tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9715151356007689792024-02-07T14:26:17.944-08:00Wilson San Meets JapanTessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-31269737280160205012012-01-02T00:15:00.001-08:002012-01-02T01:03:11.624-08:00Happy New Year!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEE9A73J-g_0eTI_2Duhy0Aw5beKmUfGfLlZWYOi-Iy6Tr_l1EIPfIPEvs1h4maMLOKcEgYsfp6AwxM2wAj8YoUXfpzsbspzYV_B-_fhMRyBFk2ze6bO0ACg1rlQ3Lsb1RCwYqYhaJd4/s1600/247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEE9A73J-g_0eTI_2Duhy0Aw5beKmUfGfLlZWYOi-Iy6Tr_l1EIPfIPEvs1h4maMLOKcEgYsfp6AwxM2wAj8YoUXfpzsbspzYV_B-_fhMRyBFk2ze6bO0ACg1rlQ3Lsb1RCwYqYhaJd4/s400/247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692953355770570226" /></a></p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">New Years Day is the biggest holiday of the year for the Japanese.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This year, we had our friends Yumi and her sister, Kazue, come to our home and cook a traditional New Year’s dinner for us a few friends, complete with a lesson on the cultural origins/symbolism behind each dish.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What a treat! Thank you Yumi!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Shrimp </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Due to the lack of calcium in a typical Japanese diet, it is very common to see elderly Japanese with obvious symptoms of osteoporosis, especially a curved back.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In Japan, this is seen as a sign of a well-lived, long life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, the Japanese eat shrimp, with its curved shape, to symbolize this honored attribute.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Beans</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Beans are known as the hard- worker’s food!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No wonder…the Japanese are the hardest workers I’ve ever seen….and they eat a LOT of beans.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">University Sweet Potatoes </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Legend has it that a man started selling these cubed, candied sweet potatoes to students outside Tokyo University (a very distinguished university in Japan).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Over time, rumor spread that these potatoes helped students pass their grueling exams.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As a result, parents started sending these potatoes to their children when they had an upcoming exam and still do so today.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mochi Soup</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m not sure what this soup symbolized, but it was delicious!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Chicken, vegetables, mochi ball (rice pastry), in a yummy broth.</p><p class="MsoNormal">(You may notice a little American influence in this next picture...what would New Years be without Fritos, Crunch N Munch and Sparkling Cider??? And those symbolize....)</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuQIBQC45RphxjubSyN5jDaGVNSHDV0vS_v7dGFohLHfLTaSOeGW_h7CE_e7x0hLH8rVr29YfdEYUs718PMYzCgVODs_Ha8JsvKFpNurGzpsOXDW_1TfM4YPQeJ7uVEgKdS5yYO8SGb4/s1600/245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuQIBQC45RphxjubSyN5jDaGVNSHDV0vS_v7dGFohLHfLTaSOeGW_h7CE_e7x0hLH8rVr29YfdEYUs718PMYzCgVODs_Ha8JsvKFpNurGzpsOXDW_1TfM4YPQeJ7uVEgKdS5yYO8SGb4/s400/245.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692953106018176050" /></a></p><p> To me, one of the most impressive things about Japan is that entire country's population is able to squeeze themselves into roughly one fourth of the country's land, and leave the rest, well, to nature.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And this is done in a country roughly the size of California, but with more than FOUR times the number of people!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Their reverence for nature is inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>According to Yumi, this love for nature is what inspires their traditional New Year's Day meal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Foods from each part of nature are to be represented on the table: fish and seaweed from the sea, lotus and other root vegetables from the ground, and roasted chestnuts from the forests.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGWXBM8lDqJjj9kNb6AvLNP3Pk1wSMuBuusGRTBeez_grNLFkDPbJ0xYXttjKvHDTHh6dGCoSGdhC5QVZWB5qbJ3pGb8_uLebz7WwOwJZrjhyz7yuLRVXXov3EwH6hrdQR3mB_4ZMR8A/s1600/242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGWXBM8lDqJjj9kNb6AvLNP3Pk1wSMuBuusGRTBeez_grNLFkDPbJ0xYXttjKvHDTHh6dGCoSGdhC5QVZWB5qbJ3pGb8_uLebz7WwOwJZrjhyz7yuLRVXXov3EwH6hrdQR3mB_4ZMR8A/s400/242.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692952720283843410" /></a><br />Akimashte Omedeto Gozyimas! Happy New Year!Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-22521627072620353752011-03-14T06:06:00.000-07:002011-03-14T07:00:54.852-07:00Hina-Matsuri and New Restaurant<p>Last Saturday, Cindy (who else?) and I made our way to Shunan for a Hina-Matsuri (Girls) Festival. Shunan is SUPPOSED to be about an hour and a half drive from Iwakuni, but we took the lllllooooonnnngggg way and got there in about four. We made it to the festival with just enough time to wolf down some curry and rice and get dressed up in Kimonos. This was a first for me and I soon learned that dressing someone in a Kimono is a certified art form. Supposedly, you have to have a certificate to do it. </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4Ezs_fv3vZuqxRZ8bslyPssIj5XXw6TXQeQqoNGYd4B-czcYhgEqO4kSaldvSbe0NwekTgdzXpyIyqXox7YXv0HL-DVo3oIlUlkDDKe3srYy2nGOOBPlmFYdCV9ISatzkMeuzjbxNJw/s1600/197346_1747634422096_1575877516_1635475_6103708_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4Ezs_fv3vZuqxRZ8bslyPssIj5XXw6TXQeQqoNGYd4B-czcYhgEqO4kSaldvSbe0NwekTgdzXpyIyqXox7YXv0HL-DVo3oIlUlkDDKe3srYy2nGOOBPlmFYdCV9ISatzkMeuzjbxNJw/s400/197346_1747634422096_1575877516_1635475_6103708_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583924048753609554" /></a><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt66MNttRS0LzUPDkM-_h81_QB6WhluwVgU-ZNOR74XIybb69xDtLtiFxnLVC9Zfv-SL_XxKtDv6AK6_nDBMUdyjMRiupL6I5zZvdmlnkYgZSLC3DpBaXebiEHzFxXKiWgNApcRj8U3M/s1600/189751_1747635302118_1575877516_1635476_4746594_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt66MNttRS0LzUPDkM-_h81_QB6WhluwVgU-ZNOR74XIybb69xDtLtiFxnLVC9Zfv-SL_XxKtDv6AK6_nDBMUdyjMRiupL6I5zZvdmlnkYgZSLC3DpBaXebiEHzFxXKiWgNApcRj8U3M/s400/189751_1747635302118_1575877516_1635476_4746594_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583923682123837570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK9GWxQB3R74WT5jY6wvlxwHNK43HjiA0FhvNGjP51spKJ8qMsp-peWM9QKKUnlxZKOqbczK1lLG8bHW4h_uBf5oXM8E01tZxTqkvE2sEhR_D5y-EEfF0R8A67ZykqgGIKlUgHQsQ8tc/s1600/196066_1747631902033_1575877516_1635471_1379234_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK9GWxQB3R74WT5jY6wvlxwHNK43HjiA0FhvNGjP51spKJ8qMsp-peWM9QKKUnlxZKOqbczK1lLG8bHW4h_uBf5oXM8E01tZxTqkvE2sEhR_D5y-EEfF0R8A67ZykqgGIKlUgHQsQ8tc/s400/196066_1747631902033_1575877516_1635471_1379234_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583923679889254082" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG75A_E079-eDpZlHZQ6oL6uE67KNjaV5Zes0u6_cxa1jhOkKaIcgKDwyRX7yImo4G_FVIKkS4XTBXN6ibuJEDvUpUZbA0qNG0J4ETqDFbh_bf9OFpeL8ISI9q82jQYb_QqwHa-ba-fYM/s1600/188715_1747636062137_1575877516_1635477_3646931_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG75A_E079-eDpZlHZQ6oL6uE67KNjaV5Zes0u6_cxa1jhOkKaIcgKDwyRX7yImo4G_FVIKkS4XTBXN6ibuJEDvUpUZbA0qNG0J4ETqDFbh_bf9OFpeL8ISI9q82jQYb_QqwHa-ba-fYM/s400/188715_1747636062137_1575877516_1635477_3646931_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583923694683297522" /></a></p><p>And just in case we needed to make a quick exit, there is one hidden behind that curtain. </p><p>We decided to end the day with a trip to a Chinese restaurant Cindy has been meaning to try just down the street from her house. With no English menus, we just pointed to what the one other person in the restaurant was eating (fried rice and ramen) and said "we'll have that" (in Japanese of course.) I am SO glad we did, because it was the BEST ramen and fried rice I have EVER had. And I have eaten a LOT of rice and ramen since I have been here. </p><p>The husband and wife owners/cooks/servers were adorable and, after attempting to use every bit of Japanese I knew, we were instant friends! However, later I learned that I accidentally mixed up the verb "to come" (Japanese: kiMAS) with the word "yesterday" (Japanese: kiNO) and so when I was trying to tell him "We came/flew here from America in August" I was actually telling him "Yesterday, I flew here in August." Whoops. No wonder he was giving me the "Say WHAT???" look.</p><p>We've been back three times now, and every time is like a little reunion. They even took OUR picture. </p><p>I can't wait until Matt comes home so I can take him here! He'll love them AND the food. Now if we could only fit under their tables...</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yYRpdQ_aoylPHvinaOPk4iqkXg8w94QFUxOyEPhu6ChM-ot-FRnWU6o7s8Xo2VisLBikKs99LGQ2E42KN0vZDPSf_uC38_IvDeRcC023fI0UVAwlJn3HEsAM8zjOg1Jxea3FAJlBR08/s1600/198878_1747649982485_1575877516_1635486_5453732_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yYRpdQ_aoylPHvinaOPk4iqkXg8w94QFUxOyEPhu6ChM-ot-FRnWU6o7s8Xo2VisLBikKs99LGQ2E42KN0vZDPSf_uC38_IvDeRcC023fI0UVAwlJn3HEsAM8zjOg1Jxea3FAJlBR08/s400/198878_1747649982485_1575877516_1635486_5453732_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583922041347888770" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jsWo7ddy7B80xY9UGrXq7kbKTqZVdLwPSSRA8MKlvXbF5bkmvPs6dmu1QQOBaZeX8AzsX5ZIGDFPbqJZL1ysYRmCpmsolrwE5zgHSQnr1Jk8m_anMw02rsmYo7nUFLejVmE2IYmtvHY/s1600/196666_1747648862457_1575877516_1635485_4101152_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jsWo7ddy7B80xY9UGrXq7kbKTqZVdLwPSSRA8MKlvXbF5bkmvPs6dmu1QQOBaZeX8AzsX5ZIGDFPbqJZL1ysYRmCpmsolrwE5zgHSQnr1Jk8m_anMw02rsmYo7nUFLejVmE2IYmtvHY/s400/196666_1747648862457_1575877516_1635485_4101152_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583922037209133586" /></a></p><p>Ramen and fried rice: CARBS and SALT Kudasai!</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6-whiF1Jj0rZ9hZ28jWyc0kEfDtY2LtRKklz_i7-SzBx3pFrL2pyzpsiqELiiXfV6ddQwfjxJ5jINaJhBvvY1_Ds_PFMuDrlNGkW46ec2uNx260ydUgqhsfPb3g0id5NBracKpuGmWk/s1600/196410_1747651262517_1575877516_1635490_5249252_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6-whiF1Jj0rZ9hZ28jWyc0kEfDtY2LtRKklz_i7-SzBx3pFrL2pyzpsiqELiiXfV6ddQwfjxJ5jINaJhBvvY1_Ds_PFMuDrlNGkW46ec2uNx260ydUgqhsfPb3g0id5NBracKpuGmWk/s400/196410_1747651262517_1575877516_1635490_5249252_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583922034700416338" /></a><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcQfrIrLDes0ZP-w6H0zeB0tDnvXkvdX11iJfErqDBtThyEWXEmQYw5UgW-58TnEfjYhTh-0u6jhMNYaIWEja5mdQT5j0d2kdXXPaCxKoORzu6Tm9Hbj81qLYRXNloRbTyFplyM0voPA/s1600/199455_1747648222441_1575877516_1635484_651280_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcQfrIrLDes0ZP-w6H0zeB0tDnvXkvdX11iJfErqDBtThyEWXEmQYw5UgW-58TnEfjYhTh-0u6jhMNYaIWEja5mdQT5j0d2kdXXPaCxKoORzu6Tm9Hbj81qLYRXNloRbTyFplyM0voPA/s400/199455_1747648222441_1575877516_1635484_651280_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583922046844015698" /></a></p>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-33488434325949387272011-03-14T04:44:00.000-07:002011-03-14T06:49:00.161-07:00March 11, 2011<p>Friday afternoon at 2:45 (the time of the earthquake) I was actually in a conference with a student's parent. We talked as if nothing had happened, because for us, nothing really did. I continued to answer emails until about 3:30, made a quick jog to the bank on base, and came back to the school by about 4:00. At about 3:00 I had heard a siren go off, which I later learned was the tsunami warning siren, but I had no idea what it was. So like anyone would, I ignored it. Yes, mom, I know better NOW! The vice principal met me as I walked by the main office. She asked me if I had felt the earthquake and I told her I hadn't, but I thought, <em>How bad could it be if I didn't feel it? Must be one of those small ones. </em> I didn't think much of it and proceeded to my friend Christine's office. We had planned to ride together to Cindy's house and go for a hike in the hills behind her house. All the staff from her building were crammed in the office, glued to the television. I saw that this thing was obviously bigger than I had initially thought, but the news was only showing the fires that had started. From the looks of it, it still didn't look THAT bad to me. A few fires...we can handle that. No talk of a tsunami. I knew everyone would be terribly worried, so I quickly gave my mom, dad and Matt a call to let them know I was safe (but getting a hold of Matt is a whole other story).