Akemashite Omedeto; New Years in Japan

I'll admit, I thought I was going to have a horrible New Years this year. New Years stopped being fun when I got too old to bang on pots and pans, and too young to drink. And I was going to be without friends or a boyfriend on New Years too. So needless to say, I didn't find much hope in my New Years celebrations for 2010.

But much to my surprise, my parents made sure I had a great New Year. I would like to say that all the fun we had last night was for me. And despite not having friends, booze, or a boy to kiss to ring in the new year, I think this was quite possibly the best New Year I had.

7:00pm-8:30pm: Dinner at the Ocean Breeze

The Officers club here on base was having a New Years dinner buffet. It was a strange combination of prime rib and sushi, but it turned out to be pretty good. The sushi was naturally good, though it wasn't Out-In-Town sushi, and the prime rib was decent, but I'm not a huge fan of red meat. I stuffed myself though. I was carrying the biggest food baby anyone has ever carried.

[I'm too full!]

9:00pm-10:00pm: Exploring Mihama

Mihama is an entertainment and shopping village, with a shopping mall, movie theater, arcades, attractions, and restaurants. It's the A. Number 1 hangout for the youth of Okinawa, seeing as it caters so much to them. But American's frequent it often, giving it the nickname "American Village". We decided to see what was happening here.

First, we found live bands were to be playing all night. At first there was an amateur J-pop band that wasn't as annoying as Big-Bang. Actually, they were kind of cool. The second band we saw when we were leaving Mihama was pretty cool too. I don't know how I would explain their sound but I can explain their look--the lead singer had an afro and was wearing yellow pants, and the bassist looked to be about 40 and was wearing a wind breaker. Which is pretty bitchin.

I got to meet him after that. And yes, that is a crown barett in his hair

I found out that instead of moshing like a possessed idiot like we do in America, the Japanese have a much more peaceful way of expressing their musical ecstasy--waving scarves around. Yes, they literally have towels and scarves that they twirl around in circles to the beat. Dad waved his little skull cap, I waved Mom's scarf around and she had her own piece of fabric that she waved. Ron of course, was too cool to twirl things around to a man wearing yellow tights.

As if that weren't enough fun for one night, we next found out how it feels to get your feet eaten by a bunch of little fish. They're called Doctor Fish, and they survive on the dead skin cells of humans. Yeah, fish with foot fetishes. It's not like I have ever aspired to get my scaly feet pedicured by nasty little fish, but for 500 yen, why not? I even convinced my mother to do it. We were squirming and squealing the entire time.

Mom was really freaked out. I think she hated me for making her do this!

After our pedicure, we got sticky pictures done. I missed sticky pictures! For 400 yen, you can have your own personal photo shoot. And for an vain girl who loves posing for the camera, what could be better?

11:00pm-11:45pm: Futenmna Shrine

To end the festivities, we stopped by the Futenma Shrine, which is by our base. It looked exactly like a typical picture of Japan; red hashi lanterns, bright lights and kanji ladened banners outline food stands where fried squid, bean paste patties, soba, mochi, and okonomiyaki were being fried up. I wish I could've eaten it, but there was no possible way I could enjoy putting more food in my mouth. I did manage shoyu and sugar covered mochi balls on a stick and an Okinawan donut, though my stomach wanted to shoot my hand immediately after.

All of these stands lead to the Futenma shrine where the Japanese waited until midnight to say their first prayers of the year. At midnight, the bell to the shrine was struck 108 times. I wish we could've stayed there to ring in the new year because I imagine it would've been a beautiful sound.

11:45-Midnight 2010: Home

Instead, we came home for a relaxed countdown. But with 2 dogs that decided to run buckwild around the neighborhood 10 minutes before the clock struck, and a bottle of sparkling apple cider that just wouldn't open it was a little rushed. But we made it. Ron and I climbed on top of the roof to finish off the bottle of cider [because we're alcoholics like that] and went to our respective rooms to reflect on 2009 and think on 2010.

