Oh, Julia Child WISHES

Flashback to 2007. Moving into J Building dorms at UC Davis, with a microwave and mini fridge in my room, along with a tiny kitchen with an oven on the bottom floor of the building. Back to the present. Moving into the dorm-like Transient Personnel Unit (TPU) in Yokosuka, Japan. Subtract the tiny kitchen on the bottom floor. And that is the extent of my cooking tools. So what’s a pseudo-chef to do?

Improvise.

The Camp A staff has come up with some pretty creative ways to cook with only a microwave and a refrigerator. Veteran staff members brought items like magic bullets to make hummus and salsa, leaving those of us lacking the foresight to bring such things content to merely mooch. PB and J sandwiches get old pretty fast (yes, even for me) so my dinners have diversified to minute microwaved brown rice mixed with cheese, pre-cooked chicken strips, and seasoning salts. Muddy buddies (peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butter melted together and poured over chex cereal, then doused with powdered sugar) have become a favorite snack, as has the mixing of five different cereals into one tiny tupperware.

But my all time favorite oven-less dorm dish?

Cake. My roommate had a birthday earlier this month, complete with friends, presents, and cake. No, it was not cake batter that we pretended was a baked cake. Actual cake. So how does one make a cake without an oven? Like so: crumble up Chips Ahoy cookies, mix in peanut butter and melted marshmallows, mold into a cake-like shape, cover with choclate frosting, and you’re done. Some of my roommate’s friends surprised her with this very concotion, and it was quite delicious. Once we’d had our share, we offered it to the rest of the “dorm” hall, and, needless to say, it was gone within minutes.

A challenge to my dozens and dozens of readers out there: find a dish that you believe impossible to make with just a microwave, and I will see if I can find a way. No raw meats, please. :) I only get to eat off base every so often during the week, so I need more interesting non-Japanese food in my life. 

Kids Know

Ever since I began working with kids, their awareness of the world around them has continued to amaze me. Not only are they much smarter than most people give them credit for, they also pick up on the tiniest details of conversations and remember them forever. And then they’ll blurt them back to you at the most inconvinient of times.

Case in point #1: Before every hour of swim lessons, we sing camp songs to the kids in our classes and then review behavior expectations. We introduce every song with a short little story, which we generally make up on the spot. I think there’s an unspoken competition between all of us to see who can come up with the most ridiculous story. Example: “Yesterday I was swimming in the ocean by my favorite beach, when suddenly I saw a whole family of sharks. There were baby sharks, momma sharks, and grandpa sharks. I tried to swim away, but they kept swimming after me. Then I sang this song, and then I escaped.” *Cue the camp song “Baby Shark”*

Most kids in the lesson stared at Mr. Sierra in wide-eyed  amazement as he told the story, looking at him like he was some sort of world-famous shark fighter. Then, one kid who couldn’t have been older than six blurted out, “THAT’S JUST A STORY!” Us counselors looked at each other and snorted, trying to cover up our laughter. We feel so ridiculous telling these stories every day, and we often wonder how kids believe us. Apparently some of them don’t.

Case in point #2: It was my turn to lead songs on Friday, so in celebration of the day we sang a little diddly called “Party.” After singing, (“paaaaarty! (make sure your momma knows) paaaaarty! (so she will let you go)”) a small child raised their hand and commented, “but you shouldn’t party too hard, otherwise you won’t remember anything.”

A word to the wise.

Climbing Fuji, brb

“A wise person hikes Fuji once, but the person who hikes Fuji more than once is a fool.”

I apparently have a lot of wisdom now. Here’s what I learned:

Prepare, prepare, prepare

Being the former girl scout that I am, I already knew the value of being well prepared for any adventure, especially an outdoor one (in a foreign country, I might add.) Our group of thirteen Camp Adventure staff attended a safety briefing by the Outdoor Recreation center on base, rented high ankle hiking boots and gators, made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and bought an insane number of Gatorade bottles. We needed all of it. After our hike, we encountered a group of Camp A staff from another base in western Japan who were about to start the climb, and let’s just say I’m glad I was not in their shoes. Literally. They wore running shoes (one had brand new Nike shocks); most had cotton ankle socks and cotton t-shirts. As it turns out, they didn’t have an outdoor rec center to help them like we did, so they planned everything themselves. From now on, I will never be afraid to ask for help from experts, even for activities like hiking that I’ve done countless times before.

