Hello there! (this is Carmon speaking)
Two weeks from now we will be spending our last full day in America, scarfing down all foods we will miss and dreading our final goodbyes. We have been very busy traveling to and from Tulsa to see his parents, and we recently took a quick trip down to Louisiana to say goodbye to my grandparents. Whew! The emotions are strong.
While we were in Louisiana we got to Skype with the couple I told you about in our "mansions" blog. Ben and Erica Berry have been living in the same apartment that we will be moving in to. Their time in Japan has come to a close and we will be filling their shoes, so to speak, as we not only move into their apartment, but also to the schools they have been teaching at.
It was so relieving to speak with them about what our positions will be like at our designated schools. As an elementary teacher, Mason's job is to help make the kids comfortable with hearing a foreign language and getting them excited to learn! By the time they get to junior high (where I will be teaching), they will know a few phrases and be prepared to start learning how to write and speak in English. Whew, I can do that!!
Mason doesn't know it yet, but he will be so good at working with the elementary kids. He is comfortable with being silly and is very creative. He will do a great job coming up with educational activities that are engaging.
As for me, I'm not so great at the silly. I like to have fun with the kids, but it takes me a while to get loose and goofy with the little ones. I will be much more comfortable in the junior high setting. I'll spend a lot of my time following along with the students in their text books, and planning activities that help them apply what they are learning. Ben and Erica made us feel much better about things and gave us a new confidence in our ability to teach well.
As for now, this week has many more goodbyes in store. Thursday night our college group at church will take a moment to pray for us, Sunday the church body will give us a send off and I will see my step-family for probably the last time, and there are a few dates in between where we will be saying "ta-ta" to friends/family.
Please be praying for our travels, the people we are going to meet, and our families.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Keys
Keys- something I have a lot of. In fact, I've on more than one occasion been questioned about perspective janitorial service. Despite my array of keys, I am NOT a janitor. But if I were, I'm almost positive I'd be one of those really good looking, MIT math genius janitors.
A day ago it occurred to me that very soon and for a brief period of time I, for the first time that I can ever remember, won't have a single key to own. Notta one.
For as long as I can remember I've always had keys. And I'm not just talking about the occasional collection of unnecessary keys that have built up over time. No, for the last year I've claimed as many as 11 keys, all of which were necessary to have on my person.
Car, wife's car, apartment, Tulsa home, trailer hitch, church, work, mailbox, drum key (for tuning), band room and one top secret one I can't tell you about.
So, there I was, sitting in my car staring at ALL of those keys and realizing that in a few weeks I won't need one of them. Actually, for a brief time on the flight to Tokyo, I'll be in key limbo till I receive the keys to our new mansion.
Keyless! I never new there'd be such a place -even in heaven there's gates.
All joking aside, the more I thought about it the more sobering it turned out to be.
Those keys aren't just keys... They're symbols or representations of past commitments, relationships, memories, people, places and things. Having a key to something is having the privilege to be opened up to something, whether it be employment, a ride, a safe or home. Keys can be comforting too, in that they affirm our ownership of our possessions. Look, this is my key and that is my car, see? It's proof it belongs to me. Keys, in one sense, give you the right to be there.
Sadly, what I've come to realize is that in deciding to move to Japan, Carmon and I are (in a way) giving up those rights.
When we move, we don't have that option of taking a weekend trip up to Tulsa to visit my parents. Nor can we jump in our car to take a random road trip with my brother in law. The band room will no be expecting my late night wood sheds, and my church will have new interns to lock up the place.
Of course there's an optimistic way of seeing things, too. We aren't just throwing away our lives or anything. We're just...exchanging keys. Trading in for a smaller, more simpler set.
 |
| I can totally connect the dots! |
A day ago it occurred to me that very soon and for a brief period of time I, for the first time that I can ever remember, won't have a single key to own. Notta one.
For as long as I can remember I've always had keys. And I'm not just talking about the occasional collection of unnecessary keys that have built up over time. No, for the last year I've claimed as many as 11 keys, all of which were necessary to have on my person.
Car, wife's car, apartment, Tulsa home, trailer hitch, church, work, mailbox, drum key (for tuning), band room and one top secret one I can't tell you about.
 |
| mmmhmm |
So, there I was, sitting in my car staring at ALL of those keys and realizing that in a few weeks I won't need one of them. Actually, for a brief time on the flight to Tokyo, I'll be in key limbo till I receive the keys to our new mansion.
Keyless! I never new there'd be such a place -even in heaven there's gates.
 |
| (Presumably locked) |
Those keys aren't just keys... They're symbols or representations of past commitments, relationships, memories, people, places and things. Having a key to something is having the privilege to be opened up to something, whether it be employment, a ride, a safe or home. Keys can be comforting too, in that they affirm our ownership of our possessions. Look, this is my key and that is my car, see? It's proof it belongs to me. Keys, in one sense, give you the right to be there.
Sadly, what I've come to realize is that in deciding to move to Japan, Carmon and I are (in a way) giving up those rights.
