Mina san! Konnichiwa!
I am officially in the Orient!
So where did I leave off???
Oh yeah I was in spirit prison last time we spoke. Now I am in NIhon!! It was so nice talking to everyone on the phone. I was scared it would make me homesick, but it wasn't too bad. I do miss everyone though...I'm sorry if I was awkward.
So flying to Japan was long but I slept most of it. It was cool flying by Alaska at midnight or 1 in the morning because it was LIGHT outside. Super strange.
The Tokyo Haneda airport was the nicest airport I've ever seen, SOOO Asian. There was this little high pitched Japanese voice over the intercom and other than that, the airport was dead silent even though there were so many people there. Also it seemed unusally tidy for an airport. Going through customs was considerably more chill than going through at LAX or in Lima.
We met President and Sister Budge at the airport. They are so adorable. We stayed at the mission home that night and then the next night. It was like we weren't really in Japan when we were there. My district of shimaitachi managed to find a way to cram everyone into a room for those two nights. It was really hard saying goodbye to them...they've been my little family.
On Wednesday (because I didn't have a Tuesday) we slept in til 8:30 for the first and last time on our missions. We then had an in-field sort of orientation with the AP's all day. It was good. Budge kaicho is really awesome. I'm so glad I got a good mission president. To say I was jet lagged and moody that day though would be an understatement. You know how I need my sleep. As soon as I could I went straight to bed. On Thursday we had brief training and then were assigned new doryo's and areas. And then we were off. It was weird after being under other peoples command for so long and just all the sudden venturing out into this foreign land.
Okay so...you want to know the deets on everything now...companion.,...area...etc? Well here goes.
My biggest fear was that I'd have a Nihon-jin trainer and lo and behold I have a Nihon-jin trainer.
I only had a 5% chance of having a Nihon-jin trainer and of course I got one. Her name is Taneda shimai. She is very nice and I like her.
I'm serving in Chiba. It's south of Tokyo and definitely still super metropolitan. Tokyo is massive. I'd have to describe Chiba as being sort of like a burrough. It's hard to describe it really. I am in the Yachiyo ward. It is famous for being SPANISH speaking. All the people are from Peru. What the heck? What are the odds that there are a thousand little Peruvians living in Japan. Haha...Like what is my life?
So yes, it is a triangle of confusion all around. I am learning and speaking Japanese at home with my companion...and then speaking in Japanese on the streets (barely) and then talking to members in Spanish and listening to sacrament meeting and other meetings in Japanese. It is wierd.
I'm teaching my first spanish lesson today. I'm nervous I'm going to butcher it.
Okay. So my district:
Pope choro is our district leader. He is from Washington. He is pretty much fluent in Japanese. He's been here for a year. His doryo just got transferred here on Thursday. His name is Stembridge choro. He is from Nevada. This is only his second transfer so he is as lost as me pretty much. And that's my district. Tiny...well technically the ZL's are in our district too but they are in Narita so...we don't really see them.
Oh and yes. Cottle and Snow shimai are both in Nigata. It is a new area of the mission that was formerly in the Sendai mission. It snows alot there in the winter...so I'm glad I asked for that second coat.
As for the weather. I might as well have gone to South America. It is a literal sauna every time you step outside. More humid than Georgia.
I've really started forcusing on this work. And I've seriously witnessed a miracle every day that I've been here. We have had people show up for English class, a less active family showed up for church after we have visited with them and we have gotten several appointments. Finding investigators is HARD. They just look at you and run whenever we are streeting. Most of the people here wear these funny little germ masks and I don't know how to approach them lol. But I have faith and I know people say that you don't baptize in Japan...but I think it can happen. It's all about your expectations. If I work my hardest...I can be a successful missionary no matter what.
As for the language...What a blessing it is to have a Nihon-jin trainer. Being in this area I'm not sure I would learn this much if it weren't for her! Its a miracle we communicate at all...but I'm learning that I know more Japanese than I thought I did. I'm learning patience and diligence with the language. As for the Spanish...well I'm trying. I know the most Spanish out of anyone in our area so it is a struggle...but my basic conversational skills are getting me by...its a lot like Eigo in sentence structure...so it is easier to formulate original sentences than Japanese.
As for the food. I'm not crazy about it. I've had alot of ramen noodles...and oatmeal? Haha. We've eaten alot of grains. I'm regular. That's for sure. Lotta fiber. Haha.
The other day we went to this amazing bakery. I didn't know what to expect when we went to go get pan ...but I've never seen a bakery like this in America. It is soooo cool! It is called Peater Pan haha...it is amazing. Other than that, I dont really have an appetitie. With all the walking...I've probably dropped 10 lbs this week alone. My feet are swollen and I have some sick shoe tan lines lol. I bought my bike Saturday. it was 49,000 yen with all the extras...so I have no idea how much that is but it is exciting.
I sleep on a bamboo floor on a futon. It's actually really comfy. I love it!
Oh one last detail before I go. I had to go to the bathroom at the airport. The japanese toilets are so cool! They have all these buttons and music you can play. You can even adjust the pressure of the bidet though I haven't tried the bidet yet. Haha They have these toilets everywhere even at church. My apato toire is like an american one though. I love you guys so much. I love the people here so much. Know that I am working hard!
Ai shite imasu!
Te amo!
