I'm back!!!!! Sumo, Hanami, Philippines, Tokyo, Soccer and more....

Ok...I know it's been forever. Sorry everyone. But honestly, the reason I haven't written lately is because I've been busy having the time of my life! Since February, I've really started to feel at home here. I've made so many new friends and been having such a great time. So, I'll try to give a quick run down of the past few months.

Back in March, there was a big sumo exhibition in Ise. It wasn't one of the huge real tournaments, but I loved it. We got to see them practice in the morning and then in early afternoon, local children sumo wrestlers got to wrestle the pros!! Only a couple schools have sumo clubs and my elementary and junior high happen to be sumo schools. So, I got to see 4 of my students wrestle. It was amazing. My favorites were the tiny 6 year olds. The sumo wrestlers just picked them up by their mawashi and slung them around. It was so cute! The kids loved it. I also got to have my picture taken with Kakuryu, who Shun says is really famous. Do you know him daddy?? March was also Hanami time. It's when the Cherry Blossom trees bloom for about a week or so. It symbolizes a time or renewal. I can't begin to express what a huge deal it is in Japan. One of the other Jets was going to India and a teacher at his school couldn't believe he was going to be traveling during Hanami! Shun took me around to several popular Hanami spots to see the Cherry Blossom trees. They were beautiful, but really just reminded me of dogwoods back in NC.

Ok, now on to my Habitat for Humanity trip to the Philippines. I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was. It was truly the experience of a lifetime. I'll could never accurately describe what it was like. I went with two girls, Emily and Cally, a couple days early to spend time in Manila. Manila is just like most other big Asian cities. We went just to shop and eat out! Having American food was incredible!! (I really miss American food...) We had a great time shopping at the Mega Malls. The malls just go on and on forever. I've really never seen anything like it before in my life. We also went to an outdoor market which was a great experience, although there wasn't much there we wanted to buy. At night we either went to the boardwalk and hung out at one of the many outdoor bars with live music or went clubbing. It was a great way to adjust to being in the Philippines and unwind before Habitat started. After the rest of our group arrived, we all flew into rural Bicol. It was exactly what you picture the real Philippines to be like. We were greeted at the tiny local airport by the local volunteers. They were all either students or professors at a local college. They work with all the volunteer groups that come to their area. They were an absolutely amazing group of people. The kids were ages 16-25. Many of them don't have too much themselves, but they still realize the importance of helping others. They were truly inspiring.

We stayed in a local resort, or so it was called, in little bungalows. Everyday we took a Jeepney to the work site. The college students played music for us on their guitar and sang to us the whole way. Building the houses was the hardest thing I've ever done. Our jobs included things like hauling water, laying bricks, shoveling gravel and sand and then using it to make cement, pouring cement, etc... What made it so extremely difficult was the heat. It was the middle of summer for the Philippines and I felt like I would pass out many times. They actually fed us 5 times a day to keep our energy up. When we got there, one house was half built. We finsihed that house and built half of another house. The houses are for families that now live in houses made or straw. Everytime they get a big monsoon or typhoon, the houses are destroyed. Over 70% of Bicol lives under the poverty level in unsafe housing. The houses we built were tiny, but made of brick. They have only one room and a bathroom. To the people of the Philippines though, these houses change their lives. We got to meet some of the families and children that will be living in the houses we built and it was such a humbling experience.

While in the Philippines, we also visited an orphange. It was by far the best part of the trip. There were around 50-75 kids living there. Several had severe disabilities. We had pooled all of our own money together to buy balls, jump ropes, games, etc. to donate to the kids. They were so excited to play with us. We took them outside and they literally wore us out! Their smiles made it all worthwhile though. We also had two days of R&R built into the trip. One day we went to a remote island where we were pretty much the only people on the island. We snorkled and laid on the beach all afternoon. The other day we went to a waterfall which was gorgeous. We also went to this area where they have natural hot springs and spent the 2nd half of the afternoon relaxing there. I could go on about my Habitat experience forever, but I have so many other things to talk about. So, I'll just say that it was worth every ache and pain I suffered and I feel extremely lucky to have had the experience. I have already decided to go on next year's Habitat trip which will be in India!!!

After habitat was over, we flew back to Manila and Emily, Cally, Melissa, and I took another flight to Boracay Island. Boracay is absolute paradise. We spent three days swimming in the bluest water I've ever seen, drinking cocktails while getting massages on the beach at sunset, and just enjoying paradise after all of our hard work! It was the perfect end to the vacation. Getting to see the big city of Manila, the rural areas of Bicol, and Island paradise in Boracay made for an unforgettable trip. I can't wait for next year's trip!!!!!

Ok, on to other news. Right after I returned to Japan, it was time to go to Tokyo for the recontracting conference. This time I really enjoyed Tokyo! When I was there before, when I first arrived in Japan, I was so out of it from Jetlag and just the shock of it all that I really didn't enjoy Tokyo as much as I could have. This time I was going with friends and much more confident and knowlegable about traveling through Japan. We went to some really great sites like Yoyogi park where bands and street performers played everywhere. We also went to see the crazy people of Harajuku (see the pics to see what I mean) and explored various areas of Tokyo. We also ate amazing food at Thai, Indian, Mexican, Greek, and American restaurants and got Starbucks everyday! I miss having so many different types of food so close by!

2 days after getting back from Tokyo, I left for Awaji for our soccer tournament. We had so many girls wanting to play that we had to create 2 teams. Since I am taking over as captain of the Mie team for next year, I captained one of our two teams. We had a great time! I ended up getting to play in the tournament for both teams and we came in 2nd and got a huge trophy and case of beer, which I would have enjoyed more if I actually drank beer...but someone enjoyed it. So, now I'm really excited for the fall soccer tournament.

Over the next month I'll be busy with millions of goodbye parties. All of the Jets who didn't recontract will be leaving at the end of July. Friday night we are having our huge Sayonara party and next weekend we are having a huge 3 day camping trip. Hopefully I will be able to write about those in the next few weeks. All of the new Jets will be arriving in August. For the coming year I am taking over as Social Chair of the Mie Jets organization. I'm excited to be planning all of the events, but it will be a lot of work....not to mention planning soccer tournaments and fundraising for next years habitat trip.

As I said earlier, I am really happy right now. I have settled into my life here and it feels like home. I'm so happy I decided to stay an extra year. I promise to try to write again soon. I know there is more I have to say....but I've been on the computer long enough! Love you and miss you all.

Ok, I just made a slideshow to put below...but there were soooo many pictures. It was taking forever! So, I just picked out a few and I'll try to make another slideshow next week if I have time!