New Years Resolutions That Are More Like New Years Plans

"So this is the New Year.... and I don't feel any different"

-The New Year by Death Cab For Cutie

My life is not measured in years, as are other peoples. My life is instead measured in my moves. Sometimes it comes with new goals and aspirations, and other times it comes with completely new names, personalities, and styles. This has been the tradition all my life. It is no different this time.

I make New Years resolutions like normal people do. And I attempt to follow them through until January. Of course, like normal people, my New Years resolutions fail. But my new life resolutions rarely ever fall through.

This year however, a move and a new year happened to come together. So when I make my New Years Resolutions, I make my New Life resolutions as well. Which makes them extra strong.

1.) Write.

This was originally "be a better writer" but that's a pretty high expectation for me to set for myself. It's like saying "In 2010, I will grow wings, become pink, and fly like a pig". It's setting myself up for failure. Because I'm not sure if I will ever think of myself as a good writer. I would like to become a better blogger, but I know that only comes with practice. I get discouraged with my blog a lot, because it's not anything memorable, but I can't expect to be an expert when I have no experience in blogging. So practice is what I will do.

As for my fiction writing, I am happy to announce that I have gotten inspiration to write my third attempt at a novel. I feel strong about this story for once. I have realized that I never wrote enough with my own voice. And for the first time, I will be writing with my own voice, instead of trying to write somebody else's. While it may not be a work of art, it will be better than my last attempts to write novels, and it will be fun to write.

2.) Continue to be happy with myself.

I learned in Buffalo how to be happy with myself through adversity. I learned to stick my middle finger at people who looked at me funny because I didn't dress like everyone else, and because I am really loud, and because I hate people with bad grammar and insult them with no thought. I learned to refuse to be someone anyone wanted me to be. I learned to be beautiful in large sweaters and minimal makeup. I learned how to be myself, and only myself, and be beautiful being myself. I want to keep that. I look even stranger here on a military base where there is DEFINITELY nobody like me. I could change and look like the high school girls, or the girls my age who are married to Marines. But why would I, when I am a spectacular person?

Another step to loving myself is riding myself of people who don't want me loving myself. I don't need strangers telling me I am crazy, none the less people who claim they love me.

3.) Be more studious.

I really need to learn better study habits, and learn to focus more on schoolwork. Oh yes, the thought of being studious is really nice, but when it comes to actually learning the information in books, useless things such as Facebook distract you and consume your day. But now that I have a desk and am nearly 100% worry free, I can be studious. I know the whole desk thing sounds ridiculous, but I was studying on a bed, or the floor for my first semester of college. That isn't too healthy.

4.) Take advantage of living in a foreign country.

Who gets the chance to live in a foreign country twice in their lives? Well, I do, and I'm not going to let this opportunity pass me by. I have a semester here, maybe more, and I plan to do as much as I possibly can.

5.) Be smart about my next life decision.

As I said earlier, I may only have a semester here, though it's possible I could stay for the rest of my Dad's tour, which lasts 18 more months. But in a semester, I should be ready for University. Whatever my choice is, it will be logical and well-thought out. I will not make any rash decisions because I am restless. I learned my lesson in Buffalo--don't move out on your own unprepared, and during a recession. This next life decision will come this year, and whether its stay here, move back to Buffalo, or try on a new location for size, it will be a smart one.

6.) Just relax

I have come to the conclusion that I try to control things in my life too much and end up taking more steps back than forward. I force things too much. My actual RESOLUTION, instead of goal, or plan, is to be more relaxed. I need to let life come instead of forcing information and experiences down my own throat and making myself choke and puke it all back up. Relaxed swallows will bring me desired results.

Christmas In Japan

You know you're in Japan for Christmas when 4 Asian Santa's ride by you on your way to a sushi restaurant on 2 mopeds.

I unfortunately didn't spend my Christmas off-base, otherwise I'd have more interesting stories to tell you than that. I was happy to once again spend Christmas with my parents. I really would've liked for my older brother to be here, and maybe have to whole family together for Christmas. But families often disintegrate, sometimes in good ways, and sometimes in bad. I hope that soon we can all get together for the season again, but it might be another 4 years. With me being in college, Joe deploying all over the world, and Ron and my parents to be moving and retiring soon, it may be a good while before we're all together. But for the time being, I am glad I could spend this Christmas with my younger brother and my parents. I am accepting the fact that as we all get older, it is harder for us to be together.

