so I started the previous post last week and never got it done till today Sept 8th. It is a another cloudy and cooler day here today and I have been busy reading and working on sending pics of Honduran kids to their padrinos. I too have been very busy the last week and really enjoyed my visit on Sept 3rd with Shohei. It was so FUN to see him and hear all about his adventures in Canada and what he missed about Japan when he was there and what he has noticed since he came back. He was like a blossoming flower on his return and I could see more growth and opening up in him in the one month he had been gone. He seemed to have a new zest for life and learning and he hugged me with a big smile on his face when I opened the door. This is a big change from the nervous and no touching man I met last year in Chinatown. It is so interesting and very exciting to watch him open up and feel more sure of himself.
We had great conversation about all kinds of stuff and he was here till 10:30pm when I finally told him I had to go to bed as my eyes were beginning to shut. I met my match. He likes to talk as much as me:-) We look forward to our next meeting, but who knows when that will be as he gets very busy once school is in session again.
Sept 4th
Ally, I ,Jenny and Janice met up and went to the resale kimono shop to look for a real kimono for Jenny and maybe some yukatas for me and Ally. We had fun rummaging through the stacks of old kimonos, obis, purses, ties, hankies, ...I did find two yukatas that I can either use as housecoats or cut up later if I still feel like doing that. They were $10 a piece. I also got a cool old obi that I think I will use as a table runner or wall hanging. It is cream and rust Asian print with sakura cherry blossoms on it. Ally didn't find antyhing and Janice got a pretty scarf and a few littel gadgets. Jenny found a lovely kimono and said her Japanese husband was shocked when she tried it on at home that night. It looked beautiful on her. They wanted me to get one, but I am too BIG.. I think I need to tgo where the SUMO guys get theirs made:-) haha
We then got some snacks for lunch and went up the hill to the Soji-ji Buddhist temple. While we sat along a brick wall we watched a few different monks run down along corridor carrying some kind of box. It was very odd and we never did find out what exactly they were doing. We saw a few more walking down the corridor later with some ladies following them to another building. We enjoyed walking around the ground and saw many HUGE buildings and also some cool stone pagoda graves stones in the big cemetery as well.
On our way out we went into one of the buildings and made our way through the hallways and passed many monks walking down the the long halls in utter silence. We looked at some beautiful paintings on the doors and walls of what I thought were some of their prayer rooms and then we happened upon their garden area. It was very tranquil and quiet and Jenny said she felt like we were thieves sneaking about in restricted areas. I think it was OK, though, as no one said anything to us as they passed us by. We were being quiet and respectful and just wanted to see the inner hallways.
When I got back home and Jenny and I were bidding each other farewell in front of our house CJ surprised us as he came around the corner. He was back early, after a long week in China and e was tired. We ate some dinner and then found Project Runway reruns on the computer and so we finally got caught up with the first 3 episodes of that. My niece Sarah's friend is Christopher Straub. He is the guy that won the first night with his pretty red carpet dress. Be sure to root him on. It is so fun to tune into shows that you actually kind of know something about one of the folks participating.
The weekend found us just hanging out at home and relaxing. We probably should have been out side more, as the weather was absolutely gorgeous,and who knows how long that will last, but we were both tired from long weeks of walking and working. CJ likes to relax and watch movies and so I was busy on my computer with pics and or reading. We did get out Sunday for a walk down along the ocean and to the International Kids festival. It was OK, but most everything was in Japanese so we were not too sure what was being said. It was nice to get out in the beautiful sunny weather and we enjoyed a ferry ride back on the ocean after our walk there.
Monday found CJ back at work (no labor day here) and I cleaned the house, aired out futons and then went to the orphanage with Janice and Ally. We found out they have to change our visiting day to Wednesdays and so we are all hoping our walking friends can change the walks to another day so we don't have to miss out on that. All 3 of us really like doing both, so we are hoping it will work out. It's a bit frustrating for all of us.
Anyhoo...today it is Tuesday and I have been reading some more and then figured I had better get some more updates on my journal here. I also heard from my brother that my mom and dad may now have an opening in the assisted living place they have been waiting for. They have been on a waiting list since last year. So I hope to find out more about that later this week. I may need to come home sooner than I think to help them pack and move? I was hoping I could stay here till Dec 18Th, but who knows now? I do have lots of things planned with the orphans, ladies clubs, walks and CJ and I had hoped to get to Korea next month.. I really don't want to miss those events either,so we shall see.
I need to run now, and get on the train so to get my haircut and meet up with CJ after work for a walk home down the wooded path. Kalen is well and busy with work in Chicago and may look for another job so to make more money and keep her busy. Graham was in a Rugby tourney in the UP of Michigan last week and he started his last year of college at Duluth in MN today Sept 8th. He will student teach in January..site yet to be determined.
Tomorrow I am off for an all day walk in the Kanda region of northern Tokyo with the Jay Walkers and then on Thursday I have the ladies orientation tea. Friday I will get things ready for CJ's cousins Hanne Marit and her brother Johan to show up on Saturday for 10 days. They are the adult kids of the relatives from Norway where Jean and I stayed in 2007 and then CJ, I and Graham were there last June 2008. We are looking forward to showing them around and to do some hiking. These two are like billy goats and LOVE to hike in the mountains of Norway. Hanne Marit can even jog backwards down slopes and they are about 20 years younger than us so I hope I can keep up with them. This will be the first time someone will walk my a-- off instead of me walking off theirs I'm afraid... :-) more soon
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