-Day shimai
I am officially in the Orient!
So where did I leave off???
Oh yeah I was in spirit prison last time we spoke. Now I am in NIhon!! It was so nice talking to everyone on the phone. I was scared it would make me homesick, but it wasn't too bad. I do miss everyone though...I'm sorry if I was awkward.
So flying to Japan was long but I slept most of it. It was cool flying by Alaska at midnight or 1 in the morning because it was LIGHT outside. Super strange.
The Tokyo Haneda airport was the nicest airport I've ever seen, SOOO Asian. There was this little high pitched Japanese voice over the intercom and other than that, the airport was dead silent even though there were so many people there. Also it seemed unusally tidy for an airport. Going through customs was considerably more chill than going through at LAX or in Lima.
We met President and Sister Budge at the airport. They are so adorable. We stayed at the mission home that night and then the next night. It was like we weren't really in Japan when we were there. My district of shimaitachi managed to find a way to cram everyone into a room for those two nights. It was really hard saying goodbye to them...they've been my little family.
On Wednesday (because I didn't have a Tuesday) we slept in til 8:30 for the first and last time on our missions. We then had an in-field sort of orientation with the AP's all day. It was good. Budge kaicho is really awesome. I'm so glad I got a good mission president. To say I was jet lagged and moody that day though would be an understatement. You know how I need my sleep. As soon as I could I went straight to bed. On Thursday we had brief training and then were assigned new doryo's and areas. And then we were off. It was weird after being under other peoples command for so long and just all the sudden venturing out into this foreign land.
Okay so...you want to know the deets on everything now...companion.,...area...etc? Well here goes.
My biggest fear was that I'd have a Nihon-jin trainer and lo and behold I have a Nihon-jin trainer.
I only had a 5% chance of having a Nihon-jin trainer and of course I got one. Her name is Taneda shimai. She is very nice and I like her.
I'm serving in Chiba. It's south of Tokyo and definitely still super metropolitan. Tokyo is massive. I'd have to describe Chiba as being sort of like a burrough. It's hard to describe it really. I am in the Yachiyo ward. It is famous for being SPANISH speaking. All the people are from Peru. What the heck? What are the odds that there are a thousand little Peruvians living in Japan. Haha...Like what is my life?
So yes, it is a triangle of confusion all around. I am learning and speaking Japanese at home with my companion...and then speaking in Japanese on the streets (barely) and then talking to members in Spanish and listening to sacrament meeting and other meetings in Japanese. It is wierd.
I'm teaching my first spanish lesson today. I'm nervous I'm going to butcher it.
Okay. So my district:
Pope choro is our district leader. He is from Washington. He is pretty much fluent in Japanese. He's been here for a year. His doryo just got transferred here on Thursday. His name is Stembridge choro. He is from Nevada. This is only his second transfer so he is as lost as me pretty much. And that's my district. Tiny...well technically the ZL's are in our district too but they are in Narita so...we don't really see them.
Oh and yes. Cottle and Snow shimai are both in Nigata. It is a new area of the mission that was formerly in the Sendai mission. It snows alot there in the winter...so I'm glad I asked for that second coat.
As for the weather. I might as well have gone to South America. It is a literal sauna every time you step outside. More humid than Georgia.
I've really started forcusing on this work. And I've seriously witnessed a miracle every day that I've been here. We have had people show up for English class, a less active family showed up for church after we have visited with them and we have gotten several appointments. Finding investigators is HARD. They just look at you and run whenever we are streeting. Most of the people here wear these funny little germ masks and I don't know how to approach them lol. But I have faith and I know people say that you don't baptize in Japan...but I think it can happen. It's all about your expectations. If I work my hardest...I can be a successful missionary no matter what.
As for the language...What a blessing it is to have a Nihon-jin trainer. Being in this area I'm not sure I would learn this much if it weren't for her! Its a miracle we communicate at all...but I'm learning that I know more Japanese than I thought I did. I'm learning patience and diligence with the language. As for the Spanish...well I'm trying. I know the most Spanish out of anyone in our area so it is a struggle...but my basic conversational skills are getting me by...its a lot like Eigo in sentence structure...so it is easier to formulate original sentences than Japanese.
As for the food. I'm not crazy about it. I've had alot of ramen noodles...and oatmeal? Haha. We've eaten alot of grains. I'm regular. That's for sure. Lotta fiber. Haha.
The other day we went to this amazing bakery. I didn't know what to expect when we went to go get pan ...but I've never seen a bakery like this in America. It is soooo cool! It is called Peater Pan haha...it is amazing. Other than that, I dont really have an appetitie. With all the walking...I've probably dropped 10 lbs this week alone. My feet are swollen and I have some sick shoe tan lines lol. I bought my bike Saturday. it was 49,000 yen with all the extras...so I have no idea how much that is but it is exciting.
I sleep on a bamboo floor on a futon. It's actually really comfy. I love it!
Oh one last detail before I go. I had to go to the bathroom at the airport. The japanese toilets are so cool! They have all these buttons and music you can play. You can even adjust the pressure of the bidet though I haven't tried the bidet yet. Haha They have these toilets everywhere even at church. My apato toire is like an american one though. I love you guys so much. I love the people here so much. Know that I am working hard!
Ai shite imasu!
Te amo!
-Day shimai