Well, my last blog entry was about winter break, and now I see spring break quickly approaching its end! I guess I better get another entry written before summer break is on the way!
Although the last day of classes for fall semester was February 3, 2006, I have not actually been on break. I have been doing a lot of traveling for the program and for an interview in the US. I am also working on a research project that keeps me busy!
The Japan Study Program requires all of its year-long students to complete a spring practicum. There are different practicum choices, and they are in various locations in Japan. One of the things I am most proud of this year is that we were able to offer a new practicum for two of our students this year. With a lot of help from Ben and Lisa, we were able to tap into a wonderful situation in Niigata prefecture, in Gosen City. Because of Ben’s great relationship with Harai-sensei and others in the area, we have two students at a non-profit organization, one teaching preschool and one working with the elderly. Both students are having a wonderful experience! My friend and colleague, Michiyo, and I went to Niigata in January, braving the snow as Niigata prefecture has had a lot of snow! That was a successful trip, and we returned to Niigata a few weeks later to take the two students there.
Next Michiyo, David, and I accompanied 9 students to Shimane, one of the most remote of Japan’s prefectures. We took the overnight sleeper train, which was fun, but not the best night sleep, I’ve ever had. They made announcements over the loudspeaker all night long! We were treated well in Shimane and were taken to a temple, a wonderful museum with a Japanese garden (voted by some to be the best in Japan), a pottery factory, an arts museum, and a castle. We were also well-fed as a farmer and his wife prepared wonderful vegetarian meals for us on two consecutive evenings! In addition, Michiyo and I made good use of the hot springs bath at the traditional hotel where we stayed. We have seen many places in Japan, and surely Shimane is in competition for one of the most beautiful areas of Japan. The people were incredibly nice as well. You can view many of our photos of Shimane at
After two days in Shimane, David, Michiyo, and I headed to Tokyo, but Michiyo and I stopped for a few hours in Osaka, where we met two more students. We went to the city hall of one of the parts of Osaka where our students would be working. We also met their home-stay mothers. David had to teach that evening, so he continued on to Tokyo without us. Michiyo and I did not take time to relax in Osaka or to see any of the sites. In fact, we barely had time to purchase omiyage (small gifts) at the train station, which are an absolute must when traveling in Japan!
Our next adventure was to visit another student who is working at a Green Tourism site in Nagano prefecture. This small town is one of the areas that has had record snows this year, and Michiyo and I have the photos to prove it! This is also a new practicum site this year that the program may be able to develop into a regular practicum choice. This one, however, was found by the student, not by my family members. : ) Michiyo and I were very impressed with it, and for anyone looking for a great place to stay in rural Japan in order to go hiking or relaxing in the outdoors, I recommend this place. I’ll try to get the web address to post, but it is all in Japanese. The people are wonderful, however, and at least one person spoke English!
A few days later, we visited our three students who were working at a Chinese medicine company, Tsumura. (The company is Japanese, not Chinese. It is the medicine that is Chinese.) Our three students had been working with four Japanese engineering students on an operations research project at the company. Our students were part of the formal presentation to the company and had to prepare and speak in public in Japanese!! It was impressive. The company people were great and they loved our students. It made us proud, although I could not understand much about the project. It was one of those presentations that even if it had been in English, I am not sure I would have understood it. A couple of the company personnel took Michiyo and me to see the largest Buddha I have ever seen. It is in Ibaraki if anyone is interested in visiting the big Buddha.
A few days after the trip to Ibaraki, Michiyo and I boarded a shinkansen (the express trains in Japan) again. This time we accompanied 6 students to Okayama, where we left the students at a Zen Monastery. It was absolutely beautiful! I would have loved to have stayed with them and maybe some day, I too will spend time there! The students have to get up at 3:45 to begin their morning meditation. We’re hoping for warm weather as the monastery is not heated and they cannot wear socks during meditation.
A few days after the all-day trip to Okayama, I left for an interview in NY State. I left on Saturday March 4th and returned on Wednesday March 8th. (I actually had left on Tuesday, but the time difference is significant!) I hope to have more to report on the interview in a few weeks! Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Just about the time I was landing at Narita Airport, Michiyo was flying out on her way to the US for a little more than two weeks. She will be collecting data for her research, and she presented at a conference. After spending so much time together in February, it feels very strange to not see Michiyo regularly. I miss her and cannot wait for her to be back in Tokyo!
On Sunday, David and I went to Kamakura. Kamakura is about 1.5 hours from our apartment, so it was a good day trip. Kamakura is a seaport famous for its temples. It was the capitol of Japan for a period of time (more than 100 years) sometime in the 11th to 13th centuries. It is absolutely beautiful! We visited one shrine and one temple, and will have to go back to visit some of the other many temples in the area. We also had fun shopping in the more rural city. People in this city were so friendly to us. In Tokyo, people seldom offer assistance if someone is frowning while studying a map. In Kamakura, we had people even speaking to us in English (and some in Japanese), offering us assistance. The plum blossoms are in bloom and Japan is truly becoming even more beautiful!
While I was off traveling all over Japan, David continued to teach for various companies. He has gotten a lot of positive feedback from his students who would like to keep him as their teacher. However, since the contracts may extend past our expected departure date, he will be giving up some of his jobs.
Nice to finally hear about what is going on with the Gourds in Japan. The plum blossoms make me wish I was there. Not so, all of the snow!! Although I did enjoy watching the Winter Olympics that were at Nagano several Olympics ago. You both look as if the Japanese life is agreeing with you but that one picture made me wonder is David’s ponytail is gone or just hiding. I know the long hair was an issue. Whatever, you both look GREAT!
Hope to hear more, especially good news about the job interviews. We’ll be thinking good thoughts! !
Love, Margo
Looked like it was gone to me!