Things I've Learned in Japan (mostly at ARI)

1. How to use chopsticks
This is not so essential at ARI where we have forks and spoons, but very important if you want to eat when traveling around Japan and you don't know how to ask for a fork in Japanese.

2. ALWAYS remove your shoes before entering a house or building (Dad, I bet you like this one)
At ARI, they provide you with slippers to put on when you enter a building. They even have special slippers to wear in the kitchen and the bathroom.

3. Press the hot water button before taking a shower.
My roommate, Pia, forgot to mention this minor detail so I've been taking showers that were hot for the first 3 or so minutes, and then suddenly very cold.

4. Organic food is delicious!
I think that I knew this anyway, but the food here is incredible, perhaps partially because there is so much satisfaction in knowing that we planted, took care of, cooked, and harvested everything that we eat.

5. Rice is the most important food in Japan.
They serve rice for every meal! The Japanese word for rice is pronounced "gohan," and it is a part of the name of every meal. For example, breakfast is "asa gohan." Lunch is "ohiru gohan," and dinner is "ban gohan."

6. Even after an earthquake, the ground still feels like it's shaking!
I experienced my first earthquake last night! It was a bit unreal, but not quite as scary as I thought it would be. It was only a small one though. Apparently they're pretty common, but the biggest one to date in this area was not very high on the Richter scale, so no worries!

7. Bread is a delicacy at ARI
Since the majority of our grain production and consumption is rice, we don't make bread very often. This week my roommate Pia, Gocchan (the woman in charge of the kitchen), and I made some of the best bread that I've ever tasted!

8. A nail brush is one of the most essential items to possess at ARI
Thank you Kelly!

9. English is a very difficult language to speak.
Me, one staff member, and one Canadian couple are the only native English speakers at ARI. Listening to everyone else struggle with our crazy pronunciations of things has really shown me the difficult aspects in our language.

10. Japanese knives are MUCH sharper than American ones.
Don't worry, I haven't lost any fingers yet.

11. Waking up at 6:20 isn't hard at ARI...
Especially when the ducks wake you up at 5:30!

12. Homemade yogurt is SOOOO good!

13. Frisbee transcends all language barriers!

14. Singing hymns at ARI is a very joyful experience.
Every morning we have morning gathering in the chapel and one person leads a kind of devotion. There are usually 2 hymns that everyone sings at the top of their lungs. It is so fun!

15. I love ARI!!!
The people here are incredible! It is such a loving, accepting, welcoming community, and I'm so blessed to be a part of it.