Wednesday August 13
The Mayor's Office – Welcome Party- Matsuyama Matsuri
After another free homestay day, we all met up at Matsuyama City Office to meet Mayor Nakamura. I finally gave my speech that I have been working on for the last two weeks. A total of six people helped me with it and according the Miyazaki's my delivery went well. I initially thought that I would memorize it and not read it off a paper, I had a hard enough time reading out of my little notebook. Thanks to the Sasaki's and whoever else donated the journals, my came in real handy when it came to writing my thoughts at the camporee... btw, did I mention the heat???
After the formalities and exhange of gifts the mayor opened up for informal questions and answers, I thought it was really nice of him to spend the extra time with us. We concluded with a group picture of me and Don sitting on each side of Mayor trying to look important. I don't have a picture to post but I'm sure I'll get one soon.
Then it was off to the Zenniku Hotel for the welcome party. Buffet style light dinner, more speeches and omiyage exhange followed by the final dance performance by the boys. There must have been some miscommunication about this dinner because several boys showed up without their dancewear or props. Being the prepared scouts that they are they just winged it and considering that, the dance went pretty well. I thought the camporee dance was actually their best performance though.
After the welcome party we headed out to the Matsuyama Matsuri about four blocks away where we were given these baseball noisemakers and rope and ball and bell things to wear. Don kept saying we were moved to the front of the procession so we could finish early so I began to wonder who the boys would follow to learn the dance. I could just see our scouts leading the procession and not knowing how to do the baseball dance, nightmare time... Much to my relief Mr. Kojima led the boys and being the odori masters they are they picked it up in no time. You parents would be proud of how enthusiastically they danced in Matsuyama. For you NYLT'ers they did the NYLT 'How do you feel?' shout and led the group behind us in an old fashioned wave that ran from the front to the back. I don't know how many people commented to me on how much energy and enthusiasm they boys showed. And they did it all in the sweltering heat of Matsuyama. Did I forget to mention the heat??? Another cool thing that happened was as we were dancing through the shopping arcade members of the homestay families as well as total strangers would feverishly fan their uchiwas along the sidelines for us to help cool us down. I don't know for sure how long the parade route was but I'm sure it was close to a half mile.
This may be my last post from Japan, hope you enjoyed reading about our misadventures.
asm jeff
PS
I had nothing to do with the pictures the boys took with the cute Japanese girls at the Matsuyama odori. This time they were on their own...
Musshi Atsui!!!
Did I mention the heat????
Never again will I complain about the heat in Sacramento. I just looked at the thermometer under our canopy and it read a cool 43° CENTIGRADE !!! that about 110°F for you folks back home... luckily there is a slight breeze so its not like a conventional oven, more like a convection oven...
Learned a new Japanese word, musshi atsui. Translated: humid heat. Doesn't even come close to describe the conditions here...
The boys got serious and really practiced the dance last night. I can gladly report that they are about 90% there. At this point they are fine tuning the group and helping individuals who aren't quite there yet. Good to see...
Never again will I complain about the heat in Sacramento. I just looked at the thermometer under our canopy and it read a cool 43° CENTIGRADE !!! that about 110°F for you folks back home... luckily there is a slight breeze so its not like a conventional oven, more like a convection oven...
Learned a new Japanese word, musshi atsui. Translated: humid heat. Doesn't even come close to describe the conditions here...
The boys got serious and really practiced the dance last night. I can gladly report that they are about 90% there. At this point they are fine tuning the group and helping individuals who aren't quite there yet. Good to see...
Did I Mention the Heat???
Oh, Did I mention the heat???
Camporee Day 1
We arrived at the camporee around 10:30 am at Niihama, about 90 minutes east of Matsuyama along the north shore of whatever island this is. Fortunately someone has set up the leaders tent but the boys had to set up their own. Did I mention the heat? I sweat so much that I could have washed a car with the towel I had around my neck to keep me cool!!
Last night I sleep outside of the tent on a cot. I woke up at 3am to do my duty and change into a tshirt, the tank top I was wearing was not quite worm enough... This morning at 948am it was 100 degrees in the shade but there was a sight breeze so things weren't SO HOT!!!! Oh, and did I mention the HEAT!!!!
