Motorbikes and English

Hello Everyone!

Tomorrow will mark my three weeks in Japan! Wow, I can't believe it! I feel like I've been here longer, and yet I feel like I've been here for no time at all! I'm starting to settle into a routine, and I think people are getting used to the fact that I'm not leaving anytime soon. The little girls I work with are so cute! Some of them are taking longer to warm up to me than others, but that's okay. The Japanese culture won't trust an outsider as readily as we Americans might. And I am thankful for all the new friends I've already made! I have mentioned that I am shy, and I usually get the "You? Shy?" reaction. This is weird for me since I used to be such a wallflower. Now, as I grow and mature, I am able to break out and just be different. I'm learning to overcome my shyness, and many may never know that I once was so shy. Especially in Japan, I am very outgoing. The culture here is naturally shy. That's not to say they aren't friendly, but they are cautious. I don't mind. I'm also slowly becoming Japanese, I think. Mrs. Mori commented today that I was very Japanese in the way that I use so many tissues to keep clean during a meal. And I also reach over the table for something, which is just fine in the Japanese culture (Since they are so shy.). The Japanese also have a button at restaurants that they can push in order to have a waiter come to their table. Fascinating things in this culture, but I love it!

On Tuesday, I got my first taste of riding a motorcycle in Japan! I rode on the back of one with one of the ladies I work with. She's from France, and she married one of the pastors in the church (Although I don't think he was a pastor at the time), had kids, and is now enjoying being a grandma! She's very straightforward, but I don't mind. I'm used to it being from the states where everyone speaks their mind. :) Anyways, we rode to Crystal Chapel from her house, then to Heweidi, then to my home. It was scary at first, but it was also fun!

I've been really enjoying reading to the kids. I'm reading The Silver Chair to the high schoolers and kids books to the younger kids. It's so much fun! And I think they enjoy my reading. It's tricky trying to read The Silver Chair because it's in British English, not American English. But it is fun, and Hikari translates by reading the Japanese version.

Well, I have to go. Time to play soccer with the high schoolers! Pray that I don't embarrass myself! Haha.

Peace to you all!

Keri Lynn