2015 Travel Log

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SRKSEP 2015 Begins - Monday, July 6, 2015

The Santa Rosa Sunrise / Kagoshima Student Exchange Program for 2015 is off and running.

Monday morning, at 6:00 am our team of 10 Ambassadors and 1 Rotarian Chaperone boarded the Airport Express, destine for SFO and then Tokyo Narita!

Chaparone Shauna Lorenzen and her team Bridget Childs, Cassidy Childs, James Eakin, John Eakin, TJ (Toppa) Epps, Adriana Harrington, David (Yifu) Lang, Morgan Lynch, Christian Pounden, and Berklee Welsh will spend the next 4 weeks touring Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Kagoshima Japan.

This is the 29th year of our Exchange, and the 150th anniversary of the Samuari traveling to the West from Kagoshima, Japan.

From Bridget Childs

And off we go! Goodbye America, Hello Japan!

Tuesday, July 7th

Today is the first in Tokyo. We will have breakfast, then an orientation, and off the the Ghibli museum. It should be a fun day.

My very first selfie. I'm embarrassed that I had to have Christian and Berklee help. Thanks guys

First night in Tokyo and the Tokyo Central Youth Hostal

Wednesday, July 8th

Hi all. We had a wonderful time at the Ghibli museum yesterday. Some of us knew more information about the animation and shared their knowledge. We had some time to wonder around Tokyo and do a little shopping, ride the train ( and get on the wrong train) and do a lot of walking. Everyone is a little jet lagged and the walking tired everyone out. I believe we all slept well last night. Here is the view from Tokyo Tower.

We've had a good day. I was the honored guest of a tea ceremony. It was really unexpected and fun. Then we had shabu shabu lunch. We had individual hot plates with a be to box for each with various meat and vegetables.

Thursday, July 9th

We started the tour at Tokyo tower. It was amazing and I got some good photos.
After lunch we went to the imperial palace grounds and walked around. The emperor and his family only allow the public on the outside grounds except for twice a year when they open two bridges and wave to their people.

Next stop was a beautiful Japanese garden. We enjoyed the tranquility through the rain and viewed a three hundred year old pine tree.

From Toppa Epps (Parent) - TJ at The Imperial Palace !

TJ just texted me and said "Dad, u ain't gonna believe it. A family came running up to me shouting Clemson....Clemson!!!" He said they were so nice. Apparently their son goes to Clemson and TJ was carrying his Clemson backpack. So he's in Tokyo and the highlight of his trip so far is meeting folks from Clemson.

View of Tokyo from Christian Pounden

Friday, July 10th

We're in Nikko today seeing a shrine and waterfall.

Outside of Nikko, from Shauna Lorenzen

Waiting for Sushi!, from Shauna Lorenzen

Saturday, July 11th - Free Day

From Shauna Lorenzen

We were able to visit a wonderful shrine and waterfall in Nikko yesterday. The bus ride was long but worth the time. We spent almost two hours wondering through an old shrine and then off to a delightful lunch. We visited the third largest waterfall in Japan and many of us would have liked to spend some time hiking in the area, however we needed to get back to Tokyo.

If you thought we have bad traffic on a Friday night going into the city, think again. Gridlock!

Bridget was unable to join us for the day. She had an allergic reaction to what they believe was a mosquito bite and had to see a doctor. She's doing just great today and is headed off to the fashion district with the other girls.

The guys have decided just to wonder Tokyo today and see what they can find.

As for me, my bucket list has an item of Tokyo Disney, so I'm off to explore.

The students have bonded really well and we're all having an experience we'll never forget.

Thank you for all the support.

Sunday, July 12th - Free Day

We have all had two days of free time. There are lots of memories and some purchases for those you visited the fashion district. Each person will have their own tall tale.

Carrots = $9.60 and Nectarines = $6.00 each

Tomorrow we leave Tokyo and take the train to Kyoto.

I'll continue to give you the highlights and I have encouraged the team to upload some of their photos for you to see.

Monday, July 13th - Kyoto

Good morning,
We all arrived safely in Kyoto. The bullet train was a nice experience as we had reserved seats. 😊 the countryside is beautiful and we had the opportunity to actually see Mt. Fuji. It is covered in clouds most days.
Midori is an excellent guide, but I feel like we're trying to keep cats rounded together. Everyone has such curiosity (this is a good thing) and they want to explore but we need to get to particular places in a timely manner. Overall the team is working together very well (they act like siblings) and I havn't had to break up any fights. :)
The Gion music theater last night was a combination of six or seven vignettes on Japanese culture. We observed a tea ceremony (Christian was one of two honored guests), flower arranging, dance and puppet show.

