Hi everyone!! First of all let me wish you an excellent 2012!!! Let’s make it happy and fun!!! :D Let me tell you (very quickly) about what happened before traveling to Tohoku!!!
After the cold and first warm days in Tokyo it was time to finish my voluntary programs from ICYE in the city.
I had 2 final volunteer projects in Tokyo, one of them was with ECO-League, an independent organization dedicated to execute environmental care plans, recycling, ecological campaigns in universities and related tasks. With the help of Fukushima San and Shinohara San (they were very nice guys) I did some office work at the association. My time in ECO-League was short and I could met some very nice people here! This is the leader of the organization… Fukushima San!! :D
The first time I visited Yokohama was during a trip with Mirai. It was a great and very special day for me!! The perfect company and the city’s atmosphere made me fall in love with the place, one of the best spots of Japan for me!! That day we simply walked around the city and harbor area, we also visited China town where I took this photos…
Shortly after this first visit I was assigned with a new voluntary project from ICYE here, this news made me very happy!! The work in Yokohama was related to website programming adjustments for CITYNET, a non-profit organization dedicated to share urban planning information in the Asian region. Work here was very nice, even the 1-hour train trips to get to the office were very fun. In the organization, Sonya was my guide for the tasks I had to do with the site. Also, I met some very nice friends at CITYNET and it was interesting to work in an organization where the staff was not mainly Japanese. Here are some photos with the people from the office on my final work day at CITYNET, we went for a nice lunch… :)
I could also make some final shots from Yokohama on that final work day. After the project with CITYNET I was in Yokohama a couple of times with Jan but we only went for some drinks. I could never ride the huge Ferris Wheel or visit the city’s Hard Rock Cafe with Satoshi, this 2 things are added to my TO DO list when I go back… Yokohama was great!!!
Some days after we had the final ICYE seminar at the Tokyo Olympic Village. I had some time without meeting some people from ICYE and we had a nice gathering. The exchanges (Jan, Sabina and me) talked about the whole volunteer experience, we received the volunteer work certificate from ICYE and we had a nice and funny farewell party… :)
After a few earthquakes per day at the Olympic Village I had everything ready to leave Tokyo and ride a 8-hour bus to Tohoku. My final volunteer project in the Tsunami-affected area was about to begin, and it was going to be a unique experience…
Next post: they way and arrival to Morioka and Yamadamachi :D !!! I hope you are happy!!!
