Auroras Birthday

Today is/was Auroras birthday and I think it went smashingly.  I was able to make a lei for her which I thoroughly enjoyed out of carnations and the office surprised her with a a fruit cake.  It was actually quite the accomplishment....

You know, in the next couple days I will be busy getting ready to leave and saying goodbye...I donʻt think I will be writing here anymore.  I think this will actually be the last entry.

Usually, I write a big summary but this time I wonʻt give you the satisfaction.  Iʻm sorry friends, I would really just like for you to talk to me about it when I see you...

Wow, what a revelation.

Well, goodnight and thanks for reading!

Hawanawana

Aloha pumehana kaua,

He hana kolohe o keia po!  Ua kuai iho nei au i pua no ka hana ana i lei i ka la apopo na Kukuilani, oiai o kela kona la hanau.  Piha eu au!  E pai kii nohoi au i ka la apopo.

Mahalo a nui

Itʻs so hard

So it is now the time to start to work myself into a little bit of a panic.  Iʻm not, by any means saying that Iʻm behind in packing or cleaning or anything because I donʻt think I am but just the thought of all the things that need to be done in the next couple of days (not even including the goodbyes that need to be said) is making for some heavy thinking.

Tonight was the last time I got to see my friends from Brazil because theyʻre leaving on a trip and wonʻt be here again until we get back.  I couldnʻt help but be a little bit sad, and touched at the same time.

It is amazing to me that we got to come to Japan, and not only touch and be moved by the people of Japan, but we also got to build these amazing relationships with people from still more countries.  Today, our South American friends gave presentations on their countries and I am completely overcome with curiosity...their countries will have to be on my list of places to visit.

Gosh, the rest of my life is looking expensive.

(-_~)ʻ

Pai Ia

Aloha pumehana kakou,

O keia ka la o ka hoolaulea Hawaii ma ke kaona o Uwajima.  Aue, ua nani no ko lakou mahalo a nui o ka nohona Hawaii a pela pu me ko lakou aloha palena ole ia makou, ka poe i kipa akula mai Hawaii mai.  Ua puka na ano mea like ole; oia hoi o ka hula, o ka hookani ukulele, o na ano hana noeau like ole, a pela aku. A ma o ma anei he minoaka ma na helehelena o na kanaka a pau.

O kekahi hanana nae i pa nui i koʻu naau, oia ke ku ana mai i na haumana mai ke kula nona ka moku a makou i hoopiholo ai, o Ke Kula Lawai o Uwajima nohoi.  Ua hoike lakou i ke ano o ka pai ia, kapaia he gyotaku ma ka olelo Kepani, a ua hoike ia me ke aloha a no ka manuahi.

O ko lakou ku ana mai, he kupanaha.  No ka mea, he hoailona kela no ka maikai ae o ka pilina o Hawaii me ko Uwajima.  Aole paha naʻu i hooponopono i keia pilikia, oia no nae ke ano o koʻu hana i keia kauwela.  Pomaikai au i ka ae ia ana mai e naue i keia aina, a e hookomo i koʻu aloha i keia hana maikai.

Mahalo a nui.

Hanabi

Tonight I went to my first (and what will probably be my last, at least for a while) Japanese Fireworks show which was held at the Mitsuhama Matsuri.  It was a pretty amazing sight as the fireworks lasted over and hour and maintained a pretty great stream of awesomeness!  In Hawaii, the show would have easily cost over a million dollars to put on but here it just seemed usual, there were several OOOʻs and AAAʻs but aside from that Iʻm not sure that anyone seemed quite as amused as us foreigners who journeyed there together this evening.

Fireworks are a time to reflect for me.

 I think because, even though it wasnʻt so loud that we couldnʻt talk no one really wanted to aside from the random remark here and there about the size of one blast or the motion of another.  People were there with their children, with their dates, with their friends...it was simply an amazing gathering of people.

For me though, I was in my own world a good deal of the time.  Every blast reminded me how far Iʻd come in Japan and how this is my last week here.  It never ceases to amaze me what a different world it is here and these fireworks...well, see for yourself.

(^_^)....;....;...; *** O***

first time

Yesterday, I forgot to blog! LOL thatʻs the first time ever! Sorry guys lol

Aue ke aloha e

Aloha pumehana kaua e ka mea heluhelu,

I keia la e (i) hana ai i kekahi mea hilahila loa.  Aole au e hai ia oe i ia mea, aka, ua makemake au e hoomaopopo loa iau iho no kaʻu hana i keia la.

mmhmm

Mahalo a nui

Parting of Ways

Today was the last day we (I) will have lunch with the interns who came from South America.  I didnʻt really realize it until after lunch was over, but thatʻs kind of sad.  Their classes will be finished as of today and they have a presentation that they will do next Monday and then that is quite basically the end.  Thatʻs been one big surprise this trip:

I didnʻt think that Iʻd have to think about missing people who wonʻt even be in Japan if I come back.  Iʻve actually met a great deal of foreigners who I hope stay in my life; however now itʻs not just a matter of returning to Ehime to see them.  Rather, I will have to actually go to their countries to meet with them again.  With things the way they are in Hawaiʻi, will that be a possibility?

