Japan - Part One

So because of the lack of computer and internet I unfortunately could not update my blog while I was in Japan. So I will try to go back and fill in from the beginning but it is never as good if it isn't fresh. This is sort of the out line for my trip to Japan though.

The first week I spent with 6 other students, we went early and decided to explore on our own a little bit before the program started. We started in Osaka and spent two days exploring the big city. Then we moved to Nara where we spent three days exploring more historical type places including a ninja village! Then we went to Kyoto where we relaxed a little bit before we started the program there. So for some pictures because those are always the best part!


Osaka
We went to the huge aquarium because they have whale sharks...


We rode the Largest Ferris in the World (Me and my friend Jordi)


We went to Osaka Castle (this is my friend Cody posed in front of it)


Also we enjoyed the Night Lights and walking around the big City


Nara
We went to Temples





Played in the Deer Park


Went to Iga Ueno (an old ninja village with a castle and ninja house)





Rode the Train alot




Kyoto
Walked the Imperial Grounds


Visited My Old House


Played in The River



I will try to keep this more up to date now... and Get caught up on Japan as I go. Right now I am back in Missouri and I head back out to school in about 5 days! So everyone out in Utah and Idaho direction I hope I see you soon!

Still Alive... and Loving Japan!

Hey everyone... so the day I got to Japan my computer worked in the airport but then that night at the hotel it would not turn on anymore. My processor died I later found out and so I had to send it back with my dad to get it fixed. So I have only been able to get on computers for short periods of time before, so I haven`t been able to do anything with my blog. Right now I`ve been living with a host family in Iida, Japan. We only have a few more day with our host-families and then we move to a hot springs hotel. I am going to miss my host-family a lot, they are awesome. They have been really nice and a lot of fun.
So in the beginning of the trip we did a lot of tourist stuff... we stayed in Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Awaji, and Tokushima. Then after two weeks we came to Iida where we have been ever since. Since being in Iida we have been practcing Japanese Puppetry in order to perform in the upcoming festival here... it is really hard but a lot of fun! Unfortunately we only have 4 practices left, and that makes me a little nervous. We also have made several school visits mostly to high schools, where we are treated like celebrities, it`s been funny. On the train the kids are usually talking about us, especially when the tall guys are around. We have about a month left here and time is going by way too fast! I wish I could put pictures up but I can`t even get them off my camera without my computer... so I`ll have to do it all when I get back. A lot of the other students have put pictures up on facebook and I am in some of those though so you can look at those if you have access to it. Well I`ll try to get on here more often!
Jaa Ne!

Japan

So I'm here... I am in Osaka, Japan right now. I don't have any pictures yet because I have yet to leave the airport! I am waiting for a few other people to arrive and then we will all venture out into the city! I'm not sure how often I will have the internet but I will try to keep this updated with pictures and everything! Let's hope I'm able to get around with the little Japanese I know...Wish me luck!

~Jaa ne

Nauvoo

So about a week and a half ago my mom and I did a day trip up to Nauvoo, Illinois. I had never been there and she hasn't been there since she was a kid (and there really wasn't much there then). It was about a 4 hour drive up there so we left early in the morning and headed up. We went on we went on two different tour type wagon rides. One was around the town with historical stuff and the other was through woods and creek and such which was more of an inspirational ride with some history thrown in. For most of the time my camera's batteries were dead so sadly I don't have pictures from either one of the tours. We did go get batteries before we went up to the temple which was our main interest for the trip to begin with. We went in the temple separately since I can only do baptisms but it was amazing to be there and I wish I could have spent more time there!

Mom and I at the temple (It was REALLY windy all day)


"The Last Ride" Joseph and Hyrum Smith on there way to Carthage Jail with view of Nauvoo and the Mississppi River behind it


Nauvoo Temple- It was a gorgeous day!


We finished off the night with a little play put on by some of the older missionaries... it was cute and funny we thought it might have more historical aspects to it but it was mostly little made up stories that went along with some of the history. It was pretty enjoyable but I would have been fine without it. The trip was really good though and it was a great chance for my mom and I to spend some time just us without having to worry about everyday stuff!

