ALL RIGHTY, EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING MY BLOG:
I HAVE SPENT LOTS OF TIME TONIGHT AND THIS MORNING UPDATING THE LAST FEW DAYS!! HOWEVER, WHEN YOU SCROLL DOWN YOU WILL SEE THAT LOTS OF MY TEXT IS MISSING FOR SOME REASON. WHEN YOU GET TO THE FIRST BIG WHITE BLANK SPOT, JUST CLICK ON OLDER POSTS AND THERE THEY ARE!! DON'T KNOW WHY OR HOW THAT HAPPENED, BUT THANK GOODNESS ALL MY WRITING AND EXPLANATIONS OF PHOTOS ARE THERE. HOPE YOU CAN DO IT!
THIS IS THE END OF MY BLOGGING UNTIL I GET HOME TO THE USA. TOMORROW I WILL BE IN MEETINGS ALL DAY FINISHING UP MY LESSONS ON JAPAN. I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY ENJOYED SEEING MY PHOTOS AND READING ALL ABOUT MY TRIP!! MRS. FRIEDLANDER'S CLASS, I WROTE YOU A LONG ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTIONS, BE SURE TO CLICK ON OLDER POSTS, IT'S THERE!! THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ALONG WITH MY STUDENTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
TO ROOM 201, I CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK AND TEACH YOU ALL ABOUT JAPAN. I HAVE SO MANY ACTIVITIES PLANNED!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! I HOPE YOU EARNED YOUR PARTY, DID YOU??? LET ME KNOW!!
TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THANKS FOR YOUR EMAILS, YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR POSTS AND YOUR SUPPORT!! I'M SO GLAD YOU SHARED THIS TRIP WITH ME!!
SAYONARA, EVERYBODY!! I'LL BE BACK HOME LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND WILL TALK TO EVERYONE OVER THE WEEKEND!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
SUNDAY NIGHT
WELL, AS USUAL, I AM DOING THINGS BACKWARDS. I SHOULD HAVE ENDED MY SUNDAY WITH THIS POST, BUT I GOT MESSED UP. THERE ARE MANY, MANY NEW THINGS ON THIS BLOG TODAY, SO MAKE SURE YOU SEE EVERYTHING!! SUNDAY NIGHT WAS FANTASTIC! AFTER WE ALL SAID GOOD BYE TO OUR HOST FAMILIES, WE GOT ON THE BUS AND WERE TAKEN TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOTEL I HAVE EVER SEEN. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT WE WERE STAYING THERE. WE HAD TO SLEEP 3 IN A ROOM AND ON THE FLOOR, AGAIN!!! THE BEDMATS WERE MUCH THICKER THAN LAST NIGHT'S AND THERE WAS A FLUFFY, THICK BLANKET. IT WAS AWESOME. AFTER A QUICK SWIM IN THEIR POOL WE PUT ON KIMONA ROBES THAT WERE IN OUR ROOMS AND HAD A SPECIAL DINNER, ON THE FLOOR!! HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF US AT DINNER AND THE FOOD WE ATE. THE FOOD WAS BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT, BUT I DIDN'T EAT MUCH OF IT. I'M SUCH A BABY!! IT WAS A VERY FUN NIGHT AND THE TEACHERS WERE ACTING VERY SILLY!!!
SUNDAY WITH MY HOST FAMILY
O-HI-O, 201!!!
JUST THINK, IN TWO DAYS I WILL BE HOME, BACK IN THE USA!! YOU WILL SEE ME FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING!! GET READY FOR AN EXCITING DAY! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE EVERYBODY!!
THE PICTURES I PUT UP TONIGHT ARE ABOUT SUNDAY WITH MY HOST FAMILY. FIRST I WOKE UP TO THE MOST INCREDIBLE BREAKFAST I HAVE EVER HAD. THERE WAS SO MUCH FOOD THAT I DID NOT WANT TO EAT THE REST OF THE DAY!! BUT, I DID, OF COURSE! AFTER BREAKFAST WE WENT TO AN OKINAWAN FESTIVAL. LOTS OF PEOPLE SELLING FOODS, CLOWNS WALKING AROUND, BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, GAMES FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY AND FUN THINGS TO SEE AND DO. I LOVED IT! NEXT WE WENT TO A SPECIAL PLACE CALLED PEACE MEMORIAL PARK. MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, JAPAN WAS INVOLVED IN WORLD WAR 2 AND THERE WAS A TERRIBLE BATTLE RIGHT IN OKINAWA. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE WERE KILLED. WE ALL KNOW THAT WAR IS BAD. THIS PARK IS TO REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WHO DIED AND THOSE WHO SURVIVED. I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE PRETTIEST PLACES I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. IT MADE ME SAD TO READ ALL ABOUT THAT BATTLE IN THE MUSEUM AT THE PARK.
WHEN WE WERE DONE THE PARK WE STOPPED AT KFC FOR FRIED CHICKEN. WE WERE LAUGHING AND LAUGHING AS WE ATE IT IN THE CAR. NEXT WE HAD TO GO BACK TO CITY HALL AS IT WAS TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE AND I HAD TO MEET ALL THE TEACHERS. WHEN I HUGGED THE MOM AND THE GIRLS GOOD BYE, WE ALL STARTED TO CRY. EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ONLY KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR 2 DAYS, IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL TWO DAYS. I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER SEE THEM AGAIN, BUT THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE THE INTERNET!!! IT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL WEEKEND FOR ME AND I LEARNED SO MANY MORE THINGS ABOUT FAMILY LIFE IN JAPAN!!
JUST THINK, IN TWO DAYS I WILL BE HOME, BACK IN THE USA!! YOU WILL SEE ME FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING!! GET READY FOR AN EXCITING DAY! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE EVERYBODY!!
THE PICTURES I PUT UP TONIGHT ARE ABOUT SUNDAY WITH MY HOST FAMILY. FIRST I WOKE UP TO THE MOST INCREDIBLE BREAKFAST I HAVE EVER HAD. THERE WAS SO MUCH FOOD THAT I DID NOT WANT TO EAT THE REST OF THE DAY!! BUT, I DID, OF COURSE! AFTER BREAKFAST WE WENT TO AN OKINAWAN FESTIVAL. LOTS OF PEOPLE SELLING FOODS, CLOWNS WALKING AROUND, BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, GAMES FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY AND FUN THINGS TO SEE AND DO. I LOVED IT! NEXT WE WENT TO A SPECIAL PLACE CALLED PEACE MEMORIAL PARK. MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, JAPAN WAS INVOLVED IN WORLD WAR 2 AND THERE WAS A TERRIBLE BATTLE RIGHT IN OKINAWA. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE WERE KILLED. WE ALL KNOW THAT WAR IS BAD. THIS PARK IS TO REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WHO DIED AND THOSE WHO SURVIVED. I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE PRETTIEST PLACES I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. IT MADE ME SAD TO READ ALL ABOUT THAT BATTLE IN THE MUSEUM AT THE PARK.
WHEN WE WERE DONE THE PARK WE STOPPED AT KFC FOR FRIED CHICKEN. WE WERE LAUGHING AND LAUGHING AS WE ATE IT IN THE CAR. NEXT WE HAD TO GO BACK TO CITY HALL AS IT WAS TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE AND I HAD TO MEET ALL THE TEACHERS. WHEN I HUGGED THE MOM AND THE GIRLS GOOD BYE, WE ALL STARTED TO CRY. EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ONLY KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR 2 DAYS, IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL TWO DAYS. I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER SEE THEM AGAIN, BUT THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE THE INTERNET!!! IT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL WEEKEND FOR ME AND I LEARNED SO MANY MORE THINGS ABOUT FAMILY LIFE IN JAPAN!!
SHIBUYA
HERE IS ANOTHER VERY BUSY PART OF TOKYO. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE BUSY PARTS, PEOPLE WALKING AND SHOPPING ALL THE TIME!! COMING AND GOING, COMING AND GOING. IT'S CRAZY!!!
Monday, October 27, 2008
O-HI-O, MRS. FRIEDLANDER'S CLASS!
