The latest & greatest!

As Jen mentioned, we went to the Killing Stone on Saturday. On the way to the killing stone, we passed these little statues people pray or leave coins for. Someone kindly put caps on all of them :-)

The Killing Stone is above, with the rope around it to keep in the bad spirits. The Killing Stone (and surrounding area) STINKS! Like sulfur. All small animals living in the area are killed from the sulfuric content. Since it was so rainy out (our first true rainy day during rainy season in Japan) we skipped the sightseeing and did hot springs. Because Japanese do hot springs buttttt naked, no pictures! But very relaxing; the first hot spring the girls did was a sulfuric, outdoor hot spring that was about 115 degrees. Needless to say, a bonding experience.

Sunday day, we went to a Buddhist shrine (Tage Mountain) on the top of 128 steps, where they prayed for our GSE Team. This ceremony was amazing!! Fire, drums, chanting, and other instruments were used. This is a picture from the shrine (and yes, we were allowed to take pix with no flash).

Afterwards, we gonged a huge bell! I had to do it twice because I missed the first time :-(

On Sunday night, we went to a Tochigi Soccer Club game!! We were VIP, and got to meet some of the players. I even started a chant!! Very simple : TO CHI GI! TO CHI GI!

Oh, hiiiiiiiiiiiii ;-)

Yesterday, Kelly & I switched host families again. Sad to leave our old host family :-( But happy to meet our new ones!!

We attended a traditional tea ceremony yesterday, and learned about sado, the art of the tea ceremony. Very interesting!

My host family made me tempura last night, and we enjoyed some wine. Oishi!!!

Today we had a busy day, and visited an elementary school, gave a presentation to the Utsonomiya East Rotary Club then visited a mental hospital and pharmacy. Tiring!! The kids at the elementary school were so cute. Kelly and I were debating the logistics of smuggling one home.

We sat in on a fourth grade class, and took apart and rebuilt a clock. Givon clearly had many helping hands.

Tomorrow we switch host families again and move to Mako, about a half hour from where we are now. Tonight, there is a typhoon hitting Utsonomiya, so we expect it to get pretty wet. Until then, trying to stay dry!

Mata ne, Katie