tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27947009668128331362024-03-01T00:39:32.920-05:00May the Angels Protect You Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-32973623070737236822014-12-15T22:47:00.000-05:002015-03-30T02:14:26.412-04:00Hakushu Distillery Tour<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span> wanted to post about one of the last things I get to do before I head home. There is a whiskey distillery, the Hakushu Distillery of Suntory, quite near to where I live, with the mountain nearby providing good water for the process. They give free tours of the distillery and free tastings at the end. It has been on my Japan Bucket List for a long time, but I have never wanted to do it alone for good reason. Alone, I would have no one to drive once I have had my allotted free drinks at the end of the tour--Japan is quite harsh with their legal limits for driving with.03% being the limit. One of my co-workers, Gon-san, knew I had been wanting to go so offered to take me and be my driver. How could I ever say no?!? </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Suntory also has their Yamazaki Distillery near Osaka.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">ENGLISH! I can finally understand what I am looking at! </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmxeutgH5znZ7ktMtuWcTJ6YGTmXJD6yMZ4_KdhfQpcE79zGFV3pAKKmykkcZ5ZKA90nXqR3AsnYkaMrRALd50KfHJ4xrlaVjx3hDpz0tRy55x7iApJvhDOcGIHzkZeA4iVS-zzTUTBAC/s1600/11022949_2828238622730_862688881_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmxeutgH5znZ7ktMtuWcTJ6YGTmXJD6yMZ4_KdhfQpcE79zGFV3pAKKmykkcZ5ZKA90nXqR3AsnYkaMrRALd50KfHJ4xrlaVjx3hDpz0tRy55x7iApJvhDOcGIHzkZeA4iVS-zzTUTBAC/s1600/11022949_2828238622730_862688881_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The whiskey museum we poked around before our tour. In the picture above of the brochure you can see the observation bridge sticking up out of the trees.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The museum itself was pretty amazing. It included the history of whiskey itself--dating back to biblical times--all the way to the history of whiskey in Japan. Suntory's Yamazaki
Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 just recently won best whiskey in the
world, even beating out all Ireland and Scotland. I already knew this
stuff was good, I guess I just didn't know HOW good. Once you wind your way through the three floors of the museum, there is the nature observation bridge. In Japan, nature conservationism is a very big thing and most big companies, especially ones that could potentially harm the environments they are operating in, put a lot of money into protecting it. So not only is the ground where the distillery is where they make whiskey, it is also a nature preserve, mainly a bird sanctuary. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Yl88iQtxm2h8Ku8l_6Nxu_8rvefeWNdF3nCOEbKpExyV01rykNbIM1ODWRbhKj2IvUWXZ7JCHrmKAj4gi7IvUgZLFSlqRxk7LGe_Pnusw0zWUdpCm6fcq1_zyhxZ6ZBpAWbhQUdVnq-9/s1600/11079687_2828241422800_193627171_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Yl88iQtxm2h8Ku8l_6Nxu_8rvefeWNdF3nCOEbKpExyV01rykNbIM1ODWRbhKj2IvUWXZ7JCHrmKAj4gi7IvUgZLFSlqRxk7LGe_Pnusw0zWUdpCm6fcq1_zyhxZ6ZBpAWbhQUdVnq-9/s1600/11079687_2828241422800_193627171_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Replica of an old style pub in the museum--doesn't look that unusual to me, but in Japan that's a novelty.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Lzb6Am-7SaX7jWxzvJ6IEJT8oCTQky0dm5-LdhijSluOXHsW2a8UyYDLDReAzvApk8Sst9buPW94Bg27ZO49dtpObSWqgljQ20H7sCAhS_jE8jYB8tq7mZhEJI2gHI8nf3NjwoHDlkEn/s1600/11084373_2828238582729_815923283_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Lzb6Am-7SaX7jWxzvJ6IEJT8oCTQky0dm5-LdhijSluOXHsW2a8UyYDLDReAzvApk8Sst9buPW94Bg27ZO49dtpObSWqgljQ20H7sCAhS_jE8jYB8tq7mZhEJI2gHI8nf3NjwoHDlkEn/s1600/11084373_2828238582729_815923283_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Can't have an exhibit about whiskey without a section on the U.S.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAALiDVp-p5C9vUlNMiURy45xyYXI7vvtbdk9ylbDAq_PaHwXGx2w8M7wDTNMV8TLV6q39YRC-nGS3ROW9jb4doH8ohDIz_TU2NowRRW9DZxzKJU3EJCVRytGormAKYLlq0WD9TfxqOnS/s1600/11116078_2828241382799_1934437699_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAALiDVp-p5C9vUlNMiURy45xyYXI7vvtbdk9ylbDAq_PaHwXGx2w8M7wDTNMV8TLV6q39YRC-nGS3ROW9jb4doH8ohDIz_TU2NowRRW9DZxzKJU3EJCVRytGormAKYLlq0WD9TfxqOnS/s1600/11116078_2828241382799_1934437699_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This was the size of an entire wall--people around the world had to think Americans were insane.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUOUMKoOFTxwydPqF33zxH7Gid0QNHNQ-za5ZavBtWaq8h89yTUc05lnmxLek4LrUOB-au8B7Sb_hwkp1ZlD5e9IFbmFFiD5ZbZXhxYksGg4Pp9i3cNBVQU3pnSt0uPaCRn-_F-PAWKkz/s1600/11082768_2828238542728_782772420_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUOUMKoOFTxwydPqF33zxH7Gid0QNHNQ-za5ZavBtWaq8h89yTUc05lnmxLek4LrUOB-au8B7Sb_hwkp1ZlD5e9IFbmFFiD5ZbZXhxYksGg4Pp9i3cNBVQU3pnSt0uPaCRn-_F-PAWKkz/s1600/11082768_2828238542728_782772420_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">View of Yatsugatake, the mountain I live on, and the bird sanctuary below.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The first stop on the tour is where the fermentation happens. These huge vats are about ginormous --yes super precise measurement. They're as tall as a house and probably fifty feet across. It smelled like a bunch of baking bread in this whole building. The next part of the tour was where the magic happens. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Adorable tour guide that explains every step of the process--well I had my little headset for English.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIkBpkz8ASzsfd_PVxTzkAE5X4YONqeX4dmQSJCOtGNBxwUVj0ppYnMEGAOW5v_LsACspTdDpvDWpviVSx99WSmmBr6xgny9828QrjrEpCt_ZNE2bizM_pCRSZ0cETR_JRvfWAyUfHA_e/s1600/11081816_2828238702732_402130727_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIkBpkz8ASzsfd_PVxTzkAE5X4YONqeX4dmQSJCOtGNBxwUVj0ppYnMEGAOW5v_LsACspTdDpvDWpviVSx99WSmmBr6xgny9828QrjrEpCt_ZNE2bizM_pCRSZ0cETR_JRvfWAyUfHA_e/s1600/11081816_2828238702732_402130727_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now that's a tub I want to bathe in.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the Hakushu property there are twenty two of these huge warehouses where they store the barrels
of whiskey to age. The second we walk in to the one we were touring, I
was in heaven. It was like taking a shot just by breathing. This place
was MASSIVE. It was about two stories tall and who knows how long, but
it was just row after row after row of barrels of whiskey. It was the
most beautiful thing I had ever seen.</span></span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPfke0S_vbW4Mr0hfYB30xvafhFWEAbeJXQbjM6U3LXQuN4nMwLXZ0PYV80DT9gseWiHzkyhMiCqKwsOlt358SZU1CSOAEE6ImZ4TEiU418-p5zJYmxgraRh7J6g1QZNZ0iAIjE-Ipcle/s1600/11074297_2828238782734_1462600817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPfke0S_vbW4Mr0hfYB30xvafhFWEAbeJXQbjM6U3LXQuN4nMwLXZ0PYV80DT9gseWiHzkyhMiCqKwsOlt358SZU1CSOAEE6ImZ4TEiU418-p5zJYmxgraRh7J6g1QZNZ0iAIjE-Ipcle/s1600/11074297_2828238782734_1462600817_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just one row or column or whatever you want to call it.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwLv69m5Z8Y0e6p_DI1EAzhuIy9uooPufg2GPkjvn85gYqgRVVvgUkVbWhjET5ovB3TkZ47t7ClbH26BjlkMmTmuIVw4NGV1kQCETTmZCYCP4lr_qcGqnhWNupGL2boT6GPGVBVIjTVmI/s1600/11104070_2828238742733_1619858646_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwLv69m5Z8Y0e6p_DI1EAzhuIy9uooPufg2GPkjvn85gYqgRVVvgUkVbWhjET5ovB3TkZ47t7ClbH26BjlkMmTmuIVw4NGV1kQCETTmZCYCP4lr_qcGqnhWNupGL2boT6GPGVBVIjTVmI/s1600/11104070_2828238742733_1619858646_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And then you turned around and it went down the other way.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKh61EZmWAt6NN2wksnin5RwHrN2msMzyj9x668pBbUvekhIumeKGzt2nDEElebWU5XjNmVbM9DcqJRfQGgXNyKO8dVxDcEWwmJDhKnp00ujLQRYHxVoLRfhlOl2w6h94PumM-dBfnQW1/s1600/11074297_2828239022740_351973538_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKh61EZmWAt6NN2wksnin5RwHrN2msMzyj9x668pBbUvekhIumeKGzt2nDEElebWU5XjNmVbM9DcqJRfQGgXNyKO8dVxDcEWwmJDhKnp00ujLQRYHxVoLRfhlOl2w6h94PumM-dBfnQW1/s1600/11074297_2828239022740_351973538_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Found a whiskey that's the same age as me!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The tour was pretty short, but the best was yet to come. Afterwards you go to the tasting room where our tour guide taught us the correct way to make a highball, whiskey and soda over ice, and then you get to have two complementary drinks any way you'd like. Of course I had to try even more, so after my drinks, I went to the tasting bar where you could try all the whiskeys that went into their blends. I chose the 12 year old that had been aged in a sherry cask. Suntory recently bought out Jim Beam so it was a little odd seeing an American brand being considered part of their house menu. I really wanted to try the award winning whiskey of theirs, but it was $25 for just a tasting, so I stuck to the cheaper ones.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The tasting bar--with juice for the drivers. Those men in suits clearly were not about the juice.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYFZhJpxmuVROhoA5Ai-nYe3C6ryx_Do27Jn94spEDj1hOzQRDbdKaGB89zn2xHR_lqmyzrx7dS6JextiCEu3a27kfGyLEAavi46PStiuTmX3mw83RV7LdHc5rYzfV-Uf_IL9RSQ_9uP5/s1600/11084384_2828238982739_1167060617_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYFZhJpxmuVROhoA5Ai-nYe3C6ryx_Do27Jn94spEDj1hOzQRDbdKaGB89zn2xHR_lqmyzrx7dS6JextiCEu3a27kfGyLEAavi46PStiuTmX3mw83RV7LdHc5rYzfV-Uf_IL9RSQ_9uP5/s1600/11084384_2828238982739_1167060617_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Highballs are pretty much my favorite drink so this was the perfect little afternoon activity. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgi3bV0LelyVWmWoW8YYjIMA7DjuDpRm53xIKKJ-C-A4twRD5N4wlTS5WtirIFs8zF9lIQUI8PGmeLpRBc1AHth4iNVJurIp3FeRG8bJRkHjWCPxIXtM5ZZ3fxkNKpm3DIwSYas1K_7WP/s1600/11106307_2828238822735_1158192624_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgi3bV0LelyVWmWoW8YYjIMA7DjuDpRm53xIKKJ-C-A4twRD5N4wlTS5WtirIFs8zF9lIQUI8PGmeLpRBc1AHth4iNVJurIp3FeRG8bJRkHjWCPxIXtM5ZZ3fxkNKpm3DIwSYas1K_7WP/s1600/11106307_2828238822735_1158192624_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They even gave you snacks!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mkyjMXjDgqOKz4aGhQxgDnkY8sd8RwCsaUrfZ7VWrcjLy19rfVe5u9rspEDQwfOy0o5NPF3vClcoirRHjFpimi-Sg091pjuw8k6LWtE3HyJuzkFiwks8GoN7V7UIpHNhgzACNk-9t_OW/s1600/11081804_2828238902737_704720141_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mkyjMXjDgqOKz4aGhQxgDnkY8sd8RwCsaUrfZ7VWrcjLy19rfVe5u9rspEDQwfOy0o5NPF3vClcoirRHjFpimi-Sg091pjuw8k6LWtE3HyJuzkFiwks8GoN7V7UIpHNhgzACNk-9t_OW/s1600/11081804_2828238902737_704720141_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My tasting--it was delicious.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSJz4fZwVVhWwVg9yrqqHaOtdE_ebbl9cxTaKQtcI42h11gPNt7Q1pTK2kLKBjWuABvP5Yt3bpRtMSqpV2iI4ZCJ7SEjleaeiyv472g-X-JNeCzcc9siQDwf6DmAeh6RLLAj5ER7GqoDe/s1600/11104338_2828239102742_803506116_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSJz4fZwVVhWwVg9yrqqHaOtdE_ebbl9cxTaKQtcI42h11gPNt7Q1pTK2kLKBjWuABvP5Yt3bpRtMSqpV2iI4ZCJ7SEjleaeiyv472g-X-JNeCzcc9siQDwf6DmAeh6RLLAj5ER7GqoDe/s1600/11104338_2828239102742_803506116_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">End of the tour and tasting with some Christmas gifts in tow.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> After the time at the distillery, Gon-san wanted to take me to the local sake brewery. Unfortunately, they closed a half hour earlier than he thought and we weren't able to have the free tastings at their brewery. I was able to buy a bottle to take home as a Christmas gift and stop at the local sweets shop down the road. Booze and sweets--I think the Japanese have found the way to my heart!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3uERyrDNM7-R0aJQ0-ima3xrcPs3sinybV_fQhq8_Elmiyvdw5OZut5hUGo0pW-UDyDqSmPsYDdc41Vl2f6xjTYlptlGcobF7ZfJ_ATQ0tnPvLuIxZTl2Of6aO_VHjV8RAxmzWR_h5wu/s1600/11117473_2828239142743_876502479_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3uERyrDNM7-R0aJQ0-ima3xrcPs3sinybV_fQhq8_Elmiyvdw5OZut5hUGo0pW-UDyDqSmPsYDdc41Vl2f6xjTYlptlGcobF7ZfJ_ATQ0tnPvLuIxZTl2Of6aO_VHjV8RAxmzWR_h5wu/s1600/11117473_2828239142743_876502479_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So sad they were closed--but I probably didn't need anymore free booze anyways.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyWQPAiQmPZkcYqtTvzNktUhS-NP8mO3mi7l-_uj04vUml52qOlzJANEaiXZJL2wpXOMeWXKmunsg313IFU7eV9AIfLmSCqPC0PKfrfEQUPyRnw8E0y9-spHNP5ok3_5J48AkHkEVPla_/s1600/11084358_2828239062741_1836377086_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyWQPAiQmPZkcYqtTvzNktUhS-NP8mO3mi7l-_uj04vUml52qOlzJANEaiXZJL2wpXOMeWXKmunsg313IFU7eV9AIfLmSCqPC0PKfrfEQUPyRnw8E0y9-spHNP5ok3_5J48AkHkEVPla_/s1600/11084358_2828239062741_1836377086_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thought I could make these cookies last until I got home. That was a laugh.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The days are slowly winding down, but knowing I will be back helps. I have too many things left to do!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Until next time,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Charlotte </span></span><br />
<br />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-J3Bx6PtAomc%2FVRjeZgM1eOI%2FAAAAAAAACoQ%2FpzDnq-o0a4E%2Fs1600%2F11079687_2828241422800_193627171_n.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Yl88iQtxm2h8Ku8l_6Nxu_8rvefeWNdF3nCOEbKpExyV01rykNbIM1ODWRbhKj2IvUWXZ7JCHrmKAj4gi7IvUgZLFSlqRxk7LGe_Pnusw0zWUdpCm6fcq1_zyhxZ6ZBpAWbhQUdVnq-9/s1600/11079687_2828241422800_193627171_n.jpg" -->Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-4616006884533367402014-12-11T22:45:00.000-05:002015-03-29T22:10:39.700-04:00Learning to Cook Japanese<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">t is widely known around KEEP that I love to eat and I'm the weird American that loves pretty much all Japanese food. As the days are starting to wind down here, I want to get in as much as I possibly can. Hoshii-san from Seisen-Ryo, whose parents had my family over for dinner while they were here, invited me to her parents' house once again for a Japanese cooking lesson. Hoshii-san's mother already knew how interested I was in Japanese culture. She is a very crafty woman and collects old kimonos to create things with and enlightened me one night on the customs and how kimonos correlate to a certain season and some kimonos are for old women and some are for young. I learned so much from her already so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to learn even more. Plus, I already knew she was an amazing cook!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> On the menu were two different items, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okonomiyaki" target="_blank">okonomiyaki</a>, which is a kind of savory pancake for a lack of a better term and one of my favorite Japanese foods, as well as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaage" target="_blank">karaage</a>, which is Japanese style fried chicken that I was told was a must to learn because it so popular. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3ARUNw32T2Ar1j4DgmoCkPA0fIoCsZZFjJ9cd669DJnrIEEiPMm8n04yHYUJ_STo6XW3Uzowg3XpqxaoiVosYPe1VQMrGgseWMfNaZ8XmG-nz884Xlx_9COvC0ZNgtjAWeChL_RCOOy0/s1600/11040255_2805368650995_795166299_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3ARUNw32T2Ar1j4DgmoCkPA0fIoCsZZFjJ9cd669DJnrIEEiPMm8n04yHYUJ_STo6XW3Uzowg3XpqxaoiVosYPe1VQMrGgseWMfNaZ8XmG-nz884Xlx_9COvC0ZNgtjAWeChL_RCOOy0/s1600/11040255_2805368650995_795166299_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gathering all the supplies and ingredients--that's my Japanese notebook from Hoshii-san's mother there with a cover made from a kimono. I thought it was more than fitting to write the recipes in there.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Now this isn't a cooking blog so I won't bore you with all the steps to creating this okonomiyaki masterpiece other than you take all the ingredients and mix it together, pour it on the griddle, flip it, and top it with even more goodness. We made two different types, the normal "everything but the kitchen sink" style and then a bacon, corn and onion one. Getting hungry thinking about them again!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg_2O2RV49tlSA_wTgJLkFPKsmT6j_899CfLGtnyjmUc3Og1nzJBggiP01K86vMrimmsL1JmrRbFDyKsrLThyphenhyphen_l1s3npmDR-Xz_4Ex5Fw7T57ziVP4uzluc3Fo43jMEzrbSiteWHtt6qJ/s1600/11040150_2805399411764_185827479_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg_2O2RV49tlSA_wTgJLkFPKsmT6j_899CfLGtnyjmUc3Og1nzJBggiP01K86vMrimmsL1JmrRbFDyKsrLThyphenhyphen_l1s3npmDR-Xz_4Ex5Fw7T57ziVP4uzluc3Fo43jMEzrbSiteWHtt6qJ/s1600/11040150_2805399411764_185827479_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chopped seaweed and dried shrimp.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA09fWcjOty1wVDSux8_8rMjkzziEiypFPtPhY78ebRNGOQcNW0mkObXqKeBncLUGz0kDNou9_WRDLLVgEh-CptRQmxTxU_M9lwPBrdFF4VhbHJmzmTgFoEB4NLKtx8GYKmpWjAF2_ktAf/s1600/11041316_2805399371763_1628247815_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA09fWcjOty1wVDSux8_8rMjkzziEiypFPtPhY78ebRNGOQcNW0mkObXqKeBncLUGz0kDNou9_WRDLLVgEh-CptRQmxTxU_M9lwPBrdFF4VhbHJmzmTgFoEB4NLKtx8GYKmpWjAF2_ktAf/s1600/11041316_2805399371763_1628247815_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Squid!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp_Q-GH97kZv0IXXS-Pp2BO4rkLzZ35aZu_OydaKvRlCFmtK_7LYo7XcSl-LLSQkp4v0-uW1knBfRKrr5Em5uQ4ZjzMwXlz5RvE76oAJb16y0mfEHFe5GNSVwKKKOsRIqsN6_AUi_HnDz/s1600/11041317_2805399331762_1913030650_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp_Q-GH97kZv0IXXS-Pp2BO4rkLzZ35aZu_OydaKvRlCFmtK_7LYo7XcSl-LLSQkp4v0-uW1knBfRKrr5Em5uQ4ZjzMwXlz5RvE76oAJb16y0mfEHFe5GNSVwKKKOsRIqsN6_AUi_HnDz/s1600/11041317_2805399331762_1913030650_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Katsuobushi, or dried, smoked fish flakes that are as common on food in Japan as butter is in the US, used as a topping.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi4LuxUaZ4TwDPwBy93j8obgs3stGBOWP5zsYQK2qGVnZJ15wwldck2xOopRaG159If63OHIH7I9IKc5MxXJViyVahm03zsEiAkkoybtEqrJoXy8T3eMyG6kyP7hv4knsarZaJbzFRGsR/s1600/11047114_2805368610994_844325884_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi4LuxUaZ4TwDPwBy93j8obgs3stGBOWP5zsYQK2qGVnZJ15wwldck2xOopRaG159If63OHIH7I9IKc5MxXJViyVahm03zsEiAkkoybtEqrJoXy8T3eMyG6kyP7hv4knsarZaJbzFRGsR/s1600/11047114_2805368610994_844325884_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Different okonomiyaki sauces for the final product!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREvMTeWyjSh91nbkRvG4PBc3tpIcmV69nGNHm6tsIkSBzMV88Wf4rwNibRT8dRmF25Ad1r-rGShRgexiunLGvG9jqJzXbN_AZNTap6IkXrUGVE3SDB7xliRTgme9JdEP9rGBiuEGNLdOh/s1600/11040295_2805368530992_1272567933_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREvMTeWyjSh91nbkRvG4PBc3tpIcmV69nGNHm6tsIkSBzMV88Wf4rwNibRT8dRmF25Ad1r-rGShRgexiunLGvG9jqJzXbN_AZNTap6IkXrUGVE3SDB7xliRTgme9JdEP9rGBiuEGNLdOh/s1600/11040295_2805368530992_1272567933_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mixing the cabbage, an egg, the dried and fresh squid and dried shrimp and other ingredients together to make the batter.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcAYp71YWs41DGSoYZZPh6RgzfgwkbpZtEkwyinvaSD7u8kmd2s5F6SiNQeCEe2AuJaoSgHQO60a87vZa4J7ThYMerxjUf-YhnyYY-6R36PWzDQ3O5-4gWVs5CqJIE2nhnbQICw6Ot8ZM/s1600/11041343_2805368570993_160344809_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcAYp71YWs41DGSoYZZPh6RgzfgwkbpZtEkwyinvaSD7u8kmd2s5F6SiNQeCEe2AuJaoSgHQO60a87vZa4J7ThYMerxjUf-YhnyYY-6R36PWzDQ3O5-4gWVs5CqJIE2nhnbQICw6Ot8ZM/s1600/11041343_2805368570993_160344809_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Side #1 cooking.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehCFIKJxJ4idamGHC9vonyrO2qLSUfr9EWXZr4-MtvqCdl6WRSJHSjKiNaJzNhpEIg3ltNd1VukacAJBitak6IfkkgME8uk-qlbqo-6FaefUt-uoAWcVgZYiN6pxkH5Qwrfk-08p_iwJG/s1600/11056804_2805368490991_1703324283_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehCFIKJxJ4idamGHC9vonyrO2qLSUfr9EWXZr4-MtvqCdl6WRSJHSjKiNaJzNhpEIg3ltNd1VukacAJBitak6IfkkgME8uk-qlbqo-6FaefUt-uoAWcVgZYiN6pxkH5Qwrfk-08p_iwJG/s1600/11056804_2805368490991_1703324283_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finished product with okonomiyaki sauce, seaweed flakes, kotsuobushi and Japanese mayo as toppings. Mmmmmm!!! If you ever get the chance to buy Japanese mayo, do it! It's life changing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqbptltwFCaTU44es6imFExTC2YG4H1hYb3rxYQNow8sWu2uadW9R1QrEYc6TW316lmx55KNLTYc32LQDX5IA2H_ePyh7JlS2_jXEH_U5dWVK1FVCljyi4uoPsdSuU0vPrsJmX42Kaxel/s1600/11023227_2805368450990_278016460_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqbptltwFCaTU44es6imFExTC2YG4H1hYb3rxYQNow8sWu2uadW9R1QrEYc6TW316lmx55KNLTYc32LQDX5IA2H_ePyh7JlS2_jXEH_U5dWVK1FVCljyi4uoPsdSuU0vPrsJmX42Kaxel/s1600/11023227_2805368450990_278016460_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our bacon, onion and corn one--to die for!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the karaage process because I was more instrumental in that cooking process, but the way it differs from American fried chicken is you marinate it in soy sauce, sake, garlic and ginger for a bit then roll it in flour and then fry it a few times. I can totally understand why this delicious dish is so popular. Everyone told me it is a special day when this is served for school lunch. I'm planning on bringing this home to the family so we can have it for Christmas dinner--we'll see how that goes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until next time,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Charlotte</span></div>
Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-49503252736946277132014-12-01T02:32:00.000-05:002015-03-29T23:06:21.100-04:00Community English Classes<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span>n addition to English camps at KEEP and English classes for the KEEP staff, I have also played Charlotte Sensei for classes for young students in the Hokuto City community. My coworker in the international relations department, Murata-san, wants to create a place that kids can come and have fun while learning to prove that English isn't scary. Totally a great concept for me because I am <u>not</u> a trained teacher, just a lover of the English language. The kids range anywhere from seven to eleven years old, depending on who comes that day. We have class once a week for an hour in two different towns and play a lot of games and draw and color to supplement the English lessons. Carla and Gelo, the other English speakers from the Philippines, and I have found that traditional lessons don't go over well when the kids have spent all day at school and have been given the chance to unwind a little before they are unleashed on us. A lot of the students have been part of the English camps at KEEP as well, so I have gotten to know them and their personalities. Have you ever tried to tell a room of children to settle down and they have no idea what you're saying and because they are familiar with you they just laugh and keep running and kicking their slippers at each other? Well I have. Not for the faint-hearted.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGeOvMYVnUgZ7htkqiso4D2RZFe9Iq_gS5yb6UjmnzgqXNf-OhqnVc0eTrZEDaFMikhytpTDTlCvunp1btB41Cvo7aM2Mbs1hwxDl2OnxvG1qYUrG87shGZFm0HDD5oeT89zV3FA7lQVW/s1600/11004279_2800923899879_512887529_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGeOvMYVnUgZ7htkqiso4D2RZFe9Iq_gS5yb6UjmnzgqXNf-OhqnVc0eTrZEDaFMikhytpTDTlCvunp1btB41Cvo7aM2Mbs1hwxDl2OnxvG1qYUrG87shGZFm0HDD5oeT89zV3FA7lQVW/s1600/11004279_2800923899879_512887529_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Signing in at the beginning of class--they get to practice writing their names in romaji (English letters).</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCuB9if32QbDLXM_zdpi382oM5kPL-VeTJdfjE34Vn_5E3wje5lAhaf8UjNDLZ-9gOzHpHkjARoNJHeImCcXJAc58gtev0MFKqjT0LK5AN1eKSSWyuKFA4f2YJzCQ4vg5qjQ6opj8sFEo/s1600/11016776_2800923819877_2095023285_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCuB9if32QbDLXM_zdpi382oM5kPL-VeTJdfjE34Vn_5E3wje5lAhaf8UjNDLZ-9gOzHpHkjARoNJHeImCcXJAc58gtev0MFKqjT0LK5AN1eKSSWyuKFA4f2YJzCQ4vg5qjQ6opj8sFEo/s1600/11016776_2800923819877_2095023285_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Carla and Gelo going over parts of the face for a lesson.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> This past week was our final week of class. It just so happened to coincide with Thanksgiving so I thought it would be fun to have a lesson about what we were thankful for. They learned the concept of being thankful, new words for the things they like and a little bit of American culture. I of course had to incorporate the hand turkey into the lesson. They always love the chance to color and be creative.We brainstormed ideas of what everyone was thankful for and wrote them on the board and then got to work.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgofwlsk9R7pq_hnMrOeDLswDT4E1zAM0ahp4aZ1gerNbrzZzvHwyLN5sr5bmtvrMaWGdnCGetjKNHCATiGNvTnW4LPMuFSR6sE7Mf8sqJJ4bcmwtbzYGf0gpYyndN1Yf0gXZdV1pXb5O9/s1600/11005726_2800924179886_1711807006_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgofwlsk9R7pq_hnMrOeDLswDT4E1zAM0ahp4aZ1gerNbrzZzvHwyLN5sr5bmtvrMaWGdnCGetjKNHCATiGNvTnW4LPMuFSR6sE7Mf8sqJJ4bcmwtbzYGf0gpYyndN1Yf0gXZdV1pXb5O9/s1600/11005726_2800924179886_1711807006_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lots of new words we learned tonight--share was definitely the most important one.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbyQQF682bJQsg1dd_wGIF2nwRRaBd4D-AmX5Z1zUHymjO2YmBocLkcAJbbTaJa2Cbn9elt_VhIQmuW1XruoTrhmerf5Tb1BTUJ8W0IqPB4TuNme-1YVrUUAWfiBP4t7Q_LDI4EkEkJpo/s1600/11006121_2800924219887_92057925_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbyQQF682bJQsg1dd_wGIF2nwRRaBd4D-AmX5Z1zUHymjO2YmBocLkcAJbbTaJa2Cbn9elt_VhIQmuW1XruoTrhmerf5Tb1BTUJ8W0IqPB4TuNme-1YVrUUAWfiBP4t7Q_LDI4EkEkJpo/s1600/11006121_2800924219887_92057925_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My example turkeys.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhMc9QsfCISQiDa2nfJgVZOMXNAogtGNDzowhZimPTDEDMi4GsXT2ifNoGk4xEoWOc90ex6KkBz8-R4YnuLu99fKTqyPLd72VnQYQl_PblXZuK5NhbcrjEUsq4zsrJh463J__5ARZe5eA/s1600/11007698_2800924259888_1643937980_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhMc9QsfCISQiDa2nfJgVZOMXNAogtGNDzowhZimPTDEDMi4GsXT2ifNoGk4xEoWOc90ex6KkBz8-R4YnuLu99fKTqyPLd72VnQYQl_PblXZuK5NhbcrjEUsq4zsrJh463J__5ARZe5eA/s1600/11007698_2800924259888_1643937980_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I told her she could only put boyfriend once and needed to be thankful for more things I was told that she in fact had three boyfriends she was thankful for and that's why boyfriend was on three fingers. </span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVkaNXgJVxn1C8JpldABd3vUVk5e70mxEo1jzTZrZ1R6UdkUV5RcSQjqNimEQFHwi-3UaeqleO5yKb3H7ZNNfeZ95xUBnJw_NJUwb8HyI3gSRUt8cIGZMVBb21e4QrMAsRubstXG6IOTh/s1600/11026435_2800924339890_1395159951_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVkaNXgJVxn1C8JpldABd3vUVk5e70mxEo1jzTZrZ1R6UdkUV5RcSQjqNimEQFHwi-3UaeqleO5yKb3H7ZNNfeZ95xUBnJw_NJUwb8HyI3gSRUt8cIGZMVBb21e4QrMAsRubstXG6IOTh/s1600/11026435_2800924339890_1395159951_n+(1).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coloring our turkeys!</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8YAJPbDY_CR-AwNVQSNgVJmdRZTVSCCZQpwJ6igiWgbX0Ppf16lOUiWn05NQSfPZufAAEUk8Loy24PP0PETz6HVJpvg7ehODEFDcOlVf2yIJu6cvCuMkiwJJbOetpe-3kn2XRbbpA91F/s1600/11015143_2800924299889_106002453_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8YAJPbDY_CR-AwNVQSNgVJmdRZTVSCCZQpwJ6igiWgbX0Ppf16lOUiWn05NQSfPZufAAEUk8Loy24PP0PETz6HVJpvg7ehODEFDcOlVf2yIJu6cvCuMkiwJJbOetpe-3kn2XRbbpA91F/s1600/11015143_2800924299889_106002453_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An attempt at silly faces with our hand turkeys!</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Next year we are going to continue our classes in the two towns and even add an adult class! The class in Sutama is going to be for our very beginners--think preschool type activities, while classes in Oizumi will be for the more advanced kids followed by the adult class right after. Teaching is by far my favorite part of my job here and when I feel like I am contributing the most, but I like when I can teach them all a new way to say goodbye or good night (</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">you don't know cuteness until you teach a class of kids "See ya later alligator. After awhile crocodile.)</span></span> and then give them back to their parents. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Until next time,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Charlotte</span></span></div>
Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-69642791220179335872014-11-30T22:45:00.000-05:002015-03-29T22:13:55.561-04:00Thanksgiving in Japan<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b> J</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ust a short post about Thanksgiving. They say the hardest time being away from your home country is during the holiday season, especially if the country you live in doesn't celebrate said holiday. It is also one of the things I get asked about the most "What do you do for holidays?!?!" I'll be the first to admit I love food--all of it, in every form, at any time and any holiday that is celebrated purely by eating is alright in my book. First off the idea of stretchy, eating pants does not exist in Japan. They eat to nourish themselves here, not to gorge themselves on 18,000 calories in one sitting. I knew sitting at home not celebrating just wouldn't do. I remembered the teachers from Iowa that I had met at County Fair so I messaged one, Bethany, and she invited me to spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving with her and some other teachers that were celebrating. I couldn't get off work for Thursday, but it was the next best thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Have you ever tried to go shopping for specific ingredients when you can't read the language. I feel like this is now something I should be able to put on a resume. I wanted to contribute something to the meal since everyone was nice enough to take pity on me. After a trip to the grocery store, where I took a wild guess that the vinegar I chose from the twelve different varieties was the correct one, and a trip to the foreign import store on a hunt for nuts and cheese, I had a three different dishes to make. The broccoli salad went off without a hitch. The cranberry, feta, walnut salad needed to be improvised. Soo--walnuts pretty much don't exist in this country and the only feta cheese I found was in a snack pack with olives and swimming in olive oil. I figured it just added to the flavor profile, right? Alas, the Japanese pumpkin, or kabocha aka one of my favorite Japanese veggies, dish I wanted to make did not come to fruition. Who would have thought that you might need to make sure something is ripe before you buy it? Such a crazy idea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All in all it was a great night with new friends and lots of wine and Uno. Now everyone can rest assured I am taken care of during the holidays!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Home cooked American meal--chicken, mashed potatoes and corn courtesy of KFC.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Teachers in Kofu--all from Iowa, so it was just like being at home in the Midwest. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6M-hX8KfEHDivQFjB4UqHBCVK1nwcnRozPnESU3KHyy-_0rdfCERuTTs464oRGXAhum5kKGwziAXZx5RwOyafszElCdU7CWKrV0nIgj06UGj8akBXug4DtG1VEn-HwRSw2gZht7sL6Coa/s1600/11005820_2800924499894_616543496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6M-hX8KfEHDivQFjB4UqHBCVK1nwcnRozPnESU3KHyy-_0rdfCERuTTs464oRGXAhum5kKGwziAXZx5RwOyafszElCdU7CWKrV0nIgj06UGj8akBXug4DtG1VEn-HwRSw2gZht7sL6Coa/s1600/11005820_2800924499894_616543496_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First holiday away from America.</span> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until next time, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Charlotte</span><br />
<br />Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-35571672075873793932014-11-12T22:43:00.000-05:002015-03-29T22:10:08.587-04:00My First Experience in Kimono<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s I mentioned in one of my previous posts, Seisen-Ryo sets up a traditional tea ceremony in the lobby for guests about once a month. I have participated a few times, but mostly as just a guest enjoying the traditional green tea, never one serving. Well this time I was told I needed to get the FULL experience and be on the other side of the tea--in full kimono. The ladies from the office that put this on brought so many kimonos for me to choose from. I of course chose the pink because obviously it was the girliest. I also learned that the darker kimonos are meant for the older ladies and it would be inappropriate for me to wear anything but a bright color because I am so young and single, which was represented by the sleeve length of the kimono. The longer sleeve shows that you are married, while the shorter sleeve means you're single and ready to mingle. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2F-801kPcknzUW7uKYhh4may6CatdxQCG4PnxwvWAfro87dhp47dOOOfI5LEv0YOSxM7YfPNdpdVtaUqV1C0crS_HdHdaPgXK-iigG28nB12-lFB-IDx1a_Kjau3sxJ8iPwilIW3sBWG/s1600/11007479_2800923859878_808671367_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2F-801kPcknzUW7uKYhh4may6CatdxQCG4PnxwvWAfro87dhp47dOOOfI5LEv0YOSxM7YfPNdpdVtaUqV1C0crS_HdHdaPgXK-iigG28nB12-lFB-IDx1a_Kjau3sxJ8iPwilIW3sBWG/s1600/11007479_2800923859878_808671367_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shameless selfie!</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoqjjO8JbroSt1vA_6rNax2U00xXoXuHGBWGH9XJMkMqcfESAlqCrByozh6xq9-hu0hQzDJhyphenhyphenFJ_jlbiiF3YUCwiQEss2Z1SI-0SeJLvXTfw79KA-aqZjNypTF3d9hF2n7zuPUONv2Q-p/s1600/11026615_2800924019882_547607421_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoqjjO8JbroSt1vA_6rNax2U00xXoXuHGBWGH9XJMkMqcfESAlqCrByozh6xq9-hu0hQzDJhyphenhyphenFJ_jlbiiF3YUCwiQEss2Z1SI-0SeJLvXTfw79KA-aqZjNypTF3d9hF2n7zuPUONv2Q-p/s1600/11026615_2800924019882_547607421_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">They said I was really good at the "kimono shuffle".</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Dressing in kimono is no easy feat. It is not some sundress you throw on and run out the door. This is about a ten step process. Now I am by no means the average size of a Japanese woman, I am closer
in relation to Godzilla than these women that were dressing me. The first step is to put on the little white slip part to act as the undergarments of the kimono. Next comes the really fun part! The look you are working towards in a kimono is pretty much a rectangle. A kimono is absolutely <u>not</u> meant to give you feminine curves, so you start building this box around your waist. There were probably five different layers wrapped around my waist. Lest we not forget the rope that goes around your thighs to keep the kimono folded over and from dragging on the floor. Between my height and very much western hour glass shape--these poor women had their work cut out for them dressing me. The were impressed I fit in the tiny shoes though. I'm guessing they probably thought my feet were going to be massive, too.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DqpJgzicPfnRCSkWRNYadsrQW038RRNaDWjlzTq7iW9E9WDKa3Uyqgb84Y-0giUaVhnTbthM1R-lm8w2Q0VrQf2WKqmBxV8ZCiAwFhRb752Jwygr5FInLCZ-IXQuBU7YoZT2QHb1Revg/s1600/11023030_2800923939880_1228125495_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DqpJgzicPfnRCSkWRNYadsrQW038RRNaDWjlzTq7iW9E9WDKa3Uyqgb84Y-0giUaVhnTbthM1R-lm8w2Q0VrQf2WKqmBxV8ZCiAwFhRb752Jwygr5FInLCZ-IXQuBU7YoZT2QHb1Revg/s1600/11023030_2800923939880_1228125495_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finished product--only just a smidge short in every possible way.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I only spent two hours in kimono serving tea and while, yes you feel pretty glamorous in it, finally getting to take it off and unwrap all the layers can only be explained as feeling like taking off those high heels at the end of the night and finally getting to put your feet up, everything having felt squished and now it's all free! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazoq2xNDwpjcTsPCEOMf7r0LHt7ES-jGrs9W_Qc7OIDmBmr9wX7ANCPWkacmREpKMgEwEfe8Ct5DAyZLRTazhHsCWlasKj_r0JZAJmLwveJEe2Az6_1iBlRpy_WwRlcWW_6NzI2SjUCiz/s1600/IMG_9009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazoq2xNDwpjcTsPCEOMf7r0LHt7ES-jGrs9W_Qc7OIDmBmr9wX7ANCPWkacmREpKMgEwEfe8Ct5DAyZLRTazhHsCWlasKj_r0JZAJmLwveJEe2Az6_1iBlRpy_WwRlcWW_6NzI2SjUCiz/s1600/IMG_9009.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The decoration for fall with coordinating poem.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt3uuBc-2PTdlkMzib5MX44xBoqCGlp0sRdN2bmNzmNjo5CiaUchgcAtCiqIOC0wlvP6vm1rfkW-NAD9z7Ah-Vy5pesR_J1lL0DZlvc1CjVLCJYqvAkKyByCwhaD21tsS_J0WGnRHI3TR/s1600/IMG_8996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt3uuBc-2PTdlkMzib5MX44xBoqCGlp0sRdN2bmNzmNjo5CiaUchgcAtCiqIOC0wlvP6vm1rfkW-NAD9z7Ah-Vy5pesR_J1lL0DZlvc1CjVLCJYqvAkKyByCwhaD21tsS_J0WGnRHI3TR/s1600/IMG_8996.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That little grey pocket square there in my kimono is like a little napkin to serve with. If you want to learn more about the process, or get a refresher, <a href="http://cfile-yasc.blogspot.jp/2014/05/tea-ceremony-and-story-time-at-seisen.html" target="_blank">here's</a> the link to an older post where I first learned about how to make traditional green tea.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4zkvtdzPetVpr1YTJJWhkoi4R5UpMVa2mXhaJyqsur8rbJJTiFhH387DeE91Ychjpn1fFClK698vjnPEjLhFCV-xhbmDZ1N_NWZcjj5EPSRY76D_h_PPKYjai14P_mgXviXYzXRdgLYK/s1600/IMG_9005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4zkvtdzPetVpr1YTJJWhkoi4R5UpMVa2mXhaJyqsur8rbJJTiFhH387DeE91Ychjpn1fFClK698vjnPEjLhFCV-xhbmDZ1N_NWZcjj5EPSRY76D_h_PPKYjai14P_mgXviXYzXRdgLYK/s1600/IMG_9005.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">All of my tea master teachers on the right (</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">notice their darker kimonos?)</span></span></span> and then Sandi, a board member of the American Committee for KEEP, next to me and Jennifer with the American Committee for KEEP office next to her. </span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9TUaDoXE_PWmsr73oX9uFQNSxVhw1001ck5AxUjDf9xMWMaSVlFkby2sTwvfTYDw79eCd2BQqftuy757bhd06fbQz9NsEmGhZH29HYqufQfba_kF6MiIhMXxTkmmMB3xazgfHcP-DZ3O/s1600/11007565_2800924059883_314620178_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9TUaDoXE_PWmsr73oX9uFQNSxVhw1001ck5AxUjDf9xMWMaSVlFkby2sTwvfTYDw79eCd2BQqftuy757bhd06fbQz9NsEmGhZH29HYqufQfba_kF6MiIhMXxTkmmMB3xazgfHcP-DZ3O/s1600/11007565_2800924059883_314620178_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Tea Master Charlotte.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Komatsu-san, in the reddish kimono in the group photo, was generous enough to give me my own kimono! She says it used to one of her daughters. I'm now official! It's a beautiful orange ombre that I can't wait to wear for the next tea ceremony when I get back--hopefully my ribs will be back in place by then. I highly recommend trying out true, traditional kimono if you ever are in Japan and get the chance!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Until next time,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Charlotte</span></span>Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-54693831299005981832014-09-01T02:27:00.000-04:002015-03-29T22:09:55.782-04:00"He who climbs Mount Fuji is a wise man, he who climbs twice is a fool"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">here is an old Japanese proverb that says just that and I of course couldn't leave Japan being considered unwise now could I? Now most of you that know me well know that I could be considered more of an indoor creature, getting it from my mother whose idea of camping was a hotel without room service. So why would I willingly put myself through a grueling 5 to 8 hour trek up a mountain? Because I am a person that does things for the story and how often can people say they have climbed one of the most iconic mountains in history?! Plus I have a mild obsession with Fuji-san and seeing her every day from a far just wasn't enough. I had to quench that thirst for adventure. Besides, from where I live she doesn't look THAT big.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOPRpDMTNb7wuWWz7L5qZezFikwKOVY39JlMaub7al8nGdHPMvTgQkWcEyqFWf8ON3c-tmj_TO9FwDkegdYBpV3ZvrSA83PDjNbF5HM3HCBerxpaoWS-i7YUM7yb3sDFuuCKCZMAZVyEI/s1600/11005808_2800268243488_1492495967_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOPRpDMTNb7wuWWz7L5qZezFikwKOVY39JlMaub7al8nGdHPMvTgQkWcEyqFWf8ON3c-tmj_TO9FwDkegdYBpV3ZvrSA83PDjNbF5HM3HCBerxpaoWS-i7YUM7yb3sDFuuCKCZMAZVyEI/s1600/11005808_2800268243488_1492495967_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Driving there it still didn't seem that big of a feat! The weather on the other hand was less than ideal.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Well that's the understatement of the century. Fuji-san's climbing season is only about two and a half months a year, from July to mid September. Outside of that season, she is known to be temperamental and snow either hasn't completely melted or the snow has already started to fall. I had made plans to climb with a friend at the end of August, but when they canceled at the last minute I thought to myself I could either wallow in self pity or I can suck it up and do this on my own because there are only a few days left to do this this year. I knew that if I didn't climb I would regret it for the rest of my life. Since I had already started stuffing my climbing pack with food, water and extra layers and egged on by the fact that one of the interns had just finished climbing on her own a few weeks ago, I decided to tackle her all by my lonesome. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_LixZq_ehptQI14qnBPkw6Xz8AZg7KNPQlfKpPfeHQg8ZVsED8g9hZFm30hjmMEYPzHw3UTITnRvt3HLH_-8oQFPCIApYewZdthKzX9fp4p6L2auvSvr9qtrDhD7tL7ccS4rELgyz9Ts/s1600/10966975_2800268323490_1331214769_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_LixZq_ehptQI14qnBPkw6Xz8AZg7KNPQlfKpPfeHQg8ZVsED8g9hZFm30hjmMEYPzHw3UTITnRvt3HLH_-8oQFPCIApYewZdthKzX9fp4p6L2auvSvr9qtrDhD7tL7ccS4rELgyz9Ts/s1600/10966975_2800268323490_1331214769_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It takes finally saying "screw it" and asking strangers to take your picture for you to get any memories out of experiences like this.