Home, but still posting

Hi all,
While traveling in Shuzenji, a little onsen (hot springs) town, I didn't even open my computer - yeah! And haven't had the chance until now to post more photos. We made it back home on the 21st, and after resting up, I'm finally getting to some of the best stories and photos...before I forget!













Steve and I went out to dinner on one of our last nights in Tokyo with some of the ladies I worked with at Synchronicity Japan. We celebrated Steve's birthday (the 13th) even though it was actually Valentine's Day. Poor guy, had to go out with 5 women - sure got some looks from the other men!

When we came out into the street after dinner, it was snowing! What you see here is a mass exodus of people, scurrying for the subway. There were no taxis or buses, and it was quite a scene.







The next day, we had a nice outing day with my interpreter friend, Yu, who took us to the Meiji Emperor's Shrine and gardens. It was fabulous to be in such a large natural setting, right in the middle of the city, and it was particularly pretty just after the snow.

We even had the opportunity to witness a traditional formal Japanese wedding procession, moving through the center of the temple.


The next day, we traveled by train to a little village 3 hours southeast of Tokyo. That's about how far you have to travel to leave the mass of urban skyscrapers. Beautiful scenery, though still cold, with a river running through a rather steep valley. There are natural springs popping up all over the area, including many hot springs. This picture shows the famous one in the middle of the river - the story is that a monk hit the rock with his staff, and healing water came out. Though it looked inviting for a midnight skinny dip, we stuck to the springs at our hotel.

Our hotel had a spring inside of a cave, which had been expanded by one man with a determination to create such a thing. It took him over a year, with a power rock drill, all by himself. Some people just can't relax after they retire, and we appreciate his efforts!

We really needed some relaxation, since the Tokyo was such high stimulation. It seemed that everything we set out to do in Japan took extra effort. Without being able to read or converse, just the simple task of finding a restaurant that you can order from is quite a task! We did muddle through with smiles, bows, and a few gracious Japanese terms of respect! Also, carried my trusty little Japanese translation book, which was rather primitive, but essential.

Here's Steve in our Japanese style room. We got to choose between sleeping on very thin futons on this tatami floor, or sleeping separately in the single western beds. Guess they watched too much Ozzie & Harriet in the 50's, as singles seem to be the hotel standard!








We had a beautiful Zen sand garden out our window with a view of the surrounding mountains.







For the two days that we were there, we wandered around the town and terraced gardens, visited the temple, strolled through bamboo groves, poked around in shops (Steve got to play with some old Samurai swords), ate at teeny local spots, soaked in the cave, and I took a whole lot of photos.

Here's a few...


































































I'll post one more time after this, to show the sights of our last day in Narita town.


Love to all,
Daeryl

Wednesday, February 16

Just checking in again before we head out into the unknown! Steve and I are leaving Tokyo by train this morning, arriving in a little hotsprings town. Maybe you could find it by Google search...Shuzenji, in Izu Peninsula.

We had a local style dinner with my new Japanese friends (the young man started out as a client this trip). A young couple, Koji and Aya took us to a bustling little restaurant, with many local people. It was the kind of place where you order many small dishes to share, and we ate everything! All kinds of sushi, tempura, baked and fried fish. I ate many things I have never tried before and they were amused watching me wrinkle my nose, but none the less, pop a dried fish (head and all) into my mouth. Tasted good, it was just the thought!

Again, Steve impressed them all with his drinking skill! Japanese have a lower tolerance, and so they are amazed that he can have three drinks of Shochu, a Japanese distilled liquor, and not be falling on the floor (like the young woman at the next table)!

It has been a good trip, with many successful aspects, especially concerning work. There is another plan for me to return in the summer, and teach 3 weekends this time, plus 60 sessions. I am really happy that I finally have a solid opportunity to help so many people and make good money. The adventure of coming to Japan is a bonus!

More to come...

Monday, February 14

Happy Valentine's Day!

Steve and I are taking the day off, to relax and catch up with ourselves. I have finally finished all of my work, and resting up before our travels to the Izu Peninsula. Steve has had many social interactions, as well as a few solo excursions to museums. This is the view out our front door balcony, early in the morning. It's very unusual to have a parking lot and wide open space. Mostly it's buildings all crammed together, so we feel very lucky. Next photo is looking down the stairway at the balcony. It goes up a few stories that way too.

