Photoessay #929 - Nobuko

When I was in high school in 1968, my family hosted an AFS exchange student, Nobuko. A friendly eager young lady who made a tremendous effort to get the most of her year in the United States. Myself, I remember as not being with the program, reluctant and sulky. Nobuko has kept in touch off and on. About 5 years ago, she and her husband came to the United States (I think the only time she had returned). She visited my mom in Rockford and came to Seattle to visit me. I remember it as a fun visit, I so enjoyed her and her husband. I thought how I had not appreciated her sunny spirit those many years ago. We did the tourist things, went to Pike Place Market and the Locks.

Since then Nobuko has sent us wonderful chocolates at xmas time with a little note. As I've had some extremely challenging times, with myself being furious and livid about work things that I could not control at ALL. With an elevated blood pressure and temperature to match.

I had been thinking for awhile after reading Nobuko's note, thinking thinking and it came to me. We would go to Yamagata City to visit Nobuko. Unfortunately her husband passed away a few years ago. Really, it's possible, we can do it, we will do it.

Nobuko now runs a center for autistic children, she has two grown children. Her English is a bit rusty, she doesn't do email and I don't have her phone number. So I've written her by postal mail. My sister said she had Nobuko's phone number some years ago. I can't figure out how to get it. If any of my loyal readers can find Noubko Kimura's phone number in Yamagata City, I would so appreciate it.

Picture from my other blog, I know I have better pictures but this will do for now. Nobuko and I at Temple B'nai Israel in Sacramento Calfiornia in 1968.