We loved having a visit from Mari, our former exchange student from Japan, along with her mother (Yachiyo) and daughter (Haruwa). Mari lived with us during the school year of 1988-1989.
Sightseeing with Mari on a drive through Payson Canyon
to show her the mountain scenery near where we live.
(Mari and me)
Fiesta Days in Spanish Fork
Mari flew into Salt Lake City on August 13th
with her mother, Yachiyo, and daughter, Haruwa.
They were good sports and were willing to go to the
Spanish Fork rodeo that evening for a new experience.
(front: Yachiyo, Haruwa, and Mari;
back: Beth, Rebecca, Amanda, Joshua, Megan, and Ethan)
Saddle Bronc Riding
Bull Riding
The next day, we went back to the fairgrounds
to see more of the exhibits and attractions
at Fiesta Days.
(Rebecca, Beth, Yachiyo, Haruwa, Mari,
Amanda, Megan, and Ethan)
Yachiyo likes horses.
(Yachiyo, Haruwa, and Mari)
4-H sheep ready to show at the fair.
(Yachiyo, Mari, and Haruwa)
The albino python didn't seem to mind being the
center of attention following the nature show.
It was lethargic, very long, and not scary;
and all of the kids wanted to touch it.
I didn't care to, however.
(Amanda and Megan)
Enjoying Our Time Together
Lucky Rebecca! Mari gave her the first kimono
Mari had when she was a little girl.
Ready for the photo.
Ethan modeling the Happi Coat
Mari gave the boys.
Yachiyo and Haruwa folding origami creations.
Mari getting ready to do Kanji writing.
She created a poster for us with characters meaning Love.
Mari had other gifts for us and Beth's family.
Ethan and Mari are trying out one of the gifts.
Yachiyo entertained us with songs played on her flute.
(Haruwa, Mari, Rebecca, Beth, and Yachiyo)
We also shared some of our culture,
as we watched a preseason BYU scrimmage game.
However, it was a hot afternoon,
so we left early and appreciated getting
ice cream cones at the BYU Creamery.
Mari and her mother made a Japanese meal.
We appreciated eating once again
Mari's Korakke, a favorite from the time she lived with us.
"Sisters" enjoying a reunion.
Photo taken in Todd and Beth's backyard
by one of their fruit trees.
(Beth and Mari)
Mari by the Payson Temple
where Sam and I serve each Tuesday.
Flowers by the temple.
(Mari)
We also went to Salt Lake City and toured Temple Square.
This is a view of the Salt Lake Temple taken
from the Conference Center.
Sam and I were married in this temple.
A fun photo taken in the LDS Family History Center
(Narene, Megan, Ethan, Amanda, Haruwa, Joshua,
Mari, Beth, Sam, Yachiyo, and Rebecca)
From Salt Lake City, we went to Doug and Shannon's home in Layton.
Shannon prepared a nice spaghetti and meatball meal
ending with a yummy peach cobbler dessert.
(Brynlee, Haruwa, Beth, Rebecca Ethan, Doug, Shannon, and Mason)
That evening (August 17), accompanied with some tears,
we said our goodbyes to Mari, Yachiyo, and Haruwa;
and they stayed overnight at Doug and Shannon's.
Shannon took them to the airport the next morning for their return flight to Japan
via a stopover visit with another friend in Vancouver, Canada.
We appreciate Mari's visit and have enjoyed keeping in touch with her through the years since her senior year at Bennett County High School.
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We also have happy memories of the other exchange students we hosted:
Jordi de las Moras Maso (1987-88) - Spain
Mari Shimizu [Hanatsumi] (1988-89) - Japan
Nicole Sepp (1989-90) - Germany
Nigel Parkin (1990-91) - England
Vuk Andrejevic (1991-92) - Yugoslavia, now Serbia
Jairo Fraile Lopez (1992-93) - Spain
Masanobu Yamada (1994-95) - Japan
Rene Roth (1997-98) - Germany
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Can You Tell I Like Sunsets!
Another one as seen from our front door.
