Kimono Party!

Today we had a Kimono clad get-together in the town of Omori just outside of Ohda. Girls wore summer kimono and guys wore jimbe or yukata. We met at Matsuba-san's 230 year old house for dinner and a traditional tea ceremony. There were about 25 of us all together. We had a great time but were happy to get out of the kimono and the end of the day. Those obis are tight and not comfortable at all.

what's wrong with this picture?

I don't know why but this photography studio took last year's school photo of me, enlarged to gargantuan proportions, framed it and put it in the window, without asking my consent whatsoever. In fact, I had know idea that it was there for all to see until one of my 7th graders said to me last week, "Brooke, I saw your photo." What?!?! In the US, this would be a lawsuit. You can't do stuff like this. I'll be honest, part of me is flattered and my students think I'm a superstar but I still feel a little violated. Its kind of disturbing. And it looks a bit ridiculous side by side with the happy Japanese families.......

Cute boys

i had dinner at mr. amano's house a while back. this is me and his boys, gaku-chan and rikki.

お雛様!!! Happy Girls Day!!!

its the day where parents and kids set up hundreds of dollars worth of dolls and accessories in the entry of their home for all to see! the more dolls you display the more affluent you appear to be! superficial? yes, but it was interesting....
girls day was sat, march 3.

Behunin luncheon

I had a wonderful time visiting home this past Christmas. While I was there my aunt Maureen somehow managed to get all of the Behunin ladies together for a lunch in Salt Lake. Here's some photos of me and the fam!

Monkeys!

I was driving through the mountains to Omori one day when I saw a group of monkeys cross the road! Crazy! I had to pull over and take some pictures.

Look at me! I'm harvesting rice!

These pictures are a couple of months old but I wanted to show you anyway. I helped Tsukimori-san and her husband gather rice in their field one Sunday. It was hard work but the rice was yummy!!