SUAMA

Suama [Rice cake]

Suama is one of Japanese sweets. It’s a kind of rice cake. I love it but I couldn’t eat this one because I am in Marshall. But, one day I found rice powder in the super market and can make Suama with a microwave.

I had never made suama because we could buy from the stores or the confectionaries in Japan.Now I can make suama by myself.

One day I made suama and gave it to my Japanese colleague, and they said

“What’s this???”

Me:“Why don’t you know this???”

I was shocked that they, even same Japanese, don’t know what this sweet is. I researched with Wikipedia. It said only Tokyo area and Northern area people knew suama. Oh,my…I was really shocked because they never knew it. I’ve love it since I was little and I was thinking all Japanese people know it. Of course, by accident, only my 2 colleagues didn’t know and the other knew it. Some of them love it.

I was making it so many times that’s why our ukulele group’s name became Mi-gao[rice cake in Chinese]. Tomorrow I’ll make suama and make my students eat suama…!

My replica

People say they have 3 replicas in the whole world.

One of my replicas was found in India, who is from Tibet! Wow…

When I was in France, a Korean lady said “I have a best friend who looks like you in Korea!”

When I was taking a volunteer training, one friend said “My ex-girl friend looked like you very very much. That’s why when I saw you at the first time, I was really surprised. Funny characteristic, how to sing and atmosphere are also similar!!!” and I saw her picture, wow, it was very similar….

I want to see them very much in person. My face is pretty international face, isn’t it? 

Pen pals

10th grade students started to write to pen pals in U.S.A. They are really excited and so crowded and I was almost crushed by girl students....!

Papaya Sushi

Papaya sushi!

Inside, for filling, I put papaya kimchi and tuna mayonnaise....enno!!!(=delicious!)

No, No, No!

 No secretary, No principal, No teachers....what does it mean?

This is about our school, Marshall Islands High School!

In Japan, we say this kind of situation "Gakko Hokai (学校崩壊）" means "School Collapse".

Mother's Love

Today we had a small welcome party for a new neighbor. The  three of us  introduced ourselves and we all talked a lot. Our new neighbor just came back from Arno atoll where he took Marshallese language training , and he couldn’t eat much because of the scarcity of the food. Every meal was a piece of fish and rice, that’s all. When I went to Arno, it was almost the same menu…So I lost weight.

And the other new neighbor is writing the Wisdom Sutras [Prajna-paramita-sutra] with Japanese calligraphy. It is very beautiful and he also can read  and write Sanskrit because he stayed in Nepal.

A few days ago he found the parcel from my mom, which I had been waiting since January, in the JICA office. He happened to see my mother’s handwriting on the address.

He told me, her handwriting reveals her true character. He said he senses my mother’s anxiety and how much she loves me from her hand writing.

Yes, from Hand Writing, we can understand their characteristics or their feelings. Every time I felt something from my Mom’s hand writing….very strong and caring..but this is first time somebody told  me about that. I was very impressed tonight.

This time, I just asked my Mom to send me some medicines and a magazine, but she sent me not only a magazine and a medicine but also a lot of Japanese food. Every time I told her that she doesn't  have to send so much stuff but she does. I have to thank my Mom.

Yes, I know she cares and worries about me very much all the time and wants me to stay with her all the time, but I am here and sometimes, when I get sick and it makes her very worried.

I want to go back and stay with her as soon as possible!  Only two more months, i have almost finished my term and it makes me relieved. I have gone back to Japan twice during my JOCV term,  due to my devotion to my parents.

I want to go back as soon as possible and make my parents feel relieved. I have to be thanksful that  my parents are healthy and I have sweet family.

Lots of  stuff! thank you!

New neighbor

New Japanese volunteer came to the next door and the upstairs of our apartment. They recognized me as a “girl who were playing the ukulele at the airport.” when we went to the airport. I am glad to hear that!

We come from Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so we have special green passport. Usually, Japanese passport color is dark blue or red. That’s why every time I go to Guam airport, the airport staffs asked me “Why do you have green passport?” and some staffs gathered and see my passport. And I have to explain so and so. Does your country have a special passport?

Amimono

In Marshall Islands, Marshallese handi craft is very popular. Marshallese call it “AMIMONO” which comes from Japanese words whose meaning is “knitting, weaving”. Some Marshallese words come from Japanese.

Today I learned how to make Amimono flower. I had wanted to learn but I didn’t have a chance. I like white Amimono flower so I made white one.

You need wire. You can get from NTA[Telephone company] because we use a telephone wire.And make a shape.

Then, start to weave from the center one by one.

Connect petals using needle, and finish!

This is first time I made, but I think it’s good! I want to try fish shape, another shape.



Refresh

Now I live in Marshall Islands.

Here, I don’t have a TV in my house. I am a volunteer and just live here for 2 years, so I didn’t buy my TV. But sometimes I miss Japanese TV programs.

Last year, I asked my Dad to send some DVDs recorded Japanese TV program. He sent me 20~30 DVDs and I haven’t watched some of them even now.

