GTS/Ema and 11 travelers safely arrived in Kyoto!

At first in the O'Hare at 5am, there had been a problem for our flight/aircraft. Shortly after, they announced the change of aircraft and we got to San Francisco on time. We also left there on time and arrived in Kansai/Osaka before the scheduled time. Yet, because of many international flights' arrival at the same time, going through the custom took a while and we decided to take a direct bus trip to hotel from the Airport. Some had drinks at the airport while waiting the bus. After all everyone got to the hotel at 8pm! Well, some had still some energy left to go out to eat their dinner!. GTS and Ema returned home at 9:30pm but not sleepy as you can imagine the time difference! The program begins tomorrow with meeting with 2002 images of Buddha of Mercy (Kannon)!

GTS leaves for Japan in a few hours!

Spring "Sakura-viewing" Field trip to Japan will begin shortly with 11 members including 4 COD faculty members. Some faculty members of Yamaguchi Prefectural University(YPU) will join a part of the trip to "learn" its management from GTS. GTS will be one of the invited panelists in the Special Forum held in YPU on Wednesday during the field trip. While GTS makes Bullet Train trip to Yamaguchi (2.5 hours one way!), a teaching staff of Kyoto International Academy (KIA) will take care of the COD group. About dozen students signed up for summer study abroad in Kyoto (study at KIA in the morning!). We will get to Hiroshima via Narita (Tokyo) first by All Nippon Airways for a few days to study about "PEACE" prior to go to Kyoto by Bullet Train to meet all the host families and KIA staff.

GTS as an elected Board member for ATJ!

GTS has been elected through the general member election to serve as a three-year term board member of 'Association of Teachers of Japanese (ATJ),' one of the largest professional organization for Japanese studies in the USA. This organization, which was founded in 1963, has been playing an active role in the field of Japanese studies for as many years as GTS's life! GTS will bring the most up-dated information and opportunities to students who are interested in Japanese studies! GTS and 11 field study trip members will be in Kyoto this weekend!

GTS Trio's self invitation to Okonomiyaki Party!

GTS Trip and its associate invited themselves to GTS house where they wanted to eat Okonomiyaki (Hirosima Yaki) that they enjoyed during their study abroad trip last year! As usual, GTS Trio's tention had been constantly high and ate as much Okonomiyaki as possible before having after-Okonomiyaki Caribou coffee. Their unforgettable experience in Japan seemed to bond them together. Those trio members got friends among others through GTS Japanese class and JCC/GTS monthly dinner in the first place and grow themselves together in various capacity. I hope GTS class/trip/social-gathering continue to contribute to bringing new friendships to all.

Annual Japan Fest at OPRFHS!

The annual Japan festival was held at Oak Park & River Forest High School. Students in Japanese class there are really involved with its preparation and teachers and community members are also put utmost effort in it. Ema enjoyed two Taiko/Drum performances and Japanese traditional dance. She got her Doraemon face painting while doing brush calligraphy writing of Kanji (Kawa or 川). There are many other booths: California role booth, Yakisoba booth, Japanese snack booth, Origami booth, Nintendo booth, etc. From GTS classes, a few from 1102 and 2202 showed up with their friends and parents. I hope some will make it next year!

Over 15 members enjoyed JCC Dinner!

Under the unusually warm weather, over 15 people gathered for JCC monthly dinner and enjoyed chatting among others. Two came from U of I who are scheduled to leave next week for Japan for 1-semester study abroad before graduation, one who participated on the last summer study abroad program came from Waubonsee Community College area with over an hour drive. One, who is going to Japan with me during Spring break, came as well. 'GTS Trio minus one plus its ASSOCIATES' and current students in class also laugh and talk over the dinner! Next JCC dinner will be on 4/3/2009.
Why $50 short? Well, I hope that helped some students!!

First Friday of March is coming now!

Time really flies! The first Friday is coming in 2 days! I hope to see many GTS family members at dinner. The movie begins at 4 as usual. (see the JCC website!) Tomorrow (3/5/2009) is the first classroom meeting for the Spring break Japan trip during which I attend the Symposium held in 'Yamaguchi Prefectural University' as a panelist. There is a Japan Festival at Oak Park River Forest High School (OPRF) next Friday (3/13) beginning at 4:30pm. I hope to see some of you there as well. BTW, I went to Cook County Courthouse as a Juror-to-be for 1st degree murder case yesterday but fortunately I was dismissed early afternoon:) Lucky!