On the way to Nihon!

So Jekka is doing well and staying way out of the way of being a 10 on the "Girly Scale" not wearing any make up or anything. That's always a good thing. :) Silly girl. She's got some pictures, but is unable to develop them until she gets to Japan, so we'll just have to wait patiently. Chris Choro is doing well, but is starting to get anxious about going to Japan!! He's started giving empty study classrooms names and different people a pokemon name that is equivalent to their personality... Oi! This is the last week before they head out!! So if you do end up sending letters, the letters will need to be addressed differently from their MTC address! I don't know Chris' yet, but I know Jekka's! Be sure to send her letters at this address:

Sister Jessica Catherine Jones
Japan Tokyo Mission
4-25-12 Nishi Ochiai
Shinjiku-ku
Tokyo-to 161-0031 Japan

I know there are a lot of words in there you probably don't know what is going on, but that's what needs to go on the front of the letter!! Also, your best bet if you want to get the letter directly to Japan is to go down to the post office and let them stamp it. It could be from $1 to possibly $6 depending on the size of the letter/package. I'm sure we'll all figure out something right?! The only request that Jekka's made is that we do not write to her saying "Only x-many days left!!". You may count down the days if you wish, but she'd rather not know being it will just distract her. Also if you could send pictures, she would love to receive pictures especially if you have some from the Narrows or the Subway.

Speaking of words, I've written out some Katakana for everyone to have fun with!!! Hope it's readable. I've been having fun figuring out a few words. Have a specific word you want to know? I can totally get it for you with my new software that I downloaded without Mastah's permission. >.>



Story time!!!
So, as I was saying, Chris has started giving names to study rooms such as; The Bat Cave, The Abyss, the Celestial Kingdom (has a window with a view of the temple), the Lone Isles, The Temple of Doom and Valley Forge... Well, one day Glenn Shimai and Jekka are studying in the Bat Cave which is connected to the Abyss by a window, to which has doors you can shut over the window. Example:



SO, when both classroom lights are on, you can see into each room. When the lights are off, you can't see anything from the other room. While Jekka and Glenn Shimai were studying, Glenn thought she heard a knock, so she goes to open the door. Seeing nothing, she closed the door and went back to work. She thinks she heard it again, so she opens the window door again, and puts her face to the glass trying to see into the dark room when BAM! someone slammed their body against the glass. It scared Glenn Shimai so bad Jekka thought she had a heart attack. The people in The Abyss turned on the light to reveal Dean and Fryer Choro laughing their heads off. Silly boys.

As for Chris, his story is that he had a dream that some kid stole a song he made up and he said he could because it wasn't copyrighted and the kid sucked at playing it. That's chis for ya...

Well, that's it for now! Until next letter from Japan, there won't be much posting! Keep in touch though and be sure to write Jekka and as soon as I get Chris' address, him too!!

1 and a half weeks left!!!!

SO! I apologize for not updating sooner, things around here have been busy and I got over powered and blew a fuse, so by the time Mastah fixed me back up again, I had things going everywhere piled up to do and I feel like a non stop house keeper! ;)

You see right though! Only a week and a 1/2 before our beloved Jekka goes off to Japan with Chris and the rest of the mission crew! She's sent me a few pictures of her mission group and I'll post them at the end of the blog. If you have pictures that you'd like to post from Jekka, paintingpixies@mac.com is where you should send them!! We'll get them posted for ya!!

There were originally only three sisters going to Japan, but now there are two more in the group who aren't in the pictures!

Sister McIntire is half Japanese and so she grew up in Tokyo for a bit before moving to the US for a few more years before going back to attend High School there. Her dad is the mission president of Kobe. She came to the MTC to learn the gospel doctrine in English and learn how to teach. Since she's already fluent in Japanese, she'll leave with Jekka and the others.

Campos Shimai is from Las Vegas and is also going to japan. We don't know much about her other than she is a skinny little bean pole and has a missionary friend in Minnesota whom she is writing.

Sister Shipp is from Salt Lake City and was a friend with one of the teachers. She's headed to Tokyo with Jekka! She spent a semester at BYU Jerusalem for a while as well and loved it!

So those are the new sisters that Jekka is getting along with so well. Jekka also had a rather Girly Girl moment taking the time to go to a Make up class!!! Can you believe that? Oh how Jenni will have a fit about that. Jekka's companion Betagnole Shimai apparently from the experience made a scale of girly girl-ness for those of you who didn't know how girly girl you are:

On a scale from 1-10... 10 being the girliest one could ever be. Changing clothing outfits at least 3 times a day by doing so also changing make up and hair. Everytime a girly girl comes across a mirror she has to stop, examine and fix hair and clothes reapplying make up. This girly girl also has a boyfriend or wants one so bad she goes out of her way to find one. When around boys they are flirty giggly, and "playful" hitting the guys arms at a passing joke. They had the outdoors with a passion afraid to get wet or dirty.

Then there's the complete opposite. These girls only buy boy clothing and wear them, even to the extent of boxers. They never wear make up and they don't care how they look. They like the outdoors and thrive on intense physical activities. Basically full core Tom Boy. Their only acknowledgment to their gender would be using the woman's restroom.

