The Last of Japan, For Now!

We ended Japan with a trip to Nagano, where the Olympics were held. It was pretty and a lot of fun. I'll never forget our adventure to the 3o min. drive to McDonald's and then driving by a McDonald's back home only a few minutes away. The most UNCOMFORTABLE seat in the van that made my tush sleep the whole way there. We had a fun time! I am so sad that I will miss out on more adventures my parents are going to have without us.

We made it to the Monkey Park, it was so awesome. The monkeys just walk around. Not harming you. Well....My dad did almost get in trouble with one. The Monkey Park might have been the favorite!

We visited the Ninja Village & Forrest... it was pretty cool. We just walked around and did a little shopping there.

Sunday after our long drive home hitting traffic, people from the Meito ward came to say goodbye to us. They are so nice to us. Gave us some very cute gifts. We cried, we laughed and shared moments.

Monday we were out the door. A 3 hour train ride to Tokyo and about 12 hour flight home. We got to sit by all the missionaries who were going to the MTC to only come back a few weeks later. One we met because he is in the mission area. We discovered that one of the sisters was going to be headed back to my parents mission. This made Whitney and I so excited, and watching them teach the people they were sitting next to. Very impressive!

Now back in Utah ready for more fun adventures!

"Party in the U.S.A"

You all probably know the song "Party in the U.S.A" by Miley Cyrus. You know the ones with the lyrics that read "This is all so crazy, Everybody seems so famous. My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kind of homesick. Too much pressure and I'm getting nervous.That's when the Taxi Man turned on the radio. and the Jay-z song came on, the Jay-z song came one, and the Jay-Z song came on. So I put my hands up, They're playing my song. The butterflies fly away. I'm noddin' my head like yeah! Movin' my hips like yeah!"

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I think this is my theme song at the moment. I took a 3 hour train ride, about a 12 hour plane ride and a drive to a house that doesn't feel like home... yet. I know I will get there.

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Now lets talk about why this song applies to me, now when I put it that way I sound selfish. Excuse me I am not trying to be selfish. I just want to write what I am feeling. Change has surrounded me. My parents are gone, Utah has changed so much just the 2 months I was gone, or maybe the change is just everything I am apart of. I feel I am not certain what is happening in my life. I guess it was because in Japan I kind of got to escape my life for 2 months to see what a mission life was. I shouldn't of assumed everything would be and feel the same when I got home. Today while I was at work (my first day back since I've been home) my brother called me to tell me horrible news. My computer might be dead FOREVER! Okay, my computer has been an awesome computer. At least I thought until it crashed on me the day I got back from Japan, and I've only had it a year. Don't know where all my warranty papers are. Why you ask? They are with everything else in my parents basement. If you've seen the basement you would understand I have a little to nothing luck finding it. On my way home I just felt so overwhelmed. I can't tell if its because I have incredibly bad jet lag and only have had 13 hours of sleep the past 4 days, including an hour nap I took. Change is so overwhelming to me, especially when its every aspect in life. As I was driving home all I could think of was the negative things of change. I made a little pit stop at my parents house, as I drove away from my parents house (went to the basement to get something from Cydne) I saw the kids that lived upstairs with a few of our neighbors, trying to open the garage with the code. Its weird to see that, that is my parents house with different people I don't know living in it. I then started my negative list as I drove away, strong voice came to me and said, "Stop what you are doing?" I sat there thinking what am I doing. I then noticed I was pointing out all the bad of the change and bad things in my life. I then changed my thoughts to the positive and instantly I felt a little better. I'm not feeling a hundred percent better like some do after doing that. But I know that by the Savior and the Holy Ghost they were able for me to feel better and not like Nemo in Finding Nemo who is lost. I hope that I remember to point out the positive in my life besides the negative.

I'll finish my postings on Japan another day, that is if my computer makes it and isn't dead. I have a bunch of fun photos I haven't published to the eye yet. Getting close to Monkeys and going to the Ninja Village. Also thought I'd mention, if you hear me say something you can't pronounce that is my Japanese. I still use it! Now lets see If I can get more sleep!

Pudi's

You are probably wondering what Pudi's are. Well here they are. They are so fun!! Japan has these photo booth things that are called pudicuras (aka pudi's), you go in take pictures with all these cool backgrounds and then after you decorate them! We had a blast with Airi and Yuna.