I like to think that I will...but I just think thatʻs another sign of how awesome this opportunity has been. That is, when I signed up to come to Japan I didnʻt expect to open my eyes to so many other parts of the world.  Itʻs nice to be global, but itʻs really humbling at the same time.

Thank you Ehime, for giving me this opportunity.

(~_~)

IA!

Aloha pumehana,

I keia la i loaa iau he ia maoli i kuke e ia a waiho i kahi eke ea.  O ka hana, he hookomo i ka mikiowawe wale no.

Miomio.

Mahalo a nui

Ramen

Today I was taken to eat ramen for lunch.  Of course, I payed for it myself but itʻs always nice to be shown a good place to have ramen.  The charsiu at this ramen place was extremely delicious, but the dashi was of a shio base.

I got to thinking--why donʻt we have more shio base in Hawaiʻi?  I mean, you go everywhere and they have shoyu and/or miso and thatʻs pretty much the extreme reach of most of the island chain.  Iʻm not saying I donʻt enjoy it, but it seems like it would be so easy to bring more of these flavors to Hawaiʻi.

If anyone is looking for a franchise endeavor, please consider Japan ramen.

Please

(^_^)

Wailele Nani

Aloha pumehana kaua,

I keia la i kipa ai kakou i na wahi he nui.  O kekahi wahi, he poina ole, oia ka wailele i kapaia ma ka inoa o Yukiwa i loko o kahi e heaia nei ma ka inoa o Nametoko.  Aue ka nani o keia wahi! He hiki no ka pahee ma luna o na pohaku mai kahi kiekie loa!

Mahalo a nui.

I was blessed with the opportunity to be shown Uwajima by a true Uwajimanian and it was a fantastic experience!  I got to go to Matsuri, I properly paid respects to the shrine, and even was taken to their Hawaiian Restaurant.  

There were so many firsts for me on this short but great trip; however I think it is appropriate to discuss the Hawaii themed restaurants.  I think many people know that Hawaii has its own thing going on in Japan.  Some people agree, and others donʻt; but one thing I can tell you for sure is they do a lot to work towards achieving what they perceive as Hawaii.  I mean, this restaurant was filled with every item you might ever associate with Hawaii as a tourist, and they had an entirely separate room (where the bathroom was) with even more stuff.

Iʻve said it once but I have to say it again; maybe things arenʻt the way we like it but can you really be mad at people who love US so much?

Think about it Hawaii.

(^_^)

Half Day

Today is a half day at work because Iʻm going to Uwajima tonight.  Because of this, there wonʻt be any blog because Iʻm leaving my computer home.

E hui kala mai oukou i keia waiho wale.  He wahi leo hoomaopopo wale no.

Mahalo

Ohana Hula

Aloha pumehana kaua,

No ka nui o na kanaka e kipa mai ana i keia aina o Ehime, aole paha lakou e hui me na kanaka he nui.  Ua ike ia, o ke ano o na kanaka e noho ana maanei, he hilahila ke ano.  Makemake paha lakou e hui e kamailiio me na kanaka o ka aina, aka aole paha ia he hiki.  Ua ike nae au, he nui ka hoi o na kanaka i na mea Hawaii.

O kekahi mea i ano ulu ka hoi i loko oʻu, oia no na ohana hula.  I nehinei au i hui ai me kekahi wahine, a mea mai oia he mea hula oia maanei.  I koʻu ninau ana aku i ka inoa o kona kumu, mea mai oia he 2 ohana hula ko keia moku o Shikoku.

Pehea la?

Mahalo a nui

Lucky You Live

Today was yet another day at work that lasted a very long time.  I am not at all upset about it, in fact it allots me a fair amount of time to reflect on things that are going on during the summer.  Today was one of those days where news from home was not something that tugged me back, but gets me worried.

When you leave your country for a long amount of time, I think itʻs easier to see the dangers and the flaws in your own.   Sure, nobody is perfect but I always find myself gaining a new awareness for the spectrum of distances existing between the culture Iʻm living in and the culture that I come from.  That being said, I am thankful that I am from Hawaiʻi.

(^_^)

O Ka Mea Apiki

Aloha pumehana kaua,

O keia ka la mua o koʻu iini e komo piha i ka olelo Kepani.

Iau e kaahele ana mao maanei i ke kuai ana i na ana makana like ole no ka haawi ana i koʻu mau hoa o Hawaii, ua olelo Kepani au i mau kanaka.  Aue, nui na poe i lilo i ano hoa noʻu!  A o koʻu hana maamau, kono au ia lakou a pau e kipa ia Hawaii i kekahi la, a ae mai lakou a pau aka aohe kanaka i ku mai ma Hawaii a hiki i keia manawa.  Aole paha au noonoo nui.

O ka mea apiki aʻu i ike ai i keia la, ina no lakou e kipa mai ia Hawaii, ua hoohiki au ia lakou, naʻu no e hoike aku ia lakou i ke ano o Hawaii a me na kanaka e noho ana ma laila.  I mea e malama pono ai ia lakou, pono ka olelo Kepani.  Akahi no au a ike, no ka hoolala ana i ko lakou hele ana, pono ana iau e olelo Kepani kekahi.

