Well it looks like Typhoon season has blown over Japan once again as it has been raining very hard since yesterday afternoon and the wind is blowing pretty good as well. Wonder just how wet I will get when I walk down to Kofu later this afternoon to play with the orphans for an hour or so. I am thinking I will play Pictionary with them on the white board? Guess this morning will be a good time to get caught up with some of my computer work, blogs and photos. CJ left this morning for a week in China so if it keeps raining I will have lots of time to get caught up with many other things as well.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to niece AJ who is now in her first year of college at Mankato and slowly adjusting to life in a dorm and away from home.Do you remember those first few weeks as a new college freshman? I sure do, even though it was years ago--35 to be exact. YEs I am that old :-) haha
Last week Wednesday Aug 26 , Ty and I enjoyed a walk along the Miura Peninsula coast line with 7 other Int'l ladies from Holland,Wales,Britain,New Zealand,Japan,Scotland, Sweden. We first stopped by Setsuco's friends house and she gave us each an ear of sweet corn and a box of chocolates for our hike. How sweet was that. We took pics with her and her dog and then she was so excited to have one taken with just her and Tyler. He was quite the man about town with all the ladies. He said he was told he was handsome and good looking more times here in Japan, than he ever was back home in his 22yrs. :-)
We then bid Tomo farewell and walked along the coastline of Uraga along the boardwalk out to the lighthouse. CJ and I had been here before, but we walked from the light house back to the boardwalk so it was good to see it from the other direction. We also went beyond the light house and over to the Uraga Bay where we then took a short ferry ride across the inlet so to catch the train back to Yokohama. It was a lovely summer day and was actually quite hot, but with a nice breeze to keep us a little bit cooler. We passed by a some local kids who were having a BBQ on the beach, other kids playing in the surf, and a lady who was drying seaweed on her front sidewalk, so we stopped so she could explain that she uses it for soups and such.
While we sat under a canopy of shade we also watched as a film crew filmed a man and woman dressed in some black leather like body suits...and we saw another girl dressed like a sea nymph in turquoise suit with hair down to her knees almost getting photos taken on the rocks. We had our lunch under a canopy while big cargo ships, sailboats and many other types of boats passed us by when entering the mouth of Yokohama Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
We walked past 2 or 3 little fishing marinas where many a fisherman was busy working with nets, getting their boats ready.... We had hoped to stop at an Italian restaurant for some gelato, but sadly they were not open that day, so we then took the ferry across the water and made our way back to the station for our ride home. Ty and I stopped at Yodobashi Camera so he could get himself a Japanese Wii and some Japanese video game he can only get here I guess. Needless to say, he was very happy and used the money he saved by staying with us for 10 days.
Thursday Aug 27th Ty and my new Taiwanese friend Ally and I went to Kamakura together to check out all the temples and shrines and to hike in the woods a bit as well. We first walked along the beach where Tyler found the biggest whole shell he ever saw on a beach in his life. There too were many a dead baby shark laying along the beach as well.. You could tell the end of summer was near as the beach shacks were being taken down and only 1-2 windsurfers were out and only a few people at the far end of the beach. It was another beautiful day here in Japan and a bit hotter than the day before. We then saw the Big Buddha, and fertility shrine where we stopped for a bite to eat as well. Ty had soba noodles and Ally had udon, while I enjoyed a very cold and refreshing lemon shaved ice. After that we began our hike up onto the mountain ridge which runs through the city and over many a big tree root in hopes of catching a glimpse of Mt Fuji, but sadly it was too foggy in the distance. We then made our way down the steep slope to walk through the tunnel where we could wash our money for good luck. Many a toddler was there that day, and it was fun to watch them with their parents. Back up the steep inclined slope and through the park and down the very narrow brush covered path along the cemetery before coming out to the road and over to see the lotus blossoms before making our way back to the train. Ty had enough climbing for the day and didn't want to climb any more steps to see the big shrine in the city center. So back on the train we went.
Friday August 29th Ty left for Tokyo and I spent the early morning cleaning the house and then went to the Int'l school and sorted through about 600 books I think. They are sending them to Africa to build a library and so I had to look for ones with copyright dates before 1980 and also weed out the too scientific and higher level reading ones. I was invited to eat lunch downstairs in the cafeteria and so that was fun for me to see the kids washing their hands, dishing up their own food and then I even got to sit and chat with my friend Yuki and some of his 5th grade classmates while I ate my salad, mac n cheese, sauteed eggplant and onions in a tomato sauce. Very tasty. After lunch I went back up stairs to the hallway where i was working and was able to get all the books sorted and bound in stacks of 10 or so for shipping. With the sun shining in the window, it was very hot and they were so kind to keep checking on me and serving me iced tea while I worked. They told me to sit and rest and not kill myself, but I was bound and determined to get the job done. I finished at about 2:30pm and they were delighted. Back home I sat on the couch to read one of the books they let me take home after my early dinner and I'm quite sure I fell asleep after the first page or two and did not wake up till 11pm.
