CKSAP 2008 Photo Album is up!

Please find the link to the “CKSAP Photo Album”  on the right navigation bar.

You’ll find lots of pictures taken by CKSAP members and photo archives from last year’s mission.

Check it up!

Group Picture

Here is a picture of the whole CKSAP group with the host families.

Baseball in Japan!

Although Baseball was invented in America, Japan has adapted to the game quite well.  Today I ventured up to the Seibu Dome to see the Seibu Lions take on the Hiroshima Carps.  First of all, the dome is not entirely enclosed, it is really just a roof over the field.  I guess this helps avoid rain-outs during the rainy summer season.  I had a great seat–just behind the 3rd base dugout.  Looking out over the stadium you first notice a sea of red on one side, and a crowd of blue on the other.  The fans are very enthusiastic–chanting and banging together plastic clubs that make lots of noise.  Each team also has a “pep band” to get the crowd going.  Both teams had an American player and the Carps even had an American coach.    One unique thing I noticed was the seventh inning tradition I think they call Lucky Seven.  Just before their team bats in the 7th, instead of singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” almost every fan has 2 very long balloons they inflate and then as soon as the team comes in to bat they all let go of the balloons and let them fly into the sky–what a sight!  The Carps won the game 4-2 and the “closer” (pitcher who comes in at the end of the game to close it out) was given a bouquet of flowers to celebrate his 100th save!  I’ve never seen this done in the U.S.  After the game the fans were allowed to come onto the outfield and play around with their kids.  Since it was Father’s Day the dads were permitted to run the bases!

Mrs. Powell