FLY AWAY HOME

No, we're not coming home, yet. William is still in school, so he and I are here while Tim is in the states. William's class had a field trip today. We went to have a picnic and look for bugs.

That's William in the turquoise shirt. In Japan, the kids raise their hands to show their intent to cross the street. It's a nice signal to drivers that they aren't just hanging out, but they want to cross. I think it helps the drivers see the short people, since the hand in the air raises the visibility.
Our first bugs were bees, which created quite a screaming outburst from the kids.
After lunch, we started looking under bushes and in trees and found...
rolly-pollies. Okay, I'm sure that's not the species classification for them, but that's what they call them here. Back home, we called them 'pill bugs.' The kinds that roll up into balls.
Do you see it? (No, not the guy doing Navy required PT, although he's the same color.
Yep, it's a Japanese lady bug on the pine tree. It kinda looks like it has a daruma face.
These butterflies are everywhere here. One of the kids went to touch it, so this is the best picture I got.
Earth worms are suicidal here in Japan. Since they can't seem to get to train platforms, you'll see them trying to cross concrete during the day. They dry up, and by our house, the ants take them away. Ms. Prior is showing the kids this one.
One of the highlights of the day was the ladybug release. The kids 'raised' these. I love the little domed house they lived in!
If you double-click to enlarge, you can see William 'training' his ladybug. Actually, the ladybug was going to higher ground before she flew away home.
Going up...
Higher...
It had to have tickled, but William kept really still.
In his hair.
At least it was easy for the other kids to see. It eventually flew away and landed on a rock in the middle of a turtle pond.
The butterfly release was more humane than the one from William's preschool, where the butterflies flew away, and birds swooped down and ate them.
The kids are enraptured at the prospect of the butterflies being free.
Happiness and excitement at the event.
Double-click, and you'll see the next butterfly flying away. I circled and labelled. It was so cool that this shot turned out so well with my small little red camera!

They'd raised 'Painted Lady' butterfies. Please enjoy the video!