I ka hoi ana i Hawaii, he kumu hou oʻu e ao hou i ka olelo Kepani me ka maikai. Minamina, aole i hooholoia manao he 10 pule i hala ae nei.

Mahalo ka heluhelu ana.

Gift Buying

Today I decided to try to put a huge dent in my gift shopping.  So, I went to the best logical place which is by Dogo onsen.  If you donʻt know, Dogo onsen is one of the first onsen in Japan and is thus very famous.  What I found though, was so much than the typical experience.

As I pulled up on my ever-so-fashionable-and-reliable bicycle, I noticed there was a little bit of an event at the park that was next to the onsen.  I walked up and found that it was basically a craft fair!  Well, I went from tent to tent but it was really hot so I braced myself to leave...just before I went down the stairs however something caught my eye on the side.

I canʻt say much about what she was selling because it will end up being gifts, but this lady was so happy just to talk to me she gave me some sort of orange/grapefruit kind of thing and gave me free stuff to go with what I purchased! I told her it was an honor to buy crafts from the person that made them and that I was really happy to have been passing through.  We even took a picture together.

Days like today make it all worth while.

(^_^)~!

O ka ulana kalipa

Aloha pumehana kaua,

Ua maopopo, aole paha o ka ulana ana ka mea pololei no ka wehewehena i ke ano o ka hana i na kalipa Kepani, aka ua ano like ka hana i ka nana aku me ka ulana ana a ka Hawaii.  O kaʻu mea i ike ai i keia la, ua olelo lakou, "e hookomo i ka apana lole i ike ole ia" a ua kau ka halia no koʻu wa o ka hana ana i ka lauhala.

Malia, aole okoa loa kakou o ke Kepani me ka Hawaii ea?

Mahalo a nui

CAMP!

We went to a camp today in Yawatahama that was absolutely excessively hot.  I wonʻt try to exaggerate and say that there was absolutely no breeze...but I will say that this kind of heat, is the heat that feels like needles when it touches your skin and it was way more than I could handle.  I spent the better part of the day looking for places to hide in the shade...however, I think I ended up just wandering around completely frustrated at my situation.  I just donʻt know how I had been sign up to be someplace so hot.

The bright side of the day is that we got to make traditional zori (although with fabric) and all the teachers were old Japanese ladies.  It was a very nostalgic feeling to be taught by women who speak with a dialect that was almost impossible for me to understand, and see their reactions when they discovered that we came from Hawaiʻi.  They were all the epitome of hospitable, and were great and patient teachers.  They also helped to do all the other classes offered to the kids and in the grueling heat they really sacrificed a lot in my eyes.

I just hope that when I get old, if I should be allowed so many years, I can be half the people they are.  Kind, intelligent people are hard enough to come by now.  I wonder about growing up.

(^_^)

Haha

Aloha pumehana kaua,

No ka ole o ka hana e koe ana ma koʻu keena i Iapana nei, ua hana au no Ike Kuokoa i keia la.

Noʻu ka hauoli, e Kalaokananikiekie

Mahalo.

Foreigners

Today many people came into the office to take a placement test for the Japanese intensive course that will be offered after we leave.  To be honest, I really feel for them because it appears that the placement test takes hours to do, and all they are trying to figure out is what level youʻre at! You dontʻ really get credit for anything or get paid more...if anything, you almost want to be in a lower class so you can make sure you know things.  Itʻs crazy to see how many foreigners live in Matsuyama that we never see except when they come in for these classes.  Japan is more of a mixing pot then I believe we give it credit for.

(^_^)

Hao

Aloha pumehana kaua,

Aole penei kela keia la, aka o ka maa mau, o ka hola aina awakea ka wa lealea o ka hana.  I kela keia kakahiaka, ku mai au me ka manao e kulia a i ka hopena o ke kakahiaka, pu paakai i ka aina awakea, alaila e hoomau a i ka palena pau.

E hao ana au i keia mau kanaka mahope o koʻu haalale ana.

Mahalo a nui

Surprise!

Today the highlight of my day came when I decided I was going to try to clean up my drawers (just a little bit) at work.  Thereʻs a lot of stuff that was there before I even got there, but I thought I should get a head start so that it wonʻt be as excessive later on.

Well, reached in one drawer and pulled out a rather large book.

It was a Mormon Missionary training guide...Iʻm going to research.

(^_^)

O Ka Poe Pilipino

Aloha mai kaua e ka mea heluhelu,

O keia la, he manao koʻu e pili ana i ka poe Pilipino.  He papa ao hoomakaukau meaai ka koʻu keena i keia la, a e like me kaʻu i olelo ai mamua, o na meaai, he mau ano.  O ka nui o na kanaka nana e ao i ua papa nei, aia no lakou ke hana nei i loko o koʻu keena ma Matsuyama nei.  Eia no nae, hookahi kanaka no waho aku, a he poe Pilipino kela.  O kana meaai i hoomakaukau ai, oia no ka leche flan a ua ono maoli no.

O ka mea kupaianaha o keia mau poe, ua lawe oia i kona ohana holookoa, a me ka ole o ka hoike ana mai, ua hana lakou i mau nulu Pilipino kekahi.  Ua nani ka ike ana i ka lahui a me na loina i ano paa iau no koʻu noho ana i kahi kaiaulu o ka Pilipino ma Hawaii, a ua hauoli mai koʻu naau. A ua ono no ka meaai.