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I had been prepping for the past few weeks, going out of my way to walk everywhere, asking for advice from the Japanese people at work that had conquered Fuji before--layers, bring extra layers they said--and reading up on the different trails to try and decide which would be best for me. Mt. Fuji has four different trails, the Yoshida Trail, Subashiri Trail, Gotemba Trail and the Fujinomiya Trail. I finally concluded that the Yoshida Trail would be my best bet--the trail head being at one of the highest elevations so it would be a shorter trail, the most popular amongst climbers which would benefit this solo climber, and it was the only trail that was in Yamanashi Prefecture which is where I live so it seemed like a fitting choice. I knew I definitely wanted to be at the summit for sunrise, but also didn't want to push myself so I decided to take my time and start in the afternoon, sleep overnight in one of the mountain huts to get the "Japanese" experience and then continue climbing to be up top for the 5:15 am sunrise.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Because Fuji recently was deemed a World Heritage site, it has become an even more popular destination for climbers. During the busy climbing season, to get to the trail heads at the 5th Station (you can start down at the bottom of the mountain at the 1st Station of the trails and get the traditional religious experience of the climb, but as the popular saying goes "Ain't nobody got time for that.") you must take a bus from the designated parking areas. This gave me ample amount of time to look at all the other Japanese climbers and get a serious case of insecurity. Here were these people in their heavy duty hiking backpacks, with hiking poles hanging from them that match their raincoat suits that match their boots that match their hats that coordinated with their pants---did I mention the Japanese are SERIOUS about their outdoor gear. Here I was with my dinky little backpack, windbreaker and some layers tucked down under my extra water and granola bars. I'd made it this far and paid to park and for the bus--couldn't back out now.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So the bus lets you off at the 5th Station for the Yoshida Trail. It is a popular place for people to come to just spend the day. There are a lot of shops and restaurants and on a good day has, purportedly, gorgeous views all around. It all felt very Swiss Alps--that is until you heard the shrill voices of the Japanese tour guides ushering their groups along with their little flags waving in the air. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jn0Zoo5BVQEYm9JIwUOCbzKrfmEh10vFMwhZSu_Ux2gOpnsUStoOalfE90ZOhfXFpS9B9RuzXWMiUEETMbMeZsZqPNS3n42t9HGDwZ05sgRfWeyFHKXkZo5HbqI22R166y1EczeIrVcB/s1600/11016508_2800282563846_559938050_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jn0Zoo5BVQEYm9JIwUOCbzKrfmEh10vFMwhZSu_Ux2gOpnsUStoOalfE90ZOhfXFpS9B9RuzXWMiUEETMbMeZsZqPNS3n42t9HGDwZ05sgRfWeyFHKXkZo5HbqI22R166y1EczeIrVcB/s1600/11016508_2800282563846_559938050_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cute little village fit for the average day tripper.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This was the point where you depart from the geriatric crowd up to get their ice cream fix and get omiyage to take home to the grandkids. One last stop at the bathroom and you're bombarded with everyone changing into their rain gear. This was about 12:00pm, so it was still fairly warm with the 5th Station being at about 7,800 feet, but it had started to drizzle a little. I took my obligatory beginning of the trail picture [see above] and headed out. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhyphenhyphenQSHu5e-J7W8TQ5vmOs__A-ndTBKWp8eP1p8mLl4LMhTu8hXrbTWQCZJTl9oYlJHHk3myK-f5S4Z7ibPQO8Gi2PUnQcToaXoNueqnZJ3tVjsqhUblr4YqbS-bITxMUmgcZMnzwgtTXp/s1600/11026464_2800268283489_841696183_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhyphenhyphenQSHu5e-J7W8TQ5vmOs__A-ndTBKWp8eP1p8mLl4LMhTu8hXrbTWQCZJTl9oYlJHHk3myK-f5S4Z7ibPQO8Gi2PUnQcToaXoNueqnZJ3tVjsqhUblr4YqbS-bITxMUmgcZMnzwgtTXp/s1600/11026464_2800268283489_841696183_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Let's do this!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> So once you start along the trail, it gets eerily quiet. The best way to describe it is when Harry first goes into the maze in the Tri-Wizard tournament and it goes from all the hustle and bustle of cheering to just silent. You can hear the mutter of the other climbers, but at this point you are few and far between. Adding to the effect was the fog (maybe technically clouds?) that would roll across the path. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rW67pQy48m0kkPTTeihno7hNIZv6nz49rotpFmkzgpawp0IYFHjRr7xV_PqFbW4TeqwLk9LQ-oaZUoQsBKkwSxwnEGpJKtdIJvj8znvzvYqfY7BGoxCBhAUjD16i_-kRkqB4HckQNNFi/s1600/11007456_2800268203487_661292693_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rW67pQy48m0kkPTTeihno7hNIZv6nz49rotpFmkzgpawp0IYFHjRr7xV_PqFbW4TeqwLk9LQ-oaZUoQsBKkwSxwnEGpJKtdIJvj8znvzvYqfY7BGoxCBhAUjD16i_-kRkqB4HckQNNFi/s1600/11007456_2800268203487_661292693_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Doesn't really look like a mountain yet does it? </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> So you go along like this--on flat ground with trees--for a fair amount of time thinking this is a piece of cake, until you start to think you've done something wrong because it shouldn't be THIS easy. As soon as you think that, that's when you start going up. It isn't too far of a trek to the 6th Station, which is where the real climb starts. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHE_7byi2UhHVoSi0Htkgz2e9J870xXmXRBk-10H6UzOM02lPgI7H6D6emwtOEPkZ5vDN6q9DibSKfpDeqqo3SH9BxTupqOXDGFiMHpc6Fw0bK2kufySA59IL8iAI1s1h3Ykxuu2lX-Ge/s1600/11006059_2800268363491_1169135105_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHE_7byi2UhHVoSi0Htkgz2e9J870xXmXRBk-10H6UzOM02lPgI7H6D6emwtOEPkZ5vDN6q9DibSKfpDeqqo3SH9BxTupqOXDGFiMHpc6Fw0bK2kufySA59IL8iAI1s1h3Ykxuu2lX-Ge/s1600/11006059_2800268363491_1169135105_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Like I said--the Japanese are serious about their outdoor gear. It was one of my favorite part of the climb, following the rainbow of climbers.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The trail for awhile is this zig zag path, which you can kind of see in the picture. You go up at a diagonal, turn, go up the other way diagonally on and on for hours. It was a nice way to break up the climb though. I gave myself little goals--alright two more zig zags and you can stop for a break. You built a kind of camaraderie with other solo climbers this way. You would see them stop, you would continue on, they'd pass you while you were taking a break, etc. etc. I'm sure a lot of people do soul searching on this leg of the climb, but really all I thought about was putting one foot in front of the other and when was an appropriate time to stop and eat, which was a struggle because I wanted to eat all my food in one sitting...typical. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> You zig and zag for awhile until you reach the 7th Station when the actual "climbing" begins. You pretty much follow these tour groups the whole way up at this point. I knew I stuck around the same group because I kept recognizing a family with a Japanese wife and a German husband and their son. The rest of the first day is best described in pictures.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3Tzwi2XJBkE2TMKaFa9whiYLRUm2BV52INo_u-2_70uj7q-pqT1I5h3pNRerg-ul9cyV4baJR4qNuz0djjXEIG-UQv88xQKmqbi0hev9xuCM63Ng4T2Fw_QPCf3eqHqvzgslmxW6IQMS/s1600/11015376_2800268483494_953915480_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3Tzwi2XJBkE2TMKaFa9whiYLRUm2BV52INo_u-2_70uj7q-pqT1I5h3pNRerg-ul9cyV4baJR4qNuz0djjXEIG-UQv88xQKmqbi0hev9xuCM63Ng4T2Fw_QPCf3eqHqvzgslmxW6IQMS/s1600/11015376_2800268483494_953915480_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Following the rainbow to the 7th Station.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jR7YFbdmNHOBLLdvCa_nnf6Q1HMSkgHv8H2tHfQlmzoPQuUuNt6o6f3BK-JMewR7RXt6RkHCrMMJ35UZw8kNuuIxsebGGJKYBXTvVaZLcumZoUpH-EPYHcfYjO8fe_pqWo1JA7UyTRX0/s1600/11022978_2800268563496_957913239_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jR7YFbdmNHOBLLdvCa_nnf6Q1HMSkgHv8H2tHfQlmzoPQuUuNt6o6f3BK-JMewR7RXt6RkHCrMMJ35UZw8kNuuIxsebGGJKYBXTvVaZLcumZoUpH-EPYHcfYjO8fe_pqWo1JA7UyTRX0/s1600/11022978_2800268563496_957913239_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The torii gate representing the beginning of the 7th Station--there're mountain huts that sell food, space to rest and for 100-200 yen you can use the bathroom!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYKmW2krrDBLP3jxk3KKu2ddee_YBR3k3tFfZhspwNORc-tShFWIE0lhTjGDW3gNQgcCYZJ_MIOK3hLpVJO9cNTnsEIuo8S59Itf2u3FX-IdD_7R3IKv3EeHVWQz53mulPjxQ_vtBQWt4/s1600/11004460_2800268523495_946539454_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYKmW2krrDBLP3jxk3KKu2ddee_YBR3k3tFfZhspwNORc-tShFWIE0lhTjGDW3gNQgcCYZJ_MIOK3hLpVJO9cNTnsEIuo8S59Itf2u3FX-IdD_7R3IKv3EeHVWQz53mulPjxQ_vtBQWt4/s1600/11004460_2800268523495_946539454_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking back down the mountain after passing through the torii gate.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVwehRwGlhdbaLLHcc1vfmkrLUwgWk195D6UucpeAHc79HZbtf0NUNNdTkMYpIXePAvEZiQ8GX5QQ11MwrJsB0N1hqHaTbr8caKgdVAtC34VdkQPPUOzFwI2WgoAJDe5dC-F5SFU_KYBg/s1600/11016575_2800268403492_1311204282_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVwehRwGlhdbaLLHcc1vfmkrLUwgWk195D6UucpeAHc79HZbtf0NUNNdTkMYpIXePAvEZiQ8GX5QQ11MwrJsB0N1hqHaTbr8caKgdVAtC34VdkQPPUOzFwI2WgoAJDe5dC-F5SFU_KYBg/s1600/11016575_2800268403492_1311204282_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Those are the mountain huts up there--literally built into the mountain.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwfj-vx4JrDgUxAzAGdfQA35Rcm8XirUZCoE5fqvq3Hph7_YtgfNFF2tfI0csSbLW8qnIs6MdvQBi6fJWB2bakkq_b_dsN_wV_whO2jW9iOFHDllaaX8U7uOduXCwP7a95q5SSWMegrsd/s1600/11026464_2800268443493_1884941034_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwfj-vx4JrDgUxAzAGdfQA35Rcm8XirUZCoE5fqvq3Hph7_YtgfNFF2tfI0csSbLW8qnIs6MdvQBi6fJWB2bakkq_b_dsN_wV_whO2jW9iOFHDllaaX8U7uOduXCwP7a95q5SSWMegrsd/s1600/11026464_2800268443493_1884941034_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I finally broke through the cloud line and was starting to get a good view! The mountain huts below with rocks to keep the roofs on.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Being solo and knowing I had a bed waiting, I was in no rush to get anywhere. I took everything at a leisurely pace, stopping for water breaks frequently and just generally enjoying the time with myself. Each mountain hut sells portable oxygen for those that need it, but I was determined to let myself acclimate to the altitude as I went and not need to shell out the extra cash for it. I was still traumatized from the altitude sickness I had when I was 8 during a family vacation in Snow Mass and I was not about to relive that. The trail up to the 8th Station, where I was going to stay the night, boasted some of the best views yet. It really was just awe inspiring with the clouds looking like the white caps of a churning sea. Along this part of the trail is where I saw the most mind boggling thing--while all of us tourist climbers were stopping for bathroom breaks and food and water breaks, these mountain guides were stopping for smoke breaks. I didn't think anything of it at first until I noticed myself huffing and puffing and thought wait a second--how in the world can these men be doing that?!?! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ_6dHEYMTLFiwM94s8aO_0qnsCSZdkwslm5yGPmp7IQVeF0S_aNCvOaymBx5jKsijkhaYLCJsNv29LtJ2TaX0GJoiWujkyEDsCkhipUBteFpnG71U3wTxLr84qmY8Re5mLu89HD7hDXB/s1600/11004220_2800286603947_1536837655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ_6dHEYMTLFiwM94s8aO_0qnsCSZdkwslm5yGPmp7IQVeF0S_aNCvOaymBx5jKsijkhaYLCJsNv29LtJ2TaX0GJoiWujkyEDsCkhipUBteFpnG71U3wTxLr84qmY8Re5mLu89HD7hDXB/s1600/11004220_2800286603947_1536837655_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking down the mountain--doesn't seem like I've done much climbing at all.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoNslFsGmmrg2jLe7nwmrJfYoGMXdLjQO6meEA8dHgxSIWLD1roMjgRXsbiyeWJWsXd4joJJStdDZZhAfp0EptSopV3VRPDYnUr3vqhA7ieHd0adq8uU96rzf2qFqpjS838Dygqiy5E6W/s1600/11023140_2800286563946_1633682475_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoNslFsGmmrg2jLe7nwmrJfYoGMXdLjQO6meEA8dHgxSIWLD1roMjgRXsbiyeWJWsXd4joJJStdDZZhAfp0EptSopV3VRPDYnUr3vqhA7ieHd0adq8uU96rzf2qFqpjS838Dygqiy5E6W/s1600/11023140_2800286563946_1633682475_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking back towards Kiyosato!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBGqT-2MgnXIWBJ7WwJ-zzyMoDS8CM7vG_UTcjg62SnlViN9RqV7q_CCWyWPpS75LIaSNWMakfeelBgDoXdhECRa9FUMoU5zsj7cTpekYY_1kDTLejHoHh2haH3jg8QH50elYAKiU6Ouq/s1600/11004005_2800268603497_1720283327_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBGqT-2MgnXIWBJ7WwJ-zzyMoDS8CM7vG_UTcjg62SnlViN9RqV7q_CCWyWPpS75LIaSNWMakfeelBgDoXdhECRa9FUMoU5zsj7cTpekYY_1kDTLejHoHh2haH3jg8QH50elYAKiU6Ouq/s1600/11004005_2800268603497_1720283327_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Made it to the beginning of the 8th Station--only two more hours to my mountain hut!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAu0tq8o7i2dFnrQDrntIR5mQF8vjMEtJ0AJU4qRQGcqpgOgynqewUwpQ2eTLRSbEon8YCNxKEtrXJrniI3GJHABI9vfjaGodJGpQaMcErEZdw3VwOc3fulSeeJ6mgacWRzbUGnHIQnwt/s1600/10968103_2800268683499_133813591_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAu0tq8o7i2dFnrQDrntIR5mQF8vjMEtJ0AJU4qRQGcqpgOgynqewUwpQ2eTLRSbEon8YCNxKEtrXJrniI3GJHABI9vfjaGodJGpQaMcErEZdw3VwOc3fulSeeJ6mgacWRzbUGnHIQnwt/s1600/10968103_2800268683499_133813591_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Probably one of my favorite pictures of the hike--was trying to just get a picture of the trail up from one of the 8th Station huts and I caught this male model here. Didn't notice his gaze off into the distance until later and just cracked up.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTiKGAiPdyT8OZjs0AJMZ9tsnr5Iz-gahUW4EZFePPt9xVCMPMm4-jZVDA4600O30t1hyphenhyphenzdPLZWbsxDhIU4eNBXYVf1YjG_7T88HwjERw6uBI0GWv6fi4a6jtDJ-iI6QKked-74rF4ydG/s1600/11004096_2800268643498_1004857654_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTiKGAiPdyT8OZjs0AJMZ9tsnr5Iz-gahUW4EZFePPt9xVCMPMm4-jZVDA4600O30t1hyphenhyphenzdPLZWbsxDhIU4eNBXYVf1YjG_7T88HwjERw6uBI0GWv6fi4a6jtDJ-iI6QKked-74rF4ydG/s1600/11004096_2800268643498_1004857654_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As the sun started to set on the day, we were treated to some really beautiful colors in the sky.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I made it to the last mountain hut before you start the final ascent to the summit, which is where I would be staying, at about 7:30 pm. They say a Fuji climb to the top should only take about 6 hours--but let's be real here--that's if you're really booking it. I was having a great time just enjoying the scenery. So at the hut I booked a space for the night. The staff was fantastic! They seem to really know their stuff ask you how you're feeling and recommend you don't go to sleep right away and eat some dinner first--at least with my limited Japanese and their mediocre English I think that's what I was told. I still had an ample amount of rice balls from 7/11 so I hunkered down to eat in the tatami common room before climbing into my spot in the sleeping area. Now when Americans think of paying money to sleep somewhere, they think they're going to be getting if not a room to themselves at the very least a bed. Nope. Not on Fuji-san. When I put my bags down I had a whole row of futons--Japanese version of a mattress--to myself and even still did when I went to sleep. This was not the case when I woke up to a stranger spooning me. Quite a different experience seeing as that is probably the closest a Japanese person has ever gotten to me (I will frequently have open seats next to me on the trains in Tokyo even during packed rush hour). I just rolled over and went back to sleep and she was gone by the time I woke up at 1:30am to start my climb to the summit. I actually started at the same time as the one tour group I had been following the whole way up because I saw the same family again--we did the typical silent acknowledging look that communicates "never going to see you again, but this has been fun".</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigelYEG8HIZFL0KXZBQTO31gz6RoQ3s9rg-DKAsQIbk0P7_ARFLg3YXHc95y-K8Kh54f384UEQGsFequhtsAybmRNNj8UXaxUZoYDDYD1-_dt-mGGP-3DUXgBFzxlr4QDSPcI1eNVVxdmS/s1600/10966996_2800268723500_318775519_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigelYEG8HIZFL0KXZBQTO31gz6RoQ3s9rg-DKAsQIbk0P7_ARFLg3YXHc95y-K8Kh54f384UEQGsFequhtsAybmRNNj8UXaxUZoYDDYD1-_dt-mGGP-3DUXgBFzxlr4QDSPcI1eNVVxdmS/s1600/10966996_2800268723500_318775519_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View of the city of Gotemba from the "backyard" of my mountain hut.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tg7wQUV9jAQZrYlr4Tqqkg3b2yECSEMtJhqDWU5UTaPI4XHDGWTYwvXMZj0KCMIwRCg4NFb72tbelm9wofS0a76qDsDBz_gOdTibTAH81biLEtE06m-R1bVChbWecqYwVffe_qinfhT8/s1600/11004130_2800268763501_634992345_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tg7wQUV9jAQZrYlr4Tqqkg3b2yECSEMtJhqDWU5UTaPI4XHDGWTYwvXMZj0KCMIwRCg4NFb72tbelm9wofS0a76qDsDBz_gOdTibTAH81biLEtE06m-R1bVChbWecqYwVffe_qinfhT8/s1600/11004130_2800268763501_634992345_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">All strangers--I was one of the last to arrive for the night so most people were already asleep.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjSLzDJCBiq2gGBzEDhO2cXvDGi32Ty8SUMc7rdOkE-xzOGGRsh48LIOFRilGkkIaJwTkE-heaFyS0Kzy4yLqAes_N7gapO9B-GAEX9sFa8x6q9kAYaVpqC9JkU1H1Hrj8uVUvGKBcnr8/s1600/10994826_2800288523995_452305724_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjSLzDJCBiq2gGBzEDhO2cXvDGi32Ty8SUMc7rdOkE-xzOGGRsh48LIOFRilGkkIaJwTkE-heaFyS0Kzy4yLqAes_N7gapO9B-GAEX9sFa8x6q9kAYaVpqC9JkU1H1Hrj8uVUvGKBcnr8/s1600/10994826_2800288523995_452305724_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My cozy little mat there on the end on the bottom.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahGQxcxQf0Ke8iIgG6O_U8errEFDuhSJ63AP6zaxe7ajHrg5UhHXvg80cNR7PHffaIyESgp3wRerpWYxB5AkOdbMgboRiNBHNA14pPHofzReKL0bjpi8u70iJn6JxpVoyQltqE20zEId_/s1600/11023149_2800268803502_1857121059_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahGQxcxQf0Ke8iIgG6O_U8errEFDuhSJ63AP6zaxe7ajHrg5UhHXvg80cNR7PHffaIyESgp3wRerpWYxB5AkOdbMgboRiNBHNA14pPHofzReKL0bjpi8u70iJn6JxpVoyQltqE20zEId_/s1600/11023149_2800268803502_1857121059_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Early wake up call--head lamp ready to activate. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNcEwH_d-YTm9YwT-777GMWD9Hpth6uj4kfuc9wRE646z2dUk-8e9-uXqkgWyLVMOM9uGeeE-nqyiJaYJNknI2dA0wKKtyNCfSl3ZS5DQeQP5l2r4sfXJlELOoNi3kWaP4RHTuy4JkM96/s1600/11006016_2800268843503_1879841603_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNcEwH_d-YTm9YwT-777GMWD9Hpth6uj4kfuc9wRE646z2dUk-8e9-uXqkgWyLVMOM9uGeeE-nqyiJaYJNknI2dA0wKKtyNCfSl3ZS5DQeQP5l2r4sfXJlELOoNi3kWaP4RHTuy4JkM96/s1600/11006016_2800268843503_1879841603_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One last view of the mountain hut before I started my climb.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGgRv0NGmXVBUlimDMAVRPhRaXGnedLqQuEgVc-PZoFfP9ZabQQZ7ZRFpZWdDM5UFVRjDbg7zm46T7vbE-W0bdQd11DquPF172Wi9P2Tapr16vyiY8VuS4JR4zWlXXV3rLd0PYdsq9dac/s1600/10997249_2800268883504_1926909204_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGgRv0NGmXVBUlimDMAVRPhRaXGnedLqQuEgVc-PZoFfP9ZabQQZ7ZRFpZWdDM5UFVRjDbg7zm46T7vbE-W0bdQd11DquPF172Wi9P2Tapr16vyiY8VuS4JR4zWlXXV3rLd0PYdsq9dac/s1600/10997249_2800268883504_1926909204_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The steps guiding you to the path right next to my mountain hut. The lights up there are head lamps of climbers that go an even earlier start than I did.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> This leg of the trek was by far my favorite. It is done in complete darkness, obviously because it's two in the morning. The only light is coming from your head lamp and if you get far enough away from the groups, you can sit on a rock, turn the light off and feel like you could touch the stars. I had read that Fuji makes it feel like you're about to reach the Earth's ceiling, but there is nothing like actually experiencing it. This was also probably the most challenging part of the climb, where you're actually using your hands to pull yourself up rocks, but you've come so far already you are running on pure adrenaline and ecstasy knowing what you've accomplished already. This is the part where climbing Mount Fuji became the top most #1 thing I have ever done in my life. You're exhausted, you're excited, your legs want to give out, but you keep going. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1njbKmorQiOvdxPxkcOB3Dx6n3M1l6ZjPpNc6gCnBB6lJUFt6ylOuyS6BlIBvvJ8JBT7sBv7Ficel1XT1Dg6yL9CyXA8IH8ZSrIwE2OnGzB4bxZUDgox5ERVXwMzI_HOBqF6rTFzD4LTd/s1600/11004749_2800268923505_2087663763_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1njbKmorQiOvdxPxkcOB3Dx6n3M1l6ZjPpNc6gCnBB6lJUFt6ylOuyS6BlIBvvJ8JBT7sBv7Ficel1XT1Dg6yL9CyXA8IH8ZSrIwE2OnGzB4bxZUDgox5ERVXwMzI_HOBqF6rTFzD4LTd/s1600/11004749_2800268923505_2087663763_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">SUCCESS!!!! Torii gate at the summit of Mt. Fuji!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Once you reach the summit you realize you are on the top of a mountain 12,000 ft high---and it is freezing cold. I brought layers and all but it is COLD. There is nothing blocking the wind anymore and it just ripped through my dinky little windbreaker on top of my Northface on top of a zip up on top of a long sleeve shirt on top of a turtleneck while I stand there and watch these seasoned Japanese climbers break out those space blankets you see runners use after marathons and then start up their little camping stove to make tea. I will say I did feel more prepared than a group of military guys in their fleece jackets and cargo shorts with tennis shoes. I made it to the top at about 3am so that meant I had about 2 hours to kill. I got myself some souvenirs to mark this momentous occasion and then went and staked my front row claim for the sunrise. It was the longest two hours of my life. I couldn't even stand to have my gloves off to take pictures with my phone for very long. With all that said it was totally worth it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGg53rbWDEsqkVG6QZpmqldhV-lg-zgqu5UuYLasxCWyE4GK7XflgVhkQuknnjFFFG2hZ9EEqJ6OWFOUMviVHE5HWsGRATwzjvmYokiV-O49GQMb90HoKdkyorYQDo-xwrJE8Qd6RTf38/s1600/11016655_2800268963506_77672310_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGg53rbWDEsqkVG6QZpmqldhV-lg-zgqu5UuYLasxCWyE4GK7XflgVhkQuknnjFFFG2hZ9EEqJ6OWFOUMviVHE5HWsGRATwzjvmYokiV-O49GQMb90HoKdkyorYQDo-xwrJE8Qd6RTf38/s1600/11016655_2800268963506_77672310_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heated mountain hut for those not brave enough to endure the cold for a good seat.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJDdnLuYIRRvABUi0tOEocc37lHA7BWieg_DKiQF7SIrZoYiKvblBMkFb4C7x0qYUDYzw53lp2riQHLYEu3RIvcy6ryeYtnEKxW0_7jBqIz1gjyBRxaEPWzLAld-rbcHNCOyOYt4A661G/s1600/11004156_2800269403517_287234395_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJDdnLuYIRRvABUi0tOEocc37lHA7BWieg_DKiQF7SIrZoYiKvblBMkFb4C7x0qYUDYzw53lp2riQHLYEu3RIvcy6ryeYtnEKxW0_7jBqIz1gjyBRxaEPWzLAld-rbcHNCOyOYt4A661G/s1600/11004156_2800269403517_287234395_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beginnings of the sun starting to rise. In typical Japanese fashion, it reminded me of a Pokeball.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvxnUqaALn0u5QrSdmvum8P1IU_-jqz10H6pyG5l4PnUksqE8vfbS9sTFmb3RA9jJIu58Qsolb0ccJxc32qwT0uXV4FF4H0Xf8b8Zwv1kraZf7ncW3LK4xWd50WWbicjzsquLkx6EcHR9/s1600/11008900_2800269483519_1870204562_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvxnUqaALn0u5QrSdmvum8P1IU_-jqz10H6pyG5l4PnUksqE8vfbS9sTFmb3RA9jJIu58Qsolb0ccJxc32qwT0uXV4FF4H0Xf8b8Zwv1kraZf7ncW3LK4xWd50WWbicjzsquLkx6EcHR9/s1600/11008900_2800269483519_1870204562_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sun almost completely up with the weather phenomenon I like to call "donut cloud".</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98r5CXFGs_JgStRTZQovhoHbQZDejJSGP2vl_-9mVo8ISXmxL7sv88jmVPmIfgvMxpCN51T89mEz8q0kVQhd-0J0YLmax5rwwIcmfj50UdqMGak-BcYC_j_pBH_B79Olc-varQt4wIW45/s1600/11004300_2800269443518_473287013_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98r5CXFGs_JgStRTZQovhoHbQZDejJSGP2vl_-9mVo8ISXmxL7sv88jmVPmIfgvMxpCN51T89mEz8q0kVQhd-0J0YLmax5rwwIcmfj50UdqMGak-BcYC_j_pBH_B79Olc-varQt4wIW45/s1600/11004300_2800269443518_473287013_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Almost there--and almost frozen through!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZ4cf7gZl9F4N75LT0jQLpqeri4pTODBgQ3J2YlKdYvGsfBrBoMl_1qLjtCmbw3B8URZ59deJPA16lnB_4umr_d6hDuSqudNtGPJ-WdIA9LbdSazc4AhrY1KU4olE_SeO2wNPjJI9AHZ4/s1600/11005774_2800269523520_1983024634_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZ4cf7gZl9F4N75LT0jQLpqeri4pTODBgQ3J2YlKdYvGsfBrBoMl_1qLjtCmbw3B8URZ59deJPA16lnB_4umr_d6hDuSqudNtGPJ-WdIA9LbdSazc4AhrY1KU4olE_SeO2wNPjJI9AHZ4/s1600/11005774_2800269523520_1983024634_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My front row neighbors freezing in solidarity.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQsROhzMHUj6MBUT6AtNnugn0NwAyOeANyWywRj1rj6uXQpEUL54cyAe1wnnMdP6pDZhQBjduX2dWt6QCsKIYBaT5pO1xLPRiO168w_EqIKvWRCibQ3E-Hqb6WkcmFQ0vak-yYIFJ3eBK/s1600/10994800_2800269563521_1603200994_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQsROhzMHUj6MBUT6AtNnugn0NwAyOeANyWywRj1rj6uXQpEUL54cyAe1wnnMdP6pDZhQBjduX2dWt6QCsKIYBaT5pO1xLPRiO168w_EqIKvWRCibQ3E-Hqb6WkcmFQ0vak-yYIFJ3eBK/s1600/10994800_2800269563521_1603200994_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Before the sun completely rose, I had to get up and move to get feeling back in my extremities.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85Mjdf1RvGvhseqhe4souB8wtn35jWofxA6ht0jlySSgHp0TYX-iehVVYOnqOSdloQ3l-P7zOYNyjhM3kgVkUMl4h0dO-qqpSmk5xjKXjVgq-_yQeue-kwV4cOQUgF8evW0S5d0BszxRd/s1600/11004966_2800269723525_1161117314_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85Mjdf1RvGvhseqhe4souB8wtn35jWofxA6ht0jlySSgHp0TYX-iehVVYOnqOSdloQ3l-P7zOYNyjhM3kgVkUMl4h0dO-qqpSmk5xjKXjVgq-_yQeue-kwV4cOQUgF8evW0S5d0BszxRd/s1600/11004966_2800269723525_1161117314_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Had to take a "What Would Sue Say?" bracelet up top. What would she have said? Probably get me off this mountain--it's cold and I want a Diet Coke.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6t9pG-2C_2bVuy6tASzIn6aWY2RaKxi-BX5X8s1QsooUmIShMcLYBbpxha_Sifs1XokGsOSy2VvHzy0LiUTo9WJFs5rF13lS-kn5tSWWSgPAARvEJgrAEbjOe79OXJE_2oRyXstNlMrb/s1600/11007428_2800269603522_15675765_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6t9pG-2C_2bVuy6tASzIn6aWY2RaKxi-BX5X8s1QsooUmIShMcLYBbpxha_Sifs1XokGsOSy2VvHzy0LiUTo9WJFs5rF13lS-kn5tSWWSgPAARvEJgrAEbjOe79OXJE_2oRyXstNlMrb/s1600/11007428_2800269603522_15675765_n.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And we have an official sunrise at 5:13 am! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> My original plan had been to do the ninety minute trek around the summit of Fuji, but it was so cold it hurt, so as soon as that sun rose I started hustling down the mountain. I figured I needed to block the wind and the temperature would start rising as I went down. This was by far the worst part of the adventure. My knees hurt to the point of tears and the trail is all volcanic rock and sand and you're prone to slipping and falling. The fun part is over and now you just want to get off this hunk of rock. I slipped and fell twice and the second time I just laid there in the middle of the trail leaning on my backpack like a turtle that had been overturned. I was officially over it. If anything were to stop me from climbing again it would be the thought of having to climb down again.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIYGVwsKVBXM3EpXkFGkXIjh1e3oHDuE10reJRdgQKSqv4T69m7nf2SD-mosJdxhDTy2doZ2Qsoh_xSAFzR1XA_B8tEaxP5YDZKHeKEXYXOhYXfMfOK2yZEC2MVthdCrCPzADVGQi6BoJ/s1600/11016317_2800269683524_194164845_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIYGVwsKVBXM3EpXkFGkXIjh1e3oHDuE10reJRdgQKSqv4T69m7nf2SD-mosJdxhDTy2doZ2Qsoh_xSAFzR1XA_B8tEaxP5YDZKHeKEXYXOhYXfMfOK2yZEC2MVthdCrCPzADVGQi6BoJ/s1600/11016317_2800269683524_194164845_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Icicles at the start of the trail down.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkzNqGKQew2p5eVs-kEYL_rNnTqwrNu3tvAGF2Nz19XfRsV2ibtIWVu0jPLVwjgxy33Fs8MUwkNcuFwyevOqybGarIr5y5ae77wUS3gdw3idqYxmd5fzNuW6BiH9iVGBXTEcoyVOBekEP/s1600/10956526_2800269763526_1039521121_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkzNqGKQew2p5eVs-kEYL_rNnTqwrNu3tvAGF2Nz19XfRsV2ibtIWVu0jPLVwjgxy33Fs8MUwkNcuFwyevOqybGarIr5y5ae77wUS3gdw3idqYxmd5fzNuW6BiH9iVGBXTEcoyVOBekEP/s1600/10956526_2800269763526_1039521121_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">People that beat me to the descent.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9y9xF5nXWputV3dPxQsrXf3JrdB2EoaHehT6Fov11qB0UhoL7dFSFXrPoQDXd_LG9qJgK1LWSVnyjuQ45A7RUbgA0q4ymfYnQJlOdGC3FHWjPYYet7DKl8SoOB9vkbQF6Bu4fWKA-Sti/s1600/11005663_2800269843528_63216997_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9y9xF5nXWputV3dPxQsrXf3JrdB2EoaHehT6Fov11qB0UhoL7dFSFXrPoQDXd_LG9qJgK1LWSVnyjuQ45A7RUbgA0q4ymfYnQJlOdGC3FHWjPYYet7DKl8SoOB9vkbQF6Bu4fWKA-Sti/s1600/11005663_2800269843528_63216997_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pure volcanic sand--pure murder. Pretty view though.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWwRfEPUGB11YlBnDgxccodS0pou_6x-uJFFb2f_qgE3-LoPH0Ap38e6w9TOjAP1ePMCB7lTcekBLhi1wkwLnFwsux80Hb4xVrNEWT09DH4Cie37mno1BGzweitlCuNsQw4gHta5zhIpB/s1600/11006092_2800269803527_1687010706_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWwRfEPUGB11YlBnDgxccodS0pou_6x-uJFFb2f_qgE3-LoPH0Ap38e6w9TOjAP1ePMCB7lTcekBLhi1wkwLnFwsux80Hb4xVrNEWT09DH4Cie37mno1BGzweitlCuNsQw4gHta5zhIpB/s1600/11006092_2800269803527_1687010706_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking back up at the climbers that were all going to pass me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXg7jkolmatRWVdU24NaVJD4DZGL2KZrHtjNqh0fFnZIEF41NUqCiiyTJ9Xb36U-lYR4Ug047saKragYLqzgli7SFhNZ6VIzy-CRYruAuGaCLsb0UbjVhx5m0Xw-S0z4ZP41xOVubQBhiV/s1600/11004791_2800269883529_1659936721_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXg7jkolmatRWVdU24NaVJD4DZGL2KZrHtjNqh0fFnZIEF41NUqCiiyTJ9Xb36U-lYR4Ug047saKragYLqzgli7SFhNZ6VIzy-CRYruAuGaCLsb0UbjVhx5m0Xw-S0z4ZP41xOVubQBhiV/s1600/11004791_2800269883529_1659936721_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View of Mt. Yatsugatake--the mountain I live on.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtxxtf3uBNDdPc6Hmv9kL1q24yh4xxh_l_Q-iSpwFkWa2fgoCC0ImXFMXoALHzDl5K0hngwI6xU_LjSlMJWb-FY56_IqKt4kZtFHwCVSQ0jugVgtHas6hHX_7Vxm_qEqn88mP3Ae-uArU/s1600/11005704_2800269923530_485096897_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtxxtf3uBNDdPc6Hmv9kL1q24yh4xxh_l_Q-iSpwFkWa2fgoCC0ImXFMXoALHzDl5K0hngwI6xU_LjSlMJWb-FY56_IqKt4kZtFHwCVSQ0jugVgtHas6hHX_7Vxm_qEqn88mP3Ae-uArU/s1600/11005704_2800269923530_485096897_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finally made it back down to the beginning of the trail. Since there was a lot of cloud cover the day before, I didn't see this view. This day it was clear and made it look like I just spent the last 21 hours doing nothing.</span></td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> When I finally made it back to the 5th Station to get on the bus, the exhaustion was like nothing I had experienced. You felt oddly connected to the fellow crazy person next to you that just made it down with you. Passing other people about ready to start their own climb all bright eyed and bushy tailed made you wonder what the hell are these people thinking, but I'm already planning my climbs for next summer. It's pretty aggressive seeing as it's taking awhile to recover from this climb, but I want to climb all three of the other trails before I leave. Guess I'll be a fool three times over.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9pWI4c0um0fuGiiuNZFdSZIj6Jsv9C4_IkybePKJHBgYPhE9R0GIuCrXYTeyXODyRMpyCoQ6ROkbXcf8fPrr6kb7Bs2bg4XFHRqakbNZw0TzOpirjjdRdENeRNyAkdOGdedWpNlcb7bc/s1600/11020397_2800270003532_1388856081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9pWI4c0um0fuGiiuNZFdSZIj6Jsv9C4_IkybePKJHBgYPhE9R0GIuCrXYTeyXODyRMpyCoQ6ROkbXcf8fPrr6kb7Bs2bg4XFHRqakbNZw0TzOpirjjdRdENeRNyAkdOGdedWpNlcb7bc/s1600/11020397_2800270003532_1388856081_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Guy behind me waiting for the bus that perfectly summed up how everyone felt.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPYbJdBBdbteKmeX2gA6ErLrl_kFj-0By-prJzepXt5t_YVyuwzA_JqO2xFaxMC6amZ1q1BrWs3ujF3RheI_cAQPA_g7ry4HvsHK8FN1wFxtLqdlFLhgcWBzEFYkEuf2_nnEyBFMUCj6s/s1600/11004973_2800269963531_682018523_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPYbJdBBdbteKmeX2gA6ErLrl_kFj-0By-prJzepXt5t_YVyuwzA_JqO2xFaxMC6amZ1q1BrWs3ujF3RheI_cAQPA_g7ry4HvsHK8FN1wFxtLqdlFLhgcWBzEFYkEuf2_nnEyBFMUCj6s/s1600/11004973_2800269963531_682018523_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Can't climb Fuji without bringing back Fuji themed omiyage for everyone in the office---It's snow covered Fuji chocolate!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until next time--</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Charlotte</span></div>
Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-20658092534754119082014-07-11T00:33:00.000-04:002015-03-30T01:08:26.982-04:00Children's Convention <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> E</b></span>arlier this week Hata-san, from the Paul Rusch Memorial Museum, and I took part in a local Children's Convention. At least that's what I assumed it was. It was all museums and exhibits in Yamanashi that welcome children. Realistically I think it was just an advertising opportunity for the museums and a way for parents to just let their kids run in a big space and have lots of activities to do. Each "vendor" had an activity to do; a worksheet, a craft, a game, you name it. The PRMM, as we lovingly called it, had activities having to do with football since Paul Rusch was the father of American Football in Japan. I got to play Charlotte sensei again and teach words like 'touchdown' and 'cheerleader'. Do you know how hard it is for a child to say 'referee' when their native language doesn't really have the 'r' sound? It is very hard. So I got to spend the Saturday hanging with kids and throwing a football around...not exactly what I thought I would ever be doing in Japan, but it was fun to see a different side of this country--pretty much a normal day-to-day activity. Plus, the hospitality student inside me liked seeing the prefectural convention center.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9s35onm9jME3N-dnUyNIctS1g3DNSoLzHnaIAa-IX8WbfkvDRVFdLHKrBWrejtLk37DETXenslxCRuupT5a9dfbpwYPX9l15t9TIE9ldq8OVP8zYjrh0Ld549iauJHBe_PJMTO8hhyphenhyphenbs/s1600/11093729_2828218142218_2129520151_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9s35onm9jME3N-dnUyNIctS1g3DNSoLzHnaIAa-IX8WbfkvDRVFdLHKrBWrejtLk37DETXenslxCRuupT5a9dfbpwYPX9l15t9TIE9ldq8OVP8zYjrh0Ld549iauJHBe_PJMTO8hhyphenhyphenbs/s1600/11093729_2828218142218_2129520151_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Papa Paul and Charlotte sensei.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jxSa1smKLTyiwsySq4-ikSNHK6qbcws9f_7rinVNtWnqdCrWX-JQHfkCsc60I_WP_AeV2gmubmcEZUcBY-YKlPZsu7oUkTEM2ZIRMW-P1o_69NAYvMeNuxZ6SrAIo3ppt5xLR6GZjr4X/s1600/11039575_2828218182219_403221985_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jxSa1smKLTyiwsySq4-ikSNHK6qbcws9f_7rinVNtWnqdCrWX-JQHfkCsc60I_WP_AeV2gmubmcEZUcBY-YKlPZsu7oUkTEM2ZIRMW-P1o_69NAYvMeNuxZ6SrAIo3ppt5xLR6GZjr4X/s1600/11039575_2828218182219_403221985_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">You get to do your activities in a helmet!</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26ArdCHnaHU9b4RTVpLX51QgWEBcrz2qUhfr9myXfxCFC8v6BPNvrDsJ7h_qt43Xt3CfeBC5cC43RsLQM1DFniDs09381eiw6JfHouAv06eUFYXJalqdgYpnPI_eiCbkZUNNbDiNMXaaN/s1600/11086000_2828218262221_1964120070_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26ArdCHnaHU9b4RTVpLX51QgWEBcrz2qUhfr9myXfxCFC8v6BPNvrDsJ7h_qt43Xt3CfeBC5cC43RsLQM1DFniDs09381eiw6JfHouAv06eUFYXJalqdgYpnPI_eiCbkZUNNbDiNMXaaN/s1600/11086000_2828218262221_1964120070_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Football fun--even for girls!</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z7y_2iI6b67I7HJpyl8TEvtr3UoyvyLuJOBioOwaeAfXIskYhYJ0Qv97NjFQtEpbn2t1dzWvBSiOk0K1-zFUWzMJwRmY1vkBxurt-xqM3teXH1RqNoOz_m5a2tVHYID_Gw_lCX6q6pRd/s1600/11088160_2828218222220_1222386910_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z7y_2iI6b67I7HJpyl8TEvtr3UoyvyLuJOBioOwaeAfXIskYhYJ0Qv97NjFQtEpbn2t1dzWvBSiOk0K1-zFUWzMJwRmY1vkBxurt-xqM3teXH1RqNoOz_m5a2tVHYID_Gw_lCX6q6pRd/s1600/11088160_2828218222220_1222386910_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The kids in Japan generally are more excited to learn than any American kid I have ever seen.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tiMb9YZIk8ponMDE7lZskot9aB56Ha_wgZz_t5TyLHLLlMjYYl9242kju3nKa2JH_KMZ-MER19qgrjkWeiUV_mlN46hoeRfyw2xJ4W0Dsb7YrmbViY-x-L3jDjU07_ZRxGv_aESHbmBz/s1600/11104044_2828227342448_178930651_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tiMb9YZIk8ponMDE7lZskot9aB56Ha_wgZz_t5TyLHLLlMjYYl9242kju3nKa2JH_KMZ-MER19qgrjkWeiUV_mlN46hoeRfyw2xJ4W0Dsb7YrmbViY-x-L3jDjU07_ZRxGv_aESHbmBz/s1600/11104044_2828227342448_178930651_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kids harassing the poor local mascot.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Until next time,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Charlotte</span></span></div>
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-36182402253572001622014-07-09T20:16:00.000-04:002015-03-29T22:09:39.508-04:00Who Would Have Thought Barbecues Would Be So Big Here?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <b>A</b></span><span style="font-size: large;">s the busy season at KEEP approaches, each department likes to have a little party and celebrate with some fun before the real work starts. In true Japanese fashion, they have taken the American barbecue tradition and made it their own! Since I work within so many different departments, I was fed well during this season. When you think barbecue, you think hamburgers and hot dogs and potato salad, right? Not in Japan! This is time to break out the flat top and grill up some yakisoba noodles and kobe beef! The one thing that remains that does translate of course are the libations that are involved when work people get together off the clock.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> The first barbecue I got invited to was for Seisen-Ryo, the hotel here. Now the guys manning the grill weren't just some guy from accounting that thinks he is a grill master because he has a grill set at home he got for Father's Day. No, these were the people from the professional kitchen at Seisen-Ryo that were cooking up our food. Nary a burnt hamburger in sight, we feasted on some of the best 'barbecue' food I have ever eaten! The party went well into the night and after a few drink we all got to talking casually about things and of course people wanted to practice English with me. This was the first time I really felt at home here in Japan.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbIjT-_C69hfqOlxZ7ph3atJ8K-PcSoNPIRsmiaBpKcwtQI3LcK5-xYmvNHXI4pnHrTgCxs0S6GOXZVojrV2fZRsZfBF_jvPEqIrFyG1LE59hdPZMIb4y5qyMhpCjBAL6jQZTS8SjeJYa/s1600/10877589_2800921899829_810873624_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbIjT-_C69hfqOlxZ7ph3atJ8K-PcSoNPIRsmiaBpKcwtQI3LcK5-xYmvNHXI4pnHrTgCxs0S6GOXZVojrV2fZRsZfBF_jvPEqIrFyG1LE59hdPZMIb4y5qyMhpCjBAL6jQZTS8SjeJYa/s1600/10877589_2800921899829_810873624_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the front desk staff starting up the yakisoba.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmycexVuW0awuIo5KDTLpWLOs2s_eRs1zMva1co0Rifzvsb6SobS3fX1X-bkiqN0v41S-3Bi8eZ_D2137tQLOlwOo_RBzPqYZSq3bWFJjSoyZPJUBGqmjpHI2z8wxqgNvVN404IDRv6vd/s1600/11012312_2800921939830_462809776_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmycexVuW0awuIo5KDTLpWLOs2s_eRs1zMva1co0Rifzvsb6SobS3fX1X-bkiqN0v41S-3Bi8eZ_D2137tQLOlwOo_RBzPqYZSq3bWFJjSoyZPJUBGqmjpHI2z8wxqgNvVN404IDRv6vd/s1600/11012312_2800921939830_462809776_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The staff from the kitchen cooking up the most tender, melt in your mouth meat I have ever had. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_a6PBGGcy8c8dlGJ7dzl_6Q3NSE8mPFpqh6j0HUQAcgBvybCfRZNpqJfpqa5BPjDP4TLCv7TpinodMG1_Swt9kCUDcEpc5osV8i1gAmiOEmIfIYTY6SDFuia2AAexQMScUEOYGBNOwHVe/s1600/11015457_2800921819827_1875494218_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_a6PBGGcy8c8dlGJ7dzl_6Q3NSE8mPFpqh6j0HUQAcgBvybCfRZNpqJfpqa5BPjDP4TLCv7TpinodMG1_Swt9kCUDcEpc5osV8i1gAmiOEmIfIYTY6SDFuia2AAexQMScUEOYGBNOwHVe/s1600/11015457_2800921819827_1875494218_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not your every day hot dog--heavy duty, stick to your bones sausage over here.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyBG3Qg796ZxHWPQguckCjf8_diEtXmvqRRNyl_jMY4dAlRKiLK2vtYdG5UGRWwt2j6Wh6XnsDD22fy3ic4QSQzaiwwFLbIC4wgZpL4q-Pz_mNnWCRSKwWxTx2-UpKJQCPvV8MGzH9vAp/s1600/11016647_2800921859828_602290756_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyBG3Qg796ZxHWPQguckCjf8_diEtXmvqRRNyl_jMY4dAlRKiLK2vtYdG5UGRWwt2j6Wh6XnsDD22fy3ic4QSQzaiwwFLbIC4wgZpL4q-Pz_mNnWCRSKwWxTx2-UpKJQCPvV8MGzH9vAp/s1600/11016647_2800921859828_602290756_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Local Kiyosato sake--the bottle is now a flower vase in my room.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> In the international relations department, since there are so many American interns, we wanted to show our Japanese coworkers and the other interns from France what an American barbecue looked like. The provided us with sushi and we showed them things we either missed from home or we thought were musts at a cookout. The day also coincided with probably my favorite Japanese holiday <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata" target="_blank">tanabata</a>--</i>or the star festival<i>. </i>The story goes that tanabata</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Vega</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Altair </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">respectively).T</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">he </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Milky Way</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">lunisolar calendar<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">". </span></span></b></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pretty romantic concept if you ask me. One
