This is my host family! From right to left it's my host mother (Okasan), me, Okasan's mother, and my host father (Otosan). Chika (my host sister-in-law) is taking the picture.
This is my host family! From right to left it's my host mother
(Okasan), me, Okasan's mother, and my host father (Otosan).
Chika (my host sister-in-law) is taking the picture.
These people invited me into their home for a year, and taught me a great deal about Japan and how it works. They're wonderful folks, and I hope to be able to go back and visit them sometime soon!
This picture was taken during Japanese New Year's celebration. The boxes in the middle of the table are filled with all kinds of interesting, special foods that are generally reserved for the holiday.
This is the same setting, but now Chika is at the table, and
Otosan is taking the picture.
Me and my host mom, going through a photo album of her family.
This is a picture of me and Chika standing outside her house.
(Her husband, my host-brother, Atsuo took this picture.) You
may notice a slight disparity in size between us. ;-))
Studying Tea Ceremony, which I found extremely relaxing.
Here I'm working on folding the Fukusa, or Tea Cloth.
Here, my instructor, Jim West, gives me feedback on how
to hold the Hishaku, or Ladle.
This is me, having been invited to help make tea at
a Spring Tea Ceremony. There were many people there!
A Rose Between Two Thorns -- From left to right, me,
Beth, and Rodgers. We all studied Tea together during
the year.
This is the uniform for the Konan Aikido Club, which I
joined while I was there. I worked out with them for about
six months, and learned a great deal!
This is a group of us just after having soaked in the
Onsen, or Hot Spring during a field trip. We're wearing
cotton yukata, which is like a simple housecoat,
Japanese-style. ("Look, Ma! No underwear!")
The guy to my left is Brent, and across the tatami from
me are Don and Paul. In order, to my right are John, Peter,
and Matt.