~A Bientot

A little update

So I have been the absolute worst blogger in the last few months. Mostly I don't have a lot going on. I have been working full time at a preschool I am a teacher in a two year old classroom, where I spend most of my time potty-training/dancing/chasing/cleaning up cute little rascals who call me miss Mana. I have really enjoyed working in my classroom the lead teacher, Allison has been great to work with. We get along really well and have similar ideas on how to deal with the kids. (not that they are bad but just in how we work with them) I am going to be very sad to say goodbye to all of the kids, I only have 3 more days of work. They all have such unique personalities and it is always amazing what they can come up with at the age of two.
This is a picture of 9 out of the 14 of them. (Sunglasses are the cool thing in my class)


Right now I am spending most of my time packing, and making sure I have everything settled and figured out before I leave the Country! On May 30th I will be started my adventure to Japan! Although I won't make it to Japan until June 1st because of time change and a overnight layover in Chicago, this Saturday I will be leaving Columbia Missouri for about 3 months.

I am going to be studying abroad in Iida, Japan this summer. I will be working on Bunraku Puppets, Japanese, and maybe some Taiyo (chanting/narrating), Taiko Drums and Kyudo (Japanese traditional archery)... and of course eating some delicious
food! I will try my best to do a better job at posting while I am in Japan.

Another development is a possible trip to Turkey! The Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe has been invited to perform in a street festival in Istanbul, Turkey August 13th-17th. So I will be headed that way at the end of the summer as long as every goes accordingly. We did wonder why, if they were paying for a group to fly there why they are asking the amateur college group rather than the professionals... but we aren't going to complain!

So my life at the moment consists of Packing, Shopping, Cleaning, Working, and Planning train/bus routes because I only have 4 more days before I leave!

~Jaa Mata ne (see you later... I have to practice)

Working

So right now my life is not all that exciting but that is okay because well it is nice to relax. Last monday I started "training" in the two year old room for a full time position, and well i got it. So no I am the full time aide in that room. I am very excited about this mostly because my previous schedule was 7-830am and 130-5pm, and so I wasn't getting many hours, plus I was considered a "floating aide" so they would move me around a lot. Now I get to stay with the same class all the time. I am also still tutoring the two Korean kids and it has been a lot of fun. So mainly my life right now consists of working.
This week I put in my application for going on a study abroad program this summer to Japan, I am hoping everything will work out for it, but we'll have to wait and see. There is a lot of paper work that has to be done. Well that is pretty much my life right now... not too much going on but oh well!

~A Bientot

Pictures of Evelyn Paige

Evelyn Paige!


Becca holding her new baby sister!


Mattie is now a big brother!


Side profile!

It's A Girl!

So as of Sunday March 8th, 2009 Ethan Holman is a father. I have a new niece! She was born at 3:15 pm (eastern time) She weighs 6lbs 1 oz. Her name is Evelyn Paige (I think that is how they are spelling it) Ethan is really excited to be a father, even though he has been getting a lot of practice with Becca and Mattie. They are both thrilled to have a new baby sister! Anyway just thought I would let everyone know! As soon as I get pictures I will pass them on!
~A Bientot

Babies!

So I know I don't post very often, and I'm very sorry (especially to you uncle Scott) but I really haven't been doing anything recently except going to work. Right now I am working at a daycare/preschool. I spend most of my time with infants who are all under a year old. I LOVE THEM! They are sweet and cute and so fun! Over the last week I have been getting pictures of all of them because they are so darn cute that I had to share. But it took me several days because there were only certain times when my hands were free, and then not all of them would be awake so I finally got them all. So here is who I get to play with and I get to call it work.

Stella... She is our quiet cuddlier. She is starting to stand on her own now, it is so exciting! I love this picture... she had just finished eating so she has no shirt, but she looks so proud!


Zev... He is my special little buddy! He is totally wild and very spastic. He always makes me laugh!


Isabelle... She is the sweetest thing... very happy and loves to talk and stick out her tongue! She is an absolutely beautiful baby!