Today we take a tour of Kyoto and then we have free time to explore this ancient city. It will be fabulous.
Shauna

Tuesday, July 14th - Kyoto

We began our tour with the Heian Jingu shrine. The Torii gate marks the entrance and is painted orange. We only had a short time to visit and I was able to see the magnificent cherry tree gardens. This is a special place for wedding ceremonies.

Next stop, Sanjusangen-do temple where 1001 Kannon statues stand. Each is carved out of wood. Arms and legs are carved separately, then joined together with the body, coated with lacquer and finished with coloring. This temple has stood for over 700 years and is almost 400 feet long. In ancient times they used to hold bow and arrow contests along the length of the temple. How many arrows could one person shoot in 24 hrs. April 26, 1686 an 18 yr old man successfully shot 8,133 out of 13,053 arrows. This is an average of 544 arrows per hour or 9 per minute and he remains the record holder today.

Last stop: Kiyomizu temple

A beautiful temple site tucked into the side of the mountain which has existed since 778 AD.

The current temple was built in 1633 and is was designated as one of Kyoto's historic monuments. The view of Kyoto in my pictures was taken here. A waterfall from a spring in the mountain has been falling since the beginning of the first temple. Many of us had a chance to drink from these waters and you can receive either friendship, health, or intelligence depending on which fountain you gather your water from.

More soon.

Shauna

Wedneday, July 15th - Kyoto

We toured the National Museum and Handicraft center in the morning yesterday. Unfortunately the old museum is under renovation construction and we didn't get to see that portion. The exhibits were exquisite. Some of the pottery dated back to the 3rd and 4th centuries. You could see the development of the artisans skills both in technique and materials throughout the centuries.

We saw some beautiful Kimono, painted silk tapestries and a variety of other artifacts.

Then off to the handicraft center for shopping. Our suitcases will be full coming home with a sword, kimono, sake cups and other treasures.

Many of you have asked about the typhoon Nangka (11). It is due to make landfall today and there are flood advisories out in the low lying areas. Kyoto will not experience anything but rain beginning today with heavier showers later in the afternoon. We leave for Hiroshima tomorrow morning where they will receive 10-14 inches of rain in the next 48 hours. Midori and I are in communication with the Rotarians in Hiroshima on a regular basis. The team safety is the primary thought in everyone's mind and we are quite confident the itinerary will remain as it is. (We will just keep our umbrellas close.

I will continue to update you as the storm comes closer. Email me if you have any questions.

Shauna

Typhoon - UPDATE

The typhoon is scheduled to hit Hiroshima on Friday / Saturday (the day we arrive). After consultation with the Hiroshima Rotarians and Mr. Nanaeda (my counterpart in Kagoshima), we have decided to delay our arrival by one day. We will stay in Kyoto at the same hotel and leave on Saturday for Hiroshima. This changes some of the itinerary however the safety of the team is primary. At the current estimates, Hiroshima is expecting between 12-16 inches of rain over the next 48 hours. Kyoto is north of the location of the landfall and other than some rain and a pretty steady wind have been unaffected.
This is a first for our program, but the team will remain safe. I'll keep you apprised as the conditions change.
Shauna

Typhoon - UPDATE

The typhoon hit landfall on this island around 6pm last night. There is flooding in Hiroshima and some land slides. All major trains were stopped and many of the schools are closed. The major winds and rain are expected to be finished by this evening. It is a good thing we stayed in Kyoto.

The trains are not running in Kyoto either due to the wind gusts. It's raining but not pouring as of yet. The rain is supposed to get heavier as we move through the day. I've asked the students to stay within walking distance of the hotel. Some of the bus lines are randomly discontinuing service and I don't want anyone to get stranded and I not know where they are. Right now, it's not a problem, because they all took the opportunity to sleep in and everyone is still asleep. I'm sure I'll have some stir crazy students later this afternoon!

The storm will have caused a financial disaster for Kyoto. The Gion festival was scheduled to begin today and the majority of the festivities have been cancelled. The floats that people worked so hard to create will be warehoused. It's such a shame.
Midori extended our stay in this hotel early yesterday morning. It's a good thing as it is now booked solid and there are more people here now than in the last three days combined.
We are being well taken care of and we are safe.
Shauna

Thursday, July 16th - Kyoto - And in transit to Hiroshima

It's still pouring, but the winds have subsided. The team spent the day relaxing in the hotel. Some ventured out to the arcade a couple of doors down the street and got really wet. We had a new experience that no previous teams have been exposed to. We're going to check out of the hotel after breakfast and take the bullet train to Hiroshima.

Our schedule there has been completely disrupted and the team will lose the free day.
We will stop before arriving at Hiroshima at the Hemejji castle.