I then drug myself up the steps to my futon where I slept soundly and did not wake up till 8am the next day. I guess I was a bit worn out.
It felt good to catch up on my sleep and also to read again. It has been awhile since I sat and read a book other than a travel guidebook. The book "Let Me Follow The Narrow Way" by Keh Hwa Kim was about a lady in Korea who had a ministry for 8 years running prayer centers and she heals through God with her hands. Very interesting and if I ever get to Seoul it would be fun to see if I could stop by one of her places and see it with my own eyes/
CJ was to come home Friday eve, but got stuck in China till Saturday. This past weekend we just hung out at home and each worked on our different projects we had going on and enjoyed time to just chill in the house. I know I had enough walking last week to last me awhile and now I need to regroup and get things in order for our next guests to arrive on the 12th of September. I need to read about Nikko and see what we can do up there.
Talked with a few relatives back home and all seem to be doing well there. My mom and and dad continue to do well and are still working with doc's on pills and trying to eliminate ones they feel are unnecessary or not working like they thought. Dad had another recheck appt and the radiation doc said all is going great and no cancer is growing back so things are good. Mom is slowly understanding what the right kinds of food are for her to eat and she is getting more serious about her exercise. Yea! Graham is getting ready for Rugby season and his last year of college at Duluth. He will student teach history in January somewhere--maybe EP? Kalen is busy with her massage job and she is also going to go out to Sacramento to attend a class in Oncology massage. She too, is thinking she might want to start dabbling in some acting again if things she likes come her way?
My brother Mark continues to be of great help to our folks and is busy running them to and fro to cardio rehab 3 times a week and still getting to work. He has been very fortunate that his job has been so understanding with him being the only one around to take care of mom and dad. I know it has to be lots or pressure on him, but he too says he is enjoying it and it is helping him to learn things about himself as well. I am VERY THANKFUL for his hard work, love and dedication to the rents. Thanks again Mark for all your doing. His kids are doing great as well. Sarah his daughter who is modeling out in NYC just got her first magazine Cover on Lou Lou a plus size Canadian Magazine and more pics inside (pp 17-21)in the editorial article. Check it out. Source: www.myvirtualpaper.com
Mark's son Stafford is now playing AVP sand or beach volleyball and just spent a week out at the Olympic Training center in LA. Last word, was that he may be moving out there in October? He even has his own stats sheet now too:-)http://bvbinfo.com/player.asp?ID=10939
So you can see, they are living their dreams and loving every minute of it. COOL!
I added a bunch of photos to my Face book profile as well, so if interested look there under Photos to see more than what is here on the left of this blog.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1026932101&ref=profile
More talk lately of a possibility of CJ and I moving to China after our stint here in Japan next year and so that is something exciting to think about as well. Still waiting to hear what the verdict on things are in Honduras at the Hogar, and my hope is things will be rectified soon, so I can go back and see my buddies sooner than later?
Well the rain is falling even harder now,and the wind is howling. Guess air conditioning season may be over for another summer and if and when the water droplets dry up I can open the windows for some fresh air to flow through the house.
Hum...I wonder when that will be.
Hope all is well with you and yours. I need to end this now so I can make a few long overdue phone calls to friends and family back in the states so to check up with them on their health issues. Please keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming for all our friends and family who so gallantly continue their fights with all the various health issues they have
HUGS
Karla and CJ too
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
4 new blogs post below..be sure to see them all
Hi all just wanted to let you know I posted 4 long winded posts here to get you up to date on what we have been doing the last month.
CJ's cousin's Hannah Marit and Johan will be coming to visit from Norway in the middle of September too , so we are looking forward to that. We hope to get up to Nikko or some other new areas of Japan so we can do more hiking while they are here.
Gotta read more travel Japan books and find some fun places
that's all for now...hope to get more pics on Facebook soon...maybe next week while CJ is in China for work?
CJ's cousin's Hannah Marit and Johan will be coming to visit from Norway in the middle of September too , so we are looking forward to that. We hope to get up to Nikko or some other new areas of Japan so we can do more hiking while they are here.
Gotta read more travel Japan books and find some fun places
that's all for now...hope to get more pics on Facebook soon...maybe next week while CJ is in China for work?
August 22, 2009 Nagoya and hiking the Edo Road
This past weekend Tyler and I met up with CJ who had a work trip to Nagoya. While CJ finished up his last day of work Tyler and I visited the Noritake China Kiln Area, Nagoya Castle and walked the streets in search of sights of daily life there. When we went into the castle they were filming a TV program for kids with superhero like characters and so that was fun to watch. Something called Fire Rescue Team or something like that ??
