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This is a story about an
international couple raising and home educating three
young boys on a small island in Japan, half living in
buses, engaged in organic, self-sufficient farming in
the middle of a mountain forest while dealing with
climate, cultural, and personal challenges. These pages
are about pretty much anything and everything all guided
by our family motto, Taking Chances, Making Changes,
Being Happy. Thank you very much for joining us on our
ongoing crazy adventure.
Comments or questions about this blog?....message me at
Facebook. |
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 Rocket
Launch
December 2014 - A rocket launch, Hanukkah, and the
fish festival.
Um had no idea Shai was flipping the bird in this picture when it was taken.
Where could he possibly be learning this stuff? lol.
Picture - Shai flipping the
bird at the beach.
Anyway this was a very busy and fun month for us. We were able to watch the
Hayabusa rocket launch from Hase park.
Then we spent our first Hanukkah on Tanegashima which proved to be interesting
to say the least.
Towards the end of the month was the Minamitane Fish Festival. This event was a
total riot. |
 Hayabusa
Rocket Launch and the Beach
December 3, 2014 -
Today we went to Hase park to
watch the JAXA Hayabusa 2 Rocket
Launch from Tanegashima Space Center. We asked
some lady to take our picture and she took four of them. They all looked really
nice and I could not decide which one to include and went and included them all.
Picture - Us waiting
for the rocket launch.
This was a very important rocket launch and was actually the theme for a movie.
We were all pretty sick with the flu but decided to hang in there and go watch
anyway. This was too much of an important event to be missed.
As it turned out there were several TV camera crews there who were very happy to
find an international couple to interview.
Picture - Hase Park - A nice picture of us
at the park.
Picture - Hase Park - Same picture again.
Picture - Hase Park - And again.
Picture - Hase Park - And again and again.
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch
venue 1.
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch
venue 2.
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch
venue 3.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai was really
excited to see the rocket launch.
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch
venue and food stands.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai was happy to wait
and play at the playground.
Picture - Hase Park - The temperatures got
noticeably cooler and the wind picked up quite a bit before the rocket launch.
Picture - Hase Park - Although not warm today was still
much warmer say than Buffalo, New York this time of year. lol.
Picture - Maenohama Beach -
We decided to go to Maenohama Seaside Park and beach in the afternoon for awhile.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We went to our
favorite beach and hung out for awhile on a cold and windy day.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A beautiful view
of the beach today.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The best way to
warm up is to move around and go crazy with the dogs.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Then Shai began
showing off some of his cool moves.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Another
beautiful view of the beach today. |
 Hayabusa
Rocket Launch Sequence
December 3, 2014 - The rocket launch sequence of
pictures. These pictures were all taken within the time frame of one minute. The
best launch picture, in my opinion, is shown next to the links.
Picture - Rocket
launch sequence picture #3.
These pictures were supposed to be 400 x 300 pixels. Used wifey phone to take
these and everything is in Japanese and did not realize the photo setting was
set to square. lol.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
1.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
2.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
3.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
4.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
5.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
6.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
7.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
8.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
9.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
10.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
11.
Picture - Hase Park - Rocket launch picture
12. |
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December 4, 2014 -
Facebook Post -
ANOTHER CRAZY WINDSTORM -
Yup another windstorm is wreaking havoc on the vegetables in our farm. Totally
underestimated the incredible winds Tanegashima can get during this season. A
lesson learned. Be sure to listen to the locals. No doubt the farm will be much
more productive in the Spring. Until then. |
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Beach Again
December 6, 2014 - Today we headed to the beach
again.
Picture - Maenohama Beach -
Today we went to Maenohama and were hanging out together.
Picture - Maenohama Beach -
Today we went to Maenohama and the dogs really enjoyed the beach.
Picture - Maenohama Beach -
Today we went to Maenohama and the dogs were shredding a coconut.
Picture - Maenohama Beach -
Today we went to Maenohama and were hanging out together.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A beautiful view
of the beach today 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A beautiful view
of the beach today 2. |
Last Fishing Trip
December 7, 2014 -
This was definitely the last fishing trip for this year.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 -
Although the morning was kind of warm it turned much cooler while we were
fishing.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - We
caught nothing and came home to warm up.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The jungle
section of the beach. |
 Picking
and Eating
December 10, 2014 -
Well even after a couple of strong typhoons in October of this year we were
still able to produce some veggies in the farm. Today way a really nice harvest
day and Shai enjoyed picking like crazy. This was actually our first harvest on
Tanegashima.
