Sunday and Pictures

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMAN!!! I hope it's super great and that you got sleep and are feeling a little better!!

T5B: 1) I got to skype my parents! 2) I got a couple of Christmas gifts from ward members. 3) I set up with the missionaries to have a Christmas dinner/get together Saturday night at my apartment. 4) I had an amazing burger for dinner. 5) I got a ride to church and tomorrow is a holiday!

Story I forgot from yesterday: When I got out of the grocery store there was this ADORABLE, tiny dog shivering in the wind outside the grocery store. It was sitting in a puddle, its leash tied to the bike rack. I was VERY angry at its owner. Its whole frame was violently shivering. I couldn't NOT pet it because I wanted to put my warm hands on it's poor little shivering frame to transfer some heat. I wanted to put it in my jacket and bring it home - just to keep it warm. Poor pitiful little thing. -- Other thing I forgot to mention - 3/4 of the way through the 20th, I hit my 3/4 year mark! I've been here for 3/4 of a year! Feels insanely like I just got here!

Morning:
- I got woken up by a phone call (again, *sigh*) and asked if I wanted a ride, I declined because there was no snow on the ground
- I got ready, go to leave... it's snowing - called back and asked for that ride
- Sacrament meeting was a little strange
- our song went SO WELL

Notes: The first speaker distracted me because she sniffed MUCH louder than she was speaking and it was like Elder Eyring's little tongue smacking quirk - I started to get obsessed and can't pay attention. :/ The second speaker was odd. She kept taking REALLY long pauses. And I mean, she would say a sentence and LITERALLY pause for a minute afterwards and say nothing. I kept thinking she was going to pass out or something. Seriously. Then the other two speakers seemed to want to make up for lost time and spoke REALLY FAST. So the elder had a really hard time translating. :/ Weird times. THEN, we sang! And it was gorgeous!! The ward members kept thanking ME - but I kept telling them it was the choir. Also one of the choir members thanked me for my singing tips. :) So I felt warm all over about the whole thing. :) Silent Night (sorry about the long pause at the end - my phone had gone to the lock screen)

Afternoon:
- I got to skype my parents
- I was given two beautiful cards (I asked to buy them - to send to Phil and Doug & Kathy)
- I was at the church FOREVER and having trouble killing time (but still grateful for a ride)
- I got a ride home and asked for a ride to the ward Christmas party tomorrow

Notes: I was at the church for 7 hours.

Evening:
- made myself a burger for dinner and it was HEAVENLY, also had an AMAZING salad
- had a long conversation with Jerod
- watched some Parks & Rec

Notes: I just realized! We're performing at the Christmas party tomorrow! I could have someone record the choir on my phone! (With video that is!!!) Oh boy!! :D Hopefully I can find someone to do it or do it myself (though I use both hands to direct... dang it!). Anyway, have a great Sabbath day. XOXO, A

Dec 19 (Thursday) - My student's trees for the Festival of Trees (a charity auction of these crazy cool Christmas trees to benefit a children's hospital in Utah)

Dec 20 (Fri)

I showed you a picture of this street last Friday - check it out now! Insane -- (this is from the other side - before I was standing on that corner where those kids are) this street was a thick river of ice just last week!

Here is the bus center! Of course this is looking out to where the buses drive in to collect passengers - we're waiting at #3

Omiyage from CS teachers

I got an email from the past 0.o

An origami bow I made - it was HARD - so I had to show it off!

I started on my winter break project - - making origami for each of my students (I have 736) - here are the ten sting rays I have so far! :D

Christmas in Morioka - that fish stand is as tall as me - those fish are HUGE -- the Christmas tree is our nod to Christmas -- the gingerbread men were made by and given to me by Anpo-s (one of CS's VPs) :D

Dec 22 (today!)

My Christmas gifts from the members (the bag has two apples)

YAY!! Period (water retention weight) is coming off - wish it would always STAY OFF! Sheesh.

My INCREDIBLE burger - tonkatsu sauce (like A1), toasted english muffin, fresh sautéed garlic, black pepper, red pepper, onion, salt and cheese - SOOOO AMAZING!! Also I had a cabbage salad with lemon dressing. MMM!