Hi Trippers- Reading your blogs makes me so appreciative of Mr. Van Krey and all the work he puts in to make this life changing experience happen for you. And, I can tell that you are all appreciative to; you are taking it in, you are making connections to the culture, you are learning, you are enjoying, you are IN JAPAN! I hope you continue to enjoy the experience, especially as you meet up with familiar friends and faces at KJ! Continue to enjoy, eat everything, and we look forward to welcoming you back to ETHS soon. Mrs. D'Onofrio
Reading all of your blog entries from Oirase Keiryu to now Aomoriya has been so nostalgic (懐かしい なつかしい) for me and kind of made me homesick since I was born not far from Lake Towada (十和田湖). The descriptions of all the apple slices, apple curry, and fresh squeezed apple juice by Alex, Aurora, Nicky, and Ivette make it sound so amazingly 美味しい！食べたい！I really enjoyed Van Krey 先生のねぶた祭りのビデオ、本当に懐かしかったですよ！子供の時に青森に行ってねぶた祭りを見ました。あの踊りも踊って来ました。ラッセラッセラッセーラー！Reading all of your amazing adventures through your blog entries and pictures is すごく楽しい！明後日はホームステイが始まるので頑張ってね皆さん！応援しているよ！
Looking through all the pictures and reading through each of the tripper blogs I think about three things. 1. I hope that you guys are safe 2. I hope that you guys enjoy the trip and have lots of fun 3. Can't wait for my turn!
Misha! The blog works! Eager to see your photos. Was there time to take pics of the winter peonies? We were in Tokyo in April, 1997, & saw peonies protected by white paper umbrellas in the gardens. It may have been at Meiji. Do the restaurants still display their menu items in their front windows?
Misha and Friends... Each evening after dinner Grandpa B. and I flip open the Lenova tablet to discover the news of the day from you Evanston students. We sit at the kitchen table, read the blog texts aloud &. check out the site reports, photos, etc. It is tough that we cannot taste the fascinating variety of delicious Japanese food you describe. We are thankful that you are having these enlightening opportunities to appreciate the culture & beauty of the country and acquire new friendships & educational experiences through the schools offering the exchange via Japan Trip 2020. Three cheers for the staff and students and the people of Japan for making it the wonderful time it has been and will continue to be. These memories can never be taken away from you. Cherish them.
Grey, It has been so great hearing about your experience so far. Continue to take in all of the beauty of Japan. We love you so much. Mom
Excited to follow your adventures in Japan! You will be visiting the prefecture where I was born - Aomori (Misawa Air Force Base). Have an amazing time and take it all in. Japan is such a special place. 楽しんで来てくださいね！美味しいものいっぱい食べてね！写真いっぱいポストしてね！This is Marlee's (みちこ) dad. 🎌🗾❤✌🏾
Today homestay begins!! How exciting! Ivette, please give Ayu Takahashi, her brother Hiro, and Mr and Mrs Takahashi our warmest greetings!! Very excited that you get to spend the week staying with them. 是非皆さん日本語頑張ってね！この一週間はあっという間に終わってしまうから、是非毎日沢山の素晴らしい経験がありますように。イヴェット、高橋家族に宜しくを伝えてくださいね！ カマエより
SO jealous! Everything looks amazing. Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful blog postings :) Cherish these memories and relationships as they can last a lifetime. See you when you all return! 気をつけてね。
I am loving this blog idea. I read it every day and see the great pictures. I am trying to read as many trippers' blogs as I can. They are exciting.The pictures are really fun as well. Aurora (thank you for sharing this with me), Alex, Rho and everyone else, I hope you guys have a great and safe trip. 頑張って!
Hi Aurora! Glad you got there safely! Have an incredible time in Tokyo tomorrow! 🇯🇵💌
What a lovely thing this blogging idea is ! We, back home in the USA are experiencing the thoughts, emotions and daily experiences of all the travelers . This is Alex' grandma talking.........I hope you all come back safely and enlightened and full of ideas of improving the status of our continent.......Best of luck to you all.
