Sunday, July 8, 2012

ECO Japan

ECO Japan is a program that hosts students from mainland Japan. As a "host family" for the day, it is our main goal to converse with the students to allow them to practice their conversational English. That can happen any way the host chooses. On my first outing with ECO Japan, my friend, Diane, and I joined our groups for the day's outing.

Our first stop was at the beni-imo factory where they make and sell treats from the Okinawan purple sweet potato.

Then it was on down the road to Zanpa Point to see the lighthouse and the cliffs. I think my group of 14 year old boys thought I was a little crazy for "making" them imitate the statue ;o)

I was a little bummed to not be able to go up in the lighthouse "because of a rainy day" but, I did "understand the situation" ;o)

They were amazed by the cliffs and the brave fishermen out on ledges!!
 
 

Then it was time for a picnic. It's amazing the things we take for granted... Since sandwiches are not a typical meal for them, we had to show them how to make a turkey and cheese sandwich!

But, they seemed to enjoy them! They also seemed to LOVE the little brownies and fruit roll-ups, although, we did have to show them how to peel the roll-ups off the plastic ;o)

Our last stop of the day was American Village for a little shopping!!

Then, it was time to head to the buses...

One of Diane's sweet girls was all teary eyed when she got on the bus!!

At the end of the day, we send them off with waves!!!
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, July 5, 2012

A beautiful day in the neighborhood....


It was a beautiful Saturday morning in the neighborhood...

To sit out on the balcony...
 

With our feet propped up...
 

Watching the fishermen on the dock...

The kayakers on the water...

The crabbers on the banks...

The walkers and bikers on the sea wall...
 

And a perfect day to hang the bedding out to air!!!
Posted by Picasa