When we move, we don't have that option of taking a weekend trip up to Tulsa to visit my parents. Nor can we jump in our car to take a random road trip with my brother in law. The band room will no be expecting my late night wood sheds, and my church will have new interns to lock up the place.
Of course there's an optimistic way of seeing things, too. We aren't just throwing away our lives or anything. We're just...exchanging keys. Trading in for a smaller, more simpler set.
 |
| "Noooooo!" |
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Japan: Where teachers live in mansions
As of this morning, these two Okies know where we'll be teaching in Japan!
Mason will spend most of his week at Ishikawa Elementary School. Every other Tuesday he will teach at a separate Kindergarten/Preschool.
I (This is Carmon by the way. My turn to post) will be teaching at Daigo Junior High School. This is a good thing because the kids will (hopefully) be better with English than Elementary students, but it also makes me nervous because it's a lot easier to win the affection of a second grader than it is a sixth grader.
According to Google Maps and a rough idea of where our apartment will be, it is a 26-28 minute walk for Mason and a 16 minute walk for me. Throw in a couple bikes and this will be a piece of cake!
As for our apartment, I believe the development is called the "Sinhara Mansions." Well, doesn't that sound spiffy! Turns out, "mansions" in Japan often refer to what we would call a condo. It's generally larger than an "Apato," and is built with more of a long term family friendly use in mind. We have been told that ours is one of the bigger apartments in the program which is a super big blessing because we plan to bunk our family and friends that visit.
Our mansion is located near Horihara Sports Park which has a baseball field, ball game field, stadium, and one of the largest gymnasiums in Japan. The park itself is open 24-hours. Now we have no excuse to not exercise! Ben Berry and his wife (the AET's currently in that apartment now) have said that we will only need to buy a couch!! WOOHOO!!! That is so good to hear! That means we will have a bed to sleep in on our first night there and limited shopping to do.
Anyway, Mason and I are going to do our best to keep you updated on how life is going in Japan while we are away. With pictures, videos, and entries we should be able to keep everyone at home informed on how things are going. Please pray for the people we are to meet, our safety while traveling, and success in sharing the gospel. We leave the United States on Thursday, April 11th, arrive Friday the 12th, and start work on Monday the 15th! This is going to be insane.
Mason will spend most of his week at Ishikawa Elementary School. Every other Tuesday he will teach at a separate Kindergarten/Preschool.
I (This is Carmon by the way. My turn to post) will be teaching at Daigo Junior High School. This is a good thing because the kids will (hopefully) be better with English than Elementary students, but it also makes me nervous because it's a lot easier to win the affection of a second grader than it is a sixth grader.
 |
| かわいい (kawaii) Japanese for cute |
According to Google Maps and a rough idea of where our apartment will be, it is a 26-28 minute walk for Mason and a 16 minute walk for me. Throw in a couple bikes and this will be a piece of cake!
 |
| We'll make sure to turn on the "find friends" app. |
As for our apartment, I believe the development is called the "Sinhara Mansions." Well, doesn't that sound spiffy! Turns out, "mansions" in Japan often refer to what we would call a condo. It's generally larger than an "Apato," and is built with more of a long term family friendly use in mind. We have been told that ours is one of the bigger apartments in the program which is a super big blessing because we plan to bunk our family and friends that visit.
We're looking at YOU Stacy and Charissa!
Our mansion is located near Horihara Sports Park which has a baseball field, ball game field, stadium, and one of the largest gymnasiums in Japan. The park itself is open 24-hours. Now we have no excuse to not exercise! Ben Berry and his wife (the AET's currently in that apartment now) have said that we will only need to buy a couch!! WOOHOO!!! That is so good to hear! That means we will have a bed to sleep in on our first night there and limited shopping to do.
 |
| Just don't eat their meat. |
And just in case we ever wonder why we chose to do this. We will just watch the following video and everything will make sense.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
The Fox and the Hound
qualifier - (qual·i·fi·er)
- A word or phrase that limits or qualifies the sense of another word or statement.
Like, "The Dark Knight Rises was the best super-hero film of 2012". In this sentence, "super-hero" is used as the qualifier. It allows for "The Dark Knight Rises" to be considered the best film of 2012, so long as we are talking about super-hero films. I would argue that such a sentence needs no qualifier but that's just me.
Sometimes, 'qualifiers' don't need to be vocalized. Some are just assumed when speaking. Let me give you an example.
The phrase "Everything's bigger in Texas" is often spoken in the lone star state. Taken at face value, this of course isn't true. Not everything is bigger in Texas. For instance, just look at the Allen High School 60-million-dollar football stadium.
So, the understood qualifier in the phrase "Everything's bigger in Texas" is that "everything" isn't meant in the literal sense. Even though it isn't stated verbally, both Billy-bob and Earl understand that what is really being said is actually something like, "[most things, many things, some things] are bigger in Texas."
Back to the Fox and the Hound.