</p><p>Christine and I eventually wound up heading over to Cindy's house and hanging out almost as if nothing had happened. It wasn't until later the next day that I realized just how bad things were. We don't get any TV reception at our house (Japanese or American) so I feel totally cut off from the world. That's one thing I have learned from being over here, I shouldn't take for granted the availability of information (in your language) at home. Usually I like the media silence, but in times like this, it is crippling when you don't have it! I was relying on hear-say and snip-its from my family and friends. I researched a few things on the Internet to get a better picture of what was really going on. The pictures of the sweeping tsunami took my breath away. I couldn't believe I had been so naive to think it wasn't as bad as it was. I felt and still feel a lot of guilt about that. I called Tomoko, my good friend and neighbor, who had told me she had family around Tokyo and Sendai. Her family had all been located and were safe, but she still hadn't heard from a few of her friends who lived in Sendai (the hardest hit region). She broke down in tears when she told me she couldn't contact them by email or phone. </p><p>Today, as the students came back to school, we had a little pow-wow about what happened. There are few things that are sweeter than six and seven year olds coming to terms with a disaster like this. </p><p>From the mouth of babes...</p><p>"Maybe we could help them!"</p><p>"I am so so sad about this Mrs. Wilson (starting to cry). The people in Hawaii died and I was born in Hawaii. I don't want them to die!" (Don't worry, I reassured her.)</p><p>"I saw all the moms and dads with their children. They were trying to save them."</p><p>"I saw on the news that a mom was holding hands with her child and her child got swallowed up by the waves." (This one made ME cry.)</p><p>"I don't have much dollars, but I have a LOT of pennies. I could give them those." </p><p>"I'm going to sell some food and give them the money!"</p><p>Today, Tomoko emailed me at work and let me know she has now located all of her friends. Many of them are without food, water and electricity, and there is no way for anyone to get supplies to them. The Japanese don't have stocked pantries like us Americans. They expect to be able to go to the store every few days, so a disaster like this poses a real hunger threat. The roads are blocked to private vehicles so people can't provide supplies themselves. We are looking for ways to get around this. Until then, to use Tomoko's sweetly profound words, at least "we can report courage to them."<br /></p>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-70247410982723448232011-02-22T04:36:00.000-08:002011-03-14T04:42:42.232-07:00Chinese Lantern Festival in Nagasaki<p>Cindy suggested we all go on this trip to Nagasaki for the Chinese Lantern Festival (thanks Event Planner Cindy!) and when Matt realized he would probably be back in the states for this event, Cindy and I decided to make a girls weekend out of it! We had a BLAST. For starters, a HUGE snowstorm dumped on Iwakuni practically as soon as we boarded the bus (later we found out that the base had so much snow it had to shut down- unheard of, I guess). I love how the Japanese use umbrellas when it snows!</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAxaP_H5n8cdsPcXVCrOuDPG9bfpPs_1jSvrx-pF9qgSLfqD_SEJrmoUTQgY0ZhciOSbgkkjXNW1GOcWYxbIblm6D2AJDlZUvYFwiryK-5Ndhv3OnaagVlRUArtxywv2JxmiX5G-mPt0/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+074.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAxaP_H5n8cdsPcXVCrOuDPG9bfpPs_1jSvrx-pF9qgSLfqD_SEJrmoUTQgY0ZhciOSbgkkjXNW1GOcWYxbIblm6D2AJDlZUvYFwiryK-5Ndhv3OnaagVlRUArtxywv2JxmiX5G-mPt0/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+074.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583891268853641554" /></a><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-XL0cAlbP8N0SUBrz_wfYk_UdQf1GP7H6A_GuzvLbnE-nUjpzS4MIvAqDoHBAbuLtcIkXyFDOPLUNyxjtGQnP8RyEVz37N3xDvmq7ZRhOzNvAGy9ZAdg8GDKAsU2ZmbwWjUA4o6pMTU/s1600/HPIM5535.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-XL0cAlbP8N0SUBrz_wfYk_UdQf1GP7H6A_GuzvLbnE-nUjpzS4MIvAqDoHBAbuLtcIkXyFDOPLUNyxjtGQnP8RyEVz37N3xDvmq7ZRhOzNvAGy9ZAdg8GDKAsU2ZmbwWjUA4o6pMTU/s400/HPIM5535.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583890591747389314" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTwn7GWwJNSsX_5kVVan6KlaaQSuFiwW3i1C1sZILt5-m7J1ExjZqyjuTHEtBz5et4MVRxXbvNnzeR4v1_fGhJsvdIoJfuEghnhOH7lY1VsxJX41RwgdmctKXLyKKy_WcFj5ByYbxeF8/s1600/HPIM5534.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTwn7GWwJNSsX_5kVVan6KlaaQSuFiwW3i1C1sZILt5-m7J1ExjZqyjuTHEtBz5et4MVRxXbvNnzeR4v1_fGhJsvdIoJfuEghnhOH7lY1VsxJX41RwgdmctKXLyKKy_WcFj5ByYbxeF8/s400/HPIM5534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583890596585034882" /></a></p><p>Our hotel room was adorable. I seriously felt like Snow White in the seven dwarfs' house (Britt- remember that version with the little wood beds... and the carrots and bread??? Please say you do!) We had so much fun examining the oh so small treasures of our room, I realized about fifteen minutes later that I had left all my bags, including my purse, in the hall with the keys in the door. Ooopss!<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT1sG_l4eOMrnNxCzV5izb-ddoVjRoP1ghz2SG6ZtzdODslIzrHxN2ifFf7ReJIcC6gs6Z57ZQ7gCXx4Tdqi8IVbH09iKUHPMtE1dVyh8mqBRV_AjAbKwP1fUGy_3B7LODfY6i0WD11g/s1600/HPIM5544.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT1sG_l4eOMrnNxCzV5izb-ddoVjRoP1ghz2SG6ZtzdODslIzrHxN2ifFf7ReJIcC6gs6Z57ZQ7gCXx4Tdqi8IVbH09iKUHPMtE1dVyh8mqBRV_AjAbKwP1fUGy_3B7LODfY6i0WD11g/s400/HPIM5544.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583890161488203410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoQuhyc5Fg8jlN7BsHkQ6D126rAq-qEiD4JlLq0-OSvFP75wlUST16KWpByrZmoVybKOLHCcrc6SXu0_PMeESI878y_9i9MgkAQ-EjCcPI3zgF8t_asTKB3qC3eUiXK6LAnZxsmW9Fyw/s1600/HPIM5546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoQuhyc5Fg8jlN7BsHkQ6D126rAq-qEiD4JlLq0-OSvFP75wlUST16KWpByrZmoVybKOLHCcrc6SXu0_PMeESI878y_9i9MgkAQ-EjCcPI3zgF8t_asTKB3qC3eUiXK6LAnZxsmW9Fyw/s400/HPIM5546.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583889561279785634" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK7pf2Zgi7dz52UAHfw_r_KXi3FafTNIdcEG4ma6vRFtiawOl9KL2dD5neOZ7_BA33FkyUT-MqKa0NOCpbmuZYTVekkXF_sCZTa9oqD_8zbPKz-aNc5Dc1yPiKxYpKP2cVNU-EGxzZ9g/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+105.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK7pf2Zgi7dz52UAHfw_r_KXi3FafTNIdcEG4ma6vRFtiawOl9KL2dD5neOZ7_BA33FkyUT-MqKa0NOCpbmuZYTVekkXF_sCZTa9oqD_8zbPKz-aNc5Dc1yPiKxYpKP2cVNU-EGxzZ9g/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+105.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583889553340841202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkxfL7LaE_ZdiUvRsxuqWAM_t55JPapOetSkGUSHzlrECPJA38v96-Njh65hjD34v8Nq3jS_CbEkjH1FHTTrzN0GN03UXVXi6EnR-vAug6Qz8VXd75SuWXyui1VqSKbucSk0WS6e1osA/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+106.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkxfL7LaE_ZdiUvRsxuqWAM_t55JPapOetSkGUSHzlrECPJA38v96-Njh65hjD34v8Nq3jS_CbEkjH1FHTTrzN0GN03UXVXi6EnR-vAug6Qz8VXd75SuWXyui1VqSKbucSk0WS6e1osA/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+106.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583889552897173250" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUQfrgVKC-KbHeTaueYB4of_HsEKdpnmWB-qJOLudGNtOQY8rT0O5H2RoppeslqM9TC4za7nI_341UFFXn4dQqk_Wd19vCvC8pbDuZnDvyY7BcT_QDk_aw5hBt2VHYUtgykOHvFr3SzU/s1600/HPIM5543.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUQfrgVKC-KbHeTaueYB4of_HsEKdpnmWB-qJOLudGNtOQY8rT0O5H2RoppeslqM9TC4za7nI_341UFFXn4dQqk_Wd19vCvC8pbDuZnDvyY7BcT_QDk_aw5hBt2VHYUtgykOHvFr3SzU/s400/HPIM5543.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583889564262693874" /></a>Aren't peep holes supposed to be EYE level? </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuRTbXwp-evJQk_7jGED5iP4Dela9gXhEEDu5u60qBdMmDWuhkf1b78R6mcW2MsrgyD68tX8vycwnoef6O6p4zldFWHOL7982SA1WOKWv40nhgnuwzDyZzEMSaZo5Fb5lp40vk8G0JHI/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+107.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuRTbXwp-evJQk_7jGED5iP4Dela9gXhEEDu5u60qBdMmDWuhkf1b78R6mcW2MsrgyD68tX8vycwnoef6O6p4zldFWHOL7982SA1WOKWv40nhgnuwzDyZzEMSaZo5Fb5lp40vk8G0JHI/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+107.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583888194701514194" /></a>I'm really not sure.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ItNpNIpQMnVhSiBlj-lAgaLQ2pP6pfyGVecKNlk3RDLHtP-3vq1aujGnzULDIs-fG2xrDGfjA8bizQ-ngn4Gg_b2O7THF_iDNsMbqpkiBWyYIe2qsOv-gPxraxHeyTrVDLlgJtcMBRM/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+113.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ItNpNIpQMnVhSiBlj-lAgaLQ2pP6pfyGVecKNlk3RDLHtP-3vq1aujGnzULDIs-fG2xrDGfjA8bizQ-ngn4Gg_b2O7THF_iDNsMbqpkiBWyYIe2qsOv-gPxraxHeyTrVDLlgJtcMBRM/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+113.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583887934511858450" /></a></p><p>Germaphobes : Beware.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VlRCfWHIsMDqlowg7H0xc3gMdi1FVVmndaEr5LNOmIUPUYnM_0wUW1ZreQhfeH1Bg7mx7ToN6Kgu1WcAjVPa1zKj40OJNfF_0htDcLZ2qDxhCdOKVv950A0P6osP3BoGcjs6PNOWtSI/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+111.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VlRCfWHIsMDqlowg7H0xc3gMdi1FVVmndaEr5LNOmIUPUYnM_0wUW1ZreQhfeH1Bg7mx7ToN6Kgu1WcAjVPa1zKj40OJNfF_0htDcLZ2qDxhCdOKVv950A0P6osP3BoGcjs6PNOWtSI/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+111.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583887788637975074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsgIDQzOFPGmoZFia7DvY59WMLVna4wVMC6aeiTjeYZ07t02VOJ0sY8zSeZVWdFmxBG0EoxmVDzfkUF67J6NhwTZXcRnGXk89NShlJ8QC77geTW3q8ZZxViiA0ILVvj96vT369BUuKdk/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+125.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsgIDQzOFPGmoZFia7DvY59WMLVna4wVMC6aeiTjeYZ07t02VOJ0sY8zSeZVWdFmxBG0EoxmVDzfkUF67J6NhwTZXcRnGXk89NShlJ8QC77geTW3q8ZZxViiA0ILVvj96vT369BUuKdk/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+125.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583887782143837298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9ZhbTf1Fb9zykmwBao1_0ycwQPfFGBhdQTenQEBQwe8zTYblVY2l08Toc_rIrZrfMNHgHVH58rv7LnUTrivuPi9sClJN4ku-S7lLFpGmzmOUDFVXaOrLfc4tufgClafXdTUgdlDEegg/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+117.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9ZhbTf1Fb9zykmwBao1_0ycwQPfFGBhdQTenQEBQwe8zTYblVY2l08Toc_rIrZrfMNHgHVH58rv7LnUTrivuPi9sClJN4ku-S7lLFpGmzmOUDFVXaOrLfc4tufgClafXdTUgdlDEegg/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+117.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583887779948883730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BSTMd0GU-k0iganh6tBpuMhXpu_E3_TjjrXejAHa3p17bntQBAIFUC6pss_z0e_HHJ7C9PfnSdvAqjBHTYUYBRL5uMhZ4iiNcJa63J2PEriiKyUnX0sJ47fWm-184AMR0nKhKRHLimI/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+118.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BSTMd0GU-k0iganh6tBpuMhXpu_E3_TjjrXejAHa3p17bntQBAIFUC6pss_z0e_HHJ7C9PfnSdvAqjBHTYUYBRL5uMhZ4iiNcJa63J2PEriiKyUnX0sJ47fWm-184AMR0nKhKRHLimI/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+118.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583887775680912018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNaCICWqhqtbXzkp4BgzP10q5SW1lUh6I488RNqBlg_jy6TSLR3Ywiz8slH_7c616E6Qw25WnSOEpHkT03EG9MSstmPiF3fBpLW6qYNy4rYlBULtNsbpJq82MsV-vJG8oAS_DWdbiy3I/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+109.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNaCICWqhqtbXzkp4BgzP10q5SW1lUh6I488RNqBlg_jy6TSLR3Ywiz8slH_7c616E6Qw25WnSOEpHkT03EG9MSstmPiF3fBpLW6qYNy4rYlBULtNsbpJq82MsV-vJG8oAS_DWdbiy3I/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+109.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583887785071809538" /></a>Cindy and Joe taking pictures of the lanterns... <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8FYCIqjTanJ6KG7dAUf_1kCmeR-HLXaSj6KtSRnI1zHExkC0KJDP859L_Mo2OS2ad3yrBglkMsU9EvlLNiy9wrsahRi52aQOR72eJssa8OvB2M5jd_MuL7tVZOfxQRQwbWI08Io1PJ8/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+119.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8FYCIqjTanJ6KG7dAUf_1kCmeR-HLXaSj6KtSRnI1zHExkC0KJDP859L_Mo2OS2ad3yrBglkMsU9EvlLNiy9wrsahRi52aQOR72eJssa8OvB2M5jd_MuL7tVZOfxQRQwbWI08Io1PJ8/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+119.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583886265535732562" /></a>Cindy and Joe posing for a picture in front of the lanterns, while crossing guard in blue nicely tries to get them out of the way... </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv77KxH-LdeON8wISGE6noO39-kgMOTXoboMsWHi31_Oxt7pBVczVhHgcvlDXyFi4N_mkqE8UkmtMwJGMBaTc21D2GzgoUyh7rLNv_ZptSNqmlpYidFU7xcHn6sPmcwi6YPxk0T67MGA/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+120.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv77KxH-LdeON8wISGE6noO39-kgMOTXoboMsWHi31_Oxt7pBVczVhHgcvlDXyFi4N_mkqE8UkmtMwJGMBaTc21D2GzgoUyh7rLNv_ZptSNqmlpYidFU7xcHn6sPmcwi6YPxk0T67MGA/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+120.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583886002067672818" /></a></p><p>Cindy and Joe cracking a joke while the crossing guard is like...SERIOUSLY...GET OUT OF THE ROAD!<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89doDkan1miwEYJkFrbui9K__iLNTan0nFrEtJMQ7vd6T8RgNjejRJyIkcon4oZg19yw-fQnfYceyjjZc2-QgeycD5GTMWZ3A2xHlxD5KfU-AuGz5MykoU8nqOq049uhZM4HeVRlkyYg/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+121.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89doDkan1miwEYJkFrbui9K__iLNTan0nFrEtJMQ7vd6T8RgNjejRJyIkcon4oZg19yw-fQnfYceyjjZc2-QgeycD5GTMWZ3A2xHlxD5KfU-AuGz5MykoU8nqOq049uhZM4HeVRlkyYg/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+121.