On Saturday, we participated in a project that ASIJ does, in coordination with Second Harvest, to help feed the homeless population in Tokyo at Ueno Park. Each class has the option of picking a Saturday to participate. The parents donate a small amount of Yen, and the kids, with the help of the teacher and parents, spend the Friday afternoon before it in school making Onigiri (Onigiri are rice balls, with something in the middle (tuna, cucumber, fish, plums, etc), wrapped in Nori (seaweed). They made nearly 400 Onigiri as a class on Friday. So, the four of us trekked up to Ueno park to help out. First, I will say there were only 5 kids from her class and their families who volunteered- FIVE out of TWENTY! I was so disappointed with the turnout- I know it is the end of the year, and everyone is busy, but I personally viewed this as a chance for my kids to see that our world (especially the one we are living in right now) is not the norm. Most don't have what we have, and a lot don't even have food to eat, a place to live, and clothes to pick from.
It really struck a cord with both kids, but especially Maya. She asked a lot of really intelligent questions, and was really unsettled about their situation. There were SO many homeless there, that it made me incredibly sad (to sum it up, the Onigiri didn't last for even half of the people there..and there were 400 onigiri). 
I am thinking I will volunteer with Second Harvest next year when we come back...first hand is a lot different than reading about it in the newspaper!!
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