Kimono Day!!

Here we are with the ladies who dressed us up in the Kimonos

This is the group of students and both me and Liz. We are missing just one person, Nariko.

This is the wedding Kimono that the brides wear- very heavy!

Today was so much fun, and I am so excited to share it with all of you. As most of you know, I have a group of ladies that I teach English to every Thursday. I will be taking over the class permanently in August. They are absolutely a hoot to be around and make me laugh when I am with them. They love to learn about America, our food, Hollywood gossip, etc. We talk about culture differences, families, tv and movie stars, food, cooking, and so much more.

Today Yaeno, Junko, and Yoshiko picked me and Liz (the teacher I am replacing- another navy wife) outside of the base gate and we all drove to Emiko's house. It was a cozy little Japanese house, and we felt so welcome right when we got there. It is very traditional to give gifts in Japan, so Liz and I arrived with flowers and chocolates for the ladies. When we arrived, we met three other Japanese women who had come to help out for the day. They were the women who helped dress us in our kimonos. We all talked for a little bit, but then it was time for us to get dressed. Emiko (the group coordinator) had arranged for us to wear kimonos and get pictures taken while we were there. It must have taken about 25 minutes for one of the Japanese ladies to dress me. There were so many different parts of the Kimono, and everything had to be just right. It was very heavy, and I had to suck everything in. They are tied very tight and not very comfortable. The Obi that is tied around the kimono is so beautiful. At one point, they put the traditional wedding kimono on me. I think this must have weighed over 20 pounds!! It was so much fun to get to play dress up - we then got to wear our kimonos while we ate. That was interesting!! - I couldn't hardly bend and sit down. Lunch was delicious- everyone brought something, and although I was a little concerned that I wasn't going to like some of the food, everything was delicious, and I tried it all. One of the things I brought was scotcheroos (peanut butter rice krispy treats with chocolate), and they absolutely loved them. (The Japanese love American sweets) There is not peanut butter in Japan, so that was a real treat for them. They all carefully wrapped the extras up to bring them home. We asked if we could help clean up after lunch, but they told us that if you are wearing a kimono, you do not help out with the food or clean the dishes. We were the guests of honor, and we got special treatment! Emiko gave me and Liz Carp Streamers or Koinobori. Koi means carp and nobori means banner. They are seen all over Japan as decorations and symbols of this country.

I am posting some of the photos we took today. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed experiencing it. This will always be at the top of my list of lifetime experiences! It's not every day that your Japanese friends and students dress you up in a Kimono to be treated like royalty. Enjoy!

Tomorrow we are off to celebrate the fourth of July in Tokyo at the New Sanno hotel. Brian and I are going to The Wellingtons (a fancy restaurant at the hotel) to enjoy a fabulous birthday dinner. The boys are having a babysitter at the hotel with pizza and a movie. They are very excited! Have fourth of July to everyone!