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583884900117440226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURaJrr6Rb2vm2DsV4JkUm-mdZUTzh9kdEuY9yGHvWQ6SiMqjv7Qgm_YjT8dyvDNn0Q3maJT69lOgVv9J82quvyD1JSU6YYGF5O7yjPqB-Z87U7zwnsM7qMo-7BNxYLDJK91dzjWrcsK4/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+124.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURaJrr6Rb2vm2DsV4JkUm-mdZUTzh9kdEuY9yGHvWQ6SiMqjv7Qgm_YjT8dyvDNn0Q3maJT69lOgVv9J82quvyD1JSU6YYGF5O7yjPqB-Z87U7zwnsM7qMo-7BNxYLDJK91dzjWrcsK4/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+124.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583884902219955394" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOOzK8mL-20YOtEAQ4hPMrzlHrlpiAy_y8nuNhGW-O_JAZIirEWLrDJ5wC0zjs0c9YbV7o0Jqd635kHEVlm8vGCzE38KcrCXGItYk9NqHSgxqr0vtYtTvMZFhhK0UBB_HTAQAdDhZo3Y/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+116.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOOzK8mL-20YOtEAQ4hPMrzlHrlpiAy_y8nuNhGW-O_JAZIirEWLrDJ5wC0zjs0c9YbV7o0Jqd635kHEVlm8vGCzE38KcrCXGItYk9NqHSgxqr0vtYtTvMZFhhK0UBB_HTAQAdDhZo3Y/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+116.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583884894234883906" /></a></p><p>Man, I'd do anything for some Log Kit right about now. Mmmm...LOG. KIT. Japanese marketing at its finest.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkDxUSZ8_RG9jbauczevq2HGAvV4-M7y0LVPXeItBqFUXt4IxQBf6_pVxwxUNVI1YeIHUmefX6f0KpYwBVBKIGlK4C06wRzSQhP_fymhvLoKg5B-M_ifSpjQ60PzGRUmTKwo0yYjXQzU/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+123.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkDxUSZ8_RG9jbauczevq2HGAvV4-M7y0LVPXeItBqFUXt4IxQBf6_pVxwxUNVI1YeIHUmefX6f0KpYwBVBKIGlK4C06wRzSQhP_fymhvLoKg5B-M_ifSpjQ60PzGRUmTKwo0yYjXQzU/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+123.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583884477623391858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzboyeOQhA8O8k_isUIIH3_4CUAXPAyWzHIbzlAUdTIOq4KzHMp79oO8Pwj24rQ50LuNF9AE6vHYEpEaChQgP4nWxZxfO02fXdAjLkcmAKd4RgtltBp6_g1OUNKJUsKrwsuxtC0GtOwW0/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+128.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzboyeOQhA8O8k_isUIIH3_4CUAXPAyWzHIbzlAUdTIOq4KzHMp79oO8Pwj24rQ50LuNF9AE6vHYEpEaChQgP4nWxZxfO02fXdAjLkcmAKd4RgtltBp6_g1OUNKJUsKrwsuxtC0GtOwW0/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+128.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583884476095665586" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh310qTCugKCQqw68Fd04Rvubsa2fj5AcEfFfNHEETjXWsFC3K8ZnPGdwso9Om9dRsmwZ2U_Rl-JBuuuAFq5ijRxLaRyLNqLjRzOkcHIMZKUzzYyhJ_c3Y4DeKh9sLdL6cwnGYv7m95sdw/s1600/HPIM5558.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh310qTCugKCQqw68Fd04Rvubsa2fj5AcEfFfNHEETjXWsFC3K8ZnPGdwso9Om9dRsmwZ2U_Rl-JBuuuAFq5ijRxLaRyLNqLjRzOkcHIMZKUzzYyhJ_c3Y4DeKh9sLdL6cwnGYv7m95sdw/s400/HPIM5558.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583878927551530290" /></a>Okay, this picture may be my favorite. We joked all morning about how it would be impossible to lose each other in the crowds, being that all of us were a good 6 inches to a foot taller than everyone else....oh, and BLONDE. This proved completely true when I stopped for more sesame balls (more info to come), and Cindy and Christine went on without me into the sea of people. After walking for a few minutes to catch up to them, scanning the crowds, our eyes finally met across a sea of people and they had to snap a picture. We were more than 50 yards apart, separated by hundreds of people, yet we could pick each other out as if we were the only three people in the place. PERFECT. </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEz_ABIbCU_VCJVa4S5YODan6Ae4pChBAgOq87qMQTZOFKQnh2IFbuB57x3_pOPB5q_sP2dBRA1sGyFGBtVjNEgwEjYnpTdHvQWu0_KpQegowtfJcldWAGnKHlae19kpwoJ3fZEIBryI/s1600/HPIM5560.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEz_ABIbCU_VCJVa4S5YODan6Ae4pChBAgOq87qMQTZOFKQnh2IFbuB57x3_pOPB5q_sP2dBRA1sGyFGBtVjNEgwEjYnpTdHvQWu0_KpQegowtfJcldWAGnKHlae19kpwoJ3fZEIBryI/s400/HPIM5560.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583878922302817858" /></a><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehICF5XLDpvf3YPbU2Fo77xiOacYTilZoly7uVgkglIvm1F4oAL3mPC12ZG7Hf8MGVUF9RFMVwoZV_BV-8h1Tkyba2O6yM7RQqWN9T5jmL9p6B6fE2_Q0wQxltwoTwYZ3RO0uXV8pdtQ/s1600/HPIM5563.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehICF5XLDpvf3YPbU2Fo77xiOacYTilZoly7uVgkglIvm1F4oAL3mPC12ZG7Hf8MGVUF9RFMVwoZV_BV-8h1Tkyba2O6yM7RQqWN9T5jmL9p6B6fE2_Q0wQxltwoTwYZ3RO0uXV8pdtQ/s400/HPIM5563.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583878908710820882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWuyM2jhVORN1Z8BY0xVt4sSdSHqO083Bcp2_SSr4Bf4iWmWOv7DjRAZDzFJ01c3GiJ7cwxOV8smCCE9IQsYJ912EGmJBtanxmjENrGNnHWDvueyqV0GZ-KH5jYPRcnRa1uYIet2-XuU/s1600/HPIM5580.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWuyM2jhVORN1Z8BY0xVt4sSdSHqO083Bcp2_SSr4Bf4iWmWOv7DjRAZDzFJ01c3GiJ7cwxOV8smCCE9IQsYJ912EGmJBtanxmjENrGNnHWDvueyqV0GZ-KH5jYPRcnRa1uYIet2-XuU/s400/HPIM5580.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583878906787113954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vwnKvqr4nUiKF9b-efciaR4QDJDB3mZXuBOsjpzKa9wXQ1dAv49P2mxj_0ZqpDrl7lFTmvatiA0VLrVshjrsgI9IUN9XIhggL1pvBmS1Lf-qg-kwKU_oMV0T_f6FR7H6hUiRuWHOb78/s1600/HPIM5553.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vwnKvqr4nUiKF9b-efciaR4QDJDB3mZXuBOsjpzKa9wXQ1dAv49P2mxj_0ZqpDrl7lFTmvatiA0VLrVshjrsgI9IUN9XIhggL1pvBmS1Lf-qg-kwKU_oMV0T_f6FR7H6hUiRuWHOb78/s400/HPIM5553.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583878930139633730" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMltgkURmX5D2_368Tlh3IEoQQCsCrjppY8L2k-nXFvufDCMtNR1n_cL1HA1m7RyduSdRw9Tk093c8-NdfyeW4PKIWsvvoW1Uf60XbmCHJ2AM8wlyGEIUFeV9VIBy2SIT8NjPzILar3U/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+134.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMltgkURmX5D2_368Tlh3IEoQQCsCrjppY8L2k-nXFvufDCMtNR1n_cL1HA1m7RyduSdRw9Tk093c8-NdfyeW4PKIWsvvoW1Uf60XbmCHJ2AM8wlyGEIUFeV9VIBy2SIT8NjPzILar3U/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+134.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583876272978812002" /></a></p><p> Joe had this thing about needing to get into any long line. His reasoning was that if there was a line, it had to be good. Turns out, he had a point, because one of those lines led us to...SESAME BALLS! I lost count of how many these things I devoured throughout the day, but I'm pretty sure it was in the neighborhood of ten.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHKBSDhcxMefK7swSk6L4Xjwm5Xklzjo0BcDP13WtxXwlr7kzYVZr-hvbE2QQZ6oaxLYbxDIrmlAHBf_8SJxMPNiyUUlfxeVOAj3JO6rOccFpBh0S7XauP6EXqP9jmf_4ra-GZERehew/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+137.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHKBSDhcxMefK7swSk6L4Xjwm5Xklzjo0BcDP13WtxXwlr7kzYVZr-hvbE2QQZ6oaxLYbxDIrmlAHBf_8SJxMPNiyUUlfxeVOAj3JO6rOccFpBh0S7XauP6EXqP9jmf_4ra-GZERehew/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+137.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583876268500074530" /></a></p><p>And some more food.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5GmkbKzXpWfhauqU2k-TGfWaC-cWYD3spVfUKlGHS_ZUlMlz60O5TwAAfeh45IYW-WtJp9PHj3imAOzadeUodzlmhcg6fv1tP2Pa4LpachxN3Sn2puno8m3edsHIHNEmRvk-ljOblXQ/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+138.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5GmkbKzXpWfhauqU2k-TGfWaC-cWYD3spVfUKlGHS_ZUlMlz60O5TwAAfeh45IYW-WtJp9PHj3imAOzadeUodzlmhcg6fv1tP2Pa4LpachxN3Sn2puno8m3edsHIHNEmRvk-ljOblXQ/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+138.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583876266909336578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZAXUirnxUwfNkFQ6_acJLqeR4Foa8AihVrGgp4lbhGY1abxmYhj3e9_Rgepf8v5iDVKVgLYtDiL6fnCl9zpS5wLNpRK7DV88Bij73t188DUhnod4Qp-qcMKLdjqlyoDzne-mLLLmvns/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+142.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZAXUirnxUwfNkFQ6_acJLqeR4Foa8AihVrGgp4lbhGY1abxmYhj3e9_Rgepf8v5iDVKVgLYtDiL6fnCl9zpS5wLNpRK7DV88Bij73t188DUhnod4Qp-qcMKLdjqlyoDzne-mLLLmvns/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+142.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583876262915495474" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OgcORYSR9S48rqij5LRkvwYx1AL_ZgdVGPcdMohHn-8JDq46As_q9-_h6ARh4Lty1kZAqLytzJvrkYQEj5NOh34VvPG0y68PSENo1By9KQOKseXRYPp4VnjRNQEFhUwDKo16w-54XFw/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+132.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OgcORYSR9S48rqij5LRkvwYx1AL_ZgdVGPcdMohHn-8JDq46As_q9-_h6ARh4Lty1kZAqLytzJvrkYQEj5NOh34VvPG0y68PSENo1By9KQOKseXRYPp4VnjRNQEFhUwDKo16w-54XFw/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+132.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583876272597260402" /></a></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6UrHICO0ipDHSAsXJFSfXxIUOjlbpmdGroWRTI1ecHYnCjf-fDdUx2cx7DV51EqYuJTGr72FPFJ6fZyM55LvwOCbcPo9o2_3F8xnaYGlhzRac4iD_vOGNGNXOH_wbSKglVwfTlh1OVo/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+152.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6UrHICO0ipDHSAsXJFSfXxIUOjlbpmdGroWRTI1ecHYnCjf-fDdUx2cx7DV51EqYuJTGr72FPFJ6fZyM55LvwOCbcPo9o2_3F8xnaYGlhzRac4iD_vOGNGNXOH_wbSKglVwfTlh1OVo/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+152.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579065614806729714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d9fy9KWvi6IslFuanS6yU_CHpQxkoLpp1di1_yVweWeBXA-1qYwlDklBkrV2U5n8XIOvJ4TgoEFtSh7eDUDl3gctRJ6yZroZrywd_LNWjYLGxPDvrrd76A-hvz-HUH69BVRrjCTn_DM/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+157.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d9fy9KWvi6IslFuanS6yU_CHpQxkoLpp1di1_yVweWeBXA-1qYwlDklBkrV2U5n8XIOvJ4TgoEFtSh7eDUDl3gctRJ6yZroZrywd_LNWjYLGxPDvrrd76A-hvz-HUH69BVRrjCTn_DM/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+157.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579065597481625250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qEyG2T1x5ej3ye_xAH2yYS0SBDvSUPFtil1SwJmEinkC3g_h5mIaB18JnlYY-iMCnE9lLX1STNhWuBe98IK_O8zFnJSVPqQRRoEao3cYoeBPbjdRtTgYoeYbuK5VO2iNiCWcH4Z16cg/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+160.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qEyG2T1x5ej3ye_xAH2yYS0SBDvSUPFtil1SwJmEinkC3g_h5mIaB18JnlYY-iMCnE9lLX1STNhWuBe98IK_O8zFnJSVPqQRRoEao3cYoeBPbjdRtTgYoeYbuK5VO2iNiCWcH4Z16cg/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+160.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579065589718156098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOeXvsIx5yUGUbL4d4Y5AgiSShO_dAHYFhZ3FU8WBCml3LOtig8agIrcxVTS9p8Ub9uJLRQ8TUfDpS67lpQdHCD8yquldHIy71b4CwBp49Ygw8BdqM6g6i1w2lDYCtbz4E25oTnJqswQ/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+153.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOeXvsIx5yUGUbL4d4Y5AgiSShO_dAHYFhZ3FU8WBCml3LOtig8agIrcxVTS9p8Ub9uJLRQ8TUfDpS67lpQdHCD8yquldHIy71b4CwBp49Ygw8BdqM6g6i1w2lDYCtbz4E25oTnJqswQ/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+153.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579065623777277026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl9WgwwH1KEoksUAvzUOJ2V261Fiy8PjPfRLcfLjSWdNwxJ3nkzdUaBE3NtYtt3H7N-5I0tlQfUq1A94lxdmTJqoMBgLZkJDUc7LDZklSvCSa1_v7Gaq7wkdqIHlE94CEvTMy1okByJ4/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+164.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl9WgwwH1KEoksUAvzUOJ2V261Fiy8PjPfRLcfLjSWdNwxJ3nkzdUaBE3NtYtt3H7N-5I0tlQfUq1A94lxdmTJqoMBgLZkJDUc7LDZklSvCSa1_v7Gaq7wkdqIHlE94CEvTMy1okByJ4/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+164.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579063715226285314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M6rk2odP2xErgCrgOvqpjEIuwWVJtfJ5MZWT2pNtk37NI0L1-qLS9bNATY1w4_9xNRwnZZ8l5SuxLoPTFelLZpcENaKopMsRJl40L3TK1pOW89VWXch33f5KXHHxlBnWwDiTi5b4OuY/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+170.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M6rk2odP2xErgCrgOvqpjEIuwWVJtfJ5MZWT2pNtk37NI0L1-qLS9bNATY1w4_9xNRwnZZ8l5SuxLoPTFelLZpcENaKopMsRJl40L3TK1pOW89VWXch33f5KXHHxlBnWwDiTi5b4OuY/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+170.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579063703346882562" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IoLovxzwqJyH0UjS6L6EG9zaADlGCH9zEqCGB7nRyuLHOH4kUaKQ7OnEdBpQKOhvMemR8kaqnkDodWU3AJjyoiHm39p6SIzTIXLQN_REEptNkeUPXuj3yXA73BFNN_IR7xisETJPl2g/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+174.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IoLovxzwqJyH0UjS6L6EG9zaADlGCH9zEqCGB7nRyuLHOH4kUaKQ7OnEdBpQKOhvMemR8kaqnkDodWU3AJjyoiHm39p6SIzTIXLQN_REEptNkeUPXuj3yXA73BFNN_IR7xisETJPl2g/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+174.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579063706453318242" /></a>Breakfast: Sushi-rice ball, roll, cabbage salad, corn flakes, mini hots dogs with ketchup and mayonnaise. </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGy-kJyevLF_RFIlY3CSEtxMwaQzb5R1xuludQKOgWNIIT8cjL0qfs1NNioM-4y_ZQO6XW-FROHe5qfDnDr3S_lErbcZJw-xvCHRTN7GNHd1M9_qRNU324oBddQwHGd_d73XazFW6vIEM/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+167.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGy-kJyevLF_RFIlY3CSEtxMwaQzb5R1xuludQKOgWNIIT8cjL0qfs1NNioM-4y_ZQO6XW-FROHe5qfDnDr3S_lErbcZJw-xvCHRTN7GNHd1M9_qRNU324oBddQwHGd_d73XazFW6vIEM/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+167.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579063716464170050" /></a></p><p>THE NEXT DAY: Seeing the other side of town- the wharf.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwOpUy7jR25KkIjkMXvcDK_I4bwhdGR_gLJ4nDaQXioLyft29BoxqHpFwrIWSl2Ibg6aIH0_WMZp6UHT20X_bMTSDZSVDWwWsdJP1BbVI-CjSmJ-geEVsm4s4SOinnReugFWAqjSTvg0/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+179.