Got back to Murfreesboro,TN, and began school Monday, July 24th. I was sort of in a surreal timewarp...my body and mind were still in Japan but here I was facing a new batch of eager 4th graders.

I was able to bridge the gap with a large and colorful poster the teachers at Kashiwagi Elementary made me...a scene of the school and Lake Hatatori and a fish origami from every single child with their name written by them. It had flowers, frogs, and even the school. It is absolutely beautiful. It was their way of welcoming my school into their school.

The first half day we shared pictures, kelp candy (!), special little crackers with a doll's body, and so on. Luckily, I have two little Asian children, part Chinese, who were thrilled with the appearance of the room and the Kanji I showed them. We played with traditional games Koji and Shirari had brought last March.

I miss Kushiro, but am glad to be back. How do I explain the experience? I cannot. I tell people it was "intense and challengeing and wonderful. The best thing I have done in a while and about the hardest." Yet such a vague explanation does not capture the idea of one being dropped into a culture and living/working/existing there for 6 weeks brings. Everyone notices small things...that I lost about 13 pounds...all that walking with Rick-san and all the healthy food. That I tend to say "hi" instead of "yes." That I use an unusual way of calling kids to me.

Rest...and to digest this experience.

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