Japanese treats

These are the snacks Ai brought from Japan for our family. We haven't yet opened the bags that look like crackers, but we're well on our way to finishing the KitKats. They taste pretty the same as the ones we have here.

E and Ai went downtown with a group of Japanese students and their hosts today. They met at the Green Line El and went into the city, switching to the Metra to get to the Museum of Science & Industry. Fortunately, one of the senior girls knew her way around the city on public transportation and was able to get them all the student rate. At the museum, the girl was asked if she was part of a school group and she said, "Sure." Although Illinois residents get in free on Mondays, the clerk let everyone (including the Japanese students who they were fearing it was going to be hard convincing anyone they lived in the state) free, giving the students plenty of money to pay for the $1 coat check! They had lunch at the museum then headed to State Street for some shopping at Nordstrom Rack, H&M and Forever 21. Ai bought a few pieces of clothing. Coming home, the group split into two - the "south siders" going on the Blue Line (E and Ai in that group) and the others on the Green Line. They got home about 7 p.m., just in time for dinner.