of the customs for this holiday is to write wishes on strips of paper and to
hang them from bamboo trees. You can see these trees all around the city, even the
local grocery store and J-Mart. This year it rained on the holiday, so not
only did we have our cookout inside, but legend has it the star crossed deities
couldn't meet this year. Tough break--there's always next year, right?</span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroYXdISpWpOXzf26IwvAV63GMH_mgenLRm6UxXwTOwLn_CmyNK8YJMjQodCSEHA1pHnIn-MCg0k_RgOG3_Ila4ZFsRf1tB_euz5Bcn-YfYkaId66QI1SlemcD_AVQS89yXfY2yfSZWc0u/s1600/11007467_2800922059833_826705622_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroYXdISpWpOXzf26IwvAV63GMH_mgenLRm6UxXwTOwLn_CmyNK8YJMjQodCSEHA1pHnIn-MCg0k_RgOG3_Ila4ZFsRf1tB_euz5Bcn-YfYkaId66QI1SlemcD_AVQS89yXfY2yfSZWc0u/s1600/11007467_2800922059833_826705622_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Obi-chan manning the grill. We told them we MUST have corn on the cob--of course we didn't have it dripping in butter. We couldn't go full American.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydITaAcTyVSuw-MS0HAcopZMj1lOs7VpzNdexptJzlrZf8PRHk6_Kwyfy60XEywae9GWzy4EDW-C071OS3Jso2D0uNu9JY8hf0Cy3qMuZ5pfz0kPsDqBOu4EVQA8wMMsGHov6XOd3_Tra/s1600/11020451_2800922099834_450704858_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydITaAcTyVSuw-MS0HAcopZMj1lOs7VpzNdexptJzlrZf8PRHk6_Kwyfy60XEywae9GWzy4EDW-C071OS3Jso2D0uNu9JY8hf0Cy3qMuZ5pfz0kPsDqBOu4EVQA8wMMsGHov6XOd3_Tra/s1600/11020451_2800922099834_450704858_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Of course there must also be sushi, right? My first time trying uni, or sea urchin. Japan finally presented me with a food I am not a fan of.</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoWQukoTU89dQrUzOJjmeCWus_p_G1dY3hGTbCYGPZ2fJ8oSZVj75sjdzTwm08n-uA97SrBsl9ZCbBWHqMQZufOL2D0mBYLYDp12Fum-QFsEPX5-LmgaLpY2040khjvm79uwKO2M2QbSy/s1600/11016610_2800922139835_187307416_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoWQukoTU89dQrUzOJjmeCWus_p_G1dY3hGTbCYGPZ2fJ8oSZVj75sjdzTwm08n-uA97SrBsl9ZCbBWHqMQZufOL2D0mBYLYDp12Fum-QFsEPX5-LmgaLpY2040khjvm79uwKO2M2QbSy/s1600/11016610_2800922139835_187307416_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jonathan, one of the interns from France, with our wine and potato salad and guacamole in the back. The idea that a food item is used to bring another food item to your mouth just blew everyone's mind. "I take this chip, pick up some of this green stuff, and then eat all of it?!"</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD822htfdwhLvt1za2A3zDUkD_J8t9ZOoBkQMec6uzLBTVEWeV0FJPimJ_5_xR7SBV8x8RJDOcUs5LIji7os2q9sBNvybG9XH4mL2ARN_z6b1Twv8wx03fMa7Q_QDeq8BCH7A49mfKip2B/s1600/11050965_2804506989454_1975640079_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD822htfdwhLvt1za2A3zDUkD_J8t9ZOoBkQMec6uzLBTVEWeV0FJPimJ_5_xR7SBV8x8RJDOcUs5LIji7os2q9sBNvybG9XH4mL2ARN_z6b1Twv8wx03fMa7Q_QDeq8BCH7A49mfKip2B/s1600/11050965_2804506989454_1975640079_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Talk about fusion food.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4yf7m0twaKZum7k7sF_KdMyNShQvpsuEJXGwubd6eFC6QqADVQtQDjqpF_D6LFQr6Ecj1Xj0KepahBcMfpA_sOGFUEumg5TaZOoghQJhyphenhyphen1DUuw7M0-keC9wW02YaI7sSr1jRngELMcpN/s1600/10517582_1497819190454677_8176847370084949279_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4yf7m0twaKZum7k7sF_KdMyNShQvpsuEJXGwubd6eFC6QqADVQtQDjqpF_D6LFQr6Ecj1Xj0KepahBcMfpA_sOGFUEumg5TaZOoghQJhyphenhyphen1DUuw7M0-keC9wW02YaI7sSr1jRngELMcpN/s1600/10517582_1497819190454677_8176847370084949279_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gon-san, Zack, Jaimah and me preparing our tanabata wishes.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHzgCJDMfJkym0Ibt8LOQMxDwZIlu9XdAu0WfxANKbuJpAoaer3OZg5ouaHXVYb1BBemVdZ5TFds2Vo5u2CDxjJMFTF24Y3Ug_6jRu_eaBIIa_o2c7Yg4TZHaccfGDvOxScKp7GSElezv/s1600/11014737_2800922019832_2050972902_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHzgCJDMfJkym0Ibt8LOQMxDwZIlu9XdAu0WfxANKbuJpAoaer3OZg5ouaHXVYb1BBemVdZ5TFds2Vo5u2CDxjJMFTF24Y3Ug_6jRu_eaBIIa_o2c7Yg4TZHaccfGDvOxScKp7GSElezv/s1600/11014737_2800922019832_2050972902_n+(1).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Putting my wish on the tree!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnoVpJcwtHpama2F5BMPTcCwgVkuvPQSHgq63WG4MJxSHM1zmWrYI6VoKM_JuxaBUSL3MIf10PDyB8VBGDhKAoI7GDIutigrdHfNHp3nsP3NKMFyBhACULXfnZ30seMtoFID38XBrfYUA/s1600/11039453_2804507029455_1869033636_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnoVpJcwtHpama2F5BMPTcCwgVkuvPQSHgq63WG4MJxSHM1zmWrYI6VoKM_JuxaBUSL3MIf10PDyB8VBGDhKAoI7GDIutigrdHfNHp3nsP3NKMFyBhACULXfnZ30seMtoFID38XBrfYUA/s1600/11039453_2804507029455_1869033636_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I know my wish will come true--it already is!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcWmGm0tcGntPGa6qeMH6PaYnR_O4kPItTACHwNw3Saw_8I0dxROeUZDy1Uv_JM7VqHjcKNOlx5L6AWWgQ3eo0md0JB6b5fQx-ix7VtkfhjSg6O01IPPC7RVAXAvM5DJKl4mYruS71vt6/s1600/11042195_2804506789449_317079796_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcWmGm0tcGntPGa6qeMH6PaYnR_O4kPItTACHwNw3Saw_8I0dxROeUZDy1Uv_JM7VqHjcKNOlx5L6AWWgQ3eo0md0JB6b5fQx-ix7VtkfhjSg6O01IPPC7RVAXAvM5DJKl4mYruS71vt6/s1600/11042195_2804506789449_317079796_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The best wish by far came from Kazu-san.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I am a firm believer that food transcends all language barriers. You don't need words when "mmmm" works just fine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until next time, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Charlotte</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-63480637474202381732014-05-31T03:27:00.000-04:002015-03-04T23:21:02.167-05:00Tea Ceremony and Story Time at Seisen-Ryo<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> S</b></span>o I know one of my main purposes here is to provide international exchange and share what I know and teach about my culture, but sometimes I am the one that gets to learn and those are some of my favorite days! Not only do I get to break the monotony of the work day, but I get to try something new.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> During the busy season at KEEP, Seisen-Ryo will cater to their guests by setting up a casual tea ceremony in the lobby. I say casual in the sense that guests can check-in and stop by for a quick cup of green tea before heading to their room. By no means is the setup itself casual. A few of the ladies that work in the different departments of KEEP are traditional tea masters and they so graciously showed me how to prepare a proper cup of green tea. A lot more than you would think goes into this ritual which is best explained in pictures.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLCUPBQW8qtLjxz10jRtEUbJYkGKpR3-koOCOIUczeO9mJc1tC5Dh_4zwb0Z4e0tDqOFLnwmTFUV7vu5S0abtr_66myB30vuVCByYhp9jDcEU5quJXheHbqP4RHYG514LyGWEMKJakxnw/s1600/10302745_2434884149114_5291040455254875058_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLCUPBQW8qtLjxz10jRtEUbJYkGKpR3-koOCOIUczeO9mJc1tC5Dh_4zwb0Z4e0tDqOFLnwmTFUV7vu5S0abtr_66myB30vuVCByYhp9jDcEU5quJXheHbqP4RHYG514LyGWEMKJakxnw/s1600/10302745_2434884149114_5291040455254875058_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sign inviting guests to come in an have a cup of tea.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Bt1_idxEcO4VEEVgaZXWJimuIoQpxmfIWBAML0c4MNoJKXfGJNzU_VKBTCi5gvwZg99N88yNhvghkZC53YkL6O-nDrQDh-ylMvCAatU0Md_PXRrIhL19tmK2e0TWqxiFIjgsL2Pj-joF/s1600/10322750_2434885469147_8430166979750484347_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Bt1_idxEcO4VEEVgaZXWJimuIoQpxmfIWBAML0c4MNoJKXfGJNzU_VKBTCi5gvwZg99N88yNhvghkZC53YkL6O-nDrQDh-ylMvCAatU0Md_PXRrIhL19tmK2e0TWqxiFIjgsL2Pj-joF/s1600/10322750_2434885469147_8430166979750484347_n.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's all about the bamboo brush to get the tea nice and frothy.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr_dxRV8sjZpbZWoyL-dQvBNaBQWCL-CGPuIjhLZLFQ9YsebWMmHdnzNJHmZ7BVB0mVA3SJA6XpLGlS5XMTOgthIeU-Ghbf5gp-_AAMbkg9ZJGV6Zmer8OIJfF3arT8WijrCmV7RMU7E_/s1600/10155735_2434884229116_8227056741631897814_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr_dxRV8sjZpbZWoyL-dQvBNaBQWCL-CGPuIjhLZLFQ9YsebWMmHdnzNJHmZ7BVB0mVA3SJA6XpLGlS5XMTOgthIeU-Ghbf5gp-_AAMbkg9ZJGV6Zmer8OIJfF3arT8WijrCmV7RMU7E_/s1600/10155735_2434884229116_8227056741631897814_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First, I got to play the guest. You're first a served a sweet to coat your palate and prepare it for the bitterness of the tea to come.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC_QGCccNa6L7BEfmtlwYhIhhCVQE7XGkeyoFKLNnQqEMz0NP-lhFAOiqQrx0hcD-gxUYMlMq-2VQzDTgPNXiMFJkRAkwnE5ZjM6FFpcZ8-G8zsojfqSuRMVmnFb4SsgqVn2vWRaSxY5N/s1600/10258934_2434884909133_6498860103143510254_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC_QGCccNa6L7BEfmtlwYhIhhCVQE7XGkeyoFKLNnQqEMz0NP-lhFAOiqQrx0hcD-gxUYMlMq-2VQzDTgPNXiMFJkRAkwnE5ZjM6FFpcZ8-G8zsojfqSuRMVmnFb4SsgqVn2vWRaSxY5N/s1600/10258934_2434884909133_6498860103143510254_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enjoying my cookie.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0r47WxSZ85lEGDuwn1nF8RGlSbfgjw4IfvqXuZOJ-tD8Sm6kVhsC2fdC-WQGP3wgtCElBQtgUclv0Pt1cxjhwp8JeNkQsDYhoNFZDi3m5o682H2-H7tdOja6Oqa9COqOFCATJgxnRyoc/s1600/10258584_2434886069162_3012921132640212683_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0r47WxSZ85lEGDuwn1nF8RGlSbfgjw4IfvqXuZOJ-tD8Sm6kVhsC2fdC-WQGP3wgtCElBQtgUclv0Pt1cxjhwp8JeNkQsDYhoNFZDi3m5o682H2-H7tdOja6Oqa9COqOFCATJgxnRyoc/s1600/10258584_2434886069162_3012921132640212683_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Receiving my cup of tea. Much different than a tea cup. The whole display of the tea ceremony coordinates with the season. The flowers there are to represent summer.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw53SmCM-te2o3SmVlRco9S-wg0Mrvb4N9zxujZteTnVx03sPOU9JX1_wDSoEEFfjG6-UXH1WApZJTDPtstGNJPsIKvQqS6f8bALK2nhOxobD9zVIb0j3pNEblMDMcL-fAva9xPmdtiIGe/s1600/970187_2434887709203_450934165423666043_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw53SmCM-te2o3SmVlRco9S-wg0Mrvb4N9zxujZteTnVx03sPOU9JX1_wDSoEEFfjG6-UXH1WApZJTDPtstGNJPsIKvQqS6f8bALK2nhOxobD9zVIb0j3pNEblMDMcL-fAva9xPmdtiIGe/s1600/970187_2434887709203_450934165423666043_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now it is my turn to learn! The big ladle there is to scoop out the hot water into the tea bowl to wash it out, which you then pour into the decorative vase there. Then you use your special cloth to wipe out the bowl in a specific way, making the shape of one of the Japanese hiragana characters (like making the shape of an A). Next, you put two of the tiny spoonfuls there of the green tea into the bowl and then ladle more hot water in, then you mix it up with the bamboo brush there to make it all frothy. And voila! Proper green tea.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Q6ssSpz-0RvsAO_QGJ7M7vZJDJtKuIw736KoGSyjt1nIUBRvnfmHBrj1YDV_uq_qxeLDdW3YXsQ79Z8vdUqiCQXN5rjsJNg5GVJEDtBFf6vYcwOyAhDIcWj3mPI8jy1oSfsbMRyDY6m/s1600/1526861_2434888789230_8453513502854727605_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Q6ssSpz-0RvsAO_QGJ7M7vZJDJtKuIw736KoGSyjt1nIUBRvnfmHBrj1YDV_uq_qxeLDdW3YXsQ79Z8vdUqiCQXN5rjsJNg5GVJEDtBFf6vYcwOyAhDIcWj3mPI8jy1oSfsbMRyDY6m/s1600/1526861_2434888789230_8453513502854727605_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Frothing up the tea!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKhWIFAEZc6nUjh1hndZw5EjjoDd6LTuKHhGb20kgGC09nFLygQ9M4wh3dhlQ7wNMG3CrpfPp2CI-1hW-yrY0tdcNsywjYIR4dsP4Cok-h7xnMbmOLtNMVHdSpG7Q0QoiAFaf7S9Ejy0m/s1600/10170990_2434888309218_7880187041027526691_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKhWIFAEZc6nUjh1hndZw5EjjoDd6LTuKHhGb20kgGC09nFLygQ9M4wh3dhlQ7wNMG3CrpfPp2CI-1hW-yrY0tdcNsywjYIR4dsP4Cok-h7xnMbmOLtNMVHdSpG7Q0QoiAFaf7S9Ejy0m/s1600/10170990_2434888309218_7880187041027526691_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My first guests!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Seisen-Ryo doesn't like to forget about the kids during the busy season! One of the women I work with, Hoshii-san, used to be a teacher before she came to Seisen Ryo. She has a whole stash of children's books under her desk and she puts on story time a few times a month during the summer. I got to be the special guest reader for this last time. The kids come after dinner, right before bed and we set up a story corner. This time Hoshii-san read from one of her HUGE Japanese books first. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsQCZ66XEdSGl3RXU-zy-5OHrc_rC8T_Pz-E1MauCZFQsDrYo5cQyZQ2ij1ITg1JiHB0Bgs6KxklGjXxYOshwvN9ad3G4QOxB7vl7F6N2xrIP7lJDIjEY22u_uUqqAcV53HOJF4lld3-v/s1600/11007428_2800321924830_1366099505_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsQCZ66XEdSGl3RXU-zy-5OHrc_rC8T_Pz-E1MauCZFQsDrYo5cQyZQ2ij1ITg1JiHB0Bgs6KxklGjXxYOshwvN9ad3G4QOxB7vl7F6N2xrIP7lJDIjEY22u_uUqqAcV53HOJF4lld3-v/s1600/11007428_2800321924830_1366099505_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Story time with special guest Charlotte File from America!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSxzfmHCobLwp5MUq7sF4RCY64BnZExjwzVHF04vi9wm6zZ-Gt8oYcqfZEXPs0yjwpUbBOpqS7JQfper1KRoY7AQTZpAqiC7jK3VdHQKtNO-ZilMQzX-TCZUcqKTNasK7iqkVb-DbL_cx/s1600/10262155_2448229162731_4889992666370932282_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSxzfmHCobLwp5MUq7sF4RCY64BnZExjwzVHF04vi9wm6zZ-Gt8oYcqfZEXPs0yjwpUbBOpqS7JQfper1KRoY7AQTZpAqiC7jK3VdHQKtNO-ZilMQzX-TCZUcqKTNasK7iqkVb-DbL_cx/s1600/10262155_2448229162731_4889992666370932282_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Large group this night.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a very popular book here in Japan amongst children just like back in the States which was a nice surprise seeing as it was one of my favorite books growing up too! The kids were really excited when Hoshii-san got it out and then did the old bait and switch and got out the English version for me to read. Japanese kids are extremely interested in American culture so I was pleasantly surprised how well they listened. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-SF5VqeaFBRQhIN8d3Go7jnbHocpSkEZx-97Kj2e6FeCgyPzJrFKVUPoxKXdYnOmEuNRmpcVEMIe90SDRfXBNqd9WU0Q_TYOzSi1lkl5M-O8FO3Z-NyeXznA2f4yLMpiIBHwr6ekpgq4/s1600/10301357_2448229882749_5207102695695077727_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-SF5VqeaFBRQhIN8d3Go7jnbHocpSkEZx-97Kj2e6FeCgyPzJrFKVUPoxKXdYnOmEuNRmpcVEMIe90SDRfXBNqd9WU0Q_TYOzSi1lkl5M-O8FO3Z-NyeXznA2f4yLMpiIBHwr6ekpgq4/s1600/10301357_2448229882749_5207102695695077727_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Special guest reader.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ5O-PMSjAtcLrL8YDV-TX9CqdFP4uFIaeFxl_QLhh871cJsSNBs1YbRYgZyIArTpJlIDX7ky77LlSST7IPtZIP9iVmF5gtS6mz-hmJ6jE__qd2gkDAXT_eRa3I-HFvNYdVG0R0e5viwq/s1600/10258704_2448230282759_3253599028039638242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ5O-PMSjAtcLrL8YDV-TX9CqdFP4uFIaeFxl_QLhh871cJsSNBs1YbRYgZyIArTpJlIDX7ky77LlSST7IPtZIP9iVmF5gtS6mz-hmJ6jE__qd2gkDAXT_eRa3I-HFvNYdVG0R0e5viwq/s1600/10258704_2448230282759_3253599028039638242_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All the Eric Carle books are popular!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> At the end of story time, I get to interact with the kids. The parents like their kids to practice their English they have no doubt been paying out the eyes for. We give the kids some stickers, play some rock, paper, scissors with me (which is the go to way to settle anything in the kid world here) and just hang out. Then it's off to bed for the little ones and I go home and realize teaching will never and should never be in my future.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVR0QKq6lw_gTF4AkcybXND56KXhfGgJfUdvV5SIwYqOzrfEBWXBCC_lovZbjC4JcctxIRZvRVEp6XacDrgXIkw3muZQXzLcKvwAqjTCFm8ZwgtKnsjyifSolw_k96uOsCtQr1Acchj_CN/s1600/10277453_2448233762846_1218655948891088965_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVR0QKq6lw_gTF4AkcybXND56KXhfGgJfUdvV5SIwYqOzrfEBWXBCC_lovZbjC4JcctxIRZvRVEp6XacDrgXIkw3muZQXzLcKvwAqjTCFm8ZwgtKnsjyifSolw_k96uOsCtQr1Acchj_CN/s1600/10277453_2448233762846_1218655948891088965_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rock, paper, scissors--or janken as it's called here.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsra_59qxhwEur1FrBt6RAMUVFiMoOS3usdOtSfu7fn4bwTbxlOPl6NeJpVWR5z59JMzTuuaqcF3DZHheG0g-8RGETa2j4wlVTKhTYEKxio5zs6kvFIqKEpNy95yLpJFZ3c0iFDmDLoNh/s1600/1972483_2448232962826_3408933056600347787_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsra_59qxhwEur1FrBt6RAMUVFiMoOS3usdOtSfu7fn4bwTbxlOPl6NeJpVWR5z59JMzTuuaqcF3DZHheG0g-8RGETa2j4wlVTKhTYEKxio5zs6kvFIqKEpNy95yLpJFZ3c0iFDmDLoNh/s1600/1972483_2448232962826_3408933056600347787_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Showing me his dormouse museum pin--you can see his extensive collection of pins on his shirt.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSpfDumV58ZRV4AeTlErdSsWhTrLH-k79Z0Jv0Z-4u7JxeqV6mP3MBFLCnnca4jErTbfb9DBjSoyf5_ea7pJ2erQYyNcP3owX0nrwZkLL4RA58y5YpDTBVLmLoAoiFgri23MQDZbMnW16/s1600/1013878_2448232922825_3893181985022547955_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSpfDumV58ZRV4AeTlErdSsWhTrLH-k79Z0Jv0Z-4u7JxeqV6mP3MBFLCnnca4jErTbfb9DBjSoyf5_ea7pJ2erQYyNcP3owX0nrwZkLL4RA58y5YpDTBVLmLoAoiFgri23MQDZbMnW16/s1600/1013878_2448232922825_3893181985022547955_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Family that comes to Seisen-Ryo every summer for vacation and know Hoshii-san well.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Until next time,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Charlotte</span></span></div>
Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-79119142338333156422014-05-23T02:59:00.000-04:002014-07-28T03:18:11.369-04:00Actually Using that Degree I Earned<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>I</b></span> have to admit when I applied to be a missionary, I thought my degree in event management and hospitality would just sit there and look nice in its frame on the wall. When that degree actually played a part in why I was placed in Japan, I was excited to see how I could apply my (expensive--Sorry Dad) knowledge I had gained in Florida.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Over the last few months I have spent three days a week working at Seisen-Ryo, KEEP's hotel side of the operation. Seisen-Ryo was originally built in the 1930s as a leadership camp for young Japanese Christians to come and relax in the mountains. Today, it has evolved into a relaxing resort retreat that is well-known around Japan--mainly because of its association with the infamous soft cream. The whole Seisen-Ryo property is made up of the "Original Lodge"--built in 1957 after the first building burned down, the "New Annex" which was constructed in 2009, and then the surrounding Cottages. Guests can enjoy the old world charm of the Western and Japanese style rooms in the Original Lodge, the new amenities offered in the New Lodge's Western or Japanese style suites or stay in the Cottages in the woods with their larger groups (as you can tell, one of my jobs was to work on the wording for translated marketing materials).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> GM--our name for our general manager of Seisen-Ryo and the Paul Rusch Memorial Museum--had tasked me with working at the hotel at both the front desk and in the kitchen of the restaurant. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to be doing at first, all he told me was I was to be there to speak English with everyone and to get them accustomed to working with foreigners. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> My first task working at the front desk was to collaborate with Hoshii-san, my manager while there, to translate signs around the hotel. She has really great English, so she would tell me what the Japanese sign said and then I would translate it into native and natural English. She told me it was a task that they had been slowly working on over the last few years, but would just fall to the wayside as more important tasks arose. We went around the entire property and translated anything and everything we could find. There were signs warning of the slippery bridge ahead, giving guests directions on how to rent items, where people that aren't guests should please refrain from entering, where to wait in line for check-in/check-out, etc. That was the easy part, wherever there was a Japanese sign, we put it into English. The harder part was going through and deciding what needed to be explained to foreigners that Japanese people don't even think twice about. Hoshii-san had me stay in the hotel as a guest in the Japanese style room and really analyze what, as a foreign guest, I didn't understand. Just as an example, the idea of bathing in the hot springs is second nature to the Japanese, but as a timid foreign guest, the proper procedures are something that needed to be explained. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBGF-njcCcg9k3lq68k0-szj-ZBsQ2K5Q-YFasQ2kWK7XTYZRILgcL64zRJC4AMCHqcogECgPzWGMVqKIEIEkwxLTsbV8Yol7j2MlpVnevZrEkoqMgjDsXvkobfXuxXFqhs0ZKay3vOYV/s1600/photo+1(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBGF-njcCcg9k3lq68k0-szj-ZBsQ2K5Q-YFasQ2kWK7XTYZRILgcL64zRJC4AMCHqcogECgPzWGMVqKIEIEkwxLTsbV8Yol7j2MlpVnevZrEkoqMgjDsXvkobfXuxXFqhs0ZKay3vOYV/s1600/photo+1(2).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just one example of the MANY translated signs around the hotel.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Working with guests at the front desk.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> After that big project was done, we moved on to creating an English handbook for the staff. Seisen-Ryo frequently gets inquiries from English speaking guests and sometimes things can get lost in translation. I created templates of emails that staff can just plug in the necessary information for any situation that a guest may present--emails about available dates, room styles, menu options at the restaurant, room packages, etc. Hoshii-san was also very interested in knowing how best to interact with guests in English--key hospitality phrases. I created a list of easy phrases that any of the staff could practice in their free-time. Things such as formal greetings, formally welcoming guests, asking how their stay was and inviting them to stay with us again. She was very interested in knowing words that would really polish their service standards--four years of being ingrained with that at UCF? I think I know a few words to help. Also, there are a lot of documents, ie. local train schedules, that are all in Japanese and confusing even if you do know Japanese, so I compiled train schedules of the local lines into an easy read English document that staff could easily hand to guests without much explanation. All of these documents were put into a nice little handbook. Over the past few months during the morning staff meetings, I had been updating everyone about what I would be working on that day. Everyone seemed very excited about eventually having that resource, so it was awesome </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">when I finally got to distribute them to all the staff--my first finished project here!</span> The guest rooms also now have completely translated information books for guests as well! Something I know I miss when I'm staying in Japanese hotels. One of my proudest moments so far has been staff telling me about Mika, one of the girls I work with that has limited English, and how she worked with a foreign guest and how great she did! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IdzqNGukeOukGHT3Ih28MnFFAl6wv4bqbyAhwq9FaJVGUEEunXHe6NqSLRWh3WV-vUNBoWy8tKABugeMdvrOrxM8365RslFbAPxYOBPBX2yaEzLzliU0c-z8WBectJzQxGe33anvJOSo/s1600/photo+3%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IdzqNGukeOukGHT3Ih28MnFFAl6wv4bqbyAhwq9FaJVGUEEunXHe6NqSLRWh3WV-vUNBoWy8tKABugeMdvrOrxM8365RslFbAPxYOBPBX2yaEzLzliU0c-z8WBectJzQxGe33anvJOSo/s1600/photo+3%25281%2529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hoshii-san also translated everything for the table of contents so everything is easily found!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4T7LGVMVWwolFOvPSXTVDlmBQLlxzS_fzkNCLVaxDcdxiwHroX1d2iFa1HSjyhU-dp68fqOpv9GDM45IQ5mfKCmqanen5eKH0CyzGvwY_Dw2TBdaFTfBoXFd_ieDFBTnfi7CiCjjK8vG/s1600/photo+1%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4T7LGVMVWwolFOvPSXTVDlmBQLlxzS_fzkNCLVaxDcdxiwHroX1d2iFa1HSjyhU-dp68fqOpv9GDM45IQ5mfKCmqanen5eKH0CyzGvwY_Dw2TBdaFTfBoXFd_ieDFBTnfi7CiCjjK8vG/s1600/photo+1%25281%2529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">English is so complicated when you sit down and think about it!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> On Fridays, I worked in the kitchen of the restaurant of the hotel. I had so much fun down there! I didn't really have any tasks besides just to socialize with everyone, but I hated just standing around, so I would always find something to do. I would arrive at nine, put dishes from the guests' breakfast into the washer and then it would be the staff breakfast time. We would eat as a group and that time was spent throwing dictionaries back and forth, using translator apps, learning new words, and essentially playing charades to communicate. It was good practice for me as well because a lot of people's English was about the same level as my Japanese. We would work until lunch--me mainly doing kitchen tasks that I couldn't screw up, like peeling potatoes or washing lettuce. This was another great opportunity for us to practice our vocabulary with each other, they would hand me something and say the Japanese name and I would tell them the English word--eggplant was the most confusing and hilarious to them. Having worked in restaurants with big kitchens and having culinary labs in college, I have to say not much is different in kitchens in Japan. A lot of things are French words, just like in the US, but I will say the head chef is not a scary as the ones in the States can be. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLfaRPG7xuC3B02AWxAllIIt42fzytT3gQcXcR1bEIz6UWdCYH-9WSY35QY0N-WaMlcaevAHdJ8HTVeftB1G3CdFhniFG0G494KYFgrEvABzpUD0GrwYjtpjq1MYRK-A42txSbj3SM2pW/s1600/photo+2%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLfaRPG7xuC3B02AWxAllIIt42fzytT3gQcXcR1bEIz6UWdCYH-9WSY35QY0N-WaMlcaevAHdJ8HTVeftB1G3CdFhniFG0G494KYFgrEvABzpUD0GrwYjtpjq1MYRK-A42txSbj3SM2pW/s1600/photo+2%25281%2529.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Plating dessert.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3crgf-3I4Y9cUGktf9jWwFjAtA7c_RwqUPRx6W4Lx2r-M4-atuj0JSpSx9e6mb8fXurP6VFJF1ZC-xnhQVVqCSQsvVf6cOZFMtzzKMLuaccsmHL2p5RJ-gDqQRvpJHCD7noB3X11nSQ_g/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3crgf-3I4Y9cUGktf9jWwFjAtA7c_RwqUPRx6W4Lx2r-M4-atuj0JSpSx9e6mb8fXurP6VFJF1ZC-xnhQVVqCSQsvVf6cOZFMtzzKMLuaccsmHL2p5RJ-gDqQRvpJHCD7noB3X11nSQ_g/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They trusted me to work with scallops one day.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmjayjnlOeDkpgfxOBb0_k_JyQrIGmzvrlfE2NcTdqFdJ4ERJOf0nMLsmfMs2I_02BqC-D0wbhs3EikFaLi_Qhav6kYPrVafrEa95SQ19RO_Oj5Dk3rd0vuROXi9h_xcYLtSWGNA2xH-y/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmjayjnlOeDkpgfxOBb0_k_JyQrIGmzvrlfE2NcTdqFdJ4ERJOf0nMLsmfMs2I_02BqC-D0wbhs3EikFaLi_Qhav6kYPrVafrEa95SQ19RO_Oj5Dk3rd0vuROXi9h_xcYLtSWGNA2xH-y/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Watching Japanese chefs work with fish is mesmerizing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZhTNlPEgYgFaOlQyTWPlicsmC0QLxXvXP-PvQZvxxxTKG8Bvh50Uyx007psh23zHbbVh7e7hYkzW4d9wQ464E9AhRPHJnababwRpGjHCXjlB6UVFoK5TuVBMntNt1Kq4PSlcWUHETDe4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZhTNlPEgYgFaOlQyTWPlicsmC0QLxXvXP-PvQZvxxxTKG8Bvh50Uyx007psh23zHbbVh7e7hYkzW4d9wQ464E9AhRPHJnababwRpGjHCXjlB6UVFoK5TuVBMntNt1Kq4PSlcWUHETDe4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Making a raspberry mouse--gelatin comes in sheet form in Japan, not powder. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Stirring up the mousse!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4guvr9b7YFNuTmxPbLz9_onbMoTYAakapdGQntUjfbzO26i3VrYrF_xMRXc3MQ6oLRDnDGIoDZfgNsDZlC_SFxdcvJXMLWqrl3rItdLCD9jxIfU4pB8DRMb0jF1uNb3UXh43EfG1y6np/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4guvr9b7YFNuTmxPbLz9_onbMoTYAakapdGQntUjfbzO26i3VrYrF_xMRXc3MQ6oLRDnDGIoDZfgNsDZlC_SFxdcvJXMLWqrl3rItdLCD9jxIfU4pB8DRMb0jF1uNb3UXh43EfG1y6np/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Kaori, the pastry chef, measuring out bacon for a savory creme-brulee.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The most unique experience I had in the kitchen happened at breakfast one morning. I was sitting down and they placed a styrofoam box next to me and told me to open it. Inside was a turtle crawling around. By lunchtime I had seen said turtle beheaded, gutted and its shell boiled to make a soup. Fun fact--turtles' heads can continue to move around for at least twenty minutes after it's been cut off. THANKS FOR READING!</span><br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Until next time, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Charlotte </span></div>
<br />
<br />Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-33917413783847838402014-05-17T01:15:00.000-04:002014-07-28T01:15:57.981-04:00The Interns Have Arrived!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>K</b></span>EEP is hosting a whole gang of interns this summer. Just recently, the first crop of them arrived. This group is from Berea College in Kentucky. They are four really incredible students if you think they picked up and moved to a strange country for two months of their summer holiday. Their tasks here at KEEP include working on the farm, two of the students are studying agricultural related subjects at school, and working at the camp with students that come to KEEP. If you want to see what they are up to, one of the students, </span><a href="http://croteaua2013.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aja Crouteau,</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> has been keeping a blog to keep everyone at home updated. It's a great read if you're interested in other on-goings at KEEP besides what I am involved in. Because they're only here for two months, they have been given the gift of bikes, which unfortunately will get them to the 7-11 down the hill, but that is about it and I feel like it is my duty, as the English speaker with a car, to take them to the grocery store or mall whenever the need. I know how awkward it can be to ask someone that is your superior to take you to get something that is totally American, like peanut butter, so I am constantly bugging them to see if they need anything. There is also another intern right now that is here from Brazil. Tomorrow, our intern Emily from Wellesley College arrives and will be living in the same dorm as me. Over the summer, we also will have interns from France, the Philippines and possibly Afghanistan coming here to KEEP. I like to think of myself as the intern Momma because I am going to see them all arrive and then leave and I'll still be here. It's a really weird way to think of it--I'm five months in and still have another seven, but these students are going to be spending their whole time here within my remaining time. Time seriously is flying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The other night, the international relations department had a night out at a local izakaya ("a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. They are casual places for after-work drinking." --<i>Wikipedia</i>) called Zenzow. It was kind of an official "welcome dinner" for the Berea students and was a really enjoyable night and kind of the first night I had spent not hanging out in the dorm. I felt like a barrier between me and my coworkers has been broken and now they know they can invite me out. The next day my coworker at the hotel told me about their department dinner party this upcoming month. I feel like I have finally made progress! This is also the time right before the super busy season at KEEP and people are taking advantage of the calm before the storm.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLUXmXzS0S-3TrxOZgAtF-AuMO_wlj6qrUj8RmejsyxXDV_hqKJ0ayufEBx5-yONNYPcJ3vVBSCaqSR9kVY9YpBseOYS8f2R5YCmPE3p_0N7TTDxuTzKnwMT3bFsnOuUEG1gapzIa8LmA/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLUXmXzS0S-3TrxOZgAtF-AuMO_wlj6qrUj8RmejsyxXDV_hqKJ0ayufEBx5-yONNYPcJ3vVBSCaqSR9kVY9YpBseOYS8f2R5YCmPE3p_0N7TTDxuTzKnwMT3bFsnOuUEG1gapzIa8LmA/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jaimah and Victoria trying umeboshi--or pickled plums--for the first time.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu0phCtmQgUIN7lEi2fwjdawu9FBzzC4b1iGV7TKU2TNycPZw0Ewu1UMT_wJbRIZq2yOCOID7LEMOCFzMZys6avZ7eb1PVxOQKQp0pANmM-0d86dtW9KUiImGIqtMIBIHae8OOrg7oQ_a/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu0phCtmQgUIN7lEi2fwjdawu9FBzzC4b1iGV7TKU2TNycPZw0Ewu1UMT_wJbRIZq2yOCOID7LEMOCFzMZys6avZ7eb1PVxOQKQp0pANmM-0d86dtW9KUiImGIqtMIBIHae8OOrg7oQ_a/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Berea students' first full day in Japan--discussing what their jobs at KEEP will be.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAiKQJk1WuyMsgsV2MXb3FbxZP9sEkrNjOG3dCgN7R0a1BgAdXPpBz3L_Q2sFFB5PVv_UfRfLcO4yy9akGXntvUf-eLksNQgMN4suL9dSBgFySKhMmHATkYZAonTY029jWcmLK3p8DFNZ/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAiKQJk1WuyMsgsV2MXb3FbxZP9sEkrNjOG3dCgN7R0a1BgAdXPpBz3L_Q2sFFB5PVv_UfRfLcO4yy9akGXntvUf-eLksNQgMN4suL9dSBgFySKhMmHATkYZAonTY029jWcmLK3p8DFNZ/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Victoria, Zack and Aja at Zenzow</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidhlpzVhMRBf0HtynLNU9J-0Chb66g1RCDIx3Hw3q1ltJHMnQQcwyHNZz3S1Hz0qyqErI14PoLfldzM_sbBzWB8Sk5XCr8a-CZsANLozlJqqrwGfgsSiLn-sePX9b0C68nieMoZGOVwsj/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidhlpzVhMRBf0HtynLNU9J-0Chb66g1RCDIx3Hw3q1ltJHMnQQcwyHNZz3S1Hz0qyqErI14PoLfldzM_sbBzWB8Sk5XCr8a-CZsANLozlJqqrwGfgsSiLn-sePX9b0C68nieMoZGOVwsj/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">International Relations department outing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0K6Md9e3CYVS6TMk7CSfYpeZzDkCgC5wD9qA6E7DwHJuCnQzFo9Kf5R0FxTlfdZoEDurm40O1OlqUD1eveZvXociiifkpp3OnopnxssAxIbawdbbb7M0SlfmhZj-7zhL85lH_H13MZ2h/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0K6Md9e3CYVS6TMk7CSfYpeZzDkCgC5wD9qA6E7DwHJuCnQzFo9Kf5R0FxTlfdZoEDurm40O1OlqUD1eveZvXociiifkpp3OnopnxssAxIbawdbbb7M0SlfmhZj-7zhL85lH_H13MZ2h/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Victoria trying something for the first time.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0WSFItKj-C0eoLUOQaWY6Ouq6usUcEH5uE9c6Xvwnl4UpqR_sisIdT-A6ZkYjSqiMdrRYgrSPBB-MunrY1eNtUguer3KaPGsiyOH1O5-fBsDBv7uQChtsot5d1wiQr6quysihtiexKDk/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0WSFItKj-C0eoLUOQaWY6Ouq6usUcEH5uE9c6Xvwnl4UpqR_sisIdT-A6ZkYjSqiMdrRYgrSPBB-MunrY1eNtUguer3KaPGsiyOH1O5-fBsDBv7uQChtsot5d1wiQr6quysihtiexKDk/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The damage at the end of the meal.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgIf_71RHaiUyLvwR6CUzy38vRE6NyuTCEjKN-agUSBzXLchtZzjViXJFKO2Uq9j3dLyWwQbJ1QRR9gCi8bqf2Uedh7B1oTSTBtyiHPPsfLhYhj5qHNRdhoI_l6SD8fFJ6rGGJPF-nVKX/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgIf_71RHaiUyLvwR6CUzy38vRE6NyuTCEjKN-agUSBzXLchtZzjViXJFKO2Uq9j3dLyWwQbJ1QRR9gCi8bqf2Uedh7B1oTSTBtyiHPPsfLhYhj5qHNRdhoI_l6SD8fFJ6rGGJPF-nVKX/s1600/photo+7.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aja, Victoria, Zack and Jaimah at the meeting for the Hokuto City student exchange to Canada. They will be helping me teach the English classes for the students that take place while they are still here.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span id="goog_1490803444"></span><span id="goog_1490803445" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Charlotte</span><br />
