Catie on the go: The week in review

This week has been busier than anticipated. FIK just realized we are only here for 3 more weeks and has loaded on the volunteer work as a result. Plus, we’ve been running all sorts of last minute errands trying to prepare for our departure. Under 20 days!!! It’s a little scary. I have a few photos from this week…

First, we spent Sunday with Anna’s family at the Aiina One World Festa. We were all surprised at how many foreigners live in Morioka. Several dozen countries were represented, including much of asia, but also Paraguay, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Barbados, and other surprises. It was very busy and I didn’t take any photos of the international fair itself, but here are a couple of Catie & Anna playing in Aiina and heading over to lunch.

On Monday morning before class, Andy & I walked up to see the swans. It was a beautiful morning and we met a chatty amateur photographer who showed of photos of osprey catching fish in the lake, him climbing in New Zealand, and him on Mt. McKinley when he was younger.

I love this tree! Clearly Andy does too...

This time of year you see all sorts of produce drying. Here are some daikon radishes and persimmons...

Catie likes the food trucks that visit Big House, so we stopped at the imagawayaki truck for a warm bean cake to eat as an after school snack.

On Thursday, we had our monthly mom’s morning out. Tomiko invited 2 new moms this month. Since one is a surgeon and the other a special ed teacher, normally they are working, but they both took time off to come play with us. We went to a funny little shop and made creatures from silk cocoons. Your reaction to this statement might have been the same as mine (and Mika's!)- um, why? Bug cocoon crafts? Really? But, it was fun! Apparently silk cocoon crafting is quite the thing to do in Iwate. After our craft party we went out for a fun okonomiyaki lunch!