The end of week one - a typhoon - and some sushi

The week has ended and I can safely say, I am exhausted. I sat down at 5:00 this afternoon and found myself nodding off by 5:05. I decided I'd better not sit down quite yet then.

The week has gone pretty well. I have enjoyed getting to know my seven (yes, I got one more student) third graders. They are a great group of kids, but they sure have a hard time remembering to speak English.

Administrating I have found to be much more of a challenge. I'm not sure I am cut out for that job, but I will give it my all while the task is mine. I have had some discipline issues - some I have dealt with efficiently, others I'm still praying about how to solve. God is bigger than the issues I know and my faith is growing.

I got word yesterday afternoon that a typhoon was on it's way to/near the area this weekend. The whole summer school program (minus Kindergarten classes) was supposed to go to the beach today. It is very hard to go to a beach in the midst of a typhoon or pre-typhoon storm. So, yesterday afternoon was spent creating back-up plans for all of the kids.

Today, I learned:

#1 - Typhoon is probably going to share it's effects more tomorrow (Saturday), but we have been getting some strong winds today.

#2 - The beach would be open, however, if they took down the nets (to keep out the jelly fish) the Okinawan people are very worried about the jelly fish. I find that odd because people snorkel and swim outside the barrier all the time - - Max and I did yesterday even. Oh well... I was told if we went I had to bring vinegar along.

#3 - Showers are a frustration at a beach and getting 70 people changed and clean enough to ride a bus in an hour's worth of time is hardly possible. This is made even more frustrating when I am given the wrong departure time and we wound up only having 30 minutes to swim!!!!!!!! Who knew the bus drivers had to be back 45 minutes prior to the end of the day all because they "needed a break" and I hadn't even found time to use the bathroom. Can I just say . . . I am quickly remembering all about OCSI life?

However, the week has ended with no major injuries or incidents. That is a success. God held off the bad weather and we DID go to the beach.

Wednesday, my friends - Randy and Kathy - and I went to the old Royal Restaurant for dinner. It doesn't look the same at all!!!

The new exterior and fancy hotel at the Royal

"Chicken Hot Source"

The new improved menu.

This tomb is right outside the gate to the school. There are many old tombs throughout the streets, housing developments, and even downtown areas here on Okinawa. This one is a classic shape. The Okinawans honor (and worship) the deceased. This tomb is horseshoe shaped because it is intended to resemble a woman's birth canal. As a person enters the world, so they return to it in death.

Shisa dogs - these dogs are placed at the entrances to many buildings and homes. The Okinawan people belive they are good luck. One has an open mouth to let in good spirits - or let out the bad ones. The other dog has a closed mouth to keep out the bad spirits and keep the good ones in.

Soda machines are EVERYWHERE! I have even seen one in the middle of a sugar cane field.

A Shisa Dog

This is the apartment building where the "Elephant Cage" used to stand.

Another view of that apartment building.

At the end of the day, Judi Rush (a current missionary teacher here) suggested we go celebrate the end of the week with some sushi. My plan was to order something "new" but fully cooked. I decided to order the #1 best-seller plate - Rainbow Sushi (shrimp, a white fish, salmon, tuna,crab, and avacado). IT WAS SASHIMI - raw! I decided I should experience it and enjoy it.

It was good! I got home thinking I might still be hungry, so I decided to bake one of my beni imo (purple sweet potato). There is a new farmer's market down the hill across the street from Max Value. I baked it, but I'll have to eat it (and take pictures of it) later.

One last little update. Yesterday, after school, Max took me out snorkeling. We caught (I should say Max caught) a rubbery - HUGE - puffer fish. I squished it some and then we released it and let it swim away. We caught - and killed - his dinner for another night, Octopus. This Octopus put up a bigger fight than the other ones I've watched him take. I woke up with some ink on my leg still this morning - never mind the fact that I was too tired to shower last night.

We also saw brightly colored corals, angel fish, many other brightly colored fish, a crown of thorns, and more! Max encouraged me NOT to take my camera or bag down to the beach, so I just got these photos from where we parked.

The road we bounced in on.

After snorkeling, Max, Aidy, and Hazel had me over to their home for a wonderful dinner. What a nice evening!