Supersize Us

Some friends of ours went to Costco last week.  They offered to get us a few things.  Yea!!

The first thing on our list: peanut butter!  Why?  Because the peanut butter in Japan is very expensive and comes in very small jars.

On the left, Skippy, 1810 grams for 1100 yen. This is the Japanese large.  The normal one isn't even                                                                                                        
half this size.  On the right, we have Skippy, 462 grams for 700 yen.
                                                                               
Four times the quantity for less than twice as much!

In the US, when you buy a drink at a restaurant, you get a full cup--so full you have to put a lid on or carry it carefully to not spill.  In Japan when you buy a drink, it comes to you about 3/4 full.

Japan has small, medium and large.
The US doesn't have the Japanese small.  Their small is Japan's medium.  Their medium is Japan's large.  Their large is way bigger than anything you can get in Japan.  And then there is "SUPERSIZE."

Here are McDonalds sizes for Japan and the US:

Not only that, but if you don't want ice, you still get a full cup of pop in the US.  We have learned by sad experience that if you ask for "no ice" in your cup, you get 1/3 cup of drink, and not one drop more.  They know exactly how much pop you would get with ice, and that's that.

At our English Conversation class last week, the topic was food.  We told them about the first time Lee ordered a drink with no ice.  We were shocked.  But we probably weren't as shocked as a Japanese native walking into a US movie theater and watching people get a bucket of popcorn.  They were blown away when we talked about 42 oz. drinks.

In the US, we really know how to Supersize it!

PS:  In 1955, McDonalds large soda was 7 ounces.  It was 21 ounces in 1980 and 32 ounces in 1990.

Time to Clean House

I have been getting hints that I need to get going on the blog again.  I have read that the best way to lose readers is to go long periods of time without blogging, but I'm not trying to lose readers.  I'm just trying to keep up with assignments and sleep.

Most of you know that one thing that is not a strength for young missionaries is keeping their apartment clean.  A few months ago, Sister Baird asked if I would type up a suggested cleaning schedule.  I have been in enough apartments, and ours is about the same size as most of them, so I have a good feel for what needs to be done and how long it takes.

I made a detailed list of things that need cleaning and how to go about it, what to use and about how long it takes.  Then I divided the cleaning tasks up according to how often they needed to be repeated and I numbered them.  Next, I made an easy to follow chart that the missionaries can look at each P-day and see exactly what they need to do for that day.  The jobs take from 2 to 15 minutes each, and there are usually only three or four each P-day.  Of course, they also have their laundry to do, letters to write, and a list of other tasks.  But this makes it seem easier and more do-able.

President and Sister Baird liked what I did and had me make a copy for each apartment and laminate it.  We handed them out to all the missionaries to hang somewhere in their apartment and follow.  And we have just been through Shogatsu, which is Japanese New Years, which is their time for what we would call Spring Cleaning.  In that spirit, Sister Baird has asked that all missionaries spend some time each P-day this month, and do deep cleaning from the list I made.  President Baird asked me to write a letter to the missionaries to remind them and encourage them.  Here is what I wrote:

Oh, the excitement!  What a thrill!!  It is Shogatsu time.  I'm sure you all know that in Japan, that means:  TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE, top to bottom, better than ever, not missing a thing!  Perfection is the word of the month (or 3 P-days, or one--however long it takes.)

So, do you remember when you received the lovely laminated card with your cleaning schedule?  It is called "January - Major Deep Cleaning Month." It is golden.  Dig it out of your backpack, where it's been since we gave it to you.  Or go looking underneath the dust.  It has to be there somewhere.  (Call if you really can't find it--it is essential.)  The time has come!

Get to work and do the best job of cleaning you have ever done.  Use soap and water.  If there is something greasy, use baking soda.  If it is in the bathroom or a sink, use the green cleaner.  And especially, use elbow grease.  (For you Japanese speakers, that means "Muscle power.")

