The Big Move

So, the day after my darling cousin Kristie got married, I loaded up everything that would fit in my little Honda Civic, and picked up Kylie for a roadtrip.  We drove to Utah, where I stayed in Mom and Dad's condo for a week while commuting up and down to Provo to look for an apartment.  My sweet friend Jayli was good enough to drive around with me and look for apts.  Finally, after about a week of looking, she said, "Brittney, I feel good about that Heather Cove place."  It was very nice of her to make a decision for me.  So I called them and asked if I could move in that day.  The manager asked if I could wait til 1, then said I was welcome to come on down.  I officially have a new apartment!

I immediately found that my roommate was JUST the new friend I needed to get me involved. 

 Holly is a wonderfully kind roommate, and immediately got me socially involved; like the day I moved in.  Life here in Provo is like one big party!

My new ward seems fantastic and super friendly outside of church and all through the week.  Every night we're outside playing games and sports and going on adventures.

Summer in Provo?  SUPER fun.

Last Day in Japan

This day was amazing. I packed all my things, drug my bags to the train station and rode downtown.  Once there I went to a bus station, where I had a slip of paper the sweet Japanese brother had given me with instructions on what bus to board for my trip to the airport.  I got my ticket, and made my way to the station to wait for the bus.  While waiting, the husband and wife duo appeared out of no where to ensure that I got on the right bus, and that I was on my way.  They are so sweet.  I seriously almost cried as they pulled out a lunch they had packed for me, then spoke to the bus driver when he arrived so he would know where I should be going.  They were so sweet.  We couldn't talk to each other, but the man had memorized (and practiced, I'm sure) a phrase in English to wish me luck and send me on my way.  They were such good people, and I couldn't help but pray gratefully for them to be blessed for their selfless service and interest they took in me and my well being.

The bus ride was a beautiful one, I loved passing the forests with all its amazing trees.  These were trees like I had never seen before in America.  These pictures simply do not do the scenery justice.

What a beautiful place.  I hope someday to go back.

Monday in Japan

On our last day together, Tiff and I caught a train into town after work, went to a way yummy bakery place and got all the baked goods we could hands, then wandered around downtown. 

 I love fountains!  Cats; not so much.

 It's embarrassing how many times I had to run back and forth to take this picture before I finally balanced myself with one foot up there.... Embarrassing.

 The ACT City Tower.  It's famous.  And it's built to look like an instrument.  Can you guess what instrument?  It took me an embarrassingly long time to guess...  I guess it was just one of those days...

 Chomp chomp chomp...  I happen to love this picture.  And this vicious pacman.

 Aren't those stairs cool?  I think those stairs are really cool.

 Once again, downtown is famous for music.

Sunday in Japan

 Church was so much fun!  I had resigned myself to the fact that I would not understand a word of the three hours, but in RS (which is first) I met a Spanish speaking family!!  What a neat thing!  They were from Cali, and were happy to hear that I had served Spanish-speaking in Oakland.  They invited me to a "Spanish" Sunday School class that they hold.  It turned out the the teacher spoke Portuguese.  I was surprised at how much I understood of his lesson.  It was way fun.

In Sacrament, they announced from the pulpit that I was visiting from the U.S.  I felt a little conspicuous, but survived the attention... :)  It turned out that the Brazilian man who taught my SS class also spoke in Sacrament, so I was able to get a little out of that meeting as well; mostly just that he loved his family...  

The same couple and woman who had taken us out yesterday had set aside the rest of the day to take us out again.  When we were talking, I realized that they had circled on their calendar all of the days that I would be in town.  They were so kind!!! They took us on a long drive, and we toured the countryside.

I love these homes; they're just so authentic and beautiful!

On our drive we past the ocean, and out the window we saw these stakes coming up out of the water.  I think we decided they were some sort of traps.  They looked cool, whatever they were.

We passed over a neat bridge; keep in mind that the people I was with spoke no English, and I spoke ZERO Japanese, so I really didn't know what was going on most of the time.  But it was so fun!

What can I say? I like bridges: 

 Me and the Tiff on our little roadtrip to who knows where

 They packed us a picnic lunch!!!  But it was raining too hard to get out of the car.

 We stopped at another checkpoint; apparently a tourist hotspot this trip ;)

Tiffani the docent

Real samurai armor

The people who worked there really liked us, so they let us past the "do not cross" line to take a picture from inside the display.

 So; you wanna be a samurai?

 I can't actually remember what this is or why I'm making that face...

 Admiring the really really big guns.

 I could be wrong, but it looks to me like Tiffani is pretending like she knows what's going on...?

Next we went to an old fashioned hotel

This was a... warming station? 

 Here's where you leave your... shoes

 The lovely porch view

 Listening to the rain through a bamboo shoot.  

 Sliding Japanese doors.  In Japan. Imagine that :)

Saturday in Japan

These darling families adopted Tiffani and I, inviting us for lunch.  This meal was amazing.  SO MUCH FOOD!  And it was all so yummy!  

Except for this weird prune-looking thing that ended up tasting like straight up salt in mass quantities....  They all laughed as they watched me try it; usually a sure sign you won't enjoy what you're about to eat.

We weren't sure what was happening after the meal, but then they took us on an adventure!

 We went to these famous caverns that I was hoping we could go see while I was there.

 Aren't they so darling??

Tiff and I took advantage of the picture moment...

 Some interesting places where I made the darling Tiffani pose...

 Stay with your buddy...

 Fountain of Heaven's Blessings; I want to go back!

In the gift shop, I found a display of my new man.  Oh, what a girl wants.

Outside there was a well, where you could dip your feet.  I enjoyed the sign before enjoying foot water within about 5minutes.

It was really cold; I'm not gonna lie.

Additionally, there was a little swap meet sort of area.  I was looking at the display above the well while everyone else shopped for grapefruit peelers.

 Next we went to a check point along one of the main roads of ancient Japan:

Don't we make such beautiful Japanese women??

And... men...?

 Tiffani was chosen for the mandatory gender check...

 Princess Carriages!

 I like the purple interior...

 The view from the second floor of the checkpoint:

 Then we went to the sea!