Camporee Day 1
We arrived at the camporee around 10:30 am at Niihama, about 90 minutes east of Matsuyama along the north shore of whatever island this is. Fortunately someone has set up the leaders tent but the boys had to set up their own. Did I mention the heat? I sweat so much that I could have washed a car with the towel I had around my neck to keep me cool!!
Last night I sleep outside of the tent on a cot. I woke up at 3am to do my duty and change into a tshirt, the tank top I was wearing was not quite worm enough... This morning at 948am it was 100 degrees in the shade but there was a sight breeze so things weren't SO HOT!!!! Oh, and did I mention the HEAT!!!!
The Homestay Begins...
Matsuyama
Upon our arrival at Matsuyama station we are greeted by Sumikosan, the Matsuyama leader we hosted last year. Our omiyage luggage had been sent ahead to the local youth center where we all met for the formal introductions and homestay assignments.
Don and I thought the host family stay would be the end of the 6am wakeup calls...WRONG!!!! Don had the pleasure of waking up at 5:30am to walk the dog with Mr. Fujioka. Way to go Don!!! I, on the other hand was in heaven. Sumiko's husband Mitsuo had recently gotten INTERNET!!! YEAH!!! The 'Big Chicken' post came via the Miyazaki's internet.
Don and I spent the day sightseeing (in a nice air conditioned car) with the Miyazaki's and Mrs. Fujioka along the Mimanami Hashi (bridge) that connects Imaribashi City and Hiroshima. There are a series of 4 huge bridges that connect several islands to Hiroshima. The scenery was great despite the haze and clouds. One of the islands was our lunch stop which consisted of Tai sashimi, deep fried Tai and some sort of sea snail. The view was fantastic...
The whole time we are sightseeing, Sumiko's two daughters and four grandhildren are tailing us in their van carrying the bicycles. Didn't I mention the bicycles?? Mitsuo, Don and I cycled across the last bridge in the chain, a beautiful cable stay bridge similar in appearance to the future Oakland Bay Bridge.
After our bike ride it was time to head back to Matsuyama to meet some of the boys for sushi and bowling.
Upon our arrival at Matsuyama station we are greeted by Sumikosan, the Matsuyama leader we hosted last year. Our omiyage luggage had been sent ahead to the local youth center where we all met for the formal introductions and homestay assignments.
Don and I thought the host family stay would be the end of the 6am wakeup calls...WRONG!!!! Don had the pleasure of waking up at 5:30am to walk the dog with Mr. Fujioka. Way to go Don!!! I, on the other hand was in heaven. Sumiko's husband Mitsuo had recently gotten INTERNET!!! YEAH!!! The 'Big Chicken' post came via the Miyazaki's internet.
Don and I spent the day sightseeing (in a nice air conditioned car) with the Miyazaki's and Mrs. Fujioka along the Mimanami Hashi (bridge) that connects Imaribashi City and Hiroshima. There are a series of 4 huge bridges that connect several islands to Hiroshima. The scenery was great despite the haze and clouds. One of the islands was our lunch stop which consisted of Tai sashimi, deep fried Tai and some sort of sea snail. The view was fantastic...
The whole time we are sightseeing, Sumiko's two daughters and four grandhildren are tailing us in their van carrying the bicycles. Didn't I mention the bicycles?? Mitsuo, Don and I cycled across the last bridge in the chain, a beautiful cable stay bridge similar in appearance to the future Oakland Bay Bridge.
After our bike ride it was time to head back to Matsuyama to meet some of the boys for sushi and bowling.
Ohara Museum to Matsuyama
Kurashiki to Matsuyama
Another 6am wakeup call in Kurashiki. I have to admit despite the smaller size, samller rooms, real metal keys, the Kurashiki Kokusai rannks pretty high with me beccause they have INTERNET!!! Picure and posts from Kyoto were done in Kurashiki...
Well, I knew sooner or later someone would forget something. The LAST person I would expect to forget his uniform left if in the closet in Tokyo, hmmm who might that be???