Clean top to bottom, starting high and moving down.  Light fixtures, ceiling and walls, heaters, stove top, inside and outside of fridge, all small appliances, chairs, tables, desks, kitchen sink and drain, doors and handles, cabinets and shelves (inside and out).  Organize as you replace items and throw away old stuff, clean fans and dust edges and tops of things, clean out and organize bedroom closets, air out futons, wash all bedding. Clean out the shower and drains and under the tub, clean washer and dryer all over, windows, mirrors, curtains, and finally, vacuum or mop all floors everywhere, including under desks and other moveable furniture.  Read directions from the cleaning sheet and if you have questions, call Sister Barney.

Does it sound overwhelming?  Well, it's really not.  Just start.  Work together.  You'll be surprised how quickly you can get it all cleaned.  And it will smell, look, and feel fresh and wonderful.  (You might want to do it more often.)

And when you are finished, turn over the cleaning card.  There you will find the way to keep your apartment clean for the rest of the year.  You will be so energized and happy with your clean apartment you'll want to go out and 20X.  (President Baird tells the missionaries to do 10X each time they are out visiting someone, which means to knock on 10 doors before they leave the area.)  Happy Cleaning.  Don't bother to thank me....I know you are eternally grateful.

Love, Sister Barney

Now I know this is extremely effective because of all the calls I've gotten expressing appreciation, all the calls I've had asking questions on how to do it better, and all the thank you's I've gotten from missionaries who love me so much for teaching them how to clean.  In fact, I have added up the total.  Would you like to know what it is?

0

And the Winner Is....

Soon after I started this blog, I shared at the bottom of most posts a few names of beauty shops here in Japan.  I got most of the names from Sister Baird, who has driven all over the mission and noticed most of the names I have included.  The names are so creative and downright fun.  But I have been saving my favorites for last.  Every time I look at them, I get a giggle.  So I thought they deserved a post of their own.  But first, for those of you who may have missed it, here are all the cute names we have found so far.

Dog Tails

Jet Party Hair

Slow Trip Hair Salon

Safety and Convenience June Hair

Hair Erase

Hair Creative Opera Ball

Only Hope Hair

Lover's Blanket Hair

Hunky Dory Hair Room

Manish Hair

Clip Clop

Hair Make Antenna

Calm of Hair

Bell Hair

God's Hair

Hair Make Lady Go

Hair Bless

Mustache

Hair Pop

Roo Moon

Posse Cut

Hello Beauty

Moat Hair

Eagle Hair

Spikey-Spikey

Only One Hair

Hair Hark

Cut in Face

Hair Ants

Hair Make Air

Hair Make NYNY

Miracles Arm Sin

Hair Make Sheep

Beauty Creation Lovers

Hair Make Inner Vision

Hair Make Stork

Last Hope Hair

Hair Make Winner

Clear of Hair

Lover's Hair

Hair and Make Mop

Living Hair

Click Hair

Logic Hair

Hair Creation Faith

My Bud

Grace Hair

Hair Style Leaf

Dope Hair

Opera Hair

Hair Salon Sincere

Cut Club

Hair River Pool

Hair Make Equipe

Samson & Delilah Hair

Pigtail

Earth, Hair & Make

Hair Plain

She Cut

Brunt Cut

Love Buzz

Jank Hair

Brownie

Psych Beauty News

Garden Hair Design

Gran Hair

Vanity Be Mine

Moo Beauty

Hair Saloon Long

Cherry Hair

Hair Medical Salon Infinite

Hair Make Granny M

Hair Make Marble Ink

Hair and Make Heaven

K Feel Hair Produce

Moo Beauty Association

Pola the Beauty

Cat and Perma

Prince Flap

Good Sense and Fine Technique

But for my favorites:  (Drum roll please)

Clear of Hair

Dam Hair

Kolon Factory

and the grand champion funniest of all (at least to me)

Bee M's

You've Got Mail

One of the daily tasks of a mission secretary is to forward the mail. I have to determine where that particular missionary is, find the stamp in a drawer with 50 stamps in it, and stamp a label, which I stick on over the mission address.  The next day that letter goes out to the missionary and usually arrives a day or two later. 