Makemake au e hoomaikai i ka poe Pilipino no ka mea, he nui lakou.  He poe holo lakou, a ma Iapana, oia mau no ke ola o ko lakou loina.  Aole pela me ka nui o na kanaka e ku mai ana ma Iapana nei.  O ke ano o ka noonoo Kepani, "E hamale aku i ka kui nao e kue ana," aole nae hamaleia o ka Pilipino.  I koʻu launa ana me ua lahui ma Osaka, a maanei nei, paa lakou.  Aka, ua hiki no ia lakou a pau ke olelo ma ka olelo Kepani...kalena wale keia lahui.

Mahalo

Cooking Class

Today we went to Uwajima and held a cooking class for a few people.  I think they had wanted more people to come, but it ended up being more than enough work to have just a few people and it was a lot of fun.  We planned on making leche flan, SPAM musubi, hurrican popcorn, chinese fried noodles, and finally a Korean-style shaved ice.

It didnʻt start out well (we couldnʻt turn the sugar into caramel) but these things simply cannot be helped.  The fun thing about today was teaching people how to make musubi...I think because, somehow, they all suddenly became very Hawaii.  They couldnʻt help themselves, and they just kept eating musubi as they were making them! Before we knew it, everyone was full and we were only half way through the class.

Another highlight of the day was seeing a SPAM-cutter which I thought all of Hawaiʻi already had, but apparently I was wrong.  The fascination with the SPAM cutter was definitely one of the highlights of my day.

(^_~)

Mele Mele

Aloha mai kaua e ka mea heluhelu,

He aha ia mea he mele? No ka nui o na kanaka e ao nei i ka olelo hawaii, ua maopopo e ia kakou ke ano o ke mele.  Nui kona mau ano, a he nani nohoi i ka lohe ana mai.  Aole o ka mele hookani wale no, aka o ke oli kekahi.  Aole lawa ka manawa no ka wehewehe pono.

I keia la nae, iau e heluhelu ana i kekahi mau manao o na haumana o kahi papa Kulanui, ua ike au i ka lakou mahalo ana i koʻu "song." O ka mea apiki nae, ua oli au ma ko lakou papa.  Naukiuki maila koʻu naau.

Aka, i noonoo hou aku ka hana, he manao Hawaii kela.  Nani ke Kepani!

Mahalo a nui

Confidence

Today I spent almost an excessive portion of this morning reading through the reactions of some college students to our presentations in their class.  At first, it was completely what I had expected to hear, but there were some comments that seemed so overwhelmingly kind I was sure it must have been something that translated incorrectly.

But then I thought to myself: I am not really here for nothing.  I donʻt think I wouldʻve been chosen to come here for the summer and talk to people about Hawaiʻi.  No one really wants poor or false representation of their home, especially when the relations of sister states are concerned.

Today, those reactions helped me revamp my confidence and I was thankful for them.  If you have any students in any portion of your life, have them evaluate; it just makes people feel good.

(^_^)

Olelo Ma Ke Keena

Aloha pumehana kaua,

O ka pule keia o te reo Maori, ua ike anei oe? Aloha pule olelo Maori kaua.

O kekahi mea hoihoi o keia la, kahea maila o Maiko iau i koʻu wa e noho ana ma ka hana! Ua hauoli au i ka lohe ana aku i kona leo Hawaii ma koʻu kelepona Kepani.  Nele keia aina i ka poe olelo Hawaii.

Auhea oukou, e nee mai.

Mahalo a nui.

A Day of Snacks

Today was a day of snacks because many people went on journeys last week (including myself) so naturally everyone brought back a lot of stuff for everyone else in the office because thatʻs just what you do.  I didnʻt take pictures of anything because I was too busy eating all the snacks from all over the world.

I never really realized it before, but thatʻs a pretty awesome custom to have at an office isnʻt it? I mean, when you watch the movies I donʻt think all offices on the mainland have that kind of cultural custom where you nearly always bring something back with you.  I feel like thatʻs kind of a custom in Hawaii, and I am in fact dreading looking for stuff to bring back with me to Aulani because I feel like I want to give everyone something but I just plain canʻt do that!

Any suggestions can be sent to my facebook.  THANKS

(^_^)

Okinawa Recap

Update

Special Project to come tomorrow...sorry, youʻll have to wait til then lol

Ka Po Hope Okinawa

Aloha pumehana kaua,

Anoai ka ike ana i keia ano nui o na poe haole e noho ana ma kahi aina, aole no lakou.  He haumana haaheo au ma lalo o ka malu o Kawaihuelani, he lala hoi o Hawaiinuiakea.  He nui na hoa oʻu e kue nei i ka nohona o ka poe puali koa ma Hawaii, a o kekahi kanaka, kue lakou i ke ano Amelika o Hawaii i keia mau la.  Hiki no iau ke hoomaopopo na manao elua, aka, ua oi aku ka ino o ka puali koa ma Okinawa nei.

