Getting ready to leave....with Molly :)

Here is Dave with Molly. They were practicing for Molly's 4 day adventure to the USA. Molly traveled by kennel and duffle-bag. The kennel was too big for the buses and trains on mainland Japan so we had to get this lovely travel bag for her.

Mou sugu hiragana de kakemasu. gomen ne. David-san wa Molly to renshushite imasu. kuukou kara Kobe made Molly no ie mottekoraremasendeshita, dakara fukuro wo kaimashita. Kobe ni basu de Molly wo tsureteikimashita. Molly wa fukuro ga suki janakatta. hahahaha... kawaii so...

Hisano LIVE-MOD's

Last night was Hisano-san's show at Mod's. She had Ryo-san(B-trippers guitarist) and Mattara-san (B-Trippers keyboardist) play for her. Here we are after the show.

昨日　久乃さんの　ライブ　でした!!!　　ＭＯＤＳで　リョウさんと　マッタラさんと　久乃さんは　すごい　ライブを　しました。ライブの　あと　この　しゃしんを　とりました。私たちは　かわいい　です。

A few weeks ago, Hisano-san asked me to sing "Nada Sou Sou" at her show. At first I thought she was joking, but it turns out that she was truly sincere. Me? Are you sure? For some strange reason I agreed to it, and so here I am up in front of a room full of people I don't know, singing a Japanese song. Okinawa has definitely done something to me, because, as most of you know... before coming here... this NEVER would have happened! As nervous as I was during the entire show (because of course she didn't bring me up until the encore), I am glad I did it.

せんじつ、久乃さんは　つぎな　ライブで　なだそうそう　歌って　下さい　と　言いました。私は　この　しつもんが　じょだん　だ　と　思いました。私？どうして?　久乃さんは　英語で　沖縄の　おもいで　だ　と　言いました。沖縄に　来る　まえに　とても　シャイ　でした。シャイ　だった　ので　歌うの　ことが　できませんでした。だけど、沖縄で　安心して　います。きんちょう　しました、けれでも　とても　楽しかった。

Here we are with Ryo-san, Mattara-san, and Chika-san at a nearby izakaya for a little afterparty.

みんなさんは　ライブの　あと　いざかやに　行きました。

Merry X-MOS

This is our tray at the fast food chain in Japan, Mos Burger. They are doing their Christmas campain right now (Merry X-Mos), I thought it was fitting that Dave and I ordered green drinks. Notice the Mickey Mouse shaped dishes of ketchup for our french fries.

デイビットさんと　Mos-Burgerに　行きました。　クリスマスの　いろ　です!　Merry X-Mosね。

The Devil Wears Prada

I went to my last movie in Okinawa today. I saw "The Devil wears Prada" with Hisano-san. It wasn't the greatest of movies, but I still had a good time. Seeing so much of New York in the movie has made me want to go visit again after Dave and I return to New Jersey.

沖縄で　久乃さんと　さいごな　えいがを　見に　行きました。えいがの　話し　まま　でした　だけど、New Yorkを　見る　ことが　いい　かんじ　でした。しばらく　そこに　行って　いません。またNew Jerseyに　かえる　あとに　New Yorkに　行きたい。

First "Goodbye"

I will have lots of "Goodbyes" to say before I leave, but last night was the first one I had to do. Saki-san is going back to Tokyo, so I won't see her again. I must say, it was not easy. I really don't want to leave Okinawa. I've met some really wonderful people here and the day I leave this island is going to be very difficult. I think my heart will always be in Okinawa.

さようならの　はじめて　でした。サキさんは　東京に　帰ります。たいへん　でした。Ｎｅｗ　Ｊｅｒｓｅｙに　行きたくない。　沖縄で　たくさん　すばらしい人　会いました。いつまでも　沖縄で　私の　こころは　います。

Selling the Car

Dave and I are in the process of selling our car. Today I took it for a bath at the local gas station. This is the first bath it's had since Dave bought it almost 3 years ago. wow!!!! Only two weeks left before EVERYTHING has to be done!! So much to do!! AHHHHH!

