January 16: Naha, Okinawa Day 2

Today we went down for the breakfast buffet at about 6:30 and then we went back to the room and Christal and I took a nap with Luke until about 9. Uncle Dan came at about 10 to pick us up and take us to church in Yonabaru. At church Luke got to meet a lot of people. Ai’s parents, uncles and grandfather were all there as well as Auntie Susie Mackey’s mother. Somehow I stayed awake through the whole service even though I couldn’t understand anything, go figure. After church we stayed for potluck and had takikomi gohan (rice cooked with various ingredients), sautéed winter melon and soup.

With Miyoko Miyagi (Ai's Mom)

After potluck Christal, her step-grandmother, Luke and I went to a hospital close to Yonabaru to see Christal’s biological grandfather so that Luke could meet his hi-ojiichan. Even though he has been suffering dementia and apparently some days he doesn’t really remember his family he seemed to remember both Christal and me, which was a little bit surprising. He really lit up when he saw Luke and had a huge smile on his face. Towards the end of the visit he started to get emotional and Christal thought he may have realized that something happened to Obaachan Masumi.

Luke, Biological Hi-Ojiichan & Step-Hi-Obaachan

When we were finished visiting with hi-ojiichan we dropped off hi-obaachan at her house and then uncle Dan took us to his and auntie Tokimi’s house where we met up with Auntie Tokimi and Julia/Manami. From their house we went to the nursing home where Christal’s biological grandmother and step-grandfather were at. We visited with both of them and they were both very happy to meet Luke. Hi-obaachan even told us to leave him with her while we went and got dinner.

Luke & Biological Hi-Obaachan

Luke & Step-Hi-Ojiichan

 Next we went to a hotel buffet in the area for dinner. Auntie Tokimi picked up Hayato/Joshua and dropped him off at the restaurant and so uncle Dan, Julia, Joshua, Christal and I all ate at there. The buffet was pretty good, and the highlight was the snow crab legs. While I was picking the crab legs Julia and Joshua watched me and seemed to be impressed with how I was doing it. Julia eventually decided to try them for the first time and I think it frustrated her a little bit trying to get to the meat. When we finished with dinner uncle Dan dropped Julia and Joshua off at home and then we picked up Makoto/Jonathan on our way back to the hotel. By the time we got back to the hotel it was about 11:40 pm and Christal and I were completely beat. Poor Luke had been sleeping since we left the restaurant and went to bed without a bath for the second night in a row.

With Hayato & Manami