During my last days working with an interpreter, we came upon a little Mexican Restaurant, which served many brands of Tequila, including Steve's favorite. So as a surprise, I took him there for his birthday last night. The staff of Japanese men were wonderful and somewhat amused by Steve's ability to speak some Spanish. Several of them spoke a little English, so it was a wild mix of languages. We had a delicious meal, more the style of Oaxaca and Central Mexico, and much yummier than the boring beans and rice of West Texas! They even honored Steve by presenting cake and flan, complete with candle and "Feliz Compleanos Sr. Holzer!" written in chocolate on the plate! We had a great time and are still smiling.


This plant, I saw while walking in a neighborhood with many little side streets. It caught my eye, and I was able to ask the lady who lived there about it. She opened the gate so that I could look closer and take a picture. She called it "a foksa-prantu" because it looks like a fox. Weird and beautiful.

Tonight we are going out to dinner with the staff of Synchronicity Japan, as a last meeting and to celebrate the end of this work trip. It should be fun, as we all get to be more relaxed!

Tomorrow, we'll do a little sight-seeing, and then another dinner out with a young man who I met as a client. He is eager to show Steve and I the night life, so this should be very interesting!

We've enjoyed watching the Japanese television, with lots of 'talent shows' and American movies with Japanese voice overs. Noticeably shorter commercials than the US. It's also been quite revealing to watch the events in Eygpt from a non-US station. Seems like much more thorough coverage.

I'll try to make one more post before heading to the Izu Peninsula and the hot springs Onsen. I'm really looking forward to a good soak and rest!

Love to all,
Daeryl (& Steve)

Friday, February 11

Hello all! I'm finally getting a chance to post another blog, after a very busy few days. On Monday, I moved to a different condo, in preparation for Steve's arrival. He arrived in the evening, no problem, though the previous two days the Dallas airport flights were being canceled for freezing and snow. WONDERFUL to have him here, and he is adapting to the culture very well. Our new place is much bigger and nicer, though it is once again a challenge to navigate the grocery stores and restaurants in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Also, finding this neighborhood more expensive as it is catering to the international needs and budgets of the many European Embassies.

Here's Steve trying to figure out the Japanese television!

And also, a photo Steve took from the top of the Mori Art Center roof, looking out towards the Tokyo harbor, with the Tokyo Tower. This is about as clear as it gets here. It had snowed and rained in the morning, and then cleared up for his outing in the afternoon.

We had the pleasure of being guests at the home of our friend's Yoshiko and Takeo, shown here with Steve and Yoshiko's brother. Takeo made an incredible sushi feast. I previously have never become full eating sushi, but I can now say that it is possible! In fact, I woke up the next morning feeling like a beached whale. A little like Shamu the Killer Whale, after a long day of Marine World shows...gulp...gulp...gulp!!!

Steve had a truly Japanese experience, as Takeo insisted on showing Steve how to use the warm water spray and hot air dry of the "washlet" toilet! Quite outrageous as Takeo tried to demonstrate the automatic action by placing feet and hands, but then when that didn't work, sat down with his pants on! Until the action started and he jumped up. The rest of us heard the action from the other room, including broken Japanese/English. Then the direction to Steve, "Take pant off! Take pant off!" Takeo was very pleased with himself, as we all waited for Steve to come out, fully expecting a wet pair of trousers, but he mastered it without a drop! Lots of laughs and good memories. (The only time we saw Takeo not smiling or laughing was in this photo!)

Many busy days of work behind me, and only two more days of client sessions coming up, I am beginning to relax a little more. We had a full day off today, with little to do, because we woke up to big snow flakes that never let up. Actually a good thing, to have a 'forced' rest day. Hopefully, it will clear up for our trip to the Izu Peninsula next Wednesday.

Love to all...

My new favorite people!!!!

Just finished Level 2 SoulShift seminar, and this is the group of wonderful participants (minus a few who left before the photo). Wonderful all around.

Resting up and moving to a bigger condo tomorrow, and hopefully, picking Steve up at the airport in the evening. I say hopefully, because the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport was rather challenged by freezing ice and snow on Friday and Saturday.