Buffet breakfast in Kurashiki was a mix of Japanese and American style, no rice though. After 5 days of breakfast with rice this was actually kinda nice. Not having to worry about where to eat breakfast was even nicer.
It was then off on a walking tour of old town kurashiki. Kurashiki is an old town that a lot of rich people used to live in. Many of the old buildings lining the canal were storage houses for rice. Now they are souvenir shops and restaurants. One of Kurashiki's main attractions is the Ohara Museum of Art. Our tour included admission and we were amazed by the number of impressionist pieces done by some very well know artists.. . Chagall,
After the museum tour we shopped for omiyage. As I was walking back from buying a cool drink at one of the countless vending machines a merchant came running out of his shop yelling at our group up ahead. At first I thought someone forget his change, (last trip Don said one merchant was yelling at one of the Scouts when he told him to keep the change and turned around to leave. The clerk didn't want his boss to think he was stealing from the customers) It turned out that one of the scouts left his camera in the store... probably the same scout who forgot the uniform in Tokyo...
After shopping it was back to the hotel to collect our luggage and hoof it back to the train station for buffet lunch and a 3 hour train ride to Matsuyama...
Another 6am wakeup call in Kurashiki. I have to admit despite the smaller size, samller rooms, real metal keys, the Kurashiki Kokusai rannks pretty high with me beccause they have INTERNET!!! Picure and posts from Kyoto were done in Kurashiki...
Well, I knew sooner or later someone would forget something. The LAST person I would expect to forget his uniform left if in the closet in Tokyo, hmmm who might that be???
Buffet breakfast in Kurashiki was a mix of Japanese and American style, no rice though. After 5 days of breakfast with rice this was actually kinda nice. Not having to worry about where to eat breakfast was even nicer.
It was then off on a walking tour of old town kurashiki. Kurashiki is an old town that a lot of rich people used to live in. Many of the old buildings lining the canal were storage houses for rice. Now they are souvenir shops and restaurants. One of Kurashiki's main attractions is the Ohara Museum of Art. Our tour included admission and we were amazed by the number of impressionist pieces done by some very well know artists.. . Chagall,
After the museum tour we shopped for omiyage. As I was walking back from buying a cool drink at one of the countless vending machines a merchant came running out of his shop yelling at our group up ahead. At first I thought someone forget his change, (last trip Don said one merchant was yelling at one of the Scouts when he told him to keep the change and turned around to leave. The clerk didn't want his boss to think he was stealing from the customers) It turned out that one of the scouts left his camera in the store... probably the same scout who forgot the uniform in Tokyo...
After shopping it was back to the hotel to collect our luggage and hoof it back to the train station for buffet lunch and a 3 hour train ride to Matsuyama...
Moving Day!! (again)
Moving day (again!)
It's off to Hiroshima and Kurashiki today. We're anticipating a long day as we have to wear uniforms for the Hiroshima tsuru and memorial flower presentation.
We arrived at the Hiroshima JR Station and met Shaw Fujii-san is a friend of Mrs. Ninomiya and kindly escorted us the whole time we were in Hiroshima. Off the Shinkansen and onto another bus that took us to the Hiroshima Memorial Park. This day before the anniversary the park was a behive of activity with busloads of people from throughout Japan arriving to pay their respects and deliver bundles of tsurus to the childrens memorial to Sadako.
SPL's Jared H. and Scott Y. presented the tsurus on behalf of Jan Kenpo Gakko as well as memorial flowers the Exchange Committee traditionally presents during the Hiroshima visit.
Then it was off to the Hiroshima Peace Museum to see the exhibits. If you haven't been there, this is one 'must see' if you're in or near Hiroshima. I think the boys found the exhibits a sobering response to the sheer tragedy of the Hiroshima Atomic Bombing.
It's off to Hiroshima and Kurashiki today. We're anticipating a long day as we have to wear uniforms for the Hiroshima tsuru and memorial flower presentation.
We arrived at the Hiroshima JR Station and met Shaw Fujii-san is a friend of Mrs. Ninomiya and kindly escorted us the whole time we were in Hiroshima. Off the Shinkansen and onto another bus that took us to the Hiroshima Memorial Park. This day before the anniversary the park was a behive of activity with busloads of people from throughout Japan arriving to pay their respects and deliver bundles of tsurus to the childrens memorial to Sadako.
