My pals in Taneichi

These are my neighbors and it's so comforting to know

they are close by!

Junko and Taira and I..great tour guides!

Here's the clan...love getting together w/ the whole gang!

Junko and Hatsumi---always a great time w/ these 2 firecrackers!

These lovely ladies are a great time! Junko, Taira and Nobuko came to my home with all the ingredients necessary to make my "dream meal"! We had yakitori, tempura shrimp and yakisoba. It was SO delicious! I made the dessert (a jello/pudding/yogurt/fruit pie) and made one of my favorite beverages (raspberry crystal lite, orange and pineapple juice and freshly squeezed lemon..o and a ton of vodka!) The drinks were reminiscent of days spent at our cabin on the beach, and we drank the hot summer nite away! These women are wonderful cooks--and friends! Thank you for visiting! I look forward to our upcoming "cheese party"... you ladies are crazy fun!

...Hunger is a thing of the past in Japan...

This was a "private welcome party" from Hamaya-san and some of his friends and family. I was so flattered to be asked in the manner with which I was...short elaboration: Apparently, Hamaya saw me dancing in the town festival. A couple of days later, I find a letter and photo of me dancing in the parade--- on my desk! Not knowing who this guy was, I was a bit taken aback by his stalker-like tendencies he had exhibted. Persistent as he was, he stopped at the office a second time to ask me to join his family for dinner the following evening--gotta love the long-range planning in Japan! (It is the American in me that has to doubt all intentions....) Anyways, I was their honorary guest and treated to the best barbeque yet! I felt terrible for semi-declining his offer! We dined on tons of "cooked" meats and veggies, quite delicious! The conversation was strictly Japanese, but Hamaya did find a "translator" to accompany us and she did a wonderful job helping me communiate my gratitude and appreciation! Everyone was quickly over their 3 drink max and well, this is the time that the "true internationalization" begins! It is awesome to know that my ignorance with the Japanese language is not detracting members of the community! While my comprehension of Japanese is really improving (I think I even understood a few things I wasn't suppose to!) my speaking abilities, uh....not up to par! I'm sure with a few more dinner parties I will be fluent in no time! HA...rrrrrrrrrright. Why is it whenever I am around new vocabulary...I also have an ice cold beverage in hand!? How is a girl suppose to learn anything!?