Day 14 in Japan
Trevor: Today was my last day of school. Because of the typhoon coming, we only had 3 periods and lunch. The last period was a celebration of my 2 weeks at school. My classmates made me a book that has messages and origami from each of them, and they also made me a necklace of paper rings. We played some games (Fruit Basket, and Rock-Paper-Scissors Train) and I gave a speech. I was nervous, but I made it!
Eli: Dad and Mom came to my school today. Mom left for a bit (for Trevor's going-away class party) then came back, and we all ate lunch with my classmates. I had fun, but when I got to school I was pouty. But it was still fun.
Mom: After school let out and the kids came home, we went to visit several people. We visited the person who gave us the Koinobori (Carp wind socks used for Boys' Day, May 5th), the person who gave me a beautiful kimono, and practically everyone in my old neighborhood. That last visit was a lot of fun, as we saw people we had not seen in years, and got to catch up. I was amazed at how well everyone is still doing and how good they all looked. It was like a reunion, and was very touching.
Dad: Eli's preschool is very different than American preschools and also very interesting. Seeing all the people in Ann's old neighborhood and seeing how excited they were to see Ann's family was awesome. We had dinner at a place called Bikkuri Donkey that specializes in hamburger steaks. They serve "Donkey Beer!" (I did not try it so I cannot give a personal review.)
Day 15 in Japan
Trevor: We went to 3 parks today. At the first park (Isahaya Park) we went on a long hike. It was my first time to hike and I liked it. At the second park (Omura Park) I ran 2 laps around the moat. We also played catch over a big castle wall with dad on one side of the wall throwing the ball over, and me, Eli, and mom, on the other side trying to catch the ball and throw it back. After we played catch, dad tried to throw the ball through an opening in the wall and didn't make it after 28 tries. I made it after 16 tries. Eli made it after 6 tries but he actually cheated because he threw it over the wall instead of through the opening.
Eli: Lunch was at a sushi restaurant that has a belt going around with plates (like Genki Sushi) but also has a train that delivers your orders to you that you order on a touch screen. It was so much fun! My favorite sushi was the Inari, but I was bummed they didn't have avocado rolls like we get in America. We went to 3 parks today (Trevor already talked about the first 2). My favorite park was the last park. It had a long slide, lots of play equipment, and a REALLY big rope jungle gym.
Mom: It has been nice having a car to get around the city.
Dad: I had Pastrami sushi today, basically pastrami on rice - an interesting combination. The hike in Isahaya Park was cool. I had fun playing catch with the boys in Omura Park. By the time we got to the third park, I was very hot and sticky, and tired. We met another foreigner there, who just happened to bring his daughter to the park, and it turns out he is from close to Vancouver, BC, so we had a fun conversation about living in the Pacific Northwest. He has lived in Japan for 11 years, but can still relate to our feelings about the muggy-ness and lack of temperature changes in this part of Japan.
Day 16 in Japan
Trevor: We picked up Alex from his homestay today. We went to Sky Park again, but this time with Alex and Dad, and we had a very fun time. We played miniature golf. There were 9 holes and it was totally different than miniature golf in America because it was in real grass with greens and lots of weeds (roughs). Alex lost his ball 3 times.
Eli: I had a tummy ache today (he woke up with a slight fever also). I didn't feel very good so I took a long nap in the afternoon, then I felt a lot better so I went to Sky Park with Trevor, Alex, Mom, Dad, and Ojiichan. We played miniature golf, and I hit the ball very straight on most of the holes.
Mom:
Dad: It was fun going to Sky Park with the boys. I remember visiting this park each time I have been to Japan, so to go with the boys this time and them being older (5 and 6 versus 2 and 3 last time) was a blast.
Day 17 in Japan
Trevor: Today we went to Nagasaki City. We went to many places but my favorite part was when we went to the park/playground that Dad, Alex, and Mom had gone to on Monday, and we rode the suspended rope rollercoaster thing. I also liked the Confucian Temple we visited first. We fed the fish there, took pictures with statues, and we visited the museum.
Eli: Today we visited a museum that was kind of scary to me. It was a Chinese museum. It was dark inside. But we got to take pictures next to statues and that was really fun. After that we went into the temple (Confucian) and there were weapons. But there were weapons that Alex and mom did not know. We rode an inclinator up to Glover Park. I did not like Glover Park. There are a lot of houses and I did not want to got into them. But the last park that we went to that was close to a church had a rope ride/rollercoaster and I LOVED that. I rode it many times. I tried to swing once too, but I hit the ground so I got off of it. We rode the train (to and from Nagasaki City) and the tram too (within Nagasaki City).
