Summer Camp

On Sunday, I started summer camp. It was a really fun experience. We had different activities and a campfire and so much more. All the guys were messing around the whole time but that is always fun to do. We went to a YMCA Center so they had nice rooms with a T.V. Yep. It was so cool. We had to perform many skits and we earned points for doing well. In the end, my team won the whole shibang! :) I got awarded 'The Best Leader'... I hate to brag but I was a pretty awesome leader. I dressed up as Batman, an alien, and many other things. :) All in all, Summer Camp was one of the best experiences ever. !!!!

-Alex :)

Instagram the Song

Adam came to Japan a while back and we made a song about Instagram. Instagram is basically like a picture app that you can do different effects to. My ukulele is used in this video! Please watch and enjoy. :)

Our Day in Hiroshima

I got up early to try to find some geocaches and I found numbers 498 and 499. We then headed out as a group to the Peace Park and museum and Joanna and I split with the group so I could find number 500.  I finally did it which made me very happy! We then had a delicious lunch of Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. Yummy!

Yay! My 500th Geocache!

You can see the A-Bomb Dome through the arch.

The Carlsen Clan in front of the Sadako and a Thousand Cranes monument.

The A-Bomb Dome.

Our First Night in Hiroshima

When we got to Hiroshima, our families split up and the girls went to see Hiroshima Castle and we decided to go watch the Hiroshima Carp professional baseball team. They were the closest team to us when we first came to Japan so we have always been fans. They built a new stadium since we were here last and we just followed the crowd for the train station.

They get decked out in Carp red.

Carp samurai?

The new stadium is called Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium. This is the parking lot for bicycles.

This is the view from our seats. 

During the seventh inning stretch, they sing the team song after they blow up these large whistling balloons. When the song ends, everybody lets go of their balloons. It is quite an amazing sight!

Alex next to one of the samurai dressed in Carp gear. The Carp won the game!

A Carp Fan!

 Alex and Rachel with a Superhero!

We Do Some Strange Things in Japan

It's true!

They had Joanna put this bag over her head at the GAP when she was trying on clothes so she wouldn't get makeup on the clothes. (I think they were trying to tell her something but she is in denial.)

I had just shaved my head and it was so hot out. I took my handkerchief and put it on my head. Joanna says I looked Egyptian!

The Cousins

It was awesome seeing the cousins having fun together!

On the bullet train!

Our Kyoto Tour

We decided to take a tour of Kyoto and it was the best decision we could of made (thanks to Joanna.)

On our way to the tour.

The amazing Buddhist Rock Garden Temple. No matter where you stand, you can't see all of the rocks at once.

So Green!

The Golden Pavilion.

Very Cool!

Our friend from India liked to take pictures...especially of the girls...like my niece.

A cool pagoda.

Alex will find his true love after walking to this rock with his eyes closed!

The streets were busy!

Heading to Kyoto

After spending the night in Numazu, the whole group headed toward Kyoto on the bullet train.

Japan is so green.

More pictures from the bullet train.

Rachel and Alex on the bullet train.

The girls flying on the bullet train.

The amazing covered street with loads of shops.

Yummy noodles! Sorry for cutting off your head Alex.

A cool shrine...or temple...I'm not sure which.

Relax Time!

Whenever I feel stressed or just want to relax I go to Kadoike Park. It is so peaceful sitting next to the lake and looking at the beautiful scenery.

To get to the park I have to ride down a hill for about a mile and a half. The torture is riding back up the hill to get home :/

A cicada decided to sit next to me :) 

It was so clear out today that I could see Mt. Fuji.

Numazu With Family

My sisters and nieces came to visit us in Numazu and we went together to Kyoto and Hiroshima.

My niece couldn't find her camera so she was looking through her suitcase.  It turned out that it was in her purse.

We took them to one of our favorite restaurants!

Time to take the bullet train! We are on the Hikari train.

The bullet train is amazingly fast! This one bypasses our station and has slowed down to go through it.

Summer Vacation Trip

Instead of creating a really long post, I thought I would make different posts of different parts of our trip. It will probably take me a few weeks but I think it will be better.

Summer

This summer my main focus is to study for November exams. However, I try to have a little fun every once in a while. Adam was here which was fun and I also went to a sleepover with my two best friends in Japan. Here are some pictures.

At Mayumi's house doing fireworks 

With Rieko and Mayumi 

 

 We decided to play chubby bunny :)

At the arcade!!! 

Making cookies, which I haven't done since we moved to Japan

Alex, Adam, and I at Yakiniku King for dinner.

That's My Girl!

Yup! That's my baby girl pulling weeds on a Sunday evening without being told!

Time To Say Goodbye!

It was great having Adam here!

Sushi!

It's awesome because they have sushi delivery!

Yum!

This picture was NOT staged!

Bye for now!