Claire's Visit to Japan!

James and I were very excited that our sister-in-law Claire decided to hop over from Osan and visit for a week before we left Japan. She and Jon were stationed in Misawa before we arrived and so she still has friends and several favorite shops and restaurants that she wanted to visit. More importantly, she wanted to be there for my baby shower, which was really special!!

Unfortunately, since her visit coincided with my last big work week and immediately preceeded our move, James and I were really busy and unable to host her in our house. So Claire stayed with our good friend Laurie Clark, who lives just across the street. The Clarks and (other) Wentzels went through pilot training together and have been good friends ever since. It was such a blessing to have someone willing to hang out with Claire and drive her around when we were too busy.

Hectic schedule aside, it was really great having her here right at the end of our time in Japan because she introduced us to several restaurants we had always heard of but never tried. It gave us the incentive to get out the gate and make the most of our final weeks. She was also a big help on those days when I was too busy to clean or cook. Sometimes having family around to lend a helping hand is just what the doctor ordered!

First meal - Sapporo Ramen with Laurie. The homemade noodles were delicious!!

It only took us 3 years, but James and I can finally say we have stopped at the egg vending machine. Yes, everything comes in vending machines here.

Claire went with me to my final Misawa Officer's Spouses' Club meeting. The theme was Mardi Gras

Me with some of my fellow Samurai MOSC members

Being officially farewelled

Claire volunteered to be dressed as our table's Mardi Gras Queen. We were given a bag of strange items and only had 10 minutes to turn them into a Mardi Gras outfit. One of the items was a roll of toilet paper. We named her queen Charmin, the Ultra Soft.

All of the different contestants. I thought Claire was the most chic. Too bad she didn't win.

On Friday, we drove to the near by town of Towada and had lunch at a beautiful organic restaurant right next to a blueberry patch with Claire's good Japanese friend Emiko. We all sat on the floor around a giant table made of old doors and enjoyed a very Japanese meal. It was a great final experience in Japan!



Traditional basket lunch - beautiful presentation, often strange flavors

Claire and Emiko displaying the gift Claire presented to her friend. The photo was taken on one of their adventures!

Me and my good friends, enjoying some final quality time together

The final big thing Claire did while in town was attend my baby shower, but I'll save all those photos for a separate post. =^) It was hard to see her go on Monday morning, but thankfully the good bye was only temporary. She and Jon will be in California when we stop through to visit family on our way to SOS!! More fun family reunions ahead!