Fuji and feasting in the Fall

Though it's December, the Autumn leaves are still hanging from the trees. I am in love with this sight...my absolute favorite thing about Japan...the AMAZING colors of the fall leaves! (Of course, due to the evacuation last year I did not get to witness the famous cherry blossoms, so when this year I finally get to experience them, I might just change my mind and make them my favorite!)

Picture taken just yesterday during a run with Beretta in the park by our house

With all the gorgeous leaves and beautiful sunshine still popping it's head out, it wasn't hard for Nick and I to train for the 27k we signed up for. The race, which took place 3 weeks ago, was the farthest Nick and I had ever ran. Almost 17 miles altogether, it was a big accomplishment for the both of us. (We have each ran a couple 1/2 marathons, which are 13.2 miles...this race however was stepping up our milage just a bit!)

The race setting was around Lake Kawaguchi, which is near Mt. Fuji. We knew running around a lake in November, next to Fuji would be beautiful...but we didn't expect to get such gorgeous weather in late Autumn.

We were extremely lucky and had an exceptionally clear day, meaning we had the best view of Fuji we could have ever hoped for! In the year and a half we have been here I have never seen Fuji as beautiful as it was that day! (Not so sunny that it was hot, but yet not cloudy, thus blocking our view like many days before and after the race!)

It was motivation to keep running... which Nick and I did, holding hands as we crossed the finish line.

It was our first race in Japan, so we didn't know what to expect...but just like races in the States, there were all the crazy running enthusiasts dressed up in costume.

A few of our friends also ran the race, and we all decided to drive up to Fuji a day early and spend the night.

We stayed at a quaint little Bed and Breakfast near the lake. The B&B was called "Dog Land Someday" and like the title implies, welcomed all dogs.

The owner was disappointed that we didn't bring Beretta...they even had her a name card made at the table in case we had decided to bring her.

(With us running the following day for several hours, we didn't feel right about leaving her there all that time, despite the owner being totally ok with it!) Everything was doggy-themed...everything! As dog lovers ourselves this was perfectly fine! Our door handle to our room was even in the shape of a dog's tail!

With pooches at our feet, we all enjoyed a delightful feast the night before the race....one more perk to staying at the B&B...the owner's wife was a fabulous cook!

The race was the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend...which means that Thursday on thanksgiving, we didn't feel bad about eating too much turkey and dressing! We did just that, feasting on every kind of meat, side and dessert at the fabulous New Sanno in Tokyo!

There were 10 (9 adults, one baby) of us who all met up in Tokyo to celebrate our American holiday away from home! The New Sanno is a military hotel on the outskirts of Tokyo. They host several dinners a year for various occasions and holidays. Last year the men were all deployed, so a few of us girls decided instead of being depressed about missing our hubbies, we would forgo the holiday cooking and make a reservation at the New Sanno instead. It was so tasty that we opted to do it again this year! Skipping the hassle of cooking and dishes....yes please!?! (Especially since we don't have dishwashers here!!!)

It was yet again a wonderful Thanksgiving...followed by a long run to burn off those extra calories!

Sumo Sumo

Sumo season actually came and went...but as how life goes here in Japan....all these months later, I just now have the time to post about it!

At the end of the summer Nick and I got to witness our first sumo match! On September 11, when most Americans were remembering the somber day in our history, we were watching sweaty Japanese men wrestle.

We went with two other couples and spent the afternoon watching an entire sumo tournament! (That's alot of sumo!!!)

We stopped to grab a bite to eat just before the tournament, and sat next to two wrestlers doing the same thing (only they were beefing up for their upcoming event and we just wanted a snack and a beer).

Like at any other sporting event, be it in the States or Japan, there was a mascot dancing around and getting attention. (We skipped the line of fans waiting to get a photo, and opted for the side shot instead!)

Once inside the arena, we had to find our seats. We upgraded for the more expensive "box seats" instead of sitting in the nose-bleed section. They were in fact, "box seats"...the 6 of us were squished into 2 small boxes, sitting cross-legged on floor pillows! (These boxes were meant for 4 Japanese people, but we were told that it was too small for us Americans and that we out to not stick more than 3 people in each....which is what we did, and yet, it was still a bit cramped!)

Nick of course, did his research and was informing us of what and why was going on, like a commentator giving play by play...because the actual commentator was of course speaking in Japanese!

Due to his notes (and Wikipedia), I can inform you that:

Sumo originated in Japan, and it is the only country where it is practiced professionally.

The wrestling ring where the sumo match takes place is called a dohyo (accent over the o). A new dohyo is built for each tournament.

After mounting the dohyo, the wresters perform many rituals...

Facing the audience, each wrestler will clap his hands and then do a leg-stomping "shiko" exercise which is supposed to, "drive evil spirits from the dohyo". Shiko is "the sumo exercise where each leg in succession is lifted as high and as straight as possible, and then brought down to stomp on the ground with considerable force".

It was crazy to see these huge men who appear overweight and immobile, lifting their giant legs up with ease!!!

Then the wrestlers will step out of the ring and into their separate corners, where they will each be given a ladleful of water. (The water is called "chikara-mizu," meaning "power water.") With the chikara-mizu the wrestler will rinse out his mouth, then use a paper tissue (called "chikara-gami" or the "power paper") to dry his lips.