SPL's Jared H. and Scott Y. presented the tsurus on behalf of Jan Kenpo Gakko as well as memorial flowers the Exchange Committee traditionally presents during the Hiroshima visit.
Then it was off to the Hiroshima Peace Museum to see the exhibits. If you haven't been there, this is one 'must see' if you're in or near Hiroshima. I think the boys found the exhibits a sobering response to the sheer tragedy of the Hiroshima Atomic Bombing.
2nd Day in Kyoto or I'm getting behind in my posts...
Okay, back to Kyoto, good thing I jotted down our days activities. I must be getting old, I couldn't remember what we did just one day ago...
Monday in Kyoto, our second day started with a brief visit to the Nishihongwanji Temple. Sac Betsuin's mother temple for you non-SBC church goers. Don's sister Jane is on a quest to replace the image of Rennyo Shonin at the Guadalupe Buddhist Church, apparently they've had the wrong picture up for several decades now. We visited the temple and everyone wondered why there were no pews. I guess pews are a Western Christian churh thing that BCA adopted a long time ago.
Next stop was the Sanjusangendo Temple famous for the 1000 or so wooden Buddhas carved by hand 800 years ago. No pictures allowed so just look at all the postcards your sons have sent. If you haven't received them by now don't hold your breath... Our nest stop was Nara, home of the Giant Wooden Buddha in the giant wooden temple. If I posted the videos of the boys crawling through a hole in a pole, that hole represents the size of the Buddha's nostril. Supposedly anyone who crawls t'hrough the hole will go the paradise... I protest, this discriminates against wide bodies...
There are also some vicious deer in Nara, if you don't watch it they will eat the money right out of your pockets. Linda found out that they will nod their heads if you offer food. Don't anyone tell her they are actually threatening a head butt and back off when you reward them for 'nodding their head'. Nara also is home to some delicious Narazuke, you know that sake flavored tsukemono that will never spoil. Hopefully I will bring some back to California unless I eat all of it first.
Lunch was next in a real 'hole in the wall' somewhere near the park above a small souvenir shop. Udon, tempura, buta yasai and some other stuff that was delicious but not recognizable by me. See Nara lunch pics for those.
By now the day is getting long so we head off to Arashima Monkey Park in NW Kyoto.Jokingly Ken-san mentions that we have to hike to the top of this mountain to see the monkeys.
Guess what, he wasn't joking. We hiked through the most humid jungle yet first up a steep set of stairs then up a narrow windy path to the top. I wondered if it would be worth it in the end...
Well, once at the top we were greeted by dozens of Arashima Monkeys, Ken-san told not to look them in the eye or carry things in our hands. Sounds like the 'hood, don't look at anybody or carry any valuables... The boys had fun feeding the Monkeys and the Monkeys hoyad fun seeing the boys in their cage. Hard to tell who was on display here...The hike back down the hill was alot easier going but the rain started falling as we neared the bus. Felt alot like Hawaii.
I have to give a lot to credit to the boys, they held up like troopers and were game for just about anything because after we got back from Nishihonwanji, Sanjusangendo, Nara and Arashima, we had a brief stop at the hotel and then piled onto a bus crowded elbow to elbow to go Gion Corner to check out some Japanese culture. Kabuki, Comedy, Flower Arranging, Koto playing and Bunraku puppet play were presented on stage in a span of approximately 50 minutes, and you know, I did not hear one complaint about how boring or bad the presentation was. It was then back to the hotel and late dinner before bedtime. Definitely the longest day so far...
asm jeff
Monday in Kyoto, our second day started with a brief visit to the Nishihongwanji Temple. Sac Betsuin's mother temple for you non-SBC church goers. Don's sister Jane is on a quest to replace the image of Rennyo Shonin at the Guadalupe Buddhist Church, apparently they've had the wrong picture up for several decades now. We visited the temple and everyone wondered why there were no pews. I guess pews are a Western Christian churh thing that BCA adopted a long time ago.
