Auroras Birthday

Today is/was Auroras birthday and I think it went smashingly.  I was able to make a lei for her which I thoroughly enjoyed out of carnations and the office surprised her with a a fruit cake.  It was actually quite the accomplishment....

You know, in the next couple days I will be busy getting ready to leave and saying goodbye...I donʻt think I will be writing here anymore.  I think this will actually be the last entry.

Usually, I write a big summary but this time I wonʻt give you the satisfaction.  Iʻm sorry friends, I would really just like for you to talk to me about it when I see you...

Wow, what a revelation.

Well, goodnight and thanks for reading!

Hawanawana

Aloha pumehana kaua,

He hana kolohe o keia po!  Ua kuai iho nei au i pua no ka hana ana i lei i ka la apopo na Kukuilani, oiai o kela kona la hanau.  Piha eu au!  E pai kii nohoi au i ka la apopo.

Mahalo a nui

Itʻs so hard

So it is now the time to start to work myself into a little bit of a panic.  Iʻm not, by any means saying that Iʻm behind in packing or cleaning or anything because I donʻt think I am but just the thought of all the things that need to be done in the next couple of days (not even including the goodbyes that need to be said) is making for some heavy thinking.

Tonight was the last time I got to see my friends from Brazil because theyʻre leaving on a trip and wonʻt be here again until we get back.  I couldnʻt help but be a little bit sad, and touched at the same time.

It is amazing to me that we got to come to Japan, and not only touch and be moved by the people of Japan, but we also got to build these amazing relationships with people from still more countries.  Today, our South American friends gave presentations on their countries and I am completely overcome with curiosity...their countries will have to be on my list of places to visit.

Gosh, the rest of my life is looking expensive.

(-_~)ʻ

Pai Ia

Aloha pumehana kakou,

O keia ka la o ka hoolaulea Hawaii ma ke kaona o Uwajima.  Aue, ua nani no ko lakou mahalo a nui o ka nohona Hawaii a pela pu me ko lakou aloha palena ole ia makou, ka poe i kipa akula mai Hawaii mai.  Ua puka na ano mea like ole; oia hoi o ka hula, o ka hookani ukulele, o na ano hana noeau like ole, a pela aku. A ma o ma anei he minoaka ma na helehelena o na kanaka a pau.

O kekahi hanana nae i pa nui i koʻu naau, oia ke ku ana mai i na haumana mai ke kula nona ka moku a makou i hoopiholo ai, o Ke Kula Lawai o Uwajima nohoi.  Ua hoike lakou i ke ano o ka pai ia, kapaia he gyotaku ma ka olelo Kepani, a ua hoike ia me ke aloha a no ka manuahi.

O ko lakou ku ana mai, he kupanaha.  No ka mea, he hoailona kela no ka maikai ae o ka pilina o Hawaii me ko Uwajima.  Aole paha naʻu i hooponopono i keia pilikia, oia no nae ke ano o koʻu hana i keia kauwela.  Pomaikai au i ka ae ia ana mai e naue i keia aina, a e hookomo i koʻu aloha i keia hana maikai.

Mahalo a nui.

Hanabi

Tonight I went to my first (and what will probably be my last, at least for a while) Japanese Fireworks show which was held at the Mitsuhama Matsuri.  It was a pretty amazing sight as the fireworks lasted over and hour and maintained a pretty great stream of awesomeness!  In Hawaii, the show would have easily cost over a million dollars to put on but here it just seemed usual, there were several OOOʻs and AAAʻs but aside from that Iʻm not sure that anyone seemed quite as amused as us foreigners who journeyed there together this evening.

Fireworks are a time to reflect for me.

 I think because, even though it wasnʻt so loud that we couldnʻt talk no one really wanted to aside from the random remark here and there about the size of one blast or the motion of another.  People were there with their children, with their dates, with their friends...it was simply an amazing gathering of people.

For me though, I was in my own world a good deal of the time.  Every blast reminded me how far Iʻd come in Japan and how this is my last week here.  It never ceases to amaze me what a different world it is here and these fireworks...well, see for yourself.

(^_^)....;....;...; *** O***

first time

Yesterday, I forgot to blog! LOL thatʻs the first time ever! Sorry guys lol

Aue ke aloha e

Aloha pumehana kaua e ka mea heluhelu,

I keia la e (i) hana ai i kekahi mea hilahila loa.  Aole au e hai ia oe i ia mea, aka, ua makemake au e hoomaopopo loa iau iho no kaʻu hana i keia la.

mmhmm

Mahalo a nui

Parting of Ways

Today was the last day we (I) will have lunch with the interns who came from South America.  I didnʻt really realize it until after lunch was over, but thatʻs kind of sad.  Their classes will be finished as of today and they have a presentation that they will do next Monday and then that is quite basically the end.  Thatʻs been one big surprise this trip:

I didnʻt think that Iʻd have to think about missing people who wonʻt even be in Japan if I come back.  Iʻve actually met a great deal of foreigners who I hope stay in my life; however now itʻs not just a matter of returning to Ehime to see them.  Rather, I will have to actually go to their countries to meet with them again.  With things the way they are in Hawaiʻi, will that be a possibility?

I like to think that I will...but I just think thatʻs another sign of how awesome this opportunity has been. That is, when I signed up to come to Japan I didnʻt expect to open my eyes to so many other parts of the world.  Itʻs nice to be global, but itʻs really humbling at the same time.

Thank you Ehime, for giving me this opportunity.

(~_~)

IA!

Aloha pumehana,

I keia la i loaa iau he ia maoli i kuke e ia a waiho i kahi eke ea.  O ka hana, he hookomo i ka mikiowawe wale no.

Miomio.

Mahalo a nui

Ramen

Today I was taken to eat ramen for lunch.  Of course, I payed for it myself but itʻs always nice to be shown a good place to have ramen.  The charsiu at this ramen place was extremely delicious, but the dashi was of a shio base.

I got to thinking--why donʻt we have more shio base in Hawaiʻi?  I mean, you go everywhere and they have shoyu and/or miso and thatʻs pretty much the extreme reach of most of the island chain.  Iʻm not saying I donʻt enjoy it, but it seems like it would be so easy to bring more of these flavors to Hawaiʻi.

If anyone is looking for a franchise endeavor, please consider Japan ramen.

Please

(^_^)

Wailele Nani

Aloha pumehana kaua,

I keia la i kipa ai kakou i na wahi he nui.  O kekahi wahi, he poina ole, oia ka wailele i kapaia ma ka inoa o Yukiwa i loko o kahi e heaia nei ma ka inoa o Nametoko.  Aue ka nani o keia wahi! He hiki no ka pahee ma luna o na pohaku mai kahi kiekie loa!

Mahalo a nui.

I was blessed with the opportunity to be shown Uwajima by a true Uwajimanian and it was a fantastic experience!  I got to go to Matsuri, I properly paid respects to the shrine, and even was taken to their Hawaiian Restaurant.  

There were so many firsts for me on this short but great trip; however I think it is appropriate to discuss the Hawaii themed restaurants.  I think many people know that Hawaii has its own thing going on in Japan.  Some people agree, and others donʻt; but one thing I can tell you for sure is they do a lot to work towards achieving what they perceive as Hawaii.  I mean, this restaurant was filled with every item you might ever associate with Hawaii as a tourist, and they had an entirely separate room (where the bathroom was) with even more stuff.

Iʻve said it once but I have to say it again; maybe things arenʻt the way we like it but can you really be mad at people who love US so much?

Think about it Hawaii.

(^_^)