Now you would think that doing this job daily would get old and boring.  But knowing how missionaries, even missionaries who get nice long emails from their family every week, live for, love, and even cherish getting letters, this job is a joy for me.  I love doing it. I find it interesting. I wouldn’t want to turn this job over to anyone else.

Nearly all mail to missionaries in the mission comes directly to the mission home.  The reason for this is the frequent transfers.  There have been a few times when I have had a letter handed to me by some missionary with the explanation that he found it in his apartment.  It is addressed to another missionary and has apparently been sitting on some desk in the apartment for six months or so. I don’t know who is being transferred where until the day before the transfers happen.  So I sometimes send letters out on Monday that arrive after that missionary has moved.  I try to be very careful, but it happens.

There is occasional detective work involved. For instance, we sometimes get mail for missionaries who are actually in other missions in Japan.  I email all the other mission secretaries to find out who will claim the letter.  There is some faithful letter writer who has been writing a couple times a week to an elder in the Tokyo mission for about 8 months now. They send it faithfully to the Nagoya Mission.  Perhaps I should send them a letter and let them know that they’ve got the wrong address, but it’s not that hard to put the Tokyo mission stamp on it and send it along.  One day I received a letter to an elder I had never heard of.  But I recognized the return address as one of our missionary’s parents.  I looked to see who his companion was, and his last name started with the same letter as this last name.  I called this elder, and his companion had a birthday coming up, so we decided that his parents were sending a gift to their son’s companion and just got the last name a little wrong.  How thoughtful of them, and the elders will have a fun laugh over the name change.  And we have two sets of elders with the same last name.  Its fine until I get letters addressed to “Elder Baker,” or “Elder Gish.”  Then I get to call one of the elders and see if he knows the person who sent the letter.

Another thing that makes me smile is the packages we receive.  For instance, today we got a package for an elder that listed two items inside, for a total value of $3.98.  The small box cost $11.65 to send.  That is not uncommon.  It almost makes me cry to see the love and sacrifice of  parents who take the time and spend the money to send packages. 

And I can't resist sharing how one young lady, somewhere in the world, addresses her letters to one of our elders.  She puts several words between "Elder" and his last name.  I won't use his name, and I honestly don't remember what any of the phrases were, but here is an example of what I mean:  Elder Work Harder Every Day McGillicutty.  Or,  Elder How Is The Weather McGillicutty.  Or, Elder I Wrote You Twice in One Month McGillicutty.  It's so creative and cute.

Sadly, there is one part of being involved with letters to missionaries that breaks my heart.  There are some missionaries who get very little mail.  I know who they are, and they don’t complain. They act as if it doesn’t matter and they valiantly continue on. But when mail is being passed out, I see the hope in their eyes.  I see the disappointment when there is nothing for them…again and again and again.  If you are a parent and reading this, make sure you send letters to your missionary, even if you email him/her each week. You might even consider asking your missionary if he/she has a companion who doesn’t get much mail.  Maybe you could share some love with them.  

But I suspect that any parent reading this blog is a regular letter writer, both email and snail mail.  Thank you for your love and sacrifice while your child serves the Lord.  Thank you for raising such an amazingly valiant child, so that I can work in the mission home and have the privilege of knowing him or her.  Being a mission secretary is such a great joy!

Driving in Japan

Written by Lee Barney

A big challenge (for those of us who have been driving on the right our whole lives) is driving on the left.   At first it just did not feel right.  But, when cars start coming at you in the same lane, it does not take long to be convinced that the left side is safer.

Big roads do exist, this is as large as a one-way roads get -- four lanes, and as wide as lanes get. 

Driving is Japan is more than just getting used to driving on the left side of the road.  A new driver in Japan is obvious because their windshield wipers go on just before they turn.  With the turn signals and window wipers on opposite sides, it is so easy to mix up and turn the window wipers on.  Don’t plan on making a turn (right or left) after stopping.  It is not permitted.  I have come to like this rule. 

