Portrait Practice

I'm back from a great week at an Outward Bound Japan course for the 8th graders of the American School in japan. The weather at Saiko (near Mt. Fuji) was amazing for the entire week - giving incredible views of Fuji for all the kids who managed to get to the top in their rock-climbing challenge. Sorry I don't have any photos, but as an instructor, I had my hands full just observing the kids and making sure they were safe.

I got home late Friday night in time to meet Saturday morning with a newspaper reporter from Nagoya who wanted to interview us about life as outsiders in such a small town. I spent the rest of the day sleeping off a cold.

Speaking of cold, it is getting colder here, and I am happy to see frost on the ground in the mornings. Tonight we are supposed to have our first snow!!! Cant wait!

The photos here are from the Thatch Roof Volunteer program (kaya-kari) that didn't actually happen a few weeks ago (because of rain). Still, twelve people came to stay at our house and took our tour of the area.