Today, we went on a little nature hike through Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge and saw lots of geese. We wandered around the refuge through the wetlands hoping to see a moose, but had no such luck probably because there are many people hiking and running through the area. The moose come out at night when fewer people are around and it’s beginning to get dark. Sunset doesn’t come to Fairbanks right now until just before 8pm. After hiking around there for about 2 hours, we got back in the 2011 Chevy Suburban I’m driving around (an Avis upgrade from the mini-van I had...

At Hashimoto Elementary now with Noah as we wait to walk in the Yawata city parade with the Hashimoto Elementary baseball team. After that, we have practice and then out for all-you-can-eat yakiniki dinner with the team. Update: We walked around Yawata for about 45 minutes or so through the Hashimoto area up the mountain and back down to the school. As we walked, many people came outside their homes and greeted us. It wasn’t anything like parades back in America where businesses, schools or organizations ride around through town on floats they’ve made, march and/or play music to show the...