Vehicle drivers must be diligent in watching for pedestrians, bikes, or motor scooters.  The scooters pop up anytime.  Fortunately, most pedestrians and bike riders follow the traffic rules too.  But it takes focus to keep watching out for those who might cross your path.

The narrow roads are dangerous.  What appears to be a one-way road often accommodates cars driving in both directions.  There are telephone poles encroaching a few feet in the roadway.   So on a narrow street you need to be prepared to give the right-of-way to a pole or another car.  And since parking space is in very short supply, a car or truck may be stopped on the street with its flashers on. So the traffic just flows around the parked vehicle, avoiding a head on collision with other cars and poles.  Sister Barney often feels like she could reach out and touch a parked car, a pole or pedestrians.

Japanese do not name their streets except their highways and an occasional main road. Instead, all directions are done based on cities, neighborhoods, and postal numbers for a set of houses.   Therefore using a map is tricky and in the days before a GPS (navigational systems; referred to in Japan as “navi”) one would get to a neighborhood and then ask a local policeman or store owner for directions to a particular household.  The “navi” is indispensable.  Navi’s do get confused when new toll roads are not in the Navi database.  At first we were tied to doing what the Navi told us to do.   But as I get to know my away around, I use a Navi to confirm the direction and to get to the ending location.  The other day I was driving to a new missionary apartment about an hour and a half away by normal roads.  But I was aware of a new toll road not yet in the Navi.  But I did not know how to get to the address once I got in the city.  So I ignored the navi until I got within 10 kilometers of the address.  [The nice thing about the Navi, is that when I don’t turn where she wants me to turn, she just causally says, “recalculating.”] In the case of the above trip, we were able to trim 30 minutes off the travel time.  But don’t try to outsmart the navi until you have learned your way around.

This is a two-way street with parking.
Really.

The first 12 months in Japan one can drive using a USA State issued license if you have brought an International Driving permit from AAA.  But the Japanese are really strict on the 12 month period. In my case I needed to be able to drive for 18 months.  Hence there was a need for me to go the Japanese DMV and get a Japanese drivers license.  That is another story.  Stay tuned.

Sights and Insights

A few weeks ago, we visited a Buddhist temple with a friend who has lived in Japan for a long time, speaks English, and who is well acquainted with the priests at this temple.  He and his family do service here at least once a month, and consequently, he has learned a lot about the temple.  He took us places that people like us don't ordinarily get to go, and he shared things with us that I'm not sure if we could have learned except by study or earning the trust and friendship of these people ourselves.  We felt it a privilege to see what we saw and meet the people we met.  

We have noticed a smaller white, beautifully kept building at nearly every
Buddhist temple we've been to.  This, we learned, is the strong house.
It houses all the wealth of the temple.  

The whole area was once owned by a powerful war lord.  This temple was given to one of his sons, and as the family is now all spread out, they still pay some to maintain the temple.  These “religious” groups don’t pay taxes in Japan, and people give money, too.  But this temple/religion (there are many different kinds of Buddhism) is a warrior/merchant temple and religion.  So the priest is expected to be wealthy, to deal in stocks and manage things well, and he has a couple of Mercedes in his garage.  He likes to talk about stock and other business matters with people who may be able to help him make better decisions.  

Hard to see much, but when we were looking at it, we could pick out the towers of the Nagoya Eki
(train station), the largest train station in the world.  They look light three white dots in the center distance.

The main part of the temple buildings are up the hill from the entrance area, and out of sight from ordinary visitors.  It was a pleasant walk up there, and we were able to look over to an area where you could see the city of Nagoya off in the distance.  It was getting dark, but we could see the three towers near the eki and quite a bit of the city.  It was a beautiful view.  Then we walked up and into the temple grounds where we met the head priest.  He is older and has recently lost his wife and a son.  He has another son who will become the head priest after him, I think.  This son is married.