HELLO, 5TH GRADERS AND MY SECOND GRADERS!
MRS. FRIEDLANDER'S CLASS HAD LOTS OF QUESTIONS FOR ME. HERE ARE THE ANSWERS:
1. IS PIZZA LIKE OURS? YES AND NO. THEIR PIZZA CRUST IS VERY THIN, VERY THIN AND DELICIOUS. THE TOPPINGS ARE THE SAME AS OURS, BUT THEY LOVE POTATOES AND YOU CAN GET YOUR PIZZA WITH FRENCH FRIES, WAFFLE FRIES, SKINNY FRIES, FAT FRIES, ANY TYPE OF FRIES. IT WAS GOOD!
2. HOW MANY ROOMS DID THE HOST FAMILY'S HOME HAVE? I THINK I WAS IN A RATHER LARGE HOUSE FOR A JAPANESE FAMILY. THERE WAS A GUEST ROOM, WHERE I SLEPT, KITCHEN AND FAMILY ROOM ALL IN ONE, A SEPARATE ROOM FOR THE SMALL TEMPLE I TOLD YOU ABOUT AND A BATHROOM. UPSTAIRS WERE 3 VERY SMALL BEDROOMS. EACH CHILD HAD THEIR OWN ROOM. EACH ROOM HAS A BALCONY, WHICH WAS COOL. NOBODY HAS CLOTHES DRYERS, SO ALL CLOTHES ARE HUNG OUTSIDE ON EACH PERSON'S BALCONY. I WOULD NOT LIKE THAT!! IN THE OKINAWAN SUN THE CLOTHES DRY VERY QUICKLY. MANY OF MY FRIENDS WERE HOSTED IN SMALL APARTMENTS. ALL THE APARTMENTS HAVE BALCONIES AND ALL THE CLOTHES ARE HANGING ON THE BALCONIES, ALL OVER OKINAWA.
3. WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES LIKE? WELL, THE SAME AS OURS, I GUESS. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I DID NOT SEE A LOT OF BINDERS, BUT SMALL NOTEBOOKS. THE TEXTBOOKS ARE VERY THIN, ALSO. BUT THE ELEMENTARY CHILDREN ALL HAD PENCIL CASES FILLED WITH PENCILS, ERASERS, ETC. EVERY SINGLE ELEMENTARY CHILD IN ALL OF JAPAN MUST BUY THE SAME SCHOOL BAG: HARD CASES, RED FOR GIRLS, BLACK FOR BOYS. EACH CASE IS $100 AND LASTS THE CHILD FROM FIRST GRADE TO SIXTH GRADE. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?? THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS ALL CARRIED NIKE DUFFLE BAGS, LOOKS LIKE SPORTS BAGS. THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS CARRIED WHATEVER THEY WANTED.
4. DO THEY CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN? WELL, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS ALL OVER JAPAN, SHOCKED!! APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY NEW THING IN JAPAN TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN. FROM WHAT PEOPLE TOLD ME, THEY JUST LIKE DECORATING, BUT DON'T REALLY DO THE TRICK OR TREATING THING AND PARTIES.
5. ARE THE KIDS THE SAME AS OUR KIDS? NOW, THIS IS A TRICKY QUESTION. I FOUND THE CHILDREN TO BE MUCH MORE RESPECTFUL THAN AMERICAN CHILDREN. (SORRY, ROOM 201) THEY HAVE TOTAL RESPECT FOR THE TEACHERS AND ADULTS. THE LITTLE CHILDREN WERE PRECIOUS AND EVERY BIT AS CUTE AS MY SECOND GRADERS. THEY LAUGHED, PLAYED, GOT SILLY, LOVED TO DANCE, LOVED TO BE TALKED TO, ETC. ETC. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS WERE THE SAME WAY. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS LOVED HANNAH MONTANA AND THE JONAS BROTHERS. THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WERE NOT AS OUTGOING. THE TEACHERS TOLD US THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS DOING THEIR WORK, BEING MOTIVATED, STAYING OFF CELL PHONES, ETC. I SUPPOSE JUST LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!! SO, YES, THEY ARE LIKE YOU GUYS!!
I THINK THAT ANSWERS ALL YOUR QUESTIONS. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE OTHERS. I AM ATTACHING A FEW MORE PHOTOS ABOUT THE TOILETS. THEY HAVE TWO TYPES OF TOILETS IN JAPAN: JAPANESE STYLE AND WESTERN STYLE. JAPANESE STYLE IS A TOILET ON THE GROUND AND YOU HAVE TO SQUAT. WESTERN STYLE IS OUR STYLE. BOTH TYPES OF TOILETS ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER, SOME PLACES ONLY HAD THE JAPANESE STYLE. CAN YOU IMAGINE?? CHECK THESE OUT! I WILL ALSO ATTACH A FEW OTHER THINGS! MORE UPDATES TO COME LATER ON. I AM GOING TO TAKE ART CLASSES ALL MORNING! I HOPE I LEARN SOME COOL JAPANESE ART TO DO WITH ROOM 201. IF I DO, I'LL GIVE THE IDEAS TO MRS. FRIEDLANDER!! I WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU GUYS ONE DAY. PERHAPS ONE DAY WHEN LOWER MERION HAS SCHOOL AND PHILA. DOESN'T, I'LL COME IN!! HAVE A GOOD DAY, EVERYONE!
MRS. FRIEDLANDER'S CLASS HAD LOTS OF QUESTIONS FOR ME. HERE ARE THE ANSWERS:
1. IS PIZZA LIKE OURS? YES AND NO. THEIR PIZZA CRUST IS VERY THIN, VERY THIN AND DELICIOUS. THE TOPPINGS ARE THE SAME AS OURS, BUT THEY LOVE POTATOES AND YOU CAN GET YOUR PIZZA WITH FRENCH FRIES, WAFFLE FRIES, SKINNY FRIES, FAT FRIES, ANY TYPE OF FRIES. IT WAS GOOD!
2. HOW MANY ROOMS DID THE HOST FAMILY'S HOME HAVE? I THINK I WAS IN A RATHER LARGE HOUSE FOR A JAPANESE FAMILY. THERE WAS A GUEST ROOM, WHERE I SLEPT, KITCHEN AND FAMILY ROOM ALL IN ONE, A SEPARATE ROOM FOR THE SMALL TEMPLE I TOLD YOU ABOUT AND A BATHROOM. UPSTAIRS WERE 3 VERY SMALL BEDROOMS. EACH CHILD HAD THEIR OWN ROOM. EACH ROOM HAS A BALCONY, WHICH WAS COOL. NOBODY HAS CLOTHES DRYERS, SO ALL CLOTHES ARE HUNG OUTSIDE ON EACH PERSON'S BALCONY. I WOULD NOT LIKE THAT!! IN THE OKINAWAN SUN THE CLOTHES DRY VERY QUICKLY. MANY OF MY FRIENDS WERE HOSTED IN SMALL APARTMENTS. ALL THE APARTMENTS HAVE BALCONIES AND ALL THE CLOTHES ARE HANGING ON THE BALCONIES, ALL OVER OKINAWA.
3. WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES LIKE? WELL, THE SAME AS OURS, I GUESS. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I DID NOT SEE A LOT OF BINDERS, BUT SMALL NOTEBOOKS. THE TEXTBOOKS ARE VERY THIN, ALSO. BUT THE ELEMENTARY CHILDREN ALL HAD PENCIL CASES FILLED WITH PENCILS, ERASERS, ETC. EVERY SINGLE ELEMENTARY CHILD IN ALL OF JAPAN MUST BUY THE SAME SCHOOL BAG: HARD CASES, RED FOR GIRLS, BLACK FOR BOYS. EACH CASE IS $100 AND LASTS THE CHILD FROM FIRST GRADE TO SIXTH GRADE. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?? THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS ALL CARRIED NIKE DUFFLE BAGS, LOOKS LIKE SPORTS BAGS. THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS CARRIED WHATEVER THEY WANTED.
