What's New in May and June, 1999
Gilroy
The family visited Gilroy because there is a big outlet mall. The mall has about 150 stores. Junko liked Eddie Bauer, Takeshi and Haruka were happy to visit Nike Factory Shop(Left).
The family visited Yamato Hot Springs near the mall also. By the explanation of the owner, whom they met at the parking area, the Hot Springs was a place for Japanese Americans and Japanese residents in 50 years. There are two indoor bathes(for man and woman), two jacuzzies(hot and warm) and a picnic area. As current facility is old and not enough, the owner is planning to restore the resort in the near future. They didn't enter the springs, but enjoyed a short trail in the picnic area(Right).
Sports
The family has a membership of YMCA, so that they sometimes utilize the facility(Left). Takeshi and Haruka like to play basket ball at their gymnagium and swimming in their pool. Junko likes to utilize a running machine, but Toru doesn't use the priviledge of the membership enough.
The Japanese school, where Haruka is learning Math., Japanese Language and Science using Japanese textbook on every Monday and Weddnesday after the domestic school, had a sport day for the students and their family. The family enjoyed the "Japanese style" much(Right).
Drive(Takeshi) & Drama(Haruka)
In California, the student reached 16 years can get a driver license, so that there are some students going to school by their own car. After learning the rules of the driving, Takeshi passed the paper examination of DMV last year. After that, he also learned the driving technique at the school. Also he started the driving exercise with his parents beside him(Left). If he cleared 60 hours exercise with the parents without accidents, he can have the driving examination of DMV. He will try to get the license by the end of the summer holidays.
Haruka took the class of Drama in the middle school and the "Cinderella" was performed at the last of the semester. Haruka played the roll of page and spoke the words, of course English words. From the left, Haruka, queen, king, prince, mother of Cinderella and 2 sisters of Cinderella(Right).
Visit of a cousin's family
A Toru's cousin visited their house with her husband from Washington State. They enjoyed San Francisco and Sausalito. In San Francisco, the two families enjoyed the famous Cable Car. Sausalito is a mini-resort of San Franciscan and has a taste of Mediterranean. They walked around the narrow pathes near the sea coast to feel the atomosphere and took the lunch at the restaurant floating on the sea. The photo was taken at the slope from the plaza near Ferry terminal to the old church where a wedding ceremony was just happened.
17 mile drive and Carmel
The family had a one night trip to Carmel. This photo was taken at the Lovers Point in Pacific Grove. Beautiful park with flowers and cypress.
From Pacific Grove to Carmel, they took a scenic drive course "17 Mile Drive". The famous "Lone Cypress" was not so impressive for them because it was a type of Japanese scenary. Instead of that, they enjoyed beautiful flowers at "China Rock"(Left) and many Seals at "Cypress Point"(Right).
Carmel was a old small town. The meaning of Carmel in California may be Kamakura in Japan, at that time San Francisco may be thought as Kyoto, Los Angels as Tokyo. Anyway, all the stores in Carmel were charming and beautiful decorated by flowers. Carmel Plaza was also fullfilled by colorful flowers and green leaves(Left), even the trash can was decorated by flowers. Carmel Mission is old but has good atomosphere(Right). Fortunately they could see a wedding ceremony at the church, the performance of the pipe organ was so good.