Returning to Fall in December

It was only 9:30 PM when we stumbled in the door, but it felt like 5:30 AM, which it was back in Utah. After staying awake during the entire trip from Utah, Marin had fallen asleep on the bus. It is a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from the Narita Airport to Camp Zama, and she slept the whole way. She didn't even wake up when we carried her in to bed. She woke at 5:30 the next morning, having had 10 hours of solid sleep! Great! I could send her to school! I hadn't planned on sending her back to school until Monday (and this was Friday morning), but she was awake and ready to be active, so heck, why not!? I, however hadn't gotten that much sleep so I was glad to get her on her way.
When we got to her school her teacher told us that they would be decorating wreaths at 2:00 that day, and parents were invited. Perfect! I was so glad to find out about that! We would have missed a great time had we stayed at home.
After a couple more hours of sleep, I joined Marin at school. She had her wreath ready. Every 1st grade student had a wreath, which they had made a couple months ago from the vines of their Morning Glories that they grew, starting back in May or June, and tended at home during the summer. Now the vines were wrapped into a wreath and dried. Ribbons, colorful ornaments, and painted nuts and pine cones covered the desks of Marin's first grade classroom. Marin was very excited for me to join her in this project, and I was so glad to be there! We had a great time decorating Marin's wreath. Everyone had a great time. Their was an energy of excitement in the room that filled my heart. I don't know what it would be like to do something like this with Marin in an American school. I am sure that would be fun too, but there is something so cool about being a part of an authentic foreign school environment. This is a dream come true for me! ...and I'm living it!!




This is Marin and her Japanese American friend, Tiffany, who is bilingual.

After decorating the wreaths, it was time to pack up and go home. All the kids got their backpacks ready to go, and their yellow hats on. It's a 1st grade thing in Japan---for safety as they walk to and from school. Next year Marin wont be wearing the yellow hat and bright yellow cover on her backpack.
Once all the children were ready, the teacher quietly stood at the front of the room, without a word, waiting for every last child to settle down and stand quietly. Once they all did, they were released to go home.

Marin is 1/3 of the way over from the left.

It was a bright and rather warm day for December as we returned home. The leaves on the trees were bright and colorful Fall colors. We just missed the peak of it though when we were in Utah. The leaves change in late November and early December here. I don't know why.

This picture may not do this tree justice. It is such a bright yellow, and we see it from all the way down the street as we drive home. I love it! But soon the leaves will be gone. Then I'll look forward to Spring, when the Cherry Blossoms come out.

We even have a rose bush that blooms even in December.