Mai ka wa o ka pae ana mai, ua piha u keia aina i ka ohana o ka puali koa.  Puiwa loa au i ka makaukau loa o na kanaka he nui ma ka olelo haole, a he minamina nohoi ia.  Me he mea la, o kahi nani o Okinawa, aole paha ma keia aina nui.  Aole i hiki iau ke luu i ka poaiapili ponoi o keia ano, a o ka nui o na kamaaina e hana nei i loko o ka oihana hookipa, ua hiki ke ikeia, aole lakou nana i ke ano o ka hoa kipa.  Malia paha, ua hana ino ka nui o ka haole i ko Okinawa a eia lakou ke hookae wale nei.

He minamina hoi, aka mahalo nui au i koʻu kipa ana maila.

Mahalo a nui

Last Okinawa

It was the last full day in Okinawa, and it was irritatingly beautiful but excruciatingly hot.  I donʻt know what it is about heat and I, but it would seem that I have been completely drained every day merely from being in the heat here.  They brought up going to the beach, but it was so hot Iʻm not sure that I could just sit outside for that long a time.

Today, we went to some random stores and ate at some American places.  I think that some people will look at my trip here so far and wonder why I didnʻt do more Okinawan-ey things here.  Well, the answer is itʻs hot and there isntʻ that much Okinawan-ey stuff to do.  I asked people what I should do and no one really had very many recommendations aside from the aquarium.  I like Okinawa, it has a good spirit and people have been very friendly but I do have a sense of unhappiness from the general public with the many foreigners who live here.  It seems that they are overall over it.

Tomorrow I leave Okinawa and return to Matsuyama for my last 3 weeks of my program.  I feel rejuvenated having been allowed to visit my family here in Okinawa (who really, I didnʻt see very much even when they lived in Hawaii) and I find myself looking forward to the future.

(~__~)

Mano

Aloha pumehana kaua e ka mea heluhelu,

O ka ike ana i na ia o ka hale hoikeike ia o Okinawa nei, he hana nani nohoi ia.  Me he mea la, e luu ana kakou a pau i kai hohonu.  Aole o kana mai koʻu mahalo i ko ka poe Okinawa malama ana i keia ano hale, no ka mea, i ole lakou, i ole he hiki ia kakou ke ike i ia mau ia!  O ka mano palaoa, oia ka mea kupaianaha loa o keia hale a ua malie kona holo ana.

He minamina nae ka hana ino o lakou i na ano mano like ole.  Oia kahi mea i kaumaha ai au.  Nui na mano i paa i ke kai malama ili, a he ahuwale ko lakou mau kino i loko oia kai.  Eia hou. He mau ili i kaulai ia no ka hamo ana a kanaka.  Ua ano e koʻu naau.

Kaumaha ka ike ana i na mano paa ma laila.  Me he mea la, huki ia ko lakou ikaika.

Mahalo

Churaumi

We went to Churaumi aquarium today, which was really quite a treat.  I think it holds the world record for the worlds largest tank or something like that.  Iʻm not sure, but I know that any tank that can hold 3 whale sharks is probably a force to be reckoned with.  While the aquarium was filled with people from all over the world, it still wasnʻt too crowded and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience despite the fact that every time we went outside it was outrageously hot.  

One of the highlights for me, rather strangely, was seeing the manatees.  The manatees donʻt usually move from what Iʻve been told.  Today they were extremely lively and danced seemingly just for us. 

I know itʻs random, but it touched me. 

(*_*)

Ka SPAM

Aloha pumehana kaua,

No ka poe i kipa mua ole mai, he nui na mea Hawaii i paa ma ka aina o Okinawa.  He aha la ka manao?

I ko'u kuhi, ua ike mua lakou i ka nani a me ka maikai o na mea e kuai ia aku nei a puni ka pae aina hawaii.  A no laila, ma o ma anei, aia he hoailona o ka aina.  He hae Hawaii, he honu Hawaii, he pepa pipili, aue he nui wale no hoi.

O kekahi ninau e upu ana, no hea mai ka SPAM musubi?  Hoomakaukau lakou i keia kekahi, no laila, na kekahi paha e kuhihewa nei, no Okinawa paha keia loina.  Pehea kou manao?  He nui ka SPAM ma Okinawa...a nui na ano o ka hoohana ana.

Mahalo a nui.

American Village

Here on Okinawa there is a place that they call American Village.  You can probably obtain more amazing things from America here than anywhere in Hawai'i.  I'm not sure if it's comparable to anything on the mainland, but I suppose I would have to ask around.  It was, however, a little more hot then I would've preferred.  I think I was just a little bit dehydrated by the end of the day but it was a good experience.

It continues to amaze me how much nicer people seem to be here in Okinawa.  Once I speak a little bit of Japanese, they are all more then willing to join in conversation.  Also, being here with my family has given me a great opportunity to actually use my Japanese that I don't usually get while in Matsuyama.  There are so many people who are available to translate there whereas here, I am somehow more willing to ask people questions and interact.

I really like all the colors of Okinawa as well from all their glass to their patterns; but I've noticed that many of their textiles look kind of like they're out of the Himalayas.

I don't know, just my observations.  Probably isn't of any particular interest to you.