Mom: We went into Nagasaki City by train today. My parents' house is right by the train tracks, so the boys have seen multiple trains go by daily, and this was a lot of fun for them to actually ride the train versus see it go by. The first place we went was the Confucian Temple. China actually owns the land the temple is built upon, so technically, we were in China today! This is the only land in all of Japan that is owned by the Chinese, so it's pretty significant. We then went to Glover Park, which is a "collection" of houses - some in their original locations, some transplanted - that were owned by the prominent "white" foreigners in the mid to late 1800's to the early 1900's. Glover himself started the Japan Brewing Company - among other business ventures and achievements - which is now known as the Kirin Beer Company. After Glover Park, the kids were getting tired so we took a tram (we had purchased day passes, so we were taking trams everywhere) and got some ice cream at Baskin Robbins in the Nagasaki shopping arcade. They have flavors like Carnival (vanilla ice cream with multi-flavored pop rocks), Trio de Janeiro (kiwi, raspberry, and lemon sorbet swirl), Love Potion 31 (white chocolate and raspberry swirl with chocolate hearts), and my favorite, Matcha, all of which I have never seen in America so that was fun. The boys' favorite part of the entire day was the park with the rope glider (suspended rollercoaster type thing). Even though it was a long walk to the park and back to the tram, they thought it was TOTALLY worth it and really perked up afterwards.
Dad: We did a TON of walking today. Starting off with the Confucian Temple, then to Glover Park next, the Nagasaki Shopping Arcade, and lastly, to the park/playground with the suspended rope rollercoaster, we rode the tram in between, but still managed to walk so much my legs are achy.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Days 11, 12, and 13
Day 11 in Japan
Trevor: We went to the bread store today. It's totally different from America because they have individual breads for sale. I got a Pandora Box (a square shaped bread with chocolate chips and cream in the middle), and a Panda bread (cream filled) and Koala bread (chocolate filled).
Eli: There was a lightning storm tonight. It was scary but cool. And today, we went to an acapella concert. The music was awesome. There were three guys, and they sang nice. I had fun. After the concert, we went to the bread store. I got a cream filled bread (shaped like Totoro from the Miyazaki film), and a salt bread (like a croissant with a sea salt top - delicious!)
Mom: We went to see an acapella trio called Pastel Clock. They were not always exactly in pitch with each other, but they were energetic, and fun. We talked to them afterwards and they knew about Pentatonix, and were going to the upcoming concert in Japan. The bass had a pretty big range, and was a good, solid bass. :-)
Dad: I enjoyed the music from the outdoor concert we went to see. They started off with a lively rendition of Joy to the World (Jeremiah was a Bull Frog).
Day 12 in Japan
Trevor: We did fireworks tonight. It was only the sparkler kind but it was so much fun. We got to see them sparkle and they changed colors. We lit some smoke bombs too and bumble bees. My favorite was the bumble bees.
Eli: Today I cried at school because I thought maybe Obaachan wasn't going to pick me up at the right time But I had fun at school because we picked cucumbers and tomatoes and ate them before lunch. We did fireworks tonight, but only sparklers. I was afraid first, but my favorite were the ones where we could draw, and the sparklers changed colors too.
Mom: We took Alex into Nagasaki today to see the Atomic Bomb Museum, Peace Park, Urakami Cathedral, and Shoutokuji temple. In the mean time, Obaachan got calls from both schools because Eli was crying (he was worried Obaachan wouldn't remember to pick him up before nap time) and Trevor was crying (he said he was VERY tired), so by the time Alex, Ted and I got back from Nagasaki around 4pm, Obaachan had picked up both kids from school and had managed to keep them occupied for a few hours, without electronic assistance. We are super grateful to her for taking care of the kids!
Dad: We found a park/playground that will be great for the boys. It has a track from which a rope hangs - it's basically a suspended rope rollercoaster. It's hard to explain, but it was a TON of fun.
Day 13 in Japan
Trevor: Mom and Dad came and observed my classes today. It was cool to have them there. We talked about the atomic bomb at the end of the day.