Picture - Hanging out
at the upper upper farm with the neighbors eating cooked anno imo potatoes.
Picture - Home -
Shai is picking a nice red radish.
Picture - Home - Shai picked all of the
radishes.
Picture - Home - Maybe not his favorite but
picking turnips is still fun.
Picture - Home - Shai continued until all of
the turnips were picked.
Picture - Home - Shai getting ready to pick
some white radishes.
Picture - Home - He picked a really nice daikon
for salad.
Picture - Home - Shai continued until all of
the white radishes were picked.
Picture - Home - A neighbor, the woman
in the middle of the picture, walked over with a bag of cooked Anno Imo potatoes.
this morning.
We all hung out together on the side of the road eating these delicious and warm Tanegashima potatoes. |
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December 8, 2014 -
Facebook Post -
A REALLY NICE DAY AT OUR FAVORITE BEACH -
A bit windy and definitely cooler but lots of fun.
TANEGASHIMA IS FANTASTIC -
Today was another incredible day on Tanegashima. Shai played with his friends
and they all hugged each other when they met even though they meet a lot. A very
touching moment. Another neighbor came and gave me a can of coffee while I was
working in the farm. And then someone came with a tractor to plow the field when
they noticed I was working with hand tools. All of this today. Tanegashima is
simply an incredible place with wonderful people. Thanks again. |
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December 13, 2014 -
Facebook Post -
A nice beginning for the weekend. Today is cloudy and windy and rainy. We
planned to stay home but then went into town, 8 minutes away to eat at our
favorite restaurant, then to the vegetable store 1 minute away, then to the
grocery store 3 minutes away, then to the onsen for a relaxing shower and
Jacuzzi 4 minutes away, then home to drink beer 10 minutes away, and tonight eat
nabe, more drinking and relaxing, in the same room, and wondering if this
qualifies in English grammar as a run on sentence. lol. |
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Friends Visited
December 14, 2014 - Shai was hanging out with his
friends, Kose and Takeru, in the driveway today. Then we were hanging out with
David at night.
Picture - Home - Shai was hanging out with
his friends.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with
our friend 1.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with
our friend 2. |
Yakushima Snow
December 15, 2014 - Today there was a lot of snow
on the tops of the mountains of Yakushima, as seen from the rock beach close to
the house.
Picture - Home - A nice view of the snow
covered mountain tops of Yakushima 1.
Picture - Home - A nice view of the snow
covered mountain tops of Yakushima 2.
Picture - Home - A nice view of the snow
covered mountain tops of Yakushima 3. |
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December 15, 2014 -
Facebook Post -
DUDE CAME AND STAYED FOR THE NIGHT -
Yup David came and ate dinner and drank with us until the next day before
heading back to America next week for a vacation. Was really fun. |
 Tanegashima
Hanukkah
December 16-23, 2014 -
Pretty sure we were the only Jews on Tanegashima celebrating this holiday....um
actually the only Jews.
Picture - Shai
lighting the Hanukkah candles.
Some of the nights during Hanukkah were spent eating on the floor Japanese
style. Some "traditional" Hanukkah meals included all the usual food you might
expect like cooked fish with ginger and soy sauce, sashimi, and nabe, all eaten with chopsticks of course.
lol.
This is pretty much the way it is in a multi cultural family. Notice in some of
the pictures the
traditional Japanese doors in the background, not to mention the tatami mats.
Yup being Jewish on a small island in a foreign country certainly is a strange
feeling not to mention a bit lonely. Thank goodness for family because these are
simply business as usual days for folks on Tanegashima.
Picture - Home - 12/16 - Tonight we ate at
the dining room table.
Picture - Home - 12/16 - Shai made a
Hanukkah picture for each night.
Picture - Home - 12/16 - Shai lighting the
menorah candles on the first night of Hanukkah.
Picture - Home - 12/16 - This picture came
out a bit fuzzy.
Picture - Home - 12/16 - Shai was waiting
the whole night to open his presents.
Picture - Home - 12/16 - Shai is totally
ready to open his presents on the first night of Hanukkah.
Picture - Home - 12/16 - Shai was really
happy to get more learning books.
Picture - Home - 12/16 - Yup a lot of books
were wrapped in there.
Picture - Home - 12/16 - Another play doh
set as requested.
