Farewell, host family

This photo, taken at the farewell party, was posted early this morning. We've attended the farewell party both times when we hosted and the students stand in front of everyone and tell about their trip, thank their family, etc. There are lots of tears. It's amazing how attached you can become when someone is in your home for a mere two weeks. The trick is that the Japanese students here have to deliver the spech in whatever English they know, so I'm sure it was tricky for B to thank his family using the Japanese he knows. It makes for some funny moments. Now it's on to Tokyo for the group and he'll be home Wednesday. Can't wait to hear all about his trip!

Andy and I went to pick E up yesterday afternoon from her stint at the college's engineering camp. We saw this hot-air balloon the minute we pulled off the highway into Champaign. You don't see that every day. During the week, E lucked out when she ran across a sale of ECE stuff and bought this $44 jacket for $10. She also got a shirt for $3.

She also sent this photo:

It's a testing room for antennas and it's non-echoing. I guess she thought was was pretty neat. She said she had a good week with her newlywed cousin and his bride.