THE POCKET MIRACLE

Today, something miraculous happened. 

Before I left for Japan, my good friend Kimi got me a sweet deal on a Patagonia down jacket to wear in winter. I wear it almost every day in December-February and it's become a necessity for me to survive the cold winter here! 

me wearing my lovely patagonia jacket earlier this year in Odawara city. 

On a tragic day last year, the left side pocket of my nice, warm, stylish Patagonia jacket got stuck. And I mean, absolutely-completely-this-aint-moving kind of stuck. It was as if the zipper ate the entire inside of my pocket and all I could do was barely fit two fingers in. This may seem trivial...but when you walk to the bus stop every morning and can only put two cold fingers in your pocket...it becomes a thing! a very very bad thing!!! So I suffered all winter with this stuck-pocket situation, asking everyone to help me get it unjammed and fitting whatever small item I could in there. I even had plans to take it to the Patagonia store in Tokyo to get it fixed. 

But winter ended last year and I never fixed it. So this fall, when I brought out my jacket again...I was reminded of the tragic reality that my left pocket was jammed. Lord help me.

Then, today, a miracle happened. 

During 5th period, I walked over to the main gym where they were having a seminar. I wore my patagonia jacket because I knew it would be ice-cold in there. Listening to the guest speaker was... in all honestly, boring. Not only was it hard to keep up with her Japanese, but she spoke with the most gentle and calm voice that was hard to not nod off to...which therefore provided me with the perfect environment to tinker with my zipper. My poor, stuck zipper. Thanks to the peace and quiet of the arena and ample time...I decided to tug at it in a way I hadn't before...pulling the fabric up and trying to move it under the zipper. And within 30 seconds...IT UNSTUCK. VVVWOOOOOOP. Just like that. After a year of living my life with this inconvenience...in an instant my pocket was back to normal.

HAHAHHAAA... A TRUE MIRACLE!! 

I was in complete awe and shock. How was it so easy??? How had I not thought to do that before??

What makes this all the more epic is that today is officially my last day as a 25 year old. Tomorrow I turn 26!! So it felt like a very real metaphor from the Lord that.... much like my pocket: Things that one seemed stuck, impossible, immovable...are NOT! HAHAH. And also...there is always another way to look at a situation, which often times takes a while before realizing.

So on that note, folks, I walk into my 26th year of life with an extra boost of hope, a bit more confidence and assurance in my step... and two very accessible pockets. 

God is good!! 

TSUKUBA MOUNTAIN - 筑波山

Fall is a wonderful time of year in Japan, thanks to the incredible weather (albeit a little cold) and beautiful scenery. In Japanese there is even a specific word for autumn leaves... "koyo" (紅葉). This past Saturday I joined a few ladies from my church on a nice fall hike at Tsukuba Mountain to search for some koyo! Lucky for me, Tsukuba is towards the direction I live, so I didn't have to traverse too far to get there. Also, we were blessed with perfect hiking weather - clear blue skies and crisp air!! Thank you Lord! 

We all met up in the morning at Tsukuba station and then took a bus up to the mountain. The bus ride took about 35-ish minutes and wasn't bad at all. The bus can take you to the Shrine at the base of the mountain, or to the start of one of the trains higher up (where we went). I was able to use my PASIMO and the bus was 700yen one way. I am always thankful for Japan's excellent public transit!! 

At the start of our hike, we saw a small childrens amusement area...that had this FREE giant slide! So random, and so Japan. 

We started the hike and it was pretty steep at first...just climbing over a bunch of rocks. Along the way, we saw this GIANT tree that had time stamps on it...saying it was over 2000 years old. YOWZA! 

One of the most interesting things on the hike was the social atmosphere of it all. It was a Saturday morning, during peak "koyo" season, so there were a lot of people along the path. And since Japanese people are extremely active at all life stages, there were a lot of elderly people as well as children hiking the same path! It was so impressive. But since there were so many people, there were many moments when we all had to pause, wait in line, let the people coming down pass, and then move forward. It was this...silent understanding where everyone obeys the order without talking atmosphere that is so Japanese!!! Amazing.

Midway through the hike...about 40 minutes up...I started to see some beautiful leaves and an awesome view! 

