Weddings Japanese Style

There is a shocking lack of Japanese culture in Japan. When I was sitting in the States with my National Geographic I was picturing a place where everyone wore kimonos and commuted in rickshaws and sat on the floor eating noodles with chopsticks. I expected gilded temples and buddhas and pagodas.

But Japan is extremely modern, and in the process of modernizing they Westernized as well. My first impression of Okinawa was neon. There were so many lights that I couldn't even find the stoplights. There were modern concrete and glass buildings and traffic jams. The first "attraction" I was taken to was a giant ferris wheel on top of a mall. We drank Starbucks coffee. Aside from the fact that the signs were in Japanese, I could have been on a street in LA.

Oh well, I thought. It's probably just this part of the city. I assumed that if I drove away from downtown I would find "real Japan." Well it took a significant amount of driving, flying, train travel, and walking to get there, but I found "real Japan" in Nara this last trip.

This is a traditional wedding at a traditional shrine in traditional Nara:

Complete with kimonos...
And a rickshaw...It's a beautiful country if you know where to look!

It's Been a While

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately. My excuse is that I've been busy (it happens when you work three jobs and go to grad school at the same time), and Peter's excuse is that he has unreliable internet access. So here's an update:

Peter spent about six weeks doing sustainment training in Kuwait in January. That meant he spent a lot of time sleeping in a tent and herding sheep and camels off the firing range so he could practice shooting his rifle. Since then details about his whereabouts have been pretty hazy. He is back on his ship and they are sailing somewhere, but not headed home yet. He spent a few days in Dubai, and I believe that was the last time he was on solid ground (although who knows what he isn't allowed to tell me). The bad news was that his deployment was extended by a month, so now the earliest I will see him is June. I am planning to fly back to the States to see him when the boat comes in, but that depends on my work schedule.


I have been busy working, studying, and traveling. I decided that individual tutoring in the classroom for college algebra was taking too much of my time, so I filmed my entire series of college algebra lectures and posted them online. The thought was that now I can send the videos out to students and "tutor" without leaving the comfort of my home. It was a great plan, but it was a lot of work. I am in the midst of my Masters program. I recently finished a course on curriculum and lesson planning, and now I am taking a research class - because it wouldn't be graduate work without research.


I also spent the past two weeks visiting with my parents, who came to visit me in Japan. We spent the first week hanging out here in Okinawa, where their sightseeing was slightly hampered by an order restricting Americans to the military bases. Luckily, the restrictions were lifted a couple days before they left, so they did get to see a few of the sights. We left Okinawa together to travel to mainland Japan, where we visited the cities of Nara, Himeji, and Kyoto. The photos included in this blog are some of my favorites from the trip. If I am feeling bloggingly enthusiastic, maybe I will post more soon.

Love to all,
Kristin

PS - To anyone who is interested, my brother has a blog too: sdelalla.blogspot.com. Check it out to see some of his artwork - he's pretty amazing!

Thanks... belated

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to write and say that I was finally able to look at all the Christmas videos that you all made for me. Thank you. I wish I could look at them on ship but, the connection is way too slow when I'm there. Anyways, thank you all for your support you have no idea what it means to me. I love you all.






ILY OXXX

Peter's vacation

That's right, I said it. "Vacation". I have read the paper cover to cover everyday I've been here. I have had a hot cup of coffee from a very prominent coffee chain while I read that paper. I have great food. I have hot showers and flushing toilets (that don't smell like shrimp I might add). So, all in all I have confirmed with myself that I am on vacation. There is only one thing missing of course...



ILY OXXX

Kristin's hug campaign

Hey everybody. Sorry I don't get on here more but, it's hard on ship. The reason for this post is that Kristin really needs a hug this week. If everybody who can could give her a hug from me that'd be awesome. If you're not there, please just send her an email to make her day. I really appreciate it. Semper Fi.

A Thanksgiving Post from Peter

I am Thankful for many things.

1. My family of course. They love and support me no matter what.

2. My friends. Who are merely an extension of my family.

3. The Marines. Because without them none of us would have number 4.

4. A country where I can be thankful for whatever I want… and express it freely.

Be thankful for what you want but, always remember somebody paid a price for it.

Last and most importantly…

Her. I am so thankful for her. She has helped me grow in so many ways I can’t begin to count. Her smile brightens my day. A few words in an email keep me going day in and day out. Her Love is why I choose to fight for my country. Because without Love like ours… life isn’t worth it. Semper Fidelis. ILY OXXX

Happy Thanksgiving!

When I hear the word Thanksgiving, the first thought that pops into my head is PUMPKIN PIE!! Followed by turkey, mashed potatoes, greenbean casserole, pretzel jello salad (it's heavenly and my family only serves it during the holiday season), spice cookies, corn pudding, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and....well basically as soon as the weather gets cold (or slightly "chilly" here in the tropics) and people start talking about the holidays, I start thinking about stuffing my face. It's the only time of year when I will voluntarily bake.

But eating until I puke is not the point of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is about being thankful.

There are a lot of things I am thankful for. Here are some of them:

My Amazing Family (all of whom really suck at holding still for photos):

(My perfect husband)

(The best parents ever)

(My favorite brother)


(The above two photos seem to be the only two photos I have of my favorite inlaws)

(And my favorite sisters-in-laws)

My Wonderful Friends:

(My Colorado Friends)

(Rebecca - The Bestest Pal Eva - My Almost Sister)

I'm thankful for friends who still care enough to keep in touch regularly, even though I have been gone for a decade (Megan, James, Jessica's Family, Tara).

And I'm thankful for Rachel (far right) - who had her brain bashed in by a reckless driver this summer, and is getting a second chance at life thanks to her wonderful doctors, supportive family, and her own personal miracle. I'm so glad you're still here Rach.

I'm also thankful for all my Okinawa friends, but I don't have room to post the hundreds of photos I have of you guys. It's nice to have a family away from home though.

My Neurotic Animals:

(The Fierceness)

(The Queen Bee)

(The Goofball)

(Bigfoot)

(Lover Boy)

I have a nice apartment with ocean views in a nice neighborhood on a tropical island.
I have plenty of food to eat, even when it isn't Thanksgiving.
I am not only employed - I have four jobs.
I had the opportunity to go to college.
I have the means to go to college AGAIN so I can get ANOTHER degree and ANOTHER job.
I have two cars.
I can afford to travel.

But the biggest things I am thankful for this year are Peter.

I am thankful he is mine.

I am thankful we have such a happy marriage.

I am thankful that he is on a boat right now, and not in The Sandy Place (he was supposed to be).

I am thankful that he has the means to communicate with me almost daily.

I am thankful that he had the opportunity to train extensively before he deployed, so that he will be better able to do his job.

Hopefully next year, I will be thankful that he is HOME.