<br />Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-71239884902627394772014-05-12T04:22:00.000-04:002014-07-28T01:09:15.060-04:00American Football in Japan?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>hat's right, you read that correctly...AMERICAN football in Japan. As I've mentioned in previous posts, Paul Rusch-the founder of KEEP-is called the 'Father of American Football in Japan'. It is only fitting that there is a Paul Rusch Memorial Game every year at KEEP. Each year a team will play the St. Paul's University, or Rikkyo Gakuin, Rushers. St. Paul's is considered the kind of the home team for KEEP because that was where Paul Rusch started as a professor. This is their </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rikkyo.rushers" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook page</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> if you want to check them out. This year they happened to be playing another Anglican university, St. Andrew's, or Momoyama Gakuin, Thundering Legion Lions located in Osaka. As soon as I found out about the game, I asked my managers if I could take a long lunch break to go watch, which of course they obliged. I was introduced to one of their coaches who felt like he had to introduce me to everyone, which was a blessing because he introduced me to a very nice family whose son was playing for the Rushers. The husband was British and the wife Japanese and they told me the story of when their son came home and said he wanted to play American football of all things--why not cricket or rugby?!? Their son was a wide receiver and has played in camps in the US and really hopes to one day to go over and play at the college level. From what the family told me he's pretty dang good, but still a freshman so he has some time. Having someone to look for on the field and root for made it feel like I was back at home all over again, minus the fact that Mt. Fuji played the backdrop for the game. How often can you say you got your Sunday football fix in Japan?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Driving up to KEEP's American Football fields--not a bad view, eh?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l0LoFl0i13iyJ9XsuFcVnznt9x1L-aGa_NHmhQ5NYwZKfBF67pnSje7SvYnbPACPracfsSUrbaa49ui4MSVE80GUpy1MRuoD5CGWcqZ00ulxtZ-OJ7UQ5lx7iUX1VuQUuXR1n0fBOUwq/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l0LoFl0i13iyJ9XsuFcVnznt9x1L-aGa_NHmhQ5NYwZKfBF67pnSje7SvYnbPACPracfsSUrbaa49ui4MSVE80GUpy1MRuoD5CGWcqZ00ulxtZ-OJ7UQ5lx7iUX1VuQUuXR1n0fBOUwq/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rushers vs. Thundering Legion Lions--there's a university in Japan whose mascot is a unicorn...no lie.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-q9dqfMwEzGZqtXZMgKkJ9Zc3803Suk0-26Hg20NtCX5s26ZJyRot7uKr3Q2H0licKrepWIpaCEyWq92Wl4B1xty6nRj247QTkYvw5b399oWfLTO29J2F8dso-W-r2vtuN2qqFobuhmD/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-q9dqfMwEzGZqtXZMgKkJ9Zc3803Suk0-26Hg20NtCX5s26ZJyRot7uKr3Q2H0licKrepWIpaCEyWq92Wl4B1xty6nRj247QTkYvw5b399oWfLTO29J2F8dso-W-r2vtuN2qqFobuhmD/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Noda-san from the head office announcing the game.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnLQotVMFw2_gZP_CIUntPnU7RLgJVxWpsLWtgT7ASmiyr6pmwEKoiIAXmoUkGZ_37BoWmGZvekHQCMwmXgiYW0kc_NvJ8aDnGymBe7EfG1XXrlsyvJjPQkJaxCGF0OwN9CuSTEAxraTN/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnLQotVMFw2_gZP_CIUntPnU7RLgJVxWpsLWtgT7ASmiyr6pmwEKoiIAXmoUkGZ_37BoWmGZvekHQCMwmXgiYW0kc_NvJ8aDnGymBe7EfG1XXrlsyvJjPQkJaxCGF0OwN9CuSTEAxraTN/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both teams praying before the game.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6_UfkDQibGW4vCIPPmz9Gi8NKtKQFn0Oj-tGYuy4w6l-S3aO0k2y8U9Z9HGXQAoeOGwD3Noi_neIXeqA4mnMBmWgiIlBgDAUjIFg8UpKXWCOVtlL4MbeIpQzm3xm3GYL25CKh5QUaAKE/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6_UfkDQibGW4vCIPPmz9Gi8NKtKQFn0Oj-tGYuy4w6l-S3aO0k2y8U9Z9HGXQAoeOGwD3Noi_neIXeqA4mnMBmWgiIlBgDAUjIFg8UpKXWCOVtlL4MbeIpQzm3xm3GYL25CKh5QUaAKE/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The St. Paul's University Rushers.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqpDfXRCqOF5ZSO_tfvWjltaaPRiZG3kQxtHvaTjl3wW2TaE8NUHmVgy91u-Vi4FAnKfj1XnGgdaAyMHCwb19bSqRU4PHAYy-XRy8SzN03mVx5_PymfshHXdnwoik_4dMWHVTIsbP6V9f/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqpDfXRCqOF5ZSO_tfvWjltaaPRiZG3kQxtHvaTjl3wW2TaE8NUHmVgy91u-Vi4FAnKfj1XnGgdaAyMHCwb19bSqRU4PHAYy-XRy8SzN03mVx5_PymfshHXdnwoik_4dMWHVTIsbP6V9f/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The captains exchanging gifts before the game--a very Japanese tradition.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrgO-hc9KJ8vvmp3fDgFyWayyDfmBUplnUf_KoN9W4ZHQTDvfWLEXzyFsCiBI3UNb76w9qtgcKuEk-3ErUtFrjSus1dF_cdCxeljFpw0bd6_fE4oI-_CrjO3ZvAzyfP-UUSVNVeFmv2N7/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrgO-hc9KJ8vvmp3fDgFyWayyDfmBUplnUf_KoN9W4ZHQTDvfWLEXzyFsCiBI3UNb76w9qtgcKuEk-3ErUtFrjSus1dF_cdCxeljFpw0bd6_fE4oI-_CrjO3ZvAzyfP-UUSVNVeFmv2N7/s1600/photo+7.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kick off.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiHOBJqtJY692DuLg-e8wXpUKDygoRLRTPCQjhlBLJJFLos9E42HjeOCCYOtKSc1BNn-9rQdWcpVjtUvqcH5wWxIPJXKHLo0Kpk0VRzJZiYd4iis71A9FXKuwTK6jNqRhpkTidxa3og6c/s1600/photo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiHOBJqtJY692DuLg-e8wXpUKDygoRLRTPCQjhlBLJJFLos9E42HjeOCCYOtKSc1BNn-9rQdWcpVjtUvqcH5wWxIPJXKHLo0Kpk0VRzJZiYd4iis71A9FXKuwTK6jNqRhpkTidxa3og6c/s1600/photo+8.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fuji was actually the backdrop for this!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgbEoP2wWh2SwkxTNctIIdIXpkE5HQF0vBL-BMtHXzMJAzd-wUm53pKCXqs1MwcBeXRh7ETzNZHzJ7_xcScjAWrJc6CgtwKjbnKJNXNPpcBG1ftD308Ie57Oe1miLjb1W3MPB4cDGo_Rt/s1600/photo+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgbEoP2wWh2SwkxTNctIIdIXpkE5HQF0vBL-BMtHXzMJAzd-wUm53pKCXqs1MwcBeXRh7ETzNZHzJ7_xcScjAWrJc6CgtwKjbnKJNXNPpcBG1ftD308Ie57Oe1miLjb1W3MPB4cDGo_Rt/s1600/photo+9.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wasn't the best field to play on, but they managed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupAKYbw-0BfzzCoUk4kee-2wyN2Zt9tQxGDLd1nYBJH2d7Lqba-f6Kwd7nUArpaiC0QXSJsp2htDii_HAb_EYeEozBnPUY8ohqwW1X3ohLQ4Eozdvmb3XQfoyx00PYouDNfSIScDpOE-8/s1600/photo+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupAKYbw-0BfzzCoUk4kee-2wyN2Zt9tQxGDLd1nYBJH2d7Lqba-f6Kwd7nUArpaiC0QXSJsp2htDii_HAb_EYeEozBnPUY8ohqwW1X3ohLQ4Eozdvmb3XQfoyx00PYouDNfSIScDpOE-8/s1600/photo+10.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">End of the game.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiV6yN30W-sQyRNU0RsIuS7e81X3GTlt3zGiyBdW-0PdZS3dO86DPW2eRtbjcFaQSP_OFJSXUdHt7ejBS-B1YctuFggAjC9zGKvAImV6m5sfki4baWnJ8w7vRoMAeVoxOXHPlgXLWJ6Wu/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiV6yN30W-sQyRNU0RsIuS7e81X3GTlt3zGiyBdW-0PdZS3dO86DPW2eRtbjcFaQSP_OFJSXUdHt7ejBS-B1YctuFggAjC9zGKvAImV6m5sfki4baWnJ8w7vRoMAeVoxOXHPlgXLWJ6Wu/s1600/photo.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Foootball in Japan!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Charlotte</span> Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-52536182524378378762014-05-09T01:04:00.000-04:002014-07-28T01:05:08.200-04:00English Class? But You Don't Even Speak Japanese?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></b>hat is definitely one of the most common phrases I have said to me. How can you teach someone your language when you don't even speak theirs? I will admit it was pretty daunting at first, but I realized that most people here were as nervous to learn and speak English as I was to teach. I will say, everyone was very enthusiastic about the classes starting. Every time I was in the employee cafeteria, staff would come up to me and tell me how excited they were for the classes to begin, so that gave me the boost of confidence I needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In Japan, you have to do a lot of preparation and research before you do a lot of things, so the classes started off with "orientation" classes. With Hata-san, my manager at the Paul Rusch Memorial Museum, and Urakabe-san, my manager in the international relations department, as my "teacher's aides" a.k.a. translators, we held three different informational classes to gauge people's interests, what they wanted to learn, what time and days worked best for them, and what they wanted to accomplish by the end of my time here. They were very informal gatherings, ones I always started off with "This is a safe environment, it's ok to make mistakes here. I'm not going to laugh at you for anything because I don't want you to make fun of me for my Japanese." Hata-san and Urakabe-san were there to interpret what people didn't understand. From all the information we gathered from people, we decided to have a beginner's English class every other Monday and an Intermediate class every Thursday. Many Japanese people have taken English during Junior High, but they have lost a lot of it and I have noticed some of the English is a little outdated. A question I had was about the proper time to use 'supper' vs when you would use the word 'dinner'...Those are my favorite conversations to have. Most people wanted to be able to think first in English by the time classes were over, which was an entirely new concept to me, but what I thought was the most interesting thing to me was that a lot of people wanted to learn how to speak like an American. Turns out Japanese people are interested in learning our mannerisms and how we talk with our hands and how we stand while we're speaking. You don't think about those things until someone points them out. Oh, and there was also an overwhelming request to learn about American Pop Culture, which I was happy to oblige. My favorite idea suggested was that we have a field trip to a karaoke bar and everyone is ONLY allowed to sing English songs. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2Zy2pFIVY96KDwYLc__-ArF3GS5QBsESrSvuw2Y5lGhLUnzs3W8hx2XARZb0KdPkwj3sRo7kw5pYlsWFCQpJir7LKVVVhZwA17in-0xtffKaqtxR_tiaNx-TEBqW7mT2qv6Q1qqFNyyz/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2Zy2pFIVY96KDwYLc__-ArF3GS5QBsESrSvuw2Y5lGhLUnzs3W8hx2XARZb0KdPkwj3sRo7kw5pYlsWFCQpJir7LKVVVhZwA17in-0xtffKaqtxR_tiaNx-TEBqW7mT2qv6Q1qqFNyyz/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">List of questions to determine how to set up the formal English classes--and phrases that needed explanation.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-AQm3WzX6IGgfykY35aHGXwY0w4Jeahd5PsLKCNmlM7pnkhafmFQfpSpZ-pZYBxNB8kECC1PYa6nE5n3ltlvOh00CywBQP6s0HJcI8k_x9MNgXTyxoiaZ8X_eTtjHQkbzafa08Q5_Bcl/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-AQm3WzX6IGgfykY35aHGXwY0w4Jeahd5PsLKCNmlM7pnkhafmFQfpSpZ-pZYBxNB8kECC1PYa6nE5n3ltlvOh00CywBQP6s0HJcI8k_x9MNgXTyxoiaZ8X_eTtjHQkbzafa08Q5_Bcl/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Discussing class objectives</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So with one to two classes a week, I am pretty busy. People choose whichever level they want to join and I encourage them to come to both if they can. I am a pretty laid back teacher, not like some of the language drill sergeants you had back in high school. The format of class is usually the same, we have a topic we discuss with a worksheet to fill out and then usually we just kind of branch off from there. I use the topics as a kind of jumping off point. People are very interested in the terms I use that I don't even think twice about, phrases like "right off the bat", or "killing two birds with one stone", or trying to translate an English play on words that makes me laugh hysterically and it just doesn't translate to Japanese. The first week for both level classes was "Introductions and Greetings" where we discussed the most formal way to greet people all the way down the "Hey. What's Up?" Of course I don't encourage them to use this in their daily conversations, but they are always very curious about the funny things foreigners say. Other class topics have included 'Learning Small Talk'--telling them it's not usually proper form to ask someone their age in a first meeting setting, 'Talking about your Favorites'--the term 'favorite' is a term I have noticed that many Japanese don't know from their previous English classes, 'Telephone Etiquette'--people wanted to know how to speak to foreigners when they call, "Days of the Week and Months"--being able to tell people when their reservations are or tomorrow the shop is closed, and "Talking about your Family"--I have found that trying to describe my family and how people are related is difficult and the fact that we have about eight hundred different ways to call our "mother" and "father." I love when I teach something and they ask questions about a topic I didn't even think about teaching to them, but it really makes me so excited to see that they're thinking beyond just the information I am giving them.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUAmL_in-t2wojUWzFQ-dnm6xYwYLTaDmnEHofALsXNLwVxHOCsQyhwVYbqqmkTOv8js3x9vYm93-iCZJPbPN7PY17mwrB9v1cR-XGjviHxkoz1Q2S0AtIvT3urxfrLSMo_VTm54U0y1u/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUAmL_in-t2wojUWzFQ-dnm6xYwYLTaDmnEHofALsXNLwVxHOCsQyhwVYbqqmkTOv8js3x9vYm93-iCZJPbPN7PY17mwrB9v1cR-XGjviHxkoz1Q2S0AtIvT3urxfrLSMo_VTm54U0y1u/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beginner English--that's the attendance sheet there. There will be awards at the end of the year for best attendance and most improved!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjkKC2GAfapnHtC-xODyqVabd734d_9HKzkKEiIA0pBrQa7TATPHfK4zhlCvRgqlAnHW630rrJC_wWFqXLhAwwm4UbNr4xMqsVBzay7Tg4RFuKHXM9KmGz8iIqZLhPrjtd7GqnjwKJEn4/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjkKC2GAfapnHtC-xODyqVabd734d_9HKzkKEiIA0pBrQa7TATPHfK4zhlCvRgqlAnHW630rrJC_wWFqXLhAwwm4UbNr4xMqsVBzay7Tg4RFuKHXM9KmGz8iIqZLhPrjtd7GqnjwKJEn4/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First formal Beginner English Class.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVIdY3EJt-H0Y73VUfCkMF_R_9gG7QGJrlubLR_JJgy8KOoC2Z7G1nJA_1AM6nebDq_6PsN4k57bc8l1ceGH6Oje_Ddxa-7l46kYb3xH3grnQ4caSVNsqSmkj9sUs5K81MpILpkM81aWU/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVIdY3EJt-H0Y73VUfCkMF_R_9gG7QGJrlubLR_JJgy8KOoC2Z7G1nJA_1AM6nebDq_6PsN4k57bc8l1ceGH6Oje_Ddxa-7l46kYb3xH3grnQ4caSVNsqSmkj9sUs5K81MpILpkM81aWU/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always write the date the way Americans do--some people didn't know there was a difference, which can lead to confusion in the hotel. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWbH4G-ppy4t-W0y9B6dF8p0XD_FjT4aEbiQcPXRVegyVA9x9a1EaQ7Ix3URNJNCvO1ubD447qqTiy-hdIXMaRs4NkKVjl1fn7h6erDQaKdW0HJpy61SfpIN4sYNANgesCbdGvatw6raN/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWbH4G-ppy4t-W0y9B6dF8p0XD_FjT4aEbiQcPXRVegyVA9x9a1EaQ7Ix3URNJNCvO1ubD447qqTiy-hdIXMaRs4NkKVjl1fn7h6erDQaKdW0HJpy61SfpIN4sYNANgesCbdGvatw6raN/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First formal intermediate English class--that is GM in the suit. He is the general manager of Seisen-Ryo and the Paul Rusch Memorial Museum.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My favorite class so far definitely has been teaching about the question words "Who, What, When, Where, Why and How". In my last care package my dad had sent all of my <i>People</i> magazines I had received up to that point, so I had about twelve issues or so just sitting in my room, so I decided to bring them to use as textbooks. It actually worked out perfectly because that night it was only women that came and they all were the ones I spend the majority of my time with, Hata-san, Urakabe-san, Hoshii-san--my manager at the hotel, and Kaori--the pastry chef I work with in the kitchen. I had them go through the magazines and come up with questions for each of the question words. It could be about anything they found in the magazine. Some of the questions were "What is a socialite?" "When did the Academy Awards start?" "Whose dress to the Oscar's did you like best?" "What is a 'bodice'?" (As you can tell these were all issues from Awards Season) It was neat to see how much of American culture they actually knew. I think America needs to be more aware of what we are putting out there because foreigners know more than we think. Class usually only runs about an hour, but we ended up being there for two and a half! I had a lot of fun because we all called it a girls' night. Some people may say that's a silly way to teach, but I am always trying to find new ways to explain American culture while still being fun. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjxV8YURawQKLvWKb8hQnbl0AYnQKK8HR8M_BkUeJYsQUy_NC3YhrOxpZw4v6vFe-IkFcJ0y07H1A84Y8KM9PbJ47_DeWrGSfTtqZILwHzAgi_S9qWAr_SY6ManDWSb2RjUnfPymJJDsJ/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjxV8YURawQKLvWKb8hQnbl0AYnQKK8HR8M_BkUeJYsQUy_NC3YhrOxpZw4v6vFe-IkFcJ0y07H1A84Y8KM9PbJ47_DeWrGSfTtqZILwHzAgi_S9qWAr_SY6ManDWSb2RjUnfPymJJDsJ/s1600/photo+7.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone said they love American magazines so much because they always smell nice--Japanese magazines don't have the perfume ads like we do</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLselwhSD91hetDMJlJftF6m-e52ix04XPDs4p4JGzjSoyzyb-6NrQRATLkEML9oSlDno-c0ral6GuESzygrrEwQ9GQPpiDG-qIlDVpi1pZcJgGM5NMKLlgOCYjStIFHu9b_j3vGzxpsT/s1600/photo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLselwhSD91hetDMJlJftF6m-e52ix04XPDs4p4JGzjSoyzyb-6NrQRATLkEML9oSlDno-c0ral6GuESzygrrEwQ9GQPpiDG-qIlDVpi1pZcJgGM5NMKLlgOCYjStIFHu9b_j3vGzxpsT/s1600/photo+8.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Devouring American culture</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My next English teaching project is to help another coworker, Murata-san, teach English to junior high students from Hokuto City that are going on an exchange trip to Canada in August. I told them I was more than happy to help, but I know nothing about Canada except their our non-confrontational neighbor to the North. We had our first meeting this past weekend and the kids all seem so young. There are eighteen students from nine different junior high schools in Hokuto City, ranging in age from 12-15. I am really looking forward to it because teaching the staff at KEEP has been one of my favorite jobs here and seeing the kids and how eager they are to learn English made me really excited!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well until next time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charlotte</span>Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-74511330575269855132014-04-23T00:55:00.000-04:002014-07-28T00:55:41.663-04:00Easter Services <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>E</b></span>aster is my favorite holiday in the church. I've always loved the Easter Vigil and the build up and anticipation. I was worried that this year I wouldn't really get to experience that because I was so far from my home church. Of course I should have known that whenever you walk into an Anglican church, it's going to be fairly easy to follow along, even if it is in another language. For the Easter Vigil, there were very few people there, maybe they were saving up to come on Sunday? There was no English program for me to follow, but luckily having my Book of Common Prayer there with me, I was able to use my deductive reasoning, educated mind, and handy Bible book translations I've been working on to follow along. Whether I got every single thing right wasn't really my concern, I just enjoyed being in the company of the five or so other people. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcbGvmK7Mqo_mgxTaufFUAtzaVEleIrDyta95wk2ePEqUmDgotlr1YCx0HnKNzmP2PYX6Ld8sZuZYziWhl9sdXyIXpo4r3ZFLVDhz4BPL4W2aC4PEBGHboTI0igeh-ti6oxdpXaH4rlor/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcbGvmK7Mqo_mgxTaufFUAtzaVEleIrDyta95wk2ePEqUmDgotlr1YCx0HnKNzmP2PYX6Ld8sZuZYziWhl9sdXyIXpo4r3ZFLVDhz4BPL4W2aC4PEBGHboTI0igeh-ti6oxdpXaH4rlor/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My supplies for the Easter Vigil--trying to keep up was easier said than done.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJoFEJJaGyDJGJxMYAtaKWRi4AFbzxuCzLSA1f5KlIRw7NuY-hkCTUwu1pLN_29I_mKXt-uq_wzyyK391_ZdwlYQLHDhKD02YGLt6LqSkrxiNVApzCzeSAdUFeurxE26xPMWkQ6GtifzS/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJoFEJJaGyDJGJxMYAtaKWRi4AFbzxuCzLSA1f5KlIRw7NuY-hkCTUwu1pLN_29I_mKXt-uq_wzyyK391_ZdwlYQLHDhKD02YGLt6LqSkrxiNVApzCzeSAdUFeurxE26xPMWkQ6GtifzS/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before the Easter Vigil services.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKnvXpncakilB_b3s1nGTDlUJEoqYjwsu_2FY9xfjnODszXNC0eKSS8xzFa1rHuDGvCwmQrD_EElR447Hek0fe6pn_znvgjVlFD830AJrp8FEijT-xgqCETYeT-cADkXAXOdU7nWjuiKY/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKnvXpncakilB_b3s1nGTDlUJEoqYjwsu_2FY9xfjnODszXNC0eKSS8xzFa1rHuDGvCwmQrD_EElR447Hek0fe6pn_znvgjVlFD830AJrp8FEijT-xgqCETYeT-cADkXAXOdU7nWjuiKY/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Easter Vigil.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> REJOICE AMERICANS! We are not the only country with "Chreasters" out there! (People that only go to church on Christmas and Easter) There was a record turn out on Easter Sunday. All of the tatami and pews were full. I found that to be oddly comforting, a characteristic of church at home. After the services we had a really lovely brunch. I sat at a table with an uncle and nephew on holiday from England, the presiding bishop's parents and Mr. Kazunori, who invited me out to dinner with him and his wife and his daughter when she was back in town for Golden Week. They had lived in San Fransisco for many years until moving back to Japan recently. It was a really great time and made me feel like I was at home. I did get to Skype with my family that morning so that was a bonus, too!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw1wLaQsH9r-s8r1_OLRMgmUDxsfhRLiaxk3_9oc7ED3peNHbV9j6YZne5qttxyZoRa8ylh9CahClpZUJXUGic4x1dBjRZtwqyQAaWNjp_GmtU1qt2VX_fukAHFm6F_h4HNR1BNYKttgI/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw1wLaQsH9r-s8r1_OLRMgmUDxsfhRLiaxk3_9oc7ED3peNHbV9j6YZne5qttxyZoRa8ylh9CahClpZUJXUGic4x1dBjRZtwqyQAaWNjp_GmtU1qt2VX_fukAHFm6F_h4HNR1BNYKttgI/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Easter Sunday packed house.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Vpzv7vtfxB-_en-hOi8wEx9sTakCaIlUR4hIaEdtHCkijU7rF2DmHok6VAOqZAT2nhmgK61BPi8ds6T3rLZzeBfJ1C1rVreaXTpHH9NjH80F1p-Oc1HtOgYwakwlbGzUtkjAi8FDTYda/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Vpzv7vtfxB-_en-hOi8wEx9sTakCaIlUR4hIaEdtHCkijU7rF2DmHok6VAOqZAT2nhmgK61BPi8ds6T3rLZzeBfJ1C1rVreaXTpHH9NjH80F1p-Oc1HtOgYwakwlbGzUtkjAi8FDTYda/s1600/photo+7.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The altar with the gifts.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqk_HwW_gHGnsstlvMGxhs-5-G24vliGWPs4JxdN6ZE_lK4D4NMIq7d3kOpJ-knJtwtrQ2juwwq-c6nAjReOpNoS8frKwU0QVU3sSHm91yQWbMmuIeI2f1HFelgzGAOCZkmkc5uMnjwg2/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqk_HwW_gHGnsstlvMGxhs-5-G24vliGWPs4JxdN6ZE_lK4D4NMIq7d3kOpJ-knJtwtrQ2juwwq-c6nAjReOpNoS8frKwU0QVU3sSHm91yQWbMmuIeI2f1HFelgzGAOCZkmkc5uMnjwg2/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All the children receiving communion.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkaYjxc46NUQ9mrSJAuviIH3Tsa-lv-GeCm1NIPodJQGgLzgUy-RiCA7Q7GMlhPai9LTztPNlemQIizgioLdd9uYhwQD95VNs5fdvcP3AQ2z8ajmabanJ_-v7mb-Ppj1frAO9FDjiLCo3/s1600/photo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkaYjxc46NUQ9mrSJAuviIH3Tsa-lv-GeCm1NIPodJQGgLzgUy-RiCA7Q7GMlhPai9LTztPNlemQIizgioLdd9uYhwQD95VNs5fdvcP3AQ2z8ajmabanJ_-v7mb-Ppj1frAO9FDjiLCo3/s1600/photo+8.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the parishoners' sons made Easter eggs for everyone.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJi7RJPk-JitEkVW78cCCnHJnS6stH2ycrm8JFNk7T-tX2Pys9yA-fcMXCoIU3gLtpfmYQxKO-o_ryOMi0N1sQ1bUdfYR2SGhYvYw-ZXpkGu3bnJi4lexAEFR5NX0ak7upB6uiO9bE2lk/s1600/photo+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJi7RJPk-JitEkVW78cCCnHJnS6stH2ycrm8JFNk7T-tX2Pys9yA-fcMXCoIU3gLtpfmYQxKO-o_ryOMi0N1sQ1bUdfYR2SGhYvYw-ZXpkGu3bnJi4lexAEFR5NX0ak7upB6uiO9bE2lk/s1600/photo+10.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Father Shimada giving the prayer before the meal.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOIaA-i8_LGWs9jXWeViGmJ9X7DeuKlYDi4Ts0Z_II6A8q9-rFhbEd7LbWHZGjxH7Us-hAXqdgeZxTa35aJEeeDYxK-oFR_h2kU23Gvmbpw93Vlq7EZM_tcJPV9bYoPmCRLw43zWc4EwF/s1600/photo+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOIaA-i8_LGWs9jXWeViGmJ9X7DeuKlYDi4Ts0Z_II6A8q9-rFhbEd7LbWHZGjxH7Us-hAXqdgeZxTa35aJEeeDYxK-oFR_h2kU23Gvmbpw93Vlq7EZM_tcJPV9bYoPmCRLw43zWc4EwF/s1600/photo+9.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Great company during Easter lunch. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROJ-MvDzAQwWXsjSzJvorEBYF5n3RB5j_d5fpibLi1I7gxZ194wv-74AZLDzmIQyjaradtzSvky13mFD9gnHRgvvO4AihBwNL17nmHvdX7TP5TI9vUuXnzD48hDIdTcfrrSqnmNyrSWaP/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROJ-MvDzAQwWXsjSzJvorEBYF5n3RB5j_d5fpibLi1I7gxZ194wv-74AZLDzmIQyjaradtzSvky13mFD9gnHRgvvO4AihBwNL17nmHvdX7TP5TI9vUuXnzD48hDIdTcfrrSqnmNyrSWaP/s1600/photo.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My really sweet Easter gift from my coworker Hata-san!</span> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Until next time, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Charlotte</span> Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-10578078475300989762014-04-11T00:49:00.000-04:002014-07-28T00:49:34.038-04:00Hong Kong Holiday<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> I</b></span> recently had the chance to do some traveling on this new side of the world I call home. So why Hong Kong, you may ask? Well there are currently three people with the church working there, a sorority sister of mine lived outside the city teaching English, and another friend from college is living there with her husband , so I decided I would be stupid not to visit with all the people I knew there. Kiyosato is about three hours by train to the airport, so I decided to stay the night at the airport because my flight was at 6am--which is also 15 minutes after the trains started running, so I actually didn't have an option. Totally the best decision ever! At the Haneda airport they have one of those capsule hotel--the ones Japan is so famous for. It was a really great price,too, for a hotel that wasn't just at the airport, rather actually IN the airport, as in when the shuttle came to get me to take me to the international terminal a hotel employee had to walk all of us out and unlock the doors to the terminal. So if you ever have a layover at Haneda in Tokyo, I recommend the First Cabin Hotel. They rent for the day, too!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bags all packed! Ten days in one suitcase--I was impressed! Unfortunately, I left my camera on in my car, lucky I brought my iPhone.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiaoXPa5Ile6h9GQKZlqYqNBhmcJMDzy3vjoo6T1p5p711mTWpvGRsBaTBiyQ-Liw7FbDEDjkzRt-HXxs6VIURMU8vXowSu8XRu-I8Ofd01HHKfOJVFVZkPq1F_hW-2VbprtS1fK0NVye/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiaoXPa5Ile6h9GQKZlqYqNBhmcJMDzy3vjoo6T1p5p711mTWpvGRsBaTBiyQ-Liw7FbDEDjkzRt-HXxs6VIURMU8vXowSu8XRu-I8Ofd01HHKfOJVFVZkPq1F_hW-2VbprtS1fK0NVye/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Entrance to First Cabin Hotel.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeTbmMsjzjIbWyvVz-NYyCGJVt_uw0trCHz0zFe9YIbLVEiL7xysCrZZH83IYLieCzymsqIMBdnf2EbZ4367lNT-8tKpncXIs8vwJWX-hRO6FbsVLqCwxcdQoJQzzVPQGyXQnSmRA2G7I/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeTbmMsjzjIbWyvVz-NYyCGJVt_uw0trCHz0zFe9YIbLVEiL7xysCrZZH83IYLieCzymsqIMBdnf2EbZ4367lNT-8tKpncXIs8vwJWX-hRO6FbsVLqCwxcdQoJQzzVPQGyXQnSmRA2G7I/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My little home for the night--that's a shade that comes down and acts as the door.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc6B-YgXzC6JFbzRN7SbOmU4hY4LcczT-hrNsHxiboJAhF3uiLLf6B8cKpe-OWMq8mOefS80MtAIb7kxK0vQoWZE493WNw7KgWWXk3UTnTL0ntB-oj9znRsKNpNGrsp9lwe7aI-YJYtkd/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc6B-YgXzC6JFbzRN7SbOmU4hY4LcczT-hrNsHxiboJAhF3uiLLf6B8cKpe-OWMq8mOefS80MtAIb7kxK0vQoWZE493WNw7KgWWXk3UTnTL0ntB-oj9znRsKNpNGrsp9lwe7aI-YJYtkd/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much easier to wear the provided pjs than to dig through my suitcase that was in bed with me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05C4-dk22u8ea3C-KW7yzCgSkH5QY0S1myzdbCrvYCq-mtmi-veCRoWVd7-uVoGTf6fZ1EfvYQvNkXRn7IEiMCw7qiqUzDa2tUi_7rkaadt4T2IBoiqgC9GWSlpBQIXIoBbdbAW2Rdcp1/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05C4-dk22u8ea3C-KW7yzCgSkH5QY0S1myzdbCrvYCq-mtmi-veCRoWVd7-uVoGTf6fZ1EfvYQvNkXRn7IEiMCw7qiqUzDa2tUi_7rkaadt4T2IBoiqgC9GWSlpBQIXIoBbdbAW2Rdcp1/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking out my capsule to the rest of the ladies' area.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ8Fzf_FhXhvp_jfzvjM54qRTGu25H6ygVshjHO_FM_Ka5_AC4k7llqjxYzGdBppVBR8iFQtrY2T7-i9pxz_cVbQZgxsbTnlu2N7-p_ORr_JuJ0j4wr7Bip9BQ4zUlZfhOlf0-SrkJpST/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ8Fzf_FhXhvp_jfzvjM54qRTGu25H6ygVshjHO_FM_Ka5_AC4k7llqjxYzGdBppVBR8iFQtrY2T7-i9pxz_cVbQZgxsbTnlu2N7-p_ORr_JuJ0j4wr7Bip9BQ4zUlZfhOlf0-SrkJpST/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yepp--that's how big it was!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKb1Mn2lPlO811faVKa-DKoqgfaeW_87OROHZTgfZdgs9nuu9qor0MrINs3fiQdfBevWPF5ibOVZJSTM4UR-YhgqD8kzXKSykzJAtvlwbvn4C6Bsu25LVgTABlbzErK0ZE5MgYxNmK3hf/s1600/photo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKb1Mn2lPlO811faVKa-DKoqgfaeW_87OROHZTgfZdgs9nuu9qor0MrINs3fiQdfBevWPF5ibOVZJSTM4UR-YhgqD8kzXKSykzJAtvlwbvn4C6Bsu25LVgTABlbzErK0ZE5MgYxNmK3hf/s1600/photo+8.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From this point to my gate, it took me about thirty minutes--only because my gate was at the end of the terminal. The Japanese airports are so much more efficient---as with everything else Japanese. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn0iKLTddvzq7OS0oPnG6pQaLBNOgZrvkUhBkujgmKzkLedhjhexUwOcyVKJIxCcquLOB7PEMTmsdmN1Br44ymZhvTLEgVbc3unvSrrwQwcRrjgQ3yS1Gul6mBk3ZM2LuufcrPBt8xd3X/s1600/photo+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn0iKLTddvzq7OS0oPnG6pQaLBNOgZrvkUhBkujgmKzkLedhjhexUwOcyVKJIxCcquLOB7PEMTmsdmN1Br44ymZhvTLEgVbc3unvSrrwQwcRrjgQ3yS1Gul6mBk3ZM2LuufcrPBt8xd3X/s1600/photo+9.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">World Traveler!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GeOh0hZW72N28v4zPq4A81lDExeNykz8XdsJqBmPUV3xMz28UtgeMLCWYYoArxA18vTww3sfLJ1STlJCrMoJAe0pDB7SfNjFNRKpwGYpRmGTxKUH_7OI1KG7CdNoZ__V5YjT_5FlKVgf/s1600/photo+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GeOh0hZW72N28v4zPq4A81lDExeNykz8XdsJqBmPUV3xMz28UtgeMLCWYYoArxA18vTww3sfLJ1STlJCrMoJAe0pDB7SfNjFNRKpwGYpRmGTxKUH_7OI1KG7CdNoZ__V5YjT_5FlKVgf/s1600/photo+10.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Was at the airport early enough to see the sun rise over my plane.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtVwkIyB-1LjVLhF7rDKCqvRfCh_o9WMzdS_ZsZIHyki8ic2p_5bCgl1hl0HNlQgbVjydLpNkWsTGry9jmOhd-iZ6-r9kpJEQ8p74awW5-LcwlP8GTtU2lrwVLzgM2hqwa2owmtOsr3XS/s1600/photo+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtVwkIyB-1LjVLhF7rDKCqvRfCh_o9WMzdS_ZsZIHyki8ic2p_5bCgl1hl0HNlQgbVjydLpNkWsTGry9jmOhd-iZ6-r9kpJEQ8p74awW5-LcwlP8GTtU2lrwVLzgM2hqwa2owmtOsr3XS/s1600/photo+11.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything is Asia is so much cuter!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjo2Izbo5neD67YRe6a5g_P9RvtB37FPtOyz_iyzfBAc2-5OAJSUyYxti_WMLui_DUyWCgAjtYxBCXXtmWXWWndFJAzTJ1zU_4drRmdOOOalXtES2UfMaaDpmivKIJDXnDhU2BsGiouU1/s1600/photo+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjo2Izbo5neD67YRe6a5g_P9RvtB37FPtOyz_iyzfBAc2-5OAJSUyYxti_WMLui_DUyWCgAjtYxBCXXtmWXWWndFJAzTJ1zU_4drRmdOOOalXtES2UfMaaDpmivKIJDXnDhU2BsGiouU1/s1600/photo+12.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Outlying island on the decent into Hong Kong.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The first half of my trip I stayed with </span><a href="http://forjusticeandpeace.blogspot.jp/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sara Lowery</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, a fellow YASCer, at the Ming Hua Theological College where she lives right in the middle of Central Hong Kong. Sara is in Hong Kong working for The Mission for Migrant Workers. We even were able to have some time to visit with other YASCer </span><a href="http://willbryantyasc.blogspot.jp/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will Bryant</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> who works for The Mission to Seafarers. Sara took me around to see the sights and taste the food and was nice enough to introduce me to her coworkers who are missionaries for the Methodist Church. Just to tell you how small of a world this is, while sitting in a tiny little dim sum restaurant off a side street, I found out one of the girls is from Noblesville--the town over from my hometown of Fishers. We all actually went to see Captain America together there. Definitely not something I thought I would be doing in a foreign country, but I felt very aware of how people perceive America after that and wanted to turn around at the end of the movie and tell everyone that "Yes, indeed, we do blow up everything back in the States." My trip ended up happening at the perfect time because one of the the days our big boss man for all of the YASCers in Asia, Peter Ng, was in town along with Bruce Woodcock who is with the Church Pension Group. We explored a little bit of Hong Kong, including the Chi Lin Nunnery, and then had a really great dinner followed by an even more amazing dessert. With Sara's help, I now feel like I know that little side of the world like the back of my hand. I was an expert at the trains by the time I left--NOTHING compared to Tokyo's impossible train system. It probably helped that Hong Kong's British influence is very much noticeable and most things are in English. I had a really great time, but Hong Kong is just so completely different from what I am used to in Japan, so it was all a little overwhelming. It's odd getting to an intersection and have Louis Vuitton on one corner, Chanel on another, Tiffany's on yet another corner and behind you was the church where Sara works for the migrant workers. To get to Sara's apartment you pass a Louboutin store and Gucci stores were like Starbucks. I did find a little oasis in the chaos one day when I was on my own. I visited the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. When you get into it far enough you can forget that you are in one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Later that day, I also ventured out to the "New Territories"--which funnily enough are actually over a hundred years old. I trekked out there to visit the Hong Kong Cultural Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. I went through their whole history exhibit and still don't understand exactly Hong Kong's distinction in regards to China vs. Britain. I'm wondering if anyone actually knows. That Sunday, Sara took me to St. John's Cathedral. She usually goes to the early service before she goes to work, which is the 8:00 service. It was the most basic service you could have, no hymns, just in and out and get on with your holy day. It was the first time in months that I've been able to hear a church service in English, so I really appreciated that. This part of the trip was just a nice time getting together with Sara and hearing about how her placement was going and talking about things we both are familiar with, the YASC program as well as being away for so long. Sara is actually making a trip here to Japan soon and hopefully I will be able to meet up with her at some point. They really do encourage us to travel and see the world. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGew6qzfIaw_cwZQO_ZvXNzouoezzK3rAawJfnwHeyoOEZG0ydHxWOmeacHq21ihKhLMD7LrbOH7EJKpEZ-a5zngR0tiZR0H2nG27kFEwi2x-O_MzbYrh4x_-zbXh4mg_ZWn2TW2Svqfm/s1600/photo+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGew6qzfIaw_cwZQO_ZvXNzouoezzK3rAawJfnwHeyoOEZG0ydHxWOmeacHq21ihKhLMD7LrbOH7EJKpEZ-a5zngR0tiZR0H2nG27kFEwi2x-O_MzbYrh4x_-zbXh4mg_ZWn2TW2Svqfm/s1600/photo+11.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outside of Ming Hua.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzdegjrApc1HWtQI-Q0sa9VTI5KivxzlOngpO7jPer8xjjqmoSQswMn3m9-GywiBu30mG8mq76dLwVLhGfpIIosB2TeiM9Mku5k0cnhVHsgksR6uVpKRdIG01KsQnL3-QLmYsZLgGyPGW/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzdegjrApc1HWtQI-Q0sa9VTI5KivxzlOngpO7jPer8xjjqmoSQswMn3m9-GywiBu30mG8mq76dLwVLhGfpIIosB2TeiM9Mku5k0cnhVHsgksR6uVpKRdIG01KsQnL3-QLmYsZLgGyPGW/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My home for a few days.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVGW5_-7MAUuvUG1wVOJ3tneWaDMfD777MQRcT-MSo78BoJoDnXk0aHTMrd9HrQnv5uWMrJGreh2dJx0SBxIoNzbzs7cTQN76QSWnha8wnOSHu4TKaZa4d6LMGXknaoY422tZNKkrvBLR/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVGW5_-7MAUuvUG1wVOJ3tneWaDMfD777MQRcT-MSo78BoJoDnXk0aHTMrd9HrQnv5uWMrJGreh2dJx0SBxIoNzbzs7cTQN76QSWnha8wnOSHu4TKaZa4d6LMGXknaoY422tZNKkrvBLR/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once you get right inside the gates of Ming Hua...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZaiqwRaghRM5JMJgXymsp9-NZ-T4ZMBJPejECzSUhQwbWE_8wiROGBZp26bTvWT43SAlDlFYzsuOuQDZazPwBun9EPTmYK8iQWPLU0ak7k9FZ4Yzq69WVZrQJ0HiCz9vhOGt2FcjTibP/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZaiqwRaghRM5JMJgXymsp9-NZ-T4ZMBJPejECzSUhQwbWE_8wiROGBZp26bTvWT43SAlDlFYzsuOuQDZazPwBun9EPTmYK8iQWPLU0ak7k9FZ4Yzq69WVZrQJ0HiCz9vhOGt2FcjTibP/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then if you turn around and look toward the gate you just came through---you're in a sea of city.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1OK1pzaU1BwKOgmCJwFsFNsqIF-f06_eVOefpkIqS3wULsT-3K9gAHj2dHbIPegU2ZhFrwDDjskglzQv5VA_LddQ7ipdWb6BPiu7MBy0EJY5zsUSUxqMRZUU2285qHL4_7INIMEtO-mw/s1600/photo+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1OK1pzaU1BwKOgmCJwFsFNsqIF-f06_eVOefpkIqS3wULsT-3K9gAHj2dHbIPegU2ZhFrwDDjskglzQv5VA_LddQ7ipdWb6BPiu7MBy0EJY5zsUSUxqMRZUU2285qHL4_7INIMEtO-mw/s1600/photo+10.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mariner's Club where Will lives and Peter and Bruce stayed while they were in town.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cXX3DP1oTFQtvTIdcsZUGWbA5EQUraTt14nQb_6x7l6tm_mlAHGFtabtiy2fzriQvU34yQsjTBBJ43coR2fjeOTh4rXpU2pl9ttZHAyBIZeZRaMDT70KLKRVmeVGvnwehW8imsXGjDVV/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cXX3DP1oTFQtvTIdcsZUGWbA5EQUraTt14nQb_6x7l6tm_mlAHGFtabtiy2fzriQvU34yQsjTBBJ43coR2fjeOTh4rXpU2pl9ttZHAyBIZeZRaMDT70KLKRVmeVGvnwehW8imsXGjDVV/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sara and I fed our inner bookworms and visited the Hong Kong Central Library</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwGHdzTNdM9lSgzErnhMqp71NsQOpFPFgksy4RMadLuMCSMK-6q-OzH2tyJinegvbyxk4uAElzPZQQiYNfwpHwBoBaVFW7XFr2-4JIZiwTbEPxvmlwg3Z1tYG0E_YOuSzyNkflnDaKhzP/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwGHdzTNdM9lSgzErnhMqp71NsQOpFPFgksy4RMadLuMCSMK-6q-OzH2tyJinegvbyxk4uAElzPZQQiYNfwpHwBoBaVFW7XFr2-4JIZiwTbEPxvmlwg3Z1tYG0E_YOuSzyNkflnDaKhzP/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First dim sum experience--and I LOVED it! </td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyinNJyqeURMuzJnBbuaOaZz0YDblU08Cvbp6DTAzanIP8WRr4NrN_gpWJCrl36Arm75tdDLgXpGKG64KC9SuRFpw_al9xWxdiIyhy_ByDtiK8x5it0FQBIW9tfJc65OrXM4nT8erq-5Fc/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyinNJyqeURMuzJnBbuaOaZz0YDblU08Cvbp6DTAzanIP8WRr4NrN_gpWJCrl36Arm75tdDLgXpGKG64KC9SuRFpw_al9xWxdiIyhy_ByDtiK8x5it0FQBIW9tfJc65OrXM4nT8erq-5Fc/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gates to the Buddhist temple in the Chi Lin nunnery--amongst high rises</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooPjHVdgilJziKjLzP4dIx2UJh2Tm7XT7Y6Rl2dd1NtlzcYwl3vtfndidL4P6HFJb8nj3zUTSPZI5MX-lSjpdY5CALaKRiSvO_4oMd22yryhocsX9XbaYeaZl4WCgEm6KsByIC1mlOfSJ/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooPjHVdgilJziKjLzP4dIx2UJh2Tm7XT7Y6Rl2dd1NtlzcYwl3vtfndidL4P6HFJb8nj3zUTSPZI5MX-lSjpdY5CALaKRiSvO_4oMd22yryhocsX9XbaYeaZl4WCgEm6KsByIC1mlOfSJ/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the Nan Lian gardens </td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6dRZqnslQ5kp9H7wmqTNMkXwhOJqMMgl0T-dLcDePxHUZ0TbBWzajmlgQPvPnMWlFp8u31UdXBHZCesi5VqW1W8pxc2f2N-4sagXNpff2TQzdwLIpRbO27blS6qgRge9wTxwXjLpgZ-0/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6dRZqnslQ5kp9H7wmqTNMkXwhOJqMMgl0T-dLcDePxHUZ0TbBWzajmlgQPvPnMWlFp8u31UdXBHZCesi5VqW1W8pxc2f2N-4sagXNpff2TQzdwLIpRbO27blS6qgRge9wTxwXjLpgZ-0/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sara and Me </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutF9p59IgstCF-6e4KlO9xTEmjViZzv7Vl68vM3kTTFQpBidtSRg7HrnCYCZZmPCL_yey0nUrb67BbarnD-qU0DsQLy9g8v-viJvyrRs5ZchNQewsQJNpUJ0u6yk3qmosZzfkYAPVPTuy/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutF9p59IgstCF-6e4KlO9xTEmjViZzv7Vl68vM3kTTFQpBidtSRg7HrnCYCZZmPCL_yey0nUrb67BbarnD-qU0DsQLy9g8v-viJvyrRs5ZchNQewsQJNpUJ0u6yk3qmosZzfkYAPVPTuy/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruce, Grace and Peter--our guests and guide for the day</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-i9Y7bCWjsrhgAeyC72jAbmUcaW57ShKP2tHM4uwhlEGo25IBPjufQgPg6h0SEa6ht4edE7VGQwbumWrCwV8jdm_YTnjC5gElp6VqqVQ3JIQ2TFZ11omUQI5nqUsH3TBGJsSK5kWNRoz/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-i9Y7bCWjsrhgAeyC72jAbmUcaW57ShKP2tHM4uwhlEGo25IBPjufQgPg6h0SEa6ht4edE7VGQwbumWrCwV8jdm_YTnjC5gElp6VqqVQ3JIQ2TFZ11omUQI5nqUsH3TBGJsSK5kWNRoz/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter with all the delicious desserts that were to DIE for.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXU5YoOcCAsxziFRgOyCd8BQHIiE9lsgtLegTTWtrthYGobVqWokJzPInHaRo00M47LfVp_DpW_DsgPicea2SrBsQeB2zPD7XU6eGpjKywx-9qdVzrpJhSH0jokoTN1HsSfahVQaBpBch/s1600/photo+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXU5YoOcCAsxziFRgOyCd8BQHIiE9lsgtLegTTWtrthYGobVqWokJzPInHaRo00M47LfVp_DpW_DsgPicea2SrBsQeB2zPD7XU6eGpjKywx-9qdVzrpJhSH0jokoTN1HsSfahVQaBpBch/s1600/photo+10.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little oasis in the chaos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNu9UmZzT5lpr-FsRPiz02sNFOJuQ2u_AHRs_06nAiRT2qa8DoPR-_ihwaM6q0bsHX2g2ScPZq2feTi9CyCGLuKvpGaY4hHBrp4DgK1L7Lv7vaiP_QM70dvdEMN51XB5GaNSy5Qjy03vEs/s1600/photo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNu9UmZzT5lpr-FsRPiz02sNFOJuQ2u_AHRs_06nAiRT2qa8DoPR-_ihwaM6q0bsHX2g2ScPZq2feTi9CyCGLuKvpGaY4hHBrp4DgK1L7Lv7vaiP_QM70dvdEMN51XB5GaNSy5Qjy03vEs/s1600/photo+8.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the Zoological and Botanical Gardens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOIAnU3JTsGryWS3RzwP42gd_M5zwQYMph5wYBM_5ZZWxUKqr0G5bc1IVgKbADVO3sfghFyoLSneAon2QI8HVePEgNZTSGUFbVLuKXti9XAGcjXfsfajwPM3EJvojEBZ0iitljhX238vz/s1600/photo+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOIAnU3JTsGryWS3RzwP42gd_M5zwQYMph5wYBM_5ZZWxUKqr0G5bc1IVgKbADVO3sfghFyoLSneAon2QI8HVePEgNZTSGUFbVLuKXti9XAGcjXfsfajwPM3EJvojEBZ0iitljhX238vz/s1600/photo+9.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plopped right in the middle of the city.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4vqYpRsqjE9G0zX5ESRI8l7zO-3yaUY55-UCmQx3XQmpyjdiVIkmfLFhe5AvU-COBXPdVY3SwoOcgFEUvkrswaB0aJ4GxAelExeMbv8fsKLXFyZfWvXX8rfaRENsJqLy7enWAWHk_zIg/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4vqYpRsqjE9G0zX5ESRI8l7zO-3yaUY55-UCmQx3XQmpyjdiVIkmfLFhe5AvU-COBXPdVY3SwoOcgFEUvkrswaB0aJ4GxAelExeMbv8fsKLXFyZfWvXX8rfaRENsJqLy7enWAWHk_zIg/s1600/photo+7.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very peaceful place amid craziness.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGlrxh7IDodjnr1lRFajYk2M7gaCwSa7ab30TrY6BgRXmDXfATfgiOpggXoUwHdcws-y9wi5WSybRgtnonCbgopY0FKOJfRMPGRnmXzZI8cdnNQp-NsK9F7I6ZQFS0mnL0gTCklRrEyuK/s1600/photo+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGlrxh7IDodjnr1lRFajYk2M7gaCwSa7ab30TrY6BgRXmDXfATfgiOpggXoUwHdcws-y9wi5WSybRgtnonCbgopY0FKOJfRMPGRnmXzZI8cdnNQp-NsK9F7I6ZQFS0mnL0gTCklRrEyuK/s1600/photo+11.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hong Kong Cultural Heritage Museum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcNhSAL1MprLgcbivwLr0_O7FQepB-4ZQtv-xF57BgWlyj3H0ZJzxYINiE5carU9msKlnYEPP9lFjMy1g1eDCkLWgHWl7CXGHBe46P5363lWhXgZ4Z17E9bblChTLHpv1cdEeDPDx4sJ6/s1600/photo+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcNhSAL1MprLgcbivwLr0_O7FQepB-4ZQtv-xF57BgWlyj3H0ZJzxYINiE5carU9msKlnYEPP9lFjMy1g1eDCkLWgHWl7CXGHBe46P5363lWhXgZ4Z17E9bblChTLHpv1cdEeDPDx4sJ6/s1600/photo+13.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica of part of a fishing village that Hong Kong evolved from.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdRJMYQjcYWP_pu3j-RC6Q0q6uT61Kt8fC-z5PAQc1jVJ1BFkq5ZoPGk3ah7TG8mVc1U3TaycfOVvMlYpP1alQtI2qGpflN68HZ8Vf5STNoSQ5N8YQnxEsOQJQaiZk_dHGkwn_YcdLRs0/s1600/photo+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdRJMYQjcYWP_pu3j-RC6Q0q6uT61Kt8fC-z5PAQc1jVJ1BFkq5ZoPGk3ah7TG8mVc1U3TaycfOVvMlYpP1alQtI2qGpflN68HZ8Vf5STNoSQ5N8YQnxEsOQJQaiZk_dHGkwn_YcdLRs0/s1600/photo+12.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A most impressive exhibit on Cantonese Opera.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCjYDPXzxKCDxoAAumdqW6cUSHGAO2yfvrUewds1gD0znQ8UYXGP1G0OkGjRasyUEUaDYu4-UioTITPizu83jSNA12holTUJ81Waw5gPtGeiVZuF80O1j318RBLXu6XQbpuF9BCfeGbNW/s1600/photo+16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCjYDPXzxKCDxoAAumdqW6cUSHGAO2yfvrUewds1gD0znQ8UYXGP1G0OkGjRasyUEUaDYu4-UioTITPizu83jSNA12holTUJ81Waw5gPtGeiVZuF80O1j318RBLXu6XQbpuF9BCfeGbNW/s1600/photo+16.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whenever I say I am apart of the Episcopal Church, people look at me like I have six heads.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="height: 251px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; width: 201px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCnv5I3JCIKn5Pq6Kz9D4Y00GmHCgNRo6s7ueSuWh8QqGT47fUiKL5e2fdKqRfFOkoE4w7FsbIlS8TLDA3qd_arHv4ERYdemPyu11a67pxNaxX6G-BPuyxx8PW9BqWaI0JQ23psSC2EYO/s1600/photo+15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCnv5I3JCIKn5Pq6Kz9D4Y00GmHCgNRo6s7ueSuWh8QqGT47fUiKL5e2fdKqRfFOkoE4w7FsbIlS8TLDA3qd_arHv4ERYdemPyu11a67pxNaxX6G-BPuyxx8PW9BqWaI0JQ23psSC2EYO/s1600/photo+15.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John's Cathedral-Hong Kong.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2tlSIi1qgKNdN4KXzxMQ55aIfmaB76AlHaEKeg_fSPprR3_Ir-zjgBwprFlojvfrW8dDmJFIIVGVt17DJusQqWVb3LeT_xJmIrrFVlijsHWF3goIxeLGVwzg_K7SCdTPIPkwdeaTaMF2/s1600/photo+14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2tlSIi1qgKNdN4KXzxMQ55aIfmaB76AlHaEKeg_fSPprR3_Ir-zjgBwprFlojvfrW8dDmJFIIVGVt17DJusQqWVb3LeT_xJmIrrFVlijsHWF3goIxeLGVwzg_K7SCdTPIPkwdeaTaMF2/s1600/photo+14.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sara told me the later services are standing room only.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Wg3xNoj6s_H3T5gxnzrV8EW2Vm8q8thUFQThRveDbCPFMBKsBke5w3Al_BHYZnGuIDUOYtVG7oAPtiXYa1BDw2ZIQsKhula5FswpZSnUgDffK4HXmujH2IQKv13yBF4zidxBlGHq4Qvj/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Wg3xNoj6s_H3T5gxnzrV8EW2Vm8q8thUFQThRveDbCPFMBKsBke5w3Al_BHYZnGuIDUOYtVG7oAPtiXYa1BDw2ZIQsKhula5FswpZSnUgDffK4HXmujH2IQKv13yBF4zidxBlGHq4Qvj/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That week we prayed for my church in Japan!!</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The last two days of my trip I met up with my sorority sister, Lauren, who was passing through Hong Kong after just finishing up teaching in Guangzhou and was kicking off a two month trek through South East Asia before heading to Spain to teach English again. This was my first experience with a hostel and I have to say we were quite spoiled. We had a lovely British couple in our room with us that were very nice, as well as some people that were kind of odd and never left their bed, but that's to be expected staying with strangers. Lauren's friend from Guangzhou, John, also joined us on our excursions through Hong Kong. Our first night we visited Lan Kwai Fong, which is the large party district, which I have been told cannot be missed. The next day we visited the Big Buddha on one of Hong Kong's outlying islands, Lantau Island, and our bus only hit another bus once, so I considered the trip out there to be a big success. The funny thing about Hong Kong is everything is brand new. Sara told me once something starts to show wear, they tear it down and build something new. So it came as no surprise that the Chi Lin Monastery and Big Buddha were actually built fairly recently. Big Buddha was finished in 1993 and is considered to be the largest, outdoor, seated, bronze Buddha--guess you can be the biggest and best at something if it is obscure enough. To get to Tian Tan, or Big Buddha, you have to climb 268 steps, which doesn't seem like a lot, even when you look up and see all those steps. Even about half way up, it still seems like a good idea, but that last probably fifty steps were MURDER. I will have to admit after I caught my breath and my thighs and calves stopped burning, the view was pretty amazing. We had picked a perfect day to go. It was kind of rainy and gloomy, which didn't lead to being able to see very far, but the mountains were covered in clouds and mist and was very serene. Later that night we just explored Hong Kong and went to the harbor to see it lit up at night. The next day was when I was flying out, but had an 11pm flight, so I took that chance to meet up and have dinner with my friend from college, Aleena, and her husband, Mark, who moved to Hong Kong for his job. I am so upset I didn't have more time to visit with them, but hopefully I'll have another opportunity in the future because they were great hosts even for the few hours I spent with them!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYAU4uWLJj5rpI_kB5loGj3IpDpNG_Qq8eAQTv41ZsZOJVHHooNROcr7At8vInXubz8doYuPXMM68qOT_ZrPLIDB1Bg7Qrli5pYxnNF-BBbRxwpkiprhxcx6aVyyNQ3O7qU2OiKlm0C4y/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYAU4uWLJj5rpI_kB5loGj3IpDpNG_Qq8eAQTv41ZsZOJVHHooNROcr7At8vInXubz8doYuPXMM68qOT_ZrPLIDB1Bg7Qrli5pYxnNF-BBbRxwpkiprhxcx6aVyyNQ3O7qU2OiKlm0C4y/s1600/photo+7.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our night out in Lan Kwai Fong---everyone wanted their picture taken with us, but these guys were the only ones WE asked to take a picture with.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJuIPm9EHzQdt9a1pVbqg1OxugDITH8JJ2E2dkIEDnWCLBpSvMjTh8YCffZRF0EpMliytkS8iUa5GQ9CqRXkHjl6PdfabLGJbcy49WPcoWc3oCKkqNzeVnu-2vfy0MHcZ0M_kPpUTHkiz/s1600/photo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJuIPm9EHzQdt9a1pVbqg1OxugDITH8JJ2E2dkIEDnWCLBpSvMjTh8YCffZRF0EpMliytkS8iUa5GQ9CqRXkHjl6PdfabLGJbcy49WPcoWc3oCKkqNzeVnu-2vfy0MHcZ0M_kPpUTHkiz/s1600/photo+8.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John and Lauren getting street food before we head to see Big Buddha.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBftpXmpr_HHZLCmmp3fPT09m5j1YXnw4LumSYJKUXRIRgmSvbU9EFVlLUBwYV4EtlJ0a0p5H4bqGMQn9bYe1VqMmVx6BBSsK73tZnuN3PQ52KO-MfwUDTs-jzD3CVbVSukmFp8am2kju/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBftpXmpr_HHZLCmmp3fPT09m5j1YXnw4LumSYJKUXRIRgmSvbU9EFVlLUBwYV4EtlJ0a0p5H4bqGMQn9bYe1VqMmVx6BBSsK73tZnuN3PQ52KO-MfwUDTs-jzD3CVbVSukmFp8am2kju/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gates to the monastery near Big Buddha</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUACpjXSZNWEOiqOPwGF4shF0IWaIwwo8MbYwIhArhNkkU6jckPoQH0CAX_amr6pXkTg_mfLe69zdoojxqLCw4u629J2eS_yf3Z-cTU_K6Mm0tgAEKxG8OSgXvQ_8zmEA8GudchC4heyMu/s1600/photo+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUACpjXSZNWEOiqOPwGF4shF0IWaIwwo8MbYwIhArhNkkU6jckPoQH0CAX_amr6pXkTg_mfLe69zdoojxqLCw4u629J2eS_yf3Z-cTU_K6Mm0tgAEKxG8OSgXvQ_8zmEA8GudchC4heyMu/s1600/photo+9.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren and me before the climb</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyh6inDn2ba6bvZ6B866wLE-v4Quhk8D4808gtcKTsp4aTaU12Go8z6sbzqCnFnhHmN9wqtYwinNIu4A6_J4B-hJgveaug46ZaSWmpyyweaLG1xJ73AtAyb-JIkOMm_DoxNyZii7dDlR8r/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyh6inDn2ba6bvZ6B866wLE-v4Quhk8D4808gtcKTsp4aTaU12Go8z6sbzqCnFnhHmN9wqtYwinNIu4A6_J4B-hJgveaug46ZaSWmpyyweaLG1xJ73AtAyb-JIkOMm_DoxNyZii7dDlR8r/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It doesn't look like that big of a hike, does it?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_yZ5yWu8_vvyEBskAvmmi_9V1vllxfnnVAFARu3DbaKaFhX15ZoM4sSOIEgTVYsmQfl1rv2Tf76_vzKGSuokDoxnPdx4Ic4isywu0IVXCResIMEh23sGA-YoqeoEnT3qcrvi09sITWeC/s1600/photo+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_yZ5yWu8_vvyEBskAvmmi_9V1vllxfnnVAFARu3DbaKaFhX15ZoM4sSOIEgTVYsmQfl1rv2Tf76_vzKGSuokDoxnPdx4Ic4isywu0IVXCResIMEh23sGA-YoqeoEnT3qcrvi09sITWeC/s1600/photo+10.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blending in with the locals</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenGDfA7Z2EIzLBMgtcqMea8L6CTfird_LWJv30e3hpRrYge9DcHXtObBCHAS9OGmbkCscAMeDbUNU4wQwmTojQr2edrLgh8JqWQL9P8gCYbZyHpMkxtf_SVaJAbGWdjxVE2uCP9DulsgP/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenGDfA7Z2EIzLBMgtcqMea8L6CTfird_LWJv30e3hpRrYge9DcHXtObBCHAS9OGmbkCscAMeDbUNU4wQwmTojQr2edrLgh8JqWQL9P8gCYbZyHpMkxtf_SVaJAbGWdjxVE2uCP9DulsgP/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view down the stairs---can't believe we made it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLUoZxMn8wPJHPhi4BhYv-Ie0-wru9-tRmHx0ZoTafPA-gdlofFQNAvOMlDzCEIuzOXGdM0fKK5jO_8pQI61_5BkSa4QInjSOXJeYtr-A83Ac743uHPfaopkEFoy0gaBK_Tjm4RmYfqA9/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLUoZxMn8wPJHPhi4BhYv-Ie0-wru9-tRmHx0ZoTafPA-gdlofFQNAvOMlDzCEIuzOXGdM0fKK5jO_8pQI61_5BkSa4QInjSOXJeYtr-A83Ac743uHPfaopkEFoy0gaBK_Tjm4RmYfqA9/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last night in Hong Kong visiting the harbor </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It was such a great escape to see people I hadn't seen in months and years and catch up, but I was ready to get back to the place I weirdly call home now. Japan just has this calmness that has completely transformed me into someone that values order and quiet.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Until next time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Charlotte</span><br />