(^_~)

Na Pali Okinawa

Aloha pumehana kaua e ka mea heluhelu,

Kipa aku nei au i ka hale ipu kukui e kokoke ana i ka hale oʻu e noho nei ma Okinawa.  Aue, ka nani o kela wahi!  He nui na uhane o ka aina Kepani, a ua ike au i ke ano maluhia oia wahi.

Oia ihola no ka la.

Mahalo a nui

Shoyu Pork

Today we ventured to Ryukyu Mura which they originally compared to Polynesian Cultural Center, but really itʻs a lot more similar to the Plantation Village in Waipahu.  It was really nice to be able to hear different music and see dance, as well as other interesting points of Okinawa.  The weather held up today perfectly as it was overcast, it rained during lunch (while we were undercover) and then we had enough of a break that we could also go to a Cape with a lighthouse that we climbed for a mere 200 yen and got a great view of the Ocean and the cliffs.

One thing that I noticed today was that the Okinawan people are extremely nice!  Well, Iʻm basing that off of essentially 2 people that I met today but it was really very pleasant.  We went to the village and I began talking to this Okinawan lady about a soup that she let me try.  Because we got to know each other, I boldly asked if she had any recommendations on where we could get good Shoyu Pork.

Did you know that they donʻt really have it as like an exclusively sold dish?  The ladies said most people in Okinawa just make it at home.  I feel like thatʻs the signature Okinawan dish in the minds of people of Hawaiʻi.

Iʻm on a mission to eat Shoyu Pork.

(^_^)

Shisa

Aloha pumehana kakou e ke hoa heluhelu,

I koʻu hoea ana mai i ka aina Okinawa nei, ua ike koke he aina piha ia i ka Amelika.  O koʻu mea hoihoi loa, makemake au e komo i ke kamailio me ka poe o keia aina.  Manaolana, e ko no ka makemake.

Mahalo

Okinawa

Today Iʻve arrived in Okinawa and although I havenʻt really seen very much of it, I can definitely already see why so many people enjoy it here in Japan.  Itʻs very vibrant, as in, there are many different colors and places to see.  Although it was an exceptionally challenging journey on my own, I made it to Nara aiport safe and sound.

It really is amazing how much American influence is here.  Iʻve always heard that there were many bases here but I didnʻt realize how inescapable they are.  Since arriving here we passed base after base, and I was taken on base by my dear family to go eat at Chilis.  Iʻm not sure how I feel about it all but one thingʻs for sure:

Iʻm really happy to see family again.

(^_^)

Aohe Mea e Pakele

Aohe Mea E Pakele

No ka elelu neia mele

Hoa kolokolo o ka po

A he lele ma o ma anei

Aohe mea e pakele

A he pili i kuu home

Ma ke alo o ka lua nani

Nihinihi hoi ka hele ana

O pili ia i ke kalipa

He nui no ko ka hale

o ke hoa no ka aina e

Na ka waha i hea akula

Ku mai nei ma koʻu ipuka

Puana mai neia mele 

Hoa kolokolo o ka po

A ike hou ia e kuu maka

Aohe mea o ka hoopakele

Cleaning

I spent the greater portion of today cleaning my room.  I think Iʻve come to a conclusion that is a little sad, but unfortunately true:  It doesnʻt matter how much Iʻd like to believe otherwise, I will not be able to get all the dust out.  Iʻm sure thereʻs lots of dust at home in Hawaiʻi but the windows are open and the carpet is there and itʻs not as bad.  Here, I finally realize what dust bunny refers to.  Iʻm sure this isnʻt the first time Iʻve realized it, but Iʻm being brutally reminded.

Cleaning the house has made me realize it is a blessing in more than one way that Iʻm leaving on a little vacation tomorrow because if I had put all this cleaning off til the very end I would have been extremely upset with the situation.  Today at least Iʻve cleaned up to this point, so it wonʻt be as bad when I come back.

Iʻm excited for my trip though

(^_^)~!

Elelu

Aloha pumehana kaua,

Ua pakalaki maila au.  No keia pule i hala ae nei i hoohenehene au i kekahi hoa no ka nui o na elelu ma kona hale.

I keia la i koʻu komo ana i ka hale, heleli iho mai luna mai kahi elelu, e noho ana paha oia ma luna o ka ipuka....

E oluolu e ke Akua, e kala i koʻu mau olelo hoohenehene...mai no oe a ae i ke komo ana o ka elelu!

Mahalo

Feeling it

Today I was chatting with some people from home and I realized that one great thing about being in Japan is that I feel a connection.  I think, I spend a lot of time at school (in the Hawaiian Language department particularly) and I can never really connect at the root level because I donʻt have any blood relations.  In Japan itʻs different, because my ancestors come from this place.  Last night we also were spending time with a lot of people of Japanese descent who havenʻt lived in Japan, and I donʻt know...I just find it all very interesting.

(^_^)

Puke Olelo Hawaii

Aloha pumehana kaua,

Ua pomaikai au i ka launa ana me kekahi kane, he haumana oia o ke kulanui kaiaulu o Kapiolani a ua puka oia mai laila mai, a laila nee mai oia i Matsuyama nei.  Ua launa au me ia ma ke kulanui o Ehime maanei i nehinei, a ua nui kona oluolu!

