Weiser was host to Team Japan for the Special Olympics. We had the wonderful opportunity to have 2 of the team members stay in our home for 4 days. We were one of the lucky families to get an English speaking coach, which was really a good thing because Azusa would hardly communicate at all. She did say "tank-ew verie much" a lot however!
Shiho was the figure skating coach (the one in the red)
Azusa Teruya was our athlete. She played floor hockey. Every time we took pictures she had to do the peace sign. All of the athletes did! Val Thomason asked her coach what it meant and she looked at Val kinda funny and said "Peace"
This is Shinichi, Takuya and Azusa. The boys were staying down at the neighbors that live on the corner of our street and they came over to our house to see Azusa. I think Takuya was putting the move on Azusa. But she already has a boyfriend on the floor hockey team and was not interested. (she showed us pictures) But she sure liked the attention! They were all so much fun to be around. These 2 boys kept us laughing all through the dinners we ate together. Shinichi would copy everything we said. He got pretty good and mimicking English.
Snipers on the roof of the Idaho Center where the Opening Ceremonies took place. VP Biden was suppose to show but he bailed. Hummm I wonder if that is a sign of things yet to come?
The Olympic Flame!
That was pretty darn awesome. The flamed moved across 37,000 miles, 5 continents and 8 countries to get to Idaho. It started in Athens, Greece November 12th and was carried by law enforcement officers from around the world. It was very moving to see it being carried in by police and then passed on to the Olympians.
The opening Ceremonies were 4 hours long and every minute of it was wonderful. The feeling in the Idaho Center was hard to describe. It was electric as well as humbling. These people carry such a spirit with them and to have over 5000 gathered together, coupled with the spirit of the Olympics was just amazing. Needless to say it was hard to keep your composure though most of the program.
Team Japan is in red and is sitting right under the big screen. Most of us Weiser people were all sitting together and when team Japan saw us they all started waving their scarfs and yelling "Weiza Weiza" We answers back and waved our scarfs as well, but most of us were crying! Steve and I agree that this experience was one of the neatest things we have ever done. We will never forget the wonderful time we had with not only Shiho and Azusa but will all of team Japan. The host families will exchange stories for months to come, (One of the boys Gail Boettcher had stay with her kept running through her house naked! Robert and Nola's boys ate them out of house and home!) but our hearts have been touched forever!
3 comments:
What a neat experience! Looks like we added your family to our blog just in time for some fun updates. Thanks for sharing and glad your wonderful family is doing well!!!
I'm glad you had such a neat experience with the Special Olympics. Now maybe you know why I went into special ed.
what in the world?? an update? has it been a year yet? We are so excited to see your post! looks like you guys had a good time.
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