Trimming the Bonsai

My Japan...

2011-04-19T11:51:00.002-05:00

It's been too difficult to write because of what has happened. It hurts to think of the people and history lost in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that have destroyed my beloved Minamisoma.

I've tried contacting my host family but cannot find them. I pray they're in a shelter somewhere.

It hurts when I think of all the nice people I met in Minamisoma. I wonder what their lives are like now. I often wonder, "what happened to ________?" It breaks my heart.

The pictures are almost too much to bear......

Minamisoma
My heart grew during the trip
I will not forget

We are spiritual beings.......

2010-04-20T09:31:00.002-05:00

I've been scouring the Internet lately for stories about what's really going on the world besides the celebrity crap we're fed on the news. I have to say I am stunned, shocked, saddened, and not just a little sick to my stomach. It is almost to much for me to be with. I had no idea of the horrors, violence, and want in so many parts of the world. The situations in Haiti, Chile, China, The Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are overwhelming--and that's just the pin-tip of the iceberg.

I am also getting very clear that I am among the very wealthy of the world since I don't have to walk for water, I'm educated, own a home, a car, and am safe within my own world. I married of my own choosing and had no children of my own choosing--which also sets me apart. I am simply at a loss as to how we got to this level of dehumanizing each other. Greg Mortenson says that lately, the Taliban has resorted to using mentally challenged individuals as suicide bombers and they sew the explosives to them so there is no escape. The degradation, debasement, and dehumanizing is stunning, to say the least. Where is the love? Where is the basic acknowledgment of someone else's humanity? of their spirituality? We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Where is that celebrated? How?

I pray for more love in this world. I ask that we begin to acknowledge the spirituality of one another and learn to live together in love, acceptance, and peace. I am going to look and each face today and think of the potential of each person and try to remind myself that they are spiritual beings.

Awareness

2010-04-14T13:09:00.003-05:00

So, I'm picking up this blog again because what it stands for is now again in the front of my mind. My trip to Japan got me thinking about the world and its citizens. For various reasons I quit thinking about that and got caught up in the unimportant details of everyday living.

Well, I'm not doing that anymore!!

Over Spring Break, I read Three Cups of Tea and Stones Into Schools, both by Greg Mortenson. They are the story of his mission to promote peace by establishing over 130 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. These schools offer a secular education--and they're open to girls. In fact, he has a heart for girls' education and says educating girls is the key to lasting peace and development in these countries. These books are amazing. They have opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart. His non-profit, the Central Asia Institute, is now my charity of choice. There is a way to help his mission and get kids involved--Pennies for Peace. It teaches every child that they can become philanthropists through collecting pennies. Even the most challenged kids can find and contribute a penny--one that will buy a pencil in Pakistan and Afghanistan. I'm so excited about teaching my kids about helping out and hope to have a P4P campaign when we return to school in September. But the ultimate was getting to meet Greg Mortenson Monday night. I went to UT Tyler to hear him lecture and I attended a small reception where he was gracious enough to sign TCoT and the children's version, Listen to the Wind. I had to concentrate on not being star-struck!! I don't think I did a very good job of that though... :)

Reading this story has awakened in me a desire to become aware of world issues and help when I can. I participated in "One Day Without Shoes" on April 8th to raise awareness of the dangers of living barefoot in developing countries. My kids again surprised me. After I had answered the obvious question of why I was barefoot, they kids wanted to know what they needed to do. I hope to co-ordinate a shoe donation with being barefoot next year. My kids rock!!! I also follow Mr. Mortenson and his son, Khyber, on Twitter. Khyber is leading a campaign to end the use of landmines. I sent an email to the president asking him to sign an accord that up to this point, the US hasn't signed. That doesn't make any sense since we spend the most money on getting rid of landmines and we haven't used or made or exported them in years and years. I also am looking for some student leaders to help with the P4P campaign.

I definitely feel re-energized by these activities. I know have a new desire to show my kids that they really can make a difference even if they think they're doing "small" things. Sometimes, my students are written off because of their low socio-economic status. I'm excited to show them they can help out and can change their world!!!

So, connecting the events over the last few years that brings me to this point--the peace workshop in Tokyo, reading Greg Mortenson's books, learning about world issues--I see that I have an opportunity to join in the global conversations of peace, education, and human rights. I'm very excited about what the months to come will bring.

One Year Ago

2009-10-15T18:04:00.002-05:00

A year ago this week I was in the beginning stages of my trip. I can hardly believe time has passed so quickly.

I have kept in touch with several of my travelling companions and I am glad we've developed our long distance relationships. I'm extra lucky that 2 of my friends live here in the D/FW area and we've gotten together several times over dinner to talk and laugh and catch up.

I've got a huge picture display up in my classroom and students ask questions and I love telling them about where I went and what I did.