4. DO THEY CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN? WELL, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS ALL OVER JAPAN, SHOCKED!! APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY NEW THING IN JAPAN TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN. FROM WHAT PEOPLE TOLD ME, THEY JUST LIKE DECORATING, BUT DON'T REALLY DO THE TRICK OR TREATING THING AND PARTIES.
5. ARE THE KIDS THE SAME AS OUR KIDS? NOW, THIS IS A TRICKY QUESTION. I FOUND THE CHILDREN TO BE MUCH MORE RESPECTFUL THAN AMERICAN CHILDREN. (SORRY, ROOM 201) THEY HAVE TOTAL RESPECT FOR THE TEACHERS AND ADULTS. THE LITTLE CHILDREN WERE PRECIOUS AND EVERY BIT AS CUTE AS MY SECOND GRADERS. THEY LAUGHED, PLAYED, GOT SILLY, LOVED TO DANCE, LOVED TO BE TALKED TO, ETC. ETC. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS WERE THE SAME WAY. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS LOVED HANNAH MONTANA AND THE JONAS BROTHERS. THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WERE NOT AS OUTGOING. THE TEACHERS TOLD US THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS DOING THEIR WORK, BEING MOTIVATED, STAYING OFF CELL PHONES, ETC. I SUPPOSE JUST LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!! SO, YES, THEY ARE LIKE YOU GUYS!!
I THINK THAT ANSWERS ALL YOUR QUESTIONS. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE OTHERS. I AM ATTACHING A FEW MORE PHOTOS ABOUT THE TOILETS. THEY HAVE TWO TYPES OF TOILETS IN JAPAN: JAPANESE STYLE AND WESTERN STYLE. JAPANESE STYLE IS A TOILET ON THE GROUND AND YOU HAVE TO SQUAT. WESTERN STYLE IS OUR STYLE. BOTH TYPES OF TOILETS ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER, SOME PLACES ONLY HAD THE JAPANESE STYLE. CAN YOU IMAGINE?? CHECK THESE OUT! I WILL ALSO ATTACH A FEW OTHER THINGS! MORE UPDATES TO COME LATER ON. I AM GOING TO TAKE ART CLASSES ALL MORNING! I HOPE I LEARN SOME COOL JAPANESE ART TO DO WITH ROOM 201. IF I DO, I'LL GIVE THE IDEAS TO MRS. FRIEDLANDER!! I WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU GUYS ONE DAY. PERHAPS ONE DAY WHEN LOWER MERION HAS SCHOOL AND PHILA. DOESN'T, I'LL COME IN!! HAVE A GOOD DAY, EVERYONE!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH
DEAR EVERYBODY,
SATURDAY WAS THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE DAY FOR ME, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I CAN EXPLAIN IT! THIS WAS THE DAY I MET MY FAMILY THAT I WAS GOING TO SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH. OH BOY, WAS I NERVOUS. I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS: WOULD THEY SPEAK ENGLISH? WOULD THEY LIKE ME? WOULD I LIKE THEM? WOULD I HAVE TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR? WHAT WOULD THEIR BATHROOM BE LIKE?? OH, SO NERVOUS! BUT, GUESS WHAT? I DID NOT HAVE TO BE NERVOUS AT ALL BECAUSE WE LIKED EACH OTHER INSTANTLY. FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT WE WERE ALL TAKEN TO A RESTAURANT WHERE EACH OF OUR FAMILIES WERE WAITING FOR US. IT WAS AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT AND THEY HAD PIZZA AND PASTA. YEAH!!!! THE FATHER AND THE DAUGHTER WERE THERE TO MEET ME. THE MOTHER WAS AT WORK, AND THEIR 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS AT BASEBALL PRACTICE. SO, WE MET AND SHOOK HANDS AND ATE PIZZA TOGETHER. THEY DID NOT SPEAK A LOT OF ENGLISH, BUT WE MANAGED TO COMMUNICATE. NEXT SOME JAPANESE DANCERS PERFORMED FOR US AND EVERYBODY GOT UP AND DANCED. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN!
AFTER THAT WE LEFT TO GO TO THEIR HOUSE. I WAS SO EXCITED TO GO INTO A JAPANESE HOUSE. I WALKED IN AND HAD TO TAKE MY SHOES OFF RIGHT AWAY, OF COURSE!! IN THE HALLWAY THEY HAVE A CABINET JUST FOR SHOES. THERE ARE NO SHOES KEPT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE HOUSE, EVERYBODY'S SHOES MUST BE IN THE HALL CABINET. NEXT I MET THE MOTHER. SHE WAS JUST AS EXCITED TO SEE ME AS I WAS TO SEE HER. SHE SERVED ME RITZ CRACKERS AND HERSHEY KISSES. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD THOSE FOODS THERE. AFTER THAT I MET THE NIECE, THE NIECE'S BOYFRIEND AND THE DAUGHTER'S FRIEND. GOOD NEWS: THE DAUGHTER'S FRIEND NAMED TOMOMI SPOKE ENGLISH. SHE WAS OUR TRANSLATOR FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND. HER ENGLISH WAS PRETTY GOOD, TOO. I WAS SO THANKFUL SHE WAS WITH US. I LIKED EVERYBODY AND THEY SEEMED TO LIKE ME. I HAD BROUGHT PRESENTS FROM THE USA. I GAVE THEM BOOKS ABOUT PHILADELPHIA, EAGLES T-SHIRTS, A SMALL LIBERTY BELL, PICTURES OF YOU GUYS AND OF MY FAMILY AND SOME HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATES. WHEN THEY SAW THE HERSHEY KISSES THEY ALL LAUGHED. THEY THOUGHT THAT YOU CHILDREN WERE BEAUTIFUL!! THEY LOVED THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN!!
NEXT IT WAS TIME TO GO SIGHTSEEING. WE WENT TO A VERY OLD CASTLE, WHICH WAS MAGNIFICENT!!! YOU WILL SEE THE PHOTOS! WHEN WE WERE WALKING BACK TO THE CAR WE PASSED AN OBAMA POSTER. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT IN JAPAN?? I WENT IN THE STORE AND AM AMERICAN MAN NAMED CHARLIE WAS INSIDE. HE WAS THE SHOP'S OWNER AND I HAD WALKED INTO AN AMERICAN BOOK STORE. IT WAS AWESOME. WE TALKED FOREVER AND TOOK A PHOTO TOGETHER. DO YOU SEE WHO IS ON HIS PILLOW?
AFTER THAT WE WENT TO THEIR GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE FOR DINNER. GRANDFATHER COOKED A JAPANESE FOOD CALLED TEMPURA. OH MY GOODNESS, IT WAS THE BEST!! IT WAS FISH AND ALL TYPES OF VEGETABLES COATED IN A BATTER AND FRIED LIGHTLY. THERE WAS RICE AND SOUP WITH NOODLES. WE ATE ON THE FLOOR, OF COURSE. THEN THEY HAD ME TRY ON TWO GORGEOUS KIMONAS. I FELT SO SPECIAL. WE DANCED AND SANG AND LAUGHED AND IT WAS GREAT!! EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T SPEAK MUCH ENGLISH AND I SPOKE NO JAPANESE WE ALL GOT ALONG AND HAD A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT! I HATED TO LEAVE, BUT GRANDFATHER WAS TIRED FROM ALL THAT COOKING AND SO WAS GRANDMOTHER.
WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THEIR HOUSE IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO TAKE A JAPANESE BATH. THAT WAS INTERESTING. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THEY TOLD US AT THE JAPANESE HOUSE IN PHILADELPHIA? FIRST YOU WASH YOURSELF OUTSIDE OF THE TUB AND THEN YOU GET IN THE TUB JUST TO SOAK AND RELAX. I LIKED IT!! THE TUB WAS VERY DEEP AND VERY HOT. IT WAS A NICE EXPERIENCE. FINALLY IT WAS BEDTIME. GUESS WHERE I HAD TO SLEEP?? YUP, ON THE FLOOR. THE MOTHER WENT RIGHT TO A CLOSET AND PULLED OUT THE THIN MATTRESS, PILLOW AND BLANKETS. I WAS AFRAID THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP, BUT I HAD NO PROBLEM. I HAD THE MOST FANTASTIC DAY EVER!!!