Another thing I realized about getting older is that things change, most notably Christmas. Not only is the spirit of Santa Clause gone, but your parents get worn out. I cannot imagine, nor do I want to imagine, how much work goes into preparing Christmas for children. I'm sure my parents are relieved not to have to go through holiday charades for us anymore. However, it's sort of a sad thing. Christmas can seem to come and go like the wind when you live through the seasons like this. And you find yourself surrounded in wrapping paper, Mom and Dad are slowly standing up and moving back to their work thinking after a half an hour of gift wrapping, leaving you thinking-- "This was much different years ago".What happened to my brother and I surveying our wrapped gifts while waiting for our parents to wake up? What happened to the Christmas songs on the radio and the furious tearing into of gifts from 8am to noon? Don't be mistaken, the time you find out that Santa Claus isn't real is not the time your childhood dies. Your childhood dies when everyone is too busy in their adult lives to see the spirit of Christmas.

But a positive part of growing older during Christmas is that you have a better appreciation of gifts. For the first Christmas, I found myself NOT gift counting or calculating prices in my head to see if I got better stuff than my brother, or if I got my worth in gifts. For once, I found myself really appreciating the thought that went into my gifts. My huge bag of ume candy and yoga magazine, and cookbooks were the best gifts because my parents know that these are the things I like.

So while my childhood may be gone, my adulthood seems to be quite a promising replacement.

And there's really no better way to illustrate my Christmas than with pictures.

Poor angel, gets upskirted every year

Gordie Howe Ornament is a pervert too

Ron: "Hur! Peanuts!" Jenny: "YEAH! COOKBOOKS!!"

Bag full of ume flavored candy=best Christmas EVER!

Gordy in his Christmas handkerchief

Jersey's face is priceless.

My face is priceless

Mom and I smile on Christmas

Looking good in my Christmas dress

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday as well!

Being Home For The Holidays

I was inspired to write on the subject of being home for the holidays by this blog post on [hip-ster-krit]

I moved out of Buffalo just in time for the holidays. Originally, this was just supposed to be a visit home for the holidays, but I am now living here.

I haven't seen my parents in two years. Things are very different. Because my parents are in the military, they don't have the same house they did when I moved to Michigan. In fact, they don't even live in the same country. So coming home is strictly coming home to my parents. I am not coming home to my room, or to my hometown. Just my parents. I find that this prioritizes the relationship I have with them. "Home" is where your parents are.

However, things are still the same. The silverware is in a different drawer, and we have different furniture, but the dishes still need to be washed and put away at night, and the floors still need to be vacuumed during the day. This is home. Having the same parents, with the same rules and routines.

My return home for the holidays is much more significant than the return home for my friends. Not having seen my parents in years, and having left on a bad note in the first place, this move home is a time to rekindle and restart relationships. I have grown, as have my parents. I feel as if our relationship has grown as well. Perhaps it was the time apart that brought us together. Perhaps its my being a different person that has brought us together. And maybe we just missed each other.

But on top of moving back in with my parents, I also moved back to Okinawa, Japan. I lived in Okinawa during the ages of 10 to 13. I truly enjoyed it, and I find myself loving Okinawa still. Part of me wouldn't mind making Japan my permanent home [if I can ever have one of those]. And now that I am older, I find that I can experience Japan in a completely different way. Being 18 brings me more freedom both in my parent's eyes, and in the world's eyes. I am looking forward to further exploring a former home of mine.

One thing that I have found strange about Japan as I have taken a couple of walks around base in these couple of days is that most of my most memorable and weirdest dreams are located here on the housing area of Camp Foster. Another weird thing is that they are located in very insignificant areas, places I didn't really frequent when I lived here. I'm not sure why this is. Maybe it was the age I was when I lived here.