I often think about
Tokyo lights, sounds, and smells
I long to be there again.
---by me

Update

2009-02-03T11:28:00.002-06:00

Well, folks, it's been 96 days since my return and I must say I am shocked at how this trip has stayed in the forefront of my consciousness. At first I thought it might have to do with the fact that I have had a lot of work to do with my follow-on plan. I've organized over 500 pictures, created a couple of slide shows, given several presentations, and talked about the trip with almost all of my students. They loved the pictures and had many questions. But even in my free time I think of the trip. I think of the people I met and of the friends I made. I think of the temple at Asakusa and how I want to know more about how temples work.

I also desperately want to convey the message of how there is more than the American view of this world. Now, don't misunderstand me--I love the USA, I believe it's still the best place on Earth to live and I am grateful for the blessings I have here. We are the wealthiest nation in so many ways in my opinion. I'm not knocking anything about this country but the US isn't the only place on Earth. Sometimes I feel everyday folks forget that there are billions of others who have their stories to tell, their truths, their wisdom and culture to share, and I long for more exposure to that. This trip has created in me a hunger for seeing more of the world.

It has also created a longing to foster the conversation of acceptance and tolerance for people of other cultures and faiths. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. I think that's a quote but I don't know who said it but it has come to have deep meaning and value to me as I met Japanese people and even other Americans and made connections and formed relationships. We are connected.

So this is just some of what rattles on in my head on a daily basis but I'm not complaining. They are great questions and interesting topics and I had hoped that some of this would happen as a result of the trip. I am open to possibilities........

Leaving on a jet plane...........

2008-12-02T14:48:00.004-06:00

Here I am in the wedding gazebo in the New Otani hotel, waiting for our bus to take us to the airport. I'm smiling here but I'll be honest, I didn't want to leave. Sure, I wanted to see Scooter and E and be with my family/friends again but it's hard to give up the rock-star lifestyle I had become accustomed to!!!

I think they took us on the scenic route to the airport. I saw the harbor, Tokyo Disney, and a gigantic incinerating plant. The flight from Tokyo was 9 hours and then I had a 4 hour lay over in Los Angeles. Of course, the rudeness I has loved missing in Japan reared its ugly head when we were in customs. 3 international flights deplaned at the same time and people were so rude in lines, cutting and cussing out airport personnel. The flight from LA to Dallas was on a 66-seat airplane and took 3 hours. So in total, I'd been travelling 20 hours when I laid eyes on Scooter at the airport. I threw myself into a big hug. It was good to be home! Another hour in the car and I hit the door.

I am so grateful that this came my way. I am honored to have been chosen. I will forever be grateful that the Japanese government foot the bill; I was their guest and I was treated royally! I am grateful that Scooter totally supported this trip and took care of things while I was gone and thanks to those who kept an eye on him and E. (TK--you know who you are)

To all of you who have read this blog and left comments, thank you. I hope you enjoyed reading about Japan. I often find it difficult to use the right words to describe what I got to see and do. It was a life-changing/affirming experience and I will never be the same--and I think that's pretty cool. I took deep breaths and reminded myself to "be" in the moment and soak it all up and I did!! I may post little things here now and then, but the trip is over. Now, it's on to living in the present here.......

Wednesday, October 29, 2008--Goodbyes

2008-12-01T14:40:00.006-06:00

We all gave our group presentations to each other today, summarizing our experiences in our cities. We went first and I like that. I was surprised at how varied our city experiences were yet our school ones were very similar. I guess it it due to the fact that curriculum, instruction, etc., are all set by the national government. The kids everywhere learn basically the same things at around the same time through the same methods and materials.

We had our Sayonara Buffet tonight and it was bittersweet. I have come to like so many people I've met and I can't believe how much has happened in the days I spent in Japan. We were led by one of the staff members in a closing ceremony. You clap a certain way to end something. It was a sweet, solemn moment.

So of course, we went out after the party!!! I wasn't about to spend most of the night in the hotel!! We played virtual golf, I tried a "Tsunami" beer (a reddish lager), and ended the night by singing at a karoke bar. I like how it's done here--you rent your own room for karaoke so you sing in front of a friendly crowd. I didn't sing out loud but the guys did a great job with Barry White, Snoop Dogg, and Guns and Roses.

My heart ached all through the night when I thought about leaving. I was treated so well everywhere I went and had such an incredible experience. I wanted very much to see Scooter and E and be with all my family/friends again, but I have to be honest; I didn't want this to end. Thursday morning came way too quickly.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008--The Dome and the Rollercoaster

2008-11-20T12:11:00.006-06:00

The seminar this morning were informative but I have to admit, it was difficult to listen 100% because I was still trying to process everything that had happened during the last week. We had a seminar on environmental education and it was interesting to hear Dr. Srinivas' perspective as he is from India living in Japan with a Japanese wife. He said if you want recycling compliance, marry a Japanese woman--it was a very funny joke at the time. He explained that one of the advantages to having such a homogeneous society was the pressure that could be exerted to go along with things. People begin their recycling by separating their trash into as many as 15 categories--different colored glass and/or plastic bottles, food waste, etc. He explained that it means that since trash is separated so well they can incinerate most of it. The ash is used to build roads. He said that at first business balked and that they faced fines if they didn't comply but now business are finding ways to make money from their "green" efforts. I felt like such a bad citizen because I don't even have the ability to recycle in my town. Our school is trying but so far we only separating out newspapers, magazines, office and school paper, catalogs, and mail.