We then went to Shooters...NO not Hooters for supper.:-) The day before at the Int'l school meeting I met the president Chris of the food service company that supplies the cafeteria lunches and he invited us to his restaurant Cj's tag line-- "Shooters just one S short of Hooters" when I told him I was going to Nagoya the next day. So CJ,I, Ty and 2 guys from Graco all enjoyed a night at the sports bar. Juan from Spain the bartender gave us each a Kamikaze shot which I let him have as I already had my Mango Margarita. John the Korean chef who lived in USA brought out some crab filled pita pockets and then we had our meals of ribs, chilly cheese steak, enchiladas, All Black Chicken Salad, taco salad...The food was good and the extra service Chris told me he'd give us was GREAT. It was nice for all of us to speak English and chat a bit. We met his wife and kids as well.
The next day we headed north on the train to the old EDO road which ran from Tokyo to Kyoto about 300 years ago...for a hike in the Kiso valley. This is the heart of Japan and it is called NAKASENDO HIGHWAY the road through the central mountains past 11 post towns. It was to be 11 km but I think we ended up going about 17km. It was a lovely day of walking through the Japanese country side past many tiered rice paddies, fish ponds, tree tunneled stone paths, bamboo groves, old temples and shrines.
We walked up many a slope and over the rolling hills. It was so green and beautiful, as well as quiet and tranquil. We walked a short portion in the Kiso Valley from Nakatsugawa through Magome to Tsumago where we ended up spending the night and happened upon another lovely and quite reasonably priced ryoken. The hostess Ito was just lovely. So friendly, cute and very helpful. She picked us up at the information booth as her place was outside of the town center a bit. Funny when we arrived, as we had walked past there earlier on the way into town and we stopped to sit for a bit on her front porch by the fish hatchery ponds for a rest. Her place was then blindly recommended to us at the info booth.
Ito showed us our room and the shower area so we could clean up quickly while she went and made our supper. Boy did that hot ofuro bath feel good even though it was short and sweet after carrying my too darn heavy backpack. The little foot stools were very, very tiny where I sat first to wash myself clean with soap before rinsing off under the low shower head and then sitting in the hot cedar tub of water for a very quick soak. I felt a bit like Goldilocks as I sat on it and also like Alice in Wonderland... as everything was too small :-)
It was a delightful and delicious dinner and everything I could eat and LOVED except for the raw salmon. The boys were of course very happy to split my unwanted sushi mi fish. We each had a little grilled fish from the hatchery tank, cukes, asparagus in that brown sauce whatever it is, hearts of palm I think, rice, tea, tomatoes, pumpkin and tofu squares, sweet marinated eggplant...YUM!
Then Ito gave us each a piece of wood and told us to write our name on it and also a free beer ticket. She told us the shuttle bus would come and take us to the Lights Festival back in town on the main street. So we quickly ate and then went into town with about 10 other folks who were also staying there. The boys enjoyed a free beer and some free sake as we watched and listened to Japanese drummers, Kiso dancers and then Tyler and I danced around the lanterns with many a Yukata clad local man and other foreigners who were staying at other Ryokens in town. We were told to write something we like and a dream on our stick and toss it into the fire. I of course wrote I Love Japan on one side and that was well received by the little local men serving Sake who wanted their photo taken with me the BIG American :-) IT wass a lovely night in a samll local town sharing bon Odori with the local folks of Tsumago.
Here we again slept on futons which we do at home as well, but this pillow felt like a sandbag. I did get used to it and fell asleep finally after lots of tossing and turning. Mostly my shoulders were so sore from my too heavy backpack which was digging into my shoulders all day long. They felt like bricks as well.
Next day we got back up and after I took my morning walk around the ryoken neighborhood in my Yukata I decided I wanted to hike yet another 2km up to Nagiso to get our train back to Shinjuku area of Tokyo. So after another lovely breakfast, photos and goodbyes with Ito we made our way up a few more slopes and down to the train. Saw many old folks working out in their gardens in the early morning hours before it was too hot and also a man shaving on his front porch. They are so cute and tiny little people. Some all hunched over from too much bending in the garden patch and rice paddies. I said to the boys I wonder if they can even lay flat on their futon or if they sleep like a seesaw. Looks so darn uncomfortable as their posture is so hunched over. Makes me tired just watching them and also makes me conscious to sit up straight up here at my desk as I type this post.
So we enjoyed our relaxing 4 hour train ride back to Tokyo and gor a view of Mt Fuji -san before the cloud cover hid it. We then made a quick stop to Harajuku area for some Sunday afternoon people watching, but Tyler was again a bit overwhelmed and so we quickly made the loop through the Harajuku girls and now more boys, the Elvis twisters, a Hip Hop festival that was going on and then past many others just chilling and playing games while visiting in Yoyoji Park.
Back home we ate unpacked and the guys watched some TV while I worked on my photos of course...
