Orange, New South Wales, Australia - 22nd May 2008
By: sararingham
Hello! My name is Gentle Ben and I'm a friendly bear that wants to make smiles all over the world! I don't like seeing frowns and I'd love to learn more about the world. Like a few of my toyvoyager friends I was adopted at the Salvation Army and now it's my turn to see the world! I've seen my brothers updates and I'm quite excited. Sara says she already knows where she's sending me but she's not going to tell me as it should be a suprise!
Well I'm quite excited so I'm going to jump into my bag and get on my way! I hope the travel doesn't take too long! Take care mommy, I'll check in again soon! :-)
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Posted May 22, 2008, 2:53 am
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Okinawa, Japan - 4th June 2008
By: JaymeC
Wow! My new host Jayme opened me up to tell me I was in Japan! How great, hopefully I can see some shrines and other neat things! She explained to me that she lives on a military base, so its mostly American on base.
Here's me coming out of the bag:
When I arrived it was raining a LOT! Thankfully the bag kept Gracy and I dry, but not so for Jayme's children. They were careful to keep me dry, but wanted to show me how wet they got
Apparently its typhoon season in Okinawa which means there could be a really big storm anytime!
After we got out of the bag Jayme took us to visit with the other toys in her home. None of them are toy voyagers, as Gracy and I are the first toy voyagers to come visit, but they were all very friendly and liked talking!
We'll have many more adventures to update about soon!
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Posted Jun 4, 2008, 5:01 am
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Okinawa, Japan - 13th June 2008
By: JaymeC
Jayme told us we were going somewhere special for a teddy bear rescue today! And we did! First we had to go through a different gate than all the others we'd been through. Jayme says the gates are there for a safety precaution for all the US Bases. When you go through they check your ID if you're affiliated wtih the military or they sign you in if you're not. Today we went to a base called "Camp Lester"
Once we were there Jayme showed us where we'd be going to rescue teddy bears at! The Naval Hospital. Its very pretty for a hospital, they just finished remodeling it a few months ago.
We had to go up to the OB/GYN department and pick up the teddy's to take home. Here we are after we got home! We're excited to mail them onto the Teddy Bear Clinic
We've been very busy helping Jayme pack the last few days. She says we're going to a cabin to go camping! She told me her laptop died, so she won't be able to really update while we're there, but she promises she'll write up a really nice update once we get back. She says the campsite is right next to the beach and we're hoping to go in a glass bottom boat! I hope we have fun and don't get rained out! I'll try to do one more update before we go mommy!
Love,
Gentle Ben
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Posted Jun 13, 2008, 8:47 am
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Okinawa, Japan - 16th June 2008
By: JaymeC
Dear Mommy,
Today we got to squeeze in one last adventure before we left to go camping! When we went to the store the firemen were out in front! They said they were doing a demonstration for carseat safety month (if your children don't have a carseat, be sure to get them one and install it properly everyone!) For the demonstration they cut open a car with the jaws of life. It was very neat.
Here's the firetruck
And here's the car they cut up
Okay I'll write again soon!
Love,
Gentle Ben
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Posted Jun 15, 2008, 9:44 pm
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Okinawa, Japan - 27th June 2008
By: JaymeC
Mommy,
We had an exciting day today! Jayme said she felt bad we'd all had a boring week, but she was so busy studying for finals! Today she had her last final and was so excited. She went to take her final and we got to hang out at her friend's house with her sons (she said she wasn't allowed to take us into the exam room, she'd get in trouble if we made noise). From there she picked us up and we went to go play! We headed to Mona Kids, which is a HUGE indoor play area. It looks really neat from the outside, see!
And here I am inside next to some of the play stuff!
We ended up snacking here and I got my own rice ball, YUM! While we were playing and eating I got to practice my Japanese! I learned Konnichiwa for good afternoon, Domo arigato for thank you, and Hai for yes!
From there we went ahead and headed home. Here I am outside Jayme's home. She was trying to take a picture of the Shisa in the background. That's that dog/lion creature on the building. Those are on most of the homes and businesses in Okinawa in pairs. She said there's a legend behind them, and they one with the open mouth lets the good spirits in while the one with the closed mouths chomps down on the bad spirits!
Once we were home, I got to have a Japanese snack for desert, pocky! mm!
Hopefully we'll have a fun weekend and write lots about it soon!
Love,
Gentle Ben
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Posted Jun 27, 2008, 11:35 am
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Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan - 1st July 2008
By: JaymeC
Dear Mommy,
Today was an exciting day! First we packed up and headed out and we had a teddy bear picnic lunch! It was a simple lunch, but it was nice to eat it outside even though it was very hot.
After lunch, I got to go to work with my host's husband! She said she's kind of boring since she stays home all day, but he works on Camp Foster. He's been in the Marines for a long time, and his work is radio repair. He talked all the guys in his shop into take a picture with me! Don't worry, I know some of them look like they're frowning in the photo, but they're all a bunch of goofballs really.
Jayme says she's almost ready to send me on my way, she just wants to wait til after the July 4th celebrations so I get to see the fireworks. I'm excited, I've never seen fireworks before!
Write more soon,
Gentle Ben
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Posted Jul 1, 2008, 3:02 am
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Kadena Airbase, Japan - 4th July 2008
By: JaymeC
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Posted Jul 4, 2008, 11:03 pm Last edited Jul 4, 2008, 11:03 pm by JaymeC
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