I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO WRITE, BUT THIS IS ENOUGH FOR TODAY!! I HOPE YOU ARE ALL BEHAVING. ONE WEEK FROM TODAY I WILL BE BACK!!! I MISS YOU ALL! BE GOOD FOR MRS. WELDON ON YOUR LAST WEEK!! LOVE, ME!!!
SATURDAY WAS THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE DAY FOR ME, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I CAN EXPLAIN IT! THIS WAS THE DAY I MET MY FAMILY THAT I WAS GOING TO SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH. OH BOY, WAS I NERVOUS. I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS: WOULD THEY SPEAK ENGLISH? WOULD THEY LIKE ME? WOULD I LIKE THEM? WOULD I HAVE TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR? WHAT WOULD THEIR BATHROOM BE LIKE?? OH, SO NERVOUS! BUT, GUESS WHAT? I DID NOT HAVE TO BE NERVOUS AT ALL BECAUSE WE LIKED EACH OTHER INSTANTLY. FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT WE WERE ALL TAKEN TO A RESTAURANT WHERE EACH OF OUR FAMILIES WERE WAITING FOR US. IT WAS AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT AND THEY HAD PIZZA AND PASTA. YEAH!!!! THE FATHER AND THE DAUGHTER WERE THERE TO MEET ME. THE MOTHER WAS AT WORK, AND THEIR 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS AT BASEBALL PRACTICE. SO, WE MET AND SHOOK HANDS AND ATE PIZZA TOGETHER. THEY DID NOT SPEAK A LOT OF ENGLISH, BUT WE MANAGED TO COMMUNICATE. NEXT SOME JAPANESE DANCERS PERFORMED FOR US AND EVERYBODY GOT UP AND DANCED. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN!
AFTER THAT WE LEFT TO GO TO THEIR HOUSE. I WAS SO EXCITED TO GO INTO A JAPANESE HOUSE. I WALKED IN AND HAD TO TAKE MY SHOES OFF RIGHT AWAY, OF COURSE!! IN THE HALLWAY THEY HAVE A CABINET JUST FOR SHOES. THERE ARE NO SHOES KEPT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE HOUSE, EVERYBODY'S SHOES MUST BE IN THE HALL CABINET. NEXT I MET THE MOTHER. SHE WAS JUST AS EXCITED TO SEE ME AS I WAS TO SEE HER. SHE SERVED ME RITZ CRACKERS AND HERSHEY KISSES. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD THOSE FOODS THERE. AFTER THAT I MET THE NIECE, THE NIECE'S BOYFRIEND AND THE DAUGHTER'S FRIEND. GOOD NEWS: THE DAUGHTER'S FRIEND NAMED TOMOMI SPOKE ENGLISH. SHE WAS OUR TRANSLATOR FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND. HER ENGLISH WAS PRETTY GOOD, TOO. I WAS SO THANKFUL SHE WAS WITH US. I LIKED EVERYBODY AND THEY SEEMED TO LIKE ME. I HAD BROUGHT PRESENTS FROM THE USA. I GAVE THEM BOOKS ABOUT PHILADELPHIA, EAGLES T-SHIRTS, A SMALL LIBERTY BELL, PICTURES OF YOU GUYS AND OF MY FAMILY AND SOME HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATES. WHEN THEY SAW THE HERSHEY KISSES THEY ALL LAUGHED. THEY THOUGHT THAT YOU CHILDREN WERE BEAUTIFUL!! THEY LOVED THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN!!
NEXT IT WAS TIME TO GO SIGHTSEEING. WE WENT TO A VERY OLD CASTLE, WHICH WAS MAGNIFICENT!!! YOU WILL SEE THE PHOTOS! WHEN WE WERE WALKING BACK TO THE CAR WE PASSED AN OBAMA POSTER. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT IN JAPAN?? I WENT IN THE STORE AND AM AMERICAN MAN NAMED CHARLIE WAS INSIDE. HE WAS THE SHOP'S OWNER AND I HAD WALKED INTO AN AMERICAN BOOK STORE. IT WAS AWESOME. WE TALKED FOREVER AND TOOK A PHOTO TOGETHER. DO YOU SEE WHO IS ON HIS PILLOW?
AFTER THAT WE WENT TO THEIR GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE FOR DINNER. GRANDFATHER COOKED A JAPANESE FOOD CALLED TEMPURA. OH MY GOODNESS, IT WAS THE BEST!! IT WAS FISH AND ALL TYPES OF VEGETABLES COATED IN A BATTER AND FRIED LIGHTLY. THERE WAS RICE AND SOUP WITH NOODLES. WE ATE ON THE FLOOR, OF COURSE. THEN THEY HAD ME TRY ON TWO GORGEOUS KIMONAS. I FELT SO SPECIAL. WE DANCED AND SANG AND LAUGHED AND IT WAS GREAT!! EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T SPEAK MUCH ENGLISH AND I SPOKE NO JAPANESE WE ALL GOT ALONG AND HAD A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT! I HATED TO LEAVE, BUT GRANDFATHER WAS TIRED FROM ALL THAT COOKING AND SO WAS GRANDMOTHER.
WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THEIR HOUSE IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO TAKE A JAPANESE BATH. THAT WAS INTERESTING. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THEY TOLD US AT THE JAPANESE HOUSE IN PHILADELPHIA? FIRST YOU WASH YOURSELF OUTSIDE OF THE TUB AND THEN YOU GET IN THE TUB JUST TO SOAK AND RELAX. I LIKED IT!! THE TUB WAS VERY DEEP AND VERY HOT. IT WAS A NICE EXPERIENCE. FINALLY IT WAS BEDTIME. GUESS WHERE I HAD TO SLEEP?? YUP, ON THE FLOOR. THE MOTHER WENT RIGHT TO A CLOSET AND PULLED OUT THE THIN MATTRESS, PILLOW AND BLANKETS. I WAS AFRAID THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP, BUT I HAD NO PROBLEM. I HAD THE MOST FANTASTIC DAY EVER!!!
I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO WRITE, BUT THIS IS ENOUGH FOR TODAY!! I HOPE YOU ARE ALL BEHAVING. ONE WEEK FROM TODAY I WILL BE BACK!!! I MISS YOU ALL! BE GOOD FOR MRS. WELDON ON YOUR LAST WEEK!! LOVE, ME!!!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER, OCTOBER 24TH
DEAR ROOM 201 AND MRS. FRIEDLANDER'S CLASS,
HELLO, EVERYONE!! GUESS WHAT,201: MY FRIEND, MRS. FRIEDLANDER, FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL, TEACHERS FIFTH GRADE AND HER CLASS IS ALSO FOLLOWING MY BLOG!! I AM SO HAPPY THAT MRS. FRIEDLANDER'S KIDS ARE ENJOYING MY PHOTOS AND STORIES!! FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS, 5TH GRADE!! I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THEM IF I CAN!!
