http://takameter.wordpress.com Life in our (Japanese) Neck of the Woods -- by Sue Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:46:08 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Some of the best mentors in my life have been missionaries who I have never met... missionary biographies that have gripped my heart; that have inspired me to let go of my more petty ways...that have made me realize that I really do have the best job in the world. I'm ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/mentors/ One of the highlights of our time in L.A. so far was a small gathering of friends as we celebrated Annie's fourth birthday on July 4th.  Our good friends Eric and Mary Bernard - and their 3 darling children- hosted the party, and it was wonderful to have friends who ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/fourth-on-the-fourth/ It has been one month since we left Japan and came to the US.  We spent two and a half weeks in Hawaii, and then two weeks ago came to L.A.  For most of this time, we have been without a computer (the main reason is because I dropped our ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/were-back-and-were-back-on/ We have been in Hawaii the past twelve days or so... most of the time in Oahu, with 3 days being spent on the Big Island-- the home of the active Volcano!  More on that later.  In addition to time constraints, we have had some unexpected computer problems which has ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/catching-up/ We have much to write about our last few days, but there was one quick post I wanted to write. Our last day in Japan, Eric was gone all day for the first-ever house church conference in Japan.  We were having house church at our home, but a number of people ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/advantages-of-house-church/ Yuck Yuck Yuck. There's not a lot that I dislike more than saying goodbyes. It's really one of the worse things about our job. I think Emily Dickinson got it right: Parting is all we know of heaven and all we need to know of ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/partings/ Yesterday was a full, full, fun day! Having a ladies' tea, and their collective 13 or so children, into your home two weeks before moving your family across the world is a bit insane. But if it's because two members of the Philadelphia Orchestra - who are also ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/philadelphia-orchestra-comes-to-sanda/ Saturday was a special open house for Annie and Annie at their kindergarten. Parents came and watched their children participate in some "normal" school activities and see some of the interesting dynamics going on. Here is a video clip of Owen doing a welcome song with three of his close ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/rabbits-horses-and-elephants-learning-at-kindergarten/ (Read Part 1 below for full context) Shortly after we moved into Sanda four years ago, one of our neighbors, Mrs. I. came and introduced herself to us. She said that her daughter Y. had lived in the U.S. for seven years, and so many Americans had helped ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/gift-giving-in-japan-part-2-making-it-work-for-you/ There is a gift-giving custom in Japan that frustrates many foreigners who live here called okaeshi.  It is gift-giving as an obligation for having received a gift from someone... a return gift. My first weddings in Japan were surprising... while guests usually give generous money gifts to the bride and groom, ... http://takameter.wordpress.com/2008/05/18/gift-giving-in-japan-okaeshi-part-1/