good morning. 3 years ago was the first time seth came to japan. he came with tony who hasn’t been here since the early 80’s. this past spring was isaiah’s first time to japan. this trip was kelia’s first trip to japan and tammy’s second time since the last time she came with tony in the early 80’s. everything is new to them like how it was new to me. i didn’t want to miss the chance of the experiences they would have in this beautiful country and i didn’t. just to see their eyes, facial expressions, and laughs is pretty funny. they look like little babies that just came into the world. on this trip, i can see kelia growing pretty fast. until this trip, i haven’t heard any of her dreams from her before. since the time she landed in japan, i’ve heard them all. “i want to live in japan, i want to model, i want to win the world championship, i want to speak japanese, i want to do this…. i want to do that….” hearing that makes me so happy. being stuck in hawaii your whole life keeps your dreams limited. why? because it’s so small. but once you leave hawaii, your eyes open up to the world and your young brain can’t stop absorbing everything that happens around you. on my first trip to japan back in 1990, i had some of the very same dreams kelia has now. so don’t be surprised if kelia is speaking fluent japanese and living in japan next year. once she sets her mind at something, she can do it. that, i know…. go-kelia!!!
check out my self portrait shot from my fisheye lens in izu. blue skies and white teeth…. everybody so happy!!!
when ever we go to little towns and pass by little villages, my sister keeps on saying, “wow, grandma would have loved it here.” yes, i always feel the same way. the japanese culture was taught to us by our grandparents. eating mochi soup on new years, picking fish off the bones of little fish, eating natto, using the chopsticks, hearing the words “urusai” or “bakatare”, and this, the kimono…. if my grandmothers were still alive to see this, they would cry. but unfortunately, their not, so i’ll cry for them….. ahhhhh……
**well, i had a wonderful trip with tammy, kelia, and isaiah. we explored, we experienced, and most of all, we bonded. by traveling on this trip with tammy, isaiah, and kelia, we’ve become much closer to each other. we all worked hard and all understand that living a life as a pro surfer or aspiring pro surfer is hard work. we take nothing for granted and appreciate our lives a lot more now.
**we all want to thank each and every one of you we met along the way. we appreciate everything you’ve done from the bottom of our hearts. until we meet again…. mata ne…..