It's a famous landmark and national heritage site. We'll be met by some Rotarians in Hiroshima and taken to the hotel to get ready for a large reception and meeting with the full Rotary club. Both Morgan and I will be giving speeches in Japanese. Morgan's language skills are excellent and I'm hoping not to embarrass myself too much.
Watch for new pictures of the castle.
Shauna

Sunday, July 19th

Hello from Hiroshima.

The typhoon delayed our arrival by one day but the sites here have been thought provoking.

We met with the Hiroshima RC for a reception. Morgan represented the students with a speech in Japanese and did an amazing job. My Japanese is not nearly as good and I hope they understood our gratitude for their hospitality. They invited five students from the local university to converse with our team. Both sides enjoyed the inter-action.

Yesterday we visited and island shrine that has tame deer running free. They really are docile creatures unless they can smell food and then they get pretty aggressive.

We returned from the island to visit the Peace Memorial Park. Each student and myself processed the experience differently. Some will speak to relatives about the experience on their return, some were emotional and others sad. It was a very good reminder that war is has terrible consequences and we should avoid it all all costs.

We're off to Kagoshima to visit our families. More later.

Tuesday, July 21st

We all met our families and now the jitters are over with, everyone seems to be settling in to Japanese life.

We spent the morning with some university students working together with conversations about everyday life. Then off with our families for the afternoon.

Tomorrow is a big day: governor of Kagoshima prefecture, then Kagoshima mayor; then Kagoshima west rotary club and finally the welcome party. Right now it's really storming and I hope the rain eases up for tomorrow or we'll all be a little wet for the presentations.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed that our Japanese is understandable!
Shauna

From Sakaue Seiya

Today 11 American students came to IBS in the morning. It was good opportunity to speak English and communicate with them! Actually I gave a speech to them but suddenly I forgot some words! I thought I have to practice more and more!!!

But they left some comment I'll practice a lot from today! I talked almost all of them and they are really nice person. I will meet them in 28th and 30th so I'm looking forward to seeing them again and I hope we can hang out someday. Anyway thanks for coming to IBS!!!

Wednesday, July 22nd

Today was a busy day...
First stop, Kagoshima prefecture office where we met with the director of international affairs for Kagoshima.

Morgan did a great job with her speech and mine was fine.
Next stop, Kagoshima Rotary club. We handed out lots of business cards, had a nice lunch and punted for our presentation. They forgot to bring the computer, however, the projector arrived. Each student told something about themselves and I gave a little information about Sonoma County. (Thanks Dave Lorenzen for giving me a printed copy of the presentation!)

Off to the mayor's office. David did very well with his speech. They were surprised we tried to do our speeches in Japanese.

A couple of hours on our own to shop, have ice cream or shaved ice (it was very hot and humid today with a few raindrops sprinkled in between.)

Off to the welcome party. Almost 100 people; host families, Rotarians, and Soroptomist members and students from the university joined the festivities. There were speeches, a toast, "kompaii", dinner buffet and then dancing. Hopefully, I'll be able to post the video of the students teaching the Japanese to dance their entertainment routine. Everyone did really well and we'll do it again at the sayonara party.
All for now.
Shauna

Thursday, July 23rd

Yesterday we spent the day at Kagoshima university with Dr. Mori and some of his international students. We had an opportunity to make new friends and learn more about Japanese culture.

We watched a Kendo demonstration (long bow) and then we got the chance to try. James was the marksman of the group with all three arrows in the target.

We played games, participated in a tea ceremony and enjoyed each other's company.

Today we visited the Satsuma Students Memorial Museum and spent some time with the mayor of Itchiki-Kushikino where the samurai left for the west to gain more knowledge of western machines and different cultures.

This is the 150th anniversary and there are many celebrations. Santa Rosa is very well known at the moment.

Now, we are swimming near the port in salt water pools. The weather is sunny and hot so the students are having a blast.

Saturday, July 25th

Yesterday was a free day and there were many adventures.

Today another typhoon is coming but we're still going on the trip to the south of the Kagoshima prefecture.

We've seen a very old samurai village in Chiran and now we're going to the hot springs. At this point there is a lot of wind and some rain. The "sun-bathing" will be limited 😊

We may be able to lay in the sand depending on the storm. On the bright side, the wind has brought down the temperature and it's not nearly as humid.

We're going past some old growth cedar trees. There is an island about 400km from here where man has never cut down any of the forest. They believe one of the largest trees is around 7,000 years old.

The landscape is beautiful (very green). Coming back to brown will be a shock. :)

Monday, July 27th

After a day with our families the team got together again to visit with some Japanese students again....

We went back to th iBS school to have a lesson about Japanese culture and more conversations. Today's instructor and owner of the school showed us a true samurai sword that has been in his family for 350 years. We each had the opportunity to hold it and I took pictures of everyone.

