Steph in Da Real World

8:19PM - Update

So many things have changed since I last posted, I'll just list and note.

Became a vegetarian, cutting out beef and pork so far

Drug my friend Tai to two hot springs, one Dave Matthews Band Concert and an eye-opening weekend over the Labor Day holiday

Started running/walking as I decided to work-out 3-4 times a week and have been sticking to it

Quit my teaching job, worked as a nanny for the summer vacation and started student teaching at a middle school with a Japanese immersion program here in Portland

Passed the half way mark in my grad program!

Downed several fruity drinks before being toured around town at my sister's Bachelorette party

Turned 26 in style at a former school-turned brewery with a natural hot springs bath in the courtyard

Traveled to Atlanta for the JET alumni association national conference, nothing like having the Japanese government still paying my travel fees!!

Interned at an alternative high school full of refugees that speak English as their second or third language

Skied Mt. Bachelor after winning a free weekend of lift passes, condo stay for two nights and got to stay in the master suite

Watched the DUCKS STOMP MICHIGAN 39-7!!!

Current mood: cheerful

8:11AM - Shinjirarenai

Check out this passage from the homework I should be reading right now...

Japan provides a good example of this process of standardization and promulgation of the standard. Children all over Japan, speaking widely divergent dialects of Japanese, are all taught to speak and write Standard Japanese in school, and radio and television announcers are all expected to be familiar with the standard vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. If these announcers were to speak in the southern dialect of Kagoshima or the northern dialect of Aomori, people in most of Japan would have difficulty understanding them. Something like this happens in the United States, though more informally. Children across the country are taught the same written standard vocabulary and grammar, though they may not be taught a single standard pronunciation, and radio and television announcers tend to speak in a single standard.

Current mood: surprised

6:07PM - Still alive, barely

Hey everyone. Grad school has been consuming my life the past four weeks, but praise God, my first final is OVER! I presented my life from 10:15-10:30PM last night and got out of school at 11pm! Since yesterday was my first 16 hour day, today feels like a cake walk. My students were angelic for the first time EVER today, so I'm walking on air right now.
In other news, I met my boyfriend Luke on New Year's Eve and we have almost seen each other everyday since then. I didn't get to see him yesterday, but I think tonight looks more promising.
I have two classes for my Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program and a third class in my ESOL Endorsement program right now. I have a lot of assignments online, so I'm on the computer a lot, but try not to get too distracted, like I am now.
I haven't been to an onsen, or even skiing, the past two months, so I'm going through withdrawl. Good thing we have a hot tub in the back yard, might have to hit that up tonight...the weather has been super nice the past couple days, blue sky, sunshine and in the 50s.
Nihongo hanashitai! Nihongo ga hanaseru tomodachi wa, nihongo no denchi meeru okuttene!

Current mood: peaceful

8:07AM - Happy Birthday Jesus

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday.
Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts.

But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .. and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party were in his honor! At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no-one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe,there was one for me.
What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers me.I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you.
Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements.

Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.
See you soon. I love you!

Jesus

Current mood: hopeful

10:16PM - Onsen 4 Life

Once an onsen blog, always an onsen blog. Sunday my onsen partner and I went east of Eugene, where I went to school, into the Willamette National Forest. Stop #1 was a very popular Oregon hot springs called Terwilliger at the Cougar Reservoir. It only took 2 1/2 hours to get to such a gorgeous place with waterfalls, giant mossy trees and a great hiking path into the bath area. The "Temporary Closed" sign didn't stop us from hiking in, and we are glad we did. Five huge baths awaited us, with only two other regular bathers nestled in with heads on rocks.
Two pruned hours later, we had settled on the next destination. As we drove over the mountains, we hit snow at 2300 ft and had to chain up. A learning experience for me. Winding through the mountains we also saw a deer and elk hunters with guns in hand, wow, I must be in America!
In town the locals pointed us to the town "hot spot" and we couldn't get back in the car fast enough. Come to find out it was more of a cold springs, so we hustled down the highway to onsen # 3 before dark settled in around 4:30pm. McCredie ended up being amazing, with a very large bath with no other bathers for the first hour or so. At 108F, we warmed up quick and even dipped into the rushing river alongside the bath. What a trip!
Way after dark we stumbled over rocks to get back to the car without a flashlight and I busted a toe. All in the name of a good bath.
Got to stop for dinner at my fav place in Eugene with my fav Eugene girl Amy. Shaun had to drive back with me passed out on the heated seats, but we had such an awesome day full of adventure.