Adrenaline is more powerful than sleep

After a day of lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons, it was time for commissary shopping, showering, roommate’s birthday dinner, packing and schnack making. In bed at 23:30 (look at me and my military time!), up at 1:00 am to make it to the bus at outdoor rec by 1:30. Start hiking at 5:30, ascend at 10:30, off the mountain by 16:00, leave Fuji at 19:00, back to base by 22:30. In case you skipped over that, it basically translates to NO SLEEP. Still, I wasn’t physically tired or sore until nearly two days after the climb. Yay endorphins!

When someone tells you to buy a Fuji stick, just buy a Fuji stick

Before hiking Fuji, you have the option of purchasing a “Fuji stick,” a long wooden pole used to aid your climb up the mountain. As you ascend, you can stop at one of the many huts on the mountain to rest, buy food, and, for the lovely price of 200 yen each, get a stamp burned into your stick. It is the ambition of many a hiker to collect the unque stamps from every hut, which totals to a pretty penny in the end. I initially dismissed the stick as a cheap tourist ploy, and waivered for a while before finally deciding to buy one. Cheap tourist ploy? Hardly. 300 meters from the top, as I anchored the base of my stick on a rock above me and pulled myself up on pure brute force and the stability of the stick, I had never been more pleased with a $10 purchase (and that category includes a half ironman race registration and a river rafting trip!)

(Side note: I didn’t end up getting all the stamps, but I did get enough to make my stick look pretty cool. I took picutres of my stick in sections, and lacking any sort of photo editing program, could not stitch them together. Sorry, photographer friends. See below.)

  

I will never be the most hardcore person on earth

I finished a half ironman, I can climb a mountain. I finished a half ironman, I can climb a mountain. I relied on a ton of mantras and songs to get me through some of the more difficult aspects of the climb, and eventually I began to feel like a pretty legitimate, intense mountain climber . I finished a half ironman, I can climb a mountain. I finished a half ironman, I can…OH HEY OLD JAPANESE MAN. As I leaned exhaustedly on my stick, forcing my lungs to find some air at 12,000 feet, a skinny 60 year-old Japanese man RAN by me UP THE MOUNTAIN. Nothing lowers your self esteem like a man three times your age absolutely kicking your butt. And then having him and his friends run by you again on the way down through loose gravel six feet deep, while you slip and fall ever-so-gracefully on your bum.

There really is 1 vending machine for every 12 people in Japan.

There was one at the top of Mount Fuji.

Sometimes writing can’t capture an experience

Climbing Mount Fuji definitely ranks among the more physically demanding things I’ve done in my life. For all you Davis tri kids out there, it was like hiking up the steepest part of Mix, pretty much all the time. It took us, the first group of Camp A staff, 5 hours (with breaks) to climb 5 miles with an elevation gain from 7700 ft to 12,388 ft. I sweated gallons and gallons, yanked myself up rock faces with a skinny little stick, and fooled myself into thinking I still had oxygen. But I was happy the entire time. Reaching the top was a remarkable experience (despite the cloud cover), and I was with the best people possible. We remained relatively positive the entire way, stayed silly by calling ourselves “the wolfpack/the A team,” and relished in our peak fitness levels. I don’t know if I plan on becoming a fool, but if I ever return to Fuji, it will be to share it with new people, perhaps on a sunrise hike. And I will definitely have to wait until the route up the mountain is erased from my mind.

 

Buddha bellies and beaches

I swear one day I’m going to write about work, but I’m just now getting to work with the kids, so for now you’re going to have to put up with my boring ol’ off-base adventures in Japan.

Kamakura was the destination for last weekend’s adventures. It’s home to a number of temples, shrines, beaches, and ice cream stores every two feet. And that is not an exaggeration. A group of us took a train to a stop a couple miles ahead of Kamakura, and started a “two to three hour grueling hike” to the Big Buddha. We arrived within an hour, so we paid 300 yen to visit the hydrangea temple. Our director, who has been to Japan every summer since 2007 and taught English here for a year, showed us how to cleanse ourselves before entering the area. First, you scoop water from a basin with a ladle with a long handle. You use some of the water to wash both your hands, and then pour a bit into your newly-cleaned, cupped hand to drink and cleanse your mouth. Finally, you use the remaining water in the ladle to rinse off the handle. You are now cleansed (from what, I don’t know) and can enter the temple. I wish I knew more about the culture/stories involved in these areas, but as a tourist I felt a bit out of place in a place that was so rich in history and religious significance.