Picture - Home - 12/17 - Shai lighting the
menorah candles on the second night of Hanukkah.
Picture - Home - 12/18 - Shai lighting the
menorah candles on the third night of Hanukkah.
Picture - Home - 12/18 - We ate potato latkes,
a very traditional food eaten on Hanukkah, for the first time on Tanegashima.
Picture - Home - 12/18 - Hey why not make anno
imo potato latkes with the most famous potatoes on Tanegashima.
Picture - Home - 12/18 - What Hanukkah dinner
would be complete without sukiyaki nabe.
Picture - Home - 12/19 - Shai lighting the
menorah candles on the fourth night of Hanukkah.
Picture - Home - 12/20 - Shai lighting the
menorah candles on the fifth night of Hanukkah.
Picture - Home - 12/20 - This was one of the
fish Shai
caught during the Minamitane Fish Festival which is locally called megina.
Picture - Home - 12/20 - This is undoubtedly
the first time to eat raw megina fish, sashimi, on Hanukkah. Japanese version of
gefilte fish.
Picture - Home - 12/20 - This Hanukkah night
was spent eating on the floor.
Picture - Home - 12/20 - This traditional
Hanukkah meal included cooked fish with ginger and soy sauce, sashimi, and nabe.
Picture - Home - 12/20 - Shai was very happy
to get another book and a nice pair of hiking boots.
Picture - Home - 12/20 - Yup even the adults
treated themselves to presents.
Picture - Home - 12/21 - Shai lighting the
menorah candles on the sixth night of Hanukkah.
Picture - Home - 12/21 - Another delicious
meal of fish and potatoes.
Picture - Home - 12/22 - Shai lighting the
menorah candles on the seventh night of Hanukkah.
Picture - Home - 12/22 - Shai was really
happy to get another learning book.
Picture - Home - 12/23 - Shai lighting the
menorah candles on the eighth night of Hanukkah.
Picture - Home - 12/23 - The menorah is now
fully lit up.
Picture - Home - 12/23 - Us together and
ready to eat 1.
Picture - Home - 12/23 - Us together and
ready to eat 2. |
 New
Oil Stove and a Couple of Beaches
December 18, 2014 -
Yup finally decided to give in and get a new oil stove. Honestly I am really not
thrilled with these things for a number of reasons.
Picture - Shai being
cool at the beach.
They smell, are not entirely safe, and require a container of toxic oil to be
stored in the entry. The fact is, pretty much every house in Japan has one of
these.
In addition, this island house cannot handle a lot of appliances running at the
same time and an oil stove seemed to be the only choice.
To go along with the stove is a container of toxic oil which will be in the
entry for the next few months.
Yeah enough complaining already....at least the house is warm.
Picture - Home - The new, and very warm, new
stove.
Picture - Home - The container filled with
toxic oil.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - We decided to go
to the beach today on a really cold and windy day. Where is he learning this.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Aside from finding
a lot of nice seashells, Shai was able to find a crab washed up on the beach.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice view of
the beach 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice view of
the beach 2.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - We
decided to watch the sunset at the rock beach close to our house this afternoon.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Yup
it was really not warm today but Shai was dealing with the temperatures in style.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - A
beautiful sunset view behind Yakushima today 1.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - A
beautiful sunset view behind Yakushima today 2.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - A
beautiful sunset view behind Yakushima today 3.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - A
beautiful sunset view behind Yakushima today 4. |
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 Minamitane
Fish Festival
December 20, 2014 -
This was the fourth annual Minamitane Fish Festival. For this event the local
fishing folks get together in a small warehouse and sell local and imported
seafood.
Picture - Us eating
crab soup at the festival.
The event is totally free, and upon entering the warehouse, each person is given
a ticket for a free crab soup.
The event continues with a huge pool of live fish and elementary school age kids
and younger are given gloves and a chance to catch the fish with their hands.
Freaking not warm outside but these kids take off their shoes and socks, roll up
their jeans and go crazy trying to get these fish. This event is hilarious. Not
to mention some of the fish are valued at the equivalent of over 100 dollars.
