Monday, October 15, 2007
Kyoto
Sorry we haven't posted in a while. We were in a smaller village where internet connection wasn't available in our host families, but we are now done with the Rotary trip; we went yesterday to the district conference and had a good time. We even spoke a little on stage, in Japanese in front of 1000 people. Rome, they open the district conference with a Taiko show, I am sorry you weren't there to see. Mike taped it.
We took the bullet train this morning to Kyoto and are now just regular tourists. Kyoto is a different pace but wonderful to discover.
3 more days and we are back home!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Rome this is for you (by Seshiru)
Rome, I am sorry but I am not sure we went to the Taiko shop you said. However one day we were driving and suddenly I saw a Taiko shop in Aizu. So I screamed to the driver to stop so that I could take pictures.
I am also putting pictures of other "drums" (pardon me if I am not using the proper word), that we saw in front of shrines and temples and even close to a samourai village.
I am also putting pictures of other "drums" (pardon me if I am not using the proper word), that we saw in front of shrines and temples and even close to a samourai village.
Fun in the Outback. (Finally one by Joel)
We stayed at a Japanese Ryokan, which is a Japanese style room where you sit on the floor and sleep on a futon and no shower in the room. That’s right, no shower in the room. Everyone bathes in a central bath where you have a shower first and then climb into a hot spring tub for a soak. Of course the genders are separated.
The Ryokan is located in Kitakata at the foot of a dam. The scenery in this area is absolutely beautiful. I took a hike up the face of the dam to be met by a technician that seamed upset that I climbed the face of the dam instead of walking up the paved road adjacent to the mountains. I crossed over the dam to the opposite side of the valley and found a small canyon. While hiking up the canyon, I could hear a scratching and cracking sound. I hiked up the canyon in the direction of the sound and after rounding a small bend came to face a small heard of Japanese goats called Sorrow. Before I could get my camera up, three of the four goats disappeared into the brush. I managed to get a photo of the one remaining, but could still hear what sounded like eight in the brush. I decided to leave with the photos I had and hike down the mountain and across dam to the paved road that the technician pointed out.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Rotary Clubs (by Michael)
Although Fukushima prefecture (state) is the third largest of the 43 prefectures in Japan, it is rural and relatively sparsely populated. Consequently the clubs are modest size, 20-50 members. Our schedule is arranged for us to spend one week in four different regions of the District. The first was Fukushima City, population 200,000, with five clubs. This is where we had the elaborate Welcome Party. (I also played golf one day with three Rotarians). We just had our Farewell Party in the Aizu region with a very nice dinner. Aizu is further north and more mountainous. We stayed in Aizu-Wakamatsu and Kitakata. My host in Kitakata was a Past District Governor and classmate of PDG Val. He is an M.D. and owns a hospital and has everyone recite the Four-Way-Test at the morning staff meeting. We now go to the Chuo (Central) Region and Koriyama City, the largest city and most commercial. The last week is in the Kenchu Region. We attend the District Conference in Tamura City October 13-14.
We have attended four official club meetings and two very nice parties in our honor. The meetings are punctual and follow a prescribed format. Dress is coat and tie. Nevertheless, there is a lot of laughter and fellowship. The clubs seem to focus on community service projects.
We have been treated like royalty. The schedule has been full but not hectic. We each have stayed with four wonderful host families, but have also stayed at some very first rate hotels and hot spring spas.
The team is in good spirits and having fun. We have painted our own lacquer ware art; tasted lots of sake; tried on expensive kimonos; taken a hike in the mountains; and given several presentations in Japanese that were well received; and eaten all kinds of Japanese food that is new to us. So far, it has been a priceless experience.
We have attended four official club meetings and two very nice parties in our honor. The meetings are punctual and follow a prescribed format. Dress is coat and tie. Nevertheless, there is a lot of laughter and fellowship. The clubs seem to focus on community service projects.
We have been treated like royalty. The schedule has been full but not hectic. We each have stayed with four wonderful host families, but have also stayed at some very first rate hotels and hot spring spas.
The team is in good spirits and having fun. We have painted our own lacquer ware art; tasted lots of sake; tried on expensive kimonos; taken a hike in the mountains; and given several presentations in Japanese that were well received; and eaten all kinds of Japanese food that is new to us. So far, it has been a priceless experience.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Just Pictures
Thursday, September 27, 2007
In the country side
Everyone! We are staying in a very nice area in the country side, the city is called Kitakata. I (Cecile or as they say here "Seshiru") am staying in a farm; the family is absolutely wonderful and I get to take care of the chickens in the morning, eat fresh eggs and perfectly organic vegetables from the garden. The pace in this city is very different from the one before and it is perfect, it feels like a break, we are enjoying our time very very much all together though. Tonight will be the 3rd time we will be doing our presentation in Japanese and we are becoming quiet pros with our pronunciation.
We have seen so much we can't believe there is still 3 weeks left.
We miss you all.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Special note for Yosei.
Yosei you would be so proud of us speaking Japanese here. And I would like to note that Mike is pronouncing "Go Hyaku" very well every time. People seem to understand our presentation very well and we are getting compliments. Also, you are getting famous here because everyone is asking us who taught us to speak and we always talk about you.
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