Next stop was the Sanjusangendo Temple famous for the 1000 or so wooden Buddhas carved by hand 800 years ago. No pictures allowed so just look at all the postcards your sons have sent. If you haven't received them by now don't hold your breath... Our nest stop was Nara, home of the Giant Wooden Buddha in the giant wooden temple. If I posted the videos of the boys crawling through a hole in a pole, that hole represents the size of the Buddha's nostril. Supposedly anyone who crawls t'hrough the hole will go the paradise... I protest, this discriminates against wide bodies...
There are also some vicious deer in Nara, if you don't watch it they will eat the money right out of your pockets. Linda found out that they will nod their heads if you offer food. Don't anyone tell her they are actually threatening a head butt and back off when you reward them for 'nodding their head'. Nara also is home to some delicious Narazuke, you know that sake flavored tsukemono that will never spoil. Hopefully I will bring some back to California unless I eat all of it first.
Lunch was next in a real 'hole in the wall' somewhere near the park above a small souvenir shop. Udon, tempura, buta yasai and some other stuff that was delicious but not recognizable by me. See Nara lunch pics for those.
By now the day is getting long so we head off to Arashima Monkey Park in NW Kyoto.Jokingly Ken-san mentions that we have to hike to the top of this mountain to see the monkeys.
Guess what, he wasn't joking. We hiked through the most humid jungle yet first up a steep set of stairs then up a narrow windy path to the top. I wondered if it would be worth it in the end...
Well, once at the top we were greeted by dozens of Arashima Monkeys, Ken-san told not to look them in the eye or carry things in our hands. Sounds like the 'hood, don't look at anybody or carry any valuables... The boys had fun feeding the Monkeys and the Monkeys hoyad fun seeing the boys in their cage. Hard to tell who was on display here...The hike back down the hill was alot easier going but the rain started falling as we neared the bus. Felt alot like Hawaii.
I have to give a lot to credit to the boys, they held up like troopers and were game for just about anything because after we got back from Nishihonwanji, Sanjusangendo, Nara and Arashima, we had a brief stop at the hotel and then piled onto a bus crowded elbow to elbow to go Gion Corner to check out some Japanese culture. Kabuki, Comedy, Flower Arranging, Koto playing and Bunraku puppet play were presented on stage in a span of approximately 50 minutes, and you know, I did not hear one complaint about how boring or bad the presentation was. It was then back to the hotel and late dinner before bedtime. Definitely the longest day so far...
asm jeff
Big Chickens!!!!
Sorry for the out of order post but I just had to post a blog about todays events...
The Big Chickens!!!
Everywhere we go, if there are high school girls around they are sure to be checking out the exchange program. I told the boys that before the trip was over I would get at least one picture of them with the cute Japanese school girls... So today as we were waiting at Kurashiki station there were four cute high school girls standing at the bottom of the stairs so in my best nihongo I asked if I could take their ;picture, they giggled and gladly agreed. So I called our boys to come on over for the picture and you shoulda seen them run. A couple of them I shall let them go unnamed, hid under the nearest stairs. Whatta crackup... They finally came out of their shells and let me take a picture.
Enjoy!!!
The Big Chickens!!!
Everywhere we go, if there are high school girls around they are sure to be checking out the exchange program. I told the boys that before the trip was over I would get at least one picture of them with the cute Japanese school girls... So today as we were waiting at Kurashiki station there were four cute high school girls standing at the bottom of the stairs so in my best nihongo I asked if I could take their ;picture, they giggled and gladly agreed. So I called our boys to come on over for the picture and you shoulda seen them run. A couple of them I shall let them go unnamed, hid under the nearest stairs. Whatta crackup... They finally came out of their shells and let me take a picture.
Enjoy!!!
First hectic day in Kyoto
Moving day...
after a 6am wakeup call and another buffet breakfast, it was back on the bus to Tokyo Station and a 2 hour ride on the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Why cant we have bullet train in California?? Can you imagine, a 2 hour train ride to Los Angeles?? The boys enjoyed the ride, playing cards, joking around... It was funny, there was a group of elementary school kids in the same car, heading for summer camp somewhere south of Kyoto. I could tell they were enjoying themselves too, playing cards and joking around just like our boys. Some things never change...
