Saturday the teachers and I took Jim's family, Tina, and Masa out for breakfast at Chalet Suzannne, a quaint little restaurant here in Lake Wales. Quaint but pricey the bill came to $197.00. It has become a tradition, they have the best Sweedish pancakes and lindenberry jam. Breakfast is the only meal that is reasonable, I think the dinner menu starts from $75. If you are ever in the area I highly recomend it, and if you have your own plane you can fly in on their private airstrip.

How American are you

You Are 63% American

Most times you are proud to be an American. Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringe Still, you know there's no place better suited to be your home. You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you!

How American Are You?

Kuni's aligator

Miss Tshuchiya bravely holds a baby aligator.

Islands of Adventure

I’ve been in Florida for 3 full days now, and I think I am finally time adjusted. Today we took a trip to Islands of Adventure, they have some great rides but today I didn’t go on two of the best rides Duelling Dragons and Hulk. Most of the rides closed down in the afternoon due to lightning so I spent a lot of time just walking around with Masa trying to find something to do. Of course we all meet for lunch at Jimmy Bufetts Margaritaville, I think it has no become a tradition started by Amy Davis. Of course the cheese burger was huge and I did eat all of it and it kept me through till evening. I need to be careful or I’m going ot go back with some of the 30 lbs that I lost this last year.

Anyway after lunch we stopped by the NBA shop in City Walk, and I took a short video with Masa and Miss Ikeda shooting hoops. Masa is a great guy that has helped us out with the Tamasei English program, over the last four years. I really enjoy spending time with him. This will be the last year he is around because he graduates in Dec. So even though I won’t be running into him here at Warner Southern anymore in the future, I’m sure that our friendship will last and we will be able to stay in touch and see each other now and again wherever we find ourselves in the future.

If you want to follow along with the program and see pictures and what not you can visit either of the two other pages that I’m working on while I’m here. Tamasei Florida English Program

hoops

Florida

Well after a dry Saturday, and a partially dry Sunday, the rain is still hanging on. I awoke to the sound of rain, it has let up now and I hope it stays that way till I leave this morning. I have a 3:00 flight this afternoon to Detroit than on to Orlando and eventually after gaining a day I arrive at Warner Southern College some time around 7:00 this evening. I'm off with our school's English program, this will be my fifth time on the trip. We have a good group of girls this year and I hope and pray there will be no problems. I'm accompanied by 2 other teachers, Miss Ikeda who is the leader, and Miss Tsuchiya. Miss Ikeda has done a good job in preparation so I don't forsee any problems. The biggest change in the schedule this year is on the way back we are stopping an Anderson so we can get almost a full 3 weeks in. The students will be in homestays the whole time in Anderson shich should prove to be interesting, a total of 4 nights.

I'm taking my laptop so I'll be able to post but I will also be busy posting on the program at one of two other locations. Tamasei that I have made with blogger or this page.

I think with the second page there are alot more things that we can do, but the first one is familiar to me and easy enough to do. I will also be able to do Japanese in the first one, and I hope in the second one also, but not sure yet.

For those of you that I am going to run into, see you soon.

Rainy Season

Time to break out the umbrellas!

Picture complements of Connie.

I thought that we were going to get all the way through rainy season with very little rain. Last weekend we got hit with a heat wave and I thought for sure this meant the rainy season is over just in time for summer vacation. Well guess again. It has rained almost non stop from Monday. Monday was a holiday but every time I thought that it might have cleared up it would start raining again. I ended up staying home the whole day. About the only thing a got around to doing was watching a few episodes of "The Shield".

Today is the last day of school, but it doesn't seem like summer vacation mode. The tennis club has practice scheduled for all day tomorrow and Saturday, with a tournament on Fri. if the weather clears up. I have asked another teacher to cover for me on Friday so I can take the day to get ready to leave for Florida. I feel like there is no way that I am going to be ready to leave. If I get all my stuff packed I can send it to the airport on Sat. so I don't have to lug it to the airport. I just hope that my wash gets dry with all this rain we are having. This is usually the time of year when underwear sales go up just for this reason, nothing gets dry.

Summer Festival

夏祭りだ！

Today was a joint performance with Asuka, another one of Tanaka sensei's groups. It was held near Gotanda at Hinogakuen an experimental school in Shinagawa. At the same facility there was a community sports center with a three story under ground gym with window on the street level so you could see in.