Eli: Dinner was yummy tonight. We went to a place where we cook our own pancakes (okonomi yaki - nothing like American pancakes). I got to drink 5 drinks from the drink fountain, and that was cool,
Mom: We went to Trevor's school today to observe how Japanese school goes. We also dropped Alex off to City Hall so he could start his Homestay. It was quite eventful, and I spent the entire day interpreting. After Trevor was done with school, we went to the home of my elementary school teacher (she taught me in 2nd, 5th, and 6th grade) where she treated us to a very private tea ceremony, explaining the meaning behind each step of the ritual. I was impressed with how well the boys did, and that they (including Ted) enjoyed not only the tea, but the sweets and the ritual aspects that accompany the ceremony. It was a great way to end the day.
Dad: I had fun watching Trevor's swim class (P.E.) today. It was HOT. Typhoon Neoguri ("Typhoon #8" in Japan) is headed our way.
Trevor: We went to the bread store today. It's totally different from America because they have individual breads for sale. I got a Pandora Box (a square shaped bread with chocolate chips and cream in the middle), and a Panda bread (cream filled) and Koala bread (chocolate filled).
Eli: There was a lightning storm tonight. It was scary but cool. And today, we went to an acapella concert. The music was awesome. There were three guys, and they sang nice. I had fun. After the concert, we went to the bread store. I got a cream filled bread (shaped like Totoro from the Miyazaki film), and a salt bread (like a croissant with a sea salt top - delicious!)
Mom: We went to see an acapella trio called Pastel Clock. They were not always exactly in pitch with each other, but they were energetic, and fun. We talked to them afterwards and they knew about Pentatonix, and were going to the upcoming concert in Japan. The bass had a pretty big range, and was a good, solid bass. :-)
Dad: I enjoyed the music from the outdoor concert we went to see. They started off with a lively rendition of Joy to the World (Jeremiah was a Bull Frog).
Day 12 in Japan
Trevor: We did fireworks tonight. It was only the sparkler kind but it was so much fun. We got to see them sparkle and they changed colors. We lit some smoke bombs too and bumble bees. My favorite was the bumble bees.
Eli: Today I cried at school because I thought maybe Obaachan wasn't going to pick me up at the right time But I had fun at school because we picked cucumbers and tomatoes and ate them before lunch. We did fireworks tonight, but only sparklers. I was afraid first, but my favorite were the ones where we could draw, and the sparklers changed colors too.
Mom: We took Alex into Nagasaki today to see the Atomic Bomb Museum, Peace Park, Urakami Cathedral, and Shoutokuji temple. In the mean time, Obaachan got calls from both schools because Eli was crying (he was worried Obaachan wouldn't remember to pick him up before nap time) and Trevor was crying (he said he was VERY tired), so by the time Alex, Ted and I got back from Nagasaki around 4pm, Obaachan had picked up both kids from school and had managed to keep them occupied for a few hours, without electronic assistance. We are super grateful to her for taking care of the kids!
Dad: We found a park/playground that will be great for the boys. It has a track from which a rope hangs - it's basically a suspended rope rollercoaster. It's hard to explain, but it was a TON of fun.
Day 13 in Japan
Trevor: Mom and Dad came and observed my classes today. It was cool to have them there. We talked about the atomic bomb at the end of the day.
Eli: Dinner was yummy tonight. We went to a place where we cook our own pancakes (okonomi yaki - nothing like American pancakes). I got to drink 5 drinks from the drink fountain, and that was cool,
Mom: We went to Trevor's school today to observe how Japanese school goes. We also dropped Alex off to City Hall so he could start his Homestay. It was quite eventful, and I spent the entire day interpreting. After Trevor was done with school, we went to the home of my elementary school teacher (she taught me in 2nd, 5th, and 6th grade) where she treated us to a very private tea ceremony, explaining the meaning behind each step of the ritual. I was impressed with how well the boys did, and that they (including Ted) enjoyed not only the tea, but the sweets and the ritual aspects that accompany the ceremony. It was a great way to end the day.
Dad: I had fun watching Trevor's swim class (P.E.) today. It was HOT. Typhoon Neoguri ("Typhoon #8" in Japan) is headed our way.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Day 9 & 10
Day 9 in Japan
Trevor: We went to the airport and Dad & Alex came. We got to watch their airplane land from a special room. It was really cool.