The event was really fun, especially for the kids, and a must for anyone on Tanegashima
this time of year. We are looking forward to next years already.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 -
This was the poster for the event on the front of a vending machine.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - We
entered this really small warehouse. The smell of fish was everywhere.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - A
lot of the fish was local while some fish was imported from other places.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - A
free coupon got you a bowl of crab soup and
freshly cut buri sashima, AKA raw yellowtail fish.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 -
Crab soup with veggies was really delicious. The yellowtail with soy sauce
melted in your mouth.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 -
We took three crabs home, put them in the nabe pot, and ate crab flavored rice
with eggs.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - Shai
was pretty happy to simply hold the crab and watch the soup pour back into the
bowl.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - Hey
the guy with his thumb up in the middle is the owner of the Minamitane fishing
supply store.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 -
Really felt like Asia today. They put a a lot of wood in empty rusty barrels to
warm everyone up.
Note:
We thought all of the kids would simply hang over the side of this temporary
pool and catch the fish. After all, this December and not warm at all.
Nope....not on Tanegashima. The kids were supposed to go in wearing farm gloves
and catch the fish with their hands.
No doubt many of the kids will be home from school this week with a cold.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - Shai
was all bundled up and ready for the fish competition today.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 -
The kids practiced from the sides before the competition actually began.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - Shai
caught another fish with only his bare hands.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 -
The kids were given a cheap pair of farm gloves and went in to catch fish.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #1 - Shai
caught a fish, actually many. This fish is a mackerel which is pretty good.
eating.
Picture - Home - Shai caught a total of
seven fish at the fishing competition and was able to take them all home.
Picture - Home - Shai was able to bring home
a couple of mackerel today.
Picture - Home - And he got a couple of bigeye
trevally which are really tasty.
Picture - Home - A nice aji.
Picture - Home - Really not sure about this
fish.
Picture - Home - When the competition was
almost finished the kids were given nets to catch the more difficult fish.
Shai got this nice mejina.
Picture - Home - This is all the fish Shai
caught during the competition.
Nice work. We ate the Megina cooked and as sashimi for Hanukkah.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - We decided
to celebrate the success of the competition and went out to our favorite
restaurant.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - The
grandkids of the owner were playing around upstairs.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - Shai likes
playing with his new friends on the second floor of the restaurant.
Picture - Jinanbou Restaurant - This is a
really cute picture of all the kids together. |
 Beach
Hiking and Homan Pond
December 21, 2014 -
Today we decided to go out and take our new hiking shoes for a test drive.
Picture - Us at some
beach.
We were going to search for
Homan Pond. The pond is located fairly close to the coast and the access road is
very difficult to find.
We drove on a bunch of farm roads and through numerous jungles only to find
ourselves at the beach a couple of times.
A few weeks
ago we found the pond from a pretty high elevation but could not find an access
trail to the pond itself.
This was going to be our mission for today.
After taking a couple of trips to the beach on roads through farms and jungles,
we finally found a trailhead and a trail leading to the pond.
This really is a beautiful place.
We had no idea we could also access this pond from the Homan Shrine.
The trail finished at the end of the Homan Shrine trail.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - We
ended up at some unknown beach.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - We went to a beach
on the other side of Maenohama looking towards Minamitane Fishing Pier #5.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - We went to a beach
on the other side of Iwasaki hotel looking towards Minamitane Fishing Pier #4.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District -
Trying out our new hiking boots on an unknown trail.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District -
After a few trips to the beach through farms and jungles, we finally found a
trail leading to the pond.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - We
hiked for a little while and finally made it to the pond.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 1.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 2.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 3.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 4.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 5.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 6.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 7.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 8.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 9.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A
nice picture along the hiking trail 10.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - We
discovered this tree with some unknown fruit. We picked a couple of them and
went home.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice view of
the beach 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice view of
the beach 2. |
Homan Shrine
December 27, 2016 - Today we went to visit Homan
Shrine. Then we headed out to the beach.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 1.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 2.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 3.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 4.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 5.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 6.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 7.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 8.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 9.
Picture - Homan Shrine - A nice picture from
this trip 10.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice view of
the caves 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice view of
the caves 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice view of
the caves 3.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The dogs are
playing together.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Us hanging out
together 1.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Us hanging out
together 2.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Us hanging out
together 3.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - A nice view of
the beach.
Picture - Home - The house decorated for new
years. |
Happy New Year
December 28, 2016 - The dogs and a Happy New Year
gate.
Picture - Home - The dogs and a Happy New
Year gate 1.
Picture - Home - The dogs and a Happy New
Year gate 2.
Picture - Home - The dogs and a Happy New
Year gate 3.
Picture - Home - The dogs and a Happy New
Year gate 4. |
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