Main shrine near entrance.  Notice the red hat and scarf on the statue.  These are seen often at shrines and cemeteries.  I don't yet understand why they are "dressed."

Closer view of some of the figures.

This was off to the right of the main shrine.  We walked to
the door on the far right and were allowed to go through that door
and back into the main part of the shrine.

We didn’t talk long with the priest, and then our friend took us over to the main shrine building.  We were not able to take pictures from the front, but we were able to walk around to the side and into a door behind where there was more worship area.  Lee was allowed to take pictures there.  One thing I remember was some carved pieces of wood, about an inch wide and 6 inches long, each representing a person or saint.  They were all lined up high around the inside of the building on a ledge just under the roof.  People had carved them to each represent a different person.  I don’t recall the story behind it, but there were hundreds of them. 

We also went through a series of gates or guard houses.  I'm not sure what to call them.

We walked back out from there, then up some wide steps (that were used for important people to be carried by four or more porters, in litters, though I don't know the Japanese word for it. but they put their shoulder under the post and carry the people).  It was rather a steep climb to be carrying these heavy things with a person in them.  

The trees were well cared for and the leaves were beautiful fall colors.  At the top was a large building for honoring the great original owner.  I don’t know if his remains are buried inside the building, or a little further up the hill where there was a large gravestone monument in a cemetery.  But next to this building for this great and famous warrior was a smaller building where his wife's remains were buried, and beyond that we went through a heavy gate to see 9 smaller (but still large) markers, each on its own little mound, where each of his 9 most important concubines' remains were buried.  He had many others, apparently, but they didn’t have important names, so I'm not sure what happened to their ashes.

On left is part of the cemetery wall, and on right is the building
housing the remains of the son of the great warrior.

Through a window we could see this urn, which may hold his ashes.
Or it could be some kind of shrine to him.  We weren't sure.

And these are the markers for his other "wives"
(except for his main wife.)

This temple is on many acres.  It is a huge area.  We came back down, and it was dark.  There was another priest there, probably in his 30’s.  We visited at length, and President Baird was very interested, so he explained some things.  Some of it didn’t get translated, but some did. One of the most fascinating things to me is the holdover philosophy from the old warrior/merchant times.  One can go do about anything they like outside the temple, and then come back and wash away ones sins.

Just outside a large gate from where apparently most warriors returned, there was an upside down, cone-shaped concrete thing, about three feet high, and about four feet across at the base.  He explained that it represented what used to be a pile of sand kept in that shape, and that was where the warriors would remove their swords.  The sand would take off the blood as they stuck it in to the sand.  Removing the blood was part of the cleansing process in coming to the temple, and it also prevented more bloodshed within the temple between warriors.

 

On the steps that go up into the cemetery.

Here we are with the priest.  This is the one who is
also a fortune teller.  He was very kind.

Then they would come through the gate and walk about 30 feet to the water.  At most temples, the washing area is usually wide, allowing several people to stand in front of it at a time.  There are two levels that have water in them.  There are several cups with long handles.  You pick up a cup and dip it in the water.  Then you pour the water over your left hand first, then switch hands and pour it over your right hand. The dirty water off your hands should only go in the lower water area.  The handle of the cup is long and straight, but the handle itself is U-shaped, so that when you lift up the cup part, the water runs down the handle and into the lower level of water.  Now, the left hand represents fire, and the right hand represents water, so you wash the left hand first to put out the fire, then the left, and then you pour the leftover water down the handle to rinse where you have touched, so that none of your sins get passed on to the next person. 

Our friend explained that the philosophy is that it is OK to do anything at all, anything you want to do, while outside the temple area. You can drink and get drunk.  You can do what is necessary to get money.  You can go vacation and visit places of ill repute.  You can treat your wife  and others however you want, and so on.  But then you can come back to the temple, do the above-described hand washing, and be clean.  While at the temple, you must remain clean.  But it seems fine to do those other things while away from the temple.  This is my own thought, but it seems that, like the warriors and merchants of old, one can do anything to get the job done, and then come back and wash away any fault.  The mafia even come to this temple and wash.

