Let's Catch Up...

Carmon here! 
As any friends, family, or other interested parties may have noticed, Mason and I haven't blogged in a while. We aren't doing as good of a job at it as we had intended. Since our awesome trip to Tokyo, Mason and I have had multiple experiences. I haven't blogged yet, because I've had a pretty difficult time getting settled in here. The culture stress is FAR more real than I can explain, and it creeps up on you like the charlie horse cramp that kills your right calf. However, I'm in a really good place right now. I'm feeling a confidence that I haven't found until recently, and I'm feeling really good about where we are now.

A few of the highlights: 

• June 6th, Mason's teachers were SO sweet to hook him up with the local jazz club and get him behind a drum set for the first time since we've left America. It was great to watch him from the crowd. Usually, he doesn't smile too often behind a set due to his intense concentration, but that night he couldn't hold it back. He was SO happy to be drumming again. The folks that ran the club asked him to return on the 4th of July. I think he is planning to go. 

• Also on the 6th, Interactive Forum practice began for my junior high students. This is an English conversation competition. Two ninth graders and two eighth graders are chosen from each school to compete in English conversation. The challenge is to stay on a given topic for five minutes, and to do their best at keeping a natural conversation. My kids are great!!! I've been having so much fun interacting personally with them and the head English teacher to get them prepared. I have gone in on two Saturday mornings to spend extra time working with them. Not only am I enjoying this, but it's also showing my teachers how much I care about the success of the students. All around, this has been an awesome experience. The competition is July 11th. I'll keep you posted on how my kids do! 

• June 28-29th, Mason took me on a surprise trip to Nikko. A town located on Japan's "romantic road" and known for its temples and beautiful fall colors. The original "See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil" monkey carvings are here at the Toshogu Shrine. Did you know that they are actually part of a set of monkey carvings that tell the story of mans' life cycle? It had me singing "Circle of Life" for the rest of the weekend. Anyway, Mason picked out the sweetest inn. It was personal, homey, and named Turtle Inn for goodness sake. Totally a fit for his anniversary gift he wrote for me in May. 

Check out our instagram for more pics!

Other things to share: 

• I had my second onsen experience, but this time I was the one encouraging it. LOL. It wasn't awkward at all. I was in much need of a good massage, and hot bath. Why not do it with 6 other AETs as well?! 

• Our health is good. I don't sneeze as much here, so I haven't been taking any antihistamines at all!! WOOHOO! On the other hand, my eczema has been a nightmare. At first, I thought it was just the stress and the new diet, but I think it is a combination of these things and the awful humidity that comes with Japan. Its unreal. I've never experienced humidity like this. Louisiana doesn't even get this bad. I tried an acupuncturist at first to avoid having to use steroids. I finally gave in and Holly took me to a dermatologist to get some a topical medication. It has helped dramatically, but this is still quite a fight. 

• I recently tried natto. Natto is fermented soy beans that can only be described as having the consistency of spider webs and an incredible odor. Mito is famous for their natto and EVERYONE asks the foreigners living here if they've tried it and if not say, "Please try natto." The other AETs had me so nervous about it. Most despise it. Most foreigners in general, so they say, cannot stand to eat it. Those who like it, seem to be the few that have been around for a long while. Anyway, long story short, I didn't love it, but it wasn't as bad as everyone had made it out to be. I could stand to eat it and my teachers were amazed. 

  

  NANDE!?!?

  They make a lot of comments about me being "so Japanese." Which I take to heart. They are very proud of their culture, to say that I'm anything similar to it is a great compliment, I think. Mori Sensei (the school nurse), Kominami-san (school secretary), and Kyoto Sensei (the viceprincipal) are my typical lunch buddies. We were all together that day and it was so funny to have them watch me eat that sticky stuff and coach me on how to keep the strings of soy from coming out of my mouth. Ewww. 

• since I mentioned teachers, I recently had dinner with one of my English teachers. I was super nervous about it, but it turned out to be AWESOME. She is young and so funny. We have a lot of fun together in class and it turns out, also at dinner. It encouraged me so much to have a teacher ask me to hang out and show me that establishing true friendships is underway. (I was also FINALLY asked to go to an enkai after being described as "a good fit in the group" and "a true member". Finally, a tangible level of acceptance. I can't explain how great that felt.)

• Mason has been attending Japanese language classes. He has also begun a small devotion with a couple guys.  I am enrolled in Japanese classes too, but my teacher has been sick. Please pray for her health.  

• God is opening doors. My teachers know my beliefs, and a couple of them bring it up every now and then. I'm hoping more conversations develop. Mason has also had similar situations, had the opportunity to help a homeless individual, and a student opened up to him about some very spiritual and personal things that we can only pray about. PLEASE continue to have these things in your prayers. Our relationships with teachers and other Japanese people in our community are finally beginning to take shape. I have recently been filled with such joy and hope in what I can see God doing. Please pray that we continue to be encouraged, but also be disciplined. It is easy to get distracted by the things that are exciting and the things that make living here difficult. Our purpose and hope is to serve the kingdom of God, and we welcome all prayers to strengthen that resolve. 

EWWW!

My Leather Endeavor

My High School lit teacher, Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator, females in a heist and the vast majority of bikers and pilots. This is a group that shares little in common. There is, however, one thing that strings them all together.

That's right, 

Leather Jackets. 

And just recently I got so close to buying one at a local Dillard's that it made me question why I haven't considered one before. Turns out, there is a long, deep subconscious reason why. And thus begins tonights post...