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwOpUy7jR25KkIjkMXvcDK_I4bwhdGR_gLJ4nDaQXioLyft29BoxqHpFwrIWSl2Ibg6aIH0_WMZp6UHT20X_bMTSDZSVDWwWsdJP1BbVI-CjSmJ-geEVsm4s4SOinnReugFWAqjSTvg0/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+179.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576495660247957138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkaCBRZcH5LKubF6hRMLE1EJsfZQDI-Iac_U1UKUaVfRyKKmxS3HYwjMlf6OVzf6qLSvuTZtRPQjqiR1JmD81oPS57bQUwxrCkKxqUYSCL3-jLPxPvbkP2g7GarPNA4qo6o7spKwpZBY/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+181.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkaCBRZcH5LKubF6hRMLE1EJsfZQDI-Iac_U1UKUaVfRyKKmxS3HYwjMlf6OVzf6qLSvuTZtRPQjqiR1JmD81oPS57bQUwxrCkKxqUYSCL3-jLPxPvbkP2g7GarPNA4qo6o7spKwpZBY/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+181.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576495653877859506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfn7RS3eHhHpfO7U9OoV5HOAyWjCdurcZodXLiB3d2UMJXLR1BuvNc9miXLfmyXyKRBkxcW70SPrkCwS5Bl4JzLhfcoQEI05WzpkJLT5v-UwW0lkqm2CgbNdwNu6fNIZaYwIwVAZk4Zs/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+182.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfn7RS3eHhHpfO7U9OoV5HOAyWjCdurcZodXLiB3d2UMJXLR1BuvNc9miXLfmyXyKRBkxcW70SPrkCwS5Bl4JzLhfcoQEI05WzpkJLT5v-UwW0lkqm2CgbNdwNu6fNIZaYwIwVAZk4Zs/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+182.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576495649988459170" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjveKboqdF6xtYpaWxNwmRuoMDtO3q7fKfpdtR-WvlqsjFsX7UwJ9_IkEmaWmboadeqQLO8NJ_fg6JvQ7ZWN5DEz6oSoPa9YFKInuRUhdual2ec0nIhC8pzCoHZa3-kkUIFFRo1MJDr60/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+184.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjveKboqdF6xtYpaWxNwmRuoMDtO3q7fKfpdtR-WvlqsjFsX7UwJ9_IkEmaWmboadeqQLO8NJ_fg6JvQ7ZWN5DEz6oSoPa9YFKInuRUhdual2ec0nIhC8pzCoHZa3-kkUIFFRo1MJDr60/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+184.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576495648755988258" /></a></p><p>The Japanese LOVE their oysters.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi2FG9PxjKRGFOZgBYb8W1qRWAJ7VAM_SkchZMB_MFXFExRwDHQ_55XjiInePWAereYutHvj6iimNLEXU0PU-Gdk0GLNtGFieIZDCyriHvLreFVN40s1cmd1N84qi7OwTAnRjzbYHRXQ/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+177.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi2FG9PxjKRGFOZgBYb8W1qRWAJ7VAM_SkchZMB_MFXFExRwDHQ_55XjiInePWAereYutHvj6iimNLEXU0PU-Gdk0GLNtGFieIZDCyriHvLreFVN40s1cmd1N84qi7OwTAnRjzbYHRXQ/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+177.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576495667103630082" /></a></p><p>A little European influence.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Mm3GRSbvifAcvno_KZC9gSg1oyJIy8WrKo3iBVxJzP8PetxvfocpzJzhvQoBpydx2eKXml50lGO7FBnP-ckEsJhYJhprUd7c9c8CGn9MLlqKhyphenhyphenY4Y1sNRk-vnNDWJi5XVRk8EFrqf3A/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+186.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Mm3GRSbvifAcvno_KZC9gSg1oyJIy8WrKo3iBVxJzP8PetxvfocpzJzhvQoBpydx2eKXml50lGO7FBnP-ckEsJhYJhprUd7c9c8CGn9MLlqKhyphenhyphenY4Y1sNRk-vnNDWJi5XVRk8EFrqf3A/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+186.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576495086980678754" /></a></p><p>Joe was determined to eat blowfish, being that it is one of Nagasaki's specialties. What's the draw? Blowfish is fatally poisonous if not prepared properly, so you know...why not? It was a no-go for Joe: they didn't serve it for lunch and we were leaving that afternoon. Me? I don't like seafood when it's GOOD for me, so why would I even bother? </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QcDHwnBZXftiSG28u5hcWw8jimOC8FCNujTiFMMylh7poRPpDSsWLZdWRR8X5_Tw-_Jl05kI5GG7_KC6nb_1FcjXF8HOQbvWWy-GhShOpXJYbffOjbWkuqGLrjxNpDWn7ivph2Fza9s/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+191.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QcDHwnBZXftiSG28u5hcWw8jimOC8FCNujTiFMMylh7poRPpDSsWLZdWRR8X5_Tw-_Jl05kI5GG7_KC6nb_1FcjXF8HOQbvWWy-GhShOpXJYbffOjbWkuqGLrjxNpDWn7ivph2Fza9s/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+191.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576495081233008818" /></a></p><p>A cute little cafe we stumbled upon for some dessert.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62PZAWGRQY9NzsCMa44hdvbbvd4rlJt7rSp1V0iK9rgvgyTnnl7A3COWj5zcRs5p9UUP75HOsTgjJeqIRvuESsIwIqZgiidpKg7HwJgZIw0btn7IBLXIc39CLYs7xE-ZCTKkw-iPaR_A/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+192.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62PZAWGRQY9NzsCMa44hdvbbvd4rlJt7rSp1V0iK9rgvgyTnnl7A3COWj5zcRs5p9UUP75HOsTgjJeqIRvuESsIwIqZgiidpKg7HwJgZIw0btn7IBLXIc39CLYs7xE-ZCTKkw-iPaR_A/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+192.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576495080822891458" /></a><br /><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_hmwRpEE2zEvLjdO2jfLxpuyLnHcyRh48m8bpLx30L4abIO2X-nXEQDEJwDDdUau5XOlzRQuRCUccEoArGk2_QWCHdR0TjufCwf1uG6rABHfMnDDLsh0HkZxZeMbpgS2puFj5haOmxk/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+187.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_hmwRpEE2zEvLjdO2jfLxpuyLnHcyRh48m8bpLx30L4abIO2X-nXEQDEJwDDdUau5XOlzRQuRCUccEoArGk2_QWCHdR0TjufCwf1uG6rABHfMnDDLsh0HkZxZeMbpgS2puFj5haOmxk/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+187.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576495093365712034" /></a></p><p><br /></p><strong>Quotes not to forget:</strong><p>"Is this going to be an <em>indoor</em> festival?"</p><p>"Hey Tessa, want to buy a few dried mangoes for 1000 yen?" Tessa: "Hie."</p><p>"Where's Joe?"</p><p>"That Cindy, she's a doer."</p><p>"SESAME BALLS!!!"</p><p>"Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras!"</p><p>"I believe in you, Joe. But, I also believe in six year olds. So..."</p><p>"Red Coat. Black Coat. Grey Coat."<br /></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxtED_w3lMz2W_BCC1_wkmbobPjk_IVkBPqJQrGFJZrI0JGSZgCrObaL0Q_5jY5Pz-KW_qiNukDDMeL-_DZKQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p><br /></p>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-79977187262954320272011-02-22T02:21:00.000-08:002011-02-22T02:42:29.871-08:00Octopus Balls<div align="left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi103V8sHMQSLau9ruuQHgDmHjHmVom8LISmOrNjDydXAdEUpxEoGZjw9VrDfY1b90yzehUTzYiJ6g5nMqJKOypmVkVgRJOyiRMNSauMZj5-CDHE-zOW0HB6zayIL-_6FZkJiCCKfDZ3uk/s1600/65721_1545781255893_1575877516_1281015_3020534_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi103V8sHMQSLau9ruuQHgDmHjHmVom8LISmOrNjDydXAdEUpxEoGZjw9VrDfY1b90yzehUTzYiJ6g5nMqJKOypmVkVgRJOyiRMNSauMZj5-CDHE-zOW0HB6zayIL-_6FZkJiCCKfDZ3uk/s400/65721_1545781255893_1575877516_1281015_3020534_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576461747969847570" /></a><br /></div><div align="left">My partner in crime, Cindy, wrote the following little narrative about one of our excursions. This happened awhile ago, but here's to not letting it be forgotten!</div><div align="center"><p align="left">Take it away, Cindy...</p><p align="left">"So, a group of us met up to have dinner before our Japanese language class last night. We parked in the parking lot across from the Civic Center and decided to walk around town to find a place to eat. This should have been a simple task because there are many restaurants to choose from in downtown Iwakuni. As we set out (in the opposite direction of the town center for some reason) our colleague/VP adamantly insisted that we not choose a meal of intestines, octopus, or something else.....I don't know what because we must have tuned her out. (Sorry Mrs. Eittreim!)<br /></p><div align="left">We only had a little over an hour before class and we quickly realized that the direction we were headed was not good because eating places were scarce. In fact, we ended up turning around and walking back to a very small place that someone in our group had noticed. It was so small that the six of us barely fit inside. Eureka! We hit the jackpot. It was a specialty shop with just one very special item on the menu. I'm sure there is a great Japanese name for the food prepared there but we prefer the American name we chose...octopus balls.<br /><br />I wish I could post pictures so you can see the way the cook carefully prepared the food. The batter was poured on a special pan. Pieces of octopus and I don't know what else were put into the batter. After the batter was partially cooked, more batter was added and then eventually the batter balls were turned and cooked on all sides. The end result was dumplings filled with octopus, sauce poured on top, and I don't know what else placed on top of that.<br /><br />Obviously, our VP was thrilled with our dinner choice (see paragraph 1).</div><div align="left"><br />The taste? Different. We ate as many as we could, washed them down with Coke, and ordered ice cream cones to go."</div><br /></div><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHZ9oQsC82iPMCKwLW5t_qrKwVITnStjpTr2Kvqdl2R0kbal1cKq4r0G5KAyqBFq64SpGGLHZmpk31D7hGrhULkW1PJmW9lGXDkU4ZPCKH7UrAmKCi64xTEl5KNmZ1oYP97GVeZiWIj0/s1600/10-15-10+449.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHZ9oQsC82iPMCKwLW5t_qrKwVITnStjpTr2Kvqdl2R0kbal1cKq4r0G5KAyqBFq64SpGGLHZmpk31D7hGrhULkW1PJmW9lGXDkU4ZPCKH7UrAmKCi64xTEl5KNmZ1oYP97GVeZiWIj0/s400/10-15-10+449.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576460475784742818" /></a><p><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5ZQ9fwLkD_WvoFhXruI7YzKb2OWVluISCGNqwUjvEd6ufuL_zWYsXnonFBd7xvCvR_RU67GruIaTTUcG_j4ZWWBkm_WsQwDZMZSh4eiRvGz4RA7cJgQGuQ8_ptZa7ICU_zOV1ZYIWJo/s1600/10-15-10+447.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5ZQ9fwLkD_WvoFhXruI7YzKb2OWVluISCGNqwUjvEd6ufuL_zWYsXnonFBd7xvCvR_RU67GruIaTTUcG_j4ZWWBkm_WsQwDZMZSh4eiRvGz4RA7cJgQGuQ8_ptZa7ICU_zOV1ZYIWJo/s400/10-15-10+447.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576460471082986130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SQY2KNJ2k4c4fXvG70x7qVRJFXCtO1TKKSuUoSp_IRflEkUbxypFJjmP9XZW96lxygaV-wNjh8zM3gi5BZY43NO4_KUcYS5yItLGjV1HHkg9CJ4TuXcJ8qrqojj2FJ6SXOormVyg9sw/s1600/10-15-10+442.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SQY2KNJ2k4c4fXvG70x7qVRJFXCtO1TKKSuUoSp_IRflEkUbxypFJjmP9XZW96lxygaV-wNjh8zM3gi5BZY43NO4_KUcYS5yItLGjV1HHkg9CJ4TuXcJ8qrqojj2FJ6SXOormVyg9sw/s400/10-15-10+442.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576460466932428290" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzi0l_tSBpBvXGwD19jSTk7NhCpBRWlBHOrEseWerr3CgcYn2Uerm3qs5zZae2Cg31AqBvFkDpVJEUKpjY46IUrSEexVeHMJ_tRRj5E1ELOzWDjac9lgdaY6UFcgyW2GJAkLwpuR18mA/s1600/10-15-10+443.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzi0l_tSBpBvXGwD19jSTk7NhCpBRWlBHOrEseWerr3CgcYn2Uerm3qs5zZae2Cg31AqBvFkDpVJEUKpjY46IUrSEexVeHMJ_tRRj5E1ELOzWDjac9lgdaY6UFcgyW2GJAkLwpuR18mA/s400/10-15-10+443.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576460478634790242" /></a><br /></p>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-62343193531483109182011-02-21T05:04:00.000-08:002011-02-23T02:31:40.280-08:00Nagasaki: Atomic Bomb Museum<p>Our first stop in Nagasaki was, of course, the Atomic Bomb Museum. Two summers ago, Matt and I visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial. I remember reading signs of the devastation alongside Japanese tourists and wondering what they were feeling about seeing the other side of things. Then, this fall we visited Peace Park in Hiroshima and now, Nagasaki. This time around, I was the foreigner of course, standing alongside Japanese people, reading of the horrific pains their people have suffered. I can't say what the Japanese visitors felt at Pearl Harbor, but I know I felt an overwhelming sense of reverence for what they've endured and a desire for this history to never repeat itself. I would have hugged everyone in that museum if they would have let me. </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0rMIa9kE3-4NW4v7DzTPxBQ7WfCeY5ONBoQVijbFvd7oAVA54nhqDcpMJKggXAgBkDHlEuOmy6KQF_bGX5N6f-19ZDJAvNLBXhrYyDayOeLev5JcFUpvEruZCgJ_F1p_XJNXufPbZyM/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+103.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0rMIa9kE3-4NW4v7DzTPxBQ7WfCeY5ONBoQVijbFvd7oAVA54nhqDcpMJKggXAgBkDHlEuOmy6KQF_bGX5N6f-19ZDJAvNLBXhrYyDayOeLev5JcFUpvEruZCgJ_F1p_XJNXufPbZyM/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+103.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576479536073888146" /></a><br /></p><p>Hand bones melted into rock.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDys_1t0kmYXHRMw5PDfa2dSWvtE5O05U6L6gD1SXxLZqUeJjJ4qhpVRXnDDSRqeHEw6WAgZlLVE8kkPlmTM9yplEZnieFNf6NzphyphenhyphenbvSLHfmSdegbkdopDvxigAwkKo9V3yrij-iDbI/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+098.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDys_1t0kmYXHRMw5PDfa2dSWvtE5O05U6L6gD1SXxLZqUeJjJ4qhpVRXnDDSRqeHEw6WAgZlLVE8kkPlmTM9yplEZnieFNf6NzphyphenhyphenbvSLHfmSdegbkdopDvxigAwkKo9V3yrij-iDbI/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+098.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576479534786163138" /></a></p><p>Roof tiles that got so hot they bubbled.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2W8rzsKBqwL9tS3TB3RFB-ZVtTzONYxuvdrQsrBhPRLtPOl9zj9T6b8hcPentKprXy7ewzdRWweqwhG6FpjXWw6H8tmO9g-ztCVID8ps2atz89qH7e2a0oM1dXK0jt-7B4q9wSIOiU4/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+097.