Today I was on the big drum for two songs and shared a solo with Fuchi san. I guess it went ok but the last song I had no idea what I was doing I couldn't hear the other drumers and had now idea where they were in the song so I just kind of made it up as I went along. Being the foreigner I can get away with being a little bit of a slacker.


After the performance we all went out for a Korean lunch it was very nice, but of course I ate too much. And since it is so hot today I thought my jinbei would be the idal thing to change into, along with my funky wooden sandles which wer a present from Yoko. After lunch Nii chan wanted to go to karaoke so about 6 of us spent about an hour and a half releasing all our strees. One of our new members Okada san jumped right in to the Nagihana spirit with a husy voice and dance moves to the firs song she sang. And we ended the time with "Train, Train" a song that we all knew, I can't for the life of me know why I do though. It was a wild day. I'm home know and I think I'm ready for a nap.

Le Ballet Trockadero - Swan Lake parte 2

Here is a short clip to give you a feel for what I saw last night.

Men in Tights & Toe Shoes

Tonight I had the unusual experience of seeing this all male ballet troupe. Interesting is the first thing that pops into my head. I really think that it would help to be fimiliar with ballet to begin with to fully understand it.

One of the funniest preformances was between this dancer below who is rather short and looked like he was in his teens, and the tallest dancer in the troop. Actually he seemed to be at least to me the best dancer. He wasn't awkward and clumsy in his dancing, like most of the show. Of course the clumsiness and awkwardness is all apart of the show.



Anyway it was an interesting show and if your interested you can find out more here Trockaderos We saw parts of Swan Lake, Dying Swan, and Raymonda's Wedding.

Relaxing Saturday

I decided to take a little adventure this morning, and headed to Hottarakashi onsen It is in Yamanashi Prefecture and it took me just about 2 hours to get there.

The place actually opens an hour before sunrise and I seriously thought about getting up at 2 and trying to get there to watch the sunrise. If the sky is clear you can see Mt. Fuji. unfortunately it was over cast and I only saw a small glimpse of the very top of the Mt. for a brief moment then it was gone.

The new section is open in the morning and so this was the one that I was in. There was an indoor bath, with two large outddor baths. The one above is where you can sit and watch Mt. Fuji. The one below was more realxing and a little cooler so you could leisurely soak and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

On the way there I came across this Shrine with interesting ornamentation. I don't think I have seen this type of straw circle thing before. I have seen the straw snakes and the large twisted ropes with the white papers hanging on them. I wonder if it wasn't something to do with Tanabata, which was yesterday. I would assume that waking through it is supposed to bring purification or something like that.

Fish Bowl!?

And now for the picture that you have been waiting for.

Since we had a car I couldn't resist buying this, and plus the fact that it was only ¥6,800! Couldn't beat it with a stick. Now I just have to do some research in to what kind of water plants are easy to maintain. And yes it will good to have fish if only to eat the mosquito larve that may find there home here too.

Pottery

So here are two of my purchases. Both on the little expensive side but both bought at Daiseigama, the place that I mentioned yesterday the 6 generation kiln. The green cup is huge you have to hold it with 2 hands really.







I thought this plate was rather fun and it was the only one like it so I had to take it home.

I have one more piece that I bought and it was actually less than the 2 smaller pieces. I have yet to take it out of it's wrapping, and I'm going to have to make a place for it on my balcony and it will either be a bowl for water flowers and small fish or a breeding ground for mosquitoes, most likely both. At least I hope I have time to get some plants to put it it and figure out how to keep them alive.
I'll put that pic up tomorrow.

Pottery Excursion

Today we had a day off from school because of the school music festival on Sat. So Rachelled wanted to take an excursion, and because Amanda had shown an interest in making pottery we took a short trip to Mashiko and here are the two of them making their pottery.


Rach was actually very proficient whe spun out about 12 pieces!! She just kept making them and they kept adding on clay. She kept about 7 of them. Well see how they turn out in a couple of months.

Another interesting place in Mashiko is this old dying house. It is in an old thatched roof house and the guy was actually working today and had actually been doing a lot of work as you can to see by all the thread that was hanging to dry. We didn't stay too long because after doing a pottery experience and eating lunch there was little time left for shopping.

