Hello everyone!

Let me just tell you about the last few days! I am going to work backwards because what happened today is perhaps the best memory of the trip so far, maybe even better than stunting for the British Air Force in Alaska. Well, who can really choose?

Russ and I went to downtown Fussa, Japan, to explore. We walked the streets of this quaint town--the ONLY americans--and there was a festival going on, The Tanabata Festival. Of course we were intrigued, so we ventured into the heart of the town. There were all these parades in process. Groups of people--young and old--were carrying around shrines and chanting and singing. So cool! Well, Russ and I wanted a picture, not any picture, a stunt picture. Boy did we create a stir! Everyone was cheering and clapping! High fives, bows, handshakes, the works!

One man who spoke English approached Russ and me and explained a little bit about the festival. It was still difficult to understand, but he told us to follow the procession because we would get food and drink for free. FREE FOOD is something that always beckons us! So we did follow and ended up in a park where there were tents set up. We, of course, wanted another picture there, and boy did we stunt for this festival. The elders (Or so we think that is who they are) poured us drinks, gave us food, bowed and invited us to sit down in the MVP tent with the elders. More food was brought to us along with drinks--I had Saki! Very strong! (We are over 21). Then we had octopus balls (octopus in a dough ball), curry, some great potato chips, salami, and soybeans. What a FEAST!

We stunted again off and on! I tried stunts that I had not tried in several years, Full downs, toss libs, half ins--half outs, arabesques! Russ said that I did great! Between stunts, we felt as if we became friends with the entire town. When the group that we went in with left, another group of people with another shrine came in. We got a headband from one of the elders, and we got more photos taken. After the first group left, Russ was invited to help carry the shrine. These shrines were carried by about 75 people, and even so, Russ said it was heavy. He got to wear the Kimono! Meanwhile, a little Japanese girl had me come with her to watch the three different groups meet.

Later, we went back to the tent and stunted some more for our new friends. We had more food--I am soooooo stuffed! The people were absolutely wonderful to us! Then at the end of our stay, everyone in the town did
this dance. It was so cool! When we left everyone bowed and said Domo (thanks) to us.

What a memorable and cool experience! Lots more to tell, but it will have
to wait! Didn't get back to rooms until late. ZZZZZZZZZzzzzz.

Yesterday, we went into Tokyo. We took the trains and subways all by ourselves and didn't get lost once. We had a great time in the city. We went to the shopping areas--very busy! We didn't buy really anything--just a few pins to add to my collection! We also went to Tokyo tower and stunted there, which got a big reception! Tokyo tower is just like the Eifel Tower in Paris but red and taller. Didn't get to the baseball stadium. Tokyo is HUGE!!!! You would need a month to see it all, I swear! There was an amusement area, so Pam and I rode these giant mechanical Pandas around part of the tower.

Believe it or not, we ate lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken because we recognized the food. We didn't know what any other Japanese food was! Crazy! It was a lot of fun but a very LONG day! We all collapsed when we got back! The city of Tokyo was a cool experience.

At camp on Friday, I had the biggest surprise of my life. At check-in, I was chatting with one of the campers while Pam was talking to another. I overheard the child ask Pam, "Is her name Miss Newill?" Shocked, I turned towards Pam to confirm what the girl had asked, only to discover that this was a child that I had taught two years ago in my class at Elmhurst Elementary School in Greenville, North Carolina, when I did my student teaching. How crazy is that?! It is really a small world, and seeing a face from home was yet another cool experience!

Love ya,
Koryn