Upon arriving in Kyoto we jumped on another bus and Ken-san took us to Nijo Castle, the castle with the Nightingale chirping floors. They made the floors noisy to give away any assassins that might try to enter the castle and harm the Shogun.
Ryoanji was next, the garden famous for its rock arrangement and raked gravel followed by Kinkakuji Temple, aka Golden Pavillion. We took a group photo here that I will hopefully post later this week.
Our last stop of the day was at the Kyoto Handicraft Center. Most of the boys bought omiyage here, so hopefully moms, they picked something nice for you.
We originally scheduled to go to Gion Corner for some culture but we were so beat by the train trip, getting in and out of the bus, the heat, and the intense interest in the four gardens and castles we visited that day that we postponed Gion for one day.
Don and Linda finally were able to have a quiet dinner to themselves, only after walking around the entire Kyoto station to end up across the street from the hotel. They found a neat restaurant where you select your meal via vending machine in the front lobby and they bring you the food after you sit down. Don was so hungry that it took him awhile to realize that you have to put the money in first before you start pushing the buttons to select your food.
No other news to report, the boys are having a great time, they are behaving perfectly so Don and I don't have to to do much about them. That's cool by me.
I am unable to regularly post my blogs and upload pictures so if you see posts but no pics be patient, I'll get them up eventually.
That is all for now.
update!!!!
We arrived in Kurashiki and lo and behold we have internet in the room. I'll try to update the blog with the most recent pics and a current report on our escapades...
asmjeff
after a 6am wakeup call and another buffet breakfast, it was back on the bus to Tokyo Station and a 2 hour ride on the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Why cant we have bullet train in California?? Can you imagine, a 2 hour train ride to Los Angeles?? The boys enjoyed the ride, playing cards, joking around... It was funny, there was a group of elementary school kids in the same car, heading for summer camp somewhere south of Kyoto. I could tell they were enjoying themselves too, playing cards and joking around just like our boys. Some things never change...
Upon arriving in Kyoto we jumped on another bus and Ken-san took us to Nijo Castle, the castle with the Nightingale chirping floors. They made the floors noisy to give away any assassins that might try to enter the castle and harm the Shogun.
Ryoanji was next, the garden famous for its rock arrangement and raked gravel followed by Kinkakuji Temple, aka Golden Pavillion. We took a group photo here that I will hopefully post later this week.
Our last stop of the day was at the Kyoto Handicraft Center. Most of the boys bought omiyage here, so hopefully moms, they picked something nice for you.
We originally scheduled to go to Gion Corner for some culture but we were so beat by the train trip, getting in and out of the bus, the heat, and the intense interest in the four gardens and castles we visited that day that we postponed Gion for one day.
Don and Linda finally were able to have a quiet dinner to themselves, only after walking around the entire Kyoto station to end up across the street from the hotel. They found a neat restaurant where you select your meal via vending machine in the front lobby and they bring you the food after you sit down. Don was so hungry that it took him awhile to realize that you have to put the money in first before you start pushing the buttons to select your food.
No other news to report, the boys are having a great time, they are behaving perfectly so Don and I don't have to to do much about them. That's cool by me.
I am unable to regularly post my blogs and upload pictures so if you see posts but no pics be patient, I'll get them up eventually.
That is all for now.
update!!!!
We arrived in Kurashiki and lo and behold we have internet in the room. I'll try to update the blog with the most recent pics and a current report on our escapades...
asmjeff
No easy internet access in Kyoto
Sorry all, internet access here in Kyoto is not as convenient as Tokyo. I have to post via the hotels business center on a Japanese keyboard.... Ill try to wifi access at McDonalds...
asm jeff
asm jeff
Last Day in Tokyo
Last day in tokyo...
our last day in tokyo and we're supposed to meet a bunch of tokyo scouts and go to the Toshiba science museum in Kawasaki-shi. Due to the rest of troop 7 preparing for a campout our something, scout 'Yosh' represented his entire troop, at least seven adult leaders showed up. Toshiba museum was pretty cool, we saw some really old mechanical dolls that could write, shoot arrows and do other cool stuff. They had this photo manipulation software setup so we could see what we would look like with different hairstyles and face shapes.