Today Ty and I took a day to ourselves for me to update all of you and he had a day exploring on his own. Tomorrow CJ goes to China for a few days and Ty and I will join the ladies to hike in Yokosuka. Then Ally will join us for a day in Kamakura to see the shrines temples and the beach with some fireworks in Zushi at night before Tyler leaves on Friday.
walk walk walk...that what we are doing alot of these last days of summer. I can tell fall is in the air and it feels good. Looking forward to the fall colors to come in November and hope I will get to see the trees in their full color regala.
more soon
We then went to Shooters...NO not Hooters for supper.:-) The day before at the Int'l school meeting I met the president Chris of the food service company that supplies the cafeteria lunches and he invited us to his restaurant Cj's tag line-- "Shooters just one S short of Hooters" when I told him I was going to Nagoya the next day. So CJ,I, Ty and 2 guys from Graco all enjoyed a night at the sports bar. Juan from Spain the bartender gave us each a Kamikaze shot which I let him have as I already had my Mango Margarita. John the Korean chef who lived in USA brought out some crab filled pita pockets and then we had our meals of ribs, chilly cheese steak, enchiladas, All Black Chicken Salad, taco salad...The food was good and the extra service Chris told me he'd give us was GREAT. It was nice for all of us to speak English and chat a bit. We met his wife and kids as well.
The next day we headed north on the train to the old EDO road which ran from Tokyo to Kyoto about 300 years ago...for a hike in the Kiso valley. This is the heart of Japan and it is called NAKASENDO HIGHWAY the road through the central mountains past 11 post towns. It was to be 11 km but I think we ended up going about 17km. It was a lovely day of walking through the Japanese country side past many tiered rice paddies, fish ponds, tree tunneled stone paths, bamboo groves, old temples and shrines.
We walked up many a slope and over the rolling hills. It was so green and beautiful, as well as quiet and tranquil. We walked a short portion in the Kiso Valley from Nakatsugawa through Magome to Tsumago where we ended up spending the night and happened upon another lovely and quite reasonably priced ryoken. The hostess Ito was just lovely. So friendly, cute and very helpful. She picked us up at the information booth as her place was outside of the town center a bit. Funny when we arrived, as we had walked past there earlier on the way into town and we stopped to sit for a bit on her front porch by the fish hatchery ponds for a rest. Her place was then blindly recommended to us at the info booth.
Ito showed us our room and the shower area so we could clean up quickly while she went and made our supper. Boy did that hot ofuro bath feel good even though it was short and sweet after carrying my too darn heavy backpack. The little foot stools were very, very tiny where I sat first to wash myself clean with soap before rinsing off under the low shower head and then sitting in the hot cedar tub of water for a very quick soak. I felt a bit like Goldilocks as I sat on it and also like Alice in Wonderland... as everything was too small :-)
It was a delightful and delicious dinner and everything I could eat and LOVED except for the raw salmon. The boys were of course very happy to split my unwanted sushi mi fish. We each had a little grilled fish from the hatchery tank, cukes, asparagus in that brown sauce whatever it is, hearts of palm I think, rice, tea, tomatoes, pumpkin and tofu squares, sweet marinated eggplant...YUM!
Then Ito gave us each a piece of wood and told us to write our name on it and also a free beer ticket. She told us the shuttle bus would come and take us to the Lights Festival back in town on the main street. So we quickly ate and then went into town with about 10 other folks who were also staying there. The boys enjoyed a free beer and some free sake as we watched and listened to Japanese drummers, Kiso dancers and then Tyler and I danced around the lanterns with many a Yukata clad local man and other foreigners who were staying at other Ryokens in town. We were told to write something we like and a dream on our stick and toss it into the fire. I of course wrote I Love Japan on one side and that was well received by the little local men serving Sake who wanted their photo taken with me the BIG American :-) IT wass a lovely night in a samll local town sharing bon Odori with the local folks of Tsumago.
Here we again slept on futons which we do at home as well, but this pillow felt like a sandbag. I did get used to it and fell asleep finally after lots of tossing and turning. Mostly my shoulders were so sore from my too heavy backpack which was digging into my shoulders all day long. They felt like bricks as well.
Next day we got back up and after I took my morning walk around the ryoken neighborhood in my Yukata I decided I wanted to hike yet another 2km up to Nagiso to get our train back to Shinjuku area of Tokyo. So after another lovely breakfast, photos and goodbyes with Ito we made our way up a few more slopes and down to the train. Saw many old folks working out in their gardens in the early morning hours before it was too hot and also a man shaving on his front porch. They are so cute and tiny little people. Some all hunched over from too much bending in the garden patch and rice paddies. I said to the boys I wonder if they can even lay flat on their futon or if they sleep like a seesaw. Looks so darn uncomfortable as their posture is so hunched over. Makes me tired just watching them and also makes me conscious to sit up straight up here at my desk as I type this post.
So we enjoyed our relaxing 4 hour train ride back to Tokyo and gor a view of Mt Fuji -san before the cloud cover hid it. We then made a quick stop to Harajuku area for some Sunday afternoon people watching, but Tyler was again a bit overwhelmed and so we quickly made the loop through the Harajuku girls and now more boys, the Elvis twisters, a Hip Hop festival that was going on and then past many others just chilling and playing games while visiting in Yoyoji Park.