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-70262374749269664202014-03-31T23:18:00.000-04:002014-07-28T00:36:51.667-04:00A City Girl Learns About the Environment<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">S</span></b>o since my last update, that didn't include me being in complete awe how much snow was dropped on this place, I was marking my first month here in Japan. Well when they tell you time flies, they are not kidding. My THREE month mark has come and gone. It is the weirdest feeling to talk to people and tell them I am here until January and they respond with "Oh so only for another nine months?" and I want to shake them and tell them "DON'T SAY THAT! I have so much time left!!!" But as they say, you blink and it's gone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> As I said in the last blog post eons ago, I have been rotating around the different departments here at KEEP. The beginning of March brought my time with the Environmental Education department. This is the department I attended the event in Tokyo for back in January. Now that I celebrated its thirtieth anniversary, I was now going to see what they did on a day to day basis. The first day with them I was taken on one of the short nature tours they offer to guests coming to KEEP. The people that work for Environmental Education, or E.E., are very knowledgeable about what they are teaching. While there is that whole language barrier thing still, the hands on aspect of the program gave me an idea of what was being taught. There is a big trend right now in Japan, at least from what I can tell from the increasing amount of guests coming to KEEP, for "getting back to nature", so people come to learn about the trees, the animals, the plants and how they all interact and to basically become one with nature. After the first few days of learning about the E.E. department and exploring their awesome exhibit they have in their offices--seriously they have an area titled "Whose butt is this?" where you guess which animal rear end is sticking through the display, I was sent to work at Harris Hall.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczYJTlIdlzSHfeFnE8_jR0X4_lk-UhNXst8c3v_0zkW-yFXL3OtOeL035Mx40ynCXp579Evx_iKiq5QFmiRVLX5OW1XjebDX_Q2DQljaWSCx2z2FspDjyEYb8voOOUAs4c1ijmNRIKBLG/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczYJTlIdlzSHfeFnE8_jR0X4_lk-UhNXst8c3v_0zkW-yFXL3OtOeL035Mx40ynCXp579Evx_iKiq5QFmiRVLX5OW1XjebDX_Q2DQljaWSCx2z2FspDjyEYb8voOOUAs4c1ijmNRIKBLG/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One of the "nature interpreters", what they call a kind of nature guide, teaching a group that came in about the animals in the area. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98vSDWwZziWOQC67_QuDWCJrn6iDEppjNEiW1brkDd84N-7LPvV7WRrdSHF1fXSMRgAAVInERNUqRWxpzrWL7K-tZqq6z4wSakvgZ3fl112ifadhnYhkmOI1juIHONKsTP3qj7A4BIts1/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98vSDWwZziWOQC67_QuDWCJrn6iDEppjNEiW1brkDd84N-7LPvV7WRrdSHF1fXSMRgAAVInERNUqRWxpzrWL7K-tZqq6z4wSakvgZ3fl112ifadhnYhkmOI1juIHONKsTP3qj7A4BIts1/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Who's butt is this? Stick your head through and see!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwMrwo_y7_gqVVa96ly80ds3j60uh25ubVZJygI5s6sLuugmRjtP3iVPyAA2qkwjb8wf5xrCEGbZuYW0MWRX3neEfCf0lLAW_xoPKQKO3YGjzj0CaYB0SymIA8gMRPNfMLsd9Tev00Cs7/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwMrwo_y7_gqVVa96ly80ds3j60uh25ubVZJygI5s6sLuugmRjtP3iVPyAA2qkwjb8wf5xrCEGbZuYW0MWRX3neEfCf0lLAW_xoPKQKO3YGjzj0CaYB0SymIA8gMRPNfMLsd9Tev00Cs7/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">More animals of the forest!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Gb824ZIu-nZHvsK4RS2JSBiHsO_JcrTm5IlxFwTHBHw9JKgOwL89-fRNGLS0pEM3P5T0m04T9A9GEtJvn9kEyGz0653LJR6z9KwL0q3ItVzlFXpMCi7QyW11nhYvKkThOP3o8pS78zS/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Gb824ZIu-nZHvsK4RS2JSBiHsO_JcrTm5IlxFwTHBHw9JKgOwL89-fRNGLS0pEM3P5T0m04T9A9GEtJvn9kEyGz0653LJR6z9KwL0q3ItVzlFXpMCi7QyW11nhYvKkThOP3o8pS78zS/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Identifying the different types of tree in the forest </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Harris Hall is the large conference hall in the woods amongst all the cabins. For the next three weeks I was going to be working with three different groups of college students coming to KEEP to learn about environmental education. Each session lasted three days and then we got a new crop of students in. The program was sponsored by the <a href="http://usjapantomodachi.org/" target="_blank">Tomodachi</a> Initiative. Here is a description from their website</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>"In the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, the United States military and Japan Self-Defense Forces worked together successfully in Operation Tomodachi to provide immediate humanitarian relief to the Tohoku region. Building upon this cooperation and spirit of friendship, the United States and Japan launched the TOMODACHI Initiative. TOMODACHI is led by the United States Government and the U.S.-Japan Council, a tax-exempt non-profit organization, and is supported by the <span style="color: black;">Government of Japan</span>, corporations, organizations and individuals from the United States and Japan."</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I got to participate and be "the American perspective". The students that were there were studying some environmental issue in school and had some project that they were working on or had been apart of. The KEEP staff taught for a day and then the students broke into groups to present their individual projects to each other. On the last day, using what they had learned and each other's current projects as inspiration, the groups were then supposed to create their own environmental education based program that they then presented to the whole group--at least that is what I gathered from the whole process. The students were all really nice. There were a few in each session that spoke really good English, one girl I was even convinced was actually from the US, but really had just gone to an international school in Tokyo. Everyone was really eager to talk to me and practice their English. A lot of people had questions about what the US was like because they were either traveling there soon or were going to be studying abroad there. At each session they had "Charlotte Time" where I had to stand up and talk about myself and where I am from and then everyone got to throw out questions--of course most were environment related. Everyone who knows me knows that I am more of an indoor creature, so the fact that I was able to answer some of their questions with certainty was pretty amazing to me. A lot of the questions were like "How does America recycle?", "Why are there so many national parks out West?", "What is the government trying to do to help cut down on pollution created by businesses?"---these kids were very well informed on US issues and I was impressed. I now know I can perform well under pressure when faced with things I THOUGHT I had no idea about.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IU0p3Vh3AFcOoc26l-ZOow1SYbQQYPRUITqZmPTtWbtRObhxo53Gx2sdCC22Lv6R5Ml_XkSKla2iYv7Sz3DRUBeZ5EPD9TIqf3RqQ0zkFbUaRM8OAj7689cAB0EqBUfA4dyMbdZ4d37J/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IU0p3Vh3AFcOoc26l-ZOow1SYbQQYPRUITqZmPTtWbtRObhxo53Gx2sdCC22Lv6R5Ml_XkSKla2iYv7Sz3DRUBeZ5EPD9TIqf3RqQ0zkFbUaRM8OAj7689cAB0EqBUfA4dyMbdZ4d37J/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Classroom learning--what is environmental education & why is it important to bring it into the future?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7npz7Ey0Vs0gurBz0pRBVflBlEw4ZtAC2w6S4GQQyXgxR1w-IxoXZd3_9W1rqF0u0DHojJ46zRHkCF6IZ4OfqORNqVlPR21lM8Gh3RZ6646NMLH9VZehNCzSOREwR80qc2YPBOf7qJxh0/s1600/photo+5(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7npz7Ey0Vs0gurBz0pRBVflBlEw4ZtAC2w6S4GQQyXgxR1w-IxoXZd3_9W1rqF0u0DHojJ46zRHkCF6IZ4OfqORNqVlPR21lM8Gh3RZ6646NMLH9VZehNCzSOREwR80qc2YPBOf7qJxh0/s1600/photo+5(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now talking about what is happening in their area of Japan in relation to environmental education.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghibfUwvR40o8zGKgkxuyduK4DmsbbeIFNUYrERPbhfREQv-vW4OZn-AXkh_17SN6yGlBYmziy5c93Hgy_Merrnz6nFcUPunqvqrcsama_hd7lhoVgcTImKffDOSfRkPyyNDAbsdDNuVwX/s1600/photo+1(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghibfUwvR40o8zGKgkxuyduK4DmsbbeIFNUYrERPbhfREQv-vW4OZn-AXkh_17SN6yGlBYmziy5c93Hgy_Merrnz6nFcUPunqvqrcsama_hd7lhoVgcTImKffDOSfRkPyyNDAbsdDNuVwX/s1600/photo+1(5).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Out of the classroom--hands on learning.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6FDIkWWr7PIhAUiTRSaXZ2wwXG3R92JkV0YcewyHBfLMXCjHcjPCDFrKpf0lQwbK7Ze3ZoMJUdk73QA4XAS1MgGH-wbcUyDhe6jzQT4T5ZhVfVZrL055e97Qk00E4DIb_JJV9ziDjciM/s1600/photo+1(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6FDIkWWr7PIhAUiTRSaXZ2wwXG3R92JkV0YcewyHBfLMXCjHcjPCDFrKpf0lQwbK7Ze3ZoMJUdk73QA4XAS1MgGH-wbcUyDhe6jzQT4T5ZhVfVZrL055e97Qk00E4DIb_JJV9ziDjciM/s1600/photo+1(1).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Visit to the KEEP Dairy Barn.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vFNbtKA8WVwiQmaaBlLoOHh2mRHQIYOHgZOhBiGq4ItSowZYJKkaqDvQttqQbx_thp92YOsfsAzD9i-J0ZLodo_11rMhqJM-T0gzRo0Y8szIz4yDEaPrDg0KkL7-BTUy9CWsX1NYbTSx/s1600/photo+3(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vFNbtKA8WVwiQmaaBlLoOHh2mRHQIYOHgZOhBiGq4ItSowZYJKkaqDvQttqQbx_thp92YOsfsAzD9i-J0ZLodo_11rMhqJM-T0gzRo0Y8szIz4yDEaPrDg0KkL7-BTUy9CWsX1NYbTSx/s1600/photo+3(1).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">More tree identification!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6o06MF1gSwZWRccw3pdrPaBJAcy4dbfyDzQxg3Hshj7QFAF_Tzklnmf4LVIqEeitTgosNKraGITa5q6bpkzEEt65z6dSca6SSBrEwofidAxOcDFH1wu1ZmlrT7W_APLgdVEWYoFkW6lKc/s1600/photo+2(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6o06MF1gSwZWRccw3pdrPaBJAcy4dbfyDzQxg3Hshj7QFAF_Tzklnmf4LVIqEeitTgosNKraGITa5q6bpkzEEt65z6dSca6SSBrEwofidAxOcDFH1wu1ZmlrT7W_APLgdVEWYoFkW6lKc/s1600/photo+2(3).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was a little hard to learn when you were frozen--but the students were troopers!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVl5MyXfQkYSUUbusWXss01Y0mh5QkJJ-wAqXSmUDGJORtp3vsqNo9lUVoAL19BO9SgRidaFGSKO371lo8VSBlLIt0HzWeUyMSw7wAePA1Iqv2Nmhap9r9envhhty9VxzINQGVhVbcFzM/s1600/photo+3(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVl5MyXfQkYSUUbusWXss01Y0mh5QkJJ-wAqXSmUDGJORtp3vsqNo9lUVoAL19BO9SgRidaFGSKO371lo8VSBlLIt0HzWeUyMSw7wAePA1Iqv2Nmhap9r9envhhty9VxzINQGVhVbcFzM/s1600/photo+3(3).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nature scavenger hunt.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLgnTTqiJiw3f02EuWsg3vtWDFtq5lQBLqRcrMk7_WmVaNEFroc2u2BBUg3msc-7F5jF2Y05YS_JrlbNg4Ol9NVnG4Ps3u255hr52iN3kJ35QR2NAbupohOczm-b3_5HRzRIheR3l-vRb/s1600/photo+3(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLgnTTqiJiw3f02EuWsg3vtWDFtq5lQBLqRcrMk7_WmVaNEFroc2u2BBUg3msc-7F5jF2Y05YS_JrlbNg4Ol9NVnG4Ps3u255hr52iN3kJ35QR2NAbupohOczm-b3_5HRzRIheR3l-vRb/s1600/photo+3(4).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">During this session, we were split into groups to work together to create things from our environment--we made a snow samurai!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNbFMSbCmvH3oMeLLQsFXb5fvj-27xhW3h36bSumTfeJGDtrVi5hiN7PqossGaRiBjMK5OZV5Phu1QehTe3XQY6KQkvY4W-Hbftn86CXnX-7d_SA2m1T2gqejAc3dJwnRpOXhO_OkialM/s1600/photo+2(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNbFMSbCmvH3oMeLLQsFXb5fvj-27xhW3h36bSumTfeJGDtrVi5hiN7PqossGaRiBjMK5OZV5Phu1QehTe3XQY6KQkvY4W-Hbftn86CXnX-7d_SA2m1T2gqejAc3dJwnRpOXhO_OkialM/s1600/photo+2(4).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Snow angel time!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF2YgN1jMPMZycHeiYLXfA_J_gZv9sDF9EGUxjqIQUoZfxgJ5liuumxr7V1KKENJRPkx21xGS-mqWOFSBNUov4N6IFffQNVJcRZZ0zOx0mlqk7X_ckxxozr9WDUPRdWS8e0MJcPZD74PK/s1600/photo+4(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF2YgN1jMPMZycHeiYLXfA_J_gZv9sDF9EGUxjqIQUoZfxgJ5liuumxr7V1KKENJRPkx21xGS-mqWOFSBNUov4N6IFffQNVJcRZZ0zOx0mlqk7X_ckxxozr9WDUPRdWS8e0MJcPZD74PK/s1600/photo+4(2).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">During another session--we created "artwork" from nature--I felt bad every time someone got paired up with me, but people were good sports. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4uZFB700qDEr-jMdO9Frz3WPYLqjFQq8S_VSX-0OWv_rTEvKW3Tw1p-FqkzjEwr87ptlVY9cEzsoMRzFEZND7dPyONRZTn-vtyYxDQpduaA6CwBAiDWGeZ3b8L8AKZ2PvE4qBD5kORdU/s1600/photo+1(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4uZFB700qDEr-jMdO9Frz3WPYLqjFQq8S_VSX-0OWv_rTEvKW3Tw1p-FqkzjEwr87ptlVY9cEzsoMRzFEZND7dPyONRZTn-vtyYxDQpduaA6CwBAiDWGeZ3b8L8AKZ2PvE4qBD5kORdU/s1600/photo+1(3).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After a morning of subzero outdoor classroom learning it was time to retreat to the "kotatsu" which is one of the greatest inventions ever--it is a table that has a heater underneath and blankets attached to the side to keep the heat in. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNASHr2SGiszgViuIyCnLz91EnZlhynkTmi_FP-Tf1PXWD1zBN7ZoZKtS1ajxbUDePhgqRveTTDhMssu9v1KQYLVznk3-aVPNu5wESdWJP4raBaD5s8DS3GypYtRfbPUjfX7KWGsKAiFyv/s1600/photo+2(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNASHr2SGiszgViuIyCnLz91EnZlhynkTmi_FP-Tf1PXWD1zBN7ZoZKtS1ajxbUDePhgqRveTTDhMssu9v1KQYLVznk3-aVPNu5wESdWJP4raBaD5s8DS3GypYtRfbPUjfX7KWGsKAiFyv/s1600/photo+2(2).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Each student presenting the work they have been doing with their respective colleges or organizations. After, they combined their previous work and created a new environmental education program to present to the larger group.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WZK77_D7UA8Srl5GTouQqXd6A0wNbLP8-MeAMSc44PTNjfKCzDtYqqObfFQAuKhdqp9V2_YH6qIttQrcP8bHvUylZ-LlqPhrVWjLT1xXAozH67tgc7lvy04fOzKcX2iH4M8t6wwE_KSb/s1600/photo+5(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WZK77_D7UA8Srl5GTouQqXd6A0wNbLP8-MeAMSc44PTNjfKCzDtYqqObfFQAuKhdqp9V2_YH6qIttQrcP8bHvUylZ-LlqPhrVWjLT1xXAozH67tgc7lvy04fOzKcX2iH4M8t6wwE_KSb/s1600/photo+5(4).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Each small group presented their ideas to the larger group.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMuxCvpMukwGzma8ggS97tOZo0u1nmox381yjOBqc_BOyrLvNfB1yQROJqCV8MwtzyoPdIPSL51L9RPKFmXy26QjTNI3x9JWpZ25kbpr-leRfCpJIUzaN54WENPn_fVZtXVcHDHHL_2f4/s1600/photo+1(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMuxCvpMukwGzma8ggS97tOZo0u1nmox381yjOBqc_BOyrLvNfB1yQROJqCV8MwtzyoPdIPSL51L9RPKFmXy26QjTNI3x9JWpZ25kbpr-leRfCpJIUzaN54WENPn_fVZtXVcHDHHL_2f4/s1600/photo+1(2).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After the explanation of the programs, everyone went around and judged what they thought were strengths and weaknesses of everyone else's group ideas.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnckqEuJWb-pYysBT5ogMYek2uDH6HqAdksg1wmDkCPbYBWXecJPa5RNNM7I80gT-P2kEZL0icwJCowQD7Jk-E0kCmVQWTJelyxQgiijKH6QLxvp9-0NZiPthtgtE_-o_uQi6lRDSDmien/s1600/photo+2(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnckqEuJWb-pYysBT5ogMYek2uDH6HqAdksg1wmDkCPbYBWXecJPa5RNNM7I80gT-P2kEZL0icwJCowQD7Jk-E0kCmVQWTJelyxQgiijKH6QLxvp9-0NZiPthtgtE_-o_uQi6lRDSDmien/s1600/photo+2(1).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Blue--strengths, pink weaknesses</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH96CZWfZw3pqZ70E9DPF_1TWt6M_b5ytUr460DNNPVCMqwFRmBpljfn-3YiAAj-xIam9lWOVpkCU_Al2e5gYLs-rRTvx1rvU3m4BEAFTCnLghhKG_jgkVpPpgnej3JFsOQPRKp6dHvAm/s1600/photo+4(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH96CZWfZw3pqZ70E9DPF_1TWt6M_b5ytUr460DNNPVCMqwFRmBpljfn-3YiAAj-xIam9lWOVpkCU_Al2e5gYLs-rRTvx1rvU3m4BEAFTCnLghhKG_jgkVpPpgnej3JFsOQPRKp6dHvAm/s1600/photo+4(3).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After everyone went through and dissected everyone else's idea, they judged whose program would theoretically be most successful. The winning group received a KEEP Environmental Education prize and a coupon for FREE SOFT CREAM! That was a huge hit. This was the winning group from the first session. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-Phnu9L_HgIXrWdvLyqTBk1vdUMwJ7Y-QnWh_Yx2A6b2TnAe31PsSPfjHGRKvYqqT0r7gpGxHgTn84m6MjPr-HWtXt6A-371Hj0xfPXSL5FQnotsLs2vPmOtCoMzNIlyA9m7xsYaAT1D/s1600/photo+1(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-Phnu9L_HgIXrWdvLyqTBk1vdUMwJ7Y-QnWh_Yx2A6b2TnAe31PsSPfjHGRKvYqqT0r7gpGxHgTn84m6MjPr-HWtXt6A-371Hj0xfPXSL5FQnotsLs2vPmOtCoMzNIlyA9m7xsYaAT1D/s1600/photo+1(4).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Winning group from the second session!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK2Y6ACCNcQ_CBDKeugVDwy_zH9vNKcTvODD7__KGPlHE8cBrI1xAVmp6JkcXIuKR4_YeuBwn6ndtLHrduVH_2udSElvHjdpCi-tfRTaI3j85ze1dUXvwet6MXfnLtNM-ynpq_f7Cpsre/s1600/photo+5(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK2Y6ACCNcQ_CBDKeugVDwy_zH9vNKcTvODD7__KGPlHE8cBrI1xAVmp6JkcXIuKR4_YeuBwn6ndtLHrduVH_2udSElvHjdpCi-tfRTaI3j85ze1dUXvwet6MXfnLtNM-ynpq_f7Cpsre/s1600/photo+5(3).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Winning group from the third session!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0AJsHLnMeSYbRSW9zgozngu1oDmvBg2n0if0OD4IJpwN3rFAEiyCqd5BRZ8O-dJ7IZljIpL1s2Am_jaInvRWqjjbzoJg_9a0cfXS5A89Nw_aMNPCClBqW7kcUTr4FfFukzQB4v2XbuTc/s1600/photo+3(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0AJsHLnMeSYbRSW9zgozngu1oDmvBg2n0if0OD4IJpwN3rFAEiyCqd5BRZ8O-dJ7IZljIpL1s2Am_jaInvRWqjjbzoJg_9a0cfXS5A89Nw_aMNPCClBqW7kcUTr4FfFukzQB4v2XbuTc/s1600/photo+3(2).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We ate all meals together which was a great time to get to know all the students. They loved asking questions about America and what American college students were like.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7n1AU7WGrFL5h0vQtjmvW6_G07AxO-s8VtJTi-yPVS_-uRCLJXwsbrHgeO-vIXv17NuvQ0Z9IkyHD6IVZAvhleasGwzF9pUBYOe59bxJJhJBfn6UuRSSizP6I8DTm9_UDJoArI9Kmtup/s1600/photo+5(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7n1AU7WGrFL5h0vQtjmvW6_G07AxO-s8VtJTi-yPVS_-uRCLJXwsbrHgeO-vIXv17NuvQ0Z9IkyHD6IVZAvhleasGwzF9pUBYOe59bxJJhJBfn6UuRSSizP6I8DTm9_UDJoArI9Kmtup/s1600/photo+5(2).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All of us practicing for our "night hike". We look these insulated yoga mat type things out to lay in the three feet of snow to look at the stars and "be one with nature"--still one of my favorite things I have done since being at KEEP.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUk7bDW0GiQjCUwBcuQGeV-B-ktAmzcP_kZbV1N3jL3l50vKjtvQr9owShvX6trXiZcxNXqT-RPma6qHUbh1sGR77H2jGUDwY9Wl0JJVQSpPErjRzrLBQsQKZ81IZ5smv1cicjQH926yf/s1600/photo+4(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUk7bDW0GiQjCUwBcuQGeV-B-ktAmzcP_kZbV1N3jL3l50vKjtvQr9owShvX6trXiZcxNXqT-RPma6qHUbh1sGR77H2jGUDwY9Wl0JJVQSpPErjRzrLBQsQKZ81IZ5smv1cicjQH926yf/s1600/photo+4(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My new friend Rika--she had great English. She had spent a semester in Australia. She thought it was so funny that I could detect an Australian accent in her English.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">O</span>n days I'm not working with these groups, I have been continuing my work at the Paul Rusch Memorial Museum, no longer Center. We had a name change at the beginning of the fiscal year on April 1. I am still working on archiving and creating the searchable database of the Paul Rusch letters. I just finished the Eli Lilly Fund folder and was interesting to see how the Lilly Endowment was broken down in his will and seeing names of places that I actually knew! KEEP was among some big Indy names like the IMA and Children's Museum that received money. The money KEEP received was in memory of his wife. Seeing all of that was a nice reminder of home.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrdA8ahtiQg9ilkodFLlXhTTsjs5XqOhezYS1QZQ981EC4xf7SJKSrSI2n4v_uPAMy5QKTIoBI1q_We5r7gQu6oICnlhxbhFUX1GmRomlwJ_YvgeLrzJT4plKJWVx9xTnAJcMX0MxQUOf/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrdA8ahtiQg9ilkodFLlXhTTsjs5XqOhezYS1QZQ981EC4xf7SJKSrSI2n4v_uPAMy5QKTIoBI1q_We5r7gQu6oICnlhxbhFUX1GmRomlwJ_YvgeLrzJT4plKJWVx9xTnAJcMX0MxQUOf/s1600/photo.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I KNOW THESE NAMES AND PLACES!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> So now that catches us up to pretty much today. I now have a set schedule here at KEEP, Mondays and Thursdays are spent at the Paul Rusch Memorial Museum, and the weekends I am at the hotel here, Seisen-Ryo. Fridays I am working in the restaurant of the hotel and Saturdays and Sundays I am working in the front office and front desk area. I've only been here a few days, so I don't have much to report back yet or any pictures, but my main job here is going to be teaching about the American service industry and translating signs in to native English as well as learning the systems and how things are done here. I am already having so much fun being back in the hospitality field and now adding the international aspect into it is really exciting. I'll update when I have more information and pictures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> So again I apologize for the delay in blog postings. Hopefully now that things here are picking up and I'm not snowed in anymore, I will have more to report on. Spring has finally started here in the mountains! The snow is (almost) completely gone and the flowers are blooming. Luckily I didn't miss the sakuras, or cherry blossoms, blooming up here in the mountains. They say Kiyosato sakura season is about a two or three weeks behind Tokyo, where the blossoms are said to have already fallen. I hope every has had a great Holy Week and a fantastic Easter this weekend. Thank you for sticking it out for another long post!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Until next time,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Charlotte</span></div>
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-5622731879292097092014-03-05T22:26:00.000-05:002014-04-19T02:34:36.821-04:00Lenten Meditations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not much has been happening here in Kiyosato to update on. We did just receive enough snow again yesterday to cancel Ash Wednesday services so that was kind of a let down. I was nervous about my car getting stuck...again, so I decided to walk to church. Bad idea because I didn't find out until I got down there that the services were cancelled. It afforded me some much needed exercise, the thirty minutes down and thirty minutes back up. Anyways, now that the Lenten season is upon us, our group of YASC volunteers has set up a blog, <a href="http://yasclenten.blogspot.jp/2014/03/day-1-ash-wednesday.html" target="_blank">Meditations from Millennial Missionaries</a> ,where we will post these Lenten reflections. Take a look at the second post from Ash Wednesdays around the world. There are a few pictures of my church, St. Andrew's, under the snow. I've also created a link on my blog in the menu for easy access. Look out for my reflections on March 18 and April 9!</span><br />
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<br />Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-86670905542057565882014-02-20T12:20:00.003-05:002014-02-20T12:32:43.620-05:00Winter is Coming? It 's here.<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">apologize for the bad Game of Thrones joke, but I can't help but think I'm north of the wall and am going to see a white walker when I look out the window. As some of you have told me via Facebook, the news of the record breaking snow in Japan has made it to the U.S. which is a big deal. Here, it's not unusual for the Japanese to be extremely aware of U.S. news and policies (I've had discussions started by my coworkers asking about how many states gay marriage and marijuana are now legal in). I couldn't even begin to speak about what are the big issues in Japan, besides the snow, and I'm living here! To put you all at ease, I am doing perfectly fine. I haven't lost heat or power despite Mother Nature giving it her best attempt, as you tell from this article from </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/18/us-japan-snow-idUSBREA1H0BG20140218" target="_blank">Reuters</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and this article from </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001047185" target="_blank">The Japan Times</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. If you remember from a few posts ago Kiyosato is in the Yamanashi Prefecture, capital Kofu, which are both the focus of the articles. The amount of snow, 114 centimeters, closed KEEP. Most all of the offices closed on Friday when the storm hit and today was the first day a few of the offices reopened. So what has that meant for me? Well after finishing up my time at Shizen Gakko last Tuesday, I had three days off before I was supposed to go back on Saturday. Obviously, programs were cancelled due to weather, so there was no one to cook for, so I've been hanging out in my dorm for the past nine, NINE! days. I've gotten really into watching West Wing online. I did make it out to the 7-11 to get more food and it looked like the apocalypse had hit. All the bread and cereal AND cookies were gone along with most everything else on the shelves.The creepiness was taken to another level when the only other person in the store at 9:30pm with me was the store clerk who had a face mask on. While I know it's a polite thing to wear when you're sick, it just made me feel like I was in the middle of a zombie outbreak. Yesterday I couldn't really handle the cabin fever that was setting in anymore, so I bundled up, grabbed my camera and headed out around KEEP and walked down into Kiyosato itself to check out the storm damage. It's mostly pictures because talking about how many times I've painted my nails or done pilates in my room can get a little boring.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwomQng5PqDIJRpq53-jDDYEIsz1SShGvxw0i8by_7g9ftqUmb5jav1HNslqeDDq9QBDQFxDsLWTrauLSacPkU7fMjHbRU4Hx6R-fcTdawbs3yu9nKxND8nw42VYsqe42oNPgMbhPq94N/s1600/IMG_4694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwomQng5PqDIJRpq53-jDDYEIsz1SShGvxw0i8by_7g9ftqUmb5jav1HNslqeDDq9QBDQFxDsLWTrauLSacPkU7fMjHbRU4Hx6R-fcTdawbs3yu9nKxND8nw42VYsqe42oNPgMbhPq94N/s1600/IMG_4694.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The path from the front door towards the bigger path that leads to the main road.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I totally understand how these things can kill you!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXdhLmlB8qvq2sgkFC6cip-gmYj996t18SySwkgGn8YfcC5P3eaX57ZdA7ZfAlIIhwDVFfB4drgpBtKtW64quBIit50gfVFrO6rd_BeQE0n9sUaZ1vEata3IHrAzGOJ_jIWKaOGx6n9le/s1600/IMG_4697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXdhLmlB8qvq2sgkFC6cip-gmYj996t18SySwkgGn8YfcC5P3eaX57ZdA7ZfAlIIhwDVFfB4drgpBtKtW64quBIit50gfVFrO6rd_BeQE0n9sUaZ1vEata3IHrAzGOJ_jIWKaOGx6n9le/s1600/IMG_4697.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The path that's usually a road to drive to our dorm.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnokXaDopyVHdUV81xli0aDfBcJ4N_QiMjSBLJAPbXkTz7VAeup8sKtEcvZYgeOpPY_od07gjhFkfZV5TC-edHvpL2VXYjkwgXhp8fGbMghq0Hi5rykNqDynaa5UB9WgVBgXCYBS_Jm-qE/s1600/IMG_4699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnokXaDopyVHdUV81xli0aDfBcJ4N_QiMjSBLJAPbXkTz7VAeup8sKtEcvZYgeOpPY_od07gjhFkfZV5TC-edHvpL2VXYjkwgXhp8fGbMghq0Hi5rykNqDynaa5UB9WgVBgXCYBS_Jm-qE/s1600/IMG_4699.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking from the road, over what is usually a parking lot to the restaurant of the Siesen Ryo Annex.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10Yq6sIG70Ye0pGZDQLn2uzmjdzDfM2ExevvA6SvxMRmwMwkieIqEszfPaK-KPRJcrvunsVRJLKTNow4GiX9rlxeJsqDxWnzdx3pbp4PSX4XM27rTbrt9kjCeWBPFpTzakpW0RqL5RfcO/s1600/IMG_4700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10Yq6sIG70Ye0pGZDQLn2uzmjdzDfM2ExevvA6SvxMRmwMwkieIqEszfPaK-KPRJcrvunsVRJLKTNow4GiX9rlxeJsqDxWnzdx3pbp4PSX4XM27rTbrt9kjCeWBPFpTzakpW0RqL5RfcO/s1600/IMG_4700.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Climbed on top of a 7 foot snow pile to look out over the usual parking lot.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2VFtjRQtUJIOJ6apV7SP37q1ij_TzvYNRrAI2WPpydUBdjt7FAEMznp4yD7iUzdBtLmaoWSd4UzIemqqfmZmoR3BebjO9SWMvFiYyTOZEruNMN0tG5Q_Qa9vWCDhI2nVKKdX7pxRDv4U/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2VFtjRQtUJIOJ6apV7SP37q1ij_TzvYNRrAI2WPpydUBdjt7FAEMznp4yD7iUzdBtLmaoWSd4UzIemqqfmZmoR3BebjO9SWMvFiYyTOZEruNMN0tG5Q_Qa9vWCDhI2nVKKdX7pxRDv4U/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because we're in the mountains, the wind whips around and creates these HUGE snow dunes.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGveEmsYNdLOkXtJaBeLGC6tAPAeVoA176a1DNw50zhigzb5d_9eKeu7JWSImxmz5pawz9UF5Fv54dscOrTaQlVDX1GDfv8T5abq7_GpZYSXTiuxFlqTf9wjkpm5LtwSBnHYBbQqUoOl5P/s1600/IMG_4703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGveEmsYNdLOkXtJaBeLGC6tAPAeVoA176a1DNw50zhigzb5d_9eKeu7JWSImxmz5pawz9UF5Fv54dscOrTaQlVDX1GDfv8T5abq7_GpZYSXTiuxFlqTf9wjkpm5LtwSBnHYBbQqUoOl5P/s1600/IMG_4703.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Street sign that's about the height of a US speed limit sign.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3DFJjjNEGUjbxzFh5NmrechEjWebkcUUzI_p4WtDRN_lxjVCn-JK0t9NTPF59bSuv4UeguiHmGV4S_0SB62KBiuEb0rz0zgssk4FMUyR4uMLh2UQo0GzMmhCngEbx5H_jf-7RGbFerG3/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3DFJjjNEGUjbxzFh5NmrechEjWebkcUUzI_p4WtDRN_lxjVCn-JK0t9NTPF59bSuv4UeguiHmGV4S_0SB62KBiuEb0rz0zgssk4FMUyR4uMLh2UQo0GzMmhCngEbx5H_jf-7RGbFerG3/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG" height="436" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not quite sure of the type of bird--I'm not well versed in Japanese fowl yet, I apologize.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDvRzO4NOvAkQUckOKLPDJ7g9yfC-CsKO0Qqb_BxhlXluF8ZLOdabPrhKyP7RE_pr3VwhFd0K7rVm2N-dJ28GtbttwdHOnXZP5AuGOAPZO4TU3F_1zdh8aWbCRhZpxparBnT-0B5zr37M/s1600/IMG_4782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDvRzO4NOvAkQUckOKLPDJ7g9yfC-CsKO0Qqb_BxhlXluF8ZLOdabPrhKyP7RE_pr3VwhFd0K7rVm2N-dJ28GtbttwdHOnXZP5AuGOAPZO4TU3F_1zdh8aWbCRhZpxparBnT-0B5zr37M/s1600/IMG_4782.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I should have know I was gonna see some wild life.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BMazo1ohO10Wbf6uvk02nMs3GZ5WIGbpuhjw7C2xP_9ekVsUh0DAasUE6Ga3O2T3hUYE1HXxJJaPOpo8eCtiq4niwFUmER3iET-3m7kB7XyvrJJ-JXu5uqrR1adEyKtw4VkL-tAbJWBa/s1600/IMG_4711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BMazo1ohO10Wbf6uvk02nMs3GZ5WIGbpuhjw7C2xP_9ekVsUh0DAasUE6Ga3O2T3hUYE1HXxJJaPOpo8eCtiq4niwFUmER3iET-3m7kB7XyvrJJ-JXu5uqrR1adEyKtw4VkL-tAbJWBa/s1600/IMG_4711.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe the bakery has been open the whole time because I've </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">heard my roommate get up every morning for </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">her 4am shift-it's those West Wing binges.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmAM6fDFhAe_ib5vyccUi5m8nn0NSx1OUePigTCSh9XZKOjvAlozAvTvAfi-4oi28U-U8nLCOxVjgRUyrNuO40EXwIVj95c9Tq_9H5XHOqqEKmJd7_MvR4Q22Fcgn1F3wHdZi5Gzj45bs/s1600/IMG_4715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmAM6fDFhAe_ib5vyccUi5m8nn0NSx1OUePigTCSh9XZKOjvAlozAvTvAfi-4oi28U-U8nLCOxVjgRUyrNuO40EXwIVj95c9Tq_9H5XHOqqEKmJd7_MvR4Q22Fcgn1F3wHdZi5Gzj45bs/s1600/IMG_4715.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More killer icicles that haven't been ripped off the roof by a nervous American.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD6R6Sie2ivfUulOr3PiZpVvj8ACcCuFlKc366mTfZW1Yu_Zx-g5qr6ghUutZZCtMfL2yxUS8VcLxr_dh-6Rl-Z246GoENGBkbBbLlFt2sl8kTO1QJx-ZhZYhMlQeZ5IeZdlgD02RtItD/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD6R6Sie2ivfUulOr3PiZpVvj8ACcCuFlKc366mTfZW1Yu_Zx-g5qr6ghUutZZCtMfL2yxUS8VcLxr_dh-6Rl-Z246GoENGBkbBbLlFt2sl8kTO1QJx-ZhZYhMlQeZ5IeZdlgD02RtItD/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sign for church.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDSxRVANhTDVRCL384XQo6r0oiDPjubv9j1XqwRjI-xuOyDYHfhU27EBD86ziROnuAhG2b1dRI7Th0sGm7OGmBXu7HgGxrOpTcxz_v3FmxAbpx1IJAMD42cPcVja1DfG95SIrH9rTA0hF/s1600/IMG_4763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDSxRVANhTDVRCL384XQo6r0oiDPjubv9j1XqwRjI-xuOyDYHfhU27EBD86ziROnuAhG2b1dRI7Th0sGm7OGmBXu7HgGxrOpTcxz_v3FmxAbpx1IJAMD42cPcVja1DfG95SIrH9rTA0hF/s1600/IMG_4763.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I now know the hill to church is do-able.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZUAZ7iLvb2qw3hUWadMPoem1CRDOXLVXPAJ84zncbQSiyx9S_6l1F6kGx0JW_0t6A-p1M9hS7a1IPKB6mEug7YgSp1_L0vwLTi6jQ3gUlKzRUpO0LLb5LNgX2IajHQ1vTyhmO4nZdE_Y/s1600/IMG_4767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZUAZ7iLvb2qw3hUWadMPoem1CRDOXLVXPAJ84zncbQSiyx9S_6l1F6kGx0JW_0t6A-p1M9hS7a1IPKB6mEug7YgSp1_L0vwLTi6jQ3gUlKzRUpO0LLb5LNgX2IajHQ1vTyhmO4nZdE_Y/s1600/IMG_4767.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I may be able to get TO church, but whether or not I'll be able to get IN is another story.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqH5J6UUVz3FYI-iGT9UNu14cVTdUHxnggnENAz8hv4rRnMxsd8RsONovqCq7-YWg3T7uDmHbg4iUOdJNbviz4SyFTjy5UDxaGpHvynDiWPCW1off1dWbFcRtSg_JHHQe90fal59rg2DD/s1600/IMG_4731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqH5J6UUVz3FYI-iGT9UNu14cVTdUHxnggnENAz8hv4rRnMxsd8RsONovqCq7-YWg3T7uDmHbg4iUOdJNbviz4SyFTjy5UDxaGpHvynDiWPCW1off1dWbFcRtSg_JHHQe90fal59rg2DD/s1600/IMG_4731.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crossing over the railroad tracks walking into town.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1tdTHWpy1iOkfQHYlM4m0XKI6ko1LnFYyNwoPEuMReUt08_vBapzzypEXDh50ZHVTsOb7Y5wfHPZXr7kwXq3Qh70IFrE1mEA_enW_5dyEIuEbkqavbUUR0fbDLkdbm7QHjJx-Lt__NbH/s1600/IMG_4732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1tdTHWpy1iOkfQHYlM4m0XKI6ko1LnFYyNwoPEuMReUt08_vBapzzypEXDh50ZHVTsOb7Y5wfHPZXr7kwXq3Qh70IFrE1mEA_enW_5dyEIuEbkqavbUUR0fbDLkdbm7QHjJx-Lt__NbH/s1600/IMG_4732.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While the town is pretty dead in the winter with most of the shops closed, the snow makes it even eerier. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxtt_mldaW2bxcRZVsd8NyLdzeHett4IUTCsNhy6RR3MBDgReONuSVyRI0SfKv-LFDyjfIs1RNZVp51PdYybt_5pjdd8JfjqoZrPZ8zXVG7CgWUhwPMGgy-9hsPIVl_JyZo7ACtYzRvnQ/s1600/IMG_4738.JPG" height="426" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm really excited for summer to come so I can go to the Milk Pot...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who wouldn't want to go </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">somewhere that's shaped like a tea pot?</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJnONEZOr83_4wYMKBurAg3QjEchMg6mSGnD4zxGX8KYxDs_31U4l76cDj59XFDWGoEYs4O9du4QRF0mZonNpBillTxfFdKWoUxeIF_2StW-Hu3ASR0x0Cp9I3olrtufT5ACMhDYhIMXF/s1600/IMG_4734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJnONEZOr83_4wYMKBurAg3QjEchMg6mSGnD4zxGX8KYxDs_31U4l76cDj59XFDWGoEYs4O9du4QRF0mZonNpBillTxfFdKWoUxeIF_2StW-Hu3ASR0x0Cp9I3olrtufT5ACMhDYhIMXF/s1600/IMG_4734.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A TEAPOT!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYssJG5FjRFofIaF9UdYTVi9KQOR90KNl136Enhz_4CkA6gU3RoOP19KfEoR3ez9wh68jRSHUpawmp3bsUYEVXpJuB9s2YW8leTTVGRSGX-Lbz0b9Scc278RxTQ1MUTMiYZ_F2g_KcX8z/s1600/IMG_4740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYssJG5FjRFofIaF9UdYTVi9KQOR90KNl136Enhz_4CkA6gU3RoOP19KfEoR3ez9wh68jRSHUpawmp3bsUYEVXpJuB9s2YW8leTTVGRSGX-Lbz0b9Scc278RxTQ1MUTMiYZ_F2g_KcX8z/s1600/IMG_4740.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite building besides the Milk Pot--the Green Prah. Have yet to figure out what it is.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQpn_0wHqsELKDuSq4IhxQqwp-kSBkvPpoiIVqeOIEQ49YiKO1aWUPPKRJFQVDRmb8xmhVgGj0SFGVZvv2H_lFM-i4VC6hUktwOC2KmlKqA1Ox0GutOV8PBl3SwPWNj3MwepTv5PvaZ3A/s1600/IMG_4742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQpn_0wHqsELKDuSq4IhxQqwp-kSBkvPpoiIVqeOIEQ49YiKO1aWUPPKRJFQVDRmb8xmhVgGj0SFGVZvv2H_lFM-i4VC6hUktwOC2KmlKqA1Ox0GutOV8PBl3SwPWNj3MwepTv5PvaZ3A/s1600/IMG_4742.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have one police car in Kiyosato. It will make it much easier to creep when I hear sirens.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqag3SED32DpF49Vnegz5o74pWZy7Huyhl4HuwJTLZPnYDijtVqeQNzcvKUhnIYT_PTn4ufkW10dedmd-L-X57BhiCFon7h6sCT_SqSU0JxI0aB3S9E4MZ7dofJBL_hYadWzAXuooYBc7/s1600/IMG_4743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqag3SED32DpF49Vnegz5o74pWZy7Huyhl4HuwJTLZPnYDijtVqeQNzcvKUhnIYT_PTn4ufkW10dedmd-L-X57BhiCFon7h6sCT_SqSU0JxI0aB3S9E4MZ7dofJBL_hYadWzAXuooYBc7/s1600/IMG_4743.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hill leading up to the train station. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU7uK5AjuzvMDEd9uW-ahyBig91AKQeMELVBcOHC6Bbd0UtrtMH6GsfcR6j0esdrVcOs2wNxWSMGVzVyLkLwH4HpqodqyXzWaBLRchtpdyuLfKTb-0LvOAkYPQWw0m7rcCm2MIEkhUSkq/s1600/IMG_4745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU7uK5AjuzvMDEd9uW-ahyBig91AKQeMELVBcOHC6Bbd0UtrtMH6GsfcR6j0esdrVcOs2wNxWSMGVzVyLkLwH4HpqodqyXzWaBLRchtpdyuLfKTb-0LvOAkYPQWw0m7rcCm2MIEkhUSkq/s1600/IMG_4745.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Truck taking away plowed snow...to where? I never found out.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyQixDHN_On9lh2uPZwAmQmnQ96kbiCGOXei7Dq8iNk7SRv0oq7mVft8OXEPx8ecnoh90Kl2VMrGGkcBNSFUBhJpoj34MHUjbwklBVgxve_kYxwCJvRZLJ3lzEV6dUYq9RpRp-AMkmibp/s1600/IMG_4747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyQixDHN_On9lh2uPZwAmQmnQ96kbiCGOXei7Dq8iNk7SRv0oq7mVft8OXEPx8ecnoh90Kl2VMrGGkcBNSFUBhJpoj34MHUjbwklBVgxve_kYxwCJvRZLJ3lzEV6dUYq9RpRp-AMkmibp/s1600/IMG_4747.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Decorative train engine, but it gives you a scale of the snow amount.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvkrHE-8Zi4it_4CmLmgq6PcAvifh6BiiDKBAB1NGAvJrk2I1CuhftFY7N3HNMjTfXCV9USMTkz9CU9viNsx_BTpruh7itpG6oumO3hvCwbmoAt8k7zia-lsOx3rGQGtyH3y221wKhhPZ/s1600/IMG_4748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvkrHE-8Zi4it_4CmLmgq6PcAvifh6BiiDKBAB1NGAvJrk2I1CuhftFY7N3HNMjTfXCV9USMTkz9CU9viNsx_BTpruh7itpG6oumO3hvCwbmoAt8k7zia-lsOx3rGQGtyH3y221wKhhPZ/s1600/IMG_4748.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What's normally, I would assume, a picturesque, lush, verdant area in front of <br />the train station. I wouldn't know it's <br />been covered with snow since I got here. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9yROYULh7t_kYPJmMtzWOcZaDO4AV3vys7-bokaaDC5DBqLYEhNJKUZUv-VO8eV2c_KmmYku9NS89yBZLrZiv8ee0Q3Ub2P6o-V46RXKGad5LUh_hv70Z8SghyphenhyphenZKeNvSf2kTuD54IlgS/s1600/IMG_4754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9yROYULh7t_kYPJmMtzWOcZaDO4AV3vys7-bokaaDC5DBqLYEhNJKUZUv-VO8eV2c_KmmYku9NS89yBZLrZiv8ee0Q3Ub2P6o-V46RXKGad5LUh_hv70Z8SghyphenhyphenZKeNvSf2kTuD54IlgS/s1600/IMG_4754.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking down the road through town that leads to KEEP.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pF2C888bgHwbWgyoeRMVf4MVLvBRUccPswAIXd_3A8rziibZJ6pgThtFcI4fH2t0GzqsBARK0YkV0baBTdAkvte1ZuwzY9BjM1rJjEkk1XhfJ4fPJtD6puaSBvaEr1LndIlXLnlkqu0z/s1600/IMG_4755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pF2C888bgHwbWgyoeRMVf4MVLvBRUccPswAIXd_3A8rziibZJ6pgThtFcI4fH2t0GzqsBARK0YkV0baBTdAkvte1ZuwzY9BjM1rJjEkk1XhfJ4fPJtD6puaSBvaEr1LndIlXLnlkqu0z/s1600/IMG_4755.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Headed back up the hill...clock tower next to the Milk Pot.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1M8F1By9Q7bhsELw7RaW-YmyJhM5xPAvpAjdGdC9oB-2G1vUBDpY0R9YRyVXXpGCWJW_w6rWocgEvEDE_-pbXSVn_wupXzvUpYSmnWgIBy4JkmevFViwkBWrGG21-set97piCklYP7HP/s1600/IMG_4756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1M8F1By9Q7bhsELw7RaW-YmyJhM5xPAvpAjdGdC9oB-2G1vUBDpY0R9YRyVXXpGCWJW_w6rWocgEvEDE_-pbXSVn_wupXzvUpYSmnWgIBy4JkmevFViwkBWrGG21-set97piCklYP7HP/s1600/IMG_4756.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mountains over KEEP...it never gets old.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxDEaewwwo1UJpX6idmsJKmzf3BtuHQ1XJ0YNM5jxmmjN1y4Lj_04louDe5Mb-pWvuURzjiKqRKl3VPzx9Cvlg-1xi3AK_ZQrAtxq4i83f0fVipMTpWFCsK-929xCpUinOB5ep1DVRGdh/s1600/IMG_4759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxDEaewwwo1UJpX6idmsJKmzf3BtuHQ1XJ0YNM5jxmmjN1y4Lj_04louDe5Mb-pWvuURzjiKqRKl3VPzx9Cvlg-1xi3AK_ZQrAtxq4i83f0fVipMTpWFCsK-929xCpUinOB5ep1DVRGdh/s1600/IMG_4759.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the way back they had brought out the snow plow train.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu6vuEukf_VK-E9U_22f2eyO4pMF15stAiDNWyx3fuarP4FZfaBqVSzpSngWGvRBfqheCzuO7nGIINqIZSo1NQg6UNHuFTsp2AA1BKNh7Q_QbtO4mhjrR0BPDzDJi_60veBi-pfV_8wcM/s1600/IMG_4799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu6vuEukf_VK-E9U_22f2eyO4pMF15stAiDNWyx3fuarP4FZfaBqVSzpSngWGvRBfqheCzuO7nGIINqIZSo1NQg6UNHuFTsp2AA1BKNh7Q_QbtO4mhjrR0BPDzDJi_60veBi-pfV_8wcM/s1600/IMG_4799.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking out over the mountains to the south.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IPdrksBzq0AlPriaMA21soxRy3kPlTUdqV_8-1zDWLXqLgXrxglYMSGTiaFEwPX_JhSWm3QwxGugtoWJoL7qVi57fU7e4Q6qXJ-a3dwtfeyjTGJfMkPONIYW5BgvTjSYPLavkiwV1EsT/s1600/IMG_4801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IPdrksBzq0AlPriaMA21soxRy3kPlTUdqV_8-1zDWLXqLgXrxglYMSGTiaFEwPX_JhSWm3QwxGugtoWJoL7qVi57fU7e4Q6qXJ-a3dwtfeyjTGJfMkPONIYW5BgvTjSYPLavkiwV1EsT/s1600/IMG_4801.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found someone's polar bear that escaped to his natural habitat.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dnOcGPHEVeHFZ2uu9OglWrE2VSWFyeIyWmoygm4QoS-28i7h6u2GzWKD8VNgQ3wxrIPZReKUs0Rd1xlmCFU3OAQCPccLNob3ed_T6n8dh7F2c0ZJ7S85PcughoU_N5EKHSH8nd9BIXyx/s1600/IMG_4803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dnOcGPHEVeHFZ2uu9OglWrE2VSWFyeIyWmoygm4QoS-28i7h6u2GzWKD8VNgQ3wxrIPZReKUs0Rd1xlmCFU3OAQCPccLNob3ed_T6n8dh7F2c0ZJ7S85PcughoU_N5EKHSH8nd9BIXyx/s1600/IMG_4803.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The field where County Fair is usually held.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5gYYmWPjaPUGMn1QUDrE2jrhR5QO9sAgrgKTwbvEyv3wx5UvMhFk5CsQjmxmlPVG3N7pazHX2vdqalArEywW8tX_DqTyT54f81JkwJ8YA7_ZQGgqkdx77hLHqSLcD8slMLNyoDOrYUqe/s1600/IMG_4805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5gYYmWPjaPUGMn1QUDrE2jrhR5QO9sAgrgKTwbvEyv3wx5UvMhFk5CsQjmxmlPVG3N7pazHX2vdqalArEywW8tX_DqTyT54f81JkwJ8YA7_ZQGgqkdx77hLHqSLcD8slMLNyoDOrYUqe/s1600/IMG_4805.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three days ago every single one of those cars was covered in snow to their roof. <br />I don't know who did it, but they<br /> deserve my first born.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0PPQTTkdQfAb6o7SXF90k7GtORLmc0EceUeuU0C4Si7S2fBy_03qUR-KyNhaeFqh_srVa1JQc19B-IqsKV_2FE9JouKY4CHFayDmEW51BABTaXisXF0Q0Wi_yIueQO84Ok4TZa-Y8EjT/s1600/IMG_4808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0PPQTTkdQfAb6o7SXF90k7GtORLmc0EceUeuU0C4Si7S2fBy_03qUR-KyNhaeFqh_srVa1JQc19B-IqsKV_2FE9JouKY4CHFayDmEW51BABTaXisXF0Q0Wi_yIueQO84Ok4TZa-Y8EjT/s1600/IMG_4808.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The path back to Lancaster.</span></td></tr>
