In September 1998, the Rebers traveled to Japan for a month. The Brundeges, who live in Croghan, N.Y., spent two weeks in Japan. They spent a lot of their time in Japan repairing and restoring the house. Not only do we administer the SOOP program, but we modeled it. Fifteen years had passed since Barbara's last visit to Japan, and she noticed many changes in Tokyo.
Cell phones show up everywhere, even among the children.
But shopping hasn't changed much, still taking place in small cubbyhole shops, which frustrated Don in his repair work. It took three days to get a five-gallon can of paint delivered. The Rebers also enjoyed the gift of spending time with many old friends from the Honancho Mennonite Church, some of them now successful businessmen. In fact, the Rebers' visit resulted in several friends renewing their commitments to attend church. In the Japanese gift-giving tradition, gift receivers feel obligated to give something in return.