Lunch was at an Italian place on my own. People watching in Tokyo is a perfect pastime for me.

The afternoon seminar was a wrap up of the educational system from Dr. Kato. There are some similar conversations/debates in Japan over testing, class size, bullying, teacher preparation, and academic achievement. It is interesting to realize that some of the long held assumptions I have about Japan simply aren't true--there aren't computers in every room, teachers don't have it easier just because the kids behave better, etc. In fact, I'm going to remind myself of their schedule every time I think I've got it rough. For all of the differences there are, it was transformational for me to really get that we are all humans.

We spent the afternoon practicing our presentation over our host city experience we give Wednesday.

Speaking of humanity, look at all the people in the subway!! I actually got to see a subway worker politely but firmly push people into the subway car. It happened on the other platform so a picture wasn't possible. I had heard about that and I'm so glad I got to see it!! But then I got to thinking about how it must feel day in and day out to ride touching like that but not connecting. On the flip side, I see now how MP3 players and headphones are almost necessary to establish your own personal space. What an interesting paradox.

During rush hours there are cars that are for women only. I can only imagine the problems that prompted the designation!

The Tokyo group now consisted of Lynne, Lisa, Randy, Paul, Joe, Kim, Tanya, and me. I followed them out this night and I'm so glad I did!! We went to the Tokyo Dome, home of the Yomiuri Giants. I love baseball and would have been thrilled to go and I was "this close" but I missed out on a game because I was in Minamisoma. Anyway, I rode the "Thunder Dolphin," the roller coaster by the dome. It goes up to 80 mph, threads through the Ferris wheel, and goes on top of one of the buildings. I screamed my head off!! The first hill was terrifying--but in a great way! I think it also enhanced the ride that I didn't have a harness pinning my shoulders. It made me feel freer and that made it even scarier. I loved it!!! It was a great surprise and I can now say I've ridden a roller coaster on two continents. After the ride we had beer and burgers at this small place near the dome. Then we ended up at a pub called The Mermaid near the hotel. It's pretty cool to be able to sit out on the sidewalk, drink a pint, and watch the people as they pass.

Monday, October 27, 2008-Tokyo

2008-11-20T11:11:00.006-06:00

One of the COOLEST THINGS EVER!!! happened to us while we were waiting on the platform for our train in Koriyama station. A bullet train blasted through at full speed. There was literally a 2 second pause before anyone reacted--I think it sucked our breath out! "Cool!" "Wow!" "Awesome!" was intermingled with a few expletives. Really. Really. Cool.

I got back to Tokyo around 2 p.m. and had the rest of the day to myself. I needed to get some shopping done so I headed to the Oriental Bazaar near Shibuya and then to Asakusa, back to the temple area we visisted our first week. I was feeling like a subway expert at this point! I wasn't really paying attention so the thunder and lightning caught me off guard. The storm was rolling in over the temple in the bottom picture. A "smart" person would have gotten out of the storm but not me--I wanted picutres!! :) I watched the storm come and caught the subway back to the New Otani Hotel when it started to rain. Rob, Dave from Oklahoma, and I headed out to dinner later that evening. We were in the mood for something else so they took me to an English pub that serves fish and chips. Fish, chips, and two pints-perfection!

Sunday October 26-Monday October 27, 2008--The Ryokan

2008-11-18T12:11:00.011-06:00

Sunday night we checked in a ryokan. It's the Japanese version of a spa and resort. You wear special robes around the place, sleep on the floor, and bathe in the onsens. (more about that in a bit) Here is a view out of one of the windows on my floor. It had turned cold and the mountain air was fresh and cold. It was lovely!!

We had a 14 course banquet in the room above. The waiter just kept serving and bringing and serving and bringing!!

Here is my plate at one point during the banquet. The little pot in the top left was filled with meat and vegetables and the waiter lit it when we began and it cooked through the meal and we ate it towards the end. I ate the pretty yellow chrysanthemum too. I could get used to that!

Our group photo after the meal. I am so blessed to have traveled with my group. We laughed a lot and there were some really smart people and I enjoyed their company while we were in Minamisoma.

So now for an explanation and description of the onsen. It's a hot spring and it can include a sulphur bath. I stayed in the hot spring. There was some hesitation on my part because you have to be completely naked when you bathe. No swimwear allowed. I decided to participate because it is a very popular Japanese activity and I wanted to soak up all of the culture that I could. (yes, pun intended!!) I entered what looked like the dressing room of a nice gym, went to the large area of baskets, stripped, got a small towel and headed for the shower stalls. Here's where is was a little weird for me. (yes, I know--for some of you it's gone way past weird already!) My experience with shower stalls is you stand and shower. Not here--they were half as tall so you sat on a stool and used a hand-held shower head and cleaned yourself well. All products and cloths were provided.

Side note: I liked that about all of my Japanese hotels. Your products like shampoo, soap, razor, toothbrush, comb/brush, etc. were provided. The toothbrushes were the perfect size!!

