Sunday, October 28, 2007

28/10/07

Konbanwa!

Hello, friends and family. I have some news about NOVA but here are some fun pics I have from an outing with Sara. We went to Sunshine which is a big mall type thing in Ikebukuro. It was a beautiful day . . . too bad we decided to stay inside the whole time practically ;)

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Here are some costumed people doing a skit in the middle of the mall. . the guy with the round head is a pretty well known cartoon character. I think his name is Panpan Man. I'm not 100% sure though on that.


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
These are some interesting men caring a . . .yes. . huge GYOZA!!!! Which is a dumpling in English. Supposebly there was a Gyoza festival. LOL. and these men were the spokesmen. LOL.


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Here are some women advertising on the street for the Gyoza Festival and those are gyoza hats on their heads. I really wish they were selling them but sadly they weren't.

Okay, about my job now. . . sadly it's been shut down for at least a week to let the government decide whether it should go bankrupt or if it will step in and help/ let another company step in and take control. We'll see. I'm not sure which one I'd wrather have happen. It's kind of worrisome yet I really can't do anything about it so. . . I'm not losing much sleep from it but am looking for a new job/ privates to make it through the winter till January when I can apply for a real job. Since I am coming home for 3 weeks I can't really apply to any long term jobs saddly. But pray I may decide to just move home in February but I'd like to stay 1 more year. We'll see. God willing.

Please pray for all the NOVA teachers and workers. . .it's something like 3,000 Japanese workers and something like 4,000 foreign teachers who are most likely unemployeed. Thanks.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

24/10/07

konnichiwa!

Here is the most recent news on NOVA. Tomorrow is the day to end all days or the last few dying breaths of a company. If we get paid then it will drudge on but if they don't then it's all over. Most likely it is all over to be realistic. I"ve started to look for a new job. Please pray I can find another job to last me till the end of February when my visa ends. I will come home for Christmas but then I"ll come back to Japan till February or maybe March. If I can find someone to sponser me for a month and a half. LOL. But most likely I'll head home at the end of February.

But to be perfectly honest I don't want to come home. I know it's the best and it's really what I need to do but I'm so happy in Japan except for the job thing. No, I don't like Tokyo any more then I use to but having an amazing boyfriend does help a whole lot :) Yesterday we celebrated our 1 week anniversary which seemed silly to say but we were happy to celebrate it!!!

I'm not sure what will happen with him and me when I move home. . . God only knows but we'll take everything 1 day at a time. We both agree that whatever happens will happen and that we'll worry about me going home closer to when I go home.

I am excited about starting my photography business (check out my website at www.melodylewis.com) . My sister and father are both kind enough to help me out too with the business and financial side of it all. It'll be fun to do photography finally. A year kind of away from portraite/ people photography has made me miss it. I am excited about seeing my family and being in the Northwest.

Anyways. . . please pray that we get paid tomorrow. Really this would be the BEST thing. I will still come home even if we get paid because I need to start my business but if we don't get paid it will be difficult financially. I know the Lord has me in His hands and I trust Him.

Thanks for all your prayers thus far.


Melody

Saturday, October 20, 2007

20/10/07

I want to keep you all up to date with the wonderful life of working at NOVA.

So we still haven't gotten paid yet. . . they say supposibly we should be getting paid on the 25th but most of us think that is a load of crap but we'll see. Most teachers aren't working anymore or are taking random days off since we aren't getting paid and it looks like we won't be. The Japanese staff haven't even gotten paid for August's pay check . . . so they are going on two months. Crazy. I am working today but I'm not sure about the next day or what to do really. Tatsuya and I talked about it and we agreed that I should work today. If I didn't I'd probably feel bad the whole day for not going in.

What do you think I should do?

I am not sure waht I'm going to do about work or Japan at the moment. It looks like home is what will happen becuase of my student loans but I'd like to stay here for certain reasons. But I trust in the Lord and know that His will is good and that what will happen will happen so I'm not too worried. But just with work, not getting paid, student loans, Japan or America, Tatsuya and myself. . .etc. . .it's a bit much these days. But it's teaching me to lay down a BURDIN.

By the by I have a great boyfriend. . . .last night we were talking about NOVA and I was a bit worried because of what was happening and he just looked at me and said "Melody, worry about tomorrow tomorrow. Today, think about today. Let tomorrow take care of itself. I will pray for you tomorrow that you won't be so stressed out. But for now lets enjoy tonight. . . " He's a good man.

