Activity schedule for visitors
to the Episcopal Church of Christ the King (ECCTK),
from the Anglican Diocese of Tokyo:
Guests:
Ms. Jean Kiyoe OGAWA (小川 ジーン・清恵),
Ms. Aine SONO (薗 愛音),
Ms. Naoko KOBAYASHI (小林 奈緒子).
The following report was written and typed
(with some very minor revisions by the editor)
by Mr. Robert Murdock of our congregation.
This is a more detailed account of how ECCTK
entertained our Japanese visitors:
Japanese Friends Leave after a Memorable Visit.
On Saturday, July 31, 1999,
a delegation of 15 youth and two leaders
from the Diocese of Tokyo arrived at
Baltimore International Airport (BWI)
for a 10-day stay in Maryland.
ECCTK parishioners had the pleasure of hosting
Jean Kiyoe OGAWA (小川 ジーン・清恵),
Aine SONO (薗 愛音) (20), and
Naoko KOBAYASHI (小林 奈緒子) (16).
Jean, who has come to Maryland three times before
with the young people, was greeted warmly by her ECCTK friends.
She stayed with Nancy and Bob Murdock.
The girls were hosted by Karen, Jack, and Jackie Burdnell,
by Carol Gooden and son Jerry, and by Sue Wyche.
Naoko (we called her Nao, pronounced NAH-O)
is in her third year as a law student at Sophia University in Tokyo.
She is a bright young lady with an excellent command of English.
Aine, an energetic high school student,
seems to be smiling whenever you see her. Karen Burdnell said that
Aine plays hard, sleeps hard, and has a ravenous appetite!
On their first evening,
the Burdnells took the two girls
to the Inner Harbor to see the city at night.
The ESPN Zone was to be a highlight, but one of the girls,
noticing a lot of video games, said
Oh, we have this in Japan!
No problem - there was interesting browsing to be done
at the Pratt St. and Light St. pavilions.
On Sunday, August 1, 1999,
the three visitors attended the ECCTK service.
Afterwards, over cookies and punch, parishioners
were able to greet Jean, Naoko, and Aine.
Jean and Nancy visited a housebound parishioner
as Lay Eucharistic Ministers.
In the evening, the visitors and hosts were invited
to the Carroll County Fair by two girls from ECCTK
(Angela Howes and Julie Gamber) who were working there.
A young lady who was experienced at showing her sheep at fairs
provided information about raising animals.
The girls also arranged for us to watch pigs being bathed!
On Monday, August 2, 1999,
Karen and Jackie Burdnell, the three visitors,
and the Rev. Linda Fernandez and her family
went to Washington, DC, and visited the National Cathedral.
They also took a tram tour.
On Tuesday, August 3, 1999,
Karen, Jackie, and the girls went to Washington again,
to finish their touring, and were able to visit the Washington Monument
and the Lincoln Memorial.
The White House was not included, as they found
that one has to be in line by 4:30 or 5 AM,
just to get tickets for that day!
In the late afternoon, they joined Jean and other visitors
and companion parish representatives for a visit with Bishop Ihloff,
who took them on a special tour of the Cathedral.
After that, they went to Clover Hill, the Bishop's house next door,
for dinner. Bishop Longest was there, as well as members of the
Bishop's staff who have been to Japan or are in a companion parish.
The dinner was catered by Ben and Mary Worsham of CTK, who have previously
been hosts for homestays. Bilingual nametags were provided by Bill Moore,
with the assistance of Giichiro Uchigasaki (by email). In the evening Jean,
Karen, and Jack went to Fells Point to listen to jazz with another CTK
couple. The two girls stayed home and taught Jackie how to make Japanese
characters.
On Wednesday, August 4, 1999,
the visitors were brought to ECCTK and ECCP.
The youngsters enjoyed meeting the Japanese visitors,
and asked a lot of questions.
Rev. Linda described the outreach program at ECCTK.
Next stop was the Liberty Assistance Center,
where a helpful and informative lady
explained the food distribution program.
Karen then took the girls for a swim at the Murdocks.
While Bob, Jean, Jackie, Nao, and Aine were at the pool,
Karen enjoyed a good nap!
In the evening,
the Japanese visitors and their hosts went to a Cuban dinner,
at the rectory with Rev. Linda and her family.
William Bowman of ECCTK assisted Rev. Linda
in cooking and presenting the excellent dinner,
which featured paella, fried plantain, and yucca.
On Thursday, August 5, 1999,
Carol Gooden took Jean and the girls to Goddard Space Center,
where Carol's brother, a NASA engineer,
gave the visitors a personal introduction to the center.
They were also able to purchase NASA souvenirs.
In the evening,
Bill, Barbara, Geoff, and Vincent Moore
took Jean and the Murdocks to dinner at the Crab Shanty.
Bill had several questions about Japan,
for which Jean was able to provide assistance.
The meal was highlighted by some vigorous bartering
for crab pieces by Vince and Geoff.
Meanwhile Carol and the girls shopped at Towson Town Center,
and went to dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe,
along with Jerry and his friends.
On Friday, August 6, 1999,
Nao and Aine went to Six Flags Amusement Park with Carol Gooden.
Jean Ogawa and Bob Murdock had lunch with Nancy at her work,
and visited her new office.
In the evening, Jean and the Murdocks visited the Inner Harbor,
where they shopped for souvenirs, watched a spirited fudge-making exhibition,
and had dinner. Carol took the girls to stay with Sue Wyche.
On Saturday, August 7, 1999, Sue and the girls
went to a jazz concert at the Sculpture Garden,
Baltimore Museum of Art. Jean and the Murdocks drove
to Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania,
where they did the cassette-guided auto tour.
On Sunday, August 8, 1999, after services at ECCTK,
there was an exchange of gifts, followed by a church picnic and crab feast.
Later in the afternoon,
Bill and Barbara Moore took Naoko, Aine, Jackie, and Vincent bowling
at Fair Lanes, Timonium. First, the young people bowled a game
of ordinary ten-pin bowling, and then switched to duck-pins.
All participants did well, and we all cheered each time
one of the young people bowled a strike or a spare.
It was extremely crowded, due to discounted bowling that day.
Afterwards,
Barbara Moore took Aine and Naoko shopping to several candy stores
and to Greetings and Readings Bookstore.
The girls bought taffy and Otterbein cookies,
which are a traditional Baltimore favorite.
They then visited Glauber's chocolate store (founded in 1878),
and another souvenir store.
Aine and Naoko returned to Sue Wyche's for overnight.
Monday, August 9, 1999, was departure day. The Burdnells
drove Nao and Aine to the BWI airport, and Bob Murdock drove Jean.
Thea, home from an out-of-state sitter job, was able to join in the
farewells. There were hugs and a few tears as the visitors left for the gate.
Jean was headed for South Dakota, to visit with friends. Naoko stayed behind
to be picked up by Maryland friends for a visit.
And who was the last one to the gate? Aine Sono.
She didn't want to leave, and had to be coaxed by Mr. Suzuki,
the other leader. Obviously, she had enjoyed the visit. So did we all.
-Bob Murdock
Last updated, 6/17/2006, by Bill Moore.