The Yukata Beauty Pageant and My Life's Passion

My friend, Rino, who works for the City of Nanjo planned a huge beach party for this past weekend and asked if I’d be interested in entering the yukata contest. I imagined just showing up in yukata and hanging around and getting judged, so I said sure. But it ended up being much more intense than that.

So ignorant of what's to come. So blissfully, wonderfully ignorant.

 I was told to arrive an hour early and report to a little room where all the contestants were hanging out. These girls were SO gorgeous. Some of them were professional models, and most of them had their hair professionally styled. Feeling immediately out of place with my self-made hair and general gaijin-awkwardness, I took my seat and waited around for an hour for the contest to start. Thank goodness my friend Kazuno was with me to keep me sane or I would have bolted out of that room at the earliest opportunity. ;)

Waiting in the contestants' room with Kazuno. Starting to feel the pressure.

Finally the contest started and we were marched across this huge stage in front of … oh… a thousand people?! Yabai.

Can you spot the foreigner? Here's a hint: she's a GIANT.

After that, all 35 contestants we were taken on stage one-by-one and interviewed by some local celebrity guys. When my kakoii-boy escort met me before our interview, I asked him to practice the questions exactly as they would go down, because my Japanese isn't that great in the first place, and on stage in front of a thousand people, I knew I was doomed. So he went through each question that he'd ask:

1. What's your name?
2. What are you doing in Okinawa?
3. What's your favorite thing about Japanese matsuri?
4. How do you say that in English?
5. What's your favorite thing about your yukata?

We rehearsed the questions and answers a few times and I felt pretty confident when I stepped into the spotlight. My answers went like this:

1. Lebekka desu! *corny smile*
2. Koyo Koko no Eigo no kyoshi desu! (English teacher)
3. Yakitori!
4. Chicken stick!
5. I like the color!

 

I felt so proud of my pretend Japanese and my ability to smile and pose a little, but when I walked off the stage and met Kazuno, she looked concerned: "He changed the questions!"

Apparently my tricky escort decided to switch things up on me at the last minute.So instead of asking what I did in Okinawa, he asked where I was from in America, and instead of asking how to say yakitori in English, he asked what my passion was.

I was so nervous and stage-struck that I was completely unable to process these changes and proudly proclaimed to all of Nanjo that I am not only from "English Teacher, America" but that my passion in life is "chicken stick!"

At least my obi didn't come untied or anything.:P

 Needless to say, I didn't win, and I won't be entering next year, but it was definitely a fun and ... unique experience, and I'm glad I was dumb brave enough to try. ;)

Kazuno: Sneak Peek

Look at me! Making sneak peek blogs like a pro! Too bad I am only masquerading as a photographer. For now. ;) 

Mommy-to-be, Kazuno, and I headed to Toyosaki Beach today to take advantage of the blue skies and sunset potential for her maternity photo shoot. 

She is going to have her first baby any day now, so I was a little worried when the typhoon rolled in and I didn't know when we'd see the sun again. Luckiliy, it returned in time for us to capture that adorable baby bump. 

Being pregnant in Okinawa may not be so bad after all. 

The sunset did not disappoint, and I did my best to capture it and my gorgeous friend. I took about a thousand photos, and so these are just a few (mostly) unedited samples of what's to come. 

Soo many sun flare photos!
This is no where near the best of them, but I love her happy smile!  

Oh, what a fun day! 

Blooper Photo. Win. :) 

BBQ Season

BBQ Season
Originally uploaded by ReBekha Michele

If the last two weekends are any indication, this is going to be an incredible summer.

I don't even mind working and teaching all summer as long as I can run to the beach afterwards to light things on fire, grill some jalapeño burgers, and throw myself into the ocean.




Nope. Don't mind at all.

Beach Streak and Beast Smoke

1.Mibaru Beach

2. "Ghost Beach" (Our nickname for the beach because it is supposedly haunted. I don't know the actual name.)

3. Hiyakuna Beach

4. Gushichan Beach

5. Naminoue Beach (Not the prettiest view in the world...)

6. Hiyakuna Beach (again)

For six straight days, I have gone for a walk on the beach,

and it has made a huge impact on my attitude.

Even though I live in paradise, it is easy to get caught up in the daily blah-blah,

but a trip to the beach can completely refresh my perspective and

remind me just how lucky I am to be here.

Yesterday I sadly broke my 6 day streak.

Or, more accurately, the weather broke it.

Up until Sunday the weather was absolutely perfect: sunshine, blue skies, warmth. It was so warm, in fact, that I got a sunburn on Saturday, but Sunday it started to get gloomy and yesterday it was so wet and cold and windy that I couldn't bear the thought of going anywhere but home. The weather is no better today. Worse, in fact.

I need my sunshine and my paradise back!

In Other News:

My car died. Again. Gah! Driving a car here has been the most

stressful, expensive experience of my life.

My poor Beast.

Last night I was driving my friend to her surprise birthday party. When I stopped at a red light, I noticed white smoke billowing from beneath my hood. I pulled the Beast over and my temperature gauge was through the roof. Luckily, another friend was nearby and was able to pick us up.

On the way home, I decided to try and get it back to my house. I made it about a km from home when the smoke and the heat started up again. Fortunately, I was just a block from my car garage so I parked my beast-baby on their door step and left the key in the ashtray.

My supervisor said she would call this morning and tell them why.

Erg.

Now I really need a walk on the beach!

Something Scratching in the Night

A few nights ago I was settling down and preparing to crawl under the covers when I heard a different kind of crawling. Something was going scratch, scratch, scurry in the next room. Once I gathered my courage to peer around the sliding door, I found a strange shell scooting across my tatami. Apparently, it was occupied.

