Exploring Neighborhoods and Yanai

Yes, I know.  I am behind on my blogging.  My daughter told me so!!  However, today is Monday, Sept. 27, and we have officially been in Iwakuni for a 33 days...1 month +!!  And, we are continuing to learn and explore and adjust!  :)  The picture above is one of a POTENTIAL house we have found. More pictures may be found on my facebook account!  It is quite nice and we are waiting for a response from the landlord. It does have more than adequate space and instead of being in the middle of a neighborhood, it is on the corner going into the neighborhood.  This is quite a bit more accepting; as we don't look into anyone's house nor do they look into ours!   We spoke we Mr. Fuji, one of the base housing administrators, last Tuesday.  He was going to contact the realtor, who was then going to contact the landlord.  He shared with us that it would not be a quick process and to be patient.  Today we will be checking in with him and see if he knows anything.  It is quite a negotiation process.  Basically, they (the realtor, landlord and Mr. Fuji) work together to try and come up with a contract and monthly payment that will be under our living allowance.  We continue to send up prayers and trust that this may work...or not...if we are to be somewhere else!

Because "housing" is in the waiting stage, we spent more time with the school and school activities.  Monday, the 20th, was a Japanese holiday; as they honored their ancestors.  We really didn't experience much of that here on base though.  Since I wasn't house-hunting, I finally got my sub packet turned into the school office!  Friday nights are beginning to be a lot like home!  When there aren't sports activities, a group of teacher's meet up at the base lounge and enjoy getting to know one another!  These "meetings" have lasted until midnight and since we live on base, it is a BEAUTIFUL stroll back to our place. 

Last weekend, the 18th and 19th, our goal was to workout and find "the house" on our own!!  We enjoyed running along the seawall and then exploring different routes around the base.  AND, we did find the house. YAY for us!  It is much more challenging that you would imagine.  Some streets look like alleys and you have to determine if you can drive down it or not!  Also, for some reason, the way things twist and turn, you are never REALLY sure which direction you are going.  You keep looking back to the sea to guide you.   It was fun to go on our own, as we explored the neighborhood, got out and took pictures of the neighborhood "park!"  The other MOST fun activity was going to YAMADA DINKI!  This is a BIG electronics store that has everything!!!  From TVs to luggage to paper goods to personal hygiene!  SO MUCH FUN!!!    While you are there, a jingle is BROADCAST LOUDLY, is set to some kind of music and ends with the words "Yamada Dinki!"  The newest creation that we found are washer/dryers that are all in one!  Not sure how that would work, but it was fascinating!  (Oh! ..and the number of electronic toothbrushes...LOL!)  As you can tell, I was entertained!  I'm going to try and upload a picture of the choices of earphones...I couldn't stop laughing!

Look at all the colors!  And if you looked more closely....there are a ton of designs and BLING!!
  

On Sunday, we jumped in the car and headed south on 188.  Our destination was Yanai.  This is a "commercial town of the Edo period."  We are out to find the "Street of While-Walled Houses."  This was a merchant's area during the Edo period and many of the houses remain with new merchants within their shelters.  I'm excited to find Yanaijima Fabric.  The drive down was along the sea and breath-takingly beautiful!  It is still somewhat of a shock to realize you are living on a tropical island.  Another realization is that you are in the "country."  There are very few cars and people as we go through other small towns and enter Yanai.  Yes, there are other people, just not at all what we are use to in the "sight-seeing" spots of the States.  Yanai, we read, means willow and well.  There is a picture of me at the Shoko-an Temple with the "willow and the well."  The legend:  "...about 1400 years ago Han-nya Princess who lived in Bungo, dropped at this area on her way to Kyoto to satisfy her thirst.  It says that she drank the water springing from the land, when she placed a toothpick of willow by the side of the well.  It is believed that this area has been called Yanai since the willow grew."

 While we find merchants, ice cream, Sagawa Soy Sauce(a specialty of Yanai!), japanese goldfish laterns (which Yanai is known for), we do not find the fabric.  As we mill around, we find the temple and Yanai Tenmangu Shrine.  We began to take pictures, but were being very careful to not get caught.  There is a cemetary on one side of the Shrine and two women had walked up with plants.  Suddenly, there is a priest on a motocycle riding up along side the courtyard.  Mac plays charades in asking him if we can take pictures!  The priest smiles broadly, reaches for our camera and places us in two locations and takes our pictures!  We profusely share our "Arigato go ziamas"...and slowly, yet quickly, walk away.  We end up in the Temple and give up trying to be "sly" and take pictures at will!  At this point, the humidity is unbelieveable and sweat is rolling down our legs and we decided that we had done enough adventuring for the day.  

So, this past week was more school.  Saturday morning we awake bright and early to go watch a Cross-Country meet and have plans to go exploring and something hits us!  We are not feeling well.  The only thing we could imagine is that a cooler front came in and the change caught us!  We are both fighting runny noses, full heads, head and body aches and sore throats!  Thus, we slept and recooped all weekend!  Mac just called from school and said he feels even worse.  We are praying that this will pass and won't require searching for a dr. just yet!!  Ugh!  And, I just contacted housing and he shared, "We are working on it and looking for it to work by the week of Oct. 14."  So, I clarified that it was going to work and he would call us earlier in that week!  Not sure what I'm suppose to do next!  I'm thinking I'll let it go for a bit and get back with him the week of the 4th!  Hahaha!  Hope you are enjoying the ramble!!!  There are so many things I think of to add as I go back and read!!  I will make a note to talk about some of the students next time and working with them in class!  They really are good kids and I'm getting to know quite a few that have English as their second language.  They have such good attitudes in having to "figure out" words and will laugh, laugh, laugh while working!

One thing for sure that we have learned....people of Japan are very, very patient and encouraging.   While in Yanai, each merchant truly tried to talk with us and wanted to know what land we were from!!   As soon as we said, America, they wanted to know more!  Then, as soon as they understand you are teachers, they are even more interested in what we are doing in Japan.  The best thing....in ANY language...the word "PHYSICS"..makes people shake their heads, laugh, and claim they know nothing!!!