Back to the bath. After a good scrubbing, I headed to the water. It gets real easy real quick--you just don't look. There were probably 40 or 50 ladies in the whole area, but it was big. I headed straight for the outdoor part and I cannot describe to you how FABULOUS it was to soak in hot water with the mist coming off of it, breathing in cold air. All of the tension from the week, the anxiety of the homestay, the exhaustion from concentrating so hard to understand, the travel fatigue, etc., it melted away in that water. It was wonderful to be outdoors and see the trees and the stars. It was very spiritual. We don't have mountains around here and so to be in that setting made it extra special for me. I am very wistful at this moment thinking about it. I'm so glad I did it.
We checked out the next morning and I posted this picture of our waiter from the night before because I want to share something. He came out to the bus to tell us goodbye and bring us candy and he stood and waved the whole time while we took off until we were gone. He did all that just because he wanted to but we didn't tip him--we couldn't tip him. He was one of the best waiters I've ever had and I couldn't give him a dime! It just impressed the heck out of me that he would do all that without the expectation of extra money. I mean, maybe it was in the fee but I don't know. It's just not practiced in Japan. But I ran into people all the time who were friendly and tried to help any way they could with no expectation. I kind of like it. The ryokan was the perfect way to wrap up our time outside of Tokyo.

October 25-26, 2008--The Homestay

2008-11-11T13:24:00.023-06:00

I am not sure that I'm going to be able to explain my experience adequately. It was wonderful and confusing and fun and and nerve-wracking (beforehand) all at the same time and I will never be the same for having met the Endo family. I am grateful for their hospitality and their willingness to let a stranger from the other side of the planet into their home for a brief 23 hours that passed all to quickly.

This is their driveway and the garden. After I arrived, Mrs. Endo served me English tea. As soon as she offered that, I knew everything was going to be just fine! I hadn't been as nervous as some people in my group--what I had worried about was what we would do if they didn't speak any English because I have zero ability to speak Japanese. Even after the week of school visits all I could do was introduce myself. Luckily, they knew quite a bit. Dr. Endo and his family have lived in Brazil and Morocco but he said his English was rusty. I said it wasn't that rusty if he remembered that idiom! His wife and son understood alot but didn't speak as much. Dinner was wonderful--we had pork and cabbage stew, tomatoes, radish, chrysanthemums, noodles, sushi, tangerines and of course, rice. It was a ton of food!! The area around Minamisoma is known for their tomatoes and they did not disappoint--they were super red and very, very good.

They seemed to like the gifts I brought, especially the Snickers. I gave them postcards of Dallas and Texas and Mrs. Endo recognized the armadillos. She said there were a lot of them in Brazil.

The Endo's had a traditional Japanese room complete with a tatami floor, their Buddhist shrine, a silk screen divider, paper doors, and a ceremonial fire pit. They asked if I wanted to stay in there and of course I said yes! Mrs. Endo and I made the pallet on the floor for me. Dr. Endo and his son even brought in the chair--I said I didn't need it (I didn't want to damage the floor) but they were so nice and insisted.

I thoroughly enjoyed the bath I took. I must admit though, that I didn't soak as long as I would have liked because the water was so very hot. Meg told us that it would be but still--wow!! I even ran cold water. I turned so red for awhile that it looked like I had a sunburn. I slept very, very well that night. Breakfast was delicious--eggs, ham, toast, seaweed salad, persimmons, and the greenest broccoli I have ever seen. Really--I don't know why, but it was super green.

After breakfast we went to the club where Dr. Endo's son practices Kyudo--Japanese archery. The setting was gorgeous--you can tell from the picture that even though I was seated indoors, it felt like being outdoors because of the building's open side. The weather was cool and the air was crisp and the neighborhood was quiet. Kyudo is not about shooting or hitting the target. Kyudo literally means "the way of the bow." He said that he is still in the "beginner's" class after six years. I tried it---needless to say, archery is not my thing! I felt honored that he wanted to share his hobby with me.

We went to a conveyor belt sushi place for lunch. If you ordered something special it came to your table on a separate belt that was made to look like the bullet train. It was hilarious! Before I left, they presented me with gifts--a handkerchief, a robe, and a pottery candlewarmer made by their daughter.

Again, I'm not sure I can express all of the feelings--it's unnerving to go into a stranger's home and even more so when you know you don't speak the language. And yet I felt welcome instantly. They were kind and generous and tried very hard to make me feel comfortable. Their home was lived-in and I am so glad I didn't let my apprehension ruin the experience.

It was definitely a highlight of this trip.

10/25/2008--The Tea Ceremony

2008-11-07T13:45:00.012-06:00

These ladies were our hostesses. The tea house was is over 150 years old and it used to be a sake factory. Now the city owns it and uses it for civic events such as ours. The picture doesn't do justice to the beauty of their kimonos. I was also impressed by their ability to sit on their knees. I lasted only a couple of minutes!!