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<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went out again today anticipating exploring up the mountain, but after I started and the road became not as cleared, the warning from my manager in an email saying "Don't go anywhere in the snow without staff" started repeating in my head. I decided to just hang around the rotary by the old Seisen Ryo building and watch the sun start to set. It's my favorite part of the day with the sun going down over the mountains. I climbed a huge snow pile and just sat and watched. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOM5HGacMjfzJ6zYY5daKRkcAyX31NKqChuwPUVfJJpeh3_XuCLEDP5PHjd2qo6jnDKN2u14RwzAZoDrBb4qSPsY-OhEhQ_9xTi48si35Aa07Pvp2iQWi0JdORkx4C6444D6xydQxTl5C7/s1600/IMG_4810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOM5HGacMjfzJ6zYY5daKRkcAyX31NKqChuwPUVfJJpeh3_XuCLEDP5PHjd2qo6jnDKN2u14RwzAZoDrBb4qSPsY-OhEhQ_9xTi48si35Aa07Pvp2iQWi0JdORkx4C6444D6xydQxTl5C7/s1600/IMG_4810.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The old Seisen Ryo lodge with the Paul Rusch statue. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitGU2feTTPOwCTPtXkYgiC_TjartMrZ4wbpaD8JhaxwXHOwP043ddJwb6wieaDejt0zOplJoj44ROYNOu5BGcLTKejirR7TJTrGggGcy3GOGSG2bWRSLCb70GWGlo7IDJc9iKQ0oENfM6/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitGU2feTTPOwCTPtXkYgiC_TjartMrZ4wbpaD8JhaxwXHOwP043ddJwb6wieaDejt0zOplJoj44ROYNOu5BGcLTKejirR7TJTrGggGcy3GOGSG2bWRSLCb70GWGlo7IDJc9iKQ0oENfM6/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Paul Rusch statue in the middle of the rotary.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EVytdX-EsdCvEl10n5V_BVXiAS57pimEW-DWcOcx0pmHJujbfJuUyFA4yrsoNlhpsjpW3gwh-scV4EC5ISd1LbSquuY0gOi0QJbEkFf1Zwj8ikw_nljYW0d-p6uPtiyOwujwj12RdvSx/s1600/IMG_4813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EVytdX-EsdCvEl10n5V_BVXiAS57pimEW-DWcOcx0pmHJujbfJuUyFA4yrsoNlhpsjpW3gwh-scV4EC5ISd1LbSquuY0gOi0QJbEkFf1Zwj8ikw_nljYW0d-p6uPtiyOwujwj12RdvSx/s1600/IMG_4813.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">View from atop my perch.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This couple tried to make their poor dog walk in the snow. It didn't work so well.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">View of the Jersey Hut where they sell the famous soft cream.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just wanted to send a post out to show I'm alive and well even in the heaviest hit area of Japan. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charlotte</span></div>
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-63795075803922933382014-02-17T09:24:00.001-05:002014-02-20T10:45:51.903-05:00Would Ya Look at That?!?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> W</span>ell would you look at that! Last weekend marked officially being in Japan for a month! A page has been turned on the calendar. I hate to be cliche, but time really does fly when you're having fun. It's like time hopped on the bullet train, or shinkansen, while I wasn't looking and left me on the platform wondering where it went. So when I posted last time I said I was about to take a trip to Tokyo, but what have I been doing with the rest of my time here?!? A month is a long time to just be playing in the snow and looking at the beautiful mountains, right? Well this is what I have been up to! I apologize in advance for the length, but a lot happens in a month!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After the initial shock of getting here and moving into my dorm, work started. Okemoto-san, who is my boss in the International Relations department, had the great idea for the first few months of me being here to rotate around to the different departments at KEEP to get a feel for what each of them does, how they interact with each other, with the guests, and how they contribute to the overall success of KEEP. I couldn't have picked a better plan myself!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My first placement was at the Paul Rusch Memorial Center. Paul Rusch was an American from Kentucky (but born in Indiana!) who came to Japan to help rebuild in Tokyo after the major earthquake in 1923. He was persuaded to stay as an Episcopal missionary working as a professor at Rikkyo, or St. Paul's, University. During that time, he saw a need for youth leadership based in Christian ideals and built, high in the mountains, a youth retreat. Later on down the road when he re-envisioned the organization, it became known as KEEP, or the Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project, which was to be a model of community development in rural Japan. How do I know all this? Because the Paul Rusch Memorial Center is a museum dedicated to Paul Rusch's life! When I say this community reveres this man for what he did for the area, I'm not kidding. They have all of his passports, immigration documents, luggage, papers, letters, clothing, even his American Express from 1972 displayed in the museum. What is really quite awesome is that his house he lived in at KEEP is behind the PRMC and they have left it the exact same since his death and have made it into an extension of the museum. He was somewhat of a celebrity in Japan and you can see all the proclamations made in his name as well as all the gifts his friends, including everyone from ambassadors to emperors, had given him. So as a non-Japanese speaking person, I was obviously not being a tour guide or anything. No, my time was spent with the curator or the museum, Hata-san. Her and I had a lot of fun together. She has very good English and we would laugh a lot while working together on our different projects. My main project while there was to create a database of the Paul Rusch letters. Now what might the Paul Rusch letters be? I'm glad you asked! During Paul Rusch's life, he must have written thousands upon thousands of letters. Letters thanking people for donations to start KEEP, letters thanking people for donations to rebuild after a fire, letters inviting people to visit KEEP while they were in Japan, and I even read some letters from former students of his requesting him to use his klout to try and help get two family friends be admitted to Rikyyo University. All of these original letters and documents have been saved in filing cabinets, in folders labled with names of who the documents inside pertain to, in the back room of the Memorial Center. My job while there was to take these documents, with white gloved hands to keep these fifty year old documents safe, and scan them into the computer. Then, any handwritten English documents needed to be typed out in Word to be able to add to this database we are creating. Obviously as a native English speaker, it is a little bit easier for me to decipher some of these handwritings. Once all these documents are created and saved, the basis for this database needed to be created and each document needed to have topic words and keywords added in a huge excel sheet so one day this database of letters can be searched by name of author, what the letter was about, date, you name it. Hata-san said they have over a million documents in this back room and I thought maybe she mixed up million and thousand until it took me three days to get through four folders of documents. It will be nice once it is finished, but I think this is a job that is going to outlast my placement here. I will say, I thoroughly enjoyed my time doing it, though. It made me honestly think that I went into the wrong field of hospitality and really should be holed up alone in the basement of a museum or library or something doing research on items from long ago. Two opposite ends of the spectrum career-wise.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQtIPnl9WjMgvrHsA2imbkHL33CtwWKeE90N0FqxlnZekHiW-ZxQlTugdR8oB87hfh-0ZLl2y-AmKOCy7xNDjMwjuc1cfX68JLKPA0P-eS3meoqtFgbzIqYzJTpPhVC_gpjGHH5ZOmA5D/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQtIPnl9WjMgvrHsA2imbkHL33CtwWKeE90N0FqxlnZekHiW-ZxQlTugdR8oB87hfh-0ZLl2y-AmKOCy7xNDjMwjuc1cfX68JLKPA0P-eS3meoqtFgbzIqYzJTpPhVC_gpjGHH5ZOmA5D/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first workplace! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XHBiu-dwkmlWLu92nJTg7JIZ0_v9L-n0p_6_0JjWzc7B8OtD4hIU7Z7UTSCiB5ZtZf7mUw9UB3yKnUTha9CXrBTp9MekIFWtWpHHxYeu9dg4iUZr0SMkcvTiaQO4BAncMsyUYLhsZrPK/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XHBiu-dwkmlWLu92nJTg7JIZ0_v9L-n0p_6_0JjWzc7B8OtD4hIU7Z7UTSCiB5ZtZf7mUw9UB3yKnUTha9CXrBTp9MekIFWtWpHHxYeu9dg4iUZr0SMkcvTiaQO4BAncMsyUYLhsZrPK/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Someone had luckily already organized all of the names on the folders in the filing cabinets, so I could easily decipher the names on the letters. I had heard that Eli Lilly, the founder of the pharmaceutical company in Indianapolis for those of you not familiar, and his wife were big supporters so of course I went snooping through the names...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgRGdpZR1TR8IeieQi46XX5RPGUEUFobAVnznJ3OhTWo1gjFwFVxUhyzaadnAVSBwsGB5PI1L4-QN0ZSrks39zmfiXtSg2r7XGodXwcaurPO2YvB-3aDN-zoIjZE8BhnW5rUwvR4QACs_/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgRGdpZR1TR8IeieQi46XX5RPGUEUFobAVnznJ3OhTWo1gjFwFVxUhyzaadnAVSBwsGB5PI1L4-QN0ZSrks39zmfiXtSg2r7XGodXwcaurPO2YvB-3aDN-zoIjZE8BhnW5rUwvR4QACs_/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and didn't just find the location of the Lilly Endowment folder, but the location of a folder for the Diocese of Indianapolis. I couldn't just leave it be, so I went snooping in the archives and found all these benefactors including people from my home church! It made me feel like I was meant to be here!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06hkPgPyaUibITg1JiR_5MUbUZiyKD1J5ZQFzNiJpIh5dstFVsjdnfeEr0g2yuWAoTBndw67vHbShWbX6F2p2eSbab7U6v5gGVtDIOvUheep35tvfp1H_JLrVbogsObVF9vMEXzOPTq5B/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06hkPgPyaUibITg1JiR_5MUbUZiyKD1J5ZQFzNiJpIh5dstFVsjdnfeEr0g2yuWAoTBndw67vHbShWbX6F2p2eSbab7U6v5gGVtDIOvUheep35tvfp1H_JLrVbogsObVF9vMEXzOPTq5B/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt like such a computer wiz after staring at this excel sheet for three days.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> So the PRMC isn't just a museum. They also put on different programs throughout the year for people staying at the hotel or the campgrounds or just visiting for the day. During the time when I wasn't staring at the computer screen, I got to help Hata-san test how much time would be needed for different programming. One of those programs was going to be making Anglican rosaries. While not many people in Japan are Christian, the idea that KEEP was founded on Christian principals is still very prevalent among many of the departments' daily activities. We figured it would take about two hours for this such program and we were three ladies going at a leisurely pace sipping coffee and having some laughs.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHOcd4ctp1bkXYyCy2EjkcatNBGp-kydqXjZI0p01G_PpexpjTD7roFXPFku-U1ELBmEtg30roW0xU8I7VYdNwr2CpvJpInby5vNCIGP34gcR-QwEQkWWgbhSBCw9AujpYL7g568nSRBO/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHOcd4ctp1bkXYyCy2EjkcatNBGp-kydqXjZI0p01G_PpexpjTD7roFXPFku-U1ELBmEtg30roW0xU8I7VYdNwr2CpvJpInby5vNCIGP34gcR-QwEQkWWgbhSBCw9AujpYL7g568nSRBO/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hata-san is here on the left and Aya-san, who works in the office next to International Relations, is on the right. Our work on the rosaries.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwM63ZMxSo-0R5-Ikz5B4nrs9NJz_e3CM44WmY_p342sV0WONboyTay2L_kA8nIWBAlSV2GGQGxZEzSk8G4PthAA08ETUjqK9p22jk7wsdln_-M8R658Zia5IpFzAuFFdT98yv06QqwI5/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwM63ZMxSo-0R5-Ikz5B4nrs9NJz_e3CM44WmY_p342sV0WONboyTay2L_kA8nIWBAlSV2GGQGxZEzSk8G4PthAA08ETUjqK9p22jk7wsdln_-M8R658Zia5IpFzAuFFdT98yv06QqwI5/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our (almost) finished products. The crosses hadn't come in the mail yet.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I really loved how much passion Hata-san has for every aspect of her job and how she was always coming up with new and creative things to do. Being that KEEP is all about nature and the environment, there are a lot of animals in the area, for good reason, and Hata-san always had a fun project to start the day with. One day we made bird feeders out of teacups and another we made wreaths out of peanuts all to put on the trees outside the Memorial Center! For a city girl like me, it was a nice introduction to the nature here at KEEP, safe inside the building and watching from afar.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hMQCvrimiByt5d7rikQoJ99h_OVYvz3JohCOOOCPz6emSOteRXEhfossQt7q8ykm9GlhrQa4fg4OTnCANCnWFFgTc0JnsrxW0lcHHqICHZtmDcL9OYxjsn4V3lzAu3isW32lULj_jQwW/s1600/photo-36.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hMQCvrimiByt5d7rikQoJ99h_OVYvz3JohCOOOCPz6emSOteRXEhfossQt7q8ykm9GlhrQa4fg4OTnCANCnWFFgTc0JnsrxW0lcHHqICHZtmDcL9OYxjsn4V3lzAu3isW32lULj_jQwW/s1600/photo-36.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our teacup feeders...they are a cup and saucer with the Seisen Ryo logo on them--very fitting.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our peanut wreaths--all you preschool teachers should take note on this one!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqF7SkYS7QHezNWHIQ41tjV5NkGcpOnHTk5Ak35-Ok7mJ9cGIPr426Ox-lnirCyEGinq_tJRPy_uyGVMmwnj0drhFeDCifKQ7iMmfqZY2J6YSwlNPWBFF_W3UptU6fDOqaFnuejI4f7Wq/s1600/photo-37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqF7SkYS7QHezNWHIQ41tjV5NkGcpOnHTk5Ak35-Ok7mJ9cGIPr426Ox-lnirCyEGinq_tJRPy_uyGVMmwnj0drhFeDCifKQ7iMmfqZY2J6YSwlNPWBFF_W3UptU6fDOqaFnuejI4f7Wq/s1600/photo-37.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our feeders and wreaths on the trees ready for the birds--I felt like a Pinterest queen after this.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Also, a little fun fact for you! Paul Rusch is considered the "father of American football in Japan" so a room in the Paul Rusch Memorial Center is dedicated all to football! It was nice to go in there and feel a little bit like home. It was actually quite interesting seeing how the game has progressed in a different country and how many college teams there now are. They even have a huge bowl game just like in the US. It's called the Rice Bowl and is held in Tokyo each year. This year it was around the same time my UCF Knights won the Fiesta Bowl.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs18P1kDmdW0wxK1lQ-6q0kyzxYRa1dPkcQCFiD6LSI7wjjyeSG6duQ6LKWYpT8pEOIHXZLNSCkdE3qXU-5Oe734MNt4r_YJ6oCyOsiewstFKWOOD1IocUzTrNi2zjNSrN-cfoTndBJ9W/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs18P1kDmdW0wxK1lQ-6q0kyzxYRa1dPkcQCFiD6LSI7wjjyeSG6duQ6LKWYpT8pEOIHXZLNSCkdE3qXU-5Oe734MNt4r_YJ6oCyOsiewstFKWOOD1IocUzTrNi2zjNSrN-cfoTndBJ9W/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have still yet to figure out the connection between Japan and Notre Dame, but they also have a football signed by Lou Holtz, so it's got to be something notable. If anyone can shed some light, my curiosity would thank you!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFASm8H4fGAu4bFtUZQeWZhvxYzjP5RAX7PiplZyVludXx8FaTzBMbXk4_c4_Ufj4sNaAlqPzmVbj__5q_XPH9l46JUxnHY_GJjp60jJdtkJwv4C5kvt380rgDvh7D5ytiQS2fOx2MMhj/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFASm8H4fGAu4bFtUZQeWZhvxYzjP5RAX7PiplZyVludXx8FaTzBMbXk4_c4_Ufj4sNaAlqPzmVbj__5q_XPH9l46JUxnHY_GJjp60jJdtkJwv4C5kvt380rgDvh7D5ytiQS2fOx2MMhj/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not exactly thrilled about some of the sports paraphernalia around the place, but hopefully I can change that. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> That basically sums up my work for the week or so at the Paul Rusch Memorial Center. I had a few days off here and there until Jennifer Corwin and Bishop Stacy Sauls of the American Committee for KEEP came into town. The ACK, as it is better known as, is the committee that supports KEEP with funding and support stateside. As some of you may know, when I went to Chicago to apply for my long awaited visa, I met with Jennifer and she gave me an absolutely FANTASTIC orientation introducing me to KEEP the organization, KEEP's location, Japanese customs and even gave me a few introductory Japanese lessons. Without her guidance throughout all of this, I would have been grossly unprepared. I knew it was cold, but from her I found out layers would be my friend and man was she right. Jennifer serves as the Executive Director of the ACK and is such a great resource. I guess not getting my visa on time was a good thing because it gave me the chance to meet with her. I originally met Bishop Sauls in New York during our YASC orientation. He works at The Episcopal Church Center as their COO as well as the president of the ACK board. The purpose of their visit was to attend the KEEP board meeting and just to show their support and to hear from all the different departments what they needed most from the ACK. They let me sit in on one of the sessions where they met with young people representatives of the departments to ask them about what they think the ACK can do for them. It was a really productive meeting! We started with an icebreaker of "What is most important about KEEP?" and got some really great answers that showed that KEEP has some really passionate people working for them and there is great promise for the future if these people become the leadership of the organization. After that, it was just a brainstorming session on what they want to see ACK do for them. It ranged anywhere from "Teach us English so we can communicate better with foreign guests" --to which they just pointed at me and said "Here she is!", to researching ways places like KEEP in the US do things so they can make the nature center and nature programs more handicap friendly for disabled guests. It was really quite informative and a great way to start my time at KEEP because I was able to gauge the health of the organization I was coming into. After that it was meeting after meeting after meal after meal. Everyone wanted to meet with Jennifer and Bishop Sauls to voice their opinion and give an update. Bishop Sauls was only here for a few days so it had to have felt like a sprint for him. Since Jennifer has been here many, many times before and has worked for the ACK for seventeen years, she knows many of the people here personally, so I got to tag a long as she made lunch, coffee and dinner dates with everyone. It was so great to have someone that speaks Japanese introduce me to these people so now I feel comfortable enough speaking with them and creating relationships even after she's gone. It was also nice to have her here because one of my big projects I am starting here is creating what we are calling an 'employee photobook'. There are so many different departments and so many people working within them, it is hard to keep track of where people work and such. So my task is to go around to each department and photograph each employee and put it into a book that we can give to all the departments, keep at the head office, and give to the KEEP and ACK boards. With Jennifer's knowledge of Japanese and familiarity with employees, it was nice to have her here to help me start. We also used this time to double as a survey time to see what kind of English classes employees want to see. Another large task of mine during my year here is to provide English classes for the KEEP staff. I have to come up with a proposal to present based on what time I think would be best to hold class, what format the classes would take, what sort of content I will provide, etc. etc. We started surveying the staff to get some of these answers so I could start working on that proposal and hopefully start the classes in the middle of March when I am finished with the departments tour. Jennifer stayed for almost two weeks so we got to have a lot of fun together. Like I said, she has many friends here and she let me tag along to meet them, which led to me trying most all of the traditional Japanese food I can even think of. She wanted to get all of her favorites in before she left. I'm thinking of doing a post at a later date of all the food I've eaten so far. Stay tuned!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJJo8IN9ENHnWpqy_x8VvDm-mEgDveRZIm6UwbtiZF1vLH9FDJ1nVqaewDoeT-SyofKA0vPpm5l-ExnXZHKtWCcz27yGO_nbKOAPLEEUvku1AeR8LTr6F4uvvHbNKzdbXh3tVylaj5mzL/s1600/IMG_4540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJJo8IN9ENHnWpqy_x8VvDm-mEgDveRZIm6UwbtiZF1vLH9FDJ1nVqaewDoeT-SyofKA0vPpm5l-ExnXZHKtWCcz27yGO_nbKOAPLEEUvku1AeR8LTr6F4uvvHbNKzdbXh3tVylaj5mzL/s1600/IMG_4540.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A meeting of the minds--other ACK board member, Herb Donovan who is a professor at Rikkyo University, can be seen at the end of the table in green, Bishop Sauls is in the middle in the blue and Jennifer is in the red next to him with all the KEEP staff gathered around.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio65vR9lfuT7RPOf8oZ-pnt3MHvCS_RY6NGfpkWnbjqG_fnCmibEz71puq4B6-qTxZGoL8J-TxASlG40o47AzB3lnTp3tRSOa2jih62rB_Itu98X7YVw9vMm4zgQOScv5frg7rsiMD3UQs/s1600/IMG_4541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio65vR9lfuT7RPOf8oZ-pnt3MHvCS_RY6NGfpkWnbjqG_fnCmibEz71puq4B6-qTxZGoL8J-TxASlG40o47AzB3lnTp3tRSOa2jih62rB_Itu98X7YVw9vMm4zgQOScv5frg7rsiMD3UQs/s1600/IMG_4541.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brainstorming ideas--as well as the names of the ACK board.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx9YCPmcLD1mo8pphNc7gR5VB9wmme0tFuBbSJDUNjfrpWfL1VmS1_YOQevU29X54WMFqinXBdZUfBocWLK1ZEqB5YTpbPXu-dXHa71ke4mXn9Y2jTNYv3Sr20Ym8sgErodkf-apmRGIC/s1600/IMG_4543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx9YCPmcLD1mo8pphNc7gR5VB9wmme0tFuBbSJDUNjfrpWfL1VmS1_YOQevU29X54WMFqinXBdZUfBocWLK1ZEqB5YTpbPXu-dXHa71ke4mXn9Y2jTNYv3Sr20Ym8sgErodkf-apmRGIC/s1600/IMG_4543.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All the meeting attendees in the chapel of Seisen Ryo.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Like I said before, KEEP is big into Environmental Education. They have huge programs for families to come and learn about the animals in the area, visit the farm, learn about where there food comes from and how to eat healthier and just get an overall outdoor experience that is rare in the very industrialized Japan. Even the nursery school, St. John's, is well known for its outdoor based curriculum. As you can see it is one of KEEP's big initiative to bring nature appreciation to the people of Japan. This year celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the Environmental Education program at KEEP. The four ideals that KEEP was founded on are food, health, faith and hope for youth with environmental education and international outreach added in the 80s. To celebrate, KEEP held a ceremony at the Nature Center here in Kiyosato. It was attended by many local dignitaries as well as former employees of the various environmental education programs. It was a reunion of sorts. I went with my boss, Okemoto-san, for the opening of the ceremonies and then we left them to continue their programming. They were also putting on a larger celebration in Tokyo at Rikkyo University because of their ties to the university and the many supporters of KEEP now living in Tokyo as well so a few representatives from the embassy could join. Jennifer, who had extended her stay beyond just the board meeting, and I rode the three hours to Tokyo with the rest of the group from the Environmental Education department. Once there, everything was put into overdrive. The whole room was transformed into a place to put on their event for the guests coming. There was a presentation on the history of the Environmental Education program and what they hope for the future before there was a breakout session to brainstorm ideas on where people see the program moving in the future and what do they think needs to be done to ensure it continues to grow. After all the formality, there was the obligatory party afterwards that was so very Japanese. There was a speech made by the president of Rikkyo University to introduce the man that would give the toast (KANPAI!). There was beer and wine stationed all around the room so everyone had a glass, or two in my and many others case, because the toasts kept coming! After that was eating and networking on speed. You have not networked in the business world until you have networked in Japan. Maybe it was just because Jennifer and I were quite recognizable, but every time I turned around there was another person wanting to talk to us and trade business cards. Not that I am complaining because I met some really interesting people. I met a man that works for the World Wildlife Foundation of Japan, a man that works for the Ministry of Agriculture, a woman that puts on agricultural events for Suntory, a man that works for the Scout Association of Japan (the Boys Scouts he told us) and even a guy that is working on a "mammalian genome project." I only remember all this because I can look back at all the business cards I received. Now let me pause here and explain about how business cards work in Japan. There is a certain way to trade them and receive them. When you give yours out, make sure your name is facing the receiver and you are holding it with both hands and then receive their card with both hands as well. Business cards aren't something that are meant to be thrown in a pocket either, they are to be examined and put away nicely. There is a whole market for office supplies that revolve around this ritual. I can honestly say I now have a case for my personal business cards as well as a book for all the business cards from other I have accumulated. It is definitely a habit that I'm bringing home with me. I joked about this, but I can totally see why the Pokemon trading cards caught on, it's like trading business cards for kids! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Nature Center at KEEP where they kicked off the festivities.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The room being set for all the guests.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFunvuY-hu4ijLDSUFKLFI4Z4s4LZLfK5UOEPtvmRh_5FiKoXBcGbLcjFqj_HwLjyHpO40dIQzpEbPKuj5CEAIBg46sgEr6YeMiYLpj5YxKmZuWjla18aojwsmO1YjEtdMp1omB03L2sOo/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFunvuY-hu4ijLDSUFKLFI4Z4s4LZLfK5UOEPtvmRh_5FiKoXBcGbLcjFqj_HwLjyHpO40dIQzpEbPKuj5CEAIBg46sgEr6YeMiYLpj5YxKmZuWjla18aojwsmO1YjEtdMp1omB03L2sOo/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Jennifer and I were among the guests of honor.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Brainstorming session.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-eTaR9QXHADdxLJDlXYhBqpycELIbdQOpkWgCgoFjUKsTjZNwCn5athFxT_czEcIVp03OD092iQ0CBuTBXdwUwMD57CcX7UhBS1xsyxdRZZUpujnxgPjTClMwdofho512RUD0FTyHqxa/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-eTaR9QXHADdxLJDlXYhBqpycELIbdQOpkWgCgoFjUKsTjZNwCn5athFxT_czEcIVp03OD092iQ0CBuTBXdwUwMD57CcX7UhBS1xsyxdRZZUpujnxgPjTClMwdofho512RUD0FTyHqxa/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Exploring Rikkyo-or St. Paul's-University with Kuroda-san who is a prominent man both at KEEP as a board member and the University.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtzQefLagPzXTJ_0vcvT845UflTZ9P0B7HuzTeJtGsbbv1iISZzaFyCs4YqKh9Kf9og9FamNdsLZ13SQ_izy9y7BcAF5IbT296N5jCRlEBAyzwSMtnlOBqlpYT2w2W2i6tNjNlrp0cZot/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtzQefLagPzXTJ_0vcvT845UflTZ9P0B7HuzTeJtGsbbv1iISZzaFyCs4YqKh9Kf9og9FamNdsLZ13SQ_izy9y7BcAF5IbT296N5jCRlEBAyzwSMtnlOBqlpYT2w2W2i6tNjNlrp0cZot/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The on campus chapel at Rikkyo's--it was founded as an Anglican University. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIZOksqNEQOxia8HQ5_ga2ThtcdoEmLc6N9higJpIojh95kiUebnrPcy3dX8Fm-l_DrEynWKGFPYCc9YHUHXfnAU6DLNowYK6sgbYbL24nga_MyYmJs_VzCTuqO2-ey6bvIPXVib39JRN/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIZOksqNEQOxia8HQ5_ga2ThtcdoEmLc6N9higJpIojh95kiUebnrPcy3dX8Fm-l_DrEynWKGFPYCc9YHUHXfnAU6DLNowYK6sgbYbL24nga_MyYmJs_VzCTuqO2-ey6bvIPXVib39JRN/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The chapel felt a lot like home for some reason...must be the big choir balcony.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeBlKBDTldkcWgwW_src8qxaeFCpEBPL6g-S6ItkxLqGzOPICT8sjeshQilPVLYJxetyXDA3IEIDEb1WSpkiR37oU6DypuL6cnteNw6seQwTX4SFXXV-mKkmVFTwkmRGqCh42OI53Wm39/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeBlKBDTldkcWgwW_src8qxaeFCpEBPL6g-S6ItkxLqGzOPICT8sjeshQilPVLYJxetyXDA3IEIDEb1WSpkiR37oU6DypuL6cnteNw6seQwTX4SFXXV-mKkmVFTwkmRGqCh42OI53Wm39/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Party after the event-Kanpai!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> After the event, I stayed with Jennifer at a friend of hers' house, the Meshinos. The funny thing is, I met one of their daughters, Sara, already in Chicago when I met with Jennifer back in November, so it was neat to stay with them and have them show me around Tokyo the next day. They were the nicest people ever, taking a stranger in and feeding them and letting them stay the night! We talked a lot over breakfast about the places to go and what I needed to check out and how much the enjoy going to KEEP and so on. I was to catch a train around five, so we decided going to the Asakusa temple in the middle of Tokyo would be the easiest and most interesting thing to do with so little time. We walked through the temple and ate street food and just people watched--Tokyo has the absolute BEST people watching outside of US theme parks!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh2vmD0-cCc98RZi6MgG5eHMUvQvVvJSPvmaUmLRcTNixZpiw6QDu-luKCFBtc-i3fg1DhPIvC6LJq6masZItAfTvBHlaBpFC3uSQ4YO6WRPNjVUBmPJLlhJuFYixmIlm6pg1_1QEaDXm/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh2vmD0-cCc98RZi6MgG5eHMUvQvVvJSPvmaUmLRcTNixZpiw6QDu-luKCFBtc-i3fg1DhPIvC6LJq6masZItAfTvBHlaBpFC3uSQ4YO6WRPNjVUBmPJLlhJuFYixmIlm6pg1_1QEaDXm/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Meshino house...the garage is underneath!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsd2AJGV3U5GPJAmYOMyHXnPteYUXOYhKtc3g0J8C22LVgHNBypHYa3F6QTB9UZdyEPIbFGUnfasaUzeb_UEN5a3PzPy8RAOHgOIF-Rsls6Kkj4uJ1oT-m0hVX8NjcDh4NaPdLK6tzllxw/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsd2AJGV3U5GPJAmYOMyHXnPteYUXOYhKtc3g0J8C22LVgHNBypHYa3F6QTB9UZdyEPIbFGUnfasaUzeb_UEN5a3PzPy8RAOHgOIF-Rsls6Kkj4uJ1oT-m0hVX8NjcDh4NaPdLK6tzllxw/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The sakuras had started to bloom--I don't know how they are after the snow.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA0QU7p2ezS8GdThnbmMFfo9A442zH0h2ZDqp2rvCwDEYxpGP-3ykNDwia3iXj8SLoSHkO0NUXg0Us6fOatCA2ZXitF1m6imt-xMD1CRisM6kYEoIFK1ZVcNzI2QLxt2FbbNfXZgKdREO/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA0QU7p2ezS8GdThnbmMFfo9A442zH0h2ZDqp2rvCwDEYxpGP-3ykNDwia3iXj8SLoSHkO0NUXg0Us6fOatCA2ZXitF1m6imt-xMD1CRisM6kYEoIFK1ZVcNzI2QLxt2FbbNfXZgKdREO/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The gate to the Asakusa Buddhist Temple.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnC_FymqjMmksMb9R2iDJZDrVrRYeVu9l37hWTMxIcF_6K5FY6p6PnIjak4X6ZgQIjwwrDCnu5Y-Nt2I6bqNIj390-pC4kfm9X6fsA3LMG1MCgBDBqIqCBb-qbLGMFAaETGQFQMAE2hnu/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnC_FymqjMmksMb9R2iDJZDrVrRYeVu9l37hWTMxIcF_6K5FY6p6PnIjak4X6ZgQIjwwrDCnu5Y-Nt2I6bqNIj390-pC4kfm9X6fsA3LMG1MCgBDBqIqCBb-qbLGMFAaETGQFQMAE2hnu/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The entrance to the temple--the smoke is where you are supposed to cleanse yourself before you go in. There are also fountains on either side to continue cleansing before you go in.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rywIhUYMsqTAAvbNDudT-fVFLxqVdOaXec0nfrf27LGz-yry55dAbclZtHd9mZ-fDaaGV0vUQquOnxzirOzNZDLS7_W4gGqkx7oiKhjLCZhqFt8VWS2tl_TM2w7lQCzLwv8NMoyWfska/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rywIhUYMsqTAAvbNDudT-fVFLxqVdOaXec0nfrf27LGz-yry55dAbclZtHd9mZ-fDaaGV0vUQquOnxzirOzNZDLS7_W4gGqkx7oiKhjLCZhqFt8VWS2tl_TM2w7lQCzLwv8NMoyWfska/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some beautiful person in front of the temple.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyWc2EnuVe2Oz6MzLBgaIXMK8uB1y7w7kCtVmcYlp2d8p7sdZj44eSl_UEilT8cQKiCIpShgwo-QQlA3OwT4Ti5y3lcjXOxDGeBVeyajopI_uIRpQFhelSfprfCa6qCMy_OoFHZnz761P/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyWc2EnuVe2Oz6MzLBgaIXMK8uB1y7w7kCtVmcYlp2d8p7sdZj44eSl_UEilT8cQKiCIpShgwo-QQlA3OwT4Ti5y3lcjXOxDGeBVeyajopI_uIRpQFhelSfprfCa6qCMy_OoFHZnz761P/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Getting my fortune in front of the temple</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh_xtgQz4nH4BoEp1-N2C65hoe9MJ39toCbN-ZL3z7f-YxCwH9mPEPNRI11Fn6Ke6s_xEz3gcg3KxQxNfs8KLxSDYcSTudqoLfyWQlRETG9d3h2Fj6raubhInTyLSSHCaYy0Pd6mKGovx/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh_xtgQz4nH4BoEp1-N2C65hoe9MJ39toCbN-ZL3z7f-YxCwH9mPEPNRI11Fn6Ke6s_xEz3gcg3KxQxNfs8KLxSDYcSTudqoLfyWQlRETG9d3h2Fj6raubhInTyLSSHCaYy0Pd6mKGovx/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I wasn't very happy with my fortune, so...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmacIEBinlRBGgnDRrG6AL7o-Jpn8m_IRtMfozw_ufpcBVA6Ytd7bAV_68K4yfU0zXvqaMp2nc3wKpNq7hxnaksRRvIPZDEPL1Hg3zbHpC8GjAd6Y1XVti4DfqgNkqDfBWT-xm662hPBR/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmacIEBinlRBGgnDRrG6AL7o-Jpn8m_IRtMfozw_ufpcBVA6Ytd7bAV_68K4yfU0zXvqaMp2nc3wKpNq7hxnaksRRvIPZDEPL1Hg3zbHpC8GjAd6Y1XVti4DfqgNkqDfBWT-xm662hPBR/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">...I tied it up and left it with the others that people didn't like.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4nJI3YQiFKKCdkH11MJtzsALFCrpQf5_d-QpXZVwE7Q8AvCZtFP_F37HxrVhXWSOYm5bpNEVFaJs53N7Xl47ugzelcEvrjvVhVhfGLZrd9TervM-1WczD1qBcKGI0BgIvSdAwmjlqj3i/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4nJI3YQiFKKCdkH11MJtzsALFCrpQf5_d-QpXZVwE7Q8AvCZtFP_F37HxrVhXWSOYm5bpNEVFaJs53N7Xl47ugzelcEvrjvVhVhfGLZrd9TervM-1WczD1qBcKGI0BgIvSdAwmjlqj3i/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Leading up to the temple was wall to wall people--with shops on either side.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZyXzNkvKOU1-DrcM2uhl6LyLimchU0XAaq_9NmugHTbQiaRYvfERWwBD_idfP-4m4KFdmkTSmml-lFvipKKpfGjYO_oy_9YYyfgLXaRcoooUucqixmtdQMfolLQEF5Aoh8q0oelWQHdH/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZyXzNkvKOU1-DrcM2uhl6LyLimchU0XAaq_9NmugHTbQiaRYvfERWwBD_idfP-4m4KFdmkTSmml-lFvipKKpfGjYO_oy_9YYyfgLXaRcoooUucqixmtdQMfolLQEF5Aoh8q0oelWQHdH/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Jennifer and Kanae, my guides for the day</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TtUptyIYtIUj43O6Kc5yClFvFOB38SS6kzW11u0Pbu7j2QENH9Krxwfb2kzWJpf0d6BSBmveloYO-E0u0XMmrUWUTn24lt79rU4DdXBh7feALIIKeGkiamsssXWf3V451vvna-17fL9Y/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TtUptyIYtIUj43O6Kc5yClFvFOB38SS6kzW11u0Pbu7j2QENH9Krxwfb2kzWJpf0d6BSBmveloYO-E0u0XMmrUWUTn24lt79rU4DdXBh7feALIIKeGkiamsssXWf3V451vvna-17fL9Y/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Driving to the train station I got to see the iconic Sky Tree.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I thought it was funny to say that my train was leaving from Platform 9 3/4--the Harry Potter nerd in me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Jennifer snapped one last shot from our time together--me with my train that would take me the three hours back to Kiyosato</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> After my little side trip, it was back to work as usual. My next placement was at the nursery school, St. John's. The first two days I was there, I started in the morning with the one to two year olds. It was nice because they don't know how to speak Japanese, I don't know how to speak Japanese--it worked. That is until they brought a book over and I started making up my own story in English and they just looked at me and walked away. I would have lunch with the little ones and then head over to the three to six year old room. The next three days after that, I was strictly with the older kids. I had a lot of fun with them because I was like the new toy, all the kids wanted to play with me and show me around. I took to drawing pictures and labeling them in English for them and then they would tell me what it was in Japanese. Surprisingly, I learned a lot of words from them this way and practiced with them because right now I am at about the same level of learning Japanese as a four year old. One kid knew a lot of English, so I brought a few English books from the library that he and I practiced with in the morning before class started. While it boosted my ego in all of them wanting to play with me at once, my ego was crushed at lunch time when they would say something to me and then laugh because I didn't understand. I don't care what anyone says--there is a hierarchy to where you sit at lunch at any age, anywhere in the world. Like I said forever ago, at the beginning of this post, St. John's is well known in the area for its curriculum focused on outdoor activity. Every single day these kids were outside either playing on the playground, taking hikes to the different locations at KEEP or having their "forest hike" day. I was thoroughly unprepared for this and the cold, me being an indoor animal and all. I'm not kidding, these kids are tough. The only time I saw a kid cry was when he threw himself down a hill body sledding and face planted at the bottom. This amount of outdoor activity would be unheard of in the US. American schools would have called the dreaded "indoor recess" with the amount of snow we have here. Another observation I made was that these kids are fearless when it comes to nature and I think that is a by-product of the outdoor program. They were very observant when it came to leaves and tracks and most had picked up walking sticks by the end of the hikes. I think it is something that is really lost with kids these days in the age of the internet. Putting the whole being cold the entire time aside, these kids were a blast and taught me so much. I want to go back throughout the year and practice my Japanese with them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mimi--my friend the whole week with one of my labeled masterpieces.