Water/Adventure Park

A few weeks ago, right before the rest of the clan got here our 2 friends Ryoko & Megumi got us(the whole clan) tickets for a water/adventure park. We have been all so excited to go. The adventure started at 6:30 with 6 people getting ready, trying not to wake up the Binghams who are the couple staying in our house. I am surprised we didn't, we are a LOUD family. Some more than others. We proceeded to the subway, where we were in a cart FULL of MEN with the smell of shaving cream, hairspray (no joke, men are more serious about their hair here more than women), Cologne, and body odor. We were standing shoulder to shoulder! I looked in the other cart, some of the girls spotted us and started to laugh. It hit me, there is a cart for girls during week days and that is why the one we were in was full of men. I was so happy when our stop come. Moving away from all the smell and such an early time. We found our way to the bus station and took our ride to the famous park! OH MY GOODNESS! It was the coolest park ever. It was kind of like a Seven Peaks with a Lagoon and ten times better than both. No joke! We spent most of our day in the water park. As we got there ready to put the sunscreen on, oh wait we forgot that at home. We only brought face sunscreen that wasn't WATERPROOF! Who buys sunscreen that isn't waterproof? Apparently we do. So we put it on the best we could and headed off to the water slides, the surf slides, body surfing slides, body slides, tube slides, wave pool a lazy river! It was AWESOME! After 6 hours of water fun and lunch we headed for the Adventure part of the park, where they have fun rides. We were all so worn out from the water rides that we were able to only ride a few rides. We ended our day with poor whitterbug with a major migraine. We came home with SUNBURNS that will hurt for weeks (hopefully not) and a day full of fun. Thanks to Ryoko and Megumi. I love Japan.

Pictures will come later.

Facts, Meaning, Feelings, & Actions...

Since I can remember my dad has always taught me these 4 steps; Facts, Meaning, Feelings and Actions. Well here are some right now....

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FACTS:

*I leave for Japan NEXT Monday 2:30ish pm (obviously I am not sure)

*I get to see my family and friends again

*Leave all my new friends

*Saying good-bye to my parents...again

*No more Cats Cafe or any other fun restaurant

*Back to School & Work

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MEANING:

*More change is to come.

I just had a bunch of change...

I guess there is never too much?

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FEELINGS:

*ALL (minus a few)

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ACTIONS:

*Bring it on!

*I'll write my friends in Japan

*Attend classes, meetings etc.

*Be happy

*And save money for another trip to Japan!! ?? :)

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Well there you have it pretty much whats on my mind at this very minute about life. Crazy how fast it goes and how important it is to live it! So glad I am a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and know its the true church! The Gospel is True, wherever you are!

To Floor Fourty-Six Please...

That is right my family and friends, we took a trip to the top of that building.

We had to start by going to floor 42.. The elevator was eventful just seeing all the building we were passing. We didn't know what to expect at floor 46.


We made it..

We were pretty nervous of what was to come

And BAM here we are. Floor 46. With its beautiful scenery of the WHOLE city!

Now how would you like that big pool on top of your building!! I think that is our next adventure, finding a pool on top of a building to go swimming. :)

I LOVE JAPAN!

jinbei

About 5 years ago (yikes I'm old), we got a package in the mail from the Sakuma family, they lived in Utah for a year and were in our ward. (One of the Sakuma's is serving in my dads mission right now) the package had Jinbei's for all the girls living at home. We LOVED them. I wore mine everywhere. Hiking, tennis, running... well they started to wear out. Losing the nice yellow color. I could only wear them inside my house. Well the day of my sisters wedding September 11 2009 I sat down and that's when I heard it. The tear that would never recover. Which means throwing away my sweet pants (i only really wear the pants). I was so sad to see them to just be done with. When we came to Japan that was one of my missions, to recover what I lost. And boy did I! Remember how I love zebra (if you couldn't tell by my background).

TA DA! Love them! We got a pair for Cynde because she also loves them so much. Hers just aren't as sweet as mine! :)

Til next time. I bet you are all sad. My blogging will be slowing down in about 2 weeks when I am home. Don't cry though... I'll TRY to keep the blogging world updated!