We all agreed that Scott Y. and Ryan I. would make cute girls if they changed their hair styles. After lunch (prov.ided by the Tokyo Scouts) we left for the Toyota Mega Web. The guys spent all their time there checking out the cool Japanese cars and driving simulators. The moms, meanwhile, stole away to the other side of the Mega Web to visit the 100 yen store. (Remember that moms for the next exchange trip)
After Mega Web it was off to Harajuku for some shopping and people watching. What a zoo!!
It was so crowded, to get down the street you almost had to dive into the flow of people and go with the flow until you got to where you wanted to go. If it wasn't so hot I probably could have spent a lot more money there...
I heard at breakfast this morning that Tyler bought two more mega monster model thingys and will be putting them in Jared Kitade's luggage when he's not looking...
So far it seems like everyone is enjoying themselves. Just to let all the parents back home know, I offered to let the guys call home on my skype account and absolutely zero takers. So I guess you'll just have to rely on this blog to see if the're having a good time...
until next time...
asm jeff
our last day in tokyo and we're supposed to meet a bunch of tokyo scouts and go to the Toshiba science museum in Kawasaki-shi. Due to the rest of troop 7 preparing for a campout our something, scout 'Yosh' represented his entire troop, at least seven adult leaders showed up. Toshiba museum was pretty cool, we saw some really old mechanical dolls that could write, shoot arrows and do other cool stuff. They had this photo manipulation software setup so we could see what we would look like with different hairstyles and face shapes.
We all agreed that Scott Y. and Ryan I. would make cute girls if they changed their hair styles. After lunch (prov.ided by the Tokyo Scouts) we left for the Toyota Mega Web. The guys spent all their time there checking out the cool Japanese cars and driving simulators. The moms, meanwhile, stole away to the other side of the Mega Web to visit the 100 yen store. (Remember that moms for the next exchange trip)
After Mega Web it was off to Harajuku for some shopping and people watching. What a zoo!!
It was so crowded, to get down the street you almost had to dive into the flow of people and go with the flow until you got to where you wanted to go. If it wasn't so hot I probably could have spent a lot more money there...
I heard at breakfast this morning that Tyler bought two more mega monster model thingys and will be putting them in Jared Kitade's luggage when he's not looking...
So far it seems like everyone is enjoying themselves. Just to let all the parents back home know, I offered to let the guys call home on my skype account and absolutely zero takers. So I guess you'll just have to rely on this blog to see if the're having a good time...
until next time...
asm jeff
Tokyo Day 1
Went to see the sights today... only after waking up at 4:30 am. Not too many people out that early around Shinjuku... only the homeless guys sleeping on their cardboard beds...
Kudos to Tom Okubo for our departure and arrival went flawlessly. You can tell from yesterday's photos we had two big piles of luggafirge at SFO that Tom had taken care of for us so checkin was effortless. The Keio Plaza is a really nice hotel close to alot of shops and restaurants so the boys don't have to go far in the evening to see stuff or find food.
Did the Tokyo Tower, Asakusa and Akihabara today too. Didn't see the boys carrying too much stuff so their money must be holding out okay. (Except tyler and his mega monster model thingy) We all wonder what suitcase that thing is going to fit into...
Thats all for now, let's hope for no more tired spills...
asm jeff
Kudos to Tom Okubo for our departure and arrival went flawlessly. You can tell from yesterday's photos we had two big piles of luggafirge at SFO that Tom had taken care of for us so checkin was effortless. The Keio Plaza is a really nice hotel close to alot of shops and restaurants so the boys don't have to go far in the evening to see stuff or find food.
Did the Tokyo Tower, Asakusa and Akihabara today too. Didn't see the boys carrying too much stuff so their money must be holding out okay. (Except tyler and his mega monster model thingy) We all wonder what suitcase that thing is going to fit into...
Thats all for now, let's hope for no more tired spills...
asm jeff
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