The trek begins. In two short days we conquered the highest peak in Japan.

This is the greenest it got. Fuji is a volcanoe so not much in the way of vegetation. Beautiful in its own way, though.

We conquered Fuji-but Fuji did its own share of conquering too.

Truer words have never been spoken!

When we drove the the station we would start at we were already in the cloud line. Most of the trek was well above the clouds.

Prayers from folks on the peak.

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

Enjoying the food at the last station. We spent the night on the peak waiting to see the sun break through the clouds the next morning.

It was incredible to see a new day born for the world from what many Japanese consider a Holy place-the peak of Fuji San.

At the top-sweet, sweet victory!!!

A view worth the hike.

Thursday, July 15th, 2004 These pics are from the Mito City Interactive English Forum. Every Junior High in Mito City (15 schools in all) had two students from 8th grade and 2 from 9th grade competing. Both Rachel and I helped train the students from our schools. Three students have to carry a conversation about Family, Friends, Hobbies, or School Life for five minutes at a time for three rounds. These are Rachel's students and Team Teacher (from left to right: Ikezaki Sensei, Yukina, Yurina, Chihiro, Erika, and Rachel). Chihiro, an 8th grade student took home an award and an opportunity to go to the next level. All the students did a great job with a difficult task.

This picture is from my students at Tsunezumi Junior High (front left to right: Miki, Aya; back: Yuki, Soichiro, Rusty, Tomomi, and Kumiko). One 9th grade and one 8th grade student took home an award and a chance to go to the next level of the competition in two weeks. It was cool to see their progress and be a part of it. This moment is one of teachings great rewards

Saturday, July 3rd, 2004 One thing that is actually a little cheaper in Japan is fireworks. We had a blast on Oarai Sun beach, about twenty minutes from our apartment, celebrating Independence Day (albeit a day early) with a barbeque and some fireworks wtih friends.

Saturday, July 10th, 2004 We bid farewell to four AETs (left to right: Jennifer, Shawn and Rachel, and Amy). We sent them off properly and in true Japanese style with a farewell 'karaoke' enkai (party), followed by a second enkai at a nice Italian restaraunt, which in turn was followed by a nice dessert/AET video enkai at the Lj's home. I think we were all enkai-ed out by the end of the day but couldn't have asked for a better time.

Onose Sensei (Our boss-left) and Okazaki Sensei (Her assistant-right) give an ode to the AETs who are wrappin up their time at the end of July. It was really cool of them to come out and sing in front of 20 native English speakers to show their gratitude to the AETs

From left to right: Lj, Shawn, Rusty, Jared, and Greg say "Bye, Bye, Bye" to the parting AETs (Oh, how the cheese oozes in the karaoke joints).

Rachel and Greg do a stunning rendition of 'We Are the World'.