Current mood: rejuvenated

7:48PM - Sense of Smell

It's getting colder here in Oregon. Last week my classroom's power was out for the 2 1/2 hours of nap time, great timing, due to wind blowing a tree onto the power line outside. Today I put on long sleeves under the polo shirt that is uniform in the center I work in. As I relaxed on my lunch hour after my walk, I got really nostalgic for a good rotenburo in Dake, Iwaki, my old Japanese stomping grounds. I could just smell the sulfur. Later I realized that the long sleeve shirt I was wearing was the one that got the smell of onsen stained into it, as sometimes I didn't shower after an onsen bath. Natsukashiina....
In other news, today I found out there isn't a standardized test available for Japanese, so I have to be evaluated in a more personal way during my grad studies. Yabee.

Current mood: nostalgic

8:50PM - Grad School

I was accepted into George Fox University's Master of Arts in Teaching program! It starts in January, so I need to get a lot of things in order before life becomes MORE busy than it is now. I will only be going to school on Monday nights and every other Saturday for two semesters, then two semesters of full time school and student teaching. God willing I will have my masters in April 2008. Please pray for me in this time of transition.

Current mood: thankful

12:40AM

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

Current mood: peaceful

9:17AM - Update

Hey guys, I didn't fall off the edge of the planet, I've just been super busy. Today feels like my first free day in ages.
As for my new job, it's been a month now, so I'm starting to get the hang of being in charge of a room full of 3 and 4 year olds. I'm officially a Prekindergarten Teacher. A lot of my day is transitioning the kiddies between time at "areas," snack, library (when I read to them), lunch, outside and the LOVELY nap time. I end up saying a tons of the same things a million times, but that's how it is with little ones. One of the odd things is, most of the kids at the center are boys. Everyday, every classroom has more boys than girls. Haven't figured it out completely, but my theory is girls are so much easier to spend time with all day at that age and parents with young boys just need to get them out of their hair more often.
I have changed numerous poopy "Pull-ups," diapers that look more like underwear. 85% of all accidents have been three-year old boys who are just so excited they forget to use the toilet.
My first week on the job a troubled boy was upset that he had pooped himself for the third time in a day and I told him to go to the bathroom (so he could realize he did it) and when I looked down to check my roster he threw a wood block into my eye. It hurt so bad I started crying and the kids pretty much freaked out. A lot of the kids in that room were kids I had never met before, but they all stopped and worried about me. My boss let me go home a bit early that day. The next week I got to wear lots of make-up over my black eye.
I have scabs of scratch marks on my hands and got spit in my face two days ago. I've been kicked, hit, my pants pulled down and felt up. What else could possibly happen?
Church has treated me well since I have come back to my "Home Church," New Hope Community Church. It's been seven years since I have attended regularly, so I met almost everyone "for the first time." I'm sure I met a lot of these people before when I was young, but too much time had passed.
I got into a Bible study group, and am attending Sunday and Monday services. My goal was to make all of my new friends at church and that's pretty much how its gone the past two months. I am co-teaching 6th grade Sunday School as well. The curriculum is all there, I basically just have to watch the Kid-mo video and ask them follow-up questions, so it's pretty easy. It's interesting how different teaching 4 yr olds and 12 yr olds really is.
I went to a Michael W. Smith concert on Monday with a friend from church. We got 6th row, so it was pretty cool, but I felt super young there. The average age had to be 40!

The Portland chapter of the JET Alumni Association is pretty kickin as well. I went to the Obon Festival and Taiko concert from info from the group, but didn't meet anyone till the day of the Welcome Back (from Japan) party. We met at Festival Japan at the huge Asian Market in Beaverton called Uwajimaya, then moved onto Korean BBQ and Karaoke. I got my favorite love song, "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" serenaded to me and was hooked on this group of ex-JETs. We have a big Halloween party coming up which should be big and the Consulate General's Official Welcome Back event next month.
The Ducks are having an awesome year and are currently ranked 18th in the nation and are facing UCLA today. GO DUCKS! I can't wait for Homecoming next month!
I've been paying attention to my Myspace account a bit more than LJ, so go ahead and check that out as well. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=14345105

Current mood: relaxed

7:38AM - Numa

This made the Today show this morning, hilarious!

5:32PM - Back in the Onsen!

