Shiga Lake Stars!!!

Check out Ray's team website for some fun videos and photos!

www.lakestars.net

The photo is from a "camp" Ray and a couple of his teammates did at a local elementary school!

Tastes and Touches...

Where to start?

I have so much to share, with many fun adventures to aptly describe.  Firstly, I had the opportunity to head out to a garden with some people from the church we have been attending.  Ray, sadly, could not go because he had practice.  HaeHo, the woman who picked me up and drove me out to the garden, explained to me that the church has this small garden to help grow food for its members and for local charities... and today we were going to invite a home of foster kids out to pull potatoes!  My kind of gig!  Despite the rain, we had a wonderful time of getting dirty and getting to know one another.  The kids had a blast looking for the largest potato and scavenging for many cool creatures, including this turtle that had buried itself under the mud with the potatoes!  Best of all, they sent me home with a bag of fresh taters that we ate in a delicious scramble this morning!!

Speaking of church, Ray and I were able to attend the service this past Sunday where they gave us an earpiece to have the message interpreted (by HaeHo!).  The message and worship was a sweet treat.  Afterwards, we met a fantastic young couple who spoke perfect English (they met in Australia!), who we see becoming good friends with.  Also, to my utter delight, I met a girl named Miyumi who loved to rock climb!  She said it is very difficult to find other ladies to climb with and she'd really like to take me to a local gym! WOW- thank you God!!

Saturday after the garden, Ray and I headed out to dinner with our neighbor, Bob, and his wife, daughter, and some friends of theirs who work at their English school.  He wanted to introduce us to a local food called "Okonomiyaki", or Japanese pizza.  As you can see from the photos we REALLY enjoyed the food.  They begin by preparing your "pizza" of eggs and meats and veggies on a burner in front of the chef... they then transfer it to a burner that is set in to your table.  This was so much fun and soooo delicious.  I wonder why they haven't created a food like this in the states.  Maybe too much of a liability??

Lastly, I want to report that I am a working woman.  I had an interview last Friday for a teaching position, and just learned today that I was hired for part-time work.  Today, I attended another interview in Osaka (a crazy hour train web).  The photo is me in my "business attire:)).  I felt like I aced the interview and was totally relaxed.  Besides some rather vicious blisters on my feet from all the walking to and from the trains, I feel good that soon I will be working part of my days as an English language instructor!

Currently, Ray is with a few of his teammates doing a live T.V. show!!! Crazy, huh?  I think I will turn on the tube and see if I can find him!!

Love to all!!

Friday...

I was sitting down at the lake yesterday, reading.  An older gentleman was fishing.  We've seen him down there before.  He's a riot to watch- big arm circles, erratic talking (to his imagination), whoops and hollers.  He is fantastic!  Every toss of his line into the water, he literally talks to the fish.  Sometimes he gathers a crowd.  Today it is quiet, except for this fellow.  I break from my reading and remind myself : we are in Japan!!

Ray is at practice and I just returned from the market to pic up some veggies for dinner.  Stir fry.  I had a job interview today in Osaka.  I braved over an hour of confusing trains and subways to make it (thank God!) to the interview on time.  I have another on Monday.  We'll see.  Maybe I will be a working woman here soon!

Tomorrow, a woman from the church will be picking me up to head out to the garden.  There will be a potato pull for the kids!  I am really looking forward to it.  Sadly, Ray will be unable to join us because of practice:(...      I will post pics!

Ray and I have been walking down to the lake in the evening to play cards and watch the sunset.  Very nice.  As you can see, the sight cant get much better than it is here.

So much is going on at home - we miss all of you and keep each one of you very closely in our thoughts!  Thanks so much to you who have written!!!

Living in Style

Just wanted to show you around our little house.  We have finally warmed it up with flowers, a new tablecloth, a wonderful little plant, a new bed spread, and a 2nd fridge (Ray likes his food!!).  Maybe this will help you feel like you are home with us!

A Day Off

Today Ray finally had a whole day free from basketball.  With this freedom at our grasp, we decided to brave the pouring rain and jump a train north.  Our ideal destination was a hotspring we saw on the map.  But to complicate the entire process, the map is horrible, we don't have directions, we only know English, and well, the people who we talk to certainly only know Japanese.