On a lighter note. . . I went to a gallary yesterday with my roommate in Roppongi. I got two free tickets to this Vermeer exhibition but in the end they only had like 1 picture by him the rest were by other dutch artests. It was nice but not worth what my student paid for them. Also it was a let down because they really pushed that it was a Vermeer exhibition. Weird huh? But we saw that there were some really cool exhibitions in other rooms but we had to pay for those so opted on not going seeing as we have no income these days. . . .hahahhah . . ha.

here are some pics from that though.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

it was pretty cool building. . . I didn't really capture it though. . .sorry. . .

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

The inside of the building.


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

weird children in house shirts. . . .I imagine Lisa Goe in one of these singing "Smile". It made me smile.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

My lovely roommate and I digesting after eating and walking around the gallary.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Me making a funny face. . . don't ask me why I'm posting it but I look funny so I thought you all would enjoy it too.


Love you all.

God bless

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

16/10/07

Today I went to Odaiba for Tatsuya's b'day. We were planning on going to Disneyland but when we got there it was raining and we didn't want to walk around all day with umbrellas and being cold. So we thought a bit and decided to go to Odaiba and pray that it's not raining in Tokyo. We were pleasantly surprised. Not only was it not raining but it wasn't that cold either. We went for a walk by the water over to this little island where you can then turn and look at Odaiba. We sat on this cliff that let our feet dangle over the ocean and we watched as fish jumped out of the water for their lunch. It was a nice overcast day and we could see the statue of liberty for where we sat. lol. (yes, they have a replica of the statue of liberty. . . don't ask me why) While we sat there I gave him his present (a knit scarf). He loved it. He was sooo funny. He then proceeded to ask me out and I said yes. So there you have it ladies and gentlemen. . . .I am officially dating someone. Can you believe it? 4 years almost since my last. Hahahahah. We then went to the main area of Odaiba and went on this huge ferrise wheel, had lunch, walked around, had coffee, went bowling (we both bowled a 111. Ironically I usually suck. I mean I got 4 gutters at first but then I got 2 strikes in a row and then a strike and a spare at the end. lol), etc. We headed back to Ikebukuro for dinner. We found this super cute Italian restraunt (a bit of a diamond in the rough) that was tucked away in the loudness of Ikebukuro but I highly recommend it. We had spagetti and Pizza and talked some more. It was nice. He's a great guy. He even got me to my train before last train which was good.

I'm sure there will be a lot of questions and I'd love to answer them so please e-mail me don't comment me becuase it will be easier to reply.

Love you


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

can you see the statue of liberty? or the jumping fish.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Me and Tatsuya. . . .I have the cheeziest grin on my face but he looks handsome.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Him opening his present from me. . . ps. . I love his hair! I really do.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

View from the ferris wheel

I know I didn't take many pics but. . . I didn't want to ruin the day by taking pictures and what not.

Anyways. . .love you all.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

12/10/07

Hello Friends, and Family,

I am writing thing because I need some prayer. My company as you might know isn't doing so well and is maybe on the verge of collapsing. I just found out that this next pay will be delayed 4 days which is a scary thing becuase in 4 days all the teachers could quit and I could have no job. My roommate and I are going to give them a week (really I'll give them 2). I am kind of scared because I have no other job here. . . I know the Lord could provide me one and I know that I have a family that could get me home but I really would like to stay. We'll see. It's in the Lord's hands. Could you please pray for His will to be done in Japan. In all aspects.

The teachers are being really poor about what is happening because they aren't giving any room for problems with the company. Obviously it's going through a ahrd time so we need to give a little. The japanese managers haven't gotten paid for 3 weeks and they kept coming. And if all the teachers quit then the Japanese staff will be SUPER stressed out. I would feel sooooo badly for them.

Please pray for them all. The suicide rate in Japan is soo high and alot of it has to do with school, work, and expectations. Please pray for the lives in Nova. Nova may not be the best company but I wish people would look past Nova and see the people whose lives are dependent ON Nova. I wish people would stop thinking about themselves and think of others. I pray that the Lord works a miracle becuase it will take one for NOVA to stay open with all the people saying they will quit.

Prayer please.

Melody

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a futrues. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.


Jeremiah 29:11-13

Thursday, October 11, 2007

11/10/07

Hello All,

So I was checking online what names mean. Here in Japan most people's name have a kanji (chinese character) that goes along with it which has a meaning. Two people can have the same name but two different meanings too.

