Billy On Okinawa.... Adding More Stories To Tell.........

"Once we meet we are brothers and sisters" this is the Okinawan belief. This blog is for the wholesome stories, one can tell their children. lol And by the way, just in case your wondering...I was asked for a nick name.. I said "Viry," they understood "Billy." So.. call me Billy as in "Billy Goat."

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Sports Day, Take II


I didn't wear my sandals, as Kocho-Sensai requested. These kids are wonderful athletes. It was so hot and humid, but these kids performed wonderfully! THey are true athletes. Sports in Japan are taken seriously... very seriously. Sports Day, is a day when parents, family and local villagers come out to watch a mini-olympics. For the passed month, the students' 45 minute break was taken away, in order to practice for Sports Day. Can you imagine? Kids back home would have a fit! Nonetheless, Sports Day is quite fun! They had all sorts of fun activities like, sack races, 3 can races, club race... even in rain or shine. Two weeks ago, the participated in the Shimajiri Sports Festival. That day was amazing. The volleyball played so well! They looked like professional athletes! Tennis, was like watching the French Open. Soccer was like watching a World Cup Final. They are truly amazing... and they are only in Junior High School.
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Saturday, June 23, 2007

Tonaki Jima

Tonaki Anyone? We scrambled early in the morning to catch the ferry to Tonaki. Thank God for inventing sea-sickness pills. I think I kept playing footsies with the old lady sleeping next to me. We doubled the population of Tonaki when we landed. Ok, no just kidding but the island went from 500 people to 504. We rented little cars for 800 Y. an hour. We drove around in the rain, got wet and saw lots of the beautiful small island. At night, Jon our host, hosted a games night with some of the villagers. Shin-chan and Nori-San were our guests.

The island is small, but beautiful. You can walk across Tonaki in literally 15 mins. There are no major roads, and Main St. is about 7 ft. wide. The gas station only has 1 pump that is rarely used. There are 2 stores on Tonaki, but they are run from the inside of people's homes. Most of the houses are old Okinawan style with a cement block right in the front, to block the evil spirits. Nonetheless, Lisa, Rosalinda, Aussie-Jess and myself enjoyed ourselves!!

The next morning, the girls left and I stayed behind for one more night. Minako-Sensai came over Jon's house, and we had an improve Mexican Dinner. In the evening we watched old movies while listening to the rain. On Monday morning, the Hari races began. I was invited to participate in the race. My team lost.... but it was a blast.

Thanks Again for Great Times Jon!!!



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Ice Cream ..... Anyone?

Hagen Daas in Taipei. The man had such a smile on him.

That's me! I had the Choco Royal. Notice the smile.

Now, my poor Mother. She's a diabetic. She could only order sherbert. Notice the crying.
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Parents in Okinawa, Taiwan and Singapore

Mama and Papa at the Beach in Itoman. There we befriended a man who asked us out for a beer. Only in Okinawa!

That's my dad looking up at Taipei 101. I was on the floor when I took this picture!

On our way to Singapore.

At the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore. Did I mention that I just added one more year of debt?
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