The day did turn out wonderful, despite me bringing the camera but forgetting the camera battery (oops!).  Luckily, thanks to the high tech devices that the Japanese so love, both of our cell phones doubled as digital cameras.  This pics attached were downloaded and good as gold.

We eventually did find the hotspring, or bath as they call them.  But they were looking to charge us $30, so we quickly declined and headed on our way.  On our way back to the train, we stopped to appreciate the incredible flowers (hydrangeas grow in abundance here!), the groves of bamboo, the phenomenal farms, and of course some awesome creatures like the mushroom.  I saw the same mushroom on the Planet Earth series and thought it was SO cool.  Didn't think I'd run into one in Japan.

When we'd made it back to the train station, to our surprise there was an "onsen", or hotspring hut available to dip our tired feet in.  So nice.

Now Ray is asleep on the bed. I will heat up some coconut soup I made last night.  We miss all of you!!  

CONTACT INFO

Ray or Sarah Schafer

c/o Shiga Lake Stars

3F/Optex Building

4-5-7, Nionohama, Otsu City

Shiga, JAPAN

520-0801

schafer.ray@gmail.com

sarahleeschafer@gmail.com

www.lakestars.net

phone#: 011-81-5638-6698

*Look for us on Skype or IChat (search for Ray & Sarah Schafer)

Bluegrass in Japan?

Who would have thought we'd find bluegrass in Japan?  It just so happen that the Aussie couple, Steve and Stacy, who live on the 7th floor of our building, have a bluegrass band - and a good one at that!!  Last night they invited us, along with Ray's coach, out for a concert in Kyoto.  After dodging torrential downpour, we made it to the Irish bar and enjoyed some good music and conversation.  (Sorry, I couldnt rotate the video!)

My need for companionship while Ray has been gone at practices has pushed me to plant a rather quaint vegetable garden in pots on our porch.... it's a modest garden of tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber and basil for now.  Yesterday, Ray created the perfect bamboo supports for the tomatoes.  What happy little fellows.  We hope they bear us some fruit!!

Staying healthy

Also, the rains have begun!  And I know you all would appreciate seeing Ray manage a little bike and lots of rain!  

Here is another wonderful meal of tofu, veggies and chicken over rice.

Photo update

Ray was hungry enough to try a "Mega Mac" at McDonalds when we took a trip to Kyoto.  Embarrassingly enough... it was quite tasty...:)

My new friend, Miwa, and I tried to make cookies.  Without an oven this was quite a feat, but we made due with our little toaster oven!  Notice her, representing Oregon with the shirt I gave her!

A sunset on Lake Biwa
Ray did a big radio show in the town center.  There were big windows where we could watch, and not only was the show broadcasted over radio and cable tv, but we could also hear it throughout the entire mall!

After the radio show

Beginning a Blog!

This our first post from Japan!  I have decided to start a blog because, not only does it cut down on possible unwanted emails in your mailbox and gives you a choice to see our life over here, but I also have a lot of pics that I want to share that are too big for an email inbox.

We are still very excited to be over here, though for me, the freedom in my days is both new and difficult at times.  I have painted and written, read and cooked, planted a mini garden and gone on jogs around the lake.  It would seem like my days are full!  Alas, I am learning to pause and for the first time in my life, truly value free time.  

Ray's practices are going very well, and he is getting back in shape by experiencing some soreness and tiredness.  There are now 6 guys signed on the team.  You can check out his website at :

www.lakestars.net

It is all in Japanese but you may have the option of translating it.  If you choose to bookmark the site, you should also be able to watch games and see updated photos.

We are always eager to hear from you.  If you have the option of using (downloading) either Skype or Ichat, we would LOVE it.  This gives us the opportunity to talk to you over the computer for free, as we would the phone.  We are 16 hours ahead, but if you take your time, subtract 8 hours, that is the time it is here (the next day).  Example: if it is 8pm your time, it is 12pm our time.

The photos above are from a trip up to an ancient temple, where we ventured last weekend.  We took a cable car up a steep mountain and explored around a distinctly beautiful area.  From the top we could look down to Lake Biwa - we could even see our apartment!

We love you all.  Keep in touch!!