I spent 49 days transitioning from life in the Blue Forrest, northern Japan, without going to a single onsen. Challenging yes, but I did pick up two guides on hot springs in Oregon and the Northwest. The guide on the northwest is a hiking guide, which only includes hot springs that are a hike into. Being used to driving to most onsen in Aomori, the Touring guide for Oregon and Washington hot springs tickled my fancy a bit more.
Over Labor Day weekend my old onsen buddy Shaun and I turned a weekend of Dave Matthews Band in the Gorge into a hot springs double header. Sunday we hit up Carson hot springs in the Columbia river gorge, easily found in a tourist area on the Washington side of the river. After paying the $15 fee we separated into the women and men's bath houses. A bath attendant starts a bath for each guest as we slipped into our birthday suits. Getting into a bath with only an inch of hot, sulfurous water was a bit foreign, yet exciting. I tasted the water as it filled the tub around me. My guide tells me the water comes out of the faucet after cooling from the spring to about 126F. I added some cold water to my fav temp, 41C. I find I'm still used to judging baths in Celsius. After 25 mins of relaxing in my private tub surrounded by white curtains and walls, I clothed myself in a towel to walk to the Wrap Room. There an attendant asks if you would like your wrap tight, medium or loose. Tight sounds good I replied. She basically tucks you in with sheets and blankets for a nap to let the hot spring water takes its effect on your body. I don't think I can say I slept, but I wasn't completely awake when told I could take a shower when I was ready. After showering and getting dressed I was happy, but still a bit in onsen culture shock.
Sunday night we BBQed and had drinks at our campsite before the DMB show. Thanks for cooking Shaun! Dave came on stage after O.A.R. opened and we stood up for the first half or so. I knew most of the songs, but he played a few new ones that don't always please the crowd as much as the older, more famous tunes. I had an amazing night and will always love Dave Matthews Band.
Monday morning we got up before most of the people who stayed up all night partying. Cleaned up and headed towards Hood River for lunch. I had no idea how many cool shops are downtown Hood River and would love to spend more time there. Drove back over the Columbia to Wind River hot springs. Navi-chan, or Shaun's navigation system got us to the end of the road where the hike began. 45 minutes of boulders, bushes and branches later we found the hot pool next to the river. We found the best onsen in America! I celebrated by kicking off my shoes and putting my feet in the river first, as I was over heating. Cooled down and enjoyed the onsen for a couple hours, chatting with the four other hikers that came to bathe. Decided I never wanted to leave, we have to build a house, I'm not leaving. Took pictures. Sadly, it was time to go. What an awesome indescribable experience.

Current mood: indescribable

11:38AM - Wedding Pictures

On July 22nd, 2006 my little sister Emily became Mrs. Emily Chandler! Here are the photos to prove it. http://www.portlandphotographer.net/emilyanddonovan

Current mood: grateful

7:26PM - New car!

I finally found a car today! It's a 1991 Honda Civic that was babied by ONE older woman for its whole life until today. She hardly put any miles on it, so it still looks like new inside and out. I bought an Alpine car stereo that can play CDs and my iPod, so it'll be a lil pimped out. Now I have a job, cell phone, car and friends to hang out with once in a while. Not too bad for only being in the country a month. My next update will most likely be about the Dave Matthews Band concert I'm going to this weekend. I've only been waiting for this weekend since April!
Check out the pic of my new ride in the August photo album on my photo site! http://community.webshots.com/user/kawaiisteph

Current mood: excited

Current music: John Mayer-Daughters

10:15PM - Phone

To celebrate one month of life in America, I bought a cell phone. It's a really cute magenta razor phone, the new cool flip phone in America. It has a camera and lots of other features I probably won't use very much, but at least I don't feel too much in the dark ages anymore. Next step, new car!

Current mood: satisfied

8:21AM - Japanese Host Students

Last Wednesday two male Japanese university students were welcomed into my house. Satoshi and Yasufumi are Tokyo University of Science students spending a month in Portland studying English at Portland State. They will only stay eight days, so my parents and I are trying to show them as much of Portland as possible in our short time together. Last night my parents, the Jboys and my friend Shaun and I went out on our boat. We cruised the Willamette river and had a BBQ in Clackamette park. The highlight was picking up a fisherman fighting to reel in a 7 foot sturgeon on the rocky shore of the river. About a 1/2 hour after we picked him up he had reeled up the 70 year old fish!
I added a photo album on my photo page of the pics I have with the guys if you want to check em out. http://community.webshots.com/user/kawaiisteph

Current mood: pleased

4:52PM - New Job

I was just offered an awesome job! I went there really excited because the learning center is in a really great location. I'm familiar with the neighborhood because my doctor's office is across the street from my new workplace. The hiring manager was really sweet and we talked for a long time. The center is decorated SO cute and everyone that I met is super nice. I even got offered more money than I asked for, so I'm just really thankful God provided this opportunity and even really fast! I have only been unemployed for one week!! I'll have more details when I meet with my boss on Monday. More updates to come....