Mrs. Nanaeda (my host family) told me many Japanese students have not had this opportunity. She has only seen a real samurai sword in a museum. We each spoke about something we have noticed is different from the states or something we have admired in Japan. There was quite a bit of discussion regarding toilets, showers and cars. The differences are significant but the details you can get from your student. 😀. We had lunch with the students and then walked to the bus station to be taken to a local private high school.
The SRKSEP chaperone from Japan in 2010 is a teacher at this high school and she arranged for us to meet her class.

They were a great group of kids (mostly freshman). We divided into four groups and each group went their own way. Some went to ride the Ferris wheel, some went to see a shrine and then had a water balloon fight; some went shopping and others just sight seeing. We met up again for ice-cream in her room, exchanged pictures, we left gifts for the students and then it was time to leave. All in all, it was a great day.

The weather has changed and it's now summer in Kagoshima which means high heat and humidity. The next four days will be very hot and the team will get a taste of what Japan normally is like during this trip.
Tomorrow is another family day. I'm heading to a cruise around the volcano, which by the way has NOT erupted since we've been here, although they say it normally spouts something everyday. They even have a special bag and garbage pickup for the ash people collect around their homes. I'm looking forward to the trip and hopefully being on the water will be a little cooler.
Shauna

Friday, July 31st

Sayonara Party, and parting remarks and pictures from Sakaue Seiya to the Team

TJ!!!!!
You are really great man! Really kind and he loves hunting lol I want to hunt with u someday! Thanks for coming and I hope u will come to Japan again!

David !!!!
You are really funny guy and you are the first person to say hello to me ! You are nice person and kind too take care of your health

Christian!!!!
YOU ARE AMAZING PERSON haha! Actually when I saw first time, I thought " what a tall men" and you are really kind and has good personality. Thanks for amazing good memories and hope to meet you again in America next time!

Morgan!!!!!
Hey Morgan!!!! I want to say one thing! YOU ARE WONDERFUL PERSON! And you always talk with me and it was really fun to talk with u. Let's skype soon and come back to kagoshimaaaaaaa take care of your health! and meet in America next time

Bridget!!!!
OMG OMG OMG YOU ARE BRIDGET! haha! I love talking with u! U have nice smile and personality is amazing! I really miss you and don't go back to Americaaaaaaa. Hope to meet you again!! thanks for coming!!!

Berklee!!!!
Hey Berklee Berklee Berklee!!!! Your English pronunciation is really easily to understand so I always could understand what u saying ^^ and you are also nice personnnn!!!! I want to spend time with u a lot! So stay in Japan! hehe!

Cassidy!!!!!
Yooooooo I'm really sad cuz we couldn't have fun at Round 1 together! But I really happy that we had fun at sayonara party! and miss you so baddddddd I hope we can hang out in America next time!

Shauna!!!!
Konnichiwa! you are beautiful woman!! And really kind person!!! Your hospitality was really great and I want to be like you in the future! I respect you! take care of your health!

John!!!
Heyyyyyyy John bro haha! I love hanging out with you! When we talk, u always speak slowly for us and you are really funny! let's go to ROUND 1 again someday and I promise that I will go to Santa Rosa to visit you!!!

James!!!
James! I want to say one thing that U ARE AMAZING ^^ you are REALLY REALLY KIND and if I give present something, I'll give you pocari sweat 10000ℓ haha. I miss you so bad and meet with us right now! Hug you!

Adriana!!
Hey we talked a lot and I love talking with u Adriana!!! U are shy and I'm shy too but when we sing a song together that was really fun and I want to go to karaoke with u againn and let's sing a song of Justin bieber and Taglor swift! hehe! I miss you so bad and I'll go to Santa Rosa Definitely to meet you hehe! let's Skype someday! And send some pics on snapchat! thank you so much

I can't explain how you guy's are wonderful guy's and I REALLY MISS YOU..... promise me that we will meet again someday and if u come to Japan, message me! I'll go to meet you and guide love you guy's xoxoxoxox

Saturday, August 1st

Today is the last day we will spend in Japan. Everyone is spending these final few moments with some very special people, our host families.

We had the sayonara dinner last night and it was a very successful party.

Each family was introduced with their student and they spoke about the experience. Some of the families don't speak very much English and it was wonderful to learn how the communication was effective even without knowing the other person's language.

We will see you all on Sunday, August 2nd. Our flight is United 34, arriving at 10:50am, but we will have to go through customs so probably we won't see you until 11:15 or so. Expect very excited, but VERY tired students. The day begins very early in Japan with a 4 hr ride on the bullet train, transfer to another train for another hour, two in the airport and then an 10.5 hr flight. They will be excited to be home, but sad to leave all the new friends.

See you tomorrow.

Shauna