We then visited the Big Buddha, which, in my opinion, had a lot less of that “cultural” feel and a whole lot more of the “tourist attraction” feel. Lots of crowds, camera flashes and gift shops. I’m glad I checked it off my list, but I wouldn’t recommend making it the main attraction of your visit to Kamakura. Although I would recommend paying the 20 extra yen to see the inside of the Buddha. Pretty cool.

From then on, it was beaches, awesome views, and awkward encounters. We visited a beach near the Big Buddha, where we were disappointed by the gross amount of trash in the water. I don’t know if it was just the area we were in, but it was pretty unexpected, given how clean it is in pretty much every other area of Japan. (Side note: there are almost NO trash cans in Japan. You’ll find one every 10 blocks or so, but it is still very clean. The irony is, in California there are trash cans everywhere, but litter abounds. Hmmm.)

Our group of six made our way to Yokohama again, where we finally got to ride the ferris wheel! Even better, we rode it at night, so we could see the entire city glowing beneath us, as well as the bay and shipyards nearby. Quite a contrast to our view the next day, when we traveled to Zushi for another day of swimming, napping, and tanning (or burning, as the case may be.) It was at the beaches that I gained some idea of what some Japanese people think of Americans. At Kamakura, a Japanese lifeguard approached a group of Camp Adventure people lounging on the beach and asked if they were drunk. As it turns out, they were completely sober, just sunburned. At Zushi, a pair of Japanese men made a beeline for me and my friends and immediately asked if we liked chinko (a certain bit a male anatomy in Japanese) and sex. Alcohol and sex. Maybe these two encounters were exceptions, but I found it funny that those were the two first impressions.

A relaxing end to last weekend, which could not be any different than yesterday, when I climbed Mount Fuji! A post about that soon!

In the Navy

We interrupt this regularly scheduled programming about the amazingness of Japan to bring you an installment we’re calling: “Why Sarah could not live on a navy base for longer than 10 weeks because she is a rebel law breaker who will probably end up in jail.”

Catchy, eh?

A group of us were walking to work one morning, chatting away about life, liberty and the persuit of happiness like the patriotic and loyal citizens of the United States that we are, when suddenly, we were stopped by an older navy man.

“Isn’t Camp Adventure all about safety?”

“Yes.”

“Well then, why are you involved in jaywalking?”

Just remember, kids: jaywalking is like drugs. You get involved with it. It’s the gateway drug, and next thing you know, you’re performing rolling stops at stop signs. And then you’re a member of a gang. So be careful out there, and always use a crosswalk.

Four Day Adventure, Part 3

Two days. Three guides. Eight Camp Adventure counselors. 220 dollars, kayaking through sea caves, lush green peninsulas, and clear blue waters, a traditional Japanese hotel, a multi-course dinner, and roof-top bathouses. Life seriously could not get any better than this past weekend.

Eight of us arrived at Outdoor Rec a little past 5 am to meet our guides, fit lifejackets, and pass out on the three hour drive to the Izu Peninsula. Our American guide Jeff has lived in Japan for 17 years now, and he answered all of our questions about the country, from the political system to rice farming to Japanese pick-up lines. More than once, as he turned around from his left-hand front seat to gesture excitedly during a story, I started to freak out in my head. PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL, LOOK AT THE ROAD, AND DRIVE! Oh, that’s right. You’re the passenger.

A couple stops for breakfast, and we had arrived at a cove on the Izu Peninsula. We all agreed it felt like a Jurassic Park set with the lush, green trees and strange dinosaur-looking birds. The Japanese guides were more than a bit concerned about letting us kayak in the actual ocean due to the high winds and large waves, but like the true college students that we are, we blazed ahead with the encouragement of our American guide. I’m not the best kayaker, but I managed decently well (by the end I could make a complete circle without hitting anything!) It was amazing to swim in clear water, see lots of sea life, and navigate my way through the caves along the shoreline.

After a full day of kayaking, we made our way to our traditional Japanese hotel, where we laid out our bed rolls, drank the tea set out for us, and donned our robes. Let me tell you about these robes. You do not wear anything under them. And you go everywhere in them. Lounging on the beach, enjoying Japan’s lack of open container policy? Check. Going to dinner in the restaurant across from your hotel? Check. Walking 15 minutes to the convinience store? Check. Our hotel also had bathhouses on the roof, and we defintely enjoyed those. There’s something about being naked on the roof of a hotel with a view of the ocean in Japan that makes you feel free. Or certifies you as crazy. Either way.

More kayaking, cave visiting, swimming, and sightseeing the next day, and then it was back to base for another week of work.

July 11 marks a month since I’ve arrived in Japan. Crazy times.