Chris and Jekka laughed at this and have come to the conclusion that Jekka is a 3 and if she ever went past a 5 he would have to take measures (I'm sure Jenni would too) to correct her personality. Jessica promised that she would always remain faithful to a 3 maybe just touching the 4 while she's on her mission, but thrives on being a 3. However, I think that someday Mastah Tori and I will have a bit of fun making her a 5 one day.... maybe higher. :) *evil grin*

In Jekka's classroom they have a new edition to the family. A gnome. That's right, a gnome. There is no name for this gnome yet, but I'm sure one will soon arise before they depart for Japan. A few new words from both Chris and Jekka will be posted up in the Japanese word column soon. She and Chris should be getting their flight plans soon as well so we will expect that as soon as possible! Keep us posted. I promise to update more often! Sorry for the dely in posting!! Next letter I will post a picture of some Katakana as well with Romani. :) Then you'll know some Japanese!


From left to right. Of course, Jekka in her pretty blue shirt. Then Sister Bertagnole and Sister Glenn on the far right.


At the World Map in the Main building trying to point to Japan.
Sendai - Hamzawi Choro, Stewart Choro, and Dobutsu
Tokyo - Jekka, Dean Choro, Fryer Choro and Bertagnole Shimai
Kobe - Glenn shimai, Burton Choro, Shepley Choro and Chris


Her District (27 B) at the Provo Temple on P-Day


from left to right: Burton, Fryer, Shepley, Peterson (aka dobutsu), Chris, Hamzawi, Fryer and Stewart Chorotachi.

Genki Genki!

Jones Shimai and Choro are doing great spiritually especially! The language is coming along great and soon they'll have to start teaching the lessons in Japanese only! They've only been in the MTC for 4 weeks, but it feels like they've been there for months already!! I have mailed her two letters, one in response to her letter I received and another when I got back from the Asian market and bought some Japanese candy and asked her what it was called. I also asked Jekka for some Katakana and when I get the letter, I'll be sure to post some katakana. Both Chris and Jekka are really missing the outdoors, so maybe I'll send her some hiking pictures, but however, I think being in Memphis, it won't do much good.... So hey! All you who live in Utah, send her pictures of the wondrous outdoors!! Maybe I'll send her a jar of dirt....or soak her letter in the river before sending it. ^_^ Put a leaf within the letter, just a few ideas for ya. Be sure to check out the Japanese list!! I've been adding words onto it with each new letter and e-mail I get! So check it out and maybe you can understand what they're all saying. I know I'm having a blast! I'll be well educated next time I go to an Anime convention. lol Geek=me. Well, as Jekka says, Kono kyoukai wa shinjitsu desu yo! fukuin wa shinjitsu desu yo! (Does anyone think they know what this means.... *goes to freetranslation.com*)

Random pictures!!

Little Changes

I received both e-mails from Jekka and Chris, and they're both learning the language (Nihongo) very well. They have both been receiving massive ammounts of e-mails at dearelder.com and they thank you. The enjoy the e-mails and will try to write back, but sometimes they really don't have the time to write to anyone, but family.

New words you maybe didn't know:
Kawaii - Cute
Kowai - Scary
Anata no kawaii desu - You're cute!
Anata no kawaii - Informal way of saying "You're cute"

Already I am causing mayhem to the blog as I change a word list into a Japanese list for all to know the words. So instead of posting new blogs everytime I see a new word, I'll just update the list on the right. As you can see, I've also changed a few things on the side bar. DON'T WORRY I DIDN'T LOSE IT! I'm not an irresponsible minion (sometimes) and I've filed it away in my programming for a later day when Jekka wishes to have it back. For now I will keep these files hidden from the Mastah, but hopefully she won't reprogram me.... >.>

Other than that no really new news right now. I'm sure that a letter will come soon or something. The posts will most likely slow down also when October comes around being that they will probably be busy with everything. ^_^ So until another new word comes around, Ja ne!

Goats

I just received a letter on the how to goats were doing! So I thought I would update again....

Jekka doesn't get to see the goats much really. Right now they are just in the room where the only time she sees them is when she goes to bed. They haven't gotten into any trouble (Thank Heavens) and Rupert took a shower the other day in the bathroom sink! Yay! We're all so proud of him. Francis enjoys cleaning and has been keeping the place tidy or so he says. Jekka thinks he just lounges around, being lazy. Windston has memorized every word in Japanese from the Japanese-English dictionary and we think he is somehow miraculously fluent in Nihongo. She can't understand a word he is saying, but then again, having a goat speak Japanese can be rather difficult to understand.

Here are some new phrases!!!
Matsujitsu seito Iesu Kirisuto Kyokai - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Shimai - Sister Choro - Elder To make either of these plural add -tachi to the end of it. (Chorotachi and Shimaitachi)

So far, she can say prayers and bear her testimony in Japanese. She's learning how to have a conversation and though it's a little harder, she's working at it. She has two companions instead of just one and their little threesome are always together! How cute. So far that's all the news. Don't forget to send her some mail at dearelder.com

Be happy and don't let the platypus steal your apple!