Back home we ate unpacked and the guys watched some TV while I worked on my photos of course...
Today Ty and I took a day to ourselves for me to update all of you and he had a day exploring on his own. Tomorrow CJ goes to China for a few days and Ty and I will join the ladies to hike in Yokosuka. Then Ally will join us for a day in Kamakura to see the shrines temples and the beach with some fireworks in Zushi at night before Tyler leaves on Friday.
walk walk walk...that what we are doing alot of these last days of summer. I can tell fall is in the air and it feels good. Looking forward to the fall colors to come in November and hope I will get to see the trees in their full color regala.
more soon
August 2009 Womens Club Activities keep me busy
Things are gearing up for all the new Fall programs to start once again now that people have returned from summer vacations back home and school is back in session.
Been helping my friend Jenny with advertisements about The Women's Club and attending Japanese versions of PTA meetings with all the new parents at 2 of the international schools. We are trying to get more new women to Yokohama interested in joining the club.
Made a simple photo book, to show about the activities I am doing with the kids at Kofu as this is one of the biggest things the women's club does..that is to raise funds for the kids scholarships for further education.
I went to one meeting last week and will have another one next week. I too am going for walks again, with a bunch who like to hike. Tomorrow we are off to Yokosuka...which CJ and I have been to, but I am going so Tyler can see where his Grandpa landed back in WW 2.
By the way... I am sure some of you are wondering who is Tyler? He is a 22 yr old young man from MN who I met through one of my mom's friends. Tyler speaks some Japanese and he came to Japan for 3 weeks and we gave him our name so he had a contact here. When he got here he was a bit overwhelmed with the BIGNESS and all the people of Tokyo and so he went further south and then called me a bit flustered and so we invited him here. It is his first time out of the USA and my guess is perhaps many things he thought Japan was going to be, it wasn't. Needless to say he has been here for a week with us and we have been trying to get him out to see different local things and meet and see what really living here is like and not just staying in a hotel and sightseeing. Right now he is down at the park and learning how to do Japanese archery. Then he is going to hang out at the pool and make us dinner tonight for our taking him in. We have enjoyed many good conversations and he is a kid that knows allot about many different things. How do these Young folks get so smart so early...I still feel like I am so in the dark about so many things...anyhoo
The ladies will have an orientation tea on Sept 10th and then the 17th of Sept one ladies son I think is a Kabuki actor and will put on a show for us at the Sept luncheon.
So you can see my days are quickly filling up with activities both with volunteering adn Ladies club stuff. I hope to take some more painting classes as well if they resume in the upcoming months.
In between all that, I am trying to keep up with my Hogar stuff on the computer and waiting to see what the future for the kids in Honduras will be?
Been helping my friend Jenny with advertisements about The Women's Club and attending Japanese versions of PTA meetings with all the new parents at 2 of the international schools. We are trying to get more new women to Yokohama interested in joining the club.
Made a simple photo book, to show about the activities I am doing with the kids at Kofu as this is one of the biggest things the women's club does..that is to raise funds for the kids scholarships for further education.
I went to one meeting last week and will have another one next week. I too am going for walks again, with a bunch who like to hike. Tomorrow we are off to Yokosuka...which CJ and I have been to, but I am going so Tyler can see where his Grandpa landed back in WW 2.
By the way... I am sure some of you are wondering who is Tyler? He is a 22 yr old young man from MN who I met through one of my mom's friends. Tyler speaks some Japanese and he came to Japan for 3 weeks and we gave him our name so he had a contact here. When he got here he was a bit overwhelmed with the BIGNESS and all the people of Tokyo and so he went further south and then called me a bit flustered and so we invited him here. It is his first time out of the USA and my guess is perhaps many things he thought Japan was going to be, it wasn't. Needless to say he has been here for a week with us and we have been trying to get him out to see different local things and meet and see what really living here is like and not just staying in a hotel and sightseeing. Right now he is down at the park and learning how to do Japanese archery. Then he is going to hang out at the pool and make us dinner tonight for our taking him in. We have enjoyed many good conversations and he is a kid that knows allot about many different things. How do these Young folks get so smart so early...I still feel like I am so in the dark about so many things...anyhoo
The ladies will have an orientation tea on Sept 10th and then the 17th of Sept one ladies son I think is a Kabuki actor and will put on a show for us at the Sept luncheon.
So you can see my days are quickly filling up with activities both with volunteering adn Ladies club stuff. I hope to take some more painting classes as well if they resume in the upcoming months.
In between all that, I am trying to keep up with my Hogar stuff on the computer and waiting to see what the future for the kids in Honduras will be?
Fun with Kids,...Kofu Japanese Orphans and Int'l Kids
I have been busy every Monday afternoon since I got back from my trip to Honduras and MN this summer with some other orphans. I am volunteering some time with little Japanese kids ages 4-8 years.
