Shibuya at noon
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Thursday, March 24, 2005
At last, Laap Cheung, at last...
A thousand apologies for not sending this shout-out sooner: www.laapcheung.blogspot.com Let the netwerking begin... Pho sucks. Nothing beats a nice bowl of Sapporo miso ramen, complete with inch-thick layer of oil and several thick cuts of slow-roasted pig. Banzai!! Looking forward to those Euro Trip pix.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
A Soggy Graduation
It is funny how I associate a rainy day at the end of March not with Easter, but with school graduation. Have I really been here that long? My Mom wished me a happy Easter last week, and for the tiniest fraction of a second, I had NO idea what she was talking about.
Maybe I have been here too long. Sixth Graders finished up their elementary education today with a very lovely ceremony. Instead of taking the time to reflect on all the great moments we had (or didn't have) together, I found myself counting and categorizing all of the graduating students: the criers, the almost criers, and the ones who you could tell were trying their best just to sit still and let Mom and Dad enjoy the moment. In their final message, the kids were kind enough to mention their English classes. Really, they were much too kind in telling everyone how much fun they had with all the English games and songs. If only they looked like they were having fun - nay, if only they looked alive - in class, I might have taken their comments with a smaller grain of salt.
Enough.... All water under the bridge. I still remember enough of life in Canada to know that anyone in my Elementary School who was dumb enough to loudly proclaim that they LOVED their French classes was worthy of receiving a beating. I wish you little rugrats the best in Junior High, and hope you can drop by from time to time.
While I am in the spirit to congratulate, I will publicly GUSH my joy and excitement onto the pages of this blog for Sam and Ellen Tang and the wee little Tang that is due to arrive in September. Dr. Sam and Ellen will be missed greatly at our wedding, but considering the circumstances, I think I am just as happy as if they could come.
Since I have NOTHING to do, YOU all should check out Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. Did you ever lament over the rapid decline of proper punctuation usage in this age where electronic mediums of expression dominate? I thought not, but if you agree with the saying that a good writer can craft something interesting from nothing, then this book is worth a read.
Lastly, with all this free time I have in between school years, I present for your enjoyment a series of pictures I call "Keitai Captures". Peace!!
Scott
Maybe I have been here too long. Sixth Graders finished up their elementary education today with a very lovely ceremony. Instead of taking the time to reflect on all the great moments we had (or didn't have) together, I found myself counting and categorizing all of the graduating students: the criers, the almost criers, and the ones who you could tell were trying their best just to sit still and let Mom and Dad enjoy the moment. In their final message, the kids were kind enough to mention their English classes. Really, they were much too kind in telling everyone how much fun they had with all the English games and songs. If only they looked like they were having fun - nay, if only they looked alive - in class, I might have taken their comments with a smaller grain of salt.
Enough.... All water under the bridge. I still remember enough of life in Canada to know that anyone in my Elementary School who was dumb enough to loudly proclaim that they LOVED their French classes was worthy of receiving a beating. I wish you little rugrats the best in Junior High, and hope you can drop by from time to time.
While I am in the spirit to congratulate, I will publicly GUSH my joy and excitement onto the pages of this blog for Sam and Ellen Tang and the wee little Tang that is due to arrive in September. Dr. Sam and Ellen will be missed greatly at our wedding, but considering the circumstances, I think I am just as happy as if they could come.
Since I have NOTHING to do, YOU all should check out Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. Did you ever lament over the rapid decline of proper punctuation usage in this age where electronic mediums of expression dominate? I thought not, but if you agree with the saying that a good writer can craft something interesting from nothing, then this book is worth a read.
Lastly, with all this free time I have in between school years, I present for your enjoyment a series of pictures I call "Keitai Captures". Peace!!
Scott
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
August 21st, 2005
I just blinked, and two and a half months flew by... I realize I left some of you hangning with the Christmas message. First, BIZ... The wedding will be on August 21st, 2005 in Aomori. Preparations procede in fits and spurts, but we are currently putting together the reception plans as we speak. The ceremony will be SHINTO, with the reception being a mosaic of Eastern and Western influences. Here is a peek at the location... http://www.komaki-onsen.co.jp/komaki-en/home.htm ... go to the section "Hotels Along Oirase River".
It is proving to be more of a challenge planning for a Canadian/Japanese wedding, but Kotomi and I are having fun with it and are enjoying putting it together. Hopefully we will have a surprise or two for our guests when the big day comes ;)
Other than that.... school is finishing up here. The tiny First Graders aren't so tiny anymore, and the "too-cool-for-school" Sixth Graders can't wait to get out. As for us teachers, we sit here and try to look busy, but really there is nothing to be done until we find out if we stay at the same school again next year. That should happen......oooooh.... about 5 days before school actually starts. That's ok... Spring is here and the sakura are just about ready to bloom. I will just sit under a tree and watch the flowers until it is time to go to work again. Maybe the downtime will inspire me to hit you all with a Haiku or two.
More to come...
Scott
P.S. I have a large stockpile of pictures that need posting, but I currently cannot access my Picture folder. Hope to have the issue resolved soon.
It is proving to be more of a challenge planning for a Canadian/Japanese wedding, but Kotomi and I are having fun with it and are enjoying putting it together. Hopefully we will have a surprise or two for our guests when the big day comes ;)
Other than that.... school is finishing up here. The tiny First Graders aren't so tiny anymore, and the "too-cool-for-school" Sixth Graders can't wait to get out. As for us teachers, we sit here and try to look busy, but really there is nothing to be done until we find out if we stay at the same school again next year. That should happen......oooooh.... about 5 days before school actually starts. That's ok... Spring is here and the sakura are just about ready to bloom. I will just sit under a tree and watch the flowers until it is time to go to work again. Maybe the downtime will inspire me to hit you all with a Haiku or two.
More to come...
Scott
P.S. I have a large stockpile of pictures that need posting, but I currently cannot access my Picture folder. Hope to have the issue resolved soon.
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