Lest you think this is just some tiny little hermit crab that snuck in with my prolific shell collection, I took a picture to give some perspective:

That ain't no baby!

The first question is, naturally: HOW did it get in my house?!?

I suppose it's possible he just crawled right into my apartment, but I live on the third floor!

And my door is rarely left open, and never long enough to admit a crab of this stature.

Such a mystery.

My friends and I have come up with a few theories:

-I brought his shell home, thought it was empty, and forgot about it.

-Somebody else brought it over and didn't mention it.

-It crawled up three flights of stairs, snuck in the front door, and jumped from the entry way into the house. ??

-The poor guy was snatched up by a bird which flew the mile or so from the beach before dropping the shell onto my front patio, hoping to crack the shell open (which would account for the damage to the shell... but still... how did it get IN my house?!?).

-It is a spirit crab, come to warn me of danger to come. Or something.

What do you think?

He didn't really scare me (except when he was marching straight toward the camera like this with those spider-like legs a-scurryin') but I was so shocked that I immediately called my neighbor-JET, Kim.

"The weirdest thing just happened to me," I whispered, trying not to scare the crab back into it's shell.

"What happened?!? Are you okay?!"

"Yeah, yeah. I am fine, but... there's a.... a crab... a giant crab... in my house!"

"I'll be right there. Boil some water."

So I scratched my head, left the hermit crab to scurry about the tatami room, put a pot of water on the stove, and waited for Kim. She was there in no time and marched right in, blue cone in hand, prepared to take on the crab intruder.

"Where is it?" she demanded, all full of courage and crab cravings.

I pointed and she dropped her purse, held up her cone, and charged.

She stopped short. "You mean that??" She shook her head.

Apparently, Kim didn't realize I was talking about a hermit crab--which is not so prime for eating. I guess I should have specified. :P

So, instead of boiling the lil guy to death and serving him with butter,

we stuck him in the cone,

drove him to the beach,

and set him free.

I like to think of him out there right now, enjoying this fantastic spring weather (70 degrees!), and searching for a new, less damaged shell to call home.

Crawl free, Hermie. Crawl free.

Lovely Morning

As I was snoozing my alarm clock this morning, I noticed that it was ringing ten minutes before it was supposed to.

I programmed my first alarm for 7:30 but it went off at 7:20,

7:45 buzzed at 7:35,

8:00 : 7:50.

I thought to myself, "It's like my alarm is trying to get me out of bed early," hit the snooze button again, and crawled back under my down comforter.

When I finally did wake up (8:03) I kicked myself for being such a sleep glutton and ignoring the message from my alarm clock. This is the sight that greeted my sleepy eyes:

Fog!

Fog is by far my favorite type of weather, and this is one of the only times I have encountered it here. Combined with the light of the just-risen sun, it was magical.

I rushed through my morning routine even more than I would normally have to after waking up at 8:03, hopped in my bat mobile and rushed down to the local beach to try and snatch a photo of the fog rolling in over the water. On the way, I stole a photo of this lady sweeping. She caught me and gave me a dirty look, but it would have been worth it if the photo had been any good. ;P

Despite my best efforts, I had no luck. By the time I got to the beach, the sun had burned off what was left of the fog.

I still enjoyed a couple lovely minutes at the beach, snapping off photos from my car (lazy girl that I am) before rushing off to work.

The final straw in my lovely hat of a morning was opening my mail. I haven't checked my personal mail box in awhile (sick of campaign junk mail) but am glad I did this morning.

My parents sent me two beautiful cards and my best bud Tristan sent me a book. :)

All in all, this Monday morning has turned out to be a great start to my week.

The Restless Boredom of Indecision: Cured

When the clock stuck the appropriate hour, I began to gather my books and laptop and to take my leave of the other teachers. But then, as I slung my bag over my shoulder and reached for my cardigan, I hesitated. A terrible feeling began to take shape, a feeling which I can only describe as the restless boredom of indecision. 

This feeling strikes rarely--usually when I'm faced with a night with no real plans and too many possibilities. A night like tonight. 

So, as I stood, suspended over my cluttered desk like a demented hot air balloon, I weighed my options:

-Stay: Sit at the desk, type around the internet, rearrange my desk for the millionth time.

-Join a club: It's fun to hang around with the students after school and join the dance club or volleyball club, but I just wasn't feeling it. I've been spending a lot of evenings at work lately. 

-Home: Lonely, dark, and quiet home. With dirty dishes.

-Other? Here loomed endless possibilities of entertainment, friends I could visit, adventures I could take, but none of them concrete enough to act upon in my state of preemptive boredom. 

However, one glance outside made my mind up for me.  

Seconds later I was in the car, windows down, and winding my way along the coast. Warm, sunny, sparkling, ocean. Oh yeah. 

When I got to my favorite beach I suited up in my running gear and took off down the beach. After a few steps, however, I stopped. Not because I was out of breath, but because this sight took my breath away:

I slowed my pace numerous times as I strode down the beach to take in the deepening shades of color.Of course I left my camera at home, and my cellphone camera really doesn't do justice, but this was one of the loveliest sunsets I've seen. The clouds added dimension, the ocean water reflected the colors brilliantly, and there were even some jets leaving their golden streams through the sun. Gorgeous. 

I even found some leaves to crunch! Quite the rarity here in the subtropics.

This was technically before I changed into running clothes, but look! You can see my new shoes! :)

All of these factors--the run, the sun, the leaves--made me giddy and I decided to reward myself with a seaweed salad at the best little cafe in Okinawa. 

They decorated for Christmas. 

A sweet little kitty greeted me at the door 

And bid me goodnight. 

After that little adventure I was happy to go back to my cozy, quiet apartment. It's funny how perspective can change so easily.