In the conclusion, the two remain friends but only at a distance. The actions the two have taken in the film have consequences that simply don't allow for the shared life they both want. They leave each other to live their own lives. Friends, but friends that must go separate ways.
Like, "The Dark Knight Rises was the best super-hero film of 2012". In this sentence, "super-hero" is used as the qualifier. It allows for "The Dark Knight Rises" to be considered the best film of 2012, so long as we are talking about super-hero films. I would argue that such a sentence needs no qualifier but that's just me.
 |
| Best Supporting Actress |
Sometimes, 'qualifiers' don't need to be vocalized. Some are just assumed when speaking. Let me give you an example.
The phrase "Everything's bigger in Texas" is often spoken in the lone star state. Taken at face value, this of course isn't true. Not everything is bigger in Texas. For instance, just look at the Allen High School 60-million-dollar football stadium.
 |
| Clearly, not the biggest. I believe the 49ers have a 61 million dollar stadium. |
So, the understood qualifier in the phrase "Everything's bigger in Texas" is that "everything" isn't meant in the literal sense. Even though it isn't stated verbally, both Billy-bob and Earl understand that what is really being said is actually something like, "[most things, many things, some things] are bigger in Texas."
The following statement has such qualifiers.
The Fox and the Hound is Disney's most relevant and moral animated film for today's American audience.
Note: There are two main qualifiers on that... I said, "it is Disney's most relevant and moral animated film." No doubt there are countless other relevant and moral films the company has produced, but none, I shall argue, is as important for children (and adults) to watch then this one.
And the second qualifier is that I've limited the statement to just animated films... no computer animation or live action here.
I think Disney Pixar has exceeded expectations on how to create beautifully rendered stories while delivering rock solid content to it's audience.
I think Disney Pixar has exceeded expectations on how to create beautifully rendered stories while delivering rock solid content to it's audience.
Toy Story wrestles with the vulnerabilities of losing your identity, being replaced and unused.
The Incredibles dealt with a family who neglected the marital tensions between husband and wife.
A Bug's Life made an effort to convey the importance of breaking from tradition.
Finding Nemo portrayed the parental struggle to "let go," and...
Wall*E, rather overtly, touched on climate change and the Nation-wide obesity epidemic.
It's safe to say that Pixar always delivers excellent, moral, relevant messages.
The Incredibles dealt with a family who neglected the marital tensions between husband and wife.
A Bug's Life made an effort to convey the importance of breaking from tradition.
Finding Nemo portrayed the parental struggle to "let go," and...
Wall*E, rather overtly, touched on climate change and the Nation-wide obesity epidemic.
It's safe to say that Pixar always delivers excellent, moral, relevant messages.
 |
| Cars was about exploiting children's innate desire to buy car toys. |
Back to the Fox and the Hound.
I think it's the most relevant Disney animation film for two reasons.
1. It deals with the universal experience of having to assimilate to what culture tells you to do.
Todd and Copper (the fox and the hound, duh) were best friends. They loved each other. "We'll always be best friends," Todd says, "no matter what." Sadly, after the two spend a season apart from each other they meet with a new-found sense of cultural norms. "He's a hunting dog now" Big Momma (the owl) says, "things have changed." Despite their true feelings, Todd and Copper ultimately abandon their friendship out of obligation. How can a fox and a hound be friends?
Today, kids are asking the same questions.
When I was in junior high, the third day of school, a group of boys (the "popular ones") came up to me and told me I needed to hang out with them. "You seem pretty cool" they said, "Be friends with us." Hmm..."This was odd," I thought. Odd because it was a command directed solely at me and not the others I was hanging with already. The group wanted me to make a decision right then and there about who it was I would associate with. In their minds I was a "fox" like them and they wanted to tell me I couldn't be friends with the "hounds."
This happens so often amongst kids you wouldn't believe. If you're a pretty girl, you're friends with the pretty girls. If you're an athlete, you're friends are supposed to be athletes. If you're in band, you only hang out with band geeks.
Unless you're a drummer ...then you're totally like the most popular guy ever.
 |
| My High School experience. |
Back to the fox and the hound...
2. It has an optimistic, yet realistic conclusion.
Unlike most children's movies, this one didn't end with everything being gung-ho and happy. It was an optimistic ending, like I said, but Todd and Copper never ran off into the sunset playing hide and seek.
 |
| "Found you!" |
It's a great movie. Incredibly sad in some places and quite funny at times. Roger Ebert wrote,
"For all of its familiar qualities, this movie marks something of a departure for the Disney studio, and its movement is in an interesting direction. The Fox and the Hound is one of those relatiely rare Disney animated features that contains a useful lesson for its younger audiences. It's not just cute animals and frightening advetures and a happy ending; it's also a rather thoughful meditation on how society determines our behavior."
So, for whatever reason, if you've actually ended up reading this post all the way through and need a good kid flick to watch with your niece, nephew, son or daughter... go netflix The Fox and the Hound.
And after you've watched it. Instantly watch this.
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