In The Name of ADAM!

Before I continue to update you on my existence in Japan I must first say that I miss Adam, Korea and all that his life in Seoul encompasses. I was so blessed to have the opportunity to visit him and be a part of his life in Korea; during my time in Tokyo I have discovered that I am homesick for Seoul - if thats even possible. Perhaps it is because while with Adam I felt like I was at home - much more so than here.

On a different note, I will continue to narrate my life for you!

**Disclaimer...I have inherited my amazing spelling abilities from my father - Japanese spell check doesn't hide my mistakes as well...my apologies

Ashiwada Hotel - this is where our first two camps of the three in a row took place. The hotel is considered 'lavish' in Japanese terms - much different from how you or I would define the word, but nonetheless it was nice! We were treated to wine baths while there were no campers in the hotel (simply meaning that there was wine in the bath water - apparently it's good for your skin). The meals were also amazing when it was just USA Summer Camp staff and our rooms were great. Although they were tatami rooms (a straw mat that you put futon on at night to sleep) we had a beautiful view of the mountains surrounding us, and the lake nestled at the base of the mountains. Things changed as soon as campers came - no wine bath, the quality of food declined (rightly so as they were feeding 165 people) and we were split up individually into small rooms with more campers than room! Considering that all the campers were female, the male AC's (American Counselors) on staff (half of our staff), for obvious reasons could not have a room group - leaving more 13 year olds for per female AC! It was fine - but I can report that adolescents, and everything that goes along with that stage of life is universal! My first room group had a key chain that made a fart noise - that they would press every 15 minutes and giggle for 10 more. Needless to say I spent those six days fighting sleep deprivation!

The second camp was by far my favorite camp thus far. I got really close to a few girls and really had a great time!! I'm not ashamed to say that I shed some tears when their bus departed Ashiwada. The third camp was a six hour bus ride from Ashiwada - most of us crashed and only woke up to get off the bus to eat. The third camp was in Fuchushima and the facility was about as far from a lavish hotel that you can get! About 170 fourteen year old boys joined us the following morning for three more days of bliss! The best part about this camp was that, because it was a private boys school, the teachers wanted to control bath times, bed times and wake up. This resulted in all the campers and teachers sleeping in the main building - while we at 8:30pm walked into the woods and slept in cabins!!! It was great to feel the ''end of a day'' - similar to when your shift is up or when the school day is done....we just got to drop the boys off in their rooms and leave!! It was nice to be able to come together with the other AC's at night and discuss the day.

Shortly after the boys left we got on a bus and came to Chichibu. We enjoyed two days off, got to wash our laundry and slept past 6am! On the second day we were taxied up the winding mountain roads to a camp in Saitama. It was our first camp of elementary aged children and our first camp of less than 150! We actually had a mix of ages and the AC's were split depending on what age they were working with. We were at the same facility, but ran two different camps. There were about 20 elementary campers and it was awesome!!! I fell in love with my room group - they were the youngest kids at camp and were so damn cute! One camper, Airi had lived in the States for a few years and for six years old her English was amazing! She was my favorite camper...not that I play favorites...but now that it's over I can say it outloud!! What made her so cute is that she was so little, but she had such a big personality!

One thing that I took for granted in the previous camps was the fact that campers knew a bedtime routine; how to bathe, how and when to brush their teeth...etc... Airi had never bathed by herself before - and when we entered the bath she sat down next to me and didn't know what to do. I washed my hair and then assited her....she actually reminded me of myself when I was six! She had it set and wanted me to know that she could do it herself - so I held the shower head and talked her through shampoo, conditioner, body wash... When exiting the bath I wrapped my towel around my head only to turn around and find Airi attempting to do the same! Adorable!

In a professional sense - that camp reinforced my attraction to older students. I enjoy working with little kids - but being a mother some day is much more attractive than spending the rest of my career in grade school!

The last three days have been spent in relaxation at the used tire center - otherwise understood as our temporary home. Yesterday we had a day trip planned out for our entire team as a reward for having three camps in a row. We went down a river in a wooden boat - a far cry from white water rafting...but in many ways it was breathtaking! The rivers in Japan are amazingly blue and wherever you go you are sorounded by lush mountains! After the boat ride we went to make Japanese paper. It was really fun - we all got to make eight pieces, post card size and decorate them with dried flowers. To end the day we went to an Onsen - or a traditional Japanese hot spring bath. The bath was not unlike any other public bath - accept for the fact that the bath was naturally occuring sulfer water. Anyway, it was an enjoyable day and it ended even better! To describe my night I will share the email I sent home with you all....

When we got back a few of us decided to go kareoke - in Japan you rent a room with your group and just sing with eachother - much more enjoyable I think! Its like a little room with couches on the wall - air-con (that one's for you Adam) and a TV. We all belted out songs for an hour or so and then people split up - some wanted to go to the internet cafe and other back to the used tire center. Courtney, Kathleen and I decided to walk around the neighborhood a bit - we were on the corner taking a picture and a man came up to us and started talking in Japanese...we told him that we only spoke Eigo (english in Japanese)...after a few minutes of using our little knowledge of Japanese and likewise for him with english - we figured out that he was a teacher (or sensei) He asked us what we were doing in Japan and we said Eigo sensei...he got really excited and shouted out...wait there one minute. He ran around the corner and a couple seconds later he came walking with a group of about seven other Japanese people. One woman in the group spoke a little english and came up to us to talk. Turns out it was a group of teachers - the vice principal and the principal. They had just finished school and were starting their summer vacation! They ran a school for children with special needs - and then the woman said - ''We - not bad people - you come with us to drink''

In Japan we have learned that the acceptance of an invitation or a gift is half of the act - so we all decided to go. (both other girls, Courtney and Kathleen are student teaching next semester) Anyway - we followed them to a little hole in the wall restaurant and bar where they bought us beer and appetizers. We got to kampai with the principal (kampai is a formal 'cheers') and it was so much fun!! It was nice I think for both parties - they were asking us questions about the states and how the education system works. It was a great experience because we finally got a chance to get away from the group and do something 'Japanese'. They paid for everything - we repeatedly insisted to pay - but again part of their culture is that if you invite someone you pay for them. I remembered that I had a few dollar bills in my wallet - so I took one out and we all signed it and gave it to the principal. Courtney also had a dollar and gave hers to the lady that spoke english - the principal said that he would keep it in his school because we were all sensei's!

So tomorrow it's back to camp...our team is actually spliting up again and doing two seperate camps. I am part of the team that will be doing the six day camp - while the other half of our team will do two camps in that time at a different facilty. I am what we call a 'floater' for this next camp - meaning that I am not assigned any activity groups, rather I will be floating around from group to group and helping wherever needed. I am actually pretty excited about it. Other floaters have mentioned that it seems like you don't get to connect with the kids as much - but I figure we will have them for six days so my chances are a little better! I am excited to have a little more free time than I have had in previous camps!!

After our six days in the mountains - with the poisounous snakes might I add - I am off to my final home stay. It is a single couple in their fifties, and the mother is fluent in English! I am excited to do some final souvenier shopping and enjoy having no campers for an entire week!!!! Then it is one more camp and I am on my way home!

Oh I almost forgot...I found bed bugs in my bed on the last day of the last camp...and we are going back to the same facility for the next SIX days...ugh..

Much love!