They started out by giving up these beautiful sweets. The tea often takes the theme of the season and so ours had an autumn theme. I use the term sweets lightly--the leaf was actually filled with bean paste and that isn't very sweet. The pink wafer wasn't either, but I liked them both. The stick was used to cut the leaf as it was too big to put in your mouth all at once.

Each part of the tea ceremony is a mediatation. I was told that you can spend your whole life mastering the ceremony. It was serene and beautiful to watch as she made tea.

These are the cups I drank from. They are themed according to the season or the celebration. I don't have a picture of it, but we were taught that there is a certain way to examine your cup after you drink--bent over on your hands and knees. Meg said it was because the cups can be very, very expensive and since you're on your knees anyway, you just bend over and keep the cup close to ground so you don't drop it. Needless to say, there was a lot of giggling, but it totally made sense.

They let us try whisking the tea. I had such a nice time and the ladies were so funny. Several people in my group wanted to take pictures of the backs of the obis because they had great needlework on them. The ladies were laughing and covering up their bottoms--they didn't want their "backsides" to be the focus of the pictures. It was so cute and funny--ladies are the same everywhere!!

Again, my pictures couldn't capture just how wonderful the setting was. There was a traditional Japanese garden outside and the air was crisp and cool and it was perfect. The tea was a good flavor--a lot of the green tea I'd been served had a fishy smell to it and so I didn't care for it but this was great tasting.

It was a nice way to end the afternoon and it did kind of relax me which I needed since I was getting a little anxious about the homestay. Dr. and Mrs. Endo picked me up around 4.

Saturday, October 25, 2008--Before the Tea Ceremony

2008-11-07T09:13:00.008-06:00

I had a very frustrating learning experience this morning. The post office was closed but I needed stamps for my postcards. There is a 7-11 near the hotel so I took my postcards and tried to gesture that I needed stamps. The clerks were so sweet and kept apologizing but they didn't understand. One man even walked me to the post office only to realize that it was closed. (I tried to tell him that but I didn't get that across either.) I felt so bad that I didn't know the Japanese word for stamp--I kept apologizing too. The postcard had a little square in it and I pointed to it and finally after what seemed like an eternity, he pulled out a book of stamps. Sweet relief!!

I thought that I was sensitive to my non-English speakers in the past--I speak a good deal of Spanish and understand that newcomers don't speak out loud very much etc., but this trip made me very aware of just how hard it is to go through the day not understanding what is being said and not be able to get your message through. A couple of us talked about how tired we were at the end of most days and we think it's because we concentrated so hard all day to understand our translator and to try to pick up on visual cues of what was being said. After my experiences, I know will be even more sensitive to any non-English speakers from now on.

We went to the city museum for a "local craft experience." I wasn't excited about it at first because I don't consider myself "crafty" in any sense of the word. I was pleasantly surprised. We had a local artist who helped us use watercolor paints on woodblock postcards. I had fun doing that. We also sanded stones beads or magatamas. Mine didn't look anything like it should have. The top picture is outside the museum. Like the one in Fukushima, this museum was in a gorgeous setting that included a stream. I stole about 10 minutes outside to enjoy it.

After that it was off to the tea house for our tea ceremony that I'd been looking forward to. Most of you who know me know that I thoroughly enjoy English high tea and I was thrilled to get the chance to experience the Japanese tea ceremony. I'm pictured here with the lady who is considered a tea master. She leads classes for the others in the ceremony. The whole thing was so great that it deserves its own post.

Friday, October 24, 2008

2008-11-06T09:52:00.017-06:00

We met with parents this morning. They talked the most of any group we met with and had the most questions for us. They said their children were very excited to see us which was kind of strange to hear since at times I felt that we were disturbing the schools' routines. We questioned what they felt their roles were in their children's educations and I got the impression that they are adverse to "interfering" with school. They don't volunteer much in school--they might read aloud to students every now and then--it seems they let school handle school things and they feel responsible for handling club and community activities. There is a new term in Japan that refers to parents who "interfere" with school--monster parents. The ladies told us that they do not wish to be thought of that way. There is a growing problem in communities of child safety. There have been incidents where students walking to school have been kidnapped and murdered. Communities are organizing groups who watch children walk to school and make sure they get there safely.

I asked what their concerns are. They pointed out that sometimes there is inconsistency within the grade levels. They are also concerned about the requirement that English be taught in the elementary schools because they think the children who don't already go to cram school for English will be farther behind. Then they talked about how their children don't go above and beyond the homework that is sent home. That surprised me--I wish some of our parents had that concern. Parents want the very best for their children and at least among this group, they believe a good education is the key to a good life.

After lunch we went to the tatami mat factory. The gentleman who owns and runs the place is also a highly respected rider in the Soma Nomaoi horse festival. The mats cost about $100 a piece and can last up to 10 years depending on how much they are used. His son works in the factory too. There were pictures on the wall showing him making the mats by hand. Now they have machines to help with the stitching.

Next on our agenda was a stop at the Pacific Ocean. You can't tell from the picture but it was raining and very windy. I had wanted to walk to it and at least get my feet wet but that wasn't possible. So I had to settle for it blowing on me! ;) I have now seen the Pacific from two continents. That's pretty cool.

