Day 11, 12 and 13, July 15, 16 and 17

Well, our trip came to a long and drawn out close as you all are aware.

To recap, our last full day ended with a flurry of activity surrounding origami, music and dance. Many of Masako's friends entertained us through their teachings of these wonderful Japanese arts.


Nancy even shared with them how to make an origami dog puppet.





Lastly, we said goodbye to many of our Japanese friends as they stopped into the house for final farewells. In the meantime, we packed, secured our belongings and headed to Ikuwa bus stop for the beginning of our long return home.

Leaving Japan on our jet plane at nearly 1:00pm, we traveled for nearly 12 hours (11 exactly) and landed safely in Detroit at noon. After a series of flight postponements to Cincinnati, 3:00 to 7:00, 7:00 to 9:00 and 9:00 to 10:00, our flight was finally cancelled. Long story short, we spent the night in the terminal and our time making alternative arrangements for Molly, Astrid and the rest of our crew.

Molly ended up leaving about midnight with her uncle to spend time in Detroit and Astrid readied herself for an 8:00am flight to Orlando to see her family. All worked out well as two TNSM parents drove from Cincinnati to retrieve us, the weary travelers.





Thanks a great deal to all of the parents for making the trip possible. Thanks to Masako, Miyoko and everyone in Japan for making it so rewarding. Thanks too to Dotty and Mike for making the long drive. Thanks to Kathy for retrieving our luggage at the Cincinnati airport. Lastly, thanks to the kids and to Nancy for making the trip such a pleasurable experience for me.

Until we begin our posts again to follow another trip and to continue our documentations for helping to make TNSM Citizens of the World in this instance, all be well. In the meantime, be sure to check our the TNSM website for a link to flickr to view all of the Japan trip photos and to see what other wonderful and unique things that are happening. Peace.

Day 10 July 15

Sorry for the absence over the past few days. While they were full ones, youth hosteling and on-your-feet traveling doesn't readily support blogging. Nonetheless here I, I mean we, are. I know that Nancy has e-mailed with you recently about flights and times. Important to know as when you begin closing your day tomorrow, we'll be beginning our travels home.

It has been a wonderful trip. Our hosts and hostesses have been wonderful and your children have been wonderful guests. Enjoy these snippets of information and pictures of our travels over the last few days.

-from Day 7 and 8, July 12 and 13

City of Kyoto. Enjoyed the accommodations of the Utano Youth Hostile (UTH).


UTH was our home-base for travels to a number of temples and shrines over two days. We enjoyed strolling the streets and the wonders of Kinkakuji (The Golden) Temple,







Ryoanji Temple,









and Ninnaji Temple throughout day one.












Day two, we traveled to see Yasakanoto (view the tallest pagoda in Japan)











and Kiyomizu Dera Temple with views of the mountains and the city. While at each, the children experienced practices and beliefs for cleansing their hands, their bodies and their souls by washing from fountains, drinking from them too or even lighting incense.










-from Day 9, July 14

Amidst torrential downpours that closed schools and businesses and delayed buses, we left the hostile with some luggage in tow and headed for the train to Nara. While in Nara, we shopped some more and traveled to the Nara Deer Park (an anticipated favorite of the kids)





and to Dodaiji Temple, home of the largest bronze buddha (my apologies for mistakenly telling you it was wood).




We all enjoyed a traditional Japanese lunch, continued to dodge the rain and visited a new museum installation (the name currently escapes me) that spotlights the 1,300 year Anniversary of Nara, the first capital of Japan. Amazing, 1,300 years old.

Lastly we boarded and in one case, missed trains for travels back to Yokkaichi. Arriving about 7:30, we unpacked, took a breath and enjoyed some vegetable tempura, stew, rice and tofu soup. It was all delicious, especially the avocado and cayenne pepper tempura.

Day 6 July 11

Day 6 July 11 was ultimately just awesome, in Nancy words.

While included in Day 5, the Myazuma Gorge was great fun. (Sorry Sandra if your son's jump from the falls elicited any fear. Safety was foremost and the direction was always, "Land on your feet!") And as indicated in that post, we headed later in the day to learn to play the Japanese banjo, the shaymisen, and some percussion sticks, zenidaiko.








Enjoy the video of our collective, Japanese-American band that is presented below.



Next, we headed to The Viking, a true Japanese hibatchi Smorgasbord.








That's all for now. Up early today and headed to Kyoto before 7. Look for more later. Thanks.

Day 5 July 10 Part 2

The days seem to be flying and full. As Cheyenne indicated, the homestays were quite successful and the kids really enjoyed themselves. Up early afterward, we headed straight to Ise by train with a number of Miyoko's students and her current teacher Lacey, from Grand Rapids, MI, as our kanji/tour guide extraordinaire.

Ise greeted us with sunshine and humidity. Charlie greeted us with news and information about the grounds at Ise as he studied it prior to our departure from Cincinnati. With over 600 shrines on the grounds at Ise and a multitude of trees that would remind you of the CA Redwoods, Ise proudly presents opportunities for sight-seers to pray, show respect for the trees that grow and a place for enjoying peace and serenity.

Serenity also comes with good music. And while we thought that is what we were moving toward, we were instead move to the carpenters. Listen to the men in white below as they attempt to smooth the wood. So entertaining.

After stepping from the shrine area, we progressed up the Ise promenade and enjoyed one of my favorite tourist sites- endless shopping, food and cultural event activities.











