by Whitey | Jan 5, 2008 | Weekly Re-Cap
As of tonight, I have officially been in Japan for one week. Things have been going well. I really like the people at the church here, and the neighborhood and city are going to be fun places to live. This week was spent mostly on getting aclimated and settled into my new surroundings, getting to know people, and numerous New Years-related events; New Years, of course, being a big holiday in Japan.
You can visit the Photo Page for some new pics from the past week. Meanwhile, here are some written highlights and thoughts from the past week:
Sunday: I attended my first service at Nagoya Immanuel Church (where I was introduced and brought brief greetings), as well as lunch with some of the youth — all of which was good, but also a huge reminder of the language barrier. I certainly feel like I have a lot to learn. But, I also have many new friends to learn from, and it can’t hurt to be immersed in it like this. Still, occasionally it feels a little overwhelming. In the evening I had supper with Pastor Saoshiro, the staff and their family. I really enjoy my new Family and look forward to working with them.
Tuesday: New Years Day was a full day, with a special service in the morning and a big New Years dinner with the Family.
Wednesday: Wednesday was an even more full day, with a combined district-wide service (at which I was introduced again, and brought more greetings, this time throwing in a little Japanese). Afternoon and into the evening was spent with the youth, with a special service for them (and in part by them) and again lots of food.
Thursday: There was a missionary couple (Ron and Joan Stoller) I met in Osaka when I lived there a few years ago, who just happen to live in this area, and also happen to be friends with Ken Saoshiro, one of my new cohorts here in Nagoya. Small world. They had a party on Thursday we went to, and it was good to catch up with them.
Friday: Pastor Hirase (one of the staff pastors here) took me out on his scooter to help me do my foreigner registration thing at the ward office, to help me pick out a computer printer, and to give me a whirlwind tour of the city. It was both a fun and productive day.
A good week, all in all. My jet lag didn’t last too long; as of yesterday I was feeling pretty much back to normal. And now that I’ve been around the city, done some shopping and laundry, and been here about a week, it’s starting to feel like I actually live here and am not just visiting. The weeks to come should be interesting and fun, as well as challenging, as I begin my studies and ministry. I’ll try to keep you updated with shorter, more regular posts. In the meantime, that’s a wrap for this week.
by Whitey | Dec 31, 2007 | Ministry News
This is just a quick note to let you all know I’ve made it safely to Nagoya, Japan. So far so good. More news and regularity of blogging in the new year.
Happy New Year.
by Whitey | Dec 24, 2007 | Ministry News
Here’s a copy of my latest prayer letter for those of you not on the email list. Hope you all have a great Christmas. Come back to the blog next week for updates from Japan.
Dear friends, family and supporters,
It’s Christmas Eve and I’ve been enjoying the opportunity I’ve had to spend time with family and friends here in New Brunswick. I’m also looking forward to more, as I celebrate with my church tonight and my family tomorrow. It’s great to have some downtime, too, as I transition into the next phase of my ministry.
And on that note, I’m happy to report that my visa came last week, my plane ticket is booked, and I’m set to fly to Nagoya, Japan this Friday, December 28th! I want to thank all of you who have been with me on this journey, praying, giving and encouraging me in pursuit of my support goals. God has given me a great support team and it’s because of all of you that I’m able to leave for Japan and begin my new life there.
Please be praying for me this week as I travel and as I settle into my new home in Japan. I’m really looking forward to celebrating the New Year with my new church in Nagoya! I’ll try to send out a newsletter early in the new year.
In the meantime, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year, too!
Blessings,
– robin
by Whitey | Dec 23, 2007 | Thoughts
Check out this short article about a non-Japanese person who’s become a part of a very-Japanese part of society:
Japan Today – News – Japans first ever foreign geisha debuts
The interesting thing to me is that it says she’s spent half of her life in Japan, and yet the article’s title still calls her a foreigner. It’s interesting because of what it says about Japan’s attitude toward foreigners: no matter how long a person’s been in Japan, and no matter how integrated they become in that society, they’ll always be considered a foreigner if they weren’t born there (or if they were born in Japan but aren’t Japanese racially speaking). Now, to be clear, I’m not saying that they’re racist or anything; just that it’s such a homogenous society it’s nearly impossible for an outsider to become an insider. Even the Japanese word for foreigner — gaijin — itself carries the connotation of being an outsider.
Kudos, though, to Sayuki the Geish, for becoming more of an insider than most of us could ever dream of.
So how does a skinny, white, English-speaking, Canadian boy like myself get “in”? I love Japan, its culture and its people, but no matter how long I’m there I’ll always be gaijin. It may be a frustration I’ll just have to live with.
by Whitey | Dec 21, 2007 | Weekly Re-Cap
These weekly updates will be a lot more interesting when I’m in Japan doing stuff. At least I hope so. These days as I’m in transition things are a little quiet on the news front. But here’s a brief re-cap of the week anwyay:
I finished my TESL course work on Monday. My visa came Tuesday. Also Tuesday, I had my last lesson with Haruka, my Japanese tutor here on the home front. I’ve been spending a lot of time with friends; in fact I’ve been out every night this week which is very unusual for me. It’s that bittersweet time of looking forward and looking back, of packing and planning and saying goodbyes. Oh yeah, and Christmas time too. In all the busyness of going away I’ve hardly thought about Christmas — but yes, I have done my shopping.
Next week, I’ll be spending Christmas with the family, and then traveling to Bangor, Maine on Thursday. Friday morning I fly from there, to Detroit, to Nagoya. It’ll be around 6 PM Japan time when I arrive on Saturday (but only 5 AM back here in NB). Then my new life, adventures, learning and ministry begin as I ring in the new year in Japan.
This site will probably be pretty much dormant next week. But I’ll try to post an update soon after I arrive in Japan. Till then: merry Christmas, happy New Year, and thanks for being a part of my Japanese adventures!
