Yuki Reunion!

On Sunday afternoon I had a wonderful visit with our Japanese son, Yuki, who was with us for an exchange year in Royal Oak from 2012-2013. He and his whole family drove four hours from their home to take me out to a delicious tempura feast in Tokyo. We then had dessert at my hotel before they drove straight back home in the same day. They treated me like a king!They brought all kinds of amazing gifts for my family and me.

Yuki's family could understand most of what I said if I spoke very slowly. Yuki translated a few things for them from English to Japanese. Yuki and his family made a short video message for my family back home. The best part about the whole visit was just being with them.

 When Yuki walked into the hotel lobby where we agreed to meet, I asked him if he wouldn't mind taking a picture with my teacher friends, who were meeting there to get ready to go out. Yuki was happy to comply.

 Tempura is basically any kind of food dipped in an egg batter and then fried. It is delicious!

 This was potato and some other vegetable. We had miso soup that had little clams in it for flavoring. I had to hold them in the bowl with my chopsticks.

 Peace!

 I was a bit cramped, sitting Japanese-style.

 Yuki's family picked me up in their Toyota mini-van.

 Here's a really cool poster and t-shirt Yuki's family gave me.

At my hotel preparing to say our goodbyes

So Many Moments

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted. My days and nights sure have been busy!

What I have realized, as a writer, is that there are so many moments to drink in, think about, and share that I will have stories to share for the rest of my life. People, places and things that are all completely new and unique to me stimulate my brain in exciting and pleasurable ways. I have laughed a lot on this trip. I have made a lot of new friends. I have even shed a tear or two after reflecting on all the ways human beings and all living things are so connected all over the world.

One of the reasons I love photography and videography so much is that they both provide a visual way to tell stories. Here is a photo a day from the past several days. Each one represents something that was new and different to me. Do you connect to these photos in any way? What do you think?

Tuesday June 24 - Akan Jr. High School, Kushiro

Any idea what this Japanese character means?

Wednesday June 25 - Shitsugen National Park Wetland, Kushiro

What kind of pose are we making and why?

 Thursday June 26 - Tokyo

Can you tell how the food in this restaurant gets to the customers?

Friday June 27 - Tokyo

Do you know what karaoke is? Do you know where it was invented?


Thursday June 28 - Tokyo

There are 48 teachers in this picture. Do you know how many are Japanese and how many are American? Can you find me?

It's so "Oichii!" - Japanese Food

Japanese food looks amazing and tastes just as delicious or "oichii". Fish, rice, and miso soup are consumed at many meals. I'll let these pictures do the "yumming":

 First breakfast

 Lots of soups

 This was in our hotel

 Lunch dessert

 Notice the attention to detail

 Sashimi or raw fish

 Many delicious pickled vegetables

 Fish is often grilled and served in small pieces

 Breakfast on the second day

 Green tea is Japan's national tea

 Sliced pork

 These fish "shavings" appear to wave at you when they contact hot food

 Vending machines are everywhere in Japan...

 ...selling mostly drinks...

 ...but also ice cream, cigarettes and beer!

 Convenience!

lunch in Kushiro...salisbury steam and potato wedges

  Fancy Japanese dinner

 Plenty of shrimp

 Artfully arranged

 Steak in sauce cooked at my table individually

delicious veggies

Don't worry, I only took the picture!

What a Weekend!

We have done so much, I don't know where to start. Every moment of every day is a new adventure, a new story. Every Japanese person I have met has been exceptionally kind and interested in our work on the Joberts Team and at BCS. People in Japan are interested in figuring out ways to preserve and protect the environment. Sustainability is truly on the minds of people all over the world.

I spent 24 hours with a host family, and they introduced me to life in a regular Japanese home with regular Japanese people. Guess what? They're just like Americans. They just happen to speak a different language, their food is different from what I'm used to, and they drive on the other side of the road. I can't say I am necessarily surprised of this fact, but I need to get out of my bubble - as Mrs. Roberts would say - and be reminded of this.

Anyway, I have thousands of pics already. Here are a few from the weekend...

 Brown bears are sacred deities to the Ainu people

 Hokkaido prefecture (like a state) is very green

 Lake Akan is in a Japanese National Park

 Do you know what kind of plant this is?

 The crane is a symbol of the city of Kushiro, where we're staying

 The Japanese crane...

...and baby

Kushiro, Hokkaido

On Friday we flew from Tokyo to Kushiro, a city in Northern Japan. It is very lush, with rolling green mountains. We are staying at a not springs spa resort hotel on Lake Akan. We visited an Ainu village. The Ainu people are indigenous Japanese, and their cultures and traditions are much like Native Americans and indigenous peoples throughout the world.

We participated in a circle dance and saw a fire ceremony. It was very exciting and fun. Every moment continues to be an adventure!

 Our Group of 12 on the way to Kushiro - "The Wild Cranes"

 Boarding Pass

 Watching Japan v. Greece World Cup in the airport

 Japanese fans hope for the best

 At the Ainu Cultural Center in Lake Akan

 An Ainu dancer

 Am Ainu woodcarver and storyteller

 Incredible dinner

 The Wild Cranes at dinner at our hotel in Lake Akan