今日　私の車は　シャワーしました。もうすぐ　車を　うるつもり。

Shopping Incident

After much time spent at home, because of all the meds I was taking after my surgery, I finally got to go out shopping! Today I went to the Navel Kadena Shopping Center. I stopped to look through the cds at the music shop because I thought about buying the Nada Sou Sou cd. As I was looking at the single, I couldn't tell what something looked like through the plastic security case that covered part of the cd, so I turned the case over to see to see if the cd would fall out, and it did! At that moment the alarm in the store starting going off!!!! OMG.... I was so embarassed! I appologized to the woman and bought the cd right away because I was so embarassed. At least now I can practice my second Japanese song "Nada Sou Sou".

今日は　Navel Kadenaに　かいものするに　行きました。たくさんｃｄを　見て　りみ　夏川の　シングル　「なだそうそう」を　見つけました。このｃｄを　買いたいと　思って　います。ケースから　ｃｄを　よんで　みるに　とりだしました。すると、あの　みせの　けいほうきが　なりはじめました!　びっくりしました! 　はずかしかった!　私の　かおが　赤くなりました。　私は　「すみません，すみません、すみません」言いました。　このｃｄを　はやく　かって　帰る。

Surgery part 2

This was the first time I've ever had one of these. I've decided that I never want to get another one.
はじめて!

My cheeks are growing!!! I want to eat real food! Tonight's dinner: instant mashed potatoes. How much longer will I look like this???????
私の　ほほは　おきくなりました。食べたい、でも、食べられません。

Surgery

The day I have avoided for the past few years has come at last. WAAAAAA!!!!!! Tomorrow I get my wisdom teeth removed, luckily I will be totally knocked out for it!

明日の　しゅじゅつ　です。こわい　ですね。私は　ふあんに　なっています!　

Souvenir おみやげ

Last night at Tsubohachi Dave and I were given 2 glasses to bring home with us. The mugs say "I love Tsubohachi"....hehe! I will treasure them forever!lol....

昨日　つぼ八から　二はい　ビルのグラスを　もらいました。

Can I bring him back too? Just kidding. Yesterday was the last FC Ryukyu game of the season.
かれも　New Jerseyに　つれてきても　いい　ですか?　ははは。。。昨日　FCRyukyuの　さいごな　しあい　でした。

New Sauna

Today I went to the new stone sauna that just opened in my town, Yomitan. This sauna wasn't much different from the other sauna that I went to in Okinawa City, however, it is much closer to my house... which makes me very happy. You lay on stone slabs that emit far-infrared energy which rids your body of toxins through your sweat. There are numerous health benefits associated with this far-infrared energy.

今日　読谷で　あたらしい　サウナに　行きました。いい　ところ　でした。また　行きたい。けんこうに　いい　です!

Thanksgiving Day

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day. Dave and I invited Hisano-san and her family over for dinner. We rented a table and chairs and put together a traditional Thanksgiving meal. We had corn on the cob, mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows and coconut streusel, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, a spinach quiche, apple sauce, cranberry sauce, biscuits, and of course Turkey. Although the turkey took longer to cook than expected, everything came together in the end. We topped it all off with pumpkin and apple pie. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it!

昨日は　Ｔｈａｎｋｓｇｉｖｉｎｇの日　でした!　ヒサノさんの　かぞくは　私の家に　ばんごはんを　食べに　来ました。みんなさんは　たくさん　食べました。楽しかった！

"too much turkey"

食べすぎました!

Yummy

Here it is, Okinawa Soba!!!! This past week I finally finished an entire bowl of Okinawa Soba. (That's because I finally found a place that serves a half-size bowl)..hehe....
やった!　やった!　たいてい、沖縄そばが　おわれません、でも、先週　沖縄そばを　おわりました!　「だけど、半そばでした」はははは!