Before we left the temple, the younger priest said a chant-like prayer. It was quite beautiful. I don’t know if he was blessing us or not, but it lasted about three minutes and we thanked him.  President Baird thanked him sincerely and respectfully and asked permission to give him a hug (which he likes to do).  He received permission and gave him a great big two-arm hug.  I wondered how long it had been since that had happened to that priest, if ever.  This priest used to be the temple fortune teller.  That is a part of their religion, too.  But they needed another priest, so they made him one.  I think he may still work sometimes as a fortune teller.  

There were also three younger people around, probably in their late teens or early 20’s.  All temples have beads and strips of paper or fabric you tie on to things as you worship, and other things you can buy, and I wondered if at least one of these young people worked at the store.  I don’t know.

Visit to a Tree House

Before looking at this blog, check out the video of'

Hurricane Sandy and Mormon Helping Hands, upper right.

It's pretty cool!

One really fun experience we have had recently just can't be forgotten.  Lee and I were invited with Bairds to have dinner with John and Hiroko Gathright.  John is a former television regular, but cut back to spend more time with family.  He is still on TV when he chooses to be involved, but he has focused more instead on developing an organization called Tree Climbing Japan.  I think it has now grown into Tree Climbing International as well.  It is an organization that gives handicapped children the opportunity to climb trees, giving them the help they need in order to have that exhilarating experience and feel like they have done all they can do to get themselves up there.  They are very creative in ways they help these kids get up into the trees.  There are now just over 200 groups of Tree Climbing Japan.  And, wouldn't you guess, John, Hiroko, and their two boys, live in a tree house in a forest.  So cool!

This is the office.  John hires single moms to help run the program.  

This tree, with the great nose, is right in front of the front door of the office.
Can you see it in the picture above?

This is the boys tree houses. (Smaller one is behind.)
The only way to get to the tree house is
across the hanging walk (or maybe up the slide.)

Here's another view of the tree houses.  These houses and the home were originally built for handicapped
kids to come and enjoy, but after a while, the Gathright family decided to make it a home.

This is the doorbell for the home.  This shape of bell is often seen
in shrines of older cities.  Everything in the home is recycled.

And as you go inside, this is the genkan or entry.
This is the inside of the front door.

This is the living room area.  The barrel shaped corner is one of four miso barrels that are a part of the home.
Years ago, miso (for miso soup) was made in these barrels.  Now days it is made in stainless steel.
This one is now a bathroom.

When the Gathrights put this bathroom in, their boys were young.
These are their foot prints.  In the bathroom, you follow them first
to the toilet, then to the sink, then to the towel to dry your hands,
then to go out the door.  So cute.

This shot is looking up into the second floor of the home.
Half of the second floor is the parent's bedroom and the other half
is their two boys' bedrooms.  You climb steep open wooden steps to get up.
Most people come down on the fire pole you see in the center.

A little Japanese decor.

We sat in this barrel room at length, hearing some really fun stories
in the life of a famous TV personality, humanitarian, and caring father.
We have grown to love and appreciate the Gathright family.

 
This is John Gathright.  Does his hair remind you of
anyone you know?

Proof that we were there.  Hiroko Gathright is on the right.
She is as sweet as she is beautiful.  

Another view of the tree house (or house of the tree climbing man.)

Can you see the flying squirrel nest?  There were four that we saw.
Apparently they make a wonderful whooshing sound when
they "fly" from tree to tree.

These frogs are carved into the rock.  Cool!

Just another great example of an average width Japanese road.
This is how it looks on the way to the home.

Another barrel of the home is the kitchen.  It is lined with shelves and a great size for having everything close.

You are looking at one delicious meal.  It was full of new
tastes and it was a delight to enjoy.  Hiroko is a gourmet cook!

John and Hiroko--two awesome people.

Two great young men:  Denny and Johnny (right).
Johnny is applying at BYU.