For some, being home for the holidays means being with family on a family holiday and enjoying your hometown. But for me, being home for the holidays means rejuvenating strained relationships with family, and rediscovering an old home.

10 Reasons Why Cuddling With Your Dog is Better Than Cuddling With Your Boyfriend.

1.) Dogs are warmer than boyfriends

2.) Dogs are smaller than boyfriends, making it easier for them to fit next to you.

3.) You spoon dogs, they don't spoon you.

4.) If you get mad at them, they don't mind too terribly if they have to sleep on the floor.

5.) You can yell at your dog, hit your dog [not too hard], tease your dog, and call him stupid, and he'll still sleep with you at the end of the night.

6.) Dogs are ready to sleep when you are.

7.) Dogs don't care if you cuddle with another dog.

8.) Dogs don't need blankets.

9.) Dogs don't have morning breath

10.) Dogs don't expect you to talk to them before you fall asleep, or when you wake up. They just need to pee.

Wii Fit; Not Just a Video Game!

I just recently started the Wii Fit, and I happen to think that it's the smartest thing ever invented. I know I'm a little late in the game [no pun intended], but I love it, and I'm going to tell you about it.

Not only is it a video game that helps you lose weight [whoda thunk?] It also helps keep you on track and gives you tips on how keep healthy overall. They focus a lot on your posture, which is something a lot of people don't focus on. Your spinal alignment can really affect your health. I've heard of people who's cancer was cured by realignment of their spine. Of course, you don't have cancer, and the Wii Fit is no chiropractor, but it brings awareness to how you stand and where your alignment is.

The exercises are very low impact and really adorable. You make a Mii to look like you and watch them hula hoop and ski etc. And all the other Miis on your Wii throw you hoops and soccer balls. I think its funny when my Dad's Mii is my soccer coach on the soccer exercise because he was my soccer coach when I was younger. I'm using it more as a small daily exercise to keep nimble and healthy. If you want to shed pounds, please don't count on Wii Fit.

I love that a video game can tell you that you're unhealthy. My Wii tells me that I am 38 years old and underweight. Well thank you Wii! But the Wii Fit keeps you on track. You can set goals, and it will tell you if you're close and give you encouragement. It will also tell you what you need to work on. For example, mine tells me that I need to work on my right side in the yoga exercises since I'm stiff and shaky in my balance.

One of the coolest things that I like is that you can add in other exercises that you do and they will calculate that into your weekly workout report. Smart huh?

It's like a personal trainer right there on your TV, helping you target your problem areas, and letting you have a little fun at the same time. It's pretty much the coolest thing I've ever done, and I plan on using it every morning before I start my day.

Japanese Food; Jusco market and Mister Donut

This morning, my Mom and I took the dogs to get their monthly baths and haircuts. It's just too cute that they go to a doggy salon. Jusco, which is something like the Japanese Mall [WAY better than American mall] is right across the street, so we took a little afternoon trip there for coffee and donuts at Mister Donut.

French Crueller, Sugar Donut, and Sesame Topped Donut

Mister Donut is an amazing little donut shop with the best coffee and donuts you've ever tasted. I'm not a coffee snob, but I've never tasted better coffee. And the donuts are incomparable. I don't know what they're made of, but they're NOT made of the crap Americans make their donuts with. They're light and fluffy, and virtually guilt free. I had a donut and a half and didn't feel like a fatty like I would if I had Dunkins.

We took a little walk around the Jusco food market to see what they had. I would've bought it all if I had yen. Thank god I didn't, because then I'd have no money.

Squid Tempura

Bean paste filled rolls, shaped like monkeys.

Vegetable Tempura Patties!

Egg, Asparagus and Ham in a bread roll. Probably with Japanese Mayo! These are delicious!

I'm pretty sure this is a specifically Okinawan thing. They're fried squid balls. They mix it with a dough mix, and roll it around on this ball form hot plate.

Various assortments of hot lunch food!

Bento boxes! The most delicious quick lunch!

Sushi bentos. The top shelf has rice balls with fillings and comes with seaweed that you have to wrap yourself. It's kind of difficult, but delicious whether you know how to wrap it or not.