Eli: We did paper crafts at school today. We ate lunch. It was yummy. I don't know what it was because mom was not there to tell me. I played Tri-ominos with Obaachan for my math today. It was fun. After we picked up Dad and Alex from the airport, we ate at a restaurant where I had curry with rice and a pork cutlet. I ate the entire meal, even though it wasn't a kid size meal. Then we went home.
Day 10 in Japan
Trevor: Today we went to a Japanese cake store. I did not want to go, but I'm glad I did, because we each got to choose our cake (they sell cake by the slice). I picked a chocolate roll cake. The cake was chocolate and it had vanilla whipped frosting rolled into it. It was good!
Eli: I got to drink an Orangina drink today. It was my 2nd time. I really like that drink. I got to eat a piece of chocolate pie this afternoon. I had champon and gyoza for dinner. It was good.
Mom: My best friend from middle school came all the way from Hiroshima to visit me. She remembered my birthday is coming up and insisted we all eat cake so we went to the cake store. I got to eat soufflé style cheesecake, which was always my favorite growing up, and I've never seen it America. For dinner we all went to Ringer Hut, a restaurant famous for it's 2 dishes that are specialties to Nagasaki; Champon is a noodle soup that has chowmein type noodles in a pork bone broth with lots of veggies and seafood on top, and Sara-Udon is a crispy noodle dish with lots of veggies and seafood. Hot soup was exactly what I needed to feel better (I have a bad cold).
Dad: I enjoyed seeing Kakure (Ann's friend) again. It had been 16 years since we last saw her. I also enjoyed my white chocolate cake. Jetlag hit me really hard though.
Trevor: We went to the airport and Dad & Alex came. We got to watch their airplane land from a special room. It was really cool.
Eli: We did paper crafts at school today. We ate lunch. It was yummy. I don't know what it was because mom was not there to tell me. I played Tri-ominos with Obaachan for my math today. It was fun. After we picked up Dad and Alex from the airport, we ate at a restaurant where I had curry with rice and a pork cutlet. I ate the entire meal, even though it wasn't a kid size meal. Then we went home.
Day 10 in Japan
Trevor: Today we went to a Japanese cake store. I did not want to go, but I'm glad I did, because we each got to choose our cake (they sell cake by the slice). I picked a chocolate roll cake. The cake was chocolate and it had vanilla whipped frosting rolled into it. It was good!
Eli: I got to drink an Orangina drink today. It was my 2nd time. I really like that drink. I got to eat a piece of chocolate pie this afternoon. I had champon and gyoza for dinner. It was good.
Mom: My best friend from middle school came all the way from Hiroshima to visit me. She remembered my birthday is coming up and insisted we all eat cake so we went to the cake store. I got to eat soufflé style cheesecake, which was always my favorite growing up, and I've never seen it America. For dinner we all went to Ringer Hut, a restaurant famous for it's 2 dishes that are specialties to Nagasaki; Champon is a noodle soup that has chowmein type noodles in a pork bone broth with lots of veggies and seafood on top, and Sara-Udon is a crispy noodle dish with lots of veggies and seafood. Hot soup was exactly what I needed to feel better (I have a bad cold).
Dad: I enjoyed seeing Kakure (Ann's friend) again. It had been 16 years since we last saw her. I also enjoyed my white chocolate cake. Jetlag hit me really hard though.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Day 8
Day 8 in Japan
Trevor: There was a lightning storm this morning so I couldn't walk to school. I had to go in the car. We had new snacks today (Eli and mom went shopping while Trevor was at school). I hope the storm doesn't come again tomorrow. I am really excited to see Alex and dad tomorrow after school.
Eli: It was raining really hard this morning and it had a lightning storm. So we had to go in the car to go to school. I had a good time, but I cried because I wanted to go home after lunch because after lunch is nap time at school. (Eli did nap time yesterday but then had a very difficult time falling asleep last night so he did not want to repeat that.) I had a fun time though. I can't wait to see Alex and dad tomorrow and I hope they have a good time on the plane tomorrow.
Mom: There was record downpour this morning. I don't remember ever seeing anything as heavy, and news confirmed that it was the most rain in a short period of time since over 50 years ago. I was astonished that despite the downpour, thunder, and lightning, kids were still walking (many were actually running) to school. I said "no way!" and my mom was kind enough to drive Trevor and Eli to school. As my mom and I drove around later, the rivers were almost at maximum capacity. The trains actually stopped running because of flash flood danger. By noon it had slowed down, and by evening it was a light sprinkle, if anything at all. Crazy weather...