I walk for about an hour down to Kofu and then spend an hour from 3-4 with the Kofu kids during their afternoon free time. We are working on their English by playing together. It is very informal and I try to bring something new or talk about a certain subject each week, if they are interested.... We play it by ear.
We have done colors, numbers, letters, farm animals, ocean day...by playing various card games- Go Fish, Crazy 8, ABC cards, Bingo, Writing ABC's and then their names, singing Hokey Pokey, Bingo, Candyland....They like drawing pics with colored markers and crayons and also played with play dough yesterday and tried to make various different objects, animals etc...
Two friends Lynn and Janice from the women's club have joined me and the last few weeks I took another YIWC friend Gracia and her two sons before they moved back to Texas. This week my new friend Ally from Taiwan and Tyler who is here visiting from MN went as well as Janice who is now back from Wales. Lynn will be back from the states in mid September to join us as well
Lynn, Janice and Ally do not have children and so they are enjoying an hour a week with these little ones.
I too am hoping to get some volunteer work in at St Maur Int'l school and will find out more about that in a few weeks once school is back in session and things are settled down some. I was asked to go in this week to go through some old books in the library and get them ready to send to Africa. There was talk of me maybe helping with the Yearbook and taking photos of different activities as well.
I too, am looking into the cafeteria and seeing if I might be able to help there as a possible monitor at lunch hour..as I hear they don't have such a thing right now ? I guess the teachers have to come in and watch their kids...WOW...you think they need some time off too..so I thought it might give them a break and also be fun time to get to know the kids during an open period of their day? We shall see....
I walk for about an hour down to Kofu and then spend an hour from 3-4 with the Kofu kids during their afternoon free time. We are working on their English by playing together. It is very informal and I try to bring something new or talk about a certain subject each week, if they are interested.... We play it by ear.
We have done colors, numbers, letters, farm animals, ocean day...by playing various card games- Go Fish, Crazy 8, ABC cards, Bingo, Writing ABC's and then their names, singing Hokey Pokey, Bingo, Candyland....They like drawing pics with colored markers and crayons and also played with play dough yesterday and tried to make various different objects, animals etc...
Two friends Lynn and Janice from the women's club have joined me and the last few weeks I took another YIWC friend Gracia and her two sons before they moved back to Texas. This week my new friend Ally from Taiwan and Tyler who is here visiting from MN went as well as Janice who is now back from Wales. Lynn will be back from the states in mid September to join us as well
Lynn, Janice and Ally do not have children and so they are enjoying an hour a week with these little ones.
I too am hoping to get some volunteer work in at St Maur Int'l school and will find out more about that in a few weeks once school is back in session and things are settled down some. I was asked to go in this week to go through some old books in the library and get them ready to send to Africa. There was talk of me maybe helping with the Yearbook and taking photos of different activities as well.
I too, am looking into the cafeteria and seeing if I might be able to help there as a possible monitor at lunch hour..as I hear they don't have such a thing right now ? I guess the teachers have to come in and watch their kids...WOW...you think they need some time off too..so I thought it might give them a break and also be fun time to get to know the kids during an open period of their day? We shall see....
August 25, 2009 World War 2 Atomic Bombed Cities
Hey All
Well it has been almost another month since I made a little update on here. So here goes
We had a great time down south on the southern Island of Kyushu. It was HOT HOT HOT, but very nice to educate myself once again about WW 2 happenings. I guess I did NOT listen very well in school as many things were very new to me? :-( It is a mighty humid area and we surely released lots of toxins as we walked all over town sweating profusely in the high 90 degree temps and humidity as well. UGH!
We were in Nagasaki on Aug 6th as they were preparing for the August 9th anniversary and then we stopped by Hiroshima on the 9th and saw all the flowers and memorials that were left there a few days earlier at their Aug 6th Anniv.
In Nagasaki we stayed at a little traditional Japanese Ryoken and had fun with Fugiwara the owner. It was very much like our home here in Japan, but would be very exciting for those who don't live in a Japanese style house and a much different atmosphere than a western style hotel. Highly recommended if you ever visit Japan.
Another night we stayed at a hotel, but there we enjoyed a traditional Japanese style buffet breakfast. Does anyone know what Nato is? It is fermented soybeans and I found I DO NOT Like the odd flavor at all. I gagged and nearly vomited right there at the breakfast table.:-O YUCH! I heard it is an acquired taste and some folks really LOVE IT.. not me though, sad to say. After ramen one night we walked out of the park and heard drums and music in the air and so we headed toward a park to find many children and adults practicing for an upcoming festival in October. After listening to them, we wandered through some old temples and up the steep old brick steps into the cemetery where we had a nice view of the city lights in the surrounding hills over the harbor area as the sun set on another very hot day.