Today suddenly power went off. I could do nothing to do at night so I was waiting and sleeping until the power came back. About 8 o’clock, it came back and I thanked for the power…

And suddenly I noticed my Dad's DVDs.”Let’s watch now…”

I watched one of them, it contained one Japanese movie, the program of “a promenade of Vancouver.” and, one Japanese musician’s documentary program…

That Japanese musician is “CHAGE and ASKA”. [Do you know them?] Maybe some Asian country people know them. They are one of my favorite singers.

The main vocalist became 51 years old now…wow..I didn’t know that. They were very popular at that time and even now, too. During the documentary, he was talking about their triumph and hardships. At the same time I remember my path from 8 years old with them. They grew up, and I grew up, too…

I have a lot of memory with them.

Music always reminds me a lot of memory…

Tonight, no power refreshed my mind.

The Sorrow of Parting

When somebody leaves from Marshall Islands, I feel sad badly here. Especially in case somebody is foreigner.

Because it is difficult for foreigners to meet again. I had never known that kind of feeling when I was in Japan.

When we part with Japanese people, I also feel sad but easy to meet again if we decide to meet up. “Nihon” is a small country. But foreigners don’t..

So far during 2 years, I’ve experienced sad separations. I feel upset but I am glad that I have this kind of people whom I can cry.

cell phone

Our cell phone was lent from JICA Office in Marshall Islands. This cell phone is an old style compare to others which Marshallese have. It’s not color or we cannot take a photo.

Of course, Japanese cell phones, we can watch TV, radio, take a photo, use internet, use as electrical money,,,etc.

But old style is also good, because nobody wants it. When I lost mine, one Marshallese picked it up and kept it for me. So it returned to me. Marshallese are very kind. When it is no power, this cell has a light function so it’s convenient.

My sister’s father in law gave me a name key chain for cell phone. But my name is written in Japanese character…only Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese can read it! And also you can see odd green animal with cell phone…this is Japanese imaginary animal, named KAPPA. They live in a river and like teasing to human beings. These are  measures in case it was stolen.

Hair style

Marshallese girls have the long hair. They are good at making a chignon.

In Japan, The long hair is thought as a symbol of beauty in the ancient time[From 8 A.D. to 12 A.D] Maybe the same idea here in Marshall?

Anyway, here is always hot and windy. If we have short hair style, it becomes messy hair because of the wind. So, I think it's very convenient hair style.

Once when I went back to Japan, I made my hair straight in the salon. But when I came back here, it’s became messy easily because it was too smooth and silky and difficult to tie it up. Marshallese natural hair is wavy hair, so it suits for this climate.

No power and the scarce of water

Recently, it hasn't rained for 2 weeks here in Majuro...but yesterday finally it rained. I am worry about the scarce of water, like last year. If you experienced this horrible things, you will cherish the water more than before.

Yesterday was no power from 6-8 p.m. But luckily, I was tired and made dinner and already slept at that time. So nothing bothered me last night....ho!

Sushi lesson

Today we had the sushi lesson in one of the classes. They enjoyed making and eating sushi.

Actually, we, Japanese, don't call it sushi, call it MAKIZUSHI [Rolling sushi].

And I didn't eat Makizushi when I was in Japan, but now I eat makizushi so many times and I like it because I can remember Japan...

They don't come to practice...

Here, in Marshall Islands it's very difficult to make a promise with Marshallese. Always unsure...I think because of the climate and environment... etc.

Now I was planning to have a practice for Japanese speech contest, but only 10 students came. Actually 22 students registared to participate...

Tomorrow is the competition day only in MIHS students before the real speech competition.
Only 7 students can go to the real comp. Who can go there???

Last dinner

Yesterday was the last dinner day with my Indian parents. Every Sundays, I've gone  to their house and learned a painting [water color] since August. My Marshallese younger sister also came and we enjoyed the dinner.

I've been wanting to learn the painting but I didn't have any chance in Japan or in Majuro so I always drew by myself and there was no improvement. But my Indian Dad started to teach me how to draw and now I can paint very well! Aside from painting lessons, they always take care of me very much and I also enjoy Indian cuisine.
I cannot write here all of them but I learned a lot and recived a lot of things. But they are leaving this week. Very sad but I am going to India, so just wait a while to meet again....

Himawari [sun flower]

Finally my sun flower bloomed beautifully. I planted seeds in December and had been waiting and waiting for a long time. Now I can see the flowers everyday...other flower, parsley and basil are also fine...

Fund-raising for Japan

My predecessor's students are doing fund-raising for Japan's earthquake refugees. They are selling Sushi which is very, very popular in Marshall Islands.

Originally, we call this kind of Sushi,Makizushi,but most foreigners call it SUSHI...

Exchange Letters

We,MIHS students, started to exchange the letter with Japanese Junior High School students. They attached their pictures with email so they enjoyed seeing the pictures.

Starting

I start to write my blog in English. Before I used to write it in Japanese but I want more people to read and know it .