The next time I talk to my Mom - it will be in PERSON! I'm SO EXCITED!!!!!!! We have a busy week planned, with trips to Nagoya, Hamamatsu, Kyoto and Tokyo. I can't wait to get started!
Since I won't be near my computer for a while, I decided to upload the rest of my pictures.
The first (and biggest batch) is from the Iyeyasu Parade. A famous Japanese leader (named Iyeyasu Tokugawa) was born in Okazaki and so....every year Okazaki hosts a parade to celebrate him. Many of my students marched in the parade, playing music or performing. And of course, the parade included many...many Samurai. A few foreigners are given the opportunity to join the Samurai and, thanks to knowing the right people, Dawn and I were given two spots. I wasn't sure what to expect but.........I certainly never imagined this. Dawn was put in the gun squad (they actually "fired" their guns!) and I was placed at the head of the band of foreigners. The armor was heavy and the shoes were made of straw and we walked for HOURS but it was certainly one of the most unique and unforgettable experiences of my life.
Second, I uploaded pictures of the cherry blossoms. I had hoped to get to Kyoto to see them - but unfortunately the blossoms are only around for about two weeks and I didn't have a chance to go during that brief time. But thankfully, Okazaki is a hot spot for cherry blossom viewing. And now, so is your computer screen.
Lastly, I uploaded a few pictures of my school classroom and my darling children. You can see those here.
That's it! I have to get to bed. I have to get up early and do some last minute cleaning/shopping before my Mom arrives.
Feel free to pray that she arrives safely.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Fall behind...Spring ahead...
I have definitely fallen behind, as Spring races ahead at full speed. In an attempt to catch up, I've turned down Sunday plans to clean, organize and update.
A lot's happened since I came back from Korea (though, admittedly, most if it was me trying to get well). But - one thing at a time....today's entry is only about Seoul.
It isn't fair to try and experience any city in three days, much less an entirely new culture. But Mika and I did the best we could, with the help of her incredibly kind Korean friend Jin. (Jin and Mika met while studying English in Canada.....so, the only language we had in common was English. Which was great for me, but strange, nonetheless.) In my brief, whirlwind visit here were the few interesting observations Mika and I made...
- In Japan, no one speaks English, allowing you to say ANYTHING in public at any time. In Korea, everyone speaks English. We learned this the hard way.
- Korean men are MUCH more attractive than Japanese men.
- Koreans are, in general, much taller than Japanese. I didn't feel like a lumbering giant for 3 whole days.
- Unlike Japan, Korean customer service is much more like American customer service (non existant)
- The Korean alphabet can be learned in 3 days or less
- Despite being so close to Japan, Korea is surprisingly different from Japan. They are INCREDIBLY Westernized. The buildings, the cars, the stores...it all felt like the downtown of any American city.
- Just because your currency is in 10,000s doesn't mean you have a lot of money.
- Don't try to convert 10,000 won to 750 yen to 1 dollar. It just doesn't work.
- Don't laugh too hard when your friend uses in a payphone at the hotel front desk to call her friend but accidentally calls the...hotel front desk. (Perhaps you just had to be there but there's really nothing funnier than seeing your friend turn around, look at the receptionist and say "I'm talking to you, aren't I?")
The pictures are here of course.
Mika has a few more I'd like to post, but I haven't gotten my hands on them yet.
Stay tuned...pictures of Arden and Dawn in the Okazaki Samurai parade will be coming soon....
A lot's happened since I came back from Korea (though, admittedly, most if it was me trying to get well). But - one thing at a time....today's entry is only about Seoul.
It isn't fair to try and experience any city in three days, much less an entirely new culture. But Mika and I did the best we could, with the help of her incredibly kind Korean friend Jin. (Jin and Mika met while studying English in Canada.....so, the only language we had in common was English. Which was great for me, but strange, nonetheless.) In my brief, whirlwind visit here were the few interesting observations Mika and I made...
- In Japan, no one speaks English, allowing you to say ANYTHING in public at any time. In Korea, everyone speaks English. We learned this the hard way.
- Korean men are MUCH more attractive than Japanese men.
- Koreans are, in general, much taller than Japanese. I didn't feel like a lumbering giant for 3 whole days.
- Unlike Japan, Korean customer service is much more like American customer service (non existant)
- The Korean alphabet can be learned in 3 days or less
- Despite being so close to Japan, Korea is surprisingly different from Japan. They are INCREDIBLY Westernized. The buildings, the cars, the stores...it all felt like the downtown of any American city.
- Just because your currency is in 10,000s doesn't mean you have a lot of money.
- Don't try to convert 10,000 won to 750 yen to 1 dollar. It just doesn't work.
- Don't laugh too hard when your friend uses in a payphone at the hotel front desk to call her friend but accidentally calls the...hotel front desk. (Perhaps you just had to be there but there's really nothing funnier than seeing your friend turn around, look at the receptionist and say "I'm talking to you, aren't I?")
The pictures are here of course.
Mika has a few more I'd like to post, but I haven't gotten my hands on them yet.
Stay tuned...pictures of Arden and Dawn in the Okazaki Samurai parade will be coming soon....
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