After two nights in Nagasaki we went north to Fukuoka and spent a couple nights there and enjoyed colorful light reflections on the river, lots of ramen and noodle dishes,the fish market, walked along the man made beach area, visited some markets, had a much needed bus tour around the city in the heat of the day for a respite from sweating and the hot sun. When down by the fish market we stopped to watch as they maneuvered a VERY BIG Cargo Ship up to a dock with the use of 3 tug boats pushing it around. Then we enjoyed a walk through the park and across the island path and over many a Japanese stone bridge as the cool air blew over the water. We watched many a dad and child out catching cicadas with their bug nets and boxes as well. The air is a constant BUZZZ still with their music right now as I write this post back here in Yokohama. Soon that season will be over and all will be quiet once again.
On our way home from Fukuoka we decided to stop by Hiroshima as well and here we ran into some rain. It sure put more of a somber mood when touring all the memorials with gray skies and drizzle as we made our way past many crane and flower covered granite memorials. We had fun making an origami crane with Ryo and some kids from a school outside the A Bomb museum. More noodles and then back on the Shinkansen for a quick ride home. It sure is nice to travel home on a train when your tired after pounding the pavement and covering lots of ground each day. Not like long car trips home where your trying hard to stay awake. You just sit back, relax and fall asleep yourself only hoping to wake up at the right stop.
It was a most interesting visit and I found it interesting that the Japanese are taking a closer look at their old history books to make sure the whole story is being told about who did what to whom. Lots of sad ways in which many people were treated in those years :-(
Well it has been almost another month since I made a little update on here. So here goes
We had a great time down south on the southern Island of Kyushu. It was HOT HOT HOT, but very nice to educate myself once again about WW 2 happenings. I guess I did NOT listen very well in school as many things were very new to me? :-( It is a mighty humid area and we surely released lots of toxins as we walked all over town sweating profusely in the high 90 degree temps and humidity as well. UGH!
We were in Nagasaki on Aug 6th as they were preparing for the August 9th anniversary and then we stopped by Hiroshima on the 9th and saw all the flowers and memorials that were left there a few days earlier at their Aug 6th Anniv.
In Nagasaki we stayed at a little traditional Japanese Ryoken and had fun with Fugiwara the owner. It was very much like our home here in Japan, but would be very exciting for those who don't live in a Japanese style house and a much different atmosphere than a western style hotel. Highly recommended if you ever visit Japan.
Another night we stayed at a hotel, but there we enjoyed a traditional Japanese style buffet breakfast. Does anyone know what Nato is? It is fermented soybeans and I found I DO NOT Like the odd flavor at all. I gagged and nearly vomited right there at the breakfast table.:-O YUCH! I heard it is an acquired taste and some folks really LOVE IT.. not me though, sad to say. After ramen one night we walked out of the park and heard drums and music in the air and so we headed toward a park to find many children and adults practicing for an upcoming festival in October. After listening to them, we wandered through some old temples and up the steep old brick steps into the cemetery where we had a nice view of the city lights in the surrounding hills over the harbor area as the sun set on another very hot day.
After two nights in Nagasaki we went north to Fukuoka and spent a couple nights there and enjoyed colorful light reflections on the river, lots of ramen and noodle dishes,the fish market, walked along the man made beach area, visited some markets, had a much needed bus tour around the city in the heat of the day for a respite from sweating and the hot sun. When down by the fish market we stopped to watch as they maneuvered a VERY BIG Cargo Ship up to a dock with the use of 3 tug boats pushing it around. Then we enjoyed a walk through the park and across the island path and over many a Japanese stone bridge as the cool air blew over the water. We watched many a dad and child out catching cicadas with their bug nets and boxes as well. The air is a constant BUZZZ still with their music right now as I write this post back here in Yokohama. Soon that season will be over and all will be quiet once again.
On our way home from Fukuoka we decided to stop by Hiroshima as well and here we ran into some rain. It sure put more of a somber mood when touring all the memorials with gray skies and drizzle as we made our way past many crane and flower covered granite memorials. We had fun making an origami crane with Ryo and some kids from a school outside the A Bomb museum. More noodles and then back on the Shinkansen for a quick ride home. It sure is nice to travel home on a train when your tired after pounding the pavement and covering lots of ground each day. Not like long car trips home where your trying hard to stay awake. You just sit back, relax and fall asleep yourself only hoping to wake up at the right stop.
It was a most interesting visit and I found it interesting that the Japanese are taking a closer look at their old history books to make sure the whole story is being told about who did what to whom. Lots of sad ways in which many people were treated in those years :-(
Saturday, August 1, 2009
August 1 2009 150th Harbor Fireworks Later tonight here in Japan
Hi all
Well it has been a few weeks since I got back to Japan and CJ and I have been busy as usual.
