It's unbelievable how quickly the last five days passed; dreamlike.
Saturday, we drove to the airport to pick up our family from across the Pacific Ocean. We arrived early, about an hour ahead of schedule and waited outside the exit of Customs. Every time the door would open we would see luggage first, then hands and shoes, adrenaline would quicken your heart rate, and then it would not be them.
When they finally came through the doors, the room was almost empty. It was amazing to see them, my mom was even crying a little. After greetings, we took the slightly complicated rout through the airport back to the parking garage and loaded the car with the luggage and drove home.
This house has a new meaning somehow, it's different here. Everywhere I go I have memories of our friends being here; where we hung out; the maps where we reminisced about the travels in Japan; the living room where stayed up until 1 am watching the movie Gladiator. Even the patio where we spent the first night they were here, grilling chicken and eating fresh tomatoes from the garden.
Of course, they were tired from the long flight from Tokyo (eleven hours), so we all went to bed early. The next morning, we gathered around the table, drinking coffee and tea, enjoying each others company. A good first morning.
On the itinerary, we planned to see the Whole Foods we shopped at and prepare to the next day's trip to Holland and Lake Michigan. Then to Ann Arbor to see the University of Michigan and for dinner. But about mid afternoon, we lost electricity! It nearly derailed our plans but luckily we managed to work around the obstacle and left for Ann Arbor. It was very interesting to see how Michigan looked through their eyes, how much we might have taken for granted or gotten used to always having. One thing they said was how unique the towns were and how flat the state of Michigan is.
The next day, after breakfast, we packed the cars and began the two and a half hour drive to the best beach in the Great Lakes state, Tunnel Park. We got so lucky with the weather that day, perfect and sunny. The lake was warm, although to our friends it was a little cold. We stayed late at the beach, watching the sun set and the boys playing tag. Upon returning to the hotel we immediately went to the hot tub and commenced ping pong tournaments.
The next day we drove to my uncle's house and to tour Michigan State University after coffee and a walk along the docks in Saugatuck. At the university we visited Sparty and the gardens, saw squirrels feasting on the fruits from a Buckeye tree. When I asked what they thought of MSU, they said it was "big and clean", which surprised me, I had never noticed the cleanliness of the college. And all of the nature surrounding and within the two universities we visited, they noticed.
My uncle was finally able to meet them, so now he understands who they are and why we talk about them so much.
We swam in the pool for two hours, the water was so warm it was like a bath! When we got out of the pool the cold air made it very difficult not to jump back into the water.
The the day before they left for Japan, the three girls woke up before the others and went to the Farmer's Market in Ann Arbor to get breakfast. We surveyed the different vendors for the freshest fruit and finally after settling on one, we headed for home. Then, we drove to Green Field Village and Henry Ford Museum. We saw the farm and the animals kept in the barn, petted the lambs and sheep. Visited the many working shops; the Glass shop, the Potter's, and the Weaver's shop. In the museum, the two engineers (the fathers) spent the whole time in the automobile section, taking time at each exhibit, discussing the car. We stayed until the very end when the museum closed it's doors.
The last morning, we spent at home. All we did was talk and play Xbox, enjoying every moment until it was time to leave for the airport.
Saying good bye was difficult, but for some reason it was not the same as when we parted at the train station in Hiroshima. My mom has said that it was because we know we will meet again, and in the not so distant future. And keeping this in mind, I guess, it felt like time will pass quickly and before we know it my family will be driving to the airport to visit them.
It's quite hard to explain how much fun and meaningful this visit was. To see each other again, to travel together again and even sitting around the kitchen table. "Five days of heaven" as my Japanese mother said.
But it was, and we have many, many memories to keep until the next time.
じゃね。
Saturday, we drove to the airport to pick up our family from across the Pacific Ocean. We arrived early, about an hour ahead of schedule and waited outside the exit of Customs. Every time the door would open we would see luggage first, then hands and shoes, adrenaline would quicken your heart rate, and then it would not be them.
When they finally came through the doors, the room was almost empty. It was amazing to see them, my mom was even crying a little. After greetings, we took the slightly complicated rout through the airport back to the parking garage and loaded the car with the luggage and drove home.
This house has a new meaning somehow, it's different here. Everywhere I go I have memories of our friends being here; where we hung out; the maps where we reminisced about the travels in Japan; the living room where stayed up until 1 am watching the movie Gladiator. Even the patio where we spent the first night they were here, grilling chicken and eating fresh tomatoes from the garden.
Of course, they were tired from the long flight from Tokyo (eleven hours), so we all went to bed early. The next morning, we gathered around the table, drinking coffee and tea, enjoying each others company. A good first morning.
On the itinerary, we planned to see the Whole Foods we shopped at and prepare to the next day's trip to Holland and Lake Michigan. Then to Ann Arbor to see the University of Michigan and for dinner. But about mid afternoon, we lost electricity! It nearly derailed our plans but luckily we managed to work around the obstacle and left for Ann Arbor. It was very interesting to see how Michigan looked through their eyes, how much we might have taken for granted or gotten used to always having. One thing they said was how unique the towns were and how flat the state of Michigan is.
The next day, after breakfast, we packed the cars and began the two and a half hour drive to the best beach in the Great Lakes state, Tunnel Park. We got so lucky with the weather that day, perfect and sunny. The lake was warm, although to our friends it was a little cold. We stayed late at the beach, watching the sun set and the boys playing tag. Upon returning to the hotel we immediately went to the hot tub and commenced ping pong tournaments.
The next day we drove to my uncle's house and to tour Michigan State University after coffee and a walk along the docks in Saugatuck. At the university we visited Sparty and the gardens, saw squirrels feasting on the fruits from a Buckeye tree. When I asked what they thought of MSU, they said it was "big and clean", which surprised me, I had never noticed the cleanliness of the college. And all of the nature surrounding and within the two universities we visited, they noticed.
My uncle was finally able to meet them, so now he understands who they are and why we talk about them so much.
We swam in the pool for two hours, the water was so warm it was like a bath! When we got out of the pool the cold air made it very difficult not to jump back into the water.
The the day before they left for Japan, the three girls woke up before the others and went to the Farmer's Market in Ann Arbor to get breakfast. We surveyed the different vendors for the freshest fruit and finally after settling on one, we headed for home. Then, we drove to Green Field Village and Henry Ford Museum. We saw the farm and the animals kept in the barn, petted the lambs and sheep. Visited the many working shops; the Glass shop, the Potter's, and the Weaver's shop. In the museum, the two engineers (the fathers) spent the whole time in the automobile section, taking time at each exhibit, discussing the car. We stayed until the very end when the museum closed it's doors.
The last morning, we spent at home. All we did was talk and play Xbox, enjoying every moment until it was time to leave for the airport.
Saying good bye was difficult, but for some reason it was not the same as when we parted at the train station in Hiroshima. My mom has said that it was because we know we will meet again, and in the not so distant future. And keeping this in mind, I guess, it felt like time will pass quickly and before we know it my family will be driving to the airport to visit them.
It's quite hard to explain how much fun and meaningful this visit was. To see each other again, to travel together again and even sitting around the kitchen table. "Five days of heaven" as my Japanese mother said.
But it was, and we have many, many memories to keep until the next time.
じゃね。
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