Only a few more days of private sessions, as well as a planning meeting with Synchronicity Japan staff, and then a week of free time, before returning home.

More again soon...
Stay warm!

Friday, February 4

This is how plants are protected from the cold here!

After listening to friends back in Marfa relaying stories of frozen pipes and 5 degree weather, I am no longer going to complain about the cold here in Tokyo. In fact, today I took a walk and was actually quite warm in the sun.

Today was a day off, and though I am prepping for tomorrow's seminar - part 2 of the SoulShift series - I still needed to get out a bit. I've been either cooking for myself or dining out with my Japanese coworkers who love to eat western style food. The little bit of Japanese food I have eaten has been kind of disappointing. I imagine there are some great sushi places, but they haven't found me yet!!! My biggest challenge is ordering the right thing in an unfamiliar place, so my big adventure for the day was to sate my craving for a good ole American style hamburger. Though I had to spend about $16 for it, the yummy bacon burger with fries was excellent, and I had a big happy tummy for the first time in a few weeks! Don't worry... the McDonald's image has nothing to do with what I ate! Just thought it a wild contrast.

Today's photos are from my adventure last Monday with Takako. The Mitsubishi family, beginning in the early 1800s as a financial corporation, built this mansion to entertain foreigners, and hired an 'imported' American architect to design it in the western style. It was remarkable in materials and craftsmanship, and amusing to be surrounded by Japanese people who were astounded to be in a western mansion! We had to take off our shoes, and there was no heat in the place. I could easily imagine how miserable it would have been to be a Japanese woman of the late 1800s, sitting sedately in a bundle of kimonos, trying not to shiver.

Then we went to the Nezu Shrine, and had fun walking around in the red gates. I would have loved to take photos of the front of the shrine, but I was greatly discouraged for it would be very disrespectful. Not sure what the little red aprons are about, but this particular shrine had an animal theme of cats. I notice a difference in the Shinto shrines from the Buddhist Temples here. The Shinto shrines are treated as continuing places of personal worship, in the old nature religion way. The Buddhist temples were mainly built during the Shogun eras, and constructed to exhibit the power and wealth of regional rulers.

I'm excited to present Level 2 of my workshop series tomorrow - focus on Love Relationships and Spirit Team. I had 28 students in Level 1, and there are 22 returning for the next step. A huge complement, and I am encouraged in this work that I have focused on for so many years. It is gratifying to finally be recognized as having something valuable to offer, and to be so well received here. In the private sessions, I am able to offer compassion and useful suggestions, especially to women who find themselves in horrible marriages and struggling to find their path. Now I know more fully the value of my crazy experiences!

And some times, when I am not looking for that perfect shot, I just get lucky. What could be better than a bird riding on a bird boat.

Stay warm everyone. More soon...

February 3, Thursday

Hello again. Sorry no new photos this time. Just a quick note before my day of client sessions begins. It's amazing to me that I can have such meaningful connections with people who do not speak the same language! I have met and worked with a large number of women who feel like long lost sister/friends, who share similar stories and have similar hopes and passions. The clients here are eager to embrace new ways to view and transform their lives. It is a stark contrast to many (though certainly not all) in the US who stubbornly hold to being 'right,' bitter, angry or entitled.

Watching the news of Eygpt from a country outside of US is illuminating. Long video feeds which do not seem so glossed over or sensationalized. In the first days, I marveled at the peace the demonstrators were able to maintain, regulating themselves when anyone became aggressive. Saw one clip where the crowd was moving rapidly towards the few soldiers standing with guns ready. It was apparent that the soldiers were outnumbered and very nervous, which could lead to shots any minute. The next moment, citizens from the crowd stepped out front and pushed back the advancing crowd, away from the soldiers, chanting "We and the army are one." Everyone calmed down and any violence was averted. Remarkable and inspiring. At this point, it is very sad to watch things turn ugly with the introduction of those who are focused on opposition and violence. I hope that there will some resolution soon, as most of the original demonstrators looked to me to be regular citizens seeking a democratic process to restore their country, not crazy radicals with a fanatic cause.

Stay warm and hold a vision of peace.