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2W8rzsKBqwL9tS3TB3RFB-ZVtTzONYxuvdrQsrBhPRLtPOl9zj9T6b8hcPentKprXy7ewzdRWweqwhG6FpjXWw6H8tmO9g-ztCVID8ps2atz89qH7e2a0oM1dXK0jt-7B4q9wSIOiU4/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+097.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576479532426066674" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6xgJG2TSLu39ZfTyEVRTtZbkN6ulIR-TEyj6ig9shdP1syD0u4MHiPWmVHqpmW1Tq70x2ZqXGk_VW6cVTvORkG_iqjGGWsc7eDUR_DCAJhSSOqYyvemdWZuXlBqKQPuT6HaNKPs76s4/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+102.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6xgJG2TSLu39ZfTyEVRTtZbkN6ulIR-TEyj6ig9shdP1syD0u4MHiPWmVHqpmW1Tq70x2ZqXGk_VW6cVTvORkG_iqjGGWsc7eDUR_DCAJhSSOqYyvemdWZuXlBqKQPuT6HaNKPs76s4/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+102.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576479538158784722" /></a>Melted Rosaries. </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIfk3sEBMpjxaAjKG4bC0To-rAhl44903PyZP9s8OXA9ZaCddcUSeeU3EPFz_4adPbcK1IQMlmf9HuzPAriLR0EpgkHxLntQFR37hdz0ZZKRQPi7lGH81VgZQJzLeh0twEHm8HXxBlTs/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+094.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIfk3sEBMpjxaAjKG4bC0To-rAhl44903PyZP9s8OXA9ZaCddcUSeeU3EPFz_4adPbcK1IQMlmf9HuzPAriLR0EpgkHxLntQFR37hdz0ZZKRQPi7lGH81VgZQJzLeh0twEHm8HXxBlTs/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+094.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576478957234148914" /></a></p><p>A clock stopped exactly at 11:02, when the atomic bomb hit.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkzwrk7azHzMZU_R-2cA_fOnxO_621supjZGmuLRBkw0287_vlU5eE1_zM6C8tzzsQenWsX9jgD-XdqTb52IE1t5zWsfrW5P1S_CHms4IOiILw4yH4jArFNL1_cJGjssLbO4kFiKnwFE/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+092.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkzwrk7azHzMZU_R-2cA_fOnxO_621supjZGmuLRBkw0287_vlU5eE1_zM6C8tzzsQenWsX9jgD-XdqTb52IE1t5zWsfrW5P1S_CHms4IOiILw4yH4jArFNL1_cJGjssLbO4kFiKnwFE/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+092.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576478945088789634" /></a><br /></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL15JzSxQA7L2x6ZM3AEx-ohLiWXDP-mTZuZjy6vxKcMmew-WNmb4MVyHBybm9kzZ0k9nrLKMLRfguRNfKlC7_8QKHDnjOmhjFwEjVrIG85df3_h8hwrL1M-g5rZE4N_f8AFe32NUGwo/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+082.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL15JzSxQA7L2x6ZM3AEx-ohLiWXDP-mTZuZjy6vxKcMmew-WNmb4MVyHBybm9kzZ0k9nrLKMLRfguRNfKlC7_8QKHDnjOmhjFwEjVrIG85df3_h8hwrL1M-g5rZE4N_f8AFe32NUGwo/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+082.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576478943619587682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lbfGXuJC8Z91QLDJrkHSagMCCiIBhErPHoTd256z1zAayxcLxBuR2kyIcc5LEVcc_01ASrY2ZI7YEUWnpQtAxEzWzBO2qVfEIZ9kk9dRO_KEZ65h9R7h2drQs4-MRN6qnFoLk06ngbo/s1600/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+096.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lbfGXuJC8Z91QLDJrkHSagMCCiIBhErPHoTd256z1zAayxcLxBuR2kyIcc5LEVcc_01ASrY2ZI7YEUWnpQtAxEzWzBO2qVfEIZ9kk9dRO_KEZ65h9R7h2drQs4-MRN6qnFoLk06ngbo/s400/Japan+-+Feb.+23%252C+2011+096.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576478956510359410" /></a>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-60064430888290257062011-02-21T03:59:00.000-08:002011-03-15T05:52:32.949-07:00What a day!<p>Today was President's day so we had it off from school. Sweet! We never got President's day off in the states. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. We've been having freezing cold temperatures for months now, so it was greatly appreciated. I decided to go for a run around Kikko park, which is the park that surrounds our neighborhood. I LOVE this park. The whole reason we fought to get our specific house was so that we could live in this area. Most of Iwakuni is pretty industrial looking, so I can see why areas like this park are so frequently visited. From what I am told, it is even more beautiful during Cherry Blossom season (March/April), and as a result, PACKED. Another reason I'm glad we live within walking distance. </p><p>Anyway, I took a run through the park and the surrounding neighborhoods and found myself meandering up one of the trails that heads up the mountain to the Iwakuni Castle. The castle is visible from many places throughout Iwakuni, especially at night when it is lit up. It is definitely a must-see of Iwakuni. The trails are pretty steep, but when I saw the grandmas and grandpas coming down with smiles on their faces, bounces in their steps and cheerful "Konnichiwas" for me, I lost all self-pity. Don't get me started on how much I admire the elderly around here... When I got to the top, I sat on one of the benches in the amphitheater. Sitting there stretching without another person in sight, soaking in the sun and the panoramic views, feeling alive and well, I realized this was one of those HAPPY moments. When I felt like it couldn't get anymore serene, I heard this sweet little melody, which sounded like flute music. Seriously? Am I imagining this? Nope. Later, I found it was coming from the clock chimes near the gondola. I wish I was more eloquent and poetic in my writing so I could remember it more vividly later on, but I guess this description will have to suffice.</p><p>I found a different trail I hadn't been on yet and took it back down to the park. When I got home and showered, I got a phone call from my friend and neighbor Tomoko. She invited me over for dinner and Family Home Evening (a.k.a. One night every week, usually Mondays, for Mormons to spend together as a family having fun and teaching a brief spiritual lesson). Best of all, they made (Be prepared, I'm going to butcher this) Okonomoyaki, which are Japanese "pancakes" made on a griddle with cabbage, egg, bacon, usually seafood, batter and then topped with a barbecue-like sauce, mayo, seaweed shreddings, and fish shreddings. Okay, after typing that description I realize it SOUNDS disgusting, but trust me that it is NOT. We've eaten it at restaurants several times, but this was the first time I'd had it home-made, which was way better. For dessert, we had these black sweet soy beans and glazed sweet potato, both of which I devoured. They were so good! Tomoko sent me home with some and promised me the next time she goes shopping she will take me with her so I can pick out a few of my new favorites. </p><p>The company was equally as good. I've been to Tomoko's house before, but her husband has always been gone since he is studying at a Hiroshima University to become a pharmacist. But, tonight he was there and it was great talking to him and learning even more about their family, culture and more. It was really interesting to hear them describe their countries economic woes and how similar their situation was and is to ours in the states. They have two young boys. Masaki is 4 and Kazuki is 2. No kidding, they are THE cutest boys I've seen since I got here. I can't stand that I can't talk to them, so I make every effort to use the 50 or so Japanese words I know when I am there. Tomoko and her husband both speak English pretty well, although they always keep their digital translator within reach. I tell them to mix some Japanese in there too. I need IMMERSION. </p><p>A great day. Counting my blessings...</p>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-38657755971075030962011-02-21T00:37:00.000-08:002011-02-21T03:50:38.608-08:00Update<p>So much to say. For starters, we've moved into our Japanese house! Our first night spent in the house was January 7th. We got settled pretty quickly since we brought almost nothing. No couch, no table, no dining chairs...It would probably be quicker to list what we DID bring. Our bed, an old dresser, china hutch, rocking chair, area rug, old desk, computer/TV and of course the little stuff like clothes and kitchen stuff. But that's IT! We left a few things back at Matt's parents house that we didn't want to get damaged in the move... my great Grandma's hope chest, a stained-glass lamp, and so on. Plus, Matt was hoping that by not bringing anything we would be more inclined to find a cool sailboat that we could dock and live in. Poor guy, the only boats in Iwakuni are old fishing boats and even he doesn't want to live in those. As much as we wanted to get rid of the hand-me-down furniture we left behind, we are accumulating free furniture left and right. Our friends Adam and Ivette gave us their teak table they bought at a bazaar which has a crack in it, but other than that is beautiful. Our friend Lisa gave us her old couches that wouldn't fit in her house and our friend Linda gave us her dining chairs that she also can't fit in her apartment. It's amazing! So, at this point, our house is filled with items screaming "replace me please!" We are so happy to hear that THE bazaars are coming back to the base this spring. At these bazaars, vendors from all over Asia bring their goods, mainly furniture. We are hoping to slowly fill our little Japanese home. </p><p>School is great. I love the people I work with and my class is really getting the hang of things. I tell ya, first graders will wear you OUT the first few months of school, but they totally redeem themselves the last half of the school year and make all that work feel worth it. We are rockin and rollin!</p><p>Matt has been using this fresh start as an opportunity to go back to school. They have great online programs here with the military, so he is taking advantage of those resources. He is currently going the business route, but that is sure to change. I am realizing more and more what a blessing it is to know early what your "calling" is. </p><p>Matt flew back to the states a few weeks ago on a "Space A" (Space Available) flight. We didn't even know these Space A flights existed before we got here, but MAN what a deal! There are military flights that are on a constant loop and, obviously their first priority is to transfer troops to various locations, but the leftover seats are up for grabs to military and civilian families for 27 bucks a seat. There is a direct flight from Iwakuni to Seattle, which is the one Matt hopped on. The only downside is that it is nearly impossible to get a seat when kids are out of school, so I will most likely never get to fly like this. Matt wanted to get back to help his parents move into the downstairs apartment and to wrap up some of his business stuff that we had to leave behind in a hurry last summer. That way, when we go home this summer it will be ALL play and NO work (that's the plan). I miss him like crazy, but so glad he is getting a little time to enjoy a few things we miss of home. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-68646028069987239342010-12-04T16:17:00.000-08:002010-12-08T01:30:36.165-08:00Miyajima Island<div>Miyajima is an island about one hour north of us. We took the ferry over and spent the day walking around the island. After spending the morning walking through the shops and snacking on the local "treats," we headed up the mountain. We tood the gondola ride up the mountain and hiked the rest of the way. We were disappointed when the rumors and warnings of monkeys proved false. I even brought out my chocolate covered almonds to attract them, but to no avail. I have to see wild monkeys before I leave Japan!</div><div> </div><div>One thing I wish I would have gotten a picture of was the Japanese girls/women and their HUGE high heels, hiking up the mountain like it was no big deal. They put me and my closetful of teacher shoes to shame! <br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sR42QF8eucx7sCFBHDQx9V31nDmPimuEY9xLqGmd8AK4b0Uc5LqV0JVJuSn3_5VAEK7Fil1UrTU3YHTnaWOpsyy8osEJ7hIQiRbeXik9QemzMk4u_z44qKtwv6s3jL_9u9ERogFd4rY/s1600/CIMG1749.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547062561853677970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sR42QF8eucx7sCFBHDQx9V31nDmPimuEY9xLqGmd8AK4b0Uc5LqV0JVJuSn3_5VAEK7Fil1UrTU3YHTnaWOpsyy8osEJ7hIQiRbeXik9QemzMk4u_z44qKtwv6s3jL_9u9ERogFd4rY/s400/CIMG1749.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExorhIiu14OuneCE6ly7qFxXshofvfIDMok7Fetd9gtBG1RZRQBvBYmEte1OGy0BVrE0rYjLdTOgbJ5MPM1xLQQWkHPPX1tWtBVqKyu_dVKd756BkzYWYImdz9AuBApga79eXMNBpL2A/s1600/CIMG1748.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547062557372644914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExorhIiu14OuneCE6ly7qFxXshofvfIDMok7Fetd9gtBG1RZRQBvBYmEte1OGy0BVrE0rYjLdTOgbJ5MPM1xLQQWkHPPX1tWtBVqKyu_dVKd756BkzYWYImdz9AuBApga79eXMNBpL2A/s400/CIMG1748.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKmxD2qEczWHte2QGAdWJFRwzu7gNWEYbpKYmSLLCJOb8HMRLaFRNgYbSGa722yhezPPpsS9kqCHTdeHOngIcBjr0Jq46SVNMe5o6uDnrO2V1g2aAN8cSrZZFCTaVTwG4-M09gjNHvUk/s1600/CIMG1740.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547062554453931810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKmxD2qEczWHte2QGAdWJFRwzu7gNWEYbpKYmSLLCJOb8HMRLaFRNgYbSGa722yhezPPpsS9kqCHTdeHOngIcBjr0Jq46SVNMe5o6uDnrO2V1g2aAN8cSrZZFCTaVTwG4-M09gjNHvUk/s400/CIMG1740.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe93Chu4KJFZVPXW05-k0S6J9PcnMb1wOoVrX0Y2djKxhWqKQYhdPL-x8MMsxLWqwMW7YG5dLF8lRDz07LuSSTUUMDiFIwSauKzV1h3MwMQCnGAfaccITSM6kXKN_LaJzVX-yl27jW1ck/s1600/CIMG1739.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547061904818680210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe93Chu4KJFZVPXW05-k0S6J9PcnMb1wOoVrX0Y2djKxhWqKQYhdPL-x8MMsxLWqwMW7YG5dLF8lRDz07LuSSTUUMDiFIwSauKzV1h3MwMQCnGAfaccITSM6kXKN_LaJzVX-yl27jW1ck/s400/CIMG1739.