Welcoming Party

Hi All,

I just spent the evening with all of our students.
They truly seem to be doing well & feeling comfortable with each host family :-)

Our Welcoming party this evening was attended by all of our host families and many former host families as well. The mayor attended and spoke and we had a performance by 8 musicians on a traditional Japanese instrument called a 'Koto".

The Koto looked similar to a Chinese zither. It was a long wooden rectangular box - hollow inside - that was about 5 - 6 feet long. The strings was stretched across the top of the box and each could be adjusted for pitch by sliding an adjustable 'bridge' under each string. The Koto was placed on a low bench and the musician sat in a chair to play. The musicians wore 3 finger picks on the right hand & used the left hand to strum &/or 'bend' notes by stretching the string as it sounded. They were very good.

The highlight of the evening was a large communal meal. The food was fabulous. I have only posted three photos thus far and one of them was of my breakfast. You are beginning to see the place that food holds for me on this trip :-)

In the morning we will travel to Soni camp for an overnight experience. I am not sure if I will have internet while there. I may not be able to post but I will as soon as I return:-)

Mrs. Staufer traveled to Tokyo today. Alex visited a nearby Temple. Tim and Aric played Wii with their host family. Maddie and I watched a Sumo Tournement :-)

Again, everyone seems to be doing well and adjusting to there surroundings well.

Oyasumi Nasai,

Todd