Have a fantastic time, Aurora! Safe travels! Enjoy every minute - you've earned this! We love you! ♥ - Uncle Jim, Auntie Arie and Benny
I look forward to seeing your blog posts
Misha, is this Japanese for "I am lovin it here" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ? I am so happy for you and would love to take Elena there someday. Enjoy every quirky and colorful moment.
Aurora - Just a heads up that there's a new fashion competition show on Netflix for you to check out! Called Next in Fashion - cohosted by Tan! ♥
皆さんのブログは本当に素晴らしいですよ！皆さんの経験と思いを読むことは本当に楽しいです。色々な美味しそうな食べ物の話を聞いて食べたくなりました。これから青森県の冬を経験しますので楽しんでください！明日の話を楽しみにしています。カマエより
Our family is so excited to read the tripper blogs, daily overview, and especially photos!! We are sure everyone is tired and possibly overwhelmed with new experiences, but we appreciate the effort of reporting so much information here! Keep up the great work!!
So so happy to see you having such a great time with your friends, Aurora - and now your host family! An incredible experience, indeed! Keep having a blast! ♥
I would be very interested in sharing the trip with my grandchild Misha Petersen.
Awesome pictures of day 1! Van Krey 先生の髭はカッコイイですね！Keep the food pictures coming too! How has the weather been? How about interaction and conversation with the Japanese people? Any strange or weird experiences yet? Marlee's dad (みちこの父)
What an awesome Trip! I love all the pictures on the Site Reports and the tripper Blogs! Keep it! I can't wait to speak Japanese with you Evan when you get back! Try to get a Baseball game in too.
Love the blogs, Dresden and Riley! We love hearing about all the adventures and things which stood out to you. I never knew snowshoeing could be so intense! Be sure to thank Sensei for putting together such an amazing trip for everyone. Wow! Keep up the great work. Also interested to hear if anyone observes Setsubun today. 👹🍀🥜
Hi Trippers! The details and depth in your blogs of your experiences these last few days as you have transitioned from sightseeing many wonderful and beautiful places, trying many new foods, to meeting your homestay host students and families is absolutely beautiful and wonderful to read. I find myself laughing at many of the experiences you are having either in the homes or classrooms of the KJers. I laugh because I can relate to and can understand much of what you are experiencing! I love Japan, the Japanese culture, of course the Japanese food, but mostly the Japanese people. I hope as you enjoy these last few days you have with your host student and family, you contemplate how these experiences have changed and affected you as a person, as a member of your family, and as an ETHS Wildkit. Some of you (Grey) have already expressed how you wish or hope to be able to (when you are more conversant in 日本語) come back and speak on topics and issues that are very important to you. Please, please continue that pursuit as you continue your Japanese studies! ガンバレ！The KJers lives are already changed because you have entered into their homes and their lives. Indeed as Aurora said, you will definitely be saying ただ今！instead of おじゃまします as you have made Japan your "home." And as Mrs D'Onofrio has said, many thanks to Van Krey 先生 for this amazing opportunity for these 20 2020 Trippers! ありがとうございました。 カマエより Mr Kamae (Marlee's dad)
Hi Everyone, I am so glad to see all the wonderful photos and to relive the fantastic experiences you are having. It so great to actually live some of what you learnt about Japan and to test and see what is authentic. The phots are supreme and sublime..They have such live to them. Enjoy the experience. Make new friends..share and exchange great ideas..Make a Life Lasting Impression...Memories and relationships to last for ever. Stephon ,I hope you expand on the ideas that I know are brewing in your head...new inventions...to benefit the world of the future... Take a lot of photos...The beauty of this country is astounding..I want to see it all. I might never get a chance to take a trip to this fantastic country. Love to you all. From Stephon's Aunty Janice. I wish you all a safe trip back home.