Max... He is a extremely funny baby... He is very laid back, he is usually content just to be and will smile at anyone who talks to him.


Lillian... She is another one of my favorites, She is very particular about lots of things. I couldn't get a good picture of it but she only has one dimple and I think it is the cutest thing the world!


Anne... She is our newest addition but not our youngest. She is a very easy going baby, most of the time she is just sleeping, but more than anything she just loves being talked to.


Hayden... She is our youngest baby but only by a few days. She was born premature so even though she is 3 months old, she only weighs about 12 pounds. She is tiny!


So that is what I do for work! I play with all of them! Starting next week I will be working in the one year old room, and that makes me a little sad, but I don't really have a choice in the matter!

Also for some extra money, on Monday I started tutoring two Korean children in English. They are both really sweet and very smart. There is a boy who is 12 and his sister who is 8. I am having some trouble with ideas of how to teach the girl because she doesn't speak any English... so we'll see how it goes.

This weekend I am going to Arkansas with the Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe, so wish us luck on our performance!

~A Bientot!

St. Patrick's Day?

So I was going to be festive and do a Valentines Day blog... but unfortunately as some of you may know I don't really like heart decorations, and my favorite color is not pink. In the end I couldn't bring myself to it, so St. Patrick's Day it is.

Plus this means I won't have to change my layout until the end of March!

Family Reunion!

So about 2 weeks ago we had the excitement of Ethan (My older Brother) coming to visit! He has never visited Columbia Missouri and since he no longer had the excuse that he couldn't get off work my parents insisted! So Ethan stayed for a week! It was awesome... there was never a quiet moment and everyone was laughing or at least Ethan was. Since Ethan was coming we decided how cool would it be if Katie could come while he was here. Since we usually cover three separate times zones now, it had over four years since we had all been in the same place at the same time. Ethan hadn't seen my nephew Stephan since he was 7 months old (now almost 5) and he had never met my other nephew David who is nearly 3.
So for 3 days the entire Holman family was located in Columbia, Missouri. We ate lots of Ethan's favorite Asian dishes, went bowling, swimming, and the boys had a Star Trek marathon. So I have a few pictures but none of all of us at the same time. Mind you we had to wake Ethan up when we took his... so he really is still alseep.

Nana and her Boys


The Samuels (Stephan, Michael, Katie, & David)


Mountain Man (aka. Ethan) Stephan, Katie & David


Katie and David


Unfortunately there were three very sad people left in New Hampshire(Kelly, Rebecca, and Matthew) , and Ethan says he will never be able to come visit without them again... they were very upset. Just a little side note, Kelly and the baby are doing well! It is a girl and she is due March 16th. So we are all very excited. My mom and I passed baby clothes in the store a while back and got excited because now we get to buy girl clothes!

~A Bientot!

A Smorgasbord of Events!

So it was recently brought to my attention that I have not posted on my blog in a long time. I apologize, I have been keeping myself busy reorganizing myself in my new location of Columbia, MO! My Parents bought a house here and so in the new house there was a room for me. So I decided for my semester off I would move home and add Missouri to the list of states I've lived in. Today I started my new job at a preschool and for this week I will be working in the infant room! It was a lot of fun despite being spit up on at least three times, and the babies were all really cute. The place seems really well organized and the people were friendly and nice.

So for updates... lots has happened recently. I had my last few days in Rexburg and Christmas with my roommates who I was very sad to leave.

All of our Stockings!



After bidding farewell to Rexburg I spent a few days in Utah before flying to Missouri. When I got home I spent my time Decorating and shopping for Christmas, filling out job applications, and moving into my new room.

The Decorated Living Room!

My New Room and New Bed!

Christmas Cookies!


For New Years my dad and I flew to Kentucky and spent time with my sister Katie and her family. They boys were so cute and David is really talking now. They are non-stop all the time and always entertaining!

David...2 1/2 Years old!

Stephan 4 1/2 Years old... with his glasses!


So I had a fun filled Holiday, still working on finding people to hang out with here in Columbia but so far it has been pretty good! I'll try and be better at posting more often!
A bientot!