がんばります!

Sampin cha!!! The big bottle here is my favorite tea, sampin cha (a light jasmine tea). On the left is Dave's favorite tea..karada meguri cha. It's basically a mix of a bunch of teas. It's ok, but there's no way it's better than my sampin cha.
さんぴん茶が　大好きです!　デイビットさんは　よく　からだめぐり茶　飲みます。私は　さんぴん茶　のほうが　からだめぐり茶　より　おいしい　だ　と　思います。

ADA

This weekend we went up to the northern part of the island with some friends. We had a BBQ at Kuni-san and A-chan's house in ADA. We all had a great time singing, cooking, eating, drinking and laughing. The northern part of Okinawa is all mountains, so not many people live up there. It was a very peaceful place.

先週末　ともだちと　あだに　行きました。国さんと　あーちゃんの　家で　ｂｂｑと　カラオケを　しました。みんなさんは　歌って、食べて、飲んで、わらいました。沖縄の北　たくさん山　あります、だから　へいわな　ところ　でした。

All night we took turns singing different songs as Mattara-san played the keyboard. Here I am with Chika-san singing "Hanamizuki", later I did "NadaSouSou" with Hisano-san.

ちかさんと「ハナミズキ」を　歌いました。そのあと、ヒサノさんと「なだそうそう」を　歌いました。マッタラさん、ありがとうございました!

Here is Kuni-san helping Dave with the Eagles tune "Tequila Sunrise".
国さんと　デイビットさんは　Ｅａｇｌｅｓの歌　しました。

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Here is Hisano-san performing her original tune "YOU".
ヒサノさんは　マッタラさんと　オリジナルの　きょく「Ｙｏｕ」歌いました。きいて　下さい。

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Fun times with friends in ADA.
ともだちと　の時　楽しいです。

Cousin Carolie Visits Okinawa

This week my cousin Carolie is visiting Okinawa. She lives in Sasebo, Japan, so the trip down here was only about an hour and a half plane ride. After picking her up from the airport on Tuesday, we hit the laquerware and glass factories in Itoman. This pic is of me playing the ping-pong ball game at the glass factory. I "won" 2 glasses!!! I can't go to the glass factory without playing this game. hehe...

今週　私の　いとこは　沖縄に　来ました。　かのじょは　させぼに　すんで

います。　火曜日に　こうくうに　会いました、それから　いとまんに　行きました。グラスと　りゅうきゅう　しっきの　店に　行きました。グラスの店で　ゲームを　しました!　かちました!

On Wednesday Carolie and I went to the Ryukyu Mura. The Ryukyu Mura is a good place to learn about pre-war Okinawan culture. Here is a picture of me with Carolie and our new friend. This old woman poured tea for us. She was very excited to be talking to us, especially after we asked if we could have a picture with her. She kept hugging us... and what a death grip!!! She was soooooo incredibly happy! I love Okinawa!

水曜日　カロリちゃんと　りゅうきゅう村に　行きました。沖縄の　ぶんかを　ならう　ところ　です。私たちは　とても　しんせつな　おばあさんと　話しました。楽しかった！沖縄が　大好きです！

Curry Cooking Lesson

Today Chika-Mata came over to teach me how to make curry.

今日　ちかーまたは　私の家に　りょうりのじゅぎょう　するに　来ました。Here is the katsu-curry we made! It was sooooo delicious!!! I hope that next time I will be able to make it taste as good.
かつカレです!　おいしかった!　こんど、じぶん　がんばります。

Here are Chika-mata and Emi-Deibi.....

Next time is my gyoza lesson!

Thank you for teaching me, Chika-san!　

ちかさん,　カレを　つくる　ことが　おしえて　くれて　ありがとう! :)

Tsubohachi/Karaoke

This is my favorite izakaya, Tsubohachi, it just re-opened after being closed for about 3 months.
お久しぶり！

I love gyoza!　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

ぎょうざが　大好きです!