Trevor: There was a lightning storm this morning so I couldn't walk to school. I had to go in the car. We had new snacks today (Eli and mom went shopping while Trevor was at school). I hope the storm doesn't come again tomorrow. I am really excited to see Alex and dad tomorrow after school.
Eli: It was raining really hard this morning and it had a lightning storm. So we had to go in the car to go to school. I had a good time, but I cried because I wanted to go home after lunch because after lunch is nap time at school. (Eli did nap time yesterday but then had a very difficult time falling asleep last night so he did not want to repeat that.) I had a fun time though. I can't wait to see Alex and dad tomorrow and I hope they have a good time on the plane tomorrow.
Mom: There was record downpour this morning. I don't remember ever seeing anything as heavy, and news confirmed that it was the most rain in a short period of time since over 50 years ago. I was astonished that despite the downpour, thunder, and lightning, kids were still walking (many were actually running) to school. I said "no way!" and my mom was kind enough to drive Trevor and Eli to school. As my mom and I drove around later, the rivers were almost at maximum capacity. The trains actually stopped running because of flash flood danger. By noon it had slowed down, and by evening it was a light sprinkle, if anything at all. Crazy weather...
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Days 6 & 7
Day 6 in Japan
Trevor: We had pool today for PE and it was fun. We got to play games. We did a dance in the water. We had veggie chips (not like the American ones) for snack and I liked them.
Eli: Today at school, we changed the big sand mountain into a slide (the teachers put a tarp on it and ran water over it so it was like a water slide). We had to take our shorts off and slide down it in our underwear.
Mom: Unlike America, in Japan there is no shame/embarrassment about kids' nudity, so at Eli's school, after the kids get all muddy and wet from playing, they strip down, hose off, and change into clean clothes (both boys and girls all in the same place, same time). I realize it's very different from America, culturally speaking, but there is nothing obscene, shameful, or predatory about it. The teachers at Eli's school are all female.
Day 7 in Japan
Trevor: There is a girl named Anri in my class who tries to play with me all the time but I don't play with her. The English teacher, Susan, had lunch with me today. I walked home from school by myself (without help).
Eli: Today, we walked a place with lots of plants and found tadpoles. I had never seen them before. They were cool. I did not touch them but the other kids caught them and put them in a bucket that we took back to school. It was a dirty bucket with water. I stayed at school (mom left after drop off) and did nap time after lunch. Oh yeah, the first thing we did at school today was play "capture the tail." Someone hangs a towel from the back of their pants, and everyone chases the person with the tail. I got the tail three times (from the person who was wearing it). It was cool.
Mom: I took the boys to Mr. Donuts for snack today. They loved it!
Trevor: We had pool today for PE and it was fun. We got to play games. We did a dance in the water. We had veggie chips (not like the American ones) for snack and I liked them.
Eli: Today at school, we changed the big sand mountain into a slide (the teachers put a tarp on it and ran water over it so it was like a water slide). We had to take our shorts off and slide down it in our underwear.
Mom: Unlike America, in Japan there is no shame/embarrassment about kids' nudity, so at Eli's school, after the kids get all muddy and wet from playing, they strip down, hose off, and change into clean clothes (both boys and girls all in the same place, same time). I realize it's very different from America, culturally speaking, but there is nothing obscene, shameful, or predatory about it. The teachers at Eli's school are all female.
Day 7 in Japan
Trevor: There is a girl named Anri in my class who tries to play with me all the time but I don't play with her. The English teacher, Susan, had lunch with me today. I walked home from school by myself (without help).
Eli: Today, we walked a place with lots of plants and found tadpoles. I had never seen them before. They were cool. I did not touch them but the other kids caught them and put them in a bucket that we took back to school. It was a dirty bucket with water. I stayed at school (mom left after drop off) and did nap time after lunch. Oh yeah, the first thing we did at school today was play "capture the tail." Someone hangs a towel from the back of their pants, and everyone chases the person with the tail. I got the tail three times (from the person who was wearing it). It was cool.
Mom: I took the boys to Mr. Donuts for snack today. They loved it!
Days 4 & 5
Day 4 of Japan
Trevor: We went to a park this afternoon. I remembered the park from the last time we were here. Before we went to the park, I got bitten by a mosquito, and then my arm started to break into hives. Mom put medicine on it and gave me Benadryl, but after the park, I had hives on my butt too.
