My dad has found this box from somewhere in the house. It is a metal container that came with sweets. When I was young, I was using it as storage for my various hair ties. When I opened it, many memories were untangled and surfaced. My mom (and sometimes dad) used to comb my long hair every morning and braided so nicely.
この箱をお父さんがどこからか見つけてきました。お菓子の入っていたメタルの箱です。私が小さかったとき、この箱に色々な髪飾り（髪ゴム）を入れていました。開けたとき、沢山の思い出がほつれて思い出されました。小さいときは、お母さん（時にはお父さんが）毎朝私の長い髪を櫛でといて、三つ編みをしてくれていましたっけ。
The first dinner at home was Kamaage Udon! My favorite! When I told my mom that I was coming home for a week before going to India, she asked me if there was anything I wanted to eat, so I said, “Kamaage Udon!” It simply means udon that is just taken out of kama (pot) after being cooked. My mom puts lots of shredded ginger and Myoga, which I love.
家での最初の夕飯は釜揚げうどんでした。私の大好物！母にインド行く前に1週間だけだけど日本に帰ると伝えたとき、「日本で何食べたい？」と聞かれ、「釜揚げうどん！」と即答したほど食べたかった。母は大好きな生姜とミョウガをたっぷり入れてくれます。
An example of what I get to have at home. I wish I could take my mom back to Maui with me.
ある日の夕飯。お母さんにマウイに同行してもらいたいくらい。
My mom and I had a lunch date at a restaurant called SOHSOH one day. Their lunch was yummy! My mom has become a regular customer.
JR松山駅前にあるSOHSOHというレストランで母とデートランチ。定食が美味しかった！母は常連らしい（笑）。
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You can ring this cute bell to request a waitress or a waiter.
こんなかわいいベルを鳴らして、お店の方を呼びます。
I have never seen a questionnaire at any restaurant in the U.S. In Japan, you would see this at many restaurants. You can grade their services in different aspects and write comments if you like. Restaurants really appreciate your inputs.
アメリカでは一度も見た事のない、レストランでのアンケート紙。何でだろう。
An example of Japanese bento (lunch box) I found in a magazine.
雑誌に載っていたあるお弁当。
I also got to see Chikage. She helped me tremendously when I first came to Maui. I felt assured and safe just knowing that she was on the island (she was a college student at that time). Her English was beautiful, and she looked like she was totally comfortable living in a foreign country. I used to think, “I want to speak like Chikage. I want to enjoy Maui life like she does.” She was my model. Chikage now lives in Japan and has married and gave birth to a son 4 months ago. His son’s name is Kou, and the Chinese character of the name means to restore. I thought that it is such a great name for this era. I was happy to be able to see her after some years of not being able to see her.
千景さんとも会う事ができました。千景さんと千景ママは私が初めてマウイに来た頃にとてもお世話になった方。千景さんがマウイにいる（その頃千景さんは学生だった）というだけで、心強く思えたのでした。英語もすごく上手で、マウイの生活にすっかり馴染んでいて「私も千景さんみたいに話せるようになって、有意義なマウイライフを送るぞ！」と思ったものです。私にとっては憧れの存在でした。そんな千景さんもご結婚されて、長男が４ヶ月前に生まれました。興（こう）くんという今の世の中にぴったりと思われる名前です。久しぶりに会えて嬉しかったです。
During this short stay (only 7 days) in Japan, my body was yarning to move and dance, so I rented a dance studio in Matsuyama to practice on my own. I felt much better after dancing. It restored my balance.
この短い日本滞在の間（７日間）、 私の体は動きたくて、踊りたくてうずうずしていました。なので松山のあるダンススタジオでフロアをレンタルして、自己練習してきました。踊ったらすっきりしました。バランスを取り戻した感じ。
I think that Japan has many small, cute things, like these erasers. I found them at a 100 Yen shop and couldn’t resist buying as souvenirs for my students.
日本にはかわいい小さいものが沢山あると思う。この消しゴムとかも。100円ショップで見かけてつい買っちゃいました。マウイの教え子達のお土産に。
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