Bees..

The Nagoya Japan Mission had transfers this past week! And wow, its been pretty intense. A dinner every night. Breakfast every morning.

Tuesday night as we were coming home with 2 of the elders we got talking about majors. When I shared that I have a desire to teach Kindergarten kids, one of the Elders told me that his parents were both teachers in an elementary school. His mom teaches 1st grade and his dad teaches 5th grade. He laughed when he started talking about 1st grade and how all the kids believe anything the teacher tells them. Well I gave an example, and thought you'd all enjoy my hilarious moment when I was 6.

My first grade teacher was teaching us about allergies by using a story, it was about a man who was allergic to bees and on the 5th bee sting he DIED! Oh my goodness. I thought for sure that I was allergic to bees. And the 5th sting I would die. I was so scared of them. Well Let me tell you my bee stings came fast. All right next to each other. I even got 2 on the same day. When the 5th came I just knew I was going to die. I remember telling one of my siblings this. And them just laughing at me. Telling me that I was okay. I wasn't allergic to bees. Phew, Relief!

Okay back to transfer weeks! Its been eventful. I appreciate the mission so much more. Just even learning more about mission life these past few weeks.

Dinner. Don't the new missionaries look SO tired? Poor boys.

Another funny story. This picture is people in the Sharon East Stake that visited Japan or serving in Japan. The Oldroyds (couple front) they are the mission office couple, They are a funny couple and from the 1st ward. Sister Ige (front sister), also known as Deina Ige who was my visiting teaching companion in the 7th ward before her mission. Now is back home. We love her! And will miss her that is til we see her in 2 weeks. The Heatons (group of guys in the back) President Heaton served in our stake presidency, I also went to high school with Elder Heaton who is headed home after his fun time with his family, they are from the 9th ward. Then there is my family! We're from the 6th ward and my parents are the mission presidents! We took this picture the morning of the good-bye breakfast, we like to call it a stake picture.

It was fun to see what my parents will be doing on transfers. And I feel like I know how the mission works. I will miss Japan when I come home. Only 2 weeks left.

Spending Time with the Tuellers

WARNING: LOTS OF PICTURES!!

The Tuellers are a cute couple that live in my home ward in Utah. Ayae Tueller is from Japan and her and her husband David are here to visit her family and they had a reception (that we also attended). They are so nice to us and take us to fun places. Saturday July 31st they took Whitney and I to Kyoto. Its out of the mission zone so my parents couldn't go. What a pitty they missed out. We left at 5:20 am to make trains and to meet their friend by the first place we were going. Enjoy pics... :)

Whitney and I by the flowers called Lotus. Beautiful!

Whitney, Ayae and I all posing by the gardens.

Whitney thought of this picture shot with the Bamboo Trees

A Gold Shrine (don't know how to spell that)
I forgot their friends name, David, Ayae, me and Whitney

We found him at our 3rd visit. I really liked how my picture turned out. ha

We had so much fun in Kyoto. The food was very different, pretty much all tofu. I guess that is what they are famous for. They even have Tofu ice cream. We left around 9pm I believe. I thought I would have calves of steel after this day. We walked A LOT!
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Monday! We invited the Tuellers and Ayae's parents to join us for dinner. Her parents are not members of the Lds church. What a great opportunity we had to have them over. But they surprised us with gifts. 2 being for Whitney and I and these cute kimono (summer set). After our delicious dinner done by my mother, Ayae and her mother dressed Whitney and I up. We had so much fun. They are so very nice to us. They were so particular how they go on. We plan to wear them again Saturday night for the festival in our town. (funny I call it our town, I don't live here just visiting. But I feel I am apart of it and always will be)


And so it begins

Getting to our bows. I have to say they were BEAUTIFUL

Ayae's mother helped me with mine. And she was so cute. Even if I couldn't understand one word she was saying to me. I wish I knew my Japanese!

David, Whitney, Ayae, Ayae's mom, Me, and Ayae's dad.

They are wonderful

The final touches, the hair piece and bag. They are so nice to give us all this.
Can't wait to wear it all again.

Whitney and I and our final outcome.

With the parents.

Hair piece and bow

Doesn't that bow look pro?

Thank you to Ayae and her Family!!

*Until next time*