After...an hour and a half or so? (I kind of lost count hah!) we made it to the summit. What a view! 

This particular summit (theres also a few other peaks) was super narrow so we all had to take turns walking up to the overhang and seeing the view. But, since this is Japan, everyone was so polite and proper...cheerfully obeying the unspoken rule of - take your photo quickly and move so others can come. 

ahhhh....nature! 

After that, we walked another 10 minutes to another peak...the bigger one that the rope way takes people to. There we found an oasis of snack booths and omiage shops! Also, I came to find out that Tsukuba is famous for this "frog oil" that has a whole story behind it of how it's good luck and heals people. So they had frogs everywhere! And these tiny gold one you're supposed to put in your wallet to bring you more fortune. 

There is also a famous type of storytelling that happens at the top of the mountain, usually by an older ojisan (uncle). He usually tells the story of the frog oil with great passion and drama! The baseball team members that were there were very entertained. 

At this mountain top oasis they had dango!!! (aka mochi... aka rice cakes) This type of dango was smothered in miso paste with walnuts in it...so good!!! 

We enjoyed a restful lunch at the top of Tsukuba san...and then headed down around 1pm, in search of more koyo!! 

The hike down took about an hour...and towards the bottom I started to see some color pop through the trees and I was getting so excited...EEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We finally arrived at the base of the mountain, where Tsukuba Shrine is...and we entered KOYO (AUTUMN LEAVES) PARADISE!!!! fo real...LOOK....

**insert all the HEART EYE emojis!!!**

The Californian in me was just in complete and utter awe. One of the ladies I was with even asked me, "oh wow Amie, is this your first time seeing leaves in Japan?" and I was like..."no, I've been here two years haha! I just..can never get used to this beauty!!"

We followed the road down that lead to the main shrine...and the entire path was lined with the most pigmented trees you will ever see! The brightest red, yellow, and orange on earth. Is God an incredible creator or what!?

We soon realized that we could have just taken the bus to the shrine and seen the foliage without having to do the hike...but I almost feel like the hike made it that much more worth it in the end! 

And of course...there was a group of elderly people doing their proper post-hike stretching in complete unison. Amazing!!

And that folks...is Tsukuba mountain for you. A wonderful place of natural beauty and incredible fall leaves!! I was so grateful to spend the day with ladies from my church. It was a blessing to chat with them along the way and appreciate what our creator has created for us to enjoy! God has blessed me richly in my life here in Japan...with the people I get to spend time with, the experiences I get to have, and the views I get to see. AMEN!! 

WORK

Contrary to popular belief, I do work here in Japan! HAHA. I know most of what I post on social media is of my Tokyo escapades, but in reality, I spent 80% of my time at work! So I thought i'd spend some time sharing a few work related things recently...

• WORK: Last week I judged the Chiba Prefectural English Speech Contest, which was a big deal considering the winner will attend the Kanto Region contest! Myself, along with two Japanese teachers (principals and VPs) listened to 19 students give their self-written speeches. We had to choose the top 2 to advance. WOW. It was not easy. Each speech was 5 minutes, and I had to not only give them a score based on their composition, English level and delivery, but also write a comment for each. After all of it, they asked me to give a speech to all 40+ participants about how to improve! I left that day so exhausted. From the work of course, but also because I wore heels all day HAHA. I never thought judging anything would be a part of my job...and yet here I am. 
   
• VENTING: One thing I WILL NEVER (I repeat, WILL NEVER) understand about Japanese schools is the "after PE situation" and by that I mean...(for example) the students have PE 3rd period. I have to teach them in 4th period. They rush into their classroom, still in their PE clothes with 2 minutes to spare before my class starts and they CHANGE RIGHT THERE IN THE CLASSROOM. All students. Boys and girls. Take off their PE clothes and change back into their uniforms. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THIS!? Why can't PE end 5 minute earlier, giving the kids time to go to THE LOCKER ROOMS and change?? How hard is that? I just don't get it. 
   
• CULTURE: As we all know, Thanksgiving in on Thursday, and many of my coworkers have been curiously asking me, "what exactly does turkey taste like?" and "why is black Friday black?" and "why is Thanksgiving on Thursday?" and a bunch of other questions I had no answer for HAHA. Living in a different country really makes you think about the holidays that are so normal to you back home...and yet so foreign here. 

