How time flies! Already more than one month passed since I back home. However, I will never never forget those 40 days with you-Orientation in Ueda city, Nagano, the Peace discussion in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the last week shopping and BBQ in Kumamoto. The week in Hiroshima was so impressive, whenever I see the photos, I will suddenly be thrown back to that city and recalled all the memory we together. This photo reminded me that Peace Ceremony night, I and Vito walked along the river-seeing all the lamps with warm wishes-that moment I asked myself, how difficult it was to create the world peace…

As Els mentioned, talking to the survivor was truly touching. Along with the museum-visiting and our discussions. That was a very good start for all of us–inspired everyone to think about what we can do and what we need to do at the moment, at this stage.

Now at home I can’t stop checking this blog and catch up with the group. I miss the life on the road very much. I wish I would go back and experience everything again.

Have fun and enjoy the last 10 days guys, I miss you!
Hugs from Beijing
love, Mary

i am glad to read you are enjoying Japan. It’s even more of a pleasure to read you had the chance to stay in Hiroshima and feel the impact of war and the atomic bomb. I had the chance to be there in 2005 and i can not express how much of an impact it had on me. I remember the survivor we spoke to, told us she was telling her story to us, because she wanted us to retell it to anyone we know. I still often do and still have the picture of Sadako on my computer screen, so i get remembered by it every day. I hope you guys will tell the story to as many people as possible as well, so that eventually the world will get free from atomic bombs.

I just wanted to let you guys know this… but I know for sure that your tour will be also filled with happy (historical) emotional events. Enjoy every moment of it!!!

Hugs to all my friends there,

Els van ‘t Zand
The Netherlands