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My friend with really good English on the tractor at the Farm Shop store--the original John Deere family were big benefactors of KEEP.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Senseis on the seesaw--catchy</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nature hike to the forest campsite.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The forest campsite on my last day.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9zUY6F-xGyWlVAh30MsHr7jF3t5GslElXlkbqomXwanZSez1ldx77egcegIzHBiiOc1Npg-asTKlfh-Dq29Eulc2jDSMJzmEtOcA7RsZ6_WkQ2qhD2t6gMP3scZWE6UZ57hPbvLctLL2/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9zUY6F-xGyWlVAh30MsHr7jF3t5GslElXlkbqomXwanZSez1ldx77egcegIzHBiiOc1Npg-asTKlfh-Dq29Eulc2jDSMJzmEtOcA7RsZ6_WkQ2qhD2t6gMP3scZWE6UZ57hPbvLctLL2/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kids lighting the campfire--I wasn't kidding when I said they were fearless. Don't worry there is a teacher right there behind that blue arm.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Playing on the frozen stream to get ice for the ice sculpting.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Teacher with a blow torch and knives to create shapes in the ice chunks from the stream.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Snack time over the campfire--mochi (pounded rice cakes), sweet red bean soup, popcorn and warm milk</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The last placement I've had has been at the Shizen Gakko, which is the Nature Discovery Center. I like to think of it as a sleep away camp for families. It is a facility that houses families like a hotel, but puts on nature programs around KEEP. It is a way for families to get away and spend time with each other in an environment that they might not be used to, like one family I talked to that lives down south along the coast. They do nature hikes and the such. One program that I did get to participate in was the building of かまくら, or kamakura, which are Japanese style igloos. The instructors took the parents to build these while the kids did another activity and came back to play later. I don't have much more detail on the programs because I was in the kitchen most all of the time I was there. These families not only stay here, but there is an industrial sized kitchen that serves them meals on site, too. It was just like back in college during my food prep labs, cutting and washing vegetables, dredging foods, and even making those fun rice shapes called onigiri. I also helped serving one afternoon at lunch as well. Most of the dinners they wanted me sitting with the families and interacting with the kids which was a lot of fun. I like to say that I can now tell people I've worked under a Japanese chef and she was much nicer and way less frightening than any American one I've worked under. One day, I got to participate in a program that the kitchen put on for the parents. A woman came in who was an expert at making Yamanashi prefecture's well known dish, ほうとう, which is h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ōtō</span>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> It is a noodle dish and we learned how to make those noodles. It was an unexpected little treat when I thought I would just be preparing food for dinner.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> What I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> really enjoyed about this time I had here was during the staff meal times we all got to just sit and talk. One lady, Yuko, and I had a great time trying to use our limited Japanese and English to converse with each other, but as I am finding with a lot of people here, she knew a lot more English than she thought she did. That's been my favorite part about being here, the getting to see people open up to me and use the English they didn't think they knew and watching them get excited and gain confidence. It helps a lot to have a dictionary on hand of course, but that's half the fun. Having pictures of family and friends and my dog on my phone is an easy conversation starter, too. I was supposed to do a second week in the kitchen at the Shizen Gakko, but because of the heavy snow storm they cancelled all of the programming.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Parents carving out the kamakura--it was pretty sophisticated with stairs leading up to the top where there was a slide into one of the rooms.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some of the kitchen staff that I worked with every day.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Suprising Yuko in the dining hall.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I made about forty or so of these <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px;"><em style="font-style: normal;">bentōs </em><em style="font-style: normal;">for families to take on their hikes for lunch.</em></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk54oX-La0PLqfMdIQU1WE9iVB-FNp_ev9SvYyNhg_E8DO8dMa9UWXoBB0ewP2R5epckzo8RhQWkPEiMM9tqW4i7uvgNVtq7Y1tTAiXp_V9bOMBN9sehKwzpOI3dQUEuvqm0rs0pwnUVB/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk54oX-La0PLqfMdIQU1WE9iVB-FNp_ev9SvYyNhg_E8DO8dMa9UWXoBB0ewP2R5epckzo8RhQWkPEiMM9tqW4i7uvgNVtq7Y1tTAiXp_V9bOMBN9sehKwzpOI3dQUEuvqm0rs0pwnUVB/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Standing next to one of the chefs I worked with all week and the h<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">ōtō</span> lady.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rolling out the soon to be noodles.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Parents cutting the noodles.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Putting the noodles in to cook.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEims6doh1JgcS_h4I0GbIgM9WCanRH0Iwvsi9oKY84dlIsr8-8Uf48OBfWnyWP7Pms3ir09pzeqYwQqKC92WQMtrHX7SisPFpXarU6J-G8gZ62FD7ztm7MSFlA9iweEtBJJLtsJ_6lnVf3x/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEims6doh1JgcS_h4I0GbIgM9WCanRH0Iwvsi9oKY84dlIsr8-8Uf48OBfWnyWP7Pms3ir09pzeqYwQqKC92WQMtrHX7SisPFpXarU6J-G8gZ62FD7ztm7MSFlA9iweEtBJJLtsJ_6lnVf3x/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">H<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">ōtō eating time! It's fun for all ages!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Outside of work, I've been doing a little language learning on my own. Every Tuesday night, I hop in my little car and drive down the mountain into Nirasaki for a two hour Japanese class. My teacher is also a professor at a university in Kofu, the capital of the Yamanashi Prefecture we are in. The class isn't very big, but it has a nice intimate feel to it. One student is an American from Washington that teaches English at one of the nearby high schools, so his Japanese is pretty good. The other girl that comes is learning English. Those two come for the conversational part of the class, I come for the worksheets and preschool style learning, but hey, you have to start somewhere. My teacher also brings her son and his friend because she said this is the only time they'll actually work on their homework and not sit in front of the computer or TV. I was glad to hear kids are the same everywhere. It is nice because we all learn from each other in a setting that isn't work and doesn't have to be professional so we talk about innately stupid things. Of course, being the book worm that I am, I also now have two library cards. One is to the library in the Civic Center where I take the Japanese class, and the other is to the Hokuto City library, which is the one closest to me. Obviously I am not checking out War & Peace translated into Japanese or anything, I am really there to check out the kids books to practice reading the hiragana I am learning. I feel a little silly going into the kids' section with no kids, but actually it works to help practice! So far I am an expert at using さむい, or samui, which is cold, ゆき, or yuki, which is snow, and かわいい, or kawaii, which is cute. I'm a woman of many words.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My Kumon, flashcards, workbook to trace hiragana and my book to practice writing the hiragana...I'm serious when I say I feel like a preschooler again, but I'm loving it!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My library cards. Oh, did I also mention I am a rewards point member of the local grocery store, Ogino, now too?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My Hokuto City library bag--FREE with membership. ALSO--big plus, they don't have library fines in Japan, you just can't use your card until you return your book. They were baffled that fines even exist. I thought one librarian was going to faint when I said I once had $116 in fines. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I wanna say a huge thanks to my dad, or as his daughters and close personal friends of ours lovingly call him Gorilla Ken, for my first HUGE care package in Japan. Once I got here I realized I had checked and rechecked every nook and cranny in the house while packing, except the closet my Northface jacket was in. While this might not be an issue in some places what with my brand new, full length winter coat I got for Christmas, but this is Kiyosato and God and his weather demons laughed in my face. So my care package most notably contained my jacket that I now wear as one of the layers under my big coat. Also, Japan is a country of moderation when it comes to sweets and I am one that doesn't just have one sweet tooth--they're all sweet, so he sent a giant bag of Jelly Bellys, a two pound bag of Skittles and a two pound bag of Sour Patch Kids, a family size bag a M&Ms and some Valentine's candy. Ashamed? Never. So if you were thinking of sending candy in a care package, my glucose levels would appreciate it if you kept it to a minimum. I also got my Book of Common Prayer, Hymnal and Bible so now I can actually follow along in church when they're speaking in all Japanese. I know, I know. What kind of missionary am I that I left all those at home? One that's bag was already twenty two pounds overweight!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All the way from the states in 6 days!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I should be embarrassed, but I'm not.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> I would also like to point out that this whole process started a year ago this past weekend. Our discernment weekend where all of us YASCers met for the first time in Florida seems like just yesterday, but everyone is pretty much almost half way through their time at their placement. I know a year ago, this all seemed just a figment of our imagination, but it really happened! I like to think I made some really great friends by only leaving my comfort zone. These people made me look at myself in a whole different light and I can't thank them ALL enough. I'm so proud of each and every one of us for all that we have done since that day we met! Remember these kids?!? Also, this year's class of potential YASCers just finished up their discernment weekend yesterday. I wish all of them luck in deciding whether following in our footsteps on an amazing journey is the right choice for them!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our final day together at the discernment weekend. While not everyone chose the missionary path, they all contributed in some way in making this weekend a truly meaningful one. Thank you!!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Thanks for making it to the end on this long one, but I figured it could be a good Monday morning read on this President's Day holiday. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Until next time--</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Charlotte</span></div>
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-80329221172189966742014-01-28T22:38:00.000-05:002014-02-20T10:46:05.367-05:00Home is Where the Wifi is<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">N</span>ow I know a lot of you have been wondering where exactly I am on the other side of the world. Let me break it down a little for you. Obviously, as you might have already guessed since you are reading this, I am in Japan, although some people are still asking how "China/Korea/other Asian country" is. Hopefully this can clear that up a bit! Japan is the little island country, roughly the size of California, just West of mainland Asia. Within Japan there are prefectures, which are kind of like states with their own governing bodies and such. KEEP is located in the Yamanashi Prefecture. The big city here and capital is Kofu.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yamanashi is in orange...the prefecture to the Northwest is Nagano, the site of the 1998 Olympics. The prefecture is only a five minute drive from KEEP, but Nagano the city is about and hour away.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Once inside Yamanashi, there are a bunch of cities that I like to think of as counties within the 'state' of Yamanshi. I am living in Hokuto City, which you can see in the top corner in the pink on the map. It is a very mountainous area, which adds to the fun of living and driving here.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nirasaki, to the south in bright green, is where the big shopping mall I go to is located.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Once inside Hokuto City, Takane is the city I live in and Kiyosato is kind of like the village within Takane that is home to KEEP. To the North are the Yatsugatake mountains, like you can see on the map. You could say those are the mountains I live in since we are at a fairly high altitude and pretty much the only place left with snow and ice. To the East and West are other mountain ranges. Japan's second tallest mountain, Kita-dake is visible on the map, is located in this mountain range to the west. Then to the South is a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji. It gets dark here quite early, so the sun sets around 5:30pm. Between about 4:50 and 5:20 right now is my favorite time of night, because the colors of the sunset reflect off the mountains and create this glow that is just stunning. Not bad scenery for a place to live, if I do say so myself.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More in depth map of Yamanashi with natural landmarks included</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So think of it as Japan>US, Yamanashi>Indiana, Hokuto City>Marion County, Takane>Indianapolis, Kiyosato>Broad Ripple. At least that is how I keep it straight in my mind.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Once you are inside Kiyosato, the biggest thing in town is KEEP. The town itself was created when the KEEP founder, American Paul Rusch, introduced the high altitude dairy farming and the idea of democracy to the region. Right now, most of the town is closed for the winter season, but up at KEEP you can see a few tourists here and there coming for lunch at the Farm Shop, staying at the hotel, Seisen Ryo, participating in the environmental programs, and, of course, stopping by the Jersey Hut for the famous soft cream. It's a weird feeling, but it already feels like I've been here for months. So now this is home!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Giant ice wreath they make every year with the founder of KEEP, Paul Rusch, and Mt. Fuji in the background.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My walk to the cafeteria and offices-those are the Yatsugatake mountains to the North</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Families getting ready to go on a nature walk, one of the programs the Environmental Education department puts on for the public.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A lot of people have been asking where I am living at KEEP. Unfortunately, I am no longer in the picturesque lodge, Seisen Ryo, but I can't complain about my new digs in the Lancaster dormitory. Being on the mountain, it gets extremely cold especially when the wind whips down and burns your face, so the fact that I've got a room to myself that stays very warm, I am a happy camper. I live with six other woman in the dormitory, with a shared living room, kitchen, bathroom and shower room. We are all on extremely different schedules, one girl works at the bakery and is up and at 4:00am and gets off at 1:00pm so our only interaction is hearing each other through the wall, and another girl works at the restaurant and works the lunch hour and into the late dinner hours, so it definitely doesn't have the sorority house feel, but when I do see people, they all are extremely nice...even if there is somewhat of a language barrier. After a day of work dedicated to Japanese customs and business practices, I think of my room as my little American oasis because it has wifi so I am able to text all my friends and get online and watch tv shows and such. There are a lot of hours spent on Buzzfeed and Pinterest and I'm currently working on how to get Game of Thrones to stream when it starts in March. It's nice that it's the only place I get wifi because I like to keep the two cultures separate. I don't want to ruin my experience here by giving into the temptation of constantly being in contact with everyone at home, but at the same time </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need to have the time to myself and be able to talk to friends and decompress. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR7KzaiFOqDd5UMajA6XV9rt2h7OU6S_dl8vVbTcvMohmhv_-w9x6xO0L_O5R1Wml7DCoTHxRLIUThr03mPePvb12TYpSa3Dg7BpxvFg5iSpNkWUclKmbziP_IvS23rHU1mH3Ag5wclL7/s1600/photo-31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR7KzaiFOqDd5UMajA6XV9rt2h7OU6S_dl8vVbTcvMohmhv_-w9x6xO0L_O5R1Wml7DCoTHxRLIUThr03mPePvb12TYpSa3Dg7BpxvFg5iSpNkWUclKmbziP_IvS23rHU1mH3Ag5wclL7/s1600/photo-31.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Home sweet home Lancaster. Not a fan of the pack of deer that hang out around it, though.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iLiFW9lYl3whDm-NicK-zjSMIiR9Xz5MsUvF_6mfb1XlRfWjKC5tWNydtFMGifNQhqQd5kFP0-jqOTNbABMO3dsobsAaBUffBvjpnGwOnID4AqwYfu3hlzHj5MjMb_fy_keQkfgVNO61/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iLiFW9lYl3whDm-NicK-zjSMIiR9Xz5MsUvF_6mfb1XlRfWjKC5tWNydtFMGifNQhqQd5kFP0-jqOTNbABMO3dsobsAaBUffBvjpnGwOnID4AqwYfu3hlzHj5MjMb_fy_keQkfgVNO61/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The dorm is traditional Japanese and we all take our shoes off at the front door. Those are my Wellies, Uggs and hiking boots in the foreground. This is taking some to get used to.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPASOeelLr_6SCNU1eTvgbYW9ql5g2hZwIq3e0zcq60wM6XcG3wbyRMx67yfl-LrgaTKzjHBbrMBchwLjq03A2ip7bdhs7eZBi803WAH8lp02BtwoTQgXxhpBEyPuksVfhp8zlJTbbNL7/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPASOeelLr_6SCNU1eTvgbYW9ql5g2hZwIq3e0zcq60wM6XcG3wbyRMx67yfl-LrgaTKzjHBbrMBchwLjq03A2ip7bdhs7eZBi803WAH8lp02BtwoTQgXxhpBEyPuksVfhp8zlJTbbNL7/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The common room right inside the front door. Currently it's kind of under construction and I'm hoping to get some more seating in there so we can have a place for us all to socialize someday!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQfgNalD08hNJ6z2A7fkiaG76QIiLaZ_uRfDZajItHKtlhuXv2b_TNlMjEiY56dnbNUF9xSPyC0IjxMDP-fZL0WaFLjdry23tj4tsKmkHIirjTfCGSQd1bgHgDhZnkBb4Q4Npeye76iHB/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQfgNalD08hNJ6z2A7fkiaG76QIiLaZ_uRfDZajItHKtlhuXv2b_TNlMjEiY56dnbNUF9xSPyC0IjxMDP-fZL0WaFLjdry23tj4tsKmkHIirjTfCGSQd1bgHgDhZnkBb4Q4Npeye76iHB/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our shared kitchen. Japan is hyper vigilant about sorting their garbage, even down to the different type of plastics, so that's also taking some getting used to.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwR-u8g3tY2Migy6W_zNHJNNI3XGxQb1mYsyI3aiNhrInAUC1mUzJrPxrmmXJY7prz1MweTt-UF0lEYSh7Lkzu4-UHLIMNB_5m_L4a4XyHMQvsSqmieKndl6gxF5y5VPV6hZp-TTkvj-P/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwR-u8g3tY2Migy6W_zNHJNNI3XGxQb1mYsyI3aiNhrInAUC1mUzJrPxrmmXJY7prz1MweTt-UF0lEYSh7Lkzu4-UHLIMNB_5m_L4a4XyHMQvsSqmieKndl6gxF5y5VPV6hZp-TTkvj-P/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hallway I run down in the middle of the night to get to the bathroom, which is so cold because we each heat our rooms individually, not the rest of the dorm.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5xrVPsxWLx24Tftb0VM4sz6zg4MC_KP9gsLlmwBTK-MjrHNXDWJgQrvjheouW-17sIKXhh1f_wK5JV99y7J9Lu1QLFaLzfFA1FoQ8GuUZAW8HhqMkOKKAAX0B_iN4PerKwR0c9_uw_t4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5xrVPsxWLx24Tftb0VM4sz6zg4MC_KP9gsLlmwBTK-MjrHNXDWJgQrvjheouW-17sIKXhh1f_wK5JV99y7J9Lu1QLFaLzfFA1FoQ8GuUZAW8HhqMkOKKAAX0B_iN4PerKwR0c9_uw_t4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, Harry Potter on the laptop. With all the overweight luggage, they were the only movies that made the cut. I do have to admit I have I accidentally turned off the wifi to the whole house before because that's the router in the window there...whoops.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn5xIM9bVbFsIHYvWFK9kR4Dh4PZG1Oh4npwp_MHNlXcQbZom5ca1KrxRdFGXq6bh9qpbF47HPrOt37MetwoIwwSI6anaVTjZxdb9zLyc4jrFmj-BNZnzNnNczZnUvdrNCWF645w4D0mP/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn5xIM9bVbFsIHYvWFK9kR4Dh4PZG1Oh4npwp_MHNlXcQbZom5ca1KrxRdFGXq6bh9qpbF47HPrOt37MetwoIwwSI6anaVTjZxdb9zLyc4jrFmj-BNZnzNnNczZnUvdrNCWF645w4D0mP/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My desk and tiny little dresser and vanity. It's interesting to try and do your hair while bent over while trying to look into the mirror.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Once I got settled in, my coworker, Makoto Urakabe, took me to the Hokuto City office to register my residency. Because I am going to be here for over three months, I have to register as a resident, and subsequently I then lose my foreigner status to get Bullet Train-or Shinkansen-tickets at a discounted price. Bummer! In Japan, you also have to register for their national health care. I was a little hesitant about enrolling in that because of how tricky that can be in the US, but all I had to do was sign some forms. Urakabe translated for me, so I very well may have signed papers saying if I have a cold, I consent to them cutting me open to donate my organs. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX7dr_j24AnFaTiy61WRdqFGgIi7fBMllLSFkm2m633h-nQ0T6E4n1FXl7M4RQQBiqd-wUegnMAN6OZmgi8whnYN7Q3biKGWGARstUI0kYDIt2T48j2VAdkKwB-zZRuVAZwBJzAMnnGa1/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX7dr_j24AnFaTiy61WRdqFGgIi7fBMllLSFkm2m633h-nQ0T6E4n1FXl7M4RQQBiqd-wUegnMAN6OZmgi8whnYN7Q3biKGWGARstUI0kYDIt2T48j2VAdkKwB-zZRuVAZwBJzAMnnGa1/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hokuto City office---so official</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ai1dM303qz8uWF3GtlRBi423Zg0Qn9XJ34a2cQ0t54G-phvYsxzTL3cFCkzI_zW8UcIM0z-n2fl95237_3qB9HM4Jd62WngWc0R0Y0VHrIh8LO5K15firfGtGZJG0mClpcV6FW3rHauC/s1600/photo-35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ai1dM303qz8uWF3GtlRBi423Zg0Qn9XJ34a2cQ0t54G-phvYsxzTL3cFCkzI_zW8UcIM0z-n2fl95237_3qB9HM4Jd62WngWc0R0Y0VHrIh8LO5K15firfGtGZJG0mClpcV6FW3rHauC/s1600/photo-35.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's official...Japan's version of a green card. No illegal alien here! I can now give people my card now too!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ5S4CW528Wpl4CMfCAwcwept0f6wa9n6AQTPaAPhU29WCjxmkwnRHy2HR-X54r-ZvINC_Nw8UOYGDDi7TFZv4OwBKF2ncaZsVUJxMyBAyKR1Sj2k8hGOz4KHjLiC2dPdADaXMBdFmdRu/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ5S4CW528Wpl4CMfCAwcwept0f6wa9n6AQTPaAPhU29WCjxmkwnRHy2HR-X54r-ZvINC_Nw8UOYGDDi7TFZv4OwBKF2ncaZsVUJxMyBAyKR1Sj2k8hGOz4KHjLiC2dPdADaXMBdFmdRu/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have to provide your own picture for your residency card....I only needed one, so let me know if anyone is dying to have one. I've got lots of leftovers!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zj3IvgZC7uiiKT84dkRPwcnzODvhyphenhyphen3nggEWCV41w5NFnn_BwAPWuNOscNr9q6v2Z9E7eQF8b4cTA503YP0FX044QSBNfLHvPnP-LgqsoPbLoPY0U-KMmWV2C4LQhXuK95G75EwZMFPL_/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zj3IvgZC7uiiKT84dkRPwcnzODvhyphenhyphen3nggEWCV41w5NFnn_BwAPWuNOscNr9q6v2Z9E7eQF8b4cTA503YP0FX044QSBNfLHvPnP-LgqsoPbLoPY0U-KMmWV2C4LQhXuK95G75EwZMFPL_/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The scenery of the Yatsugatake mountains, where KEEP is located, on the drive home on the main highway, 141. I've gotten lost enough that I have become very familiar with the area and different ways to get home.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In my free time, I really enjoy going to the mall in nearby Nirasaki, which makes me feel like a total Valley Girl, but they play a lot of American music in the stores and having worked in retail for so long, it's somewhere that feels comfortable and relaxing, suprisingly. It's not a good habit for my wallet to be continually going there, but they really have some great stores. The mall has a "Hundred Yen" store which is just like a dollar store, but is 100x better, Muji, which is like Ikea meets Bed Bath & Beyond with clothes, and my absolute favorite, Uniqlo, which has the same price point and similar product to H&M, but again 100x better. So you can all rest assured I am not suffering 24/7. I will say, though, the radio is lacking. It is like one song for every ten minutes of talking, which of course I don't understand. If you're looking for a simple gift for me, mixed CDs for the car would be great! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Laza Walk-the shopping mall, my stomping grounds</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejQaCHEm2UVhz_MQ2dDs7tQEc8BlYSZfSOVEFgX2pzVKvqDsNQkyQHNZ4DtD2r6wxB6SkkMQn3rWFByTbtiWLdczeWz_hdA81iu3IQs8xlVkkzsxqDW_yfNor5NndTf_nqxUraWfasMl5/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejQaCHEm2UVhz_MQ2dDs7tQEc8BlYSZfSOVEFgX2pzVKvqDsNQkyQHNZ4DtD2r6wxB6SkkMQn3rWFByTbtiWLdczeWz_hdA81iu3IQs8xlVkkzsxqDW_yfNor5NndTf_nqxUraWfasMl5/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The English on the clothing here doesn't always translate into something that is coherent and is one of my favorite things to look at, but this store had a table of sweatshirts of some of the US's most picturesque areas...I'm gonna keep an eye on the Indy one and wait for it to go on sale and then snatch it up.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There you have it. My little home on this side of the world. My next post I will go into what all I have been doing for work here at KEEP. This weekend we are celebrating the Environmental Education initiative's 30th anniversary in Tokyo at Rikkyo University, which has deep connections with KEEP, so I'll have lots of stories and pictures to report back. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time-</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Charlotte </span></div>
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-85102327958630647992014-01-12T02:28:00.000-05:002014-02-20T10:46:20.973-05:00Good Things Come to Those That Wait...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"><i></i></span><br />
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</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span>magine being serenaded by Enya while you eat your breakfast and watch the wind blow the snow off the trees and mountain tops. An easy thing to imagine isn't it? Something that you'd like to experience every morning, right? Well that's what my life has been for the past three days. I guess I should back up and explain why that angelic voice of Enya's has been singing to me over my coffee.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I finally made it to Japan! After months of delay because of visa issues I still have yet to figure out and a flight cancellation after that really fun blizzard that came through the Midwest, I have finally touched down on this big island nation. I have to admit, I didn't think it would ever come. After rebooking my flight with Delta following a three hour wait with their customer service line, I was headed to Tokyo by way of LAX. The thought of an eleven hour flight was a little daunting, but watching four movies and sleeping a lot proved to be quite pleasant. Now that I've conquered that flight I feel like I can pretty much do anything. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwwxGNRi9BK745b7FzI6c7zKEJkLJSWLwBSIuSiNUan1OAie1RfhZpgwmCtZ9jXZ66rcGKZbEWdO-BwAy3l4-RTLiafFxG_9qlYb1Yl7TzhrGMFGCmMNTl0dgXKW1lqbgSuk8KmhOTxpI/s1600/securedownload-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwwxGNRi9BK745b7FzI6c7zKEJkLJSWLwBSIuSiNUan1OAie1RfhZpgwmCtZ9jXZ66rcGKZbEWdO-BwAy3l4-RTLiafFxG_9qlYb1Yl7TzhrGMFGCmMNTl0dgXKW1lqbgSuk8KmhOTxpI/s1600/securedownload-5.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Almost to the Narita Airport...didn't even get to finish 300 before we landed</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After I landed and got off the plane, I thought I would freshen up before the four hour drive that I faced up to Kiyosato and where I would be living for the next year....bad idea. I should have just waited until I got through immigration and had a chance to put all of my paperwork away because in my infinite wisdom I decided on the plane that my back pocket was a good place to put my passport and customs paperwork and of course it ended up in the toilet. I've had near misses with cell phones, but this was my first experience in this country, you'd think I'd have been a little bit more careful. Welcome to Japan! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So after I made it through immigration and customs unscathed, albeit with some sqiushy paperwork, I was met by my boss, Mr. Okemoto. He was nice enough to have made the trip to the Narita airport to pick me and my year's worth of luggage up. Once in the van I was greeted by the lyrical stylings of One Direction on the radio, so I couldn't have been more comforted. Wanting to see all the sights along the way kept me up for most of the ride until we passed through Tokyo and then the habit I inherited from my dad of being able to fall asleep anywhere, any time kicked in and I was out cold until we stopped at a rest stop and I had the most luxurious bathroom experience of my life and this was a rest stop! Heated toilet seats, so many buttons that I didn't even know what they did, individual rooms as stalls, flushing sounds if you wanted to cover up, ahem, noises....it was AWESOME. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Nothing else really eventful happened after I arrived at KEEP. They were putting me up in the hotel on property, Seisen Ryo because of what I thought was because I was getting in so late and they wanted me to experience all of KEEP. Turns out they were worried I was too tall for the bed they had for me in the dorm they had setup for me, so I got to stay a few extra days at Seisen Ryo. Not that I am complaining...look at the place! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aGvlaMrhys7N7CH5IxaabsT_Rb4a0N3JU5p4ZZPDbHxJ2JbRq5zElDvZ0V0sFTnWL8Iwc-eT22ajB9mAhXjuucObPcCzupIsY3g45LLZ9Jto400w6N9ipGE8bYyJiZETN4Cg8ja_3gpS/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aGvlaMrhys7N7CH5IxaabsT_Rb4a0N3JU5p4ZZPDbHxJ2JbRq5zElDvZ0V0sFTnWL8Iwc-eT22ajB9mAhXjuucObPcCzupIsY3g45LLZ9Jto400w6N9ipGE8bYyJiZETN4Cg8ja_3gpS/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">View of Seisen Ryo coming down from the main road</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__eW3Av6pBRtUhBgVl0x7o3iKpN7Q5lNRgaVJk5PulQQIt7xjPipCMcGL7ouxkb2Uz4ENzgO0zZ0Org-QHlkt3VZB14zkEI1unfBG5RQj4zfUnYxRDEAaFSv3kesdjFEsMeuLZMsRtO-9/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__eW3Av6pBRtUhBgVl0x7o3iKpN7Q5lNRgaVJk5PulQQIt7xjPipCMcGL7ouxkb2Uz4ENzgO0zZ0Org-QHlkt3VZB14zkEI1unfBG5RQj4zfUnYxRDEAaFSv3kesdjFEsMeuLZMsRtO-9/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Main entrance going to the lobby</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0cffqLEMeSRgmkqWQVuXLoVjaGvdsHqfes8HzogDv9dCggT-03QzcXQBp-1Cu1OpoMswtQr4B6zQ1-ujnsiwkpa4VZzuJveVAWWt6LxhGqwe3kKm4-UtQhCYRUBsD9CkGys1Iaf4R6n3/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0cffqLEMeSRgmkqWQVuXLoVjaGvdsHqfes8HzogDv9dCggT-03QzcXQBp-1Cu1OpoMswtQr4B6zQ1-ujnsiwkpa4VZzuJveVAWWt6LxhGqwe3kKm4-UtQhCYRUBsD9CkGys1Iaf4R6n3/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fireplace in the lobby that I sat next to and read The Japan Times' articles about earthquakes, Godzilla and the NFL playoffs...not kidding</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJIMgwz-FFBkdDZ4dYrPsClR_ngYqYEXBqt1h-OywQ8dHVWQRQhJ3YKYRks2P-wdTEtR3g-mRutYo9qosaj3S3uz9_dcvTpTeZii1ZzAWnxp1qnD7AwUPV3aOz8Lv-kBgcYo5f6v9Md2v/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJIMgwz-FFBkdDZ4dYrPsClR_ngYqYEXBqt1h-OywQ8dHVWQRQhJ3YKYRks2P-wdTEtR3g-mRutYo9qosaj3S3uz9_dcvTpTeZii1ZzAWnxp1qnD7AwUPV3aOz8Lv-kBgcYo5f6v9Md2v/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Front desk where I met lots of workers eager to practice their English with me!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU5OQVljeIKm0OhgxUL7XDM7UFmHgJG84pvgSGbDippk7KhzEJ_nXbM98uKoP0BpedtxONcvCF0Ts6OgWA-wu-1yt9EBFFlj_1IvgQVkm7OoaR5iNdh49UBs1pPiFGaKlh6r0LXhF2hVI/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU5OQVljeIKm0OhgxUL7XDM7UFmHgJG84pvgSGbDippk7KhzEJ_nXbM98uKoP0BpedtxONcvCF0Ts6OgWA-wu-1yt9EBFFlj_1IvgQVkm7OoaR5iNdh49UBs1pPiFGaKlh6r0LXhF2hVI/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking down into the lobby, where I sit right now writing this!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next morning, I woke up early knowing I wanted time to look around and appreciate where I was before I had to meet people for breakfast at eight. It was still dark out when I woke up, so I decided to make use of the tea set in my room just because it was there. Wouldn't you? It was just sitting there all precious.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQh0gQyJvecObphBlSRilOTvKKVbfm-14IOJMgMGDHajzyJy03JYbV2MKpU1zwUTDEuXleRIBuZ8s9HeKjKyKq2U3H9iN2J2hyxyT6f32ZFADYKVodcTaODQ8EtEmRcCJFB7AnrOHZTH0/s1600/securedownload-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQh0gQyJvecObphBlSRilOTvKKVbfm-14IOJMgMGDHajzyJy03JYbV2MKpU1zwUTDEuXleRIBuZ8s9HeKjKyKq2U3H9iN2J2hyxyT6f32ZFADYKVodcTaODQ8EtEmRcCJFB7AnrOHZTH0/s1600/securedownload-6.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An electric tea kettle is a must when I get back to the states</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So while I enjoyed my tea, the sun started to come up and I got my first real look at where I would be living for the next year. I honestly have to say it gave me goosebumps and I smiled like a loon.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs00MKmykdYbeHvD4XdbOp_GkETgFCvMmcVmvJDWfa4RfXkmYw8IFfRgqqcDBTyCM-NGCMFOtUSiFGQnONxRUvNpSvHc1ocLIUlkLJsxt4IVNvtsrpGU6HdxAMNwj7TrTb4rsRM2UoY5_m/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs00MKmykdYbeHvD4XdbOp_GkETgFCvMmcVmvJDWfa4RfXkmYw8IFfRgqqcDBTyCM-NGCMFOtUSiFGQnONxRUvNpSvHc1ocLIUlkLJsxt4IVNvtsrpGU6HdxAMNwj7TrTb4rsRM2UoY5_m/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sun rising over the Yatsugatake Mountains on my first full day in Japan</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This brings me back to Enya. I went down to breakfast to meet my supervisor, Makoto Urakabe, a board member from KEEP and Mr. Okemoto again. It was the most peaceful breakfast ever. The entire dining room looked out over the mountains and if I didn't know any better, I would have assumed the same storm that delayed my departure in Indy, hit Kiyosato as well because they had just gotten a foot of snow just days before I arrived, so everything was snow covered and glittering. They also had Enya's greatest hits on repeat which made me feel like the bacon and eggs I was eating was actually healthy and not clogging my arteries. I wasn't quite ready to jump into a full on Japanese breakfast on my first morning.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEx0xeCGe0vRjj3oggGAp064VAKzi6bqyXh6fXHun-12af9PI3BOueOEFqAf0UxDF8Vbu1AYInCcJJGXgGcmpPwibVW2NIHB-NhoNd-OsWMx20uuZY_UQWTp06pSNmp4S0KiZWM1hGVaa/s1600/photo-30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEx0xeCGe0vRjj3oggGAp064VAKzi6bqyXh6fXHun-12af9PI3BOueOEFqAf0UxDF8Vbu1AYInCcJJGXgGcmpPwibVW2NIHB-NhoNd-OsWMx20uuZY_UQWTp06pSNmp4S0KiZWM1hGVaa/s1600/photo-30.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seeing this compensates for the new age folk music playing</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Knowing that I would be a little jet lagged, the day planned was fairly easy. We were visiting all of the sites on KEEP's property. We started off at the main office, moved on to the nursery school which proved little kids everywhere fight over the last toy or in this case sled, went to the nature center and dormouse museum, farm shop where we had lunch, dairy barn which smelled exactly the Indiana State Fair, the church St. Andrew's, the discovery center where they host most of the programs for children, the Jersey Hut which is where they have the infamous ice cream everyone talks about [I have not indulged yet, but have had the yogurt and it's delish], the camp site office, the Paul Rusch Memorial Center and American Football Hall of Fame [he is the founder of KEEP and the one that brought American Football to Japan. They also have his home opened up as a museum that you can walk through] and the old Seisen Ryo building that houses my office and many others. The first two months or so are going to be me rotating around to the different places at KEEP so I can become familiarized with every aspect of it before I go to my permanent station in the International Relations office. I am really excited about all they have planned for me and can't wait to start! When I am working at the hotel, they want me speaking nothing but English to the employees to make them become better speakers and enhance the experience for the more Americans they hope to bring in, which is another aspect they want me to help with. Pulling from my hospitality background, they want me to help market the property to more groups internationally and hopefully bring in more people outside of just the groups that come in for the programming they put on. There's so much they want me to do and I am so ready for it all to begin! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIhw_tKq6ZL-pHW54pO7tJgAXU-caEj_HmbSvYasezd8Tq5S_v8d7mlLeOpoknmtNzZe0JeIrso3dRGs60L8Hxqe_J3C0l91RwyRYQVvyU0vH9mjTziYzRIaCpdsyXpTlVwVyRdsJ60W9/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIhw_tKq6ZL-pHW54pO7tJgAXU-caEj_HmbSvYasezd8Tq5S_v8d7mlLeOpoknmtNzZe0JeIrso3dRGs60L8Hxqe_J3C0l91RwyRYQVvyU0vH9mjTziYzRIaCpdsyXpTlVwVyRdsJ60W9/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is right when you walk out of my office. That's Mt. Fuji...no big deal or anything</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kU4GZIjiWZu_8a1PRitYvLNrru7HPceiND8UWH2NElub5FYnu6leGPynmRBMr5nim-6EpcaV4_Ox7Lu4aqn1vyf6hXSRm43lsV3RuFrluP44rLTTiYEI-PPLA-3pREhT2Yx9ZcM7Fuum/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kU4GZIjiWZu_8a1PRitYvLNrru7HPceiND8UWH2NElub5FYnu6leGPynmRBMr5nim-6EpcaV4_Ox7Lu4aqn1vyf6hXSRm43lsV3RuFrluP44rLTTiYEI-PPLA-3pREhT2Yx9ZcM7Fuum/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Found this in the American Football Hall of Fame...Have yet to find out the significance of Notre Dame in Japan, but it's on my to do list</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My second full day in Japan consisted of getting my new car! I named her Inu, which means dog in Japanese. Mr. Okemoto brought her to me and drove me and my new car to the shopping center about fifteen minutes away. He made sure to point out the shopping center, the hospital, the drug store and a place where I could buy cheap booze in bulk...he is a man of few words, but he uses the right ones! On the way back to Kiyosato, he decided to have me drive. Did I mention in Japan they drive on the other side of the road and the other side of the car? So far I have only gotten into the passenger seat once, but I don't know how long it will take to stop using the wipers as my indicator. After that nerve wracking experience we had lunch at the local microbrewery for a much needed brewsky. The area I am living it is known for it's superior water for brewing beer, making sake and distilling whiskey, so I am thinking I am going to take advantage of that little perk. I promised a friend the first time I saw a pizza on a menu I would try it out for him and I can't complain! After that I was on my own for the evening. I tried to get back to the shopping center to just look around on my own. It ended up taking two hours instead of the fifteen minutes it took the first time. I wrote it off as time to explore and practice my driving, not getting lost.