Who want's to see pictures?

I have some good pictures that I should show, so I kind of made it all one blog. Hope you enjoy it!



This is me and Erika having Starbucks in Akita, yeah for Starbucks I miss my daily drinks!



This is me in front of the sign that I thought was really funny "Three minutes Happiness". Isn't that great, I love the English here!



This is the best shirt I have ever seen and now wish that I had bought it.



This is Erika showing her true Alienation. We had to take lots of pictures to get it right, but I think this is the best one and Erika may beg to differ.



These are paper Cranes we made I made the light/bright green one on the right. Isn't it cute? But don't ask me to teach you cause I don't think I will remember.





This is called TAMAKIZUSHI it is sushi that you make in your hand and eat it was really good. I tried everything except for the raw tuna, cause I can't eat it, it's a texture thing , crazy hey!


Today is Setsuban Day, which means the day before the beginning of spring. The tradition is that everyone throws soya beans in there house to get rid of the bad and let the good in. They open every door in the house and literally throw soya beans everywhere. But now they use peanuts so you can eat them. A wonderful couple opened there house so I could try this holiday that's new to me. After opening every door then you put the peanuts in a basket and offer them at the alter, which most Japanese people have in there house to worship there ancestors.



If you look closely you can see the basket on the top shelf. The lady of the house lights the candles and prays. If you ask who they are praying to they say they don't know. I don't want to say tradition but they are worshiping something because of a tradition. Then you take the peanuts and throw them all around the house.



If you look really closely again, you will see the peanuts I threw, not going to lie it was a lot of fun, that was the first time I was asked to throw food around someone's house. When you throw the peanuts you are suppose to yell "Oniodasu" which means out with the bad(Devil). It's so hard to say devil though cause they don't use it here in the same context we do, it's not the devil we think it's more related to bad things. I think this is a lot like we as christians do in our hearts out with the bad and in with the good. Only we don't need to throw peanuts, we open our hearts for God to come in and chase the devil out. Then when you are done throwing them and having all the fun you have to pick them up and eat as many as years you are old, I was so happy cause I was only 19 years old and I was still full from dinner.

Well that brings you up to date on my picture's hope to put more on soon.