Four Day Adventure, Part 2

After the escapade at the 100 yen restaurant, we explored a Japanese arcade, making bets on toy horse racing and not quite understanding some of the games we played. It was a wonderful evening, setting the stage for our next two days in Yokohama and Zushi.

Yokohama is about an hour northwest from Yokosuka, and is home to 1) one of the world’s largest Chinatowns, 2) one of the world’s largest ferris wheels, and 3) one of Japan’s  baseball stadiums.

1) Although largely uneventful, it was great to explore Chinatown, home to far too many panda trinkets, Hello Kitty trinkets, and Hello Kitty-inside-of-a-panda trinkets. I drank pearl milk tea, ate steamed pork buns, and resisted the variety of panda-shaped desserts cooking on little street-side stove tops. After our exploration of the area, we decided to ride the ever-famous ferris wheel before we made our way to the much talked-about Japanese baseball game.

                    

2) All the rain I’ve experienced thus far in Japan has consisted of light to moderate showers that lasted a couple hours, at most. So, when we felt a few raindrops on our heads as we walked towards the ferris wheel, we assumed it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. False. It turned out to be the most intense thunder storm I had ever been a part of. Dark, imposing rain clouds, waterfalls of rain down staircases, strong wind and lightening every 10 seconds or so. Everyone took cover in a nearby shopping center, except for the three of us crazy Americans, who ran out into the rain to take pictures and videos, clearly excited by the insane change in weather. Ten minutes later, in what I have since learned is typical of Japan weather patterns, it was bright and sunny. Not a cloud in the sky. And HOT. Thanks for the heads up, Japan.

3) Naturally, the ferris wheel closed during the storm, and our hopes for a post-storm reopening were brutally crushed. Still, being the FLEXIBLE and ADAPTABLE Camp Adventure counselors that we are, we made our way to Yokohama stadium to see what the hype about Japanese baseball was all about. We were not disappointed. First off, the Japanese are probably the most enthusiastic, organized, and polite fans I have ever met. Forget the drunken slurring and swaying from American baseball games, the Japanese are in it to win it. Everyone rooting for the same team knows the same cheers, which they all sing in unison at the direction of a leader down at the front of the seats. Best yet, there is no booing, and opposing team supporters take turns cheering. Only when their respective team is up to bat do they start yelling and clapping. I find this entire set-up to be hilarious, since out in public, on the trains, wherever you happen to find yourself, the Japanese are quiet and reserved. I know now that they are all hoarding their energy for baseball.

The next day at Zushi Beach was nice and relaxing (once we found it. Thanks travel agency lady for the map!) We chatted with bartenders, whose restaurants are right on the beach (rebuilt every year due to tsunamis and such), and waved to the groups of Japanese guys who kept yelling “Hi girl! Hi girl!” It was wonderful to just relax, and we definitely needed the energy for what was to be the best adventure (in my opinion) of the weekend.

Four Day Adventure, Part 1

Note: ME, KC and I just finished a four day weekend, so I thought I’d break it down into smaller parts. Here’s the first:

“Yoshi, you can pick me one dish, any dish, and I will eat it.”

It was Wednesday night, the beginning of our four day weekend, and ME, KC, I were waiting for a table at a 100 yen sushi restaurant with our friend Yoshi, a Japanese lifeguard from work.

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Any dish. And I will eat it.”

The four of us found a spot, and I semi-nervously watched the plates travel around on the little conveyor belt, knowing that one of those unrecognizable seaweed-wrapped dishes would soon be in my mouth (and hopefully remain there.) With an evil little grin on his face, Yoshi handed me a plate.

“Here.”

“Don’t tell me what it is. I want to eat it, and then tell me.”

I picked up the first roll like the professional chopstick user that I am, and bit off half the roll, chewing it slowly while trying to decide what it was.

Bite 1: Not too bad, but not exactly great. Sort of earthy.

Bite 2: Same as the first, but leaning more towards the “not exactly great” side.

“It’s nato.”

NATO. That stinky, sticky bean the Japanese lifeguards had told us about. The one that 99% of Americans can’t handle because it (quite literally) tastes and smells like…crap.

Bite 3: GAG REFLEX IN ACTION.

I thought I could eat both rolls. I’m sorry to say I admitted defeat after the first one.

I think I’ll stick to desserts in my adventures with Japanese food. I haven’t gone wrong yet in that arena. :)

PS: To anyone who knew me as a child: yes, I really did tell someone to feed me any Japanese food they wanted. Miracle much?