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iR24HPXEMFH_X-c-KOtF-QRu6wSUBl81uXN5y30AaW3SACjtb5ItlNyEoUvHBdEusyMIxl6wbhv1YkDIWe_XxGW16hjp2w5V5EXTGkOgXCf_mv9CoXE_EFsn8HP1YaN7AjWw4BXTZAE/s1600/CIMG1736.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547061898924005042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iR24HPXEMFH_X-c-KOtF-QRu6wSUBl81uXN5y30AaW3SACjtb5ItlNyEoUvHBdEusyMIxl6wbhv1YkDIWe_XxGW16hjp2w5V5EXTGkOgXCf_mv9CoXE_EFsn8HP1YaN7AjWw4BXTZAE/s400/CIMG1736.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zLwsateHV9oske724YBvw40o7Mf2jvqZoaiFhDsD3qJOZLqWwICsjiwZ_m53awglscj-cRC35vlG4K4DxbHR0eirutLrOYHQkZr-_Z-wxf3QkdwHKtMGW4gGCOvrbGVGTLwB5mky6Xg/s1600/CIMG1734.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547061896694176866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zLwsateHV9oske724YBvw40o7Mf2jvqZoaiFhDsD3qJOZLqWwICsjiwZ_m53awglscj-cRC35vlG4K4DxbHR0eirutLrOYHQkZr-_Z-wxf3QkdwHKtMGW4gGCOvrbGVGTLwB5mky6Xg/s400/CIMG1734.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBFizezItawT4Qwuu8ngbzknU6_r4SoJXuVPY9IpSxFgPCmAsb0t0bezSHDnr_qTsMhaCetNHM3yGZTwUksLIJJjy_7Mdz104MQNXIOMeGpbRuAovDrYYLOfLHGcejx91Q7l7J5CQgTU/s1600/CIMG1732.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547061880663137618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBFizezItawT4Qwuu8ngbzknU6_r4SoJXuVPY9IpSxFgPCmAsb0t0bezSHDnr_qTsMhaCetNHM3yGZTwUksLIJJjy_7Mdz104MQNXIOMeGpbRuAovDrYYLOfLHGcejx91Q7l7J5CQgTU/s400/CIMG1732.JPG" /></a>I think the guy on the bottom is posing. Ha!<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1WmgQHrJUXwnHcs7m6M9CvrfseEy2RouLgMnUIgyTQpHA-RYLtIFCxbJC0g9WlteWSZQz4HeC8Nn8ZS7algtm4WV63QogbY0w79jbUMPFkI9UMfth9ujPDf8Wb1QPZaXjLQ-pnACTCg/s1600/CIMG1731.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547061876977470418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1WmgQHrJUXwnHcs7m6M9CvrfseEy2RouLgMnUIgyTQpHA-RYLtIFCxbJC0g9WlteWSZQz4HeC8Nn8ZS7algtm4WV63QogbY0w79jbUMPFkI9UMfth9ujPDf8Wb1QPZaXjLQ-pnACTCg/s400/CIMG1731.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>The view from the gondola. From what I gathered from the map, Hiroshima is somewhere within this view.</div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY4LEpP4azfuAf9raVMrHTzHVLZ08veYfmF6Szfg8bCiXpzXGcUS-QOyozoud5uHCYMfDj28R1aiP036St51J55xbWyk4EfUUQ2wb4y4_r4UW5kvKyfwrwYQpjndqEOUI01WXJsjUPMs/s1600/CIMG1728.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546989404530568498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY4LEpP4azfuAf9raVMrHTzHVLZ08veYfmF6Szfg8bCiXpzXGcUS-QOyozoud5uHCYMfDj28R1aiP036St51J55xbWyk4EfUUQ2wb4y4_r4UW5kvKyfwrwYQpjndqEOUI01WXJsjUPMs/s400/CIMG1728.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcontBhKA0lJ0e4S1-qq5uTuzMK3LtqZ4L79LCa2l8scSZQk5IABfmP0rwh6Gzi_mkyffpFIiebzyJxcc2GFkRI8g56hgh2L5nV4DLRS7PugYdmnc2S25y_eo7LE4MzMmSc0wxzFb1U8/s1600/CIMG1722.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546989396009499426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcontBhKA0lJ0e4S1-qq5uTuzMK3LtqZ4L79LCa2l8scSZQk5IABfmP0rwh6Gzi_mkyffpFIiebzyJxcc2GFkRI8g56hgh2L5nV4DLRS7PugYdmnc2S25y_eo7LE4MzMmSc0wxzFb1U8/s400/CIMG1722.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo42g1c6YIy_SNPm__kFzXUnm8ztu56EL-N5GbmWK59dXc9gD4rRZzNDcoWU4agJ7Dtjo7lTgORao-YiFslVdevPrNR6_UDOm0LPtG6wkvtvxB4BN5cJHw9osDf0_n-_AsPhte6V7j3GM/s1600/CIMG1718.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546989391726350146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo42g1c6YIy_SNPm__kFzXUnm8ztu56EL-N5GbmWK59dXc9gD4rRZzNDcoWU4agJ7Dtjo7lTgORao-YiFslVdevPrNR6_UDOm0LPtG6wkvtvxB4BN5cJHw9osDf0_n-_AsPhte6V7j3GM/s400/CIMG1718.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2Aa2lCu6pyITsVpp7KKcaCo1BZUVhO-seTYEZvyzPrCRJ9MfSe15twmArii1jPJXTeUiY9QtaDIR-eix23KQOu5rcbnctEVIgM-0V8K2KJWOHN8QJtKcMSORNDXfAUt3mPDFXc9uIgs/s1600/CIMG1717.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546989388048589938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2Aa2lCu6pyITsVpp7KKcaCo1BZUVhO-seTYEZvyzPrCRJ9MfSe15twmArii1jPJXTeUiY9QtaDIR-eix23KQOu5rcbnctEVIgM-0V8K2KJWOHN8QJtKcMSORNDXfAUt3mPDFXc9uIgs/s400/CIMG1717.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxA1fktpWd_eXdmGgkQ2stUePziHjR9OAsKc_kpTOaWygWbkLfIz16t_adYyevPnM8T-kcIO1NvXjeAMvNVvUD5MeS1Kpe90adqUaQdftJlT6SzQ2I19hIsSVrf9Nc9VYDsv9TQxmCyc/s1600/CIMG1713.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546988180277144690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxA1fktpWd_eXdmGgkQ2stUePziHjR9OAsKc_kpTOaWygWbkLfIz16t_adYyevPnM8T-kcIO1NvXjeAMvNVvUD5MeS1Kpe90adqUaQdftJlT6SzQ2I19hIsSVrf9Nc9VYDsv9TQxmCyc/s400/CIMG1713.JPG" /></a><br />We have countless pictures of cool "zen" spots like this one. Can I just live here, please?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bSGmuJNlNurr-tvDz_3xJB8G4HPmy-nEqtgmu2ttcFvxcyUbme2NgWEpZXBdJ9xDoQsI0kXAx-nTKibBhHy-FvlUUYDuoWNfHsimKtRS9nzFnKNTGpbbcEx6qg9w_AfMojcyv4BUmvg/s1600/CIMG1710.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546988177297545138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bSGmuJNlNurr-tvDz_3xJB8G4HPmy-nEqtgmu2ttcFvxcyUbme2NgWEpZXBdJ9xDoQsI0kXAx-nTKibBhHy-FvlUUYDuoWNfHsimKtRS9nzFnKNTGpbbcEx6qg9w_AfMojcyv4BUmvg/s400/CIMG1710.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo02STWX6fXq_9FsXjSMr3S1_jOXcCJnmjP7qcaj_WqBxRpfUs4rfRL7eZIHAA2IEDNEzD60Q9cVS_-4Iana7DzOhjrOK6iUXnrzkWBBdtylVDg4FFu1wmDquhn-Z_Ndff-fljzAVXrg/s1600/CIMG1709.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546988162941457874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo02STWX6fXq_9FsXjSMr3S1_jOXcCJnmjP7qcaj_WqBxRpfUs4rfRL7eZIHAA2IEDNEzD60Q9cVS_-4Iana7DzOhjrOK6iUXnrzkWBBdtylVDg4FFu1wmDquhn-Z_Ndff-fljzAVXrg/s400/CIMG1709.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5rgZKCAzBtKQbEH3sjyOHp6bFKPb5GmOfIraNu27SzUP3kP_SF9EPJfkdhsu-vcR1y0L2aUat03PjeAWDDej6zjrpDRUNGVnwpV8WBi-jFpyih_cUCcU-9Z6UfZYIHsGWv1RikxPokA/s1600/CIMG1705.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546988154967060738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5rgZKCAzBtKQbEH3sjyOHp6bFKPb5GmOfIraNu27SzUP3kP_SF9EPJfkdhsu-vcR1y0L2aUat03PjeAWDDej6zjrpDRUNGVnwpV8WBi-jFpyih_cUCcU-9Z6UfZYIHsGWv1RikxPokA/s400/CIMG1705.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>The famous Torii off the Miyajima shore. When the tide is out, you can walk to it! When and if we get our kayaks out here, I want to paddle around it.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7fP7dYX4OleBEvdkWbE0MJZ15MklsA34tcIHUNo5omIeRKkRg4GsOmALNv-lQVhLEmvWP6kGGgiXUVWyBzAQZSUYldBzeFluI-oPdrzFJHT5QTnJV_PvjgqNZb8A91jh-0mC-9q-__4/s1600/CIMG1704.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546986784447531458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7fP7dYX4OleBEvdkWbE0MJZ15MklsA34tcIHUNo5omIeRKkRg4GsOmALNv-lQVhLEmvWP6kGGgiXUVWyBzAQZSUYldBzeFluI-oPdrzFJHT5QTnJV_PvjgqNZb8A91jh-0mC-9q-__4/s400/CIMG1704.JPG" /></a><br />My yummy squid stick! Actually, it was not so yummy, but I made myself eat it just to prove to Matt I could. In yo face!<br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZeuYdJE2XBOT2m9TDVOarUF79j5U3MfVZK8Y7nHwKwuFEoJ_UqhHVKKSflDcoZqSmN-bsGHVMYm80Nz20KRL7QqyiisrC-0cUQpbLQtf9XM8ssBih1Lcbfb9U772TCYJ3LnqwrD3Zac/s1600/CIMG1703.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546986779959143378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZeuYdJE2XBOT2m9TDVOarUF79j5U3MfVZK8Y7nHwKwuFEoJ_UqhHVKKSflDcoZqSmN-bsGHVMYm80Nz20KRL7QqyiisrC-0cUQpbLQtf9XM8ssBih1Lcbfb9U772TCYJ3LnqwrD3Zac/s400/CIMG1703.JPG" /></a><br /></div>I was tempted to feed it to this little guy, especially when he tried to eat my shirt instead.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ4-VYH5UY7F27n_PEo5geSZx5HCxAL75TFWinuKT0Cw1whhpp29fqmr_6OTwMTTnxguqp9A0p-v0Vg0p0h7swxWWSjNZYAVZG7-96mqt_ta5M6Mulg0nFTxR0Cz_gOdQ5d4micqB_7w/s1600/CIMG1700.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546986770502765970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ4-VYH5UY7F27n_PEo5geSZx5HCxAL75TFWinuKT0Cw1whhpp29fqmr_6OTwMTTnxguqp9A0p-v0Vg0p0h7swxWWSjNZYAVZG7-96mqt_ta5M6Mulg0nFTxR0Cz_gOdQ5d4micqB_7w/s400/CIMG1700.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRxDOwMUmdu1W1CU0FmZVn8wsngmtjEXDuwC9uSpeAGvm7_V-F6cMDsLNr1qkkBEigXa2n_Qx6sXz-1qqHNneJ0mXmq3ZbUfXV6IYG-peOGQEVAUsTK3sJtF5xddDne0oORow1JL2DWQ/s1600/CIMG1697.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546986759350128674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRxDOwMUmdu1W1CU0FmZVn8wsngmtjEXDuwC9uSpeAGvm7_V-F6cMDsLNr1qkkBEigXa2n_Qx6sXz-1qqHNneJ0mXmq3ZbUfXV6IYG-peOGQEVAUsTK3sJtF5xddDne0oORow1JL2DWQ/s400/CIMG1697.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Caution: Squid sticks are yuckier than they appear.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-80523301740742503792010-11-29T03:59:00.000-08:002010-11-29T04:15:05.153-08:00Yuu BeachYuu beach is about 15 minutes away from the base and... it's where Cindy lives! It's less than a 3 minute trip from her front door to the sand. Lucky!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ_onZBZX80sOifHs9yjV6ppKXpZXdoBIqmldggu8ii8wkvivqHDXWACv9KkszJmJx16-KgsURDy6TtiVbCxb7wT6mCPt_4nxI758kAuO2c20_7z93E8-L0IIqYlVjTVUuxYOJKT0RMc/s1600/CIMG1542.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544940963973223858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ_onZBZX80sOifHs9yjV6ppKXpZXdoBIqmldggu8ii8wkvivqHDXWACv9KkszJmJx16-KgsURDy6TtiVbCxb7wT6mCPt_4nxI758kAuO2c20_7z93E8-L0IIqYlVjTVUuxYOJKT0RMc/s400/CIMG1542.JPG" /></a> This floated up to the shore and Matt pretended to eat it after I said that it bore a very similar resemblance to what I had been served at a restaurant the night before. It was just as appetizing as it looks. (Think ocean-flavored gelatin)<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINLgm9LYvm9RLO_6k72thIbDBMCwQdLwhE8k9Pc9jI1kCNFLHo12pkbeuvHuXATqj2BL97DegaV5Rvaaj7fAXlzquxpYIR6XmTfWLWaXv0O9VpTrf9LB5BJ_P870-w5fmgRHi8OuGFg8/s1600/CIMG1539.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544940955677876130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINLgm9LYvm9RLO_6k72thIbDBMCwQdLwhE8k9Pc9jI1kCNFLHo12pkbeuvHuXATqj2BL97DegaV5Rvaaj7fAXlzquxpYIR6XmTfWLWaXv0O9VpTrf9LB5BJ_P870-w5fmgRHi8OuGFg8/s400/CIMG1539.JPG" /></a> Home, sweet home for Cindy!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qs5Bm7yzunnonzIxGGhuHImZz928ACSFBcdys2Uxp9Ggeh3P8ReD5yoDSpEG8tCKublAsZniHKfY5TVq0GrWNAzjcR-f7sWs-rp1crz3Q_Ujku8zW57Eo8gZtK2MZjv4O9piWQH6EB4/s1600/CIMG1536.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544940951569333522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qs5Bm7yzunnonzIxGGhuHImZz928ACSFBcdys2Uxp9Ggeh3P8ReD5yoDSpEG8tCKublAsZniHKfY5TVq0GrWNAzjcR-f7sWs-rp1crz3Q_Ujku8zW57Eo8gZtK2MZjv4O9piWQH6EB4/s400/CIMG1536.JPG" /></a> Have I mentioned that the water is CLEAR!?<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxP-hCduKzzyqGZ2IddjSHLVCb_8Zyed153laOGq-ZBQcusl8yPqXncH6sKGE8F3GRKDuPsjr-V8bw_44vH2_yWrnWI0cmRoqImKKOCAD8XZKmDs2MxbGvPauwZSu9B1RsWrfCaed4WQ/s1600/CIMG1534.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544940947905667554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxP-hCduKzzyqGZ2IddjSHLVCb_8Zyed153laOGq-ZBQcusl8yPqXncH6sKGE8F3GRKDuPsjr-V8bw_44vH2_yWrnWI0cmRoqImKKOCAD8XZKmDs2MxbGvPauwZSu9B1RsWrfCaed4WQ/s400/CIMG1534.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-28026592683191799442010-11-29T03:37:00.000-08:002010-11-29T03:58:10.877-08:00Chicken ShackThe favorite Japanese restuarant is Sanzoku, or more commonly known as "The Chicken Shack" by all us Americans (I've learned no Japanese place is ever referred to as it's actual Japanese name- we make up names like "The Fish Tank," "The Yellow Brick Road" and the like...). It does serve chicken, but it is far from a shack. Our friends April and Chris took us up for our first visit, along with Cindy, Sharon and David. The atmosphere was picturesque and the food was amazing! I had the BEST grilled chicken I have ever had and I don't even like meat!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfIPwf8nUKv3dGcQr9Sqk5dqMbqfpaadHu58ud3XXOnAX4Sh1FF-aRWfcD6eNJQbBLwyVb8zZqETVQCAj87Z5GgJ3xK9aPlDKac5ouymga22bjLCCOmC590_QWgzqeNWx5iSAqu0AAAA/s1600/CIMG1521.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544937311383258290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfIPwf8nUKv3dGcQr9Sqk5dqMbqfpaadHu58ud3XXOnAX4Sh1FF-aRWfcD6eNJQbBLwyVb8zZqETVQCAj87Z5GgJ3xK9aPlDKac5ouymga22bjLCCOmC590_QWgzqeNWx5iSAqu0AAAA/s400/CIMG1521.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gbsNrZHO4AwyEhuY1_jSSgl6TL5CtmAvKaavhAVzEMjX8nr6EIQIubSbjD4mg2QCisbEmap2TBnsNda-Kz5WpgXikSCuseFmA2IQYzva5fK2ZCGI_LeVjBvLTyETiQ2D0ukOoiV4b8A/s1600/CIMG1522.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544937307479288946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gbsNrZHO4AwyEhuY1_jSSgl6TL5CtmAvKaavhAVzEMjX8nr6EIQIubSbjD4mg2QCisbEmap2TBnsNda-Kz5WpgXikSCuseFmA2IQYzva5fK2ZCGI_LeVjBvLTyETiQ2D0ukOoiV4b8A/s400/CIMG1522.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-NvC3OU2t9xnee2vvKrjUO5CghIpWs_sDZh6j2VFcUJAEZqURjE2zUznLF5txZJBxsyBWNdjeY4uqJFokpzbhfosMrEAen3K6Ax3FN4rcsBAglrQECd_PvTCIs2wVc62JjLns3eKPGY/s1600/CIMG1520.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544937300518401314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-NvC3OU2t9xnee2vvKrjUO5CghIpWs_sDZh6j2VFcUJAEZqURjE2zUznLF5txZJBxsyBWNdjeY4uqJFokpzbhfosMrEAen3K6Ax3FN4rcsBAglrQECd_PvTCIs2wVc62JjLns3eKPGY/s400/CIMG1520.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSoD9uDY6aas3p9jU4O0ety8ODnCSOae-NFlhqc8n7GzV7DGif-g5Pjhg97smsMKgVcVwg9uKYSMvY_oZJrXm_Nwm_IFIFLP0bfgPDw_SXJvGNNSviDHQSWVP7zakO07NoAzfGiySCts/s1600/CIMG1518.