Chasing the sun

Spring Vacation Text Message Update:
Hello all, Katy and I wish you sunshine and wine, both of which have
made our vacation Japantabulous.
Katy and Maggie
*Photo taken at the top of Kotohira Shrine, Kagawa, Shikoku.

McCarrons in Japan: photo album #1

Check out some photos from our first couple days in Japan, December 24th to the 26th.  These photos were taken in Tokyo, Kamakura, and at the Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo).

click the link to see the photo album: Giants in Japan

More photos and stories to come later!  I'm headed to Nagano this weekend for my first (and only???) ski vacation!  The black diamonds are the slopes I should be avoiding, right?

My Dream Vacation

Today's dream vacations are brought you by the letter B and the 1nensei (7th grade) students of Nuka JHS. 

Hey look, Japan!  They are practicing "going to" and being creative!
(click the images to enlarge)

And a few more of my favorites:

Dear Aki,

        How are you doing?  I am enjoying my vacation in Belgium.  I'm going to eat chocolate very good.  I'm going to beautiful city.  I'm going to eat dinner.  I'm going to go everyon my home. We're going to party.

today very much.

                                                                                                                                Love,

                                                                                                                                Sayo

Dear Kiura,

       How are you doing?

I'm enjoying my vacation in Billy joel home.  Bille and me is going to sing to the accompaniment of
a piano. You are come on.  Let's singing to together.

                                                                                                                                 Katsuhisa

Dear ________,

       How are you doing?  I am enjoying my vacation in Australia.  I'm going to visit my friend Iku next Tuesday.  I'm going to stay for five days.  We're going to zoo.  We're going to touch koala.  It's going to be very cute.  I'm going to be exciting.  See you soon.

                                                                                                                                Nanami

Dear family,

       How are you doing?  I am enjoying my vacation in Venezuela.  I'm going to have coffee breakfast.  I'm going to

                                                                                                                                Hiroshi Maeda

Now that is a vacation after my own heart... who cares what else you are doing when you are having coffee breakfast in Venezuela?

McCarrons in Japan: The Reunion

This entry is a few months late in coming, but I hope you will forgive me.  To quote a recent facebook post of my brother's (thank you Newsfeed for doing my stalking for me), "Sometimes there are too many stories... happening to take the time to write some."  Better late than never though, so here goes the beginning of The McCarrons in Japan.

It all started with a Christmas cookie filled reunion at Narita Airport outside Tokyo on Decemeber 23rd.  My father had managed to carry a plate (the original Christmas themed Dixie) of Tracey's Christmas cookies all the way from Minnesota to Tokyo.  Tracey, resident Christmas Cookie Queen, makes a plate of Christmas cookies every year.  And every year, I wait with anticipation for the moment that I can snatch a handful.  The lemon bars (pictured) are my favorites.  Needless to say, I was delighted by the surprise and happily consumed all but the smallest crumbs as we waited for my lovely mother to arrive.


We waited in one of the ubiquitous Starbucks.  My eyes, still trained by Kanazawa to pick out a foreigner a mile away, were having a hard time keeping up with the deluge.  As I watched the crowds pass though, one man in particular stuck out.  He looked familiar.  As I stared at him with inappropriate intensity, I realized how I knew him.  We had taken a couple of Educational Studies courses together at Macalester, of course.  I went over to say hello.  We helpfully reminded each other of our names (Chris, I knew it was something Scandinavian), and it turns out he was here visiting family for the winter vacation.  Sometimes it is a small small world.


Mom and I managed to keep the reunion tears to a minimum, and soon we headed off to the Rogers's house where we would stay for the next five days.

Photos from December 24th, spent wandering around the greater Shinjuku area.

Keio Plaza Hotel - home of the JET Orientation for 20 years running

Tokyo City Hall aka Gotham City

He found the waterfall. : )

a different view of Tokyo, just behind City Hall

 

nice dragon faucet at a temple tucked behind the shanty town tucked behind City Hall... this is Tokyo

Notice the woman in full on traditional bridal wear in the back.  We were too sheepish to go ask her for a photo. 

That's a lot of balls.