Eli: In the morning, we went to church and I met Alex (an English teacher). I liked her a lot. We (mom, Trevor and me) went to the park in the afternoon. We had fun. I got a rash on my back that was itchy.
Day 5 of Japan
Trevor: We went to the doctor first thing this morning because the rash was all over my legs. But my rash was all gone by the time we got there. The doctor gave me some medicine in case it comes back. I went to school after that. I went to the nurse's office twice today because my rash came back and was super itchy. Then when I was changing clothes into my PE clothes in the bathroom, I accidentally dropped my shorts into the toilet. Then at lunch, I accidentally spilled my lunch on my shirt and shorts. I didn't have any more clean clothes so I had to go to the nurse's office a third time to get some clean shorts.
Eli: Today I went to school. We played in the water and sand. We built a big mountain of sand, with a water/mud pool at the base, then jumped off the mountain into the mud pool. We ate lunch and lunch was good. There are 6 boys in my class. 1 is 6 years old (Kazuma), 4 are 4 years old (Haruto, Rikita, Kazunari, and Shunsuke), and 1 is 3 years old (Aoi). There are a lot of other kids in the younger classes.
Mom: I am impressed with how well the boys are doing in school. They are getting along really well with the other kids, making friends, and eating pretty much anything put in front of them. They REALLY enjoyed the Japanese grapes we had for snack.
Trevor: We went to a park this afternoon. I remembered the park from the last time we were here. Before we went to the park, I got bitten by a mosquito, and then my arm started to break into hives. Mom put medicine on it and gave me Benadryl, but after the park, I had hives on my butt too.
Eli: In the morning, we went to church and I met Alex (an English teacher). I liked her a lot. We (mom, Trevor and me) went to the park in the afternoon. We had fun. I got a rash on my back that was itchy.
Day 5 of Japan
Trevor: We went to the doctor first thing this morning because the rash was all over my legs. But my rash was all gone by the time we got there. The doctor gave me some medicine in case it comes back. I went to school after that. I went to the nurse's office twice today because my rash came back and was super itchy. Then when I was changing clothes into my PE clothes in the bathroom, I accidentally dropped my shorts into the toilet. Then at lunch, I accidentally spilled my lunch on my shirt and shorts. I didn't have any more clean clothes so I had to go to the nurse's office a third time to get some clean shorts.
Eli: Today I went to school. We played in the water and sand. We built a big mountain of sand, with a water/mud pool at the base, then jumped off the mountain into the mud pool. We ate lunch and lunch was good. There are 6 boys in my class. 1 is 6 years old (Kazuma), 4 are 4 years old (Haruto, Rikita, Kazunari, and Shunsuke), and 1 is 3 years old (Aoi). There are a lot of other kids in the younger classes.
Mom: I am impressed with how well the boys are doing in school. They are getting along really well with the other kids, making friends, and eating pretty much anything put in front of them. They REALLY enjoyed the Japanese grapes we had for snack.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Day 1, 2, and 3 of Japan trip
Traveling though Hay-Way-I
Trevor: I really liked riding on the Speedi Shuttle because it was fast. It took us from the airport to our hotel, then the next morning, from the hotel to Delta airlines. We had a fun flight to Japan. On the flight we had some drinks, and we watched movies and I played golf and chess (games).
Eli: I liked the hotel. And I liked eating Burger King in the airport for breakfast. I watched Trevor play golf (video game) on the way to Japan. I also watched Frozen (movie).
Mom: My favorite part of this trip was playing tag with Trevor & Eli in the open walk ways of Honolulu airport.
Day 1 in Japan
Trevor: I went to school. I got my text books, a backpack, a yellow hat, and a yellow whistle for when I am in danger. The kids in my class introduced themselves to me. I ate lunch. Lunch was fun because the kids serve each other and it is not like school in America at all. I had homework and it was hard because it was all in Japanese.
Eli: We walked Trevor to school today. Then we walked home. Then we walked to get Trevor from school, and we walked home again. I got to play my DS while Trevor met his teacher. We got to drink Jelly Drinks when Trevor was done with school. Mom bought me new pajamas.
