Sunny 5th day for Arashiyama Area

 The rain yesterday has stopped and had a very sunny day today.  City bus took us from the hotel directly to the Daikakuji Temple where we experienced Shakyo (Buddhist scripture writing)

We walked from Daikakuji to Nonomiya Shrine along the famous strolling course in Sagano. 

Incredibly many people were walking along the Bamboo sorrounded path.  After walking along Oi River to Togetsu Bridge, we had a two hour break befor enjoying full bloom SAKURA in Arashiyama park.

Nara Deer Park and the Giant Buddha on the 3rd day of the trip

Three different trains took us to Nara in the morning, and we walked to the World's Largest wooden building which housed Great Buddha image.

Exceptionally high heat caused a little modification of the daily plan to avoid acidents. 

Instead of heading to Kasuga Grand Shrine we went back to the train station area shopping street for lunch.

After lunch, we came back to Kyoto Station where we were we took bus to the hotel.

Another great day.

Conference in Hawaii!!

Association of Teachers of Japanese will have the annual conference in University of Hawaii this weekend in conjunction with the annual conference of Association for Asian Studies. As GTS is one of the conference organizers, I am in Hawaii now to be ready for it. Since I am in Hawaii, indeed, I am having some fun now at North Shore, Kailua, Dole Plantation, etc. I did swim with 2 daughters under nice sunshine! Last visit to Hawaii was summer 2005, so 5 years have passed. Hopefully I can come back here in Hawaii in 5 years again! Refreshing at least now!

3・11Easten Japan Great Earthquake!

First news of the earthquake came in Thursday night here in Chicago and to me it is quite usual to hear this kind of news from Japan. But when Tsunami news came in, I got so shocked before even looking at any photos as I was a civil engineering major at college and little better idea. Fortunately our family and relatives are all in Western Japan and did not feel any earthquake and Tsunami news is quite foreign/distant to them. COD Study Abroad will be in Kyoto and there is no negative effect from this disaster to the program and all the host families. The Western Japan centering in Kobe/Osaka had a similar devastating experience about 15 years ago but this once in 1000 year disaster really devastated Japan! Besides Japan is now suffering from 'Nuclear Power Station Trouble ' Throughout my high school and college time, I as well as many of my comrades, opposed to built 'Nuclear Power Station' as we know Japanese and many Asian people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII have been especially suffering from radiation by A-Bomb and accidents/natural disasters are inevitable. I sincerely hope that no innocent citizens be hurt by current situation in Fukushima, Japan. The earthquake 15 years ago killed about 6000. The number of this earthquake' victims seems to be reaching over 12000~13000. Japan and people in Japan (not only just a Japanese nationals) will rise again!

Ah! GTS Birthday today!

After the big snow storm, GTS birthday arrives. When I was born next to Silver Pavilion in Kyoto so many years ago, I heard that it was a big snow in Japan and everything was stopped except me coming out to this world. Usually no need to go to the office at college but after two-day unexpected off, I must catch up several things there as well as final preparation for the weekend workshop! Our little dog, TARO still has parasite to get rid of and I must bring his stool sample to the Animal Hospital. TARO loves snow just like other dogs but in order to avoid those harmful salt on the road, he was digging and running the snow backyard! Well, too much personal matters!

Blizzard closed the school but not GTS!

Once in 40 years blizzard attacked Chicago area and almost all the schools were closed. COD was closed right after 1102 students' taking the first chapter test this semester. Thanks to the Blizzard ironically created time for me to mark every test and find out who were "injured" and who were "defenced well." The average score of the test is just about 70% so I would say it was a bit harder but it was quite usual at the beginning of the semester. Blizzard gave more time for 2202 students to prepare the test due to the cancellation of the class so I am expecting that they will perform great on Monday! I am rather busy for organizing two up-coming workshops this weekend held at the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago! Oh, yea my birthday is coming up on Friday!

Cold weekend though expected!

As usual it was a cold weekend here in Chicago. No unnecessary outing has been recommended yet TARO likes to walk or skate on the backyard snow/ice. He stupidly lick some bricks and his tongue stuck to it out of coldness and cut slightly and got bloody a bit! Oh, he is fine now. He enjoyed the hot bath last night! I attended the information session for Japanese Saturday school over the weekend. Since my daughter EMA is in Japanese kindergarten now, she can begin her Japanese Saturday school next year not this year. Phew! Why? Cost of attending the Japanese Saturday school here in Chicago is HUGE if you are not a company employee of a Japanese company which belong to the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Chicago (JCCC)! I am just a teacher!!!!

Spring Semester 2011 is nearing! Greeting!

GTS hopes that every one's winter break was comforting and energy saving for the beginning of Year 2011. The rabbit year, hopping year, growing year, exploring year, exciting year, .... GTS family including newly added SHIBA-INU, Taro, DROVE down to the Disney World and certainly and safely returned home. How many miles? Just 2400 miles which is equal to the round trip between Hakodate in Hokkaido and Fukuoka in Kyushu! We welcomed the year 2011 in the car in Tennessee while driving back to Chicago. By the way I am writing this in San Francisco where I made a presentation about Japan Trip! Busy life continues in 2011. Spring semester is just around the corner and 2 classes (one is 1101, and another morning 1102) are now full! Night 1102 seems to have 14 more seats left, which I doubt is to be filled. The summer study abroad registration is now ready and I am holding a few successful application forms in hands now. Welcome to GTS page, classes, world and circle. Let's enjoy the rabbit year 2011 together!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

GTS family except TARO visited the friend's family house to have a lunch party! Nothing to do with turkey as chicken is tastier and eating turkey is quite foreign to us. Kids are having fun together and parents are talking about the kids' future. hahaha, sounds very non-unusual. After Thanksgiving, school matters will be wrapped up rather quickly. Weak dollar prevent GTS from visiting Japan this winter so I am planning to drive down to possibly FL towards the end of the year 2010. GTS will make a presentation on Jan. 7 as a panelist in San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf where the annual conference of Japanese Studies Association (JSA) is held! The topic? Of course about study abroad and international field studies! Oh, yeah, JCC/GTS dinner will be held on Friday 12/3/2010! Around 7pm! During the Spring semester, the dinner will be held on the SECOND Friday of the month for various reasons. My Japanese tweet is 'satsutan.' Can be fun for Japanese language study. Only 8 seats for 1101 in Spring are left! 1102 and 2202 still have plenty!

New Family member Taro (Shiba-Inu) joined!

Taro (born in 7/1/2010) joined my family since the day of the Halloween and he seems to be the center of all our family activities! 2 daughters of mine are happy to have younger brother and Taro has been still confused about whom he wants to play with. Taro accompanied our trip to Peoria where GTS attended the academic conference of ICTFL (Illinois Council on the Teaching of the Foreign Languages) and he behaved well though he might have experienced stress. Shiba-Inu is the smallest and smartest Japanese breed and I was longing to have it. Well, a dog will not betray us hopefully!

Shiba-inu join my family on the Halloween Night!

I grew up with dogs before coming to the US but I have never thought of having a dog at home here in the US simply because I cannot travel long! Despite the fact that many hardships are lying ahead, puppy "Taro" DECIDED to be with us the rest of his life! While there are many good points of having a dog at home with children, our responsibility is as huge as having another baby at home. I am just amazed that my wife decided to have a dog though she has never spent her time with a dog. I hope she can find joyful time as time goes by. How should we go to Japan? Oh, headache is already waiting for us!