Camp Champions Blog

Here is my second set of Tokyo observations.

As we leave the most populous metropolitan area in the world, I would like to take this chance to process my impressions. These are not highly organized and are certainly not researched. These are just observations – some informed by our excellent guide and friend Altus and others more off-the-cuff. 

In our last full day in Tokyo, I feel like we got a sampling of all the things I have already told you about.  We got some culture and some costumes. 

I feel like there are so many sophisticated observations about Japan and Tokyo that I should be sharing. We have seen gardens with subtle beauty. We have eaten some wonderful food. We have learned about an intriguing culture from a man who lived here for years.

I have always felt deeply blessed. I have a fun and healthy family. I love what I do. Our family is fortunate to be born at the most peaceful and comfortable time in history in the most successful country in the world.

When we travel, we often have to make a difficult choice – do we find someone to translate and make suggestions or do we improvise our way through a country? In some cases (like Tanzania), the decision is made for us. You simply cannot go on safari without a guide. But other places, one can generally navigate and communicate with a few good books, simple English, lots of patience and a sense of humor.

I have so much I want to share about our time in Japan, but at least one tale must be told. 

A good friend of mine named Mary Kay Park asked me to write a pair of blogs for a radio station/website she manages in Los Angeles. I had told her about our previous trip and this one as well. She found this fascinating, if not crazy. Since we also both served on the National Board of the American Camp Association, she knew about my passion about summer camp.

My children will find this hard to believe.

When asking campers about their favorite camp memories, you get a myriad of responses. Many campers talk about the exciting activities they participated in, such as the Pirate Ship or water skiing. Some campers discuss things they accomplished while at camp, like climbing to the top of the rock wall, or making Jam Session (the camp dance team that campers try out for). Other times, campers rave that the camp meals were the most memorable part of their summer. Who knew that corn dogs and macaroni could be so unforgettable?