers but that was it. And during the rain we would just get in our cars and put on our lights and wipers and go about our business. Rarely did I carry an umbrella with me, I would rather run from the car to the store or put up my hood on my sweatshirt or coat. In Japan, you will see matching rain coats and pants on all of the scooter riders or bikers-- purple, red, orange, green, blue- if you catch a bunch together at a stop light they can look like a handful of skittles. The walkers always have their umbrellas in tow. Most department and grocery stores have a place to stow your umbrella while you shop. Even little stores like 7 & Holdings (7-11) or McDonalds provide plastic umbrella bags so you or the person next to you won't be inconvieneced by your dripping accessory. The daily routine doesn't change much, just the outfits that the people wear. Then I thought of the Caribbean. Ah, yes the rainy season is such a big part of the year down in St. Lucia and St. Kitts. Wow, I've been in two different parts of the world for 'rainy season'- and the people behave just as differently during these times. Unlike Japan where the people go, go, go, and work, work, work, the rainy season in the islands provides for more vacation days and less time worrying about what isn't getting done. Indicative of their attitude, when the rain is falling, they just chill in the house and enjoy the beauty and company of those around them and thank the Lord for providing nutrients for their crops and land. Naturally, at first I was amazed by this [backward] thinking that you wouldn't go to work or school cause the 'rain was falling'- what do you mean, no one else will be there either?? But that's the beauty in different cultures and different parts of the world. I feel so blessed to not only experience rainy seasons in these places but to observe and learn to understand the people who live in them. Here are some pictures from around the town and the house during our rainy season. The bike parking lot for McDonalds is just as big as the parking lot for the cars. The picture of the dude who has curtains in his car cracked us up as well. Here also is a picture of Mark putting together a new counter space addition to our kitchen. The kitchen table you see in the picture is about to be gone as it's a loaner from the Navy and our time with it is up.

Back on the Clock

I've started a job being an educational facilitator at the Navy College Learning Center. It's only part time for now but with some luck it will turn into a full time position by the Fall. I never would have thought I'd be tutoring in Math but come to find out, I actually enjoy the subject when I know what I'm doing. Here's how it works. Active duty military or adult dependents are able to come in to our center and take online prep courses to improve their chances on SATs/ACTs or ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) scores- say if they want to cross rate to another job in the Navy. Our center requires them to take a TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) assessment to identify at which grade level they're currently operating. Ready for this one? The average grade level our adult students score is a 7.2- that is seventh grade and two months!! Are you shocked and awed? I was. So depending on the student's abiliy level, we set them up with a web based self-paced program to work on their weaknesses and bump up their skills. Upon completion of the two week course they usually increase an average of 5 grades. Now, to be fair, most people just need a refresher on what Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally means, or how to get the volume of a cylinder, or the rules for the pythagorian theorums- but whoa. I must say, however, I am thankful that no one has asked me for tutoring on nonlinear differential equations. Sorry Ms. White but you lost me on those. I am thankful to finally have a job because I was going a little stir crazy. The job has allowed me to meet new people, learn more about the Navy, and appreciate sailors' efforts in bettering both themselves and our military. Although it can be quiet at times, the job is interesting and has given me the opportunity to create a more stable and meaningful routine. It also feels good to be contributing again to the bank account. Yes, I chose to go on semi-retirement before coming to Japan and during these months off I have learned that a big part of my identity was derived from what I did- community development, mentoring juvenile offenders, working with the homeless yada yada yada. Since I can remember, my education, my jobs, and my career path have been my top achievements. These past 11 months without a job have forced me to look at myself in a different light. I realized that without that side to me, I wasn't completely happy with who I was as a person. So I've have made some changes. Although it is not easy, I am working hard to live a life without mind alterning substances. We all know I like to party as much as the next person but I'm taking a break and I am dealing with life on life's terms and not using alcohol to numb my frustrations or aggrevations. Mark being gone so much is tough on the mind and soul, but at the same time being in Japan, away from friends, away from family has been a good thing because it has allowed me to focus on me. And I am starting to like what I see.
I'm also keeping busy by going on tours that the base provides. This past weekend I went to Nikko, an old city about two hours north of Tokyo. Here are some pics from my adventures.