Here are my families names.

Patrick Dean:

Patrick comes from the Roman name Patricius, which meant "nobleman" in Latin. A 5th-century saint, the patron saint of Ireland, adopted this name (his birth name was Sucat). During his youth he was captured by Irish raiders and enslaved, but after six years of servitude he escaped to his home in Britain. Eventually he became a bishop and went back to Ireland as a missionary, where he succeeded in Christianizing the entire country

dean comes From a surname which means either "valley" from Old English denu or else "dean" from Middle English deen (ultimately from Latin decanus meaning "chief of ten"). The actor James Dean was a famous bearer of the surname.

Helen Fay:

Helen comes from From the Greek ‘Ελενη (Helene), probably from the Greek ‘ελενη (helene) "torch" or "corposant", or possibly from σεληνη (selene) "moon". In Greek mythology Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose kidnapping by Paris was the cause of the Trojan War. The name was also borne by Saint Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, who supposedly found the True Cross during a trip to Jerusalem. Another famous bearer was Helen Keller, the American author and lecturer who was both blind and deaf.

Fay comes Derived from Middle English faie meaning "fairy". It appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Arthurian legends in the name of Morgan le Fay.

Jason Patrick:

Jason comes From the Greek name Ιασων (Iason), which was derived from Greek ιασθαι (iasthai) "to heal". Jason was the leader of the Argonauts in Greek legend. He went in search of the Golden Fleece in order to win back his kingdom from his uncle Pelias. During his journeys he married the sorceress Medea, who helped him gain the fleece and kill his uncle, but who later turned against him when he fell in love with another woman. This name also appears in Acts in the New Testament.

Patrick: see above

Anna Jean:

Anna comes Latinate form of HANNAH. It appears briefly in the New Testament belonging to a prophetess who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. It was also borne by an 18th-century empress of Russia and by the main character in Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina', a woman forced to choose between her son and her lover.

Hannah comes from From the Hebrew name חַנָּה (Channah) which meant "favour" or "grace". Hannah was the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament. The Latin version of this name is Anna.

Jean is a Medieval variant of JANE which is a female version of John

John comes from English form of Iohannes, which was the Latin form of the Greek name Ιωαννης (Ioannes), itself derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan) meaning "YAHWEH is gracious". This name owes its consistent popularity to two New Testament characters, both highly revered as saints. The first was John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ and a victim of beheading by Herod Antipas. The second was the apostle John, also supposedly the author of the fourth Gospel and Revelation.
The name has been borne by 21 popes and eight Byzantine emperors, as well as kings of England, France, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Portugal and Hungary. It was also borne by the poet John Milton and the philosopher John Locke.

Glen Eric

Glen comes From a Scottish surname which meant "valley" in Gaelic.

Eric comes From the Old Norse name Eiríkr, derived from ei "ever" and ríkr "ruler". Danish invaders first brought the name to England. A famous bearer was Eiríkr inn Rauda (Eric the Red in English), a 10th-century navigator and explorer who discovered Greenland. This was also the name of kings of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Scott Philip

Scott comes From a surname which meant "Scotsman" in Old English. The original meaning of the word Scot is debated, but it may mean "tattoo", so given because Scotsmen often had tattoos.

Philip From the Greek name Φιλιππος (Philippos) which means "friend of horses", composed of the elements φιλος (philos) "friend" and ‘ιππος (hippos) "horse". Saint Philip was one of the twelve apostles. This was also the name of an early figure in the Christian church spoken of in Acts in the New Testament. The name was borne by five kings of Spain, six kings of France, and five kings of Macedon, including Philip II the father of Alexander the Great.

Brandie Lyn

Brandie Simply means "brandy" from the English word for the alcoholic drink. It is ultimately from Dutch brandewijn "distilled wine".

Lyn comes From an English surname which derives from Welsh llyn "lake". It can also be a short form of LINDA or names which end in lyn or line.

Paul Michael

Paul comes From the Roman family name Paulus, which meant "small" or "humble" in Latin. Saint Paul was an important leader of the early Christian church, his story told in Acts in the New Testament. He was originally named Saul, but changed his name after converting to Christianity. Most of the epistles in the New Testament were authored by him. This was also the name of six popes. Famous bearers of this name in the art world include Paul Cezanne and Paul Gauguin, both 19th-century impressionist painters from France.