Enjoying ourselves but moving swiftly to get to our transport to Komono station, we scurried back to enjoy a Komono neighborhood festival. In Paul's words, "It was like a big neighborhood block party." While sweaty with no chance for a shower until morning, our party-going began with curry rice, vegetables and corn. Kids played soccer and tag while the adults mingled in short and fragmented communication. Great fun actually.

Once dark, the evening continued with bingo and other games where everyone enjoyed prizes of bouncy balls and other carnival fare. Fireworks ensued and then it was bedtime on tatemi mats in the communal room. Morning came swiftly and we awoke, organized, did calisthenics and participated in a breakfast of cucumbers, carrots, rice, miso soup, corn, beef, sausages and tea. Yum!








Another day of rain was upon us now but that wasn't stopping our plans of heading to Suzuka Mountain and the Myazuma Gorge for some good ole bouldering, river hiking and cliff jumping.
Everyone was awesome, cared less for the leaches and was chilled by the frigid water but unstoppable nonetheless. Enjoy the pictures and videos, it was gorgeous and fun. Once complete, nearly all of us retreated to the local hotspring for a body cleansing and warm dip.



Now, we are resting until we head out this evening for an opportunity to experience more Japanese culture and Japanese banjo instruction.

Off to Kyoto and Nara tomorrow by 8. All be well.

Day 5 July 10

Hi there. This is Cheyenne and Charlie. So far the Japan trip has been fun. We met a special new friend and his name is Mil. He is friendly, cute, and a dog.
Once, on this adventure, we had to be separated for homestays but we all got good families so it was still fun.





Charlie here. One thing that I know is Cheyenne doesn't like the food so much but she is doing well. Seaweed, ew, sushi, ew, and candy everywhere, GOOD!!


Even though Cheyenne does not like the things that are served to her she eats it anyway. I'm happy to be here.

Day 4 July 9

Today has been a very wet and messy day. At 9:00, we all went to a mountain called Gozaisho-dake. We then traveled up over the 1,200 meter mountain on a gondola, screaming and imagining what it would be like if the gondola fell over! After about ten minutes, we were at the peak of the mountain. We sighed for relief when we noticed that the gondola hadn't fallen. After that, we explored the mountain, jumping from rock to rock and trying not to hit the ground, playing London Bridge is Falling Down and other games on a wooden platform, and even searching in between boulders for yen. Sadly, it was very misty at the top of the mountain, and so many of these games were very hard to play. Luckily, nobody got hurt.
When we were done, we coasted down the mountain in another gondola as we looked outside and threw out water and watched it fall.
Next, we went to eat lunch at a place that is now in my opinion the coolest restaurant in Japan. I say that for a number of reasons. First, the foods came by your tables in conveyer belts in small portions on plates, second, if you ate from five plates, you would have a chance to play a game on a screen that was at your table, and third, if you won the game, you would get a yo-yo. Everyone at my table was addicted to this game, and the six of us ate from over 50 plates! Unfortunately, it cost 1 dollar for each plate, so when we found out we stopped eating altogether. No worries, though, Eric paid!
After lunch, we all went to get some ice cream. It was very fun and relaxing, even though Keziah spilled some of her ice-cream while we were eating.
When we finished eating, we rode back home. As soon as we got home, Astrid and Samantha made a bet that Jack Black was in the movie Balls of Fury. Astrid thought that Jack Black was not in the movie, and Samantha thought he was, so they bet that the winner could pour cold water on the loser. I honestly knew nothing about the movie, but when I learned about the bet, I became excited and watched to see what would happen. They then looked on the computer and found out that Jack Black was not in the movie. Here's the video of Samantha getting soaked.


Like I said, today was a very fun day!!!
-Paul

Day 3 July 8

I'm sure that you have realized that our posts are running nearly a day behind. And while it is Friday morning here, it will be our fourth full day of immersion in the activities and culture of the Japanese. It is has been action packed and I have yet to recover. By 8:00 at night, I am ready to fall over and we have typically needed to be attentive for more activity. Lastly, I will do my best to get your kids posting. Up too early, to bed too late and a great deal in between has made it difficult. Nonetheless, here I go as it's before 6:00am.

Yesterday was really great. We woke to a breakfast of eggs, fruit and breads. After eating, we looked forward to walking again to Ugawara Elementary School for a day of classes, Japanese style.
Being certain to wash the soles of our "indoor shoes" for wear after removing our pair of outdoor shoes, we were ready for a day of Music (we sang Mary Had A Little Lamb and the Star Spangled Banner) for our hosts, English, Physical Education, Mathematics, Calligraphy, Arts and Crafts, Sewing in Home Economics, three, ten minutes recesses and television interviews (really). The day was packed with these activities from 7:30-3:40.



Lastly, before the school day ended, Luc and Paul participated in a Physical Education class, completed directly by the children, where did calestenics and dancing. You'll find a video below of Luc doing his best to share his own expertise of what Jeanne taught him at TNSM.

Once we returned home, we were greeted by a bunch of Masako's friends and enjoyed some traditional Japanese and American Folk Dancing. The kids had a great time, were good sports and learned the Halukoma (Japanese), Jiffy Mixer (American), Jolly is the Miller (American) and Salty Dog Rag (American) Dances.



Next, we were treated with an opportunity to converse and dine with a number of Masako's English as a Second Language students. We exchanged gifts, hello and greetings of "Will you be my friend?" Next, we made our own Sushi, asked questions of one another verbally as well as handwritten (so Masako's students could see written English too), enjoyed fireworks and finally, ate ice cream.




I then quickly prepared for my collapse while the kids decompressed and remained awake past 11. Perhaps that is why I am awake now.