The arrival of the parents

I recall a few months before my mom and dad saying they could find their way to Okayama, and I would pick them up there. HAHA. I picked them up at the airport since this was my mom's first time out of the country properly besides Canada. We lugged the bags to the shinkansen, but dad had to use the toilet. He didn't feel like aiming into a hole in the ground so he held it.

We took the unreserved seats and all sat apart from each other for the 45 minute ride to the OKC. It felt like we were the only ones with bags.

Once arriving in Okayama, we strategically placed the luggage into my tiny tiny car and put my mom underneath it in the back seat. She fell asleep on the way home.

The house was mighty cold and a welcoming experience for them. I got the heat on in my tatami room so we all could sleep nice and warm.

The next morning was like Christmas. I got great goodies from everyone along with some warm clothes and a blanket my mom had sewn.

The only thing I had planned for them that day was to make soba. They learned a few words like arrigato. I think i gave them 5 words to practice and it was 4 too many. After that we toodled around my area and walked to a waterfall. It is a little creepy since the sun doesn't get back there, so what did I do, I brought my parents. They enjoyed it I think.
Mom and Dad comparing noodle sizes.

Mom and Dad at the waterfall.

That night my neighbors invited us over for suki yaki.

The next day we went to a couple of my schools and had a tea ceremony, learned caligraphy, and my dad found out how much of a giant he was. Mom got to see what kindergarten classes look like over here.

Working hard

Kindergarten room and tea ceremony goers.

Giants!

The nurses room for the sickies. The Kyoto got a kick out of us.