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.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
2004 Christmas message from His Eminence, Hot Five
Dear All,
Once again I find myself in this strange situation: Christmas in Japan. As on any other Christmas Day, I am enjoying some snackies in a festive atmosphere, joyfully composing my year-end message and awaiting our scrumptious dinner. But because this is Japan, the snacks are dried squid, the dinner is sushi, and the festive atmosphere is the soundtrack to a Gundam (giant battle robots) cartoon playing a little loudly on TV. Like almost everything else to the "Japanese Experience" for foreigners, Christmas here is great, but not exactly the same.
I have absolutely NO complaints though. This is Kotomi's and my first Christmas together, and it has been a great one; an absolutely wonderful finish to an amazing year.
Just to refresh some people's memory, the end of last year saw a very large Scott hosting a very small Kotomi as she came to visit in Vancouver. Since then, Scott found a job teaching at an elementary school in Japan, and moved there so he could live with Kotomi. That was in April. Since then, Scott and Kotomi have been on numerous adventures together (climbing Mount Fuji, Disney Sea, and the Streets of Tokyo to name a few) and have even decided to spend the rest of their lives together. Yes, an engagement. The happy couple have snapped over a thousand photographs, which is why you have been directed to this blog for viewing. Please enjoy and comment if the spirit moves you.
From here on, things look to be getting a little busy. I decided to stay with my current company and school for the next year starting in March, but Kotomi's committment to disgruntled socialites and their kitchen appliances seems to be ebbing, and a change of employment may be in the cards in early 2005. While I was busy working away on extra projects and side jobs this fall, I am thinking about taking a bit of a break from that next year so I can focus on my Japanese study; it would be criminal to come back to Canada with the incoherent baby babble I possess now.
Aside from the studying and the job, Kotomi and I have our wedding to plan for next year. There is little news on that front, other than the wedding will be in August in Aomori (Northern Japan). We head up there next week for New Years and will check out a few hotels and churches while we are there, so look here for new information sometime early in the New Year.
Finally, Kotomi and I will try to have as much fun next year as we did this year. We hope everyone is healthy and happy this holiday season, and we wish you all the very best for 2005. We would like to give an extra BIG thank you to Shane, James, Ryan (x2), Maurice, Justin, and Ciffy for coming out to see us this year (not to make the rest of you feel guilty or anything ;) ) Kotomi says you are all welcome anytime! Take care everyone, and we hope we can see you all in 2005!
Love,
Scott and Kotomi
P.S. If you are one of those lovely correspondents who have e-mailed me recently, I will be writing your replies soon. Been a little busy AND sick this week, but I will set everything right this weekend. Cheers!! S
Once again I find myself in this strange situation: Christmas in Japan. As on any other Christmas Day, I am enjoying some snackies in a festive atmosphere, joyfully composing my year-end message and awaiting our scrumptious dinner. But because this is Japan, the snacks are dried squid, the dinner is sushi, and the festive atmosphere is the soundtrack to a Gundam (giant battle robots) cartoon playing a little loudly on TV. Like almost everything else to the "Japanese Experience" for foreigners, Christmas here is great, but not exactly the same.
I have