ANYWAY, EVERYBODY, I HAVE NOT WRITTEN SINCE FRIDAY AND I AM VERY SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT I HAVE BEEN A VERY, VERY BUSY LADY!!! FRIDAY WAS A GREAT DAY!! IN THE MORNING WE HAD A MEETING AT CITY HALL WITH PARENTS OF THE SCHOOLS WE VISITED. AFTER THAT MEETING WE WENT TO A PLACE WHERE THEY MAKE POTTERY. THAT WAS FUN TO SEE. AFTER THAT WE WENT TO A PLACE WHERE THEY DIE FABRIC FROM SUGARCANE AND MAKE CLOTHES, WALLETS, WALL HANGINGS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE WERE GIVEN A PIECE OF FABRIC THAT THEY HAD DIED AND WE MADE KALEIDOSCOPES. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! THIS PLACE WAS RIGHT NEAR A BEACH AND THEY SENT US DOWN TO THE BEACH TO FIND TINY SHELLS FOR THE KALEIDOSCOPE. WHILE I WAS ON THE BEACH I SAW LOTS AND LOTS OF CORAL. I COLLECTED ENOUGH CORAL SO THAT MY SECOND GRADERS CAN EACH HAVE A PIECE. THE WATER WAS BLUE AND BEAUTIFUL AND WAS RIGHT NEAR AN AIRPORT. A PLANE FLEW RIGHT OVER MY HEAD AND THEN LANDED, THAT WAS AWESOME!!! IN THE EVENING I WENT TO MCDONALDS FOR DINNER. MY FRIENDS AND I JUST WANTED SOME AMERICAN FOOD AND THAT WAS THE EASIEST PLACE TO GO, BECAUSE THEY HAD AN ENGLISH MENU. THE HAMBURGER WAS YUCKY, BUT THE FRIES WERE DELICIOUS!!! IT WAS A FUN, FUN DAY!!NOW LOOK AT ALL THE PICTURES ABOUT MY AWESOME FRIDAY!!
HELLO, EVERYONE!! GUESS WHAT,201: MY FRIEND, MRS. FRIEDLANDER, FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL, TEACHERS FIFTH GRADE AND HER CLASS IS ALSO FOLLOWING MY BLOG!! I AM SO HAPPY THAT MRS. FRIEDLANDER'S KIDS ARE ENJOYING MY PHOTOS AND STORIES!! FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS, 5TH GRADE!! I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THEM IF I CAN!!
ANYWAY, EVERYBODY, I HAVE NOT WRITTEN SINCE FRIDAY AND I AM VERY SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT I HAVE BEEN A VERY, VERY BUSY LADY!!! FRIDAY WAS A GREAT DAY!! IN THE MORNING WE HAD A MEETING AT CITY HALL WITH PARENTS OF THE SCHOOLS WE VISITED. AFTER THAT MEETING WE WENT TO A PLACE WHERE THEY MAKE POTTERY. THAT WAS FUN TO SEE. AFTER THAT WE WENT TO A PLACE WHERE THEY DIE FABRIC FROM SUGARCANE AND MAKE CLOTHES, WALLETS, WALL HANGINGS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE WERE GIVEN A PIECE OF FABRIC THAT THEY HAD DIED AND WE MADE KALEIDOSCOPES. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! THIS PLACE WAS RIGHT NEAR A BEACH AND THEY SENT US DOWN TO THE BEACH TO FIND TINY SHELLS FOR THE KALEIDOSCOPE. WHILE I WAS ON THE BEACH I SAW LOTS AND LOTS OF CORAL. I COLLECTED ENOUGH CORAL SO THAT MY SECOND GRADERS CAN EACH HAVE A PIECE. THE WATER WAS BLUE AND BEAUTIFUL AND WAS RIGHT NEAR AN AIRPORT. A PLANE FLEW RIGHT OVER MY HEAD AND THEN LANDED, THAT WAS AWESOME!!! IN THE EVENING I WENT TO MCDONALDS FOR DINNER. MY FRIENDS AND I JUST WANTED SOME AMERICAN FOOD AND THAT WAS THE EASIEST PLACE TO GO, BECAUSE THEY HAD AN ENGLISH MENU. THE HAMBURGER WAS YUCKY, BUT THE FRIES WERE DELICIOUS!!! IT WAS A FUN, FUN DAY!!NOW LOOK AT ALL THE PICTURES ABOUT MY AWESOME FRIDAY!!
Friday, October 24, 2008
A DAY IN HIGH SCHOOL
HI-SI, BOYS AND GIRLS!!1
OGENKEEDESKA? HOW ARE YOU DOING?? YESTERDAY I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL ALL DAY. IT WAS GREAT! I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, EXCEPT THAT THE KIDS SPEAK JAPANESE. THEY WEAR UNIFORMS, THEY ALL HAVE CELL PHONES, THEY LIKE ROCK AND ROLL AND RAP MUSIC. THEY WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE US AND TO MEET US. SOME GIRLS I SPOKE TO WERE SO CUTE AND I SHOWED THEM AVI'S PICTURE. "OOOOH, HE'S NICE," THEY SAID. THEN THEY LAUGHED AND LAUGHED WHEN I TOLD HIM HE WAS THEIR AGE. I HEARD KIDS SINGING IN MUSIC CLASS AND PLAYING GUITARS. I SAW KIDS LEARNING ENGLISH, SCIENCE, MATH AND JAPANESE. THEY ALSO HAVE TO CLEAN THE SCHOOLS RIGHT AFTER LUNCH. I THINK ALL OF JAPAN DOES THIS. JUST LIKE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE CHILDREN STANDS WHEN THE TEACHER WALKS IN. I REALLY LIKE THAT CUSTOM! ALMOST EVERYBODY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPATES IN SPORTS. I MET A 9TH GRADER WHO IS THE NUMBER ONE CHILD IN TRACK IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. SHE IS BEING PREPARED FOR THE 2012 OLYMPICS. THAT WAS EXCITING! SHE PRACTICES 3 HOURS EVERY MORNING BEFORE SCHOOL AND THEN AGAIN AFTER SCHOOL. I HOPE SHE MAKES IT!
YOU WILL SEE LOTS OF PHOTOS ABOUT MY DAY IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WANT TO POINT OUT THE BIG STATUES. THEY ARE CALLED LION DOGS. YES, YOU ARE READING RIGHT: LION DOGS. THEY ARE ALL OVER OKINAWA AND I MEAN ALL OVER!! THE MALE STATUE HAS HIS MOUTH OPEN, THIS IS TO LET OUT ALL THE BAD WORDS AND THOUGHTS. THE FEMALE STATUE HAS HER MOUTH CLOSE, THIS IS TO KEEP IN ANY BAD WORDS AND THOUGHTS. THE OKINAWANS BELIEVE IN THESE STATUES AND USUALLY HAVE THEM GUARDING THEIR SCHOOLS, HOMES AND BUSINESSES. I LIKE WHAT THEY STAND FOR!! WE NEED TO PRACTICE WHAT THE OKINAWANS BELIEVE IN: KEEP BAD THOUGHTS AND WORDS IN YOUR HEAD!! CAN YOU FIND ME IN THE TEACHER PICTURE?
THAT'S IT FOR NOW!! ENJOY THE NEW PHOTOS!! I AM GOING TO BED, SINCE IT IS ALMOST 11:00. I WILL SAY: OYASOOMEE NASI! WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS?
LOVE,
YOUR SENSAI
OGENKEEDESKA? HOW ARE YOU DOING?? YESTERDAY I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL ALL DAY. IT WAS GREAT! I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, EXCEPT THAT THE KIDS SPEAK JAPANESE. THEY WEAR UNIFORMS, THEY ALL HAVE CELL PHONES, THEY LIKE ROCK AND ROLL AND RAP MUSIC. THEY WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE US AND TO MEET US. SOME GIRLS I SPOKE TO WERE SO CUTE AND I SHOWED THEM AVI'S PICTURE. "OOOOH, HE'S NICE," THEY SAID. THEN THEY LAUGHED AND LAUGHED WHEN I TOLD HIM HE WAS THEIR AGE. I HEARD KIDS SINGING IN MUSIC CLASS AND PLAYING GUITARS. I SAW KIDS LEARNING ENGLISH, SCIENCE, MATH AND JAPANESE. THEY ALSO HAVE TO CLEAN THE SCHOOLS RIGHT AFTER LUNCH. I THINK ALL OF JAPAN DOES THIS. JUST LIKE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE CHILDREN STANDS WHEN THE TEACHER WALKS IN. I REALLY LIKE THAT CUSTOM! ALMOST EVERYBODY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPATES IN SPORTS. I MET A 9TH GRADER WHO IS THE NUMBER ONE CHILD IN TRACK IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. SHE IS BEING PREPARED FOR THE 2012 OLYMPICS. THAT WAS EXCITING! SHE PRACTICES 3 HOURS EVERY MORNING BEFORE SCHOOL AND THEN AGAIN AFTER SCHOOL. I HOPE SHE MAKES IT!