Branching Out

Happy Memorial Day, all! I hope this weekend is full of great weather, good company, and lots of laughs. For me Memorial Day weekend was a time to be thankful for those who serve and have served our country, a time to reflect on where I've been during Memorial Days of yesteryear, and a time to focus on where I do not want to be this Memorial Day. This weekend would mark 30 days of consecutive sobriety in my journey for a life without mind altering substances. I knew the long weekend could be potentially dangerous with barbeques and picnics all over. Last year it would have been easy to find something to do- grab a cold one and join in with the one of the many celebrations going on, but this year could have been a little more challenging. Luckily and coincidentally, I heard of an off base church through a friend I met during treatment. The ministry caters specifically toward military members and their families. Since I've wanted to connect with a church anyhow, I thought, well, now is as good as time as ever. I went on their website last week and it showed that they were going camping for Memorial Day weekend- bingo! Without hesitating I emailed the person in charge and asked them if I could join in their party. Whew, disaster averted. All I had to do was show up, take in the sights and sounds, and enjoy meeting some new people. Come Saturday morning, I did just that. There were 13 other people, mostly in their twenties who were headed to the campground. Everyone knew each other, except for the newbie here, but that didn't bother me. I was looking to get away from Yokosuka just as much as I was looking forward to meeting new people, so I saw it as a win win situation.

Catch up with the Mighty Moo

Yesterday a friend and I decided to bid farewell to The Thundering Herd, our Mighty Moo, yes, that is the nickname of USS COWPENS, by doing something a little different. Despite the slightly overcast sky we packed our bags with warm clothes, grabbed the tackle box and fishing poles, and headed to the Green Bay Marina on base to rent a boat. We were headed out for a front row seat to watch our men head out for yet another underway. Given how strict the base is on so many aspects of life, the marina couldn't have been any more lackadaisical in renting our their boats. Before filling out the paperwork I asked if he wanted to see my boating license. "No need." Wow, okay. I proceeded to fill out the paperwork with my name and phone number and when I got to the bottom where it said emergency contact number, I looked to Nicole to see who we should put down. But before I even got the question out of my mouth the guy said again, no need. Whoa, this guy is nuts, he must have great faith in us, a little more than we had in ourselves to be honest. So with all that over and done with we headed to the boat. But then I realized he didn't even tell us which one it was when he handed us the key. "oh yea, it's over there, the one with the stripe." 'Dude, is this guy for real?' We boarded the whaler and were surprised to see that it didn't even have any seats. 'Oh man, this is gonna be good,' we said looking at each other with a confused face.
We untied the ropes, put down the engine and started her up. "Well, that's a good sign." And we were off. Out of the harbour, away from the base, and out to the open seas in our little whaler with no seats.

We went a mile or so off shore and saw lots of other little fishing boats anchored so we decided it was a good spot to try our luck with fishing. Throwing the anchor had me bent over, abs hurting from laughter. We were not the most graceful boaters. But the weather was great and we were just in time to watch the ship go past. It was quite a sight that gave me chills. I sat there thinking about what Mark might be doing while we saw the ship come into view. Maybe he was at the helm, Mr. Navigator doing his thing. We were about 500 yards away from it, we didn't dare get any closer- our husbands had already warned us not to make a scene or cause an international incident. So we chilled in our boat and snapped some great shots and yelled to them, "see you soon!"

After a little while longer of fishing and chatting we realized we were no longer surrounded by any other small boats, just big bardges. Huh, where did everyone go? We soon found out. No more than three minutes went by and the waves started getting big and our little whaler started rocking like a rubber ducky in a splashing bathtub. I'm pretty sure we yelled a few times and held our breath even more. Needless to say we high tailed it in very quick. Even though we were only out for two hours, it was one of the best time I've had watching the guys leave. Next time, though, I will surely take que from other boats around me.