Good Bye Japan Till We Meet Again

wanted to say THANK YOU to all our friends in Japan. We enjoyed every minute of our time with you. We made so many special memories. I'm still trying to get my blogging done so I can always go back and read all about our first Autumn in Japan. I miss all of you already and am looking forward to some visits from you to Florida.

Narita International Airport

We bought a few souvenirs for the 2020 Olympics that are to be held in Japan.

Marlon paid extra so I could experience the elite lounge in the airport while we waited for our flight to LA to visit Audrey.

 

Nothing like Homemade Chili and an Art Show on a cold wet day. - Utsunomiyia Museum

Yuji Kashawamuri is the director of the Tochigi Prefecture Museum.  It's great to be staying there as he knows many people and we get to see what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

There is an Art Show at the museum today, featuring things that are made in Tochigi Prefecture.  I enjoyed looking at everything.  

 Click the link to see the short video of this guy making bamboo fishing poles.

https://youtu.be/Ec52Y1nbVYk

Click this link to see this guy make bamboo rings that hold together a scarf.  I totally love it.  I also was taught how to make one.  

https://youtu.be/23JML0sHpNk

 

This is the bamboo ring I made for my scarves.

 I bought a necklace from this gentleman who made the wood ring on my necklace as well as the wooden items in the pics. 

Yuji had to do a speech at the school for history of Utsunomiyia.  We are now headed to school early so we can look around at all the exhibits.  Marlon and I were chosen to be dressed in a kimono for me and Kimono for men for Marlon.  We felt very honored.  After we were dressed we were to walk around the school for others to see how people used to dress in Japan on a daily basis. 

Made chili tonight for the host family.  We shopped with Keiko so she could read the cans to make sure I was getting the correct supplies for chili.  I started by browning the pork and beef mixture and while that was cooking I cut green pepper and onion to add to the meat mixture.  Keiko is paying close attention to what I'm doing and writing down instructions.

 Keiko noticed I didn't have an apron on and went and got me one and put it on me. :-)

 It's about 40 degrees F outside so Yuji made a fire.  Nothing better on a cold wet day than a fire in the fireplace and some homemade chili.

 Dipping out the soup and garnishing it with sour cream, cheese, and onion.

I also made some peanut butter sandwiches to eat with the soup.  They loved it!!  Keiko is going to make some for a small dinner group that is coming to her house next Saturday.   I hope they enjoy it as much as we did!