YOU WILL SEE LOTS OF PHOTOS ABOUT MY DAY IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WANT TO POINT OUT THE BIG STATUES. THEY ARE CALLED LION DOGS. YES, YOU ARE READING RIGHT: LION DOGS. THEY ARE ALL OVER OKINAWA AND I MEAN ALL OVER!! THE MALE STATUE HAS HIS MOUTH OPEN, THIS IS TO LET OUT ALL THE BAD WORDS AND THOUGHTS. THE FEMALE STATUE HAS HER MOUTH CLOSE, THIS IS TO KEEP IN ANY BAD WORDS AND THOUGHTS. THE OKINAWANS BELIEVE IN THESE STATUES AND USUALLY HAVE THEM GUARDING THEIR SCHOOLS, HOMES AND BUSINESSES. I LIKE WHAT THEY STAND FOR!! WE NEED TO PRACTICE WHAT THE OKINAWANS BELIEVE IN: KEEP BAD THOUGHTS AND WORDS IN YOUR HEAD!! CAN YOU FIND ME IN THE TEACHER PICTURE?
THAT'S IT FOR NOW!! ENJOY THE NEW PHOTOS!! I AM GOING TO BED, SINCE IT IS ALMOST 11:00. I WILL SAY: OYASOOMEE NASI! WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS?
LOVE,
YOUR SENSAI
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A DAY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
MINASAN KONNICHIWA!!
THIS MEANS HELLO, CHILDREN!!! THIS IS WHAT A TEACHER MAY SAY TO HIS OR HER STUDENTS. IN OKINAWA, WHERE I AM NOW, THE STUDENTS STAND WHEN A TEACHER WALKS INTO THE CLASSROOM. THEN THEY ALL SAY "SENSAY, O-HI-O!" THIS MEANS HELLO TEACHER. THE TEACHER WILL TELL THEM TO ALL SIT DOWN AND GET READY TO START THE LESSON. THEY STAND TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THE TEACHER. I LIKE THAT CUSTOM!!! IN THE SCHOOLS THAT I VISITED THE CHILDREN ARE ALL RESPECTFUL. THEY DO NOT CALL OUT, THEY SIT DOWN AND STAY SEATED AND THEY TALK SOFTLY. NOBODY TALKS OUT OF TURN OR TO THEIR NEIGHBORS. THIS IS JUST HOW IT IS IN JAPAN. WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING SOME SERIOUS CHANGES WHEN I GET BACK, 201!! BEWARE!!
I HAD A GREAT DAY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THERE WAS A BIG WELCOMING ASSEMBLY. ALL THE CHILDREN SAT IN ROWS ON THE GYM FLOOR. THERE WAS A BRASS BAND PLAYING MUSIC FOR US. AFTER THE ASSEMBLY WE WENT AND OBSERVED THE CLASSROOMS. I SAW MUSIC, ART, COMPUTERS, MATH, SCIENCE, ENGLISH LESSONS AND JAPANESE LESSONS. THE CHILDREN WERE ANXIOUS TO SPEAK ENGLISH TO US, THOUGH THEY COULDN'T SAY MUCH AT ALL. IT WAS STILL FUN! AT LUNCH TIME I WENT INTO AN 8TH GRADE AND THEY STOOD AND WELCOMED ME. THE CHILDREN SERVED THE LUNCHES AND WE ALL WAITED TO EAT TOGETHER. AFTER LUNCH THE TEACHER LEFT AND THE CHILDREN HAD FREE TIME. SOME SLEPT, SOME LISTENED TO MUSIC AND MOST PLAYED CARDS. I PLAYED CARDS WITH A GROUP OF GIRLS. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!! NOBODY SPOKE THE SAME LANGUAGE, BUT WE ALL GOT ALONG AND LAUGHED, PLAYED CARDS AND SMILED A LOT. THEY TAUGHT ME JAPANESE CARD GAMES, I TAUGHT THEM "WAR". WE PLAYED A FAVORITE CARD GAME OF MINE FROM WHEN I WAS THEIR AGE CALLED "SPIT." I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY PLAYED THE SAME GAMES I DID!! IT WAS GREAT. THEY ASKED ME IF I KNEW WHO HANNA MONTANA WAS. THEY WERE THRILLED WHEN I DID!! AFTER LUNCH THEY CLEANED THE CLASSROOM, THE HALLWAYS, THE WINDOWS, THE BATHROOMS, EVERYTHING. I HELPED, TOO!!
MOST OF THE KIDS IN THIS SCHOOL PLAY SPORTS AND SPORTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE. MOST OF THE CHILDREN ARE THIN AND DO NOT HAVE WEIGHT PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY EAT HEALTHY AND PLAY SPORTS. I THINK I NEED TO BE MORE LIKE THE JAPANESE!!
AT NIGHT TIME I WENT TO A JAPANESE RESTAURANT WITH FRIENDS. THERE WERE NO ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT AND THE MENU WAS ALL IN JAPANESE. WE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. FINALLY WE ORDERED SOME FOOD. I WANTED STEAK. MY FRIEND SAID "MOOO MOOO" TO THE WAITER. HE FIGURED OUT WHAT I WANTED AND I GOT STEAK. IT WASN'T LIKE STEAK IN AMERICA, BUT IT WAS TASTY. WHAT A FUN NIGHT!!
I GOT YOUR QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED ME. THE FIRST ANSWER IS THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE IN JAPAN. THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE ARE VISITORS, JUST LIKE ME. THEN YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PRESIDENT OF JAPAN. JAPAN HAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GOVERNMENT THAN WE DO. I WILL TEACH YOU ALL ABOUT IT WHEN I GET BACK. THEY DO NOT HAVE A PRESIDENT, BUT A MAN CALLED A PRIME MINISTER. HIS NAME IS ASO TARO. THEY ALSO HAVE AN EMPEROR, WHICH IS LIKE A KING. HIS NAME IS EMPEROR AKIHITO. ALL THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN US AND VERY INTERESTING, TOO.
I MUST GO TO BED AS TOMORROW I HAVE A BIG DAY, ALSO. I WILL WRITE MORE LATER!! I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE DOING WELL.
LOVE,
YOUR SENSAY (TEACHER)
THIS MEANS HELLO, CHILDREN!!! THIS IS WHAT A TEACHER MAY SAY TO HIS OR HER STUDENTS. IN OKINAWA, WHERE I AM NOW, THE STUDENTS STAND WHEN A TEACHER WALKS INTO THE CLASSROOM. THEN THEY ALL SAY "SENSAY, O-HI-O!" THIS MEANS HELLO TEACHER. THE TEACHER WILL TELL THEM TO ALL SIT DOWN AND GET READY TO START THE LESSON. THEY STAND TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THE TEACHER. I LIKE THAT CUSTOM!!! IN THE SCHOOLS THAT I VISITED THE CHILDREN ARE ALL RESPECTFUL. THEY DO NOT CALL OUT, THEY SIT DOWN AND STAY SEATED AND THEY TALK SOFTLY. NOBODY TALKS OUT OF TURN OR TO THEIR NEIGHBORS. THIS IS JUST HOW IT IS IN JAPAN. WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING SOME SERIOUS CHANGES WHEN I GET BACK, 201!! BEWARE!!