Then we went to the thermal power plant. I found it interesting that 1/3 of the plant sits on reclaimed land. It still is a coal burning plant but the company claims it's getting "greener" all the time and I believe them. As a whole, the Japanese society is very committed to ecological preservation and "green" living. I know I could learn a lot from their lifestyles.

When we got back into town we had just enough time to see the last of the choral competition that we saw our junior high students reahearsing for. They all did an outstanding job.

The entire group went out to dinner tonight at an Italian restaurant in Minamisoma. Our group coordinator Meg told me that many Japanese people like Italian food. This is a picture of how they served the sake. It's poured into the glass until it overflows into the box. You drink it from the glass first and then the box. But I never did find out for sure if you were supposed to pour the box's contents into the glass or drink it straight from the box. I just tipped the box's corner.

After dinner a smaller group of us went to sing karaoke at this place. It was inexpensive fun!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

2008-11-04T10:16:00.009-06:00

We visited the high school today. This is their "parking lot." Students who are university bound attend this school and they are very focused on the entrance exams. There is very little interaction between students and teachers during most classes. The teachers feel they have to impart as much knowledge as they can to the students in order to prepare them for the test and so they write lots and lots of notes and formulas on the board and the students copy.

The most amazing thing I saw was the home economics class. The students were cutting and chopping and used huge knives. They cooked with gas flames and while it was noisy I didn't witness any accidents. When we questioned the teachers about that they said that if a student hurts himself then they will learn not to do that next time!

We ate lunch with several members of the student council. High school students bring their own lunches in bento boxes--that's a student lunch on top and my bento box on the bottom. When I asked the student I ate with what he knew of America, he said that our economy was bad. He also knew the election was coming up and asked who I thought would win. He was a serious young man who wants to study economics at the university. He plays piano and attends a "cram" school after regular school to prepare for the entrance exams.

After school most of the students participate in club activities. I watched students practice kendo and kyudo. I am impressed by the discipline shown by most students I met. They have demanding schedules, homework, and they balance it with their family and personal lives.

Teachers were generally reserved but I did manage to find out some interesting things. First, they work very long hours--6:30 or 7 in the morning until around 7 or 8 at night. The mandatory retirement age is 60. There is also a policy in place that transfers teachers around every 4 to 5 years. I found that one to be the harshest as it must place a burden on families.

My school visits have come to an end. It is interesting to me that educators we spoke with brought up some of the same issues we have--lower test scores, the inability of students to apply their knowledge, classroom discipline, parental issues, and a general feeling that education just isn't as important to some people anymore. It seems that we have a lot in common--more than I had originally thought.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

2008-11-03T14:23:00.018-06:00

We arrived at the elementary school early enough to see the children walking in their bright yellow hats. Almost all of them walk to school every day. I didn't see any school buses at all while I was in Japan.

Again, they were lined up in rows to greet us. The school's award-winning brass band played for us and they were fantastic! They can join beginning in 3rd grade and would definitely be good enough to play with most adults.

My first classroom observation was a 3rd grade math lesson. The children were calling out to their teacher and for a moment I thought it was chaos. But I could tell by their body language that they were on task and very eager for the teacher to approve their work. I observed a lesson in the computer lab. The students were writing letters to their parents--I'm pretty sure it was an invitation to the cultural festival for the upcoming Saturday. I took a picture of the keyboard because in order to make the characters the students have to hit two keys. I am amazed at the learning ability--Japanese students learn both Japanese and Chinese characters. The teacher invited me to play a game on the computer but it was in Japanese and I never quite figured it out.

At the end of the day we watched the brass band practice and Phil got to conduct the group. He is an orchestra teacher in Iowa. He said he wished his high school kids could play like this!!

I was struck by the independence of the children. I watched a group of first graders outside whose assignment was to "observe autumn." They each had little sketch pads and drew some of the best pictures I've seen of the changing leaves and other foliage. I didn't see anyone off task and the most surprising thing was the lack of adult supervision. When the chimes rang to signal the end of class the children quickly lined up near the entrance. Again, the children and adults clean the school in the afternoon. Older students are in charge of groups of younger students. They use products like Ajax and clean the bathrooms and mop.

Before dinner a group of us took a long walk around town and stopped at the visitor's center. Minamisoma is very proud of the horse festival that occurs every July.

This is a picture of my dinner. The English name of the restaurant means "May." It was a delicious sushi and sashimi--and yes, I that is squid and I did eat it.

Sunday thru Tuesday, Oct. 19-21, 2008

2008-10-21T06:16:00.007-05:00

Sunday was a travel day. I was among the few lucky ones who got to ride the bullet train. They can travel up to 240 miles an hour. I don't know if mine got up to that speed but we sure were hauling it!
We arrived in the capital city of Fukushima and visited the art museum. I can barely describe the setting--the museum is at the foot of the mountains. The picture doesn't even come close to how beautiful and peaceful it was. There was a exhibition of kimonos and silk screen prints by two Japanese artists who at 84 years of age are still very active in the art world.