• PERK: This week the 2nd year students and teachers are in Okinawa for a class trip, therefore the school schedule is a little less busy. The teachers in the English department always take advantage of this and head to a nearby golf course that offers a 1600yen lunch buffet that is amazing! It is always fun to be outside the office with my coworkers...and this place has an Ochazuke (rice+green tea) bar that is my absolute favorite! 

• COLLIDE: this past week, my worlds collided! My two coworkers, Takeda and Tamaoki, took 24 of our Ichikashi students to Torrance for the annual exchange trip...and this time around they met my family!! EEK!!! My brother picked them up and took them to target and then delamo, where they had lunch with everyone. I can't fully express how much this means to me...to have my Kashiwa family meet my family-family!! And the funniest thing about it all is that Takeda and Tamaoki have officially met my niece, Tayah, before I have..HAHA!! 

And that wraps up my random work post! It's already November 21st...and I'll be home in exactly a month for the holidays YAY!!!! 

1998

Today, my coworker, Alison, introduced me to HUJI...it's this app that takes photos that look like they came straight out of a FUJI film camera (get it? HUJI lol) and needless to say, I'm obsessed. We cruised around school today during 4th period and got some shots.

HUJI's slogan is literally, "Just like the year 1998" ...brilliant.

The road behind school. 

The 中庭 (center garden) 

One of the smaller classrooms I teach in. 

Strollin to the vending machines. 

Bikes on Bikes on Bikes. 

Shoe lockers for the 3rd year students. 

A view of the ground (soccer field). 

A shot snapped by one of my students, Juna. 

The teacher in charge of the 生花 (flower arranging) club at school always leaves beautiful flowers in the corners of the stair landings.

GOOD THINGS

A few good things I've been loving recently...

1. RAMEN
On Friday I went to eat ramen for dinner with my coworker, at 9pm. The I went home, went to sleep, woke up...and ate ramen for lunch on Saturday. HAHAH ridiculous. But my excuse is simple; every bowl of ramen in Japan is a good bowl of ramen. So I must take advantage of this and try them all. The one of the left is a ramen shop a 10 minute walk from my house. GARLICY AND AMAZING. The one on the right is at Kashiwa station and had the best SPICY NEGI (scallions) on top. 

2. SATURDAY MORNINGS
As a full-time working person, I can now fully appreciate Saturday morning. There is something so wonderful about staying in your PJs all morning, drinking coffee slowly, getting laundry done, running a few errands, and enjoying the relaxed pace. #adultlife. For me here in Japan, I am blessed to live 10 steps from a 7-11 which is a magical land where I can get good-black coffee, withdraw money from the bank, buy trash bags, pay my bills, and chat with the workers who know me by now. Saturday mornings are the best.

3. THE PERFECT FACE WASH
I have been in search for some good MADE IN JAPAN cosmetics recently, and stumbled upon the holy grail of face wash...SUISAI beauty clear powder!! It comes in these tiny little pods...seriously so small...that you pour out and mix with water to make the worlds best face wash. glory hallelujah. They somehow magically clean my face perfectly without leaving it dry (which I hate!). On top of that, they are cheap, are in powder form so easy to travel with, and are just cute! 

4. LEARNING FROM MY STUDENTS
As a teacher, my job is to teach. But let's be real, 80% of the time, I am the one being taught. Recently, I've have the opportunity to sit down with one of my students who is a Muslim girl from Egypt. We've been discussing the Bible and the Quran, the stories in both and what we believe to be true. It's so rad to share with her, and I feel God speaking so much to me in opportunities I get to work at a school, with eager and curious students. 

5. POCKETS OF BEAUTY
I'm at school 7:30am - 5:00pm, which means I spend most of my time indoors. But every so often, I try to sneak outside to get a breath of fresh air, see the sunset, and take in the beauty of this place. Although I'm in Tokyo a lot on weekend, the truth is, the school I work at (Ichikashi) is pretty much in the country side. It's quiet out here...the sun setting straight over the river with no buildings blocking it. That's some magic.