Today, I had to go to Osaka with Tomo to Youth Gathering, a time when the delegates from 4-H and Canada programs get together with LABO kids and play games, sing songs, and have fun.
I was responsible for teaching and leading the songs for the LABO children. There were about 50 kids! I taught them 'The Princess Pat' and 'The Green Frog Song'. I had the opportunity to hang out with my 4-H friends who I traveled with the first couple of days of my trip, so that was nice.
After the gathering, I went home with an 11 year old girl named Haruna, who is in Tomo and Yuri's LABO Party, Sakamoto. We rode the train and Haruna knew exactly when to get off. Children, even younger than Haruna are given a tremendous amount of responsibility and have the trust of their parents from a young age.
I had dinner at her house with her mother, father, and brother, Kazushi. The family spent a year in California because the Dad's works transferred him there for a short time. Haruna's father is also vegetarian (very,very,very unusual in Japan!)
We had all of my favorite Japanese foods for dinner- Maki Zushi (make-your-own roll sushi with avacoda, cucumber and raw fish), Tempura (okra, sweet potato, peppers, eggplant) and Chirashi Zushi.
It was incredibly delicious!
The family spoke near-perfect english, even Haruna!
After dinner we went outside into the small neighborhood street to do fireworks!
When we came back inside, Haruna's mom had yellow watermelon, peaches, and edamame for us to eat :)