My hotel room in Fukushima is small but comfortable. I also ate at my first ever conveyor belt sushi restaurant. It took me awhile to figure out what exactly to do. There was a water spigot sticking out of the bar and I didn't know what is was until I saw a couple make their tea with the hot water!! The sushi was delicious but I'm having to get used to it being at room temperature. That's how it's served here.

Monday we visited Fukushima University and saw how they train their first year teacher candidates and met with some of the faculty. Then we rode a bus to Minamisoma. The town has about 71, 000 people. That's a lot less than Tokyo's 12 million!

After lunch we visited city hall and met with the mayor of Minamisoma and the superintendent of the schools. I gave a speech to the mayor thanking him for the opportunity to visit his city. My interpreter said that it was a nice speech and it was well received. There were reporters there snapping pictures and taking names but so far we haven't made the paper yet! (Update: We made both the local papers!!)

We took a walking tour of the city before dinner. Then six of us ate at a place where your feet drop down. You pushed an egg shaped button that set off chimes to call your server to your table. It was more difficult getting in and out of than I thought it would be but I did it!! I thought I was ordering chicken but I really think it was calamari because it was chewy! It was good whatever it was!

Tuesday we visited the junior high school. The students were a lot more boisterous than I thought they would be but they seemed to be on task and they never showed any kind of disrespect to their teacher. We were introduced to them in an assembly in the gym and they all stood in rows by their classes and didn't make a sound. The students eat lunch in their rooms and they put on aprons and hats to serve one another and then they clean up afterwards. There was also a ten minute period in the afternoon where everyone --from the principal to the smallest 7th grader-- cleaned the building. I even saw two boys on their hands and knees wiping the floor. It was an amazing sight.

We went to an English classroom and the teacher was using a game to help with vocabulary. I felt bad because I misspelled autumn and cost my team points and ultimately 1st place but they were pretty good sports about it!

Tonight we used the laundromat. Several of us tried the pizza place with the funny name and it turned out to be a very good pizza!

Wow!!

2008-10-19T05:01:00.016-05:00

It's been a few days since I posted and you all wouldn't believe how much has been crammed into those few days!!

There was a welcome reception Wednesday night. (10/15) What struck me about the room was how high the ceiling was. This hotel is supposedly one of the largest in the world. It's been so nice staying here. I've been told the rooms are at least $400 a night.

Thursday 10/16--Got up at 5am and went to the world famous fish market. Its size cannot be described except to say that in every direction I turned it was market as far I could see. The general public isn't allowed to enter the tuna auctions but as we were walking back to peek through the small windows, someone opened up one of the big doors and left it up and so I watched a few minutes of it. We followed a tuna back to the stall where the men who bought it cut it up. The pictures show some of it as well as other cool things I saw.

Thursday night we went to 100 yen store. It's like our dollar stores. We used the subway and after a few moments of hesitation we figured it out. It is so clean inside the trains. That's my group as we are about to get on. After dinner we went to a place where we had to bend over to get through a little doorway. It was a small place with a great view and good jazz music.

The best but hardest part of Friday, October 18, 2008 was the presentation by this man, Mr. Keijiro Matsushima. He is a survivor of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. He gave a first hand account of the actual bombing and the horrific aftermath. It was gut-wrenching to hear what he had to say but the thing that will stay with me forever is that he is nice, warm, generally happy man. He says that he speaks out about what happened to him now so that no one will ever used the A-bomb again. A woman also spoke as the daughter of a survivor and she detailed her ailments including several buts with cancer. Both speakers talked of the danger of polarization and the need for humanity to realize that we are human beings first. It was a presentation I will never forget.

Saturday was the best day yet! My new friends Joe and Nick and I went to the Tokyo National Museum. After the tour, we walked in the gigantic park and came across an outdoor market. Then we headed to the Shibuya district where there is one of the busiest intersections in the world. I was even able to find Hachiko, the famous dog statue. The three of us had a great day--perfect pace with perfect company!! I am so happy to be visiting some of the places I've seen and heard about on TV. It is surreal at times--like a great dream!!

p.s. **Friday night, Joe W. and I walked to dinner out the front of the hotel. (I'd been walking out the backside.) We passed by a city park and hear crowd noises so we go to look. I couldn't believe my eyes--American football!! They had helmets and shoulder pads and were playing full contact. I don't know if it was a club or their ages but it was so funny and wonderful to see. We stayed for a few minutes and then went on to dinner. Cold sake and hot noodles!!

I AM FINALLY HERE!!!!!

2008-10-15T03:09:00.010-05:00

This post will be lengthy. It was a long journey, but I finally made it and I'm here in Tokyo. I am already loving this and I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity.

This was the sign that greeted us as we checked into the airport in San Francisco. The flight from San Francisco to Tokyo was 10 hours and 15 minutes. The worst part was the seats were not any bigger than regular airplane seats. I thought they would be. We were allowed to get up and move around a bit and that helped.

Even though I left SF at 11:30 Monday morning, I arrived in Tokyo Tuesday afternoon. That was weird for me. There are several people who are suffering from jet lag. I am doing ok I just don't have a very good grip on what time it is.

