Tadaima! (We're home!)

Hey faithful readers! Sorry for the delay in communication. We're been to Iowa and New York City with seven of our BEST club students, then back to Iowa and now home to Tokyo! What a whirlwind! When we first arrived back in Iowa (the first time in a year and 8 months!) it felt like we'd never left. Now back in Japan, it feels our month long US trip never happened. Does that make any sense?!? Maybe we just adjust well... Ha, that's a laugh! If you spent anytime with us while we were back you can probably agree that we're not the best at cultural adjustment!...

Crying because a restaurant menu in English was too overwhelming (so many choices and I can read them all!)...
Being irritated by how l0ud and obnoxious people can be (don't worry, none of you!)...
Crying again because I could understand every conversation around me and therefore was a bit overstimulated...
Crying again because I was in TARGET! (ok, there were some highlights!) If you didn't realize it by now, this post is brought to you by Jennifer! ;)

Speaking of highlights (besides Target)...
-Falling in love with NYC!

-Showing the students Iowa farm life!
-Meeting our new infant friend, Eleanor June Nelson!

-Eating Iowa beef about every other day.-Laughing constantly with the students :)
-Chilling with our families!
- Getting in touch with the UI alumni within us!
- A short but sweet reunion with Jo, Joni and Sae
- BEST club homestays!
-Sipping Java House coffee my favorite former Java employee and life long sister

- Taking in gorgeous Iowa sunsets, BEST club style
- Being with our Tokyo staff, past, present and future!
We were so refreshed and encouraged by our time in the US (aside from all my crying moments!) Seriously though, we are thankful for that time and for each of you who prayed for us, loved us and served us while we were back!

Stay tuned for more... BEST Club is in full swing here in Tokyo so there's plenty more to share with you!

Oshima Camp

Our summer team recently headed back to the US but before that, BEST Club went to Oshima Island. This was one of our most memorable trips from our summer here in 2005 so we were excited to head back. Since it was the final trip before our summer team left, it was also a culmination for both the summer team members and the students they've befriended. Many were in tears on our last night as everyone shared from their hearts. The idea was to hear the "highlights" from each person's summer and thankfulness just overflowed as they spoke. It was sweet to hear how impacted the students were by their new friendships with the summer team and for the summer team to share how much their hearts had become knit to these friends and to Japan. I wish each of you could have been there to experience it.

My personal "highlights" were the students. After recruiting freshmen in April, you never know how long they will stick around. We feel really blessed by those who have stayed and also the upperclassmen who continue to lead BEST. We won't be here forever so it's exciting to see the future of BEST.

I didn't get as many pictures as I'd hoped but here's a few...

The Rood kids are all smiles on the way to the ferry.

All the girls!

Yasushi, Kyle and Tomohito just after stepping off the ferry

Playing games in the park

Hanging out after lunch

Kyle cliff jumping

Our best attempt at a "jumping" picture

Playing cardsEnjoying the view on the way home :)

Two weeks later, we're still pealing from our sunburns :( But it was so worth it! We're thankful for the time we had both with the students and the summer team!

Some People We Love

Exhibit A: Molly and Chris

On our double date at a Japanese Restaurant

After dinner we went to our place to play Daihimi, a Japanese card game.
Molly ended on top as king, hence her "crown" :) Very cute, Molly!
We won't mention where I ended up or how I felt about it :(

Exhibit B: Girls Bible Study at our last meeting of the semester.
It has been so fun to read the Bible and talk about life with these
amazing women!
Back: Jin, Ayako, Sae, Aiko
Front: Molly, Tomoko, Natsumi, Jen

Last but not least, Kayla Rood. While Kyle, the rest of the Roods,
the SIJers and some students climbed Mt. Fuji,
Kayla and I spent the day together.
She kept me laughing all day with her cute antics :)

Sorry, no Fuji pictures this year, I forgot to
give the camera to Kyle :(

Kyoto Road Trip

Here's a blog post we created for Tokyo BEST Club's blog about our Kyoto trip last weekend. Enjoy :)
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BEST Club took its second trip to Kyoto last weekend with our new Setter friends! We learned all about Japanese culture on our awesome road trip!

Eating breakfast after a LONG drive!

Chisato, Liz, Ashley, Ikumi, Saaya and Susan strike a pose

Taro, Masashi, Ross, Yosuke, Yasushi and Tatsuya

The view from this temple was beautiful

Tomohito, Tomo, Ross, Yasushi, Tatsuya and Takayasu joking around at the golden temple.

Check out the bamboo!

Daijo, Tomo, Aiko and Jennifer in the bamboo forrest

All the guys with Kyoto's famous bridge in the background

And the girls!

Thanks for a great trip everyone! We made some sweet memories, ne?