After this ritual, the wrestlers will step back into the ring, squat facing each other, clap their hands, then spread them wide...this is traditionally done to show they don't have any weapons! (thank goodness, or it could've gotten bloody!!!)

The men then return to their corners, pick up a handful of salt and toss it into the ring to purify it. (Yep, it's a lot of back and forth! Like I said, many rituals...that's the way of the Japanese!)

The object of sumo is to get one's opponent to step out of the ring, or to force him to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the bottom of his feet.

Each tournament begins on a Sunday and runs for 15 days, ending on a Sunday. We were there on the final Sunday.

Each day of the tournament is structured so the highest-ranked contestants compete at the end of the day.

Traditionally on the last day of the tournament (called "senshuraku") the final matchup is between the top two ranked wrestlers. The Emperor's Cup is presented to the wrestler who wins the top division championship.

Not surprisingly, this match was by far the most interesting to watch!

The Grand Champion wears the Yokozuna belt ("Yokozuna" literally means "horizontal rope") which is a white rope and ceremonial apron weighing 30 kg (66pds)!

The entire event was fascinating....very different from the sporting events we are used to in the States. Definitely something we wanted to experience once...though seeing it again is most likely not in our future!

One more cultural experience checked of the Holman's "to do while in Japan" list!

Guam Getaway

Guam was on my list of places to visit while living overseas. Just a 3 hour flight away, I really had no excuse for not traveling there. So, when Nick informed me that he was to pull into port in Guam in October, I jumped at the chance. (Literally booked my flight 3 days before leaving)

I flew there with another spouse from Nick's squadron and her two young girls (our husbands were on the same boat and due to arrive together). It was nice having a travel buddy (or 3)...there are never any guarantees with the military...we have to always be prepared in case the ship doesn't pull in, and we don't get to see our spouses. That being said, having a travel buddy is all the more imperative, someone to hang out with, in the event that the unexpected happens! Also, our hubbies were only going to be in port 2 days, but we most definitely wanted to enjoy the island longer than that!

There are two military bases in Guam. We stayed the first few nights at a friends house on Anderson Air Force Base. It is so beautiful! I got up every morning and went for a run, just to smell the ocean and take in all the lush greenery that inhabits ALL of Guam, the base being no exception.

We enjoyed the beautiful beaches and yummy food while waiting on the ship's arrival.

I loved how clear the water was...and so warm, seriously felt like bath water!

The boat did in fact pull in and Nick and I got 45 precious hours together! Such a sweet reunion!

We stayed at the Pacific Islands Club, right on the water.

The hotel was very family oriented, and though we don't have kids, we enjoyed the awesome water park that was connected.

Nick and I, about to go down one of the slides...like water Amusement park slides, not local pool slides...very fun!

Dinner for two at Al Dente in the Hyatt...delicious Italian cuisine.

Our last night in Guam we met up with one of our good friends Sam (another Navy pilot whom we've known since our early days of flight school in Pensacola).

This is the view from Sam's house. Can't complain about waking up to that every morning!

We ate at one of Sam's local favorites....Caliente! (Sam's from Texas as well, we like our Mexican food different than other parts of the US, this restaurant didn't disappoint and made me feel closer to home!)

It was a short trip and even shorter time with Nick, but a few days of sunshine by the sea made this beach girl very happy! A repeat is hopefully in my near future!

Hello Holman, Hello Fall

My favorite time of year is here and thankfully, so is my husband. Nick has been home about a week now, and the crisp breeze of fall has as well!

After a long year of deployments, Nick is home to stay (at least we hope) for a while.

Home just in time for Halloween, we decided to take my Japanese students trick-or-treating together. Of course normally when I meet my students it is at their house or mine, to learn English (and even when I teach at home, Nick is always deployed or at work). But, they always ask me about my "otto" (husband), and were super excited to finally get to meet him.

Halloween is an American holiday (if you can even call it that), one that is not traditionally celebrated in Japan. Of course many Japanese try to adopt some of our Western traditions, and therefore it isn't uncommon to see a bit of Halloween decorations in a few of the stores. One of my students even had her house decorated for Halloween/Fall (though the Japanese are minimalists so her decorations were very spare, albeit adorable!)

Considering Halloween isn't a Japanese holiday, the children here don't trick-or-treat on October 31st like in the US...but of course we have our American base here, with hundreds of families who's kids shouldn't have to miss out on an American past-time just because they live overseas. Therefore, every year our base puts on a big trick-or-treating event.

My friend dressed up as Anpanman....my favorite Japanese character (he's like the Mickey Mouse of Japan)...she made the costume herself, very impressive!

The event is "open base" which means non-military are allowed on base, as long as they are with a "sponsor". In other words, I was allowed to take my Japanese students on base with me, so they could go trick-or-treating with the American children.

Though it wasn't their first time (they went last year with the girl who taught them before me), my students enjoyed dressing up in costume and getting candy....Two little witches, Mini Mouse, and Rapunzel!

I've always loved Halloween myself....it was fun to show my students how we celebrate Halloween in the States and finally introduce them to Nick. (Being girls, they all thought he was "hannndsome" and were very shy with him....super cute!)

Happy Fall and Happy Homecoming!