Mushi atsui! You know it's uncomfortable when the humidity is higher than the temperature. Yesterday is was around 86F with the humidity at 92%. Today it is much more bearable at 72F and 88% humidity.

I am getting much more ambitious and adventurous when it comes to cooking. On Monday, I watched a Japanese friend make some dishes, so I decided to give some of them a try before I forgot how to make them. This week has consisted of okonomiyaki (kind of like an omelet), yaki soba and kawara soba (different types of fried noodles and meats). Maybe tomorrow I'll make chijimi (a Korean type vegetable pancake). It's amazing how incredibly easy some of these things are to make when you know what to do. The power of reading instructions!

Part III: Today I had my last dentist visit in this series of three. Thankfully there are no problems to report. The only glitch into today's appointment was that the light didn't work. They couldn't figure out how to change the light bulb, so they improvised and used a Coleman camping-type flashlight instead. This lasted for all of three minutes before they decided it was more trouble than it was worth. My gum pockets were checked and pronounced healthy. Then they finally flossed my teeth and did a final polishing.

I must say that this whole process has been rather involved but interesting. Who knew that it would take three weeks to get your teeth cleaned?

P.S. I didn't even get a new toothbrush out of the deal. Oh well, I guess I'll survive!

The ajisai (hydrangeas) are starting to appear all over the place. They are gorgeous!

I had another dentist stop today. This time Heidi and I thought we would try to go right away when the office opened. We got there ten minutes after it opened and the waiting room was full of elderly people. We put our names on the list and then asked how long the wait would be--about 40-50 minutes. We looked at each other and decided that a walk to the pier would be nice during that time. Thus, we told the receptionist that we were going for a walk but we would be back in 40 minutes. This is obviously never done because the receptionist went back to ask the dentist for permission. (We weren't really asking for permission but it's not surprising that the Japanese would interpret it that way.) Yet again the Americans are rocking the boat a bit.

Heidi and I had a nice walk down to the pier and enjoyed watching the waves, soaking in the sun, and conversing. It definitely beat sitting in an office waiting room with seven seats for 40 minutes!

For the actual appointment: This time my top teeth were done. They gently cleaned the plaque off my teeth and then I think they also polished them. Whatever instrument they were using it sure sounded like they were sanding my teeth. And of course, I once again got to experience the up & down and rising every five minutes. We'll see what the third visit brings next week.

Hana no hi (Flower Day): Today students, teachers, and staff brought cut flowers to school. After school students went out to give the flowers to elderly people in nursing homes. Some of the middle school students also went to their former elementary schools to give flowers. The flowers cheered up our chapel service today and I pray that they make the day brighter for those who receive them.

A dentist experience: Going to the dentist is always a little nerve wracking, but going in a different country where you don't really speak the language adds a whole new dimension to the experience. One thing you should know is that most Japanese have horrendous teeth. Thus, no matter what shape my teeth are in, they are going to look comparatively wonderful.

You don't call ahead for a time slot but just show up and put your name on the list. About a half an hour later your called back. First, the dentist looks at my teeth and puts his gloveless fingers into my mouth. He exclaims that I have beautiful teeth. I also try to explain some of the orthodontic work that was done on my teeth and the permanent retainers I have glued to the back of my teeth. The information gap on this was probably quite large. I have no idea how much he understood other than that I had braces about seven years ago.

Then it's time for the hygienist to come in and actually start cleaning my teeth. I say start because having your teeth cleaned takes not one, not two, but three visits! On this visit they cleaned my bottom teeth.

This is how the process sort of goes: rinse mouth, chair goes down, air blown on my teeth, water sprayed on my teeth, chair goes up, rinse mouth, chair goes down, remove plaque (very gently), chair goes up, rinse mouth, chair goes down, polish teeth (part 1, again very gently), chair goes up, rinse mouth, chair goes down, polish teeth (part 2), chair goes up, rinse mouth, told to come back next week. (I guess flossing in on another visit.)

During this process the hygienist keeps politely apologizing (I don't know what for) and tells me to let her know if I feel any pain. I think I am more rough on my teeth when I brush them than the hygienist ever was. It more or less felt like she was massaging my teeth.

So, that was my visit to the dentist, part 1. We'll see what next week brings...

The smell of a girls locker room... Maybe some of you can relate to the smell of a girls locker room after PE class is finished and everyone primps themselves for the remainder of the day. Deodorant, perfume and other sweet smelling stuff are in abundance. In fact, sometimes you can almost cut the air it's so thick. This is a little bit of what my classroom was like today. In all girls school there is no need for locker rooms. They just change in their classrooms. Every Thursday, my senior English class students are returning from PE as the bell rings to start class. I'm in the classroom urging them to change quickly as they dawdle. Eventually everyone finishes and heads off to their classroom. Left in their wake is the aroma of 21 students' sweat, deodorant and body spray. I bat the air with my hand, shrug my shoulders and start class with prayer.