アメリカ旅行 Trip to the U.S.

good old BYU campus: from left - Library, JKHB, Administration Bldg, HFAC

Rasberry Lemon Cream Cheesecake and fries at Cheese cake Factory

Salt Lake Temple

New Draper Utah Temple

Goblin Valley

今年は突然決めて、またアメリカ旅行に行ってきました。日本の生活にすっかり慣れてしまって、アメリカのすべての物のサイズの大きさにあらためてビックリしました。今回は10日間の旅で短かくて、すべての友達にあるのは難しかったけれど、時間をとって会ってくれた友達ありがとう！会えなかった友達ごめんなさい！でもまた必ず行くよ！！

I just came back from the U.S. trip which I decided a week before I left Japan. I'm so used to living in Japan and had forgotten how big everything was in the States!! This time, I only had 10 days to spend, and there wasn't enough time to see everybody, but I'm grateful for my friends who took their time to see me. To those I didn't get to see you, I'm sorry, but I will come again!!

豊かにする集会 Enrichment Meeting

昨日は教会の扶助協会の活動がありました。沖縄のお菓子「ちんすこう」をバレンタイン用にハート型にくり抜いて焼きました。とてもかわいくできたし、おいしかった！ラッピングして今日教会で兄弟たちに配りました。

There was a Relief Society's activity (enrichment meeting) yesterday. I taught how to make Okinawa sweets called Chinsuko. Since it was a Valentine's day, we made heart shape one. They turned out to be so cute! We wrapped them and gave them to brothers at church today.

最後の日 The Last Day

13日の金曜日は、わたしの家族が5人と一匹でそろって時間を過ごす最後の日でした。妹が結婚するので家を出て行くためです。最近弟も家に戻ってきて、夜久しぶりに5人そろってご飯を食べて、記念撮影しました。ちょっとおもしろい写真になったけれど、わたしの宝物です。

Friday the 13 was the last day my family could spend time with my younger sister. She moved out of my parents home yesterday and is getting married in a few days. We had dinner together and took a family picture. It turned out to be kind of a funny picture, but it will be my treasure.

巨大レモン A Huge Lemon

今日は藤枝支部大会だったので訪問でした。そこでお土産にどでかいレモンをもらいました！まじでかいでしょ？！

I got to go visit Fujieda branch for the branch conference today and got a huge lemon to take home before leaving. It's so huge, isn't it?!

初島 Hatsushima

Hatsushima from Atami side (from ferry)

beautiful view from our hotel room

the Italian restaurant we had dinner at

最近あまりにも疲れていてブログを更新できていなくて、やっと今やる気になりました。今のうちに書いておかないと。もう先週の話だけれど、となりの富士ワードの友達たちと初島というところに行ってきました。もうずっと静岡県民やっているのに、初島の存在を知らなかった～。熱海港からフェリーに乗って25分のところにあります。寒かったけれど、とてもきれいなところで、また行ってみたいなあ。泊まったホテルもとても大きくてきれいで、オーシャンビューですてきでした。

As you can tell, I haven't been able to update my blog until now. I've been way too tired lately. I'm up to updating my blog now, so before I change my mind, I should write some I guess. I went to an island called Hatsushima last week with friends from Fuji ward (neighbor city). I had no clue that Hatsushima was a part of Shizuoka prefecture. It's an island located 25 minutes away by ferry from Atami. It was cold, but was very beautiful and I definitely want to go again. The hotel we stayed also was very beautiful, big and had a great ocean view.

北海道からの友達 A Friend from North Island

先々週の話になってしまうけれど、北海道から友達がステークの神殿参入でやって来ました。数年前に一緒に教会の外注校正員として働き始めた友達です。とても若く見えるけれど、3児の母親で、一番上の男の子は14歳！彼女の妹さんとはBYUのときに一緒でした。世界は狭い！お昼の時間に一緒に神殿の近くのインドカレーやさんへ行っておいしく食べて話して楽しい時間を過ごしました。

My friend from Hokkaido came to Tokyo for her stake temple stip 2 weeks ago. We were both hired as a contranct proofreader for the church a couple years ago. She looks very young, doesn't she? Can you believe she's a mother of three kids and the oldest is 14?! Her younger sister went to BYU with me. Small world. We went to an Indian curry restaurant near the temple, and had a great time talking and enjoying great food.

明けましておめでとう！Happy New Year!

Mid Town in Roppongi

In front of Mid Town

Mishima Shrine

あけましておめでとうございます！今年もよろしくお願いします。みなさんよい正月を過ごされたといいです。わたしは元旦は近所のお寺にあいさつに行ったり（小学生のときから住職のおしょうさんに座禅や英語を習っていました）、2日には東京神殿に行って、そこでとなりのワードの友人たちに会ったので一緒に六本木のミッドタウンに行ったり、3日は三嶋大社に初詣にいったりしました。みなさんにとって今年一年すばらしい年となりますように。

A Happy New Year!!! Hope you all had wonderful holidays. As for me, on the 1st, I went to one of the Buddhist(spell?) temples near my house to say hello to the priest who taught me English when I was in elementary and junior high school. On the 2nd, I went to Tokyo temple by myself and happened to see my friends from another ward in my stake, so we went to Mid Town in Roppongi to have lunch and hang out after the session. On the 3rd, I visited the Mishima Shrine with my friends who grew up together. May you all have a wonderful year!