I have been to the Kofu orphanage here on Mondays with my friend Lynn. We are enjoying playing card games, coloring and trying to teach them English and learn some Japanese with the kids. They are so cute and seem to enjoy our time with them, and we of course love being there.:-) Last week we left them in a monsoon rain storm and by the time we got to the end of the 100yard long driveway we were soaked from head to toe --even under our umbrellas. It was actually quite fun to walk across town in the rain and when I got home I could actually ring out my dress which became quite heavy from all the water it absorbed:-)
CJ and I then went to Singapore for 5 days and had fun roaming the streets there and different neighborhoods-Chinatown, Lil India, Kampung Glam, Arab Street, Burgis Street, Orchard Road, Esplanade, Marina Bay..... It is a concrete shopping jungle and I happily got away without buying alot of things. :-) Did get a few scarves, incense and T-shirts for the kids and folks. We had a nice dinner out with Lian from CJ's work and enjoyed the FISH HEAD curry soup and eating off of banana leaves. Most folks eat with their fingers, but I used my fork so as not to wear all of my food. CJ and I also went to the Singapore Food Festival two nights in a row as we could not get enough of the chicken satay and PEANUT SAUCE..Oh my it is SO TASTY.:-P We of course tried a Singapore Sling and I also enjoyed mango in various forms dessert, fresh, lassi, margarita...YUM! Also found I liked mangosteens and lychee fruits..weird looking, but delicious.
We stayed on Orchard Road the first few nights and then moved over to Lil India. We really enjoyed the indian curry, nan, veggies, coconut desserts... We also went on a nice river cruise and it was fun to see the city sights from the water view point. Singapore has so many colorful buildings with a rainbow of colored shutters. We were there for my 53rd Birthday and CJ and I escaped to Pulau Ubin island and rented a tandem bike for an island tour. It is so hot (90 +) and humid in Singapore and especially in the thick lush jungle. We were sure to have released many a toxin as we sweat sweat and sweat some more.
We are now back in Japan and planning a trip next week to the southern island of Kyushu where CJ will go for work and I will meet him for the weekend so we can explore Nagaski and Fukuoka. We are having a tough time getting hotel reservations in Nagasaki as it is the anniversary on August 9th of the atomic bomb dropped there in 1945 and they have an annual memorial service there on Sunday. We got our China visas renewed for another year and I hope to visit there again sometime soon with CJ.
In a few hours we will make our way down to the harbor for the BIG FIREWORKS display. I wonder if it will be bigger than last years as it is the 150th anniverasry of the Yokohama Harbor this year...we shall see
Hope all is well with you and yours
Karla
Well it has been a few weeks since I got back to Japan and CJ and I have been busy as usual.
I have been to the Kofu orphanage here on Mondays with my friend Lynn. We are enjoying playing card games, coloring and trying to teach them English and learn some Japanese with the kids. They are so cute and seem to enjoy our time with them, and we of course love being there.:-) Last week we left them in a monsoon rain storm and by the time we got to the end of the 100yard long driveway we were soaked from head to toe --even under our umbrellas. It was actually quite fun to walk across town in the rain and when I got home I could actually ring out my dress which became quite heavy from all the water it absorbed:-)
CJ and I then went to Singapore for 5 days and had fun roaming the streets there and different neighborhoods-Chinatown, Lil India, Kampung Glam, Arab Street, Burgis Street, Orchard Road, Esplanade, Marina Bay..... It is a concrete shopping jungle and I happily got away without buying alot of things. :-) Did get a few scarves, incense and T-shirts for the kids and folks. We had a nice dinner out with Lian from CJ's work and enjoyed the FISH HEAD curry soup and eating off of banana leaves. Most folks eat with their fingers, but I used my fork so as not to wear all of my food. CJ and I also went to the Singapore Food Festival two nights in a row as we could not get enough of the chicken satay and PEANUT SAUCE..Oh my it is SO TASTY.:-P We of course tried a Singapore Sling and I also enjoyed mango in various forms dessert, fresh, lassi, margarita...YUM! Also found I liked mangosteens and lychee fruits..weird looking, but delicious.
We stayed on Orchard Road the first few nights and then moved over to Lil India. We really enjoyed the indian curry, nan, veggies, coconut desserts... We also went on a nice river cruise and it was fun to see the city sights from the water view point. Singapore has so many colorful buildings with a rainbow of colored shutters. We were there for my 53rd Birthday and CJ and I escaped to Pulau Ubin island and rented a tandem bike for an island tour. It is so hot (90 +) and humid in Singapore and especially in the thick lush jungle. We were sure to have released many a toxin as we sweat sweat and sweat some more.
We are now back in Japan and planning a trip next week to the southern island of Kyushu where CJ will go for work and I will meet him for the weekend so we can explore Nagaski and Fukuoka. We are having a tough time getting hotel reservations in Nagasaki as it is the anniversary on August 9th of the atomic bomb dropped there in 1945 and they have an annual memorial service there on Sunday. We got our China visas renewed for another year and I hope to visit there again sometime soon with CJ.
In a few hours we will make our way down to the harbor for the BIG FIREWORKS display. I wonder if it will be bigger than last years as it is the 150th anniverasry of the Yokohama Harbor this year...we shall see
Hope all is well with you and yours
Karla
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