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544937297196779122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSoD9uDY6aas3p9jU4O0ety8ODnCSOae-NFlhqc8n7GzV7DGif-g5Pjhg97smsMKgVcVwg9uKYSMvY_oZJrXm_Nwm_IFIFLP0bfgPDw_SXJvGNNSviDHQSWVP7zakO07NoAzfGiySCts/s400/CIMG1518.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicg58nf3d_oCd-kOrwCM_2CdisiJ7LVBtUn27NQaa2qIfNRoB4X2JSCxAcCm8dMGH0y5nh5OzIlYLRaMheE9XLY5alckfbAjJ0RZclYk-3UAdl9-TZeiVjpck9g9jKCTK_1RlVH1_fP8/s1600/CIMG1516.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544936304366474674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicg58nf3d_oCd-kOrwCM_2CdisiJ7LVBtUn27NQaa2qIfNRoB4X2JSCxAcCm8dMGH0y5nh5OzIlYLRaMheE9XLY5alckfbAjJ0RZclYk-3UAdl9-TZeiVjpck9g9jKCTK_1RlVH1_fP8/s400/CIMG1516.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6H59g_Gy7oFIw_VmRX0mDIm4AcQM3GKbVo3m0WxhJivtXmqADZS8L6Rc5moBYF5ttalQtHoSzpDoZEHJMXXEwKDu8rYb7uxThMuy2bmEOaWdxhkHOAlPoL26gB95scI8V063oriHN5Co/s1600/CIMG1515.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544936300650406786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6H59g_Gy7oFIw_VmRX0mDIm4AcQM3GKbVo3m0WxhJivtXmqADZS8L6Rc5moBYF5ttalQtHoSzpDoZEHJMXXEwKDu8rYb7uxThMuy2bmEOaWdxhkHOAlPoL26gB95scI8V063oriHN5Co/s400/CIMG1515.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgP-iqCb26Xv6MhlEC5xI4ax49inThG-olD_zbyjg3HPPLAus5ZJKLy1O5LhJ7mLVAom0N6NPBVLdBDT1xi8qJLqNMfJPrVa56tB6MMqVUZdCZLD-v6QgYy9DJ7OtTWqxYj6aAlc4OvA/s1600/CIMG1513.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544936290880613554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgP-iqCb26Xv6MhlEC5xI4ax49inThG-olD_zbyjg3HPPLAus5ZJKLy1O5LhJ7mLVAom0N6NPBVLdBDT1xi8qJLqNMfJPrVa56tB6MMqVUZdCZLD-v6QgYy9DJ7OtTWqxYj6aAlc4OvA/s400/CIMG1513.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrYZZKr5p2kxw4SxpDcqtNmleLHOF2ESZA_UBcww9b3OKTPhLeiqJx8B8dh0AhyphenhyphenFQyXbMxxZu-qPJVJcumXXlgvaKhVBroYWvVaYqOpUGmD0sG8H9SRiuVMVV4Ar8rs_B5C_lcX4bG6E/s1600/CIMG1510.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544936287290585570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrYZZKr5p2kxw4SxpDcqtNmleLHOF2ESZA_UBcww9b3OKTPhLeiqJx8B8dh0AhyphenhyphenFQyXbMxxZu-qPJVJcumXXlgvaKhVBroYWvVaYqOpUGmD0sG8H9SRiuVMVV4Ar8rs_B5C_lcX4bG6E/s400/CIMG1510.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFYEcWMBBXkyakwgc5oMMc-rujHC_Cng4xIq7ZwG-UoPp9JTTOYIcLLbgq5dXWRK1hgJIkzRWQnTm60AElZgJN6veDMDDcerHCoLffP0_fwCODvqau5ciZzlSUOE5XJVu9Qy1irOOEd0/s1600/CIMG1509.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544936271772112850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFYEcWMBBXkyakwgc5oMMc-rujHC_Cng4xIq7ZwG-UoPp9JTTOYIcLLbgq5dXWRK1hgJIkzRWQnTm60AElZgJN6veDMDDcerHCoLffP0_fwCODvqau5ciZzlSUOE5XJVu9Qy1irOOEd0/s400/CIMG1509.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-46469283205817759822010-11-29T03:27:00.000-08:002010-11-29T03:36:52.373-08:00Surfing Part TwoI thought I would throw in a few pictures from one of Matt's later surfing trips. The waves were a bit better. He said the last time he went the waves were even bigger.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfDZXrD7DS1AhydT-VRW5HgDF3npAT7Z5xxb8E1Q7_LV_cD6FREYKt0hjf6mekyJG-Ixgdlexs2xEZjSEJmXe6PSYSwfSQUMkr90TdWfeg0MdV0PNnO-LGwEfirOP-3g94Twikcx98YA/s1600/PA150204.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544933426485913042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfDZXrD7DS1AhydT-VRW5HgDF3npAT7Z5xxb8E1Q7_LV_cD6FREYKt0hjf6mekyJG-Ixgdlexs2xEZjSEJmXe6PSYSwfSQUMkr90TdWfeg0MdV0PNnO-LGwEfirOP-3g94Twikcx98YA/s400/PA150204.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ThpIedr8El546wA9uPUmKrCUh_B92datCdpmSohoN0cgmZVvcZUO8zaoi6FIByU_hmzZ-mY16iWytwkJGHc3agUAKIMDfpJn6u1bYG2oDtV8Ec_IBAZ8sNDHHjaqPeCeQjrv0XcHG00/s1600/PA150169.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544933393071829490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ThpIedr8El546wA9uPUmKrCUh_B92datCdpmSohoN0cgmZVvcZUO8zaoi6FIByU_hmzZ-mY16iWytwkJGHc3agUAKIMDfpJn6u1bYG2oDtV8Ec_IBAZ8sNDHHjaqPeCeQjrv0XcHG00/s400/PA150169.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPCQL9a6lXLKLTdRYTPpvHJd-6vn2Cymwx0qj2DQxg6fg0flYIwidBw0zPTwn3Lb62aDEq67ZQBuAmFJEz0jyQMONd0tCAMK_p6LBJiFTasBhD_MKTDgGYR1qAlnLrobe5ldL5dUdYE8/s1600/PA150134.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544933370291362402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPCQL9a6lXLKLTdRYTPpvHJd-6vn2Cymwx0qj2DQxg6fg0flYIwidBw0zPTwn3Lb62aDEq67ZQBuAmFJEz0jyQMONd0tCAMK_p6LBJiFTasBhD_MKTDgGYR1qAlnLrobe5ldL5dUdYE8/s400/PA150134.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L9qHkhCFIpolOQ4Fuuw0bBhfse_jVCbE8x7G6KJHKm0OoUtgfwH2loumx_0Jl4ENT6W46GHrz6vlg2txhhxVwkNMEdpeAi-h5QTleMQnabgeKrn7rjilYOMMPJ67lHO5Ssi0q7DqjW4/s1600/PA150154.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544932198791729266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L9qHkhCFIpolOQ4Fuuw0bBhfse_jVCbE8x7G6KJHKm0OoUtgfwH2loumx_0Jl4ENT6W46GHrz6vlg2txhhxVwkNMEdpeAi-h5QTleMQnabgeKrn7rjilYOMMPJ67lHO5Ssi0q7DqjW4/s400/PA150154.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-19836860028262838422010-11-10T19:34:00.001-08:002010-11-10T20:14:41.296-08:00The HouseThese are a few pictures of the lot and the surrounding views. Yesterday, we went to the house and within one week they had put up all the walls and the roof! I will post those pictures later, after we get them on a CD.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxXbPxpcFTehq5bZhABSbPlEFq_UxU6tAKt97IfElqjtgnLpgSA2RwLdRC-gIWajGAm3x_BdtA6vXxCXv3v7NhRaXMF8SPGPyxyarcuW9NrJOKqRxyKRr25wJUrqIcRPpA9TtLgjaM_w/s1600/CIMG1597.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538138524812366546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxXbPxpcFTehq5bZhABSbPlEFq_UxU6tAKt97IfElqjtgnLpgSA2RwLdRC-gIWajGAm3x_BdtA6vXxCXv3v7NhRaXMF8SPGPyxyarcuW9NrJOKqRxyKRr25wJUrqIcRPpA9TtLgjaM_w/s400/CIMG1597.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>This our street (our house will be just to the left of this picture), with a big ol' drop-off to one side. The picture just doesn't do it justice. The ditch is deeper than our car is tall.<br /></div><div><div></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtDRXtMeaNFJtJBMMHS9tqpDzKx_fLLibEn2n4986__4qo6urPZqmb3dU8ZyUy8_-mdRPA3JqNE0xZgTj71jXg1OsdlN_w0DDmpIpDyGVtQVxcQDbP4aTZzAUYwdc0wiiOt8MgPrvvzs/s1600/CIMG1684.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538131713905993538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtDRXtMeaNFJtJBMMHS9tqpDzKx_fLLibEn2n4986__4qo6urPZqmb3dU8ZyUy8_-mdRPA3JqNE0xZgTj71jXg1OsdlN_w0DDmpIpDyGVtQVxcQDbP4aTZzAUYwdc0wiiOt8MgPrvvzs/s400/CIMG1684.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Our demands for pink and purple equipment were met. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTozCHFPrk7UfZQm3HlxQd_bEbiAbsYQQAOS80DW4m-w44rq4M47bluMslLkrMWqAGLvvQORTTbA5JVcosk2JT5QQpnMcj3xL4QjeTnDMBumDsfIP5I0JAbEwsnVz0DAmtcDt-fDATpzk/s1600/CIMG1596.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538131701061240418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTozCHFPrk7UfZQm3HlxQd_bEbiAbsYQQAOS80DW4m-w44rq4M47bluMslLkrMWqAGLvvQORTTbA5JVcosk2JT5QQpnMcj3xL4QjeTnDMBumDsfIP5I0JAbEwsnVz0DAmtcDt-fDATpzk/s400/CIMG1596.JPG" /></a><br />On the other side of that fence is what I think is a community garden.<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52cWjcY3Fm_4-7RotY9XHJ1z3oeQdyO0c4V6H61Vklz2c7VbdWpOeNVvzv1Bn-WVOacE5xPai7T4bw8x5BXBH_yF54BDnw6UtqMDif6B4EQbsJpV1ZSfx9gRWL_abGPn1aS2rseyj2vQ/s1600/CIMG1595.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538131687487468450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52cWjcY3Fm_4-7RotY9XHJ1z3oeQdyO0c4V6H61Vklz2c7VbdWpOeNVvzv1Bn-WVOacE5xPai7T4bw8x5BXBH_yF54BDnw6UtqMDif6B4EQbsJpV1ZSfx9gRWL_abGPn1aS2rseyj2vQ/s400/CIMG1595.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37He8vi-b6nR1kYitSs4TBjLw-eq5K7Y3dbF0FRxq0WbSo_u30wAtf78F7tRKK6z2XMvQSAHmObRTJQ81UIspTuhBm52kvAGUGgGI8j5hBIIhy0qRwJwioUIjTwRGGVYADC0bQvAyCaM/s1600/CIMG1599.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538131679549959602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37He8vi-b6nR1kYitSs4TBjLw-eq5K7Y3dbF0FRxq0WbSo_u30wAtf78F7tRKK6z2XMvQSAHmObRTJQ81UIspTuhBm52kvAGUGgGI8j5hBIIhy0qRwJwioUIjTwRGGVYADC0bQvAyCaM/s400/CIMG1599.JPG" /></a><br />We love the Japanese agents!<br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-74867254278718255922010-11-10T19:06:00.000-08:002010-11-10T19:33:12.040-08:00Da Wheels<div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538129103311823874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxhI2ySewRQj_oihtxbqiYbLX4lBLUVWGXJYqZM81E8bAKusdPstU9lmCdZOw7bdlc4UiSGetaWHqPfDT3I7RDpGVyIgcc87Y9IywHdH2NONQ-1Jn-DmughpZ7AacsLcfO9wUeJiN2kA/s400/CIMG1636.JPG" /><br /><div>A BIG thank you to Cindy for downloading our pictures onto a CD. I am so excited to finally share some of the pictures we've been accumulating since we got here. We still aren't in our house so it will be awhile before we can do it on our own computers.</div><br /><div>First on the list of things to share about: our cars! We got them both from a guy here on base. It was pretty much a two-for-the-price of one deal. I was expecting cars to be expensive over here (like everything else) but we got two cars for about 3,500 US dollars. Sweet! The car pictured here is the Suzuki WagonR, which you see everywhere in Japan. Back home, I used to think- How does Suzuki stay in business? No one drives them! Well, business is booming over here. EVERYONE drives a Suzuki Wagon in Japan. The second car is a Suzuki too, but more of an SUV (think two door CRV with 4 WD) which we got for skiing in the winter. Poor thing, it sits most of the time since we usually only need one car, but we will need it more I'm sure when we move off base into our house. They are both older cars, but we love them all the same. All the American's on base tend to drive the older cars, since they aren't here for very long. It actually works out perfectly, becuase we don't have to worry to much about keeping them in nice condition. The narrow roads and driveways can be a bit tricky.<br /></div></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxVcN8GgAeJ9IbZ3O_e9_ct4tIjz1qXaRg0I_MjPN351Q5QrEYP6ia1VjNTlovdrr3IIMXI9gK42k9eP9ODF1ftlwS1lHHPoitwYZpnrfKM9IEGMT3shtPhfZB92LCUmWm488Gc4GOlc/s1600/CIMG1531.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538125696296919122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxVcN8GgAeJ9IbZ3O_e9_ct4tIjz1qXaRg0I_MjPN351Q5QrEYP6ia1VjNTlovdrr3IIMXI9gK42k9eP9ODF1ftlwS1lHHPoitwYZpnrfKM9IEGMT3shtPhfZB92LCUmWm488Gc4GOlc/s400/CIMG1531.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-80914886714381967342010-10-18T03:59:00.000-07:002010-11-29T03:26:45.821-08:00Surfing<div>These are a few pictures from our first surfing trip. Our fellow teacher friends Adam (and his daughter Alise) and Brian asked us to join them. It was a guided trip through the base with our two favorite Japanese surfing instructors: Jumbo (yep, that's his real name) and Masa. We wore wet suits, but compared to the frigid Northwest coast, the water was very warm, especially for late October (did I just reveal how out of date my blog is?). The waves are pretty inconsistent in size from day to day,so we kind of took a gamble on whether it would be surfing weather. As the pictures show, it wasn't. The waves weren't big at ALL, but it was perfect for a relaxed day at the beach. The best part was how amazingly clear the water is. You can always see straight down to the bottom!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nLaZPOkK04OtC83V7mjHvYEdUE_xG8RuqluNb32z2Y7TYdr-4wd0ZJLPjQs6hbNnz-REBzE1ePUXPsYGzgWzwpyX7gFuIYm_5kYoliVntVwvR7yvhquyRu7e4nKqpa9h-xS2U-MhPUM/s1600/PA020117.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544931054573166194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nLaZPOkK04OtC83V7mjHvYEdUE_xG8RuqluNb32z2Y7TYdr-4wd0ZJLPjQs6hbNnz-REBzE1ePUXPsYGzgWzwpyX7gFuIYm_5kYoliVntVwvR7yvhquyRu7e4nKqpa9h-xS2U-MhPUM/s400/PA020117.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>Masa's got skills.<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazoL07yFRCOZwg7xrQP9_c26tr736YwUTAeu1evIe2tuyseu2fY1IQ6yhQhtyF8Pzk9-w0WuerPy6QLt617t29DvCFsJvvUHDW_WNVr1kxzWLt8Tx0PW147xquHAoL3HCaCuq-RHnehQ/s1600/PA020108.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544929532948387938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazoL07yFRCOZwg7xrQP9_c26tr736YwUTAeu1evIe2tuyseu2fY1IQ6yhQhtyF8Pzk9-w0WuerPy6QLt617t29DvCFsJvvUHDW_WNVr1kxzWLt8Tx0PW147xquHAoL3HCaCuq-RHnehQ/s400/PA020108.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a0o-DQFOHdj6JPfWVy4wvg8AUYIGfOEb_MuwGRURlSx0SoJSWfZP48575RWsmyohrQhIqKh4Qp23MYspNHluchRxOcJMl6q1HgoXZ0YNlNFm72hbGLwX1N4Fz3xZ8vcc3D5ImzUknaA/s1600/PA020098.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544929527977012818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a0o-DQFOHdj6JPfWVy4wvg8AUYIGfOEb_MuwGRURlSx0SoJSWfZP48575RWsmyohrQhIqKh4Qp23MYspNHluchRxOcJMl6q1HgoXZ0YNlNFm72hbGLwX1N4Fz3xZ8vcc3D5ImzUknaA/s400/PA020098.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1VvgMZkD_GSmyWBF5Ja7LKY5rIA9nBe62hd7LqfGQtCR1xOxNWy_jIHhH9IXtDeSP7GxclcWJXZyT8bXjdAb1EvMg_ZjwXuYQ7R8MCmU8jxW_f8CjNqPQkXkkiTxjXWZdlcTLe3l9Eg/s1600/PA020095.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544929500051950050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1VvgMZkD_GSmyWBF5Ja7LKY5rIA9nBe62hd7LqfGQtCR1xOxNWy_jIHhH9IXtDeSP7GxclcWJXZyT8bXjdAb1EvMg_ZjwXuYQ7R8MCmU8jxW_f8CjNqPQkXkkiTxjXWZdlcTLe3l9Eg/s400/PA020095.JPG" /></a><br />Surfing without a wave: I am THAT good.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLce7khO3HgMBgewQPic7bRooxpT05AcFUk17NbzEEFSII7nYk-nuR4mFWXQLlJVVVbV6PHezbi15NX_VwwY-N82OlskVfWAbetv5P5KxhZEqaeCz-TZfZWssS1eNmSU44_KlF_Z55ks/s1600/PA020078.