Michael From the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el) which meant "who is like God?". This is the name of one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition and the only one identified as an archangel in the Bible. In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven's armies, and thus is considered the patron saint of soldiers.
This was the name of nine Byzantine emperors and a czar of Russia. Other more modern bearers of this name include the 19th-century chemist/physicist Michael Faraday and basketball player Michael Jordan.

Wendee (sorry Wendee I think your last name is Lynn but I think I"m wrong too :( I'm a horrible sister)

Wendee comes Probably first used in J. M. Barrie's play 'Peter Pan' in 1904. It was from the nickname fwendy "friend", given to the author by a young friend. However, there is some evidence that the name may have been used prior to the play, in which case it could be related to the Welsh name GWENDOLEN or other names beginning with element gwen meaning "white, fair, blessed".

Bethany Faith

Bethany comes Means "house of figs" in Hebrew, from a biblical place name. In the New Testament Bethany was the town where Lazarus lived.

Faith is Simply means "faith" from the English word, ultimately from Latin fidere "to trust". This was one of the virtue names favoured by the Puritans.

Melody Anne

Melody is Means simply "melody" from the English word, which derives (via Old French and Late Latin) from Greek μελος (melos) "song" combined with αειδω (aeido) "to sing".

Anne is the same as Anna. See above.

If you want to check out other names you can check this site out
http://www.behindthename.com/

Sunday, October 7, 2007

07/10/07

Konbanwa!!!

Minasanwa genkidesuka. watashiwa genkidesho! kyowa hakusande shigotowo shimasu. shigotode ippai kodomonono kurasu desu. dakara. . .chotto taihen desune. Senshuuto konshuuwa watashiwa chotto kimochiwarui. . . chotto. . onakawa gura gura guradesu. demo daijobu. Ganbarimasu! Ne! Kyonoasawa iitenkideshta!!! Sugoi kirei!!! watashiwa koenni ikkitai!! Ne!

Good Evening!

How are you all? I'm doing well. Today I worked in Hakusan (which if you've been to Japan is on the Mita line). TOday I had a bunch of kid's classes which was kind of tiring. The past week or so I've been kind of feeling a little under the weather but I'm okay. I'm sure it will go away. Today was beautiful too!!!! Really nice weather these days. I really wanted to go to a park today. . sigh :)

Here are some pics from my travels around Japan. . . My friend, Mark, and I had a good adventure looking for nature near Tokyo. Which we found . ..but we had to take a local train around 2 hours out of Tokyo. But we found it :)

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Mark being manly and asking for directions in Japanese!!! sugoi!!! marksanwa nihongo jozu desu.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

As we were walking on the paved sidewalk we past by some farmers. . . . here is this older man (Ojichan) tilling the land. I think by this time Mark is breaking into another version of "We've gone country. . . ". lol

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Here is a cool building I saw as we were walking.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

A hidden gate tucked away in the forest.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Oh, in the country there were a load of bugs. Here are two odd looking grasshoppers that Mark decided to throw at me. In response I screamed as girly as I could. hahaha and then he started to sing "She's gone girl. .."
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Mark being Mark.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Lol, maybe the only time we actually got off pavement. . . .ahhahaha. . . we never really did get into the nature. . oh, it was a good thing. . .the spiders out here were SO big. .. .bigger then in Oregon or California. .and they were flurecent green and black. . ..dad you'd have hated it.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Us at the river still.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

My friend from Hokkaido took me out for some Mongolian Yakiniku. It was good. Lamb, onions, and peppers. Also some good salt mix and sauce. Mmmmm

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

A random festival . . but super cute. A bunch of older men and women dressed up in Kimono type outfits dancing. Super cute.

I hope you all enjoyed these pics. More to come I promise. I love and miss you all.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

04/10/07

Sorry this is going to be a short update. I just got my hair cut last night and I wanted to show you my Japanesei haircut.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

This photo is the night of and my hair was styled by the hairstylest

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

and this is the day after when I styled it. . . it's a work in progress BUT not impossible. I hate haircuts that they make you look SOOOO beautiful in the salon but when you get home it's impossible to remember all the steps.

I definetly felt prettier/ more beautiful after this haircut. I had let my hair grow out of a haircut and perm that weren't done very well. . . when my friend cut my hair she said "where did you last go? The back of your hair isn't the same length on either side". . ..oops.