I HAD A GREAT DAY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THERE WAS A BIG WELCOMING ASSEMBLY. ALL THE CHILDREN SAT IN ROWS ON THE GYM FLOOR. THERE WAS A BRASS BAND PLAYING MUSIC FOR US. AFTER THE ASSEMBLY WE WENT AND OBSERVED THE CLASSROOMS. I SAW MUSIC, ART, COMPUTERS, MATH, SCIENCE, ENGLISH LESSONS AND JAPANESE LESSONS. THE CHILDREN WERE ANXIOUS TO SPEAK ENGLISH TO US, THOUGH THEY COULDN'T SAY MUCH AT ALL. IT WAS STILL FUN! AT LUNCH TIME I WENT INTO AN 8TH GRADE AND THEY STOOD AND WELCOMED ME. THE CHILDREN SERVED THE LUNCHES AND WE ALL WAITED TO EAT TOGETHER. AFTER LUNCH THE TEACHER LEFT AND THE CHILDREN HAD FREE TIME. SOME SLEPT, SOME LISTENED TO MUSIC AND MOST PLAYED CARDS. I PLAYED CARDS WITH A GROUP OF GIRLS. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!! NOBODY SPOKE THE SAME LANGUAGE, BUT WE ALL GOT ALONG AND LAUGHED, PLAYED CARDS AND SMILED A LOT. THEY TAUGHT ME JAPANESE CARD GAMES, I TAUGHT THEM "WAR". WE PLAYED A FAVORITE CARD GAME OF MINE FROM WHEN I WAS THEIR AGE CALLED "SPIT." I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY PLAYED THE SAME GAMES I DID!! IT WAS GREAT. THEY ASKED ME IF I KNEW WHO HANNA MONTANA WAS. THEY WERE THRILLED WHEN I DID!! AFTER LUNCH THEY CLEANED THE CLASSROOM, THE HALLWAYS, THE WINDOWS, THE BATHROOMS, EVERYTHING. I HELPED, TOO!!
MOST OF THE KIDS IN THIS SCHOOL PLAY SPORTS AND SPORTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE. MOST OF THE CHILDREN ARE THIN AND DO NOT HAVE WEIGHT PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY EAT HEALTHY AND PLAY SPORTS. I THINK I NEED TO BE MORE LIKE THE JAPANESE!!
AT NIGHT TIME I WENT TO A JAPANESE RESTAURANT WITH FRIENDS. THERE WERE NO ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT AND THE MENU WAS ALL IN JAPANESE. WE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. FINALLY WE ORDERED SOME FOOD. I WANTED STEAK. MY FRIEND SAID "MOOO MOOO" TO THE WAITER. HE FIGURED OUT WHAT I WANTED AND I GOT STEAK. IT WASN'T LIKE STEAK IN AMERICA, BUT IT WAS TASTY. WHAT A FUN NIGHT!!
I GOT YOUR QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED ME. THE FIRST ANSWER IS THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE IN JAPAN. THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE ARE VISITORS, JUST LIKE ME. THEN YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PRESIDENT OF JAPAN. JAPAN HAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GOVERNMENT THAN WE DO. I WILL TEACH YOU ALL ABOUT IT WHEN I GET BACK. THEY DO NOT HAVE A PRESIDENT, BUT A MAN CALLED A PRIME MINISTER. HIS NAME IS ASO TARO. THEY ALSO HAVE AN EMPEROR, WHICH IS LIKE A KING. HIS NAME IS EMPEROR AKIHITO. ALL THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN US AND VERY INTERESTING, TOO.
I MUST GO TO BED AS TOMORROW I HAVE A BIG DAY, ALSO. I WILL WRITE MORE LATER!! I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE DOING WELL.
LOVE,
YOUR SENSAY (TEACHER)
A DAY AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL
MINASAN, KONNICHIWA!!
THIS MEANS HELLO CHILDREN!!! IN OKINAWA, WHERE I AM STAYING NOW THE KIDS LOVE TO SAY "HISI!" THIS IS A FRIENDLY TERM FOR SAYING HELLO. YESTERDAY I WAS IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL ALL DAY AND I SAID HISI TO EVERY CHILD I SAW. THEY ALL LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AND GAVE ME THE PEACE SIGNS. THE DAY AT MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS GREAT!! I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. MOST OF ALL, I SAW HOW THEY RESPECT THEIR TEACHERS. CHILDREN STAY IN THEIR SEATS AT ALL TIMES. WHEN A TEACHER WALKS IN, THEY ALL STAND AND SAY "SENSAY, O- HI - O!" THIS MEANS HELLO, TEACHER. THEN THEY SIT DOWN AND THE LESSON STARTS. CHILDREN DO NOT CALL OUT, SAY DISRESPECTFUL THINGS TO THEIR TEACHERS OR TALK WHEN THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO. WE WILL START PRACTICING HOW TO ACT LIKE JAPANESE STUDENTS WHEN I GET HOME!!!! SPORTS ARE VERY POPULAR IN JAPAN AND ALMOST EVERY CHILD PARTICIPATES IN A SPORT AFTER SCHOOL. I ATE LUNCH WITH A GROUP OF 8TH GRADERS. AFTER LUNCH THE TEACHER LEFT FOR HIS BREAK AND THE STUDENTS WERE ALONE. SOME TALKED, SOME SLEPT AND MOST PLAYED CARDS. I TAUGHT GIRLS HOW TO PLAY "WAR" AND ANOTHER GAME CALLED "DOTS". THEY TAUGHT ME SOME CARD GAMES, TOO. EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH AND I DIDN'T SPEAK JAPANESE, WE STILL COMMUNICATED AND HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME. WE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. ONE GIRL SAID, "YOU KNOW HANNAH MONTANA?" I SAID YES AND SHE SMILED AND SMILED AND TOLD ME SHE LOVED HER. I DID NOT EAT THE LUNCH, IT DID NOT LOOK VERY APPETIZING. THE KIDS TOLD ME IT WAS A HAMBURGER, BUT I NEVER SAW A HAMBURGER THAT LOOKED LIKE THAT. AFTER LUNCH THE KIDS CLEANED THE FLOORS, THE WINDOWS, THE DESKS, BATHROOMS, HALLWAYS, EVERYTHING, JUST LIKE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU HAD TO CLEAN EVERYTHING IN OUR SCHOOL? WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?? I DON'T THINK SO!! THE DAY WAS SO MUCH FUN!!
WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL I WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH SOME FRIENDS. WE WENT TO A RESTAURANT WHERE THEY DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND THE MENU WAS IN JAPANESE. WE ALSO HAD TO TAKE OFF OUR SHOES AND SIT ON THE FLOOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DID IT, BUT WE MANAGED TO ORDER FOOD. I WANTED STEAK. MY FRIEND SAID TO THE WAITER, "MOOO- MOOOO". HE UNDERSTOOD AND BOUGHT ME STEAK. IT WAS NOT LIKE OUR STEAK, BUT IT WAS TASTY. WE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. I AM SURE THE WAITERS WERE THINKING: "THESE CRAZY AMERICANS!!" IT WAS THE BEST NIGHT!!!!
THIS MEANS HELLO CHILDREN!!! IN OKINAWA, WHERE I AM STAYING NOW THE KIDS LOVE TO SAY "HISI!" THIS IS A FRIENDLY TERM FOR SAYING HELLO. YESTERDAY I WAS IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL ALL DAY AND I SAID HISI TO EVERY CHILD I SAW. THEY ALL LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AND GAVE ME THE PEACE SIGNS. THE DAY AT MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS GREAT!! I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. MOST OF ALL, I SAW HOW THEY RESPECT THEIR TEACHERS. CHILDREN STAY IN THEIR SEATS AT ALL TIMES. WHEN A TEACHER WALKS IN, THEY ALL STAND AND SAY "SENSAY, O- HI - O!" THIS MEANS HELLO, TEACHER. THEN THEY SIT DOWN AND THE LESSON STARTS. CHILDREN DO NOT CALL OUT, SAY DISRESPECTFUL THINGS TO THEIR TEACHERS OR TALK WHEN THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO. WE WILL START PRACTICING HOW TO ACT LIKE JAPANESE STUDENTS WHEN I GET HOME!!!! SPORTS ARE VERY POPULAR IN JAPAN AND ALMOST EVERY CHILD PARTICIPATES IN A SPORT AFTER SCHOOL. I ATE LUNCH WITH A GROUP OF 8TH GRADERS. AFTER LUNCH THE TEACHER LEFT FOR HIS BREAK AND THE STUDENTS WERE ALONE. SOME TALKED, SOME SLEPT AND MOST PLAYED CARDS. I TAUGHT GIRLS HOW TO PLAY "WAR" AND ANOTHER GAME CALLED "DOTS". THEY TAUGHT ME SOME CARD GAMES, TOO. EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH AND I DIDN'T SPEAK JAPANESE, WE STILL COMMUNICATED AND HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME. WE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. ONE GIRL SAID, "YOU KNOW HANNAH MONTANA?" I SAID YES AND SHE SMILED AND SMILED AND TOLD ME SHE LOVED HER. I DID NOT EAT THE LUNCH, IT DID NOT LOOK VERY APPETIZING. THE KIDS TOLD ME IT WAS A HAMBURGER, BUT I NEVER SAW A HAMBURGER THAT LOOKED LIKE THAT. AFTER LUNCH THE KIDS CLEANED THE FLOORS, THE WINDOWS, THE DESKS, BATHROOMS, HALLWAYS, EVERYTHING, JUST LIKE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU HAD TO CLEAN EVERYTHING IN OUR SCHOOL? WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?? I DON'T THINK SO!! THE DAY WAS SO MUCH FUN!!
WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL I WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH SOME FRIENDS. WE WENT TO A RESTAURANT WHERE THEY DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND THE MENU WAS IN JAPANESE. WE ALSO HAD TO TAKE OFF OUR SHOES AND SIT ON THE FLOOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DID IT, BUT WE MANAGED TO ORDER FOOD. I WANTED STEAK. MY FRIEND SAID TO THE WAITER, "MOOO- MOOOO". HE UNDERSTOOD AND BOUGHT ME STEAK. IT WAS NOT LIKE OUR STEAK, BUT IT WAS TASTY. WE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. I AM SURE THE WAITERS WERE THINKING: "THESE CRAZY AMERICANS!!" IT WAS THE BEST NIGHT!!!!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21ST
DEAR ROOM 201,
I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET TODAY'S PHOTOS UP HERE FOR YOU, THAT I MADE A MISTAKE. ALL THE PICTURES FROM TODAY ARE HERE AND THEIR EXPLANATIONS, BUT YOU HAVE TO SCROLL DOWN THE WEB TO FIND THE BEGINNING. IT IS ALL HERE, BUT THE BEGINNING IS AT THE BOTTOM, AND THE END OF THE DAY IS AT THE TOP. SO...... SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE UNTIL YOU FIND "THE DAY I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR". WHEN YOU FIND THIS, READ IT AND START SCROLLING UP. AM I MAKING SENSE? I HOPE SO! ALSO, I DID NOT POST ANY PHOTOS OF CHILDREN'S FACES. I AM NOT ALLOWED TO PUT THEM ON THE INTERNET. WHEN I COME HOME I HAVE 200 PHOTOS OF TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU!! I JUST COULD NOT STOP SNAPPING PHOTOS! I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT MY DAY IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! TOMORROW I GO TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL!! HAVE A GOOD DAY. I MISS YOU!
LOVE,
MRS. WILLNER
I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET TODAY'S PHOTOS UP HERE FOR YOU, THAT I MADE A MISTAKE. ALL THE PICTURES FROM TODAY ARE HERE AND THEIR EXPLANATIONS, BUT YOU HAVE TO SCROLL DOWN THE WEB TO FIND THE BEGINNING. IT IS ALL HERE, BUT THE BEGINNING IS AT THE BOTTOM, AND THE END OF THE DAY IS AT THE TOP. SO...... SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE UNTIL YOU FIND "THE DAY I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR". WHEN YOU FIND THIS, READ IT AND START SCROLLING UP. AM I MAKING SENSE? I HOPE SO! ALSO, I DID NOT POST ANY PHOTOS OF CHILDREN'S FACES. I AM NOT ALLOWED TO PUT THEM ON THE INTERNET. WHEN I COME HOME I HAVE 200 PHOTOS OF TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU!! I JUST COULD NOT STOP SNAPPING PHOTOS! I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT MY DAY IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! TOMORROW I GO TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL!! HAVE A GOOD DAY. I MISS YOU!
LOVE,
MRS. WILLNER
LUNCH IN JAPANESE SCHOOLS
I HAVE BEEN TEACHING A VERY LONG TIME, AS YOU KNOW, AND I HAVE NEVER EVER EXPERIENCED LUNCH LIKE I EXPERIENCED IT TODAY. FIRST OF ALL, THERE WAS NO CAFETERIA IN SCHOOL. ALL THE LUNCHES ARE PREPARED AT A COOKING CENTER AND DELIVERED TO THE SCHOOLS. THE CHILDREN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THE LUNCHES INTO THE CLASSROOMS, SERVING THEM AND CLEANING UP. THE TEACHER EATS WITH THE STUDENTS, EVERYBODY SITTING NICELY AND EATING POLITELY. THEY ARE SERVED ON REAL DISHES, NOT PAPER ONES. OF COURSE THEY USE CHOPSTICKS! AFTER LUNCH, THEY CLEAN UP, STACK THEIR DISHES, OPEN UP THE MILK CARTONS FLAT SO THEY CAN BE RECYCLED AND GET READY TO BRUSH THEIR TEETH. YES, ALL THE CHILDREN WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT BRUSHING TEETH AND THEY BRUSH THEIR TEETH IN SCHOOL. AFTER THAT THEY MOVE THE DESKS, GET BROOMS AND RAGS AND START CLEANING THE FLOOR, THE DESKS, THE WINDOWS, THE HALLWAYS, EVERYTHING. SOME CHILDREN CLEAN INSIDE, OTHERS CLEAN OUTSIDE BY SWEEPING DIRT OFF THE SIDEWALK. OTHERS WATER THE PLANTS OUTSIDE THEIR CLASSROOMS. THERE ARE PLANTS ALL OVER THIS SCHOOL, IT'S SO PRETTY! NOW, HERE COMES THE PART I COULDN'T BELIEVE, BOYS AND GIRLS: AFTER CLEANING, THE TEACHER PUT ON MUSIC AND LEFT THE ROOM. IT WAS HER BREAK TIME AND THE CHILDREN HAD RECESS. THEY WERE ALLOWED TO GO ANYWHERE THEY WANTED TO: OUTSIDE, IN THE HALLWAY, TO ANOTHER CLASSROOM, IN THEIR CLASSROOM, WHATEVER THEY WANTED. SOME WENT OUT TO PLAY AND RIDE UNICYCLES. DO YOU KNOW WHAT UNICYCLES ARE?? YOU'LL SEE ONE IN THE PHOTOS. OTHERS PLAYED UNO, DANCED IN THE CLASSROOM, PLAYED BALL OUTSIDE, WHATEVER THEY WANTED. THEY DID THIS UNTIL THE BELL RANG AND THEN THEY ALL CAME BACK IN WITHOUT BEING TOLD. HMMMM..... DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO LEARN A LESSON FROM THE JAPANESE CHILDREN ON HOW TO BEHAVE AT RECESS???
JAPANESE WRITING CLASS
HERE I AM LEARNING HOW TO WRITE JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY. THE 5TH GRADE TEACHER AND STUDENTS WERE HELPING ME. AFTER THE CALLIGRAPHY CLASS I TAUGHT THEM HOW TO PLAY SIMON SAYS. THEY HAD NEVER PLAYED IT AND THEY LOVED IT. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!!
THIS SCHOOL HAD A ROOM FOR COOKING CLASSES. THE CHILDREN HAD SPECIAL SHOES FOR WEARING INDOORS, WHICH THEY KEPT IN SCHOOL. HOWEVER, IF THEY WENT INTO A CLASSROOM WITH RUGS, THEY HAD TO LEAVE THEIR INDOOR SHOES IN THE CUBBIES. ALSO, WHEN THEY WENT INTO THE BATHROOMS, THEY HAD TO LEAVE THEIR SHOES IN THE HALLWAY AND PUT ON SLIPPERS THAT WERE IN THE BATHROOM BY THE DOOR. ALL DAY I KEPT TAKING MY SLIPPERS ON AND OFF, ON AND OFF! DO YOU SEE THE JAPANESE WORKBOOK? HOW ABOUT THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OUTSIDE IN GYM CLASS. ALL CHILDREN CHANGED INTO GYM UNIFORMS.
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