Eia hou.  I keia la i kipa maila oia ia maua ma ke keena, a ua makana maila oia ia maua i mau makana!  A laila, unuhi ae oia i kahi puke mai loko mai o kona eke paisi.  Eia ka, he puke olelo hawaii kamalii!  Niele akula au iaia i kahi i loaa iaia ua puke nei, a wehewehe maila oia no kona huakai i ke kulanui o Hawaii.  Malaila oia i launa ai i kahi kumu, a na keia kumu i makana akula iaia i keia puke.  Ua hoao nui oia e unuhi i ka puke holookoa me kona ike lihilihi a me kona puke wehewehe olelo hawaii.  AUE, eleu hoi oia!

No laila, noi maila oia iau e unuhi nona! Ua hauoli hoi au!

Mahalo a nui!

Bowling

Today was the last day of work before my mini-vacation where I have the next two days off and then I fly to Okinawa for the week.  Iʻm really excited to see my family next week (they are living in Okinawa) and go some place where I can use English in the way we do in Hawaiʻi.

Tonight was a highlight however because we and the three (people from South America) went bowling!  Well, first we went for pizza where they were nice enough to squeeze us in between reservations and then we went bowling, and it was fun but we missed the cosmic bowling.  I came in second place out of all of us who did relatively bad.

 So many things on this trip are pointing at me learning Spanish and Portuguese.  This concludes my observations for the day.

(^_^)

Ka Wela

Aloha pumehana kaua,

HE LA WELA KEIA.  

Mahalo iesu i ka mikini hooluolu ea

Oia wale no

Mahalo a nui.

Questions

Today was the last presentation, and we were lucky to have it at a University classroom.  The program isnʻt yet complete, and yet somehow I feel as if Iʻve gone full circle while here in Ehime.  We went to Elementary Schools and High Schools and Colleges and we are now able to reflect on how everyone is...itʻs like, I had reason to flashback through my entire life and interact with all the different generations of myself.  I feel a sense of completion.

Todays presentation went well because people had a lot of questions! I love answering questions.  Let it go on record to all the teachers that have problems with students not asking questions.

Thatʻs all today

(^_^)

Moemoe

Aloha pumehana kaua e ka mea heluhelu,

Kipa akula maua o Kukuilani i kekahi papa ike Hawaii/kalailai Amelika (maopopo iau, e nui ana ka poe e kue ana i keia ano huina o na manao).  Ua nani ko lakou hookipa ana mai!  I ko maua komo ana i loko o ka lumi, ua ku lakou i elua luna me na lima kau ia i luna a na maua e hele ma lalo o ka lakou mau lima.  Ma hope, huli hope maua a poha mai na "pahu huki pepa" (no ka mea, aohe paha he hua olelo hawaii, e niele mai ina pono ka unuhi ia oe).  Aole o kana mai koʻu mahalo!

O ka mea apiki nae, i koʻu hoikeike ana, o kekahi wahine ua loohia i ka makahiamoe.  Minamina no ho i au i na manawa he nui aʻu i aneane hoi i ka hiamoe ma ka papa, aka ma Iapana nei, he hiamoe maoli no ka hana!  Aohe au i ike i keia ano hana wiwoole!

Mahalo a nui!

Babel

It was a rainy day from this morning.  

One of the highlights of today was a conversation that we had at work.  I mean, it wasnʻt everyone speaking but a few people (whose names shall remain unsaid, because you know how that goes) where we were talking about the state of the Japanese language for a bit, and how much emphasis there seems to be on English here.  However, it would seem that not everyone wants to learn English.

I donʻt suppose you need to know the details but the point that stuck out is that one of our co-workers said, "We canʻt lose our language, language is culture." Of course, Iʻve known that and so have many people I know for a long time but it made me think that this is really a problem everywhere!

And on that note, my hypothetical question to cyberspace is, what the hell happened to English?  I mean, Iʻm not even going to pretend like I speak perfectly or that anyone in Hawaiʻi has a grasp on it in perfection but I will say that if everyone else is so concerned about their language, I wonder how people in England feel about these bagillion accents and dialects developing in their countries.

Just saying.

He Mele

Aloha pumehana kaua,

Ua hauoli wale keia i ka hana o keia la.  Aole o ke kipa ana aku i ke kula kiekie wale no kaʻu mea i hauoli ai, eia hou o ka haku mele ka maua o Kukuilani i keia la i ke kaa.  O ka maa mau, aole maua hana i kekahi mea ma ke kaa i ka holo loloa ana  o ka holo ana o keia la, he hookahi hola me ka hapa hoi.  No laila, hoohemo au i koʻu ukulele mai loko mai o kona hale papaa, hookani akula.  Iau e hookani ana i upu mai ai, i komo ai hoi ka manao e haku i mele hou no laila i huli akula au ia Kukuilani.

Hapai akula no au i ka manao e haku i kahi mele hawaii ma ka olelo Kepani a ae maila kela.  He nani keia loina i kuu wahi manao, a i ka hoea ana aku, he mele no aka ua poina ihola na hua olelo.  Aole pilikia, o ke kani mai o ka akaaka ka mea nui.

