Week 1 is Wrapping Up!

It's hard to believe that a week ago I was finishing packing my bags and saying so many hard goodbyes to my loved ones at home.  It feels like I've been here much longer than that!  This morning we visited Kamakura, which was really awesome, even though the weather wasn't exactly the greatest.  The temperature was fine, but it misted frequently during the morning.  I'll add pictures from today's trip at the bottom of this post.  Quick crazy story, though... I bought a chocolate mint crepe, and as I was walking down the street eating it, a large hawk swooped down and stole it out of my hand!  It was really scary.  I guess it is not polite to eat while walking (I didn't realize this until afterwards), so from now on I will sit down and eat my food before moving on to another shop!

Apparently green tea ice cream is very popular in Japan, there is vanilla ice cream, green tea ice cream, and sweet potato ice cream (no chocolate in most places we saw today).  A friend and I tried a green tea and sweat potato twist cone.  Neither one of us was too crazy about it, but we are both glad we tried it!

After visiting some shrines at Kamakura, two friends and I explored the shops located on surrounding streets before hopping the train and heading back to base.  The whole train system is really new to me, but I'm sure by the time I get home I will be well rehearsed!  I don't know too much yet about the age of kids I will be working with while here, but should find out more information tomorrow.  Orientation week is almost over!  The poster making is coming along, but we are not anywhere near the end of the posters.

I won't upload all my photos here from today's adventures, but you can view them via my Facebook profile (you must log into Facebook for this to work) by clicking on this link: Adventures in Japan.

I just finished making plans with a few friends for a some day trips this weekend, which I'm very excited about!  We plan to explore Yokohama and Yokosuka.  I look forward to updating you on the fun things we do over the weekend!

So far I am thankful for developing friendships and the opportunity to really become my own person.  I have set some goals for myself that I intend to monitor regularly in an effort to gain the most possible benefit out of this incredible experience.  I ask for your prayers to continue making progress towards these goals not just when progress is easy to come by, but also on the hard days/weeks when I am homesick.  I have not gotten homesick yet, but it is only the first week. :)  I am blessed to have such a wonderful support system standing behind me and sending prayers for me and my fellow Camp Adventure counselors throughout the summer.  Also, thanks for taking the time to read about all the things that are going on in my life!  I enjoy sharing with you what I have been up to.

More to come after my first real weekend in Japan! :)
- Becky