First, let's just get this fact out there. Leather jackets look good. Period. I don't care who you are. I've seen people of all shapes and sizes that, upon sporting leather, have transformed into an entirely new person. For instance, the two shots below were part of a 1992 experiment taken to study the effects of leather-wearing. 

The first picture is of the subject without a leather jacket. Notice too, that he is wearing a jacket, but not a leather one. 

The subject seems rather unpleasant and a bit confused. Typical for non-leather wearers. 

Moments later scientist then provide a leather jacket to the same man -causing an instantaneous reaction.  

They still don't know where she came from. 

Apart from the obvious good-looking nature of the leathered man, the most important thing to notice is the confidence in which leather jackets bring. 

Go watch any action movie. Literally ANY of them. They'll all feature a leathered man. And whether it's just a cultural thing or not, us American boys grow up watching good guys kick the bad guys butt, all while wearing you know what. So looking back, I think it's safe to say that I've always wanted a leather jacket, but I just didn't know I wanted one. That is till last week when Carmon and I went to Dillard's to look at jackets. 

Now, our move to Japan is coming up soon, and the AET's (Assistant English Teachers) there said that April is surprisingly cold. So, being that everything in Japan is 4 times the price here, we thought we should take advantage of the coat sales at Dillard's, especially since my $80 Target jacket is falling apart only after a year of use! 

Pronounced "moron-a"

The "Sale"

Aside from the apparent lack of build-strenght, I've enjoyed my Target coat. Heavy, black, wool, interior and exterior pockets... add a scarf and I'm as metro as they come. 

*Add mug to increase trendiness. 

So when I went into Dillard's, that's really all I was wanting. Just a replacement of the one I've got. And like the heading suggests, there was a sale. 50% off the lowest marked price. Keep in mind we're on the tail end of winter and at that time they had been marked down like two or three times, which means if we were to buy one of the jackets now ...we'd still be getting ripped off. BUT... at least we're not getting as ripped off as we would if the sale weren't happening (or so my wife puts it). I sort of see the justification. Sort of. Regardless, we're there, we're looking for coats, we'll spend the money. 

Then, all of the sudden, Carmon walks up with something. 

Something intimidating. 

Something rugged, sleek and Sexy. 

Something, that at one time... moo'd. 

T'was a leather jacket.

As I've said already, I didn't, nor have I ever really wanted a leather jacket. But for some reason this one was beckoning me. I dismissed the idea at first. But as the night went on, I found my mind wandering back to it. I tried to ignore it, then I fought it... but as I strolled passed the countless aisles and racks of clearance coats and price-cut parka's... I knew... I knew that I had to go back. 

So I did. 

And as I slid my arms through those cold satin lined sleeves a bond was formed. A bond unlike any thing today...  More like the days of old, when dragon and slayer formed a truce, so too did the leather and I. 

"You're not by chance a medium, are you?" 

Reflecting in the mirror, there I stood, leather jacket and all. It felt good of course, but the real kicker was how well it fit. Not too loose but not too tight. My new emergent belly seemed to disappear behind the cool dark brown hide. Whether through allusion or miracle, this jacket gave the appearance I was in shape. I modeled it for my wife, and I could tell by the look on her face that she too thought it was a winner. 

"Why had I never looked into leather before?" I thought, "It's soooo nice!" 

The more I wore it in the store the heavier it got. Not in it's weight though... but in it's burden. Like Frodo carrying the ring, I was beginning to feel the responsibility and expectations that comes with a leather jacket.  Do I have what it takes? 

I can't fight. 

I can't drive above 45 on a motorcycle without freaking out.

I can't fly a plane or dodge bullets. 

Reality, my friends, was sinking in. If I can't do any of those things then I don't deserve a leather jacket. But then I thought, "maybe the reason I can't do those things is because I don't have a leather jacket." Yes! That's it. Surely once I get one, those things will come to fruition. Surely. I started to justify the buy in my head. But there was one problem...

The Price

Marked down three times and half off that price it still came to something like $150. It looked good. But as I started to check out I was thinking practicalities. Will this awesome looking peace of clothing keep me warm in freezing, rainy, snowy Japanese weather? 

Gulp. 

I couldn't bring myself to get it. As much as I wanted it I just couldn't do it. What I need is something like what I had. The Metro, not the moto. So, that night, even after all that bonding... I left the jacket there, unable to convince myself of adoption. 

65% off my butt!

Days later and the darned thing is still on my mind! By this time, I've spoken with my mother about said jacket and weaseled my way into her checkbook. She willingly offered to help me with my leather endeavor in which case I accepted. Upon further queries upon Dillard's website I found that the 50% off sale had changed to a 65% off sale. It was a sign from the almighty himself! 

"Great savings I declare!"

Well, come to find out, that 65% off was really 65% off original price. The prior sale was 50% off lowest marked price. Ultimately that means I would have had to pay $50 more for the 65% off sale! WHAT!?!?! Who makes a sale go up? I'll tell you who... DILLARDS! No way in the world was I going to pay that extra $50! 

It was a bummer to say the least, but hey, that's what you get when you read God out of context.  

So all that to say that I never bought the jacket. 

BUT... there is still hope. 

For as I was walking out of Dillard's that night a salesman told me the original sale would be back on this thursday. 

Am I going back? 

What do you think?

For I can still hear that jacket calling my name. 

Reminding me of the covenant we made that one fateful night. 

I dream of the day we will be reunited, and I hope 'tis soon.