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544929490483930898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLce7khO3HgMBgewQPic7bRooxpT05AcFUk17NbzEEFSII7nYk-nuR4mFWXQLlJVVVbV6PHezbi15NX_VwwY-N82OlskVfWAbetv5P5KxhZEqaeCz-TZfZWssS1eNmSU44_KlF_Z55ks/s400/PA020078.JPG" /></a><br />Check out that water!<br /><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuBCMs8hv5AelHXVy-_uxhJR5Psm8gPBzP3N7K-YgxalP1Z0PUlZClvHGJfORy3Wn47NF3bkav8mXRn2b3VdPMBfmIK6wonNypI-xOXNymXM283_eD7E9CDUfEAFVn_3wI57GRetdXYQ/s1600/PA020091.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529342240977888290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuBCMs8hv5AelHXVy-_uxhJR5Psm8gPBzP3N7K-YgxalP1Z0PUlZClvHGJfORy3Wn47NF3bkav8mXRn2b3VdPMBfmIK6wonNypI-xOXNymXM283_eD7E9CDUfEAFVn_3wI57GRetdXYQ/s320/PA020091.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9dw-xptITL3iTFQTMUN3g_0904QKYkeWg5Qr7uTQkkISsqocwH0Dv4ZAtv-i6fXoHQJG0-UpLgoPiQU-FXLH_F-RvcKVkl98mm0K1O02A61GeDHS8HZKK0WH7qUdQQ4SXK9nTg29oo8/s1600/PA020083.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529342232574632866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9dw-xptITL3iTFQTMUN3g_0904QKYkeWg5Qr7uTQkkISsqocwH0Dv4ZAtv-i6fXoHQJG0-UpLgoPiQU-FXLH_F-RvcKVkl98mm0K1O02A61GeDHS8HZKK0WH7qUdQQ4SXK9nTg29oo8/s320/PA020083.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9fdZ9TyFtc5IbZq7Nzy9VPH1jzhuHbHdAOG6Yes7hN2XrzJOmwBOpFBpENE8DZb-26HQ594qIESCrumJLNJ5Xu5UlucG8-yRclg-7l8tmXUKH7sJOul_t4Po9fy6RTGqIdMmr97zh8c/s1600/PA020079.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529342223871029506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9fdZ9TyFtc5IbZq7Nzy9VPH1jzhuHbHdAOG6Yes7hN2XrzJOmwBOpFBpENE8DZb-26HQ594qIESCrumJLNJ5Xu5UlucG8-yRclg-7l8tmXUKH7sJOul_t4Po9fy6RTGqIdMmr97zh8c/s320/PA020079.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7y0C9j0XkYj6UI7_Zpfk9LmRx776_fTSy5YA078gsoIMWrYFxiR9daPTKRxoyqx5QzPJhI-ytBDNX3cJ1okbYfO3YytDj0wsaSAqgG3tLpQRTKhyphenhyphenZDOK-9VcaOvM70OFm5VUf8IehMzA/s1600/PA020077.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529342219693758050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7y0C9j0XkYj6UI7_Zpfk9LmRx776_fTSy5YA078gsoIMWrYFxiR9daPTKRxoyqx5QzPJhI-ytBDNX3cJ1okbYfO3YytDj0wsaSAqgG3tLpQRTKhyphenhyphenZDOK-9VcaOvM70OFm5VUf8IehMzA/s320/PA020077.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW1Q0O7jkmK4VmPvLE1IxbenkD2axC808JcAjJC3wr6Gx8TGOtm2Ulq1w5psFYjyD8qaLavo-LBoK2pWoXG8nJG_Io3UDMt7h8MXd6psqukP1fA1Oz0X4GNYYn2CXZ7qKH9IC7rSspjg/s1600/PA020085.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9y6hNM7P-hhyphenhyphenvLGgnE28zbiGJXVFXC3kRmHy15rAo_HOQ8KxMxZqon5yyaNwqG9XfQ5Uw2T1BCo_6Pa8-qa_6xaltI87K-ezI-F-EK0TDDCogO1YvcaqFCW_kYjcmLna5UzFYUyXXh3E/s1600/PA020092.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-22001029751905900302010-09-28T05:25:00.000-07:002010-09-28T05:51:51.941-07:00House hunting is OVER!Yep, we found a house. The shortage of housing here is unbelievable so the fact that we found one is great, let alone one that we are really excited about. All of the other teachers we arrived with have already found a house, so we were beginning to feel a bit left behind. Last Sunday, we were on a drive and noticed the Japanese housing agency that had already shown us a few houses was open. We decided to stop in and use our best Charades to ask if there was a "clean house" available. First they showed us an apartment that was nice, but too small for even our bed. Then, when they were about to turn us away empty-handed, a lady from the back of the office came out with the floor plans of a NEW 3 bedroom house right next to the Kintai bridge! It sounded too good to be true at first and I tried not to get my hopes up. We went to see it the next day and it was everything we hoped. The only downside is that we won't be able to move in until December when it will be finished. The lot is really neat. It is within walking distance of a a bunch of Iwakuni's tourists attractions: the Iwakuni castle, Kintai bridge, and the beautiful park where they supposedly have a lot of their festivals and such. Gggrrr..I wish I could post pictures! (The problem is I don't have a card reader or USB cable to download the pics onto our laptop.)<br /><br />Today's Firsts:<br /><br /><strong>Japanese Language Class</strong>. Tonight was our first Japanese language class at the city hall. A bunch of people from the base were there. The teacher started off by listing the differences between Japanese and English, some of which were a pleasant surprise: no plurals! no silent letters! vowels only have ONE sound! no articles (the, a..)! My spirits weren't as good when he started talking about the three types of symbols they use to write and ONE of those types has over 3000 symbols we should memorize. SWEET! The resounding anthem for the class was "Not now... we will learn that next week." By the sounds of it, we will be learning a LOT next week.<br /><br />Days in Japan: 38<br />Days I've approached the driver's side door thinking it was the passenger side door: 38Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971515135600768979.post-64165036272361909472010-09-26T03:07:00.000-07:002010-11-29T05:24:33.848-08:00Finally!<div>I told myself I would start this the week I got here, but here I am, over a month later writing my first blog post. Instead of kicking myself for the missed entries, I plan to slowly fill in the blanks over time. I haven't found a way to upload pictures yet, but I will fill those in later too.<br /><br /><strong>This weekend's FIRSTS: </strong></div><div><br /><strong>The other side of Japan.</strong> Last night we drove the furthest we've driven since we got here. Initially we were going to go for just a short jaunt through the countryside for the sake of "getting out," but at sunset we found ourselves on the other side of the island. We dipped our feet in the ocean and made several attempts at getting a good picture of the moon. It was beautiful. Cindy (another teacher who arrived when we did and has been our good buddy ever since), Matt and I just stood there in silence, with our feet in the waves, listening to the ocean for a good few minutes. While Iwakuni is on the ocean, the waves are broken up by the scattered surrounding islands, so this was pretty cool. All the weekend fun made me realize how much I need to break away from the classroom work and GET OUT!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhValwCyOZxBsn_UMAEHwhvgstjyWDz5dbms44YKDbFF-1W8eNwba578dB9HgZZKWPEFGv94Bx_EdaVBTh53WDqtm4cI_n1VNGV53VC8VLT8HyVKXcfxujmmLJ7Sy5weO0n-JYmPseQ1LI/s1600/CIMG1672.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544961460012979234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhValwCyOZxBsn_UMAEHwhvgstjyWDz5dbms44YKDbFF-1W8eNwba578dB9HgZZKWPEFGv94Bx_EdaVBTh53WDqtm4cI_n1VNGV53VC8VLT8HyVKXcfxujmmLJ7Sy5weO0n-JYmPseQ1LI/s400/CIMG1672.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544951672617270498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNYEE0aa6nxnqme_WJbg1N_yJV-uthaG62MQp-A_ahLnQjXv-bP1BztRUTMBB3A1W-nZxhkiauJMrRZSB09gaFMWqnic9Zor2sm8nI94Edqk0ZbuNmQ-CKNKhpA6Ar-gYHOVqfOs35Ts/s400/CIMG1646.JPG" /></p><p>A short little detour of a hike. With little shrines spotting the trail, we were expecting somethinng magnificient to be just around the corner! You can imagine our good laugh when we got to the top to find a lumber/junk yard in the middle of nowhere.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtO2EnVPHh3SikqhdTL_6Xr_scSuJlN00HINe_FNpZyEJ0Im2M_vauNpvXKYW93Pk-_NonRzGw1dzvzc7E8rIowXqaDr1REbOYhpXjXbFraAtGE3Rm6nzLzfztRXKEXRRTM-BRDynKJHs/s1600/CIMG1651.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544951681357594274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtO2EnVPHh3SikqhdTL_6Xr_scSuJlN00HINe_FNpZyEJ0Im2M_vauNpvXKYW93Pk-_NonRzGw1dzvzc7E8rIowXqaDr1REbOYhpXjXbFraAtGE3Rm6nzLzfztRXKEXRRTM-BRDynKJHs/s400/CIMG1651.JPG" /></a><br /></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-8vvo3eILRlQzJM-JTlvy2UJ1R1tmOowbQ7czHus_GBE5bnGopgWkuAhUzrzj_BPS45sl32Qduzd5ueNQ7dx5koFUlZVfVYfzGsnjGReSlOjBzUemDKu7L90FfPoqOLXjSKCp3_phxc/s1600/CIMG1635.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544951657487904610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-8vvo3eILRlQzJM-JTlvy2UJ1R1tmOowbQ7czHus_GBE5bnGopgWkuAhUzrzj_BPS45sl32Qduzd5ueNQ7dx5koFUlZVfVYfzGsnjGReSlOjBzUemDKu7L90FfPoqOLXjSKCp3_phxc/s400/CIMG1635.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This old lady must have been at least 90 years old and she was pushing this wheelburrow along the side of the road. We couldn't beleive it! Matt pulled over, got out and offered to help her (using Charades of course) and she simply smiled at him and most politely waved him off. We think she was heading to a cemetery up the road with her wheelburrow full of flowers. The elderly people here are amazing! They do things you wouldn't ever see people their age doing back home. The secret to long life I am sure...<br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAD1bIHNPoDrw304cIVdzsFVBh3VxPz3M0Nbwe6KPHQCuRmwxIq12oSnJC6IWGNU5SyXVVkASCiL5xc0Q7PM7YmscmiD0VgSyldmbVO31RRDePyH0UqNhb_WI00_gXfgcA3feV92lDag8/s1600/CIMG1633.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544948639767950114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAD1bIHNPoDrw304cIVdzsFVBh3VxPz3M0Nbwe6KPHQCuRmwxIq12oSnJC6IWGNU5SyXVVkASCiL5xc0Q7PM7YmscmiD0VgSyldmbVO31RRDePyH0UqNhb_WI00_gXfgcA3feV92lDag8/s400/CIMG1633.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUWj0r66iR3BakyMJozv-7zPJZHU0iTKWqz4cSaLLDD-TAlbljNOrL2KdLJ_UXJowlQsURL2uWVBRXS-8b8yGE0Yj24jqvxon7Ibonr1EjMWBTFBQhpHnx6NDSc1HRD9l9Ygtrtq8Duc/s1600/CIMG1630.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544948627515893154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUWj0r66iR3BakyMJozv-7zPJZHU0iTKWqz4cSaLLDD-TAlbljNOrL2KdLJ_UXJowlQsURL2uWVBRXS-8b8yGE0Yj24jqvxon7Ibonr1EjMWBTFBQhpHnx6NDSc1HRD9l9Ygtrtq8Duc/s400/CIMG1630.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksXMwlquqC-QAbjVbeWSoreFX2GlCNCmcOOQmtUnSOFvF4YKaSHcY7sO553oCOvOq7TpeeAYRN__-pUMFvqhgYnQIvw30tzUH6en0wulM-qKRoxCxVhseOC4cxTJTZ3UXPEY2UZc6INk/s1600/CIMG1627.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544948619210591074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksXMwlquqC-QAbjVbeWSoreFX2GlCNCmcOOQmtUnSOFvF4YKaSHcY7sO553oCOvOq7TpeeAYRN__-pUMFvqhgYnQIvw30tzUH6en0wulM-qKRoxCxVhseOC4cxTJTZ3UXPEY2UZc6INk/s400/CIMG1627.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmk_ZsCDs3fqXsqkAVBc2hInkLdugSM_927QcjZb0qrZ4VUqod9r96A0nBrwl79OhUYG_4y4OklX4ihepFjerUb1bQfEpIC_jonzhfC70tglCx-0GYz_Hhyphenhyphen_bh_glMKDU7kecfPl0rO6c/s1600/CIMG1625.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544948614386795650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmk_ZsCDs3fqXsqkAVBc2hInkLdugSM_927QcjZb0qrZ4VUqod9r96A0nBrwl79OhUYG_4y4OklX4ihepFjerUb1bQfEpIC_jonzhfC70tglCx-0GYz_Hhyphenhyphen_bh_glMKDU7kecfPl0rO6c/s400/CIMG1625.JPG" /></a><br />I love Japanese maps!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7r8bQSbI00TtGRoCtad6x9CKx-nNpuGQQUKJXEFUqgJ3tVt0cLSEoz7AiaR74kn_8C1_WHpv7chxfnIXaSPlOfHy4q1AQ-rBAcN5RoS7cR3uTWopIPqvIahP-v-aCYdjSF5NwUXQz-c/s1600/CIMG1623.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544948595882089186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7r8bQSbI00TtGRoCtad6x9CKx-nNpuGQQUKJXEFUqgJ3tVt0cLSEoz7AiaR74kn_8C1_WHpv7chxfnIXaSPlOfHy4q1AQ-rBAcN5RoS7cR3uTWopIPqvIahP-v-aCYdjSF5NwUXQz-c/s400/CIMG1623.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong>Horse.</strong> No, I didn't get to ride a horse, rather Matt and Cindy decided to EAT it! Matt pulled it off the Sushi "go-round" and ate it before he even knew what it was and claimed it was the "best roast beef" he had ever eaten. I applauded both of them for being so brave, but I told them that if they didn't want me crying over my beloved childhood horse, Sheeba, they wouldn't encourage me to follow suit. </div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544946641901138562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoAkXJ4uwvKQ-XLyJO2SBEH4wrTUoe8WGt-LrwoA7QxR3BWnNieBeEdKxyGlgnI9bvgLbAW5x2YZ20xF1G3fbajFwtgTTYoXLvIpwNlnQ-I1E9u-YxXTq51ZlVMzyBCJr8m91NxQZ5Lo/s400/CIMG1616.JPG" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWYtJQxFOzzpFbqkcv3BTUpn8V4lTQJDnZ6TaGI0wIbIjTGP1W14Y3VcNOiXBSZrFofUASQi0QUjoyENiSZIFIWTUijtdhMIu_QmvchenYdsmfP5yaleSO50mWyCXzoMOCL-3rXOjWy0/s1600/CIMG1612.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544946638164269426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWYtJQxFOzzpFbqkcv3BTUpn8V4lTQJDnZ6TaGI0wIbIjTGP1W14Y3VcNOiXBSZrFofUASQi0QUjoyENiSZIFIWTUijtdhMIu_QmvchenYdsmfP5yaleSO50mWyCXzoMOCL-3rXOjWy0/s400/CIMG1612.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Church</strong>. Today was the first Sunday I felt healthy enough to wake up for 10:00 church. It continues to amaze my how identical church is to home on the other side of the world. It felt good to be back. The Relief Society lesson consisted of me, the president and three others, one of which was the only girl in Young Womens (poor thing).<br /><br /><strong>Quotes of the weekend:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Tessa: "I think I'm getting car sick." Matt: "You'll be fine, just eat this donut."<br /><br /><strong>Other quotes I don't want to forget:</strong><br /><br />"Tessa, you can't tell me how to drive if you failed your driving test!"<br /><br />"The Dingo ate my baby!"<br /><br /><br /><strong>Days in Japan:</strong> 37</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928020049109348760noreply@blogger.com5