The Japanese government is called the Diet. It is similar to Parliament. We toured the building but were not allowed to take pictures inside. The lower house might be dissolved soon since the Prime Minister recently resigned.

This is a picture of a gate leading up to a Buddhist temple. The place was crowded because there was some sort of ceremony going on. As a foreigner I was not allowed in but I still enjoyed walking down the streets and standing outside the curtain of the temple.

That's me on the temple steps.

We were treated to a performance of traditional Japanese theater this afternoon. It was in the Kyogen style. It was a short play and had some humor to it.

This is a picture of one of the many vending machines I have seen. These were mostly juices and some water. The machines really are everywhere.

I can't believe I'm really here, doing what I've been looking forward to since March. I have met some wonderful people and know that the next 15 days will be a big adventure!

Here we go!!

2008-10-11T17:37:00.003-05:00

I fly to SF tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. I am so excited about this I can hardly stand it! I think I've packed everything. It only took like 5 tries! ;)

I will not post again until I'm in Japan, so come along with me on the biggest adventure of my life!! I am so grateful to my friends and family who send me off with love and best wishes! I love you all!!

It's Almost Time!!

2008-09-30T08:50:00.003-05:00

I leave in less than two weeks! I fly to San Francisco early in the morning on 10/12/2008. I have never been there. I am a little disappointed that I won't get to see any of the city but preparations for Japan are definitely more important! We have orientation Sunday afternoon and then a reception at the Consul General's house Sunday evening. 160 plus people in a house--this should be very interesting!

I am making my packing lists and gathering gifts for my hosts in Japan. The city of Mesquite gave me a very cool pen in the shape of a horse head (since Mesquite is known for the rodeo). I also have Texas Ranger Baseball playing cards. I hope that my host family likes sports!

Minamisoma, Fukushima, Japan

2008-08-24T08:12:00.003-05:00

I now know my host city!! I am very excited about this. Minamisoma is northeast of Tokyo. I'm still working on finding out more about the city but it's hard because the websites are in Japanese!!

A Very Nice Reception

2008-06-26T11:55:00.008-05:00

"The Consul-General of Japan and Mrs. Eiko Osawa cordially invite you to attend a reception to honor The 2008 Fullbright Memorial Fund Teachers on Thursday,
June 5, 2008 7:00 p.m."

The reception was held in the Consul-General's home. My mother and I went. I met several people who are going in October with me, including Amy, the woman in the black and white dress. She teaches in Arlington.

The whole evening was wonderful. Two speakers gave us insight into Japanese culture and tips about travelling to Japan. We were served a lovely buffet after the presentations. I took a picture of the great room of the home. All the regular furniture had been removed so that chairs could be set up in rows. The view of the front entry way is from the middle of the great room. I had such a nice time and our hosts were gracious and welcoming. It was nice to meet a few people that I will see again in October as we begin our trip.

The summer is passing quickly and I can hardly believe it is almost July already. Fall will be here before I know it and the trip will come with that. I am so honored to be a part of this.

Chopstick Help

2008-05-11T11:48:00.003-05:00

RK gave me the best present the other day. It's chopsticks held together like a very long clothespin. I am so happy!!! Now, I'll eat with chopsticks that I can use and not have to ask for a fork.

I should find out soon which city I will be sent to after my time in Tokyo. I also found out that I have one day in Tokyo to myself. I'm trying to decide what to do. It is such an amazing city!!

Clocks, sushi, and chopsticks

2008-05-01T13:10:00.004-05:00

Check out the clocks on the right! I love sushi. I am grateful to my sister, B, for introducing me to it. Some of the places I like to eat sushi are Mr. Sushi in Addison, Asian Mint, Sushi on McKinney, Kamikaze, and Iron Chefs. You can't go wrong with a good piece of yellow tail tuna.

I am not having much success with the chopstick lessons. They hurt my hand; however, I am not giving up. I will practice over the summer as much as I can and by the time I go, I will be able to eat with them. I must admit that I am considering buying the device at Pei Wei that allows you to cheat. It's a brace. Maybe if I'm discreet, no one will really notice.

I chose the theme of the bonsai because you're supposed to simply trim away what doesn't belong. I think that's good for bonsais and for life. I like for things to be simple. As I've grown older, I've discovered that I like less clutter in the house and in my life. Trimming away what isn't needed is a good idea.

I am so very excited!!

2008-04-16T10:33:00.003-05:00

I received the letter on a Saturday in March. I screamed so loudly that EB thought I had run into another lizard! I ran next door and told Scooter and the K's and I don't think my feet touched the ground for the rest of the day.

I leave in October and will be gone about 3 weeks. This blog will chronicle what is going on with the trip and I hope to post pictures of everything I see and do. There might not be a lot of posts between now and October.

I want to publicly thank all of my family and friends who have been so supportive of this trip and who are happy for me. At times I am overwhelmed at the prospect of taking a trip to such a far away place but am thrilled at the opportunity. Your love, support, and good wishes make it easy for me to do all that I do!!! I love you all.