At the store right next to this place Amanda bought a really nice set of white tea cups, they felt really nice to hold and they were simple and elegant at the same time. I was interested in a similar coffee cup but held back. I don't have room for the ones that I have.
We did spend a long time in another old shop in a huge old house. I have been in there several times before but the woman of the shop was very talkative and showed us around, took us in to the work area and showed us some other things that we wouldn't have normally seen. She also explaned to us about the distictiveness of Mashiko pottery and basically what they were selling there were the traditional pieces, all daily use items and traditional colors and almost everything hand spun and fired in the noborigama using wood and not gas like most of the places do now to save money. To be honest the pieces most were not that elegant or artsy but they showed history and the family pride of 6 generations that have gone into the development of this homes pottery. I hope they have many more generations to follow, but to be honest unless they don't change they probably won't be around for that much longer. But for just a family run business they sure had a lot of pieces and they were all made there on the spot, most of the other stores are just the outlets to sell other kilns pottery.

Patience

Today my day got started off on the wrong foot, I had a problem with the tennis captain. I really don't like the fact that I have to teach my students the proper way to act and behave in their own culture, but I have come to the point where I really can't tolerate an attitude of disrespect or when they break the rules of procedure. Today was one of those instances, I've told this particular student before she needs to give an explanation or tell me what she needs me to do and why she needs it. Today I got, "Stamp this please.", again and so I said you know the proper way to ask me to do something and that is not it, you better think it over. Well after a little advice form a few teachers and the help of Mr. Ogino, I think the proplem has been taken care of, at least for now. I hope that this doesn't happen again. Until then I quess I need more patience.

Saying Goodbye

Today I took Jenny to the airport. It sure is hard to say good-bye, but actually it was nice to at least be able to spend a little time with her on her last day here in Japan. Jenny you will be greatly missed. You are going to have to be sure that you promise to keep mailing me, if not who is going to send me messages on my phone. Here we are at her last snack/meal before she left, Takoyaki! Actually it was really nice the outer layer was really crispy.

On the way back I stopped at Edokko Sushi my favorite sushi shop in all of Japan, cheap and so delicious! Since I was all alone I had to eat the salmon skin roll all by myself, it was tough but someone had to do it. It is always the last taste when I go there. It was bliss, enough to keep a smile on my face for at least a week.

Before I got to the shop I stopped in a little antique store near the station, and found a very cool samue that even thought the pants are a little short I had to buy it.Here is a view of the front.










And the Back.

How cool am I going to be wearing this!
Too bad it is too hot now I will have to wait for winter.

Sunday Musings

There are a few people that I get e-mail fwds from, and for the most part I refuse to send them on. I especially don't like the "Christian themed" ones that try to make you feel guilty or have no faith if you don't pass them on, I mean what does a chain mail have to do with my faith. Well I say all that to post a forwarded story from my parents. I like the message of it. Hope you enjoy it too.

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, Hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life?

Funeral for a Friend

Usuda, Takeuchi, Watanabe, Hayashi, Motohashi, Ueno, Anda, Ishii, Suzuki, Yatabe, Yamaguchi, Tamaki, Tsuda, Mari, Onuma; all old co-workers and a few I will still consider valued friends. Those kind of people with whom it feels like you can pick up right where you left off no matter how many years past. The last three names on the list are just that type of friend. Last night I went to the wake of Mamiko Okazawa. It was actually a very nice wake but way too long, two hours and fifteen minutes. Anyway the above mentioned people are all teachers at Chiba Eiwa, afterwards it was really nice to spend some time with the last 3, it seemed like it was just yesterday since I had seen them. I really like relationships like that ones that stay fresh and meaningful even through large gaps of time.

Back to the funeral, just the week before Kozo Shimada was drilling me on what kind of funeral I wanted, well I'm not planning to kick off anytime soon, but at least I do know one thing, it will be less than an hour. He asked me about music and I remembered that when I was younger I always thought that I would like to have Elton John's " Funeral for a Friend" played at my funeral. Actually I don't really remember how the song goes anymore, I will have to check into it. But when I think of it I think of it I think that I would like my funeral to be a fun occasion. Sure there will be somber moments, but I would hope that people that I have know would be able to gather chat reminisce and just enjoy the time remembering.

Caligraphy

Today started out at church in Nishikunitachi. Jenny and Rachelle had done callgraphy the week before with the church people and they had the finished works matted for them and put on scrolls. Here are the finished products and artists.

Jenny's Sayonara Party

Today was Jenny's Sayonara party. A good group showed up and we all fit into the apt. although there wasn't enough seats for everyone.
Now the most interesting thing about the day was Jenny's sweet and sour meatballs. How shocked was I when she asked me to help out and the only two ingredients of the sauce were, mustard and grape jelly. I can not tell you how discusting it looked putting it together, but as Jenny promised it was good. Although not in the least healthy. I think the person that thought up this combination was either a genius or was doing some serious drugs that day.