Current mood: excited

11:56AM - Job interviews

I switched the layout of my LJ because of my new life in Oregon. I am sending out my resume, setting up interviews and organizing my new room FULL TIME! I had no idea how busy an unemployed woman could be! Please pray that my FIVE upcoming interviews go well. My first went great yesterday, but the commute doesn't tickle my fancy so much. I also went to a meeting for the Graduate Teaching Education Program at Portland State University. I am meeting the head of the Master of Education program at Warner Pacific College tomorrow, so I can get some questions answered and decide which program is best for me.
Seeing places I grew up and haven't seen in a long time and meeting up with people that have known me longer than a year or two feels good too. Our puppy Dimen gets bigger every day and is fun to play with in the backyard. I'm enjoying the perfect summer weather here and have even drove on the right side of the street twice now! Getting braver and braver... I'm just really enjoying my time reading, playing on my computer and even shopping for a new (used) car.

Current mood: busy

8:13PM - New Edition

My parents and I picked out a new puppy today! She is a purebred yellow labrador retriever and she is SO cute! She was born on June 2nd, so she will be eight weeks old tomorrow. The breeder was such a nice lady and took care of all of the shots, de-clawing, etc. She comes from a great family. We are still deciding on names, but it is tentatively Diman. Check out my photo site for today's pics!

Current mood: excited

9:59PM - Photo Update

I made a photo album for Emily and Donovan's wedding. It includes pics from the Bachelorette party and the rehearsal dinner evening as well. Enjoy! http://community.webshots.com/user/kawaiisteph

Current mood: accomplished

12:56PM - I'm baaaack!

Flew into Portland International Airport on a direct flight from Narita (Tokyo) on Tuesday, July 18th. Mom, Melissa and Emily were there baring gifts even though it was early in the morning on a weekday. Got swooped off to the house to quickly settle in before a busy FIVE days of FULL-TIME wedding preparations and finally Emily and Donovan's wedding Saturday night. I had missed most of the wedding preparations so I had no idea what anything looked like, what the schedule was liked, ANYTHING until I arrived in Portland. I had a lot of catching up to do.
My second night in America was spent at my older sister Melissa's house for Em's Bachelorette Party. Only the other two Bridesmaids, my sister and I were invited, so there were five girls total. We had California Pizza Kitchen pizza for dinner, lots of fun drinks and snacks all night long, thanks to our hostess with the mostest. I got addicted to a new reality show called, "So You Think You Can Dance," Em's fav show, but have only had time to watch one episode and a few clips on YouTube.com.
Thursday was more wedding chores and the wedding rehearsal and dinner with the wedding party. Donovan and I only met once last summer, so I met him for the second time and his lovely Christian family that night.
Friday was CRAZY wedding chore day, including a hair cut/color, nail appointment, assembly of the centerpieces, etc. It was so hot all day, about 95F or 31C, but I didn't have time to notice it until I got into bed around 11pm. Did I eat three meals that day??? Hmmm.
Saturday was a relaxed and HOT wedding day. We had most of the chores done, so we had plenty of time to get our hair done by my friend Deana, do our make-up and we even got to the church EARLY! God blessed Emily and Donovan's marriage by giving us a light rain on and off all day, to bring the fore-casted 106F weather down to the mid 90s. We thanked God for the light rain and asked him a few time for a breeze and He answered those prayers.
We didn't know to pray about random intruders coming into the church during the ceremony and one almost snuck in. Thankfully Jason, Melissa's friend shooed him off and it didn't turn into the disaster it could have. Can't wait to watch the wedding video! I also want to show everyone how much the guy who escorting me down the aisle was sweating. I had never seen a man have a constant sweat drip off his chin before that blistering day.
The reception was gorgeous and the food, service, cake, everything was perfect. It always does work out in the end. Too bad I didn't catch the bouquet!

Current mood: hot