Mom: I had the pleasant surprise of getting to see my elementary teacher who taught me in 2nd, 5th, and 6th grade. She was a big influence in my life; teaching me Japanese and many cultural things. She told me the story of my first day in Japanese school, how I was wearing earrings and so all of the other kids were asking her why I could wear earrings, but they couldn't so she had to explain the different cultures. She then gave me a pair of pearl earrings. It was very touching.
Day 2 in Japan
Trevor: Mom walked me to school, but I walked home (most of the way) with my classmates and teacher. We had library time at school, and I picked out an English book and a Japanese book. We had bread with lunch and it was yummy. I couldn't serve lunch though because I did not have a mask to wear.
Eli: We walked Trevor to school and it was raining really hard. We got really wet even though we had umbrellas. We went shopping while Trevor was at school, then we walked half way to Trevor's school to meet him. Mom had the wrong time so we ended up waiting by the train tracks for a long time for Trevor. It wasn't raining then.
Day 3 in Japan
Trevor: We went to a big park (Kotohira Sky Park). I remembered going there 3 years ago. There is a long slide and a big play structure.
Eli: We saw a dirty pool and went down a bumpy slide and a long slide at the park. We went up a castle (a look out that overlooks the entire city). We watched some guys jumping off the mountain (paragliding from the top of the park). It was really cool. We ate lunch there too. I bonked my head and it really hurt so I cried. I had fun though.
Mom: Kotohira Sky Park has been around since I was little, and it is still a popular (free) city park. It has a VERY long slide, and it takes going down a few times to figure out how to get the most speed while not hurting your bum or getting a wedgie. There is a miniature golf course there that I have never played. Maybe when Ted comes we might go again.
Trevor: I really liked riding on the Speedi Shuttle because it was fast. It took us from the airport to our hotel, then the next morning, from the hotel to Delta airlines. We had a fun flight to Japan. On the flight we had some drinks, and we watched movies and I played golf and chess (games).
Eli: I liked the hotel. And I liked eating Burger King in the airport for breakfast. I watched Trevor play golf (video game) on the way to Japan. I also watched Frozen (movie).
Mom: My favorite part of this trip was playing tag with Trevor & Eli in the open walk ways of Honolulu airport.
Day 1 in Japan
Trevor: I went to school. I got my text books, a backpack, a yellow hat, and a yellow whistle for when I am in danger. The kids in my class introduced themselves to me. I ate lunch. Lunch was fun because the kids serve each other and it is not like school in America at all. I had homework and it was hard because it was all in Japanese.
Eli: We walked Trevor to school today. Then we walked home. Then we walked to get Trevor from school, and we walked home again. I got to play my DS while Trevor met his teacher. We got to drink Jelly Drinks when Trevor was done with school. Mom bought me new pajamas.
Mom: I had the pleasant surprise of getting to see my elementary teacher who taught me in 2nd, 5th, and 6th grade. She was a big influence in my life; teaching me Japanese and many cultural things. She told me the story of my first day in Japanese school, how I was wearing earrings and so all of the other kids were asking her why I could wear earrings, but they couldn't so she had to explain the different cultures. She then gave me a pair of pearl earrings. It was very touching.
Day 2 in Japan
Trevor: Mom walked me to school, but I walked home (most of the way) with my classmates and teacher. We had library time at school, and I picked out an English book and a Japanese book. We had bread with lunch and it was yummy. I couldn't serve lunch though because I did not have a mask to wear.
Eli: We walked Trevor to school and it was raining really hard. We got really wet even though we had umbrellas. We went shopping while Trevor was at school, then we walked half way to Trevor's school to meet him. Mom had the wrong time so we ended up waiting by the train tracks for a long time for Trevor. It wasn't raining then.
Day 3 in Japan
Trevor: We went to a big park (Kotohira Sky Park). I remembered going there 3 years ago. There is a long slide and a big play structure.
Eli: We saw a dirty pool and went down a bumpy slide and a long slide at the park. We went up a castle (a look out that overlooks the entire city). We watched some guys jumping off the mountain (paragliding from the top of the park). It was really cool. We ate lunch there too. I bonked my head and it really hurt so I cried. I had fun though.
Mom: Kotohira Sky Park has been around since I was little, and it is still a popular (free) city park. It has a VERY long slide, and it takes going down a few times to figure out how to get the most speed while not hurting your bum or getting a wedgie. There is a miniature golf course there that I have never played. Maybe when Ted comes we might go again.
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