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6KdZED_fLnm8GM9L2tZcfZaGv5H1dfEHkHIuQ9Sors_cD7IU7zIhJERs9w_8tWnHp787mzp_V8PEi-ib_EFNAzVXME0GYY5JPl0z23WwJFMFVcmtrf0eZdgR1uDi-b4B2N47ZZbQUA1T/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6KdZED_fLnm8GM9L2tZcfZaGv5H1dfEHkHIuQ9Sors_cD7IU7zIhJERs9w_8tWnHp787mzp_V8PEi-ib_EFNAzVXME0GYY5JPl0z23WwJFMFVcmtrf0eZdgR1uDi-b4B2N47ZZbQUA1T/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My little pet...She's a Toyota Vitz</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AQwlqwt17aLObFVj-GmfmwA6rHRjjymzFT7yekxX74ZD56OmhMq7nDt8mkWlyRKH-sDL2yU2p-ggZSv3XytbaKJITrBWhSPoptWwTf559G056Oigmaf7YTlYQnxeRzeAx669jbq5Vcz2/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AQwlqwt17aLObFVj-GmfmwA6rHRjjymzFT7yekxX74ZD56OmhMq7nDt8mkWlyRKH-sDL2yU2p-ggZSv3XytbaKJITrBWhSPoptWwTf559G056Oigmaf7YTlYQnxeRzeAx669jbq5Vcz2/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The "Yellow Bridge" that I cross to go into town to shop</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAxmW_0z5Ypc7U7O2Qv1nkQL93Ae64QZmmP3yWRYAJpd8gM5qoJ2ukCUmxBZhIU1yEAHFo9fc626am9CPJOu_eYXprzH1mRt8vZzereP-_NUUdHG1pew5h0VgNQX3B5kFfGx88wLmdXK_/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAxmW_0z5Ypc7U7O2Qv1nkQL93Ae64QZmmP3yWRYAJpd8gM5qoJ2ukCUmxBZhIU1yEAHFo9fc626am9CPJOu_eYXprzH1mRt8vZzereP-_NUUdHG1pew5h0VgNQX3B5kFfGx88wLmdXK_/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More of the view on the drive into town</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl1HZlm0hcr5rFezmNdQUvxqQ-WBO9bHzXVyekrFoFma6_7Ow9fa9WZicmHUZeVmharkHqU37GMHUwqxNzbVpWYIe9At7j7oXnBpY5F9a3umxu8KH74v8Z5fL0r-fmiP3BERzt7-X0L3s/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl1HZlm0hcr5rFezmNdQUvxqQ-WBO9bHzXVyekrFoFma6_7Ow9fa9WZicmHUZeVmharkHqU37GMHUwqxNzbVpWYIe9At7j7oXnBpY5F9a3umxu8KH74v8Z5fL0r-fmiP3BERzt7-X0L3s/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So many choices...I went with the dunkel</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NIlsa-2DR9cP1aEOZ1O7vpZ70L8m-2HFTBDSV47w69h5wW_1KgIDx2KyYofpIT6q6O6uVOkKnybXKaBmLQETpyneELCqTu0wZqzRo6gJ3QVlV-VjzA4NYv5Qq3si4sNix11uohIqqjwu/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NIlsa-2DR9cP1aEOZ1O7vpZ70L8m-2HFTBDSV47w69h5wW_1KgIDx2KyYofpIT6q6O6uVOkKnybXKaBmLQETpyneELCqTu0wZqzRo6gJ3QVlV-VjzA4NYv5Qq3si4sNix11uohIqqjwu/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pizza and beer...real adventurous I know </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Later that evening, I decided I needed to bite the bullet and experience these hot springs everyone raves about. There is one attached to the hotel and am told it is a great way to relieve jet lag. Why I was so hesitant about it was because I had read about these bathing experiences and the whole ritual to them, you must shower and scrub down BEFORE you get into the hot spring...and because you bathe nude with strangers. I figured on my last night staying at the hotel I had to do it. I do have to say it was one of the most relaxing things ever, almost as great as the heated toilet seats, and I came back to my room and slept like a baby that had been slipped Benadryl in their bottle. I told myself that this whole time I am here in Japan I just have to let go of all reservations and try everything the Japanese way, no matter how weird or uncomfortable it may seem because it is going to pay off in the end. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunw-lCNDsJF_cCXIsPW6X_oxWvbTT6iNCO_WNRFZYSEahSeepJQ4pu3hQI3EPNCWsZ8lcpgF2Bnd2MDr9fgnqxgA7qh3DIQWSLFpTY7k3DOdlqFUhou8y9Nx3fc_LEFGA3LSqQ9EJFoax/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunw-lCNDsJF_cCXIsPW6X_oxWvbTT6iNCO_WNRFZYSEahSeepJQ4pu3hQI3EPNCWsZ8lcpgF2Bnd2MDr9fgnqxgA7qh3DIQWSLFpTY7k3DOdlqFUhou8y9Nx3fc_LEFGA3LSqQ9EJFoax/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My skin felt all silky smooth after</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3hOracsX3JhGrBMPLNIHX2alAnGK48TQjKcAbfJVOf-J3ycBb4xaOUUnoWkBRvvbUcf4amwMy5PN-1vYRtiY-BpyoeuIB-fwMQJ-9qWT4UXJlIxeeerkBel0nkQGaFxAmDgWLCGW_46V/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3hOracsX3JhGrBMPLNIHX2alAnGK48TQjKcAbfJVOf-J3ycBb4xaOUUnoWkBRvvbUcf4amwMy5PN-1vYRtiY-BpyoeuIB-fwMQJ-9qWT4UXJlIxeeerkBel0nkQGaFxAmDgWLCGW_46V/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please excuse the missing 'H' in hot. </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This morning was when I had to move out of Seisen Ryo and into my dorm with the new bed and raised lamp in the middle of the room that I ran into the other day. I haven't really moved in much yet, but it is coming along. Once I do, I will give you a tour. After I dropped my things off at the dorm and donned my Colts gear for the playoff game against our archenemies, I drove down the road to St. Andrew's to attend mass [we're fourteen hours ahead of Indianapolis, so an 8:15pm game on Saturday in Indy was a 10:15am game on Sunday here]. I was introduced to the priest and his family, he has three kids that I like to think are my new friends, and a few other parishioners and was given a few things in English to attempt to follow along. It is a small congregation, maybe 20 people at service, so I thought I might be able to sit off by myself and flounder along in the all Japanese service in the privacy of my own mat. That was not the case. Right before the service started a lady sat down right next to me and started to introduce herself. Her name was Reiko and spoke fabulous English. Her and I started talking about how she used to live and work in Toyko and when she retired her and her husband moved to Oizumi, the town over and she started coming to St. Andrew's. She was my saving grace showing me where we were in the service book and what to do during communion and the peace. Luckily, it pretty much flows the same as church at home. Now I just need learn the few key words. Amen is the same so I can usually figure out where we are based on that. Today felt for the first time like I was apart of the community because I did something completely on my own without anyone from work helping me along. I like to think I also made my first friends, too. Reiko even gave me her number! Hopefully this Sunday ritual will bring some continuity to this year that seems like it is going to be a whirlwind of activity. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n7BgHJSmDCImpV_K9c6sQ1_rdE1CFBb-JqQelqw550kiqaAbZO9cbqEZ2Hp-qf4oVd9kogwO_OOS8eSi7FsOnzLei2u9daqHTO7taVVLy716oTOOZ05SyaAzk6adO4LDoyUpY7q7pd3Y/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n7BgHJSmDCImpV_K9c6sQ1_rdE1CFBb-JqQelqw550kiqaAbZO9cbqEZ2Hp-qf4oVd9kogwO_OOS8eSi7FsOnzLei2u9daqHTO7taVVLy716oTOOZ05SyaAzk6adO4LDoyUpY7q7pd3Y/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My church away from home-St. Andrew's in Kiyosato</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmRuY-qm7zj1p2OB58Sq4sMwWBHIU2_KB1pIDU-0v7nQVpJHcCWLIGeWOUq1ZtIj8eyAhUv5vdXcCast5l8lw7wurkuP-af7UnkXz9EFFUixSevVLJd-qQM6oyKTqYnnqWxzaxr9v2lV8/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmRuY-qm7zj1p2OB58Sq4sMwWBHIU2_KB1pIDU-0v7nQVpJHcCWLIGeWOUq1ZtIj8eyAhUv5vdXcCast5l8lw7wurkuP-af7UnkXz9EFFUixSevVLJd-qQM6oyKTqYnnqWxzaxr9v2lV8/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those rocks were brought up from the river valley below KEEP to build the church</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjsIw9pO4TVxSbe2nmrPZKBZ5zl5SxsFN4px__tJMDq5UvB5o4N7TkhWGB64nEY0N_Yf-3B-nc4cno_i34n1-k9WRy04HV0tVunIx0KDNrjYc1ScrP6NrwtEdmxKWXrM69V-yJdoyR8OE/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjsIw9pO4TVxSbe2nmrPZKBZ5zl5SxsFN4px__tJMDq5UvB5o4N7TkhWGB64nEY0N_Yf-3B-nc4cno_i34n1-k9WRy04HV0tVunIx0KDNrjYc1ScrP6NrwtEdmxKWXrM69V-yJdoyR8OE/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My new friends, the priest's kids, picking up the cushions after the service. It is a traditional Japanese service on the tatmi mat. It's pretty much hell on people who have bad knees or ankles or both...like myself, but I shall persevere </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLh26Jh7CBQqsjfzhZnWFGQR0n_MZvwwEYvWABS9_ZbX_lEi56P2d-WqU8XzewnKlywgV19mwtFkDSINCksADmjci7R8y7EyHZPG0_-QO9xhuzs-wr5dTsUgthjE9IpKyocN5gc3UWYTT/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLh26Jh7CBQqsjfzhZnWFGQR0n_MZvwwEYvWABS9_ZbX_lEi56P2d-WqU8XzewnKlywgV19mwtFkDSINCksADmjci7R8y7EyHZPG0_-QO9xhuzs-wr5dTsUgthjE9IpKyocN5gc3UWYTT/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hymns for today</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So now that brings us to right now where I am sitting and writing this in the lobby of Seisen Ryo because I can't figure out the Japanese words on the wifi router to get the password. Tomorrow I have off and will probably spend it setting up my dorm room. Tuesday starts the real work. I am starting at the Paul Rusch Memorial Center and will be working on translating works. To say I am buzzing with excitement would be an understatement. It could be the espresso I just had from the vending machine [it comes out piping hot!] or could be the possibility for great things during the year to come! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> If you've made it this far in this post, you now know that I am here, safe and settling in. I don't know how long that will last with shorter door frames and lights to run into, smaller steps to fall up and cars that are backwards, but for now I am alive and loving life!!!</span><br />
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-43581696102105332242013-08-26T17:23:00.001-04:002014-02-20T10:46:42.812-05:00"I Thought You Left Already?"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"><i></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span>f I had a dime for every time I have heard that lately, I could have entirely funded another year of YASC. I'm also sure people are wondering if the money I raised wasn't actually to "Send Charlotte to Japan", but rather to "Pay off Charlotte's student loans". I assure you all that the latter is false, while I'd love for it to happen too. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So what is the low down? Did somebody find out about my past racketeering and grand theft auto charges? Why didn't I leave on my July 28th intended departure date? Well for once it is something that is out of my control. Currently I am waiting on the Japanese Immigration to approve my application for a Certificate of Eligibility, which is a document that states what I will be doing in Japan is valid and real. Once that is approved, it gets mailed to me because I need the physical original to take to the Japanese consulate in Chicago to apply for my visa, which they say can take up to three days. To give you a time frame of how long this takes in case you are thinking of working with Japanese immigration any time soon, I applied for my Certificate of Eligibility on June 7th. It is now August 26th and mum is still the word on the CoE front. KEEP is unique in the fact that they have an American counterpart here in the U.S., the American Committee for KEEP which happens to be in Chicago. The setback has been kind of a blessing in disguise because I have an opportunity to meet with them and learn more about KEEP and my position while I'm still stateside. I've also had more light shed on what I will be doing while I am over there. Turns out I will be working in the international relations department and the hotel department of KEEP. Getting all this information just makes me more and more excited. If only I could convince the Japanese immigration how much I NEED to be there, like yesterday.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Well a few other updates. I reached my goal of raising $10,000 a few weeks ago and couldn't be more humbled by out the outpouring of love and support from people from the church, my friends, family friends and even people I haven't seen in years. I hope these people know, without sounding too much like an Oscar acceptance speech, that without them this would not be possible and I can never thank them enough. Everyone will be in my thoughts and prayers while away. I just want to take a second to recognize every one of my donors over on my <a href="http://cfile-yasc.blogspot.com/p/sponsors.html" target="">Donors</a> page. I will take a little bit of each of you with me on my journey.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So in the month since my "departure date" I've had a premature going away party and a premature sending off prayer for me at church...yes. Even with the embarrassment of showing up to church again and the obvious "I thought you were in Japan! We prayed for you!" I have had more time to do things I didn't think I would be able to like go to the Indiana State Fair. You can't be so close to leaving the country without ingesting thousands of calories worth of fried food when the opportunity arises. Now with my apartment lease up as well, I have moved in with my dad so that is an added bonus of family time. I guess this is an unexpected plus because I can now save up money from working and not having rent to pay. Always have to find the silver lining, right? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Some of the decor for my premature going away party...the sushi wasn't out yet</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">What's a party without Sake?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> The family thought it was important [or funny] to pray for the whole country upon my entry</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Hostess with the mostess </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> My suitcases just got 150 pounds lighter thanks to Dad!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">It was great having friends and family to celebrate. Just one of the guests...my friend since middle school Jenn!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Premature sending off by the church...appreciated all the same</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">I don't think Japan will have fair food like a lamb parfait or fried pickles </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">What's the Indiana State Fair without a fried Snickers, Oreos and Reese's?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So here I am, still sitting in Indianapolis with a new intended date of departure of "early to mid September". Sounds promising doesn't it? I am a firm believer in the mantra of 'everything happens for a reason' so something truly amazing is going to come out of this, even if it is extra time to pack and repack or time with my Rosetta Stone. It also gives me time to catch up on everyone else's blogs and read their stories because I am pretty much one of the last people out of twenty-eight YASCers to leave. I have my passport, international driver's license, clean bill of health and my hiking boots. I am ready when the times comes. Until then...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">--Charlotte </span></div>
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-81250974738780598372013-07-10T19:44:00.000-04:002014-02-20T10:46:53.844-05:00It's Happening, It's Happening....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"><i></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A</span>s I'm sure a lot of my fellow YASCers have been experiencing, I have been getting asked "Are you getting nervous to leave?" a lot and up until about a week ago I could honestly say no. My mental countdown was still ticking down until I got to see all the amazing people I met at discernment weekend again at our orientation & training in New York at the Stony Point Retreat Center. Now that those two weeks of orientation have come and gone, it is really hitting me that in less than a month I will be leaving behind my friends, family, 24 hour Walmarts, burgers & fries and everything else that screams AMERICA and boarding a flight that will take me to the other side of the world. So it's happening, I'm really doin' it! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So two weeks in New York? Most people at work think I was just on some little vacation and don't really understand what in the world a bunch of missionaries need to do for that long. If you take away the seminars and visits to different religious houses, I would equate it to summer camp with a splash of living in a sorority house [Lots of girls running around yelling "Who has size 8 shoes?", "What should I wear to meet the presiding bishop tomorrow? Do I wear the nicest outfit I brought?", "Does anyone have bandaids & bugspray?"] I honestly don't think Mean Girls or Bridesmaids could have been quoted any more than it was during our two weeks, not to mention every situation called for a sing-a-long. See! Missionaries are just like regular people too!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Actual Pi Phi sorority sisters- <a href="http://jkatiewebb.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Katie Webb</a> from Pepperdine and <a href="http://untotheendsoftheearth.blogspot.com//" target="_blank">Keri Geiger</a> from Washington & Lee University </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">More than a few pickup games happened in between seminars</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A lot of time was spent pow wowing in the center of the retreat center</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">On one of our many bonfire nights, we were joined by men from another organization at the retreat center . Their group was meeting to discuss how to promote peace among the world while honoring people's differences. </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://cmvanschaik.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carlin VanSchaik</a> and <a href="http://nogreatthingshaiti.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Julie Burd</a> performing on our impromptu karaoke night for <a href="http://ashleyecameron.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ashley Cameron's</a> birthday</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> On the business end of things, we actually got a lot done. While each of us are going to our respective countries, there was an overarching theme of cultural differences that we focused on. A lot of our discussions focused on what our expectations are and what do we think they expect of us. We also touched on a subject I had never thought of. It is the idea that a lot of our perceptions of people and things are based on "a single story". Think of Japan. You may think of a people that provide us our electronics and eat a lot of sushi. That is based off of a single story, the one that has been told to you through American media/Hollywood. This can be detrimental in situations when you are not open to your new culture because of what you believe to be true. An act that you may think means someone is standoff-ish actually means they are showing reverence to you in their culture. While the seminars felt like we were back in college trying to cram for finals, I now feel infinitely more prepared than I did before, which is probably the whole point. So good work everybody!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Happy to report that we abided by the covenant we created for the two weeks...minus that cell phone part. There were just too many instagram worthy moments.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Opening Eucharist...there's me in the yellow shorts in the middle!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://willbryantyasc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Will Bryant</a> and <a href="http://cmvanschaik.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carlin VanSchaik</a> explaining to the group how to respond in a situation where cultural differences arise.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">One of my many groups discussing an enlightening topic from one of the seminars.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My group creating a map of what it means to be a missionary in our last session. Props to <a href="http://serviceandstories.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Margaret Clinch</a> for masterminding our creation. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our pretty self explanatory tip about not ending up in jail in a foreign country</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Our first taste of the NYC life was spent at The Episcopal Church Center...think of it as the headquarters. We spent the day learning about how the Episcopal Church as a whole runs and finally got to meet the people that we all had been emailing for the past four months and put a face to the name of the people that essentially have our lives in their hands for the next year. We even got to have a meet and greet with the presiding bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori. It was so inspiring having her there to give her blessing to us and our work. She gave us insight into each of our placements and advice for our success. As I heard the entire weekend from multiple sources, she made sure I knew that Kiyosato has "phenomenal" soft serve ice cream. I'm beginning to wonder if coming home a changed person actually is going to mean fifty pounds heavier.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">We spent more time traveling than anyone would like to admit/remember</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Bishop Schori imparting some words of wisdom that we're invaluable to all of us. It was like meeting the ultimate Episcopal celebrity </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Me and <a href="http://mauricedyer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Maurice Dyer</a> posing with the Church Center sign</span></td></tr>
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One of the days we got to spend time with the brothers at the Holy Cross Monastery in West Park. It was an absolutely breathtaking place with its old world charm. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Think Hogwarts if Harry & Ron & Hermione were missionaries for Dumbledore.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> It was overlooking the river and peaceful beyond belief. Brother Robert was our host for the day where we had the opportunity to participate in the morning, noonday and evening prayers with the brothers. During meal times, we also go to visit with the other groups staying at the monastery. My favorite part of the whole day was after we had our lesson on spiritual practices and staying strong in our faith. It had started to rain and I was able to sit on the veranda and rock in their rocking chairs and just be. There is nothing like the smell of the outdoors on a hot day after a short intense rain. Everything just feels renewed and refreshed. At that point I just knew this is what I am supposed to be doing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-H7sb1b-3UFUh9S0MjY8D7iKNb-dEvhE0rG5GMUyN1ad8S7Pby6wCIYPhKDKgNQDHgUoNukn7WxsONGG3dY79xCWedd8_5EGQ95ObXAIIQ96fU0Q2dJ1wIq6nTLCf6N51T13UJVESbgw/s1600/IMG_4202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-H7sb1b-3UFUh9S0MjY8D7iKNb-dEvhE0rG5GMUyN1ad8S7Pby6wCIYPhKDKgNQDHgUoNukn7WxsONGG3dY79xCWedd8_5EGQ95ObXAIIQ96fU0Q2dJ1wIq6nTLCf6N51T13UJVESbgw/s320/IMG_4202.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">View of the monastery when you first drive up</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQR3L4uj-qXwbDpfb-ryKPzjG04JphYRV5Zqzpmlx4cunA5dwSDbuCczRHFsYMcKKx7opx9dtEGOIij-jY5msWZbllgZ-dv8PwNkixIvjvUPFUvpho5un9dPEuCJWT01j1kbEBjCYKlaK4/s1600/IMG_1448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQR3L4uj-qXwbDpfb-ryKPzjG04JphYRV5Zqzpmlx4cunA5dwSDbuCczRHFsYMcKKx7opx9dtEGOIij-jY5msWZbllgZ-dv8PwNkixIvjvUPFUvpho5un9dPEuCJWT01j1kbEBjCYKlaK4/s320/IMG_1448.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">So many coffee breaks it's no wonder people joke that it's the third sacrament</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34771SM2evIG1st5Fvk6C3GZxyagHkGxPc9o9Ha9T23hNeUSDIN0FSOtOlspBJgWoTtvrjLq0WMTDIIq-k6g6_lWsxavWcZWwYm8mVedrSMU34hiYtCWliBGmdJrH40F-jb-OgG8nvKOl/s1600/IMG_4146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34771SM2evIG1st5Fvk6C3GZxyagHkGxPc9o9Ha9T23hNeUSDIN0FSOtOlspBJgWoTtvrjLq0WMTDIIq-k6g6_lWsxavWcZWwYm8mVedrSMU34hiYtCWliBGmdJrH40F-jb-OgG8nvKOl/s320/IMG_4146.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The simplicity of the chapel was absolutely stunning</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGanA-Xr2sWj83tH-7TUqvMWAieaYYu7Gzgx5LHgh3Q_0EPFJmoe54iUa2vjbJdHzrlG-ZF75_h3jNhNonHkyJA-BPhLq8hPjE5glGdLpFNJDRJpc4b4vmU0Hw9bZKYyGk63wUbdhRPJV/s1600/IMG_1453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGanA-Xr2sWj83tH-7TUqvMWAieaYYu7Gzgx5LHgh3Q_0EPFJmoe54iUa2vjbJdHzrlG-ZF75_h3jNhNonHkyJA-BPhLq8hPjE5glGdLpFNJDRJpc4b4vmU0Hw9bZKYyGk63wUbdhRPJV/s320/IMG_1453.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> My two favorite windows in a series of stained glass windows depicting the story of creation</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoSR1dqmckQnjVd6LV15ExNTET0TdRl03fPzoKzd29wTz5618vLeCVe3yXMbNajQem4uBCFtw3qY_W1O2PyGsTAWq90nuSTsgVJHf9nDLh73nuGAL2NafqCXosrYw9of7uJVVdNPAL9sj/s1600/IMG_1454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoSR1dqmckQnjVd6LV15ExNTET0TdRl03fPzoKzd29wTz5618vLeCVe3yXMbNajQem4uBCFtw3qY_W1O2PyGsTAWq90nuSTsgVJHf9nDLh73nuGAL2NafqCXosrYw9of7uJVVdNPAL9sj/s320/IMG_1454.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Group of us that went on a walk to the labyrinth </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__-RoteE_P2KkRuUwF2CosxH4h9oXqqvVWyPs1UAhs2O41fYQixqo98Xdtjpp7gLRfGt_eOhias961rpLQMH8rVAFjsAyio1eCSMseMKUwodEIRnYjfAEbCwy-tKJ1b8xYrC8D92c9n7h/s1600/1044766_976887777353_681919628_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__-RoteE_P2KkRuUwF2CosxH4h9oXqqvVWyPs1UAhs2O41fYQixqo98Xdtjpp7gLRfGt_eOhias961rpLQMH8rVAFjsAyio1eCSMseMKUwodEIRnYjfAEbCwy-tKJ1b8xYrC8D92c9n7h/s320/1044766_976887777353_681919628_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Me and <a href="http://zacharyinhaiti.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Zach Baker</a> reflecting on the day</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEiE6IE0RTgv-EvKOKw2hkxhBvhsp2Wv7X2pvw7Z8l09ryubfww_-1KjMVKi0eYUYp-3z4m_0h8EoiMYukVa_2VMNkzL48zLpJ_rG7l2v4wTxkMZdACFn3kmmr0RJOb5Wj3JD1ie1A_XE/s1600/IMG_4161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEiE6IE0RTgv-EvKOKw2hkxhBvhsp2Wv7X2pvw7Z8l09ryubfww_-1KjMVKi0eYUYp-3z4m_0h8EoiMYukVa_2VMNkzL48zLpJ_rG7l2v4wTxkMZdACFn3kmmr0RJOb5Wj3JD1ie1A_XE/s320/IMG_4161.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The whole crew with our host Brother Rob</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our only Sunday was spent attending church service at the church where our "boss's" wife presided. Christ Church in Tarrytown, NY is a little different than my Christ Church here in Indianapolis. I am used to a more high church setting at the Cathedral with a full choir and multiple hymns sung during the service and the same ritual every Sunday, so the laid back atmosphere here was a whole new experience for me. Not to say one way is better or more correct, it was just different. I took it as a way to expose us to something different from our own home parish in a comfortable setting. We all know once we go overseas we are all going to see a completely different service than what we are used to. With that being said, the congregation could not have been more welcoming or engaging with all of us newcomers. After the service they had a lunch for us where everyone was so excited to meet us all and just sit and talk with us about what we will be doing over the next year. Being with people of your same faith that you have just met makes you really understand what it means to be unified in your love of God. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKMRAcz7sgN6qVybD2fapq48_p9JgD5jMPs30ua8ZGwvHHWkssvkDBSwO1k5zRP0IZHUhEdJ8ZY6Qb6powo5ZMNZlrDxUNeRHXhUUUK61OWVFra6sPWbziwC4vBnPhIpGtufFYjBgUN0H/s1600/IMG_4309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKMRAcz7sgN6qVybD2fapq48_p9JgD5jMPs30ua8ZGwvHHWkssvkDBSwO1k5zRP0IZHUhEdJ8ZY6Qb6powo5ZMNZlrDxUNeRHXhUUUK61OWVFra6sPWbziwC4vBnPhIpGtufFYjBgUN0H/s320/IMG_4309.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://undiscoveredbrother.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paul Daniels</a> with the Reverend Susan Copley with a sign that reads "Rainbow banner thieves God loves you madly. <br />1 John 4:7" that was put up after their rainbow flag kept getting stolen.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi_se4POJMY_OnIxBs1MdzGIzBRSsv7AISHWvsefqUDZ4eL1eCPP6IyA2ewjRxekXMgXpRYbbCXRrrsOJLBX-UDvOR01qKAQ8kKgVUTiN_VH7L0JXWnNNBsRrKddj9guSChu4_h31qr0o/s1600/IMG_4310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi_se4POJMY_OnIxBs1MdzGIzBRSsv7AISHWvsefqUDZ4eL1eCPP6IyA2ewjRxekXMgXpRYbbCXRrrsOJLBX-UDvOR01qKAQ8kKgVUTiN_VH7L0JXWnNNBsRrKddj9guSChu4_h31qr0o/s320/IMG_4310.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All of the YASCers and our bios that were in the front of the church before the service</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Bm9gOIq_ZVWpUYZBW0mOB7al3rKItt9N5KGUwGojJT2JTo88xnppsYIERi9npeEmxb9qDrw4s61dZ0K5iChyVB9bcoUH-yZKzDWanA_1zYndA6pXkaQRgPy0gYC3kfC2TQ5va6S0aG6a/s1600/IMG_4312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Bm9gOIq_ZVWpUYZBW0mOB7al3rKItt9N5KGUwGojJT2JTo88xnppsYIERi9npeEmxb9qDrw4s61dZ0K5iChyVB9bcoUH-yZKzDWanA_1zYndA6pXkaQRgPy0gYC3kfC2TQ5va6S0aG6a/s320/IMG_4312.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Fun sign at the front of the church</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYBo1OiKlmWsXlDswXE_HB3QytZKY29qnwubkOZrsaeH_D8WglJi98kVC7g9TZo5Z4Rliwv2q-Pe_BR7dqWPkHVJ3cqLQgtibDSjqfn0wqVCQbahVlqBwqVQhfE7ipY6zTGF3Rju-q4Lz/s1600/IMG_5344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYBo1OiKlmWsXlDswXE_HB3QytZKY29qnwubkOZrsaeH_D8WglJi98kVC7g9TZo5Z4Rliwv2q-Pe_BR7dqWPkHVJ3cqLQgtibDSjqfn0wqVCQbahVlqBwqVQhfE7ipY6zTGF3Rju-q4Lz/s320/IMG_5344.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://Our first taste of the NYC life was spent at The Episcopal Church Center...think of it as the headquarters." target="_blank">Emily Barker</a>, <a href="http://mauricedyer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Maurice Dyer</a>, <a href="http://teachprayserve.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Heidi Galagan</a>, me and <a href="http://nogreatthingshaiti.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Julie Burd</a> after the great service and lunch at the blessing of the new clothing closet of the church</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q2EpYQACMctqW067X6z8b_fMAe2iUXiaKExqpCkuP5N-en5DgWrCbv_qoBd1rBqn9S__60jkj6dDTxzqP_6h3LmnOGKtkiQJOadNeMx6ZBPD-kIIwntxPz19l5Ck9_BXapFiXvvBL9qU/s1600/IMG_4325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q2EpYQACMctqW067X6z8b_fMAe2iUXiaKExqpCkuP5N-en5DgWrCbv_qoBd1rBqn9S__60jkj6dDTxzqP_6h3LmnOGKtkiQJOadNeMx6ZBPD-kIIwntxPz19l5Ck9_BXapFiXvvBL9qU/s320/IMG_4325.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://pilgrimsascending.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sean Brown</a> will be joining me in Japan, but he will be at the Asian Rural Institute a little to the North of where I will be</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQf04Owa8pWV5xtJt3tNVNrg4jEOc3vIlPjp7kZOQqPAGv4KVkSgUDFCWrFAGfP2_nu780x8c8496THNRaY-ba172tjvGSWermuJ4mp8_TWXzTCOxP4JbIJThdjyuAQzpwY0leweKKPjq/s1600/IMG_1531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQf04Owa8pWV5xtJt3tNVNrg4jEOc3vIlPjp7kZOQqPAGv4KVkSgUDFCWrFAGfP2_nu780x8c8496THNRaY-ba172tjvGSWermuJ4mp8_TWXzTCOxP4JbIJThdjyuAQzpwY0leweKKPjq/s320/IMG_1531.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All of team Asia in our Sunday best</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There were two days we spent in the city which were really unique to our program. The first of the two was our "interfaith" day. We traveled to the city, in a party bus no less, to different houses of worship with the intent to get a better understanding of how other faiths relate to our own. Our first stop was the Eldridge Street Synagogue. It was a gorgeous, massive synagogue plopped in the middle of what has become Chinatown. Our guide was absolutely amazing giving us the rundown of Judaism, the history of the building and running through what happens during a service. I never quite realized the similarities to Christian services, but you would have to be blind and deaf to not notice them. Our next stop was St. Peter's Catholic Church in lower Manhattan. It was definitely a beautiful church and the priest that lead us around was very friendly, we just attended the noon mass and it felt like it was a bunch of people on their lunch break repenting for their sins of browsing on Facebook instead of working on their expense reports that morning. It wasn't quite people were there to ponder on their faith. Our next faith house was the Park 51 Mosque. Most notably, this 'mosque' has been in the media known as the "Ground Zero Mosque" for its supposed closeness to Ground Zero. In reality, it was more than a few blocks away and in a building that was as nondescript as one could be. I started walking past it until our guide stopped us and led us in. Here was where we really employed the "danger of a single story theory" in that we were all thinking that this was going to be some huge and imposing building right across the street from Ground Zero. Park 51 is actually meant to serve as not just a place to worship, but a kind of YMCA type establishment. What I found quite surprising was how comfortable most all of us felt there. The young woman who worked there really put a face to Muslims in America and is doing a real service educating people on something that most Americans find to be taboo or have a negative preconceived notion about. To say most all of our expectations on what we would experience there were completely blown away would be an understatement. Our last stop was the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist Center. While all of the other faith houses were relatively similar in their basic tenets, this was a place that took almost all of us out of our comfort zones. We were invited to join in a chanting session at the center. While I am sure people do have a religious experience while chanting for the twenty five minute session, I couldn't quite grasp what was going on or being said, but I can appreciate the sentiment. As I sit here writing this and drinking my tea, let's just say it was not my cup of tea. Nothing cures ignorance more than knowledge and I feel like this day really gave us some tools for us to take with us that will help us to experience situations overseas more fully and with our eyes completely open. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Our other day spent in the city was "Find your way in NYC". We were divided into groups and sent out to the different boroughs of New York and told to find people and learn their story, find out who they are and how they came to live there etc. My group was sent to Brooklyn to Brighton Beach and Bay Ridge. We didn't get very far with talking to people because one of the people in our group had a bag with their diocese on it and the first people we talked to told us they didn't want to talk about God and walked away, so that was a little disheartening. We decided to hang out at Coney Island for awhile and decided to get a feel for the people through osmosis. I'm more of a people watcher in that sense. All things aside, we were able to have an absolutely delectable lunch at a Russian Cafe in Brighton Beach, so we considered the trip a success. We ended the day with a dinner at restaurant in Chinatown. While China and Japan differ in more than just geographical location, which some people can't really grasp when I tell them I'm going to Japan, exploring Chinatown got me excited to explore my new Asian home and to try all new foods in my new lifestyle!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our party bus that took us into the city</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Beautiful view of the Eldridge Street Synagogue's window from the women's balcony</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our guide talking to us about the Eldridge Street Synagogue</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The group talking with the priest we met at St. Peter's Catholic Church </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">After lunch, we had time to explore St. Paul's Chapel which is the Episcopal church that was across the World Trade Center towers and received next to no damage after they fell</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Park 51 Mosque</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Two employees from the Park 51 Mosque talking to us about Islam and what the center hopes to do</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Soka Gakkai International Buddhist Center</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My group for the "Find Your Way in NYC" day with our lunch at a Russian restaurant--delish</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Coney Island near Brighton Beach </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzV2aUFVnZ-RPYWnjPsJtlkLQ9suOkLdRFjbU4O69a4nmM46cAKU3P03mQ3Z4yu4YNw0wSJOkuVMxvWErNmtTfM5jVTl_-1s8884q1KIVTE8AwPC4NZ0AnRa-_8kcsSweubEby9ZCDdMp/s1600/IMG_1611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzV2aUFVnZ-RPYWnjPsJtlkLQ9suOkLdRFjbU4O69a4nmM46cAKU3P03mQ3Z4yu4YNw0wSJOkuVMxvWErNmtTfM5jVTl_-1s8884q1KIVTE8AwPC4NZ0AnRa-_8kcsSweubEby9ZCDdMp/s320/IMG_1611.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Fellow Team Asia memeber <a href="http://forjusticeandpeace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sara Lowery </a>and me getting some ice cream on Coney Island</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">One of the few pics I had from our dinner in Chinatown...at least it is a good picture of <a href="http://rachelcarter2.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rachel Carter</a>, <a href="http://jkatiewebb.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Katie Webb</a> and <a href="http://ashleyecameron.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ashley Cameron </a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I can't have a post about orientation without talking about the great time I had with my roommate, who also happened to be my roommate during discernment weekend as well. Becky and I got to spend time getting to know each other back in February at discernment and really continued that bond through orientation. You get to know someone pretty well when you live in the same room with them for two weeks. A big thank you to her for our long late night talks about everything from siblings to worries about the year to come! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRfdSEE_MgTSdpqyiFLGGEhGa2gtxDKW6FXP6u59dmJ1lio7E_jenUQikH0Jijd-TW1qmUl-96yEQcOCVw18JqXeZOh4qQVkSpm1Fc24rC69GnoN7fyCpfYthyBPuwBJbGOXBDMbHmFTg/s1600/IMG_1672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRfdSEE_MgTSdpqyiFLGGEhGa2gtxDKW6FXP6u59dmJ1lio7E_jenUQikH0Jijd-TW1qmUl-96yEQcOCVw18JqXeZOh4qQVkSpm1Fc24rC69GnoN7fyCpfYthyBPuwBJbGOXBDMbHmFTg/s320/IMG_1672.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Such a great roommate! I wish <a href="http://beckygleason.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Becky Gleason</a> all the best in Honduras this year!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I just have to give a quick little shout out to my family and friends that entertained me on our free day in the city.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was able to meet up with my aunt and my cousin in the city for lunch. I hadn't seen them in awhile so it was a pleasant little expedition to see them. Afterwards, I met up with my friends from college, Matt and John. Our plans were to take the new City Bikes around for awhile, but with technology being the game of lottery that it is, we ended up just walking to some of their favorite places in the city. The break in between two weeks of go, go, go and all business was a welcome break. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My cousin Morgan at work at the UCB Theatre</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My friends John and Matt taking me to see some of their favorite places in the city.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> So that's how you train missionaries. We get to run wild in NYC and play with play-doh during seminars. Sounds like we're all pretty prepared to encounter cultures completely different from our own, right? All joking aside, it was a pretty incredible experience. It deepened everyone's relationship with each other and our resolve to give it our absolute all while we are away. I now know I have a support system not here in the U.S. but around the world now as well. Now just to play the waiting game until I leave!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">--Charlotte</span></div>
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-50977255386592973562013-07-05T11:10:00.002-04:002014-02-20T10:21:34.405-05:00Meet the Characters in My Story!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"><i></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A big shout out to fellow YASCer <a href="http://ashleyecameron.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ashley Cameron</a> for having the forethought to video tape us while at orientation and being able to create this introducing all of us to the YouTube world! Just a preview of what is to sure to become some really great stories!</span><br />
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<br />Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794700966812833136.post-59250428172920625392013-06-10T12:30:00.000-04:002014-02-20T10:47:26.141-05:00What's in a Name?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;"><i></i></span><br />
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</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">N</span>ow the title of this blog seems like a sweet enough name, but what some may not realize is there IS an actual meaning behind it. The song 'Never Alone' by Lady Antebellum was a source of strength amongst our family and friends during the time right after we lost Momma Sue. The first part of the song goes</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">May the angels protect you</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And heaven accept you when it's time to go home</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">May you always have plenty</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Your glass never empty</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Who wouldn't be </span></span>praying that the angels protect them while their on the precipice of a journey like this? My blog is actually the second half in a set with my sister's blog <a href="http://clairefile-neveralone.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">N E V E R A L O N E</a> being the trailblazer (shameless plug for her, but she's got some really great fashion pictorials!) I think seeing the title every time I log in will give me that little jumpstart I need if I am feeling low. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The song even inspired bracelets we made to remind us of her strength and always to follow suit. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What Would Sue Say? (with a secret Never Alone message on the inside)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's been a tradition to leave one of these bracelets anywhere people take trips to. To date, there are WWSS bracelets buried on the beach in Cabo, swimming with the dolphins the Caribbean, in the streets of New Orleans and at the bottom of a canal in Venice...those of course are just some of the coolest places. I'm looking forward to leaving one in Japan soon!</span></div>
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Charlotte File http://www.blogger.com/profile/00856168096090562304noreply@blogger.com0