I ka hoi ana mai i kaona nei, no ka hoihoi i loko oʻu i ke mele i uweheia ka puke mele o ka papa mele o kela kau i hala ae nei. Aue, kau nui ka halia!  O na mele a pau o na hoa papa i loko o ia puke, me he la, o lakou e ku ana i mua oʻu ma ke mele ana i ka lakou poe mele ponoi. Nani no ka leo Hawaii.

A he hao koʻu i ka aina.

Mahalo.

Kawanoe

Today was actually the last day we got to visit a high school.  I donʻt think that we will again visit a high school and have an exchange while were here and Iʻm pretty sure the remaining time we have will be dedicated to other events and to Universities.  It is kind of an amazing thought to think that the bulk of the work is done and that as of today we pretty much have a month left before we depart.  Todays visit was one of the best.

This time, Iʻm not going to talk about me and my own experience (although it was good) I want to talk about Aurora, my partner who puts up with me and all my eccentricities and yet, continues to always be the all star when it comes to interaction with the kids.  She is always the first one in there to shake hands and say hello and introduce herself...itʻs really something that I find hard to do.  I donʻt know if itʻs because Iʻm shy or because I feel like I scare people...but for whatever reason, Iʻm just not as ambitious as she is.

Today she really bonded with some baseball players and the teachers seemed extremely excited about how much she bonded.

I donʻt really bond, I think, in the same way with the kids.  I am happy to talk about Hawaiʻi but I just donʻt have the connection she has.

Just my observation from today.

(^_^)

Ponimoi

Aloha pumehana kaua e ka mea heluhelu,

O kaʻu mea hou i keia la, oia ke ala o ka pua ponimoi ma Iapana.  O ka maamau ma Hawaii, ua maa kakou i ka honi ana i na ano pua aala like ole; o ka pua melia oe, o ke kiele oe, o ka pua kenikeni hoi.  O kaʻu i ike ai i keia la, he ala hoi ko ka pua ponimoi o Iapana nei.

Oia ihola.

Mahalo

Nadeshiko Again

Today we went to Yawatahama and had a marathon of presentations.  In total, we did about 4 of them today and it was quite the undertaking.  We got to meet all sorts of students, and even some exchange students who happened to be visiting for the US.

However, the highlight of my day was not at the school unfortunately.

Yawatahama is famous for Champon Ramen which to me looks a little bit like saimin, but really is a little different (I would hesitate to say better, only because I donʻt want to get anyone mad).  Well, as weʻre leaving I ask to use the bathroom and the woman gestures behind her towards the kitchen and I thought that was pretty weird...but I handed my bag over and then I walked behind the woman...into the kitchen.

Well, it wasnʻt long before everyone cracked up (including other restaurant patrons) and I realized that I had completely passed the bathroom.  In my defense (kind of) the word for bathroom was written in Chinese characters which I canʻt really read, and I never thought to actually look for a sign.

When I came back out, it was pointed out to me that another version of Nadeshiko (the flower which inspired my family crest) was by the register...we explained this to her, and she immediately snapped some flowers and put them in my shirt pocket.

The gesture was so sweet, looking back on it I want to cry.  Iʻm glad I had some omiyage I could give her in my bag!

(^_^)

Pa Pohaku Keakea

Karst

After two or three weeks of being rained out (Iʻm not exactly sure how long it was, but it happened a couple times) we finally got to spend our Sunday at the Shikoku Karst.  Karst, for those who donʻt know is a word I think of Germanic origin and I think it pertains to like...lots of white rock in land.  The area is at the top of a mountain and it has great tasting milk and lots of cows.  It never got to hot but there were always bugs flying around that Iʻd never seen before.

One cool thing that was there was a line that showed the border of Ehime and Kochi, and you could straddle the line and be in the equivalent of two states at once.  I naturally took a photo there, and feasted on some beautiful views.  However, thatʻs not what the focus of todayʻs blog is.

Instead I would like to talk about how today was a reaffirmation of that old mindset that tells us that the destination is not the fun part, the journey is.  Iʻm noticing more and more that spending time with people here becomes more and more enjoyable which is dangerous as attachment can only lead to sadness.  But going off the beaten path is sometimes better for you, you know?

For example, today we randomly stopped on a road on the way to the karst and crossed a bridge, walked straight up to someones house (I think) and just turned around and went back to the car.  If you just walked up to someones house in Hawaii I think youʻd end up either bit by a pitbull or offered some pakalolo.

Just a thought.

(^_^)

Hoopanee

Aloha pumehana kaua,

O ka oiaio, o ka Poaono he la haku mele.  Aka, i ka la apopo au e naue aku ai i kekahi aina okoa ma Ehime no laila, o ka la apopo koʻu la haku mele.  E hui kala mai oe.

Mahalo

Nails

Today was a day off which we fully utilized by actually doing something.  We went shopping at the Okaido which like, the area to go I suppose and while I donʻt think I bought much...I donʻt think I bought anything actually, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I donʻt think Iʻve mentioned this but one of my favorite things to do in Japan is take pictures of me and Hawaiʻi like things that I find in Japan.  Today was no exception, thus a short entry with a good picture!

(^_~)

Wikio

Aloha pumehana kaua,

I keia la i kauia ka wikio, he elua wikio hoi, o na wikio o koʻu papahana olelo hawaii.

Maluhiluhi au i keia la. Oia ihola.

Mahalo.