September, 2005 Issue
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　Susie went on a bus tour to Enryaku-ji temple, a world heritage, and the Garden Museum with RIFA members. She deepened friendships with her host family and citizens, experiencing Japanese culture and Japan’s summer at the same time.
　I seemed to take everyone, old friends of course, not so long to be friends with Susie having such a nice character. To take examples, she admired about the history of 1200 years (in the temple), smiled at the robot Claude Monet, French impressionist(at Garden Museum), and was moved by the beautifulness of lotus flowers they saw on their way back to the city hall.

Susie strikes the bell
At Garden Museum.
In front of lotus flowers.
Sightseeing in Ritto with RIFA’s committees
　On the 19th, Susie visited the ancient pharmacy head office, Wachusan-honpo, and Ritto Environment Center and listened intently to the stories on both old and new Ritto. She learned about the garbage processing, watching the video in English and asked zealously if the videotape would be for sale. At a okonomi-yaki restaurant, she admired the master’s skill and seemd to come to like the taste of okonomi-yaki. After that she experienced calligraphy lesson and wrote tomo, friends in English

At the old Wachusan -honpo.
Okonimiyai is added to her favorite.

Sightseeing in Shigaraki with Her Host Family and Parties with Old Friends
　She enjoyed making a pottery work with the Miyagis, and after the goodwill mission program, she returned to Ritto City and deepened friendships with the people whom she had accepted in her house.

Hot Summer with people’s zeal Continues!
　The Ritto citizen-oriented summer festival was held around the city hall and on the street named Icho-dori from Tehara Station to the city hall. Streamers for the festival were conspicuously put, and stands attracted people, and the area was filled with people, all of which made the festival liven up. The parade started around three o’clock, led by the baton twirling group of Ritsumeikan University. The Peruvian dance team Mi Peru that had participated in the parade last year performed on the stage supported by RIFA. They appeared to be fitting more and more in the festival, and drew attention from the audience with their Peruvian dancing more genuine and showy than last year.
　RIFA’s committees worked hard in the RIFA’s booth as the second year. It was bustled with people who watched pictures on exhibit, who took paper on RIFA, and who asked about RIFA. Hope to let it liven up more next year.

Peruvian dance attracted the crowd.

 RIFA’s booth

　

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Translated by Michiko Kitayoshi