Where in the World is Leaptrott

Today was my last full day in Japan.  We had presentations until 2:30 today and were free after that to make our last shopping trip or visit some part of Tokyo.  Karen and I went to visit another temple.  This time we went to Zojoji.  This was a large temple.  I’ll have to add photos later because the cables are packed.  We then tried to find one more.  We navigated the train, walk a good distance only to find that we had a little further to go so we did not go and visit because we had to get back to our final banquet. 

I am going to include photos of my host family and a few from the ryokan (traditional inn).  My visit to my family was great.  I just wish we could have had longer.

I am so grateful to the government of Japan and the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund for this opportunity of a life time.  The people here are beautiful.  Their hearts are so big.  I do not know if I will know how to act when I return home.  We have been treated like royalty.  On the crowed tunnels of the subways the people are always more than happy to help us find our way.  There was never a moment that we were treated like outsiders.  I will miss this country and especially its people and hope to one day return.  In the morning I fly home.  I will be happy to see my husband, my cat, my students, my friends and family but at the same time and sadden by the separation of new friends that became like a family to me.  This is not the end of the blog.  I will update it some more after my return to the states to add the final pictures.

Sayonara Japan! Sayonara JFMF friends!

Today we went to visit a school for students with physical and intellectually disabilities.  It was really nice to see the kids.  We were not allowed to take pictures.  The school seemed to be very similar to our SID/PID classes in the states with the exception of student/teacher ratio.  It was almost 1/1.  We then had a session our last session of our trip and then my sister-n-law and I went out, did a little shopping and spent several hours trying to find a restaurant that we could never find.  Tomorrow after our group presentation we are going temple hopping again.  I did not get the photos reduced from my final days in Kiryu.  I will try to do that tomorrow and get them posted.

I am now back in Tokyo from my trip to Kiryu.  I have completed my home stay which was wonderful.  The family took me out to Karokee and Sushi on the first day and then to the grocery store where I picked out veggies for tempura and breakfast.  (how sweet was a whole grain cereal for breakfast)   The tempura we cooked like we do fondu in the states.  It was very good.  The next morning we went to a park, to the temple and then out to eat lunch before going to the “big mall”.  It wasn’t any bigger than in the states but to the people in Japan it was a “big mall”.  I had a great time.  The next day we went into the mountains to stay at a traditional Japanese inn.  We shared a room with several others and slept on tatami mats floors and a futon.  (also did at host family, the best sleep yet despite the very cold home) The we a bath in the onsen after a 200 plate dinner(every little thing was served on individual plates, or at least this is what I was told)  It was good but the meal took over 2 hours, about half way through I was tired of eating even tough it wasn’t a lot.  I will upload pictures later.  It is close to midnight here and I need to go to bed because tomorrow I go to the “special school” at 7:30 am  It is 10 am Georgia time.  See you all in one week.

Today was another school visit.  This one was to Kiryu City Commercial High School where the main focus is business and technology.  The school was huge and was a maze to get around it.  The kids were a lot of fun.  Tomorrow is my home stay and the following night is our stay at the Yurinkan(a traditional Japanese Inn) so I probably will not be able to up date until I get back into Tokyo.  So until later……………Have a good day.  Miss you all.

Yesterday was probably the highlight of my trip up to this point along with going to see the Big Buddha and temple hopping.  Today we participated in Japanese archery and yes I did get hurt but only a little.  I have a big bruise on my arm where the string snapped it as I released the arrow.  We then visited a Hikobe Manor.  This was pretty cool.  They were having a tea ceremony at the time but we couldn’t watch because it was a private party but we did get to see a lot of ladies dressed in the traditional kimono.  After lunch we went to the flee market ( yard-sale on the street) but we all got some really good deals.  This was fun.  Then we went to visit Yukari a textile museum and died a handkerchief.  Basic it was tie dying with indigo.  Mine did not come out very well because I had folded my material too tight and the dye did not penetrate the fabric.  The final visit for the day was a paper craft studio.  Here a man made paper the old fashion way.  Makiko you would be proud I ate some fish with the eyes still on it.  For all you other folks it was really tiny fish.  Tomorrow we visit a high school and I think this should be fun because we got to meet some of the kids today at the archery. (they were our teachers).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

To all the students and staff at Greenbrier Middle School, “Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving”.  Today we visited a Jr. High school and got to observe classes.  Will update you later because it is very late (11:12) and I have to get up just before 6 am. 

Today we went to visit Gunma University.  We met with the dean of the collage and receive a gift from the school.  It was a tie clip with the name of the University on it.  We had a question/answer session with the professors and students from the english education department.  After visiting there we visited with the deputy mayor of Kiryu and the superintendent of the schools.  We receive a gift of dolls from the city of Kiryu.  We also had a Q&A here.  These sessions were really great.  After arriving at our hotel we went to the Ebisuk Festival of Nishinomiya, a Shinto Shrine.  This was really exciting and a new experience for the senses.  The food was very good but very different.  I had okonomiyaki which is vegetable-filled pancakes and takoyaki which is octopus-filled fried balls, somewhat like doughnut holes.  I took tons of photos a few of which I will add here.

Today we traveled to Maebashi in the Gunma prefecture.  Not too much to say except that I got to know our group a little better.  Walked around this sleepy town.  Not too much was open here on Sunday.  We did find a shopping center where we ate dinner and then most of us went out to a Karaoke bar.  This was my first time doing this.  I eventually sang a few songs with the group but NEVER with the microphone.  Tomorrow we will visit the Gunma University and then travel to Kiryu.  Maebashi is what Japan might call a small town but to all of us in Augusta GA. it is a pretty big city.

Today was our free day, NO LECTURES!!!  I went with a group to Kamakura.  I got a temple book and went to 3 different temples and had them sign the book in Japanese.  This was really interesting and lots of fun, after our 3rd temple we decided to head for the Big Buddha.  At the beginning of the walk it said we had 2 km until we reached our destination.  At the end of the walk the sign said we had 2 km to walk until our destination.  We had walked over the mountains and through the woods to find the big Buddha, after the trail we walked through a cave like entrance to a shrine,  at this time I felt like I was in another world on the travel channel.  There were shrines all over the place and people praying and asking for blessings from Buddha.  We walked through the small town and finally found Buddha.  We then found a noodle shop and had a late lunch.  This is where my sister-in-law and I got separated from the group.  Thank goodness for maps.  We navigated our way from Kamakura to Shinjuku and then to our hotel.  What an adventure.  It was a wonderful day and all the people we meet are great, friendly and very helpful.

To see a large version of the photo double click on the picture.