After going to Tsubohachi, we all went out for an hour of karaoke. Here is Chika-san singing a Japanese style song. She sounded great! 　
つぼ八に　行く　あとに　カラオケに　行きました。ちかさんは　日本語の　うたを　うたいました!　うたう　ことが　上手です!

Rock on, Saki-san!
サキさん!　

Hisano-san and I did a Madonna medley!

ヒサノさんと　マドンナの　うたを　うたいました。

Nada sou sou

Today I went to see my first movie in Japanese! Nada sou sou is a drama that was filmed in Okinawa. I didn't understand as much as I had hoped to, but I was able to grasp a good bulk of the story. I went with Hisano-san and afterwards she explained the parts of the movie that were a bit confusing to me.

今日は　日本語の　えいがを　見ました。 はじめて。
この　えいがは　沖縄で　つくりました。　話しが　わかれました　でも　ときどき　とうわく　して　いました。久乃さんは　えいがを　見た　あとに　せつめいしました。

Toothpaste Wars

Yet another round of the "toothpaste war" has come to an end... this time the winner is.........Dave Proulx!

ディビットさんは　かちました!!!!

Construction.....and cute things

For the past month and a half we have had construction right outside our house. I'm not exactly sure what they are doing, but I have been told it will unfortunately last until the end of the year. Here's an example of the cute signs that the Japanese use in construction zones. Ducks with umbrellas, Puppies with balloons... these are just a few examples of 'cute' signs around Japan.

I plan to start taking more pictures of all the "cute" things I see here on a daily basis. Here's a pic of a pokeman plane! The second pic is of some sort of bus/transportation vehicle for kids. I see this "train" often because it picks up and drops off kids near our house. More cute pics to come.....

Tempura Party!

Last night was the Tempura party at Hisano-san's family's home in Yomitan. Hisano-san's mother made 6 different kinds of tempura....an onion/pepper/carrot mix, broccoli, mushroom, sweet potato, "mountain"potato, and shrimp!!!! She also made a delicious soup and melon rice. I really liked the ginger taste of the soup...although I wasn't able to eat much of it because I stuffed myself so quickly with all the tempura. What a feast!!! As expected, everything was delicious!!!

おいしかった!!!!

Dave and Hisano-san's father had a great time drinking all sorts of alcohol. At one point, Dave had three different drinks in front of him and somehow couldn't put a dent in any of them. It seemed as though as soon as he took a sip someone was filling his glass back up to the top. Hahahaha!!!

Hisano-san's nephew Ryoga was so adorable the entire night! Dave really enjoyed playing with him. Here he is with Dave's hat on.... what a ham!

かわいい　ですね

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Here's Ryoga!! What wonderful entertainment!

いつも　楽しい!

Hisano LIVE, Chika/Hisano's Birthday, Saki Returns!!!

Last night was Hisano-san's first solo LIVE performance!!! MOD'S LiveHouse was full of people who came to cheer her on. She was full of energy the entire night, not that that's different from any other night, but it was great to see her use her "genkiness" on stage. She only performed a few covers... all the rest were her original tunes, which was totally awesome!!! I was really impressed!!

This is Hisano's nephew, Ryoga! He is two and a half and tons of fun. Here's a picture of him and his mom (Hisano's sister-Yukino-san) after the show last night. As many Japanese do when having their picture taken, Ryoga is giving the "peace" sign. Well, he's working on it....lol

Here are Chika-san and Hisano-san as they get ready to blow out their Birthday candles at the afterparty. Chika-san's Birthday was Nov. 1st and Hisano's was Nov.2nd.

Saki-san returned to Okinawa (she now lives in Tokyo) on Wednesday, just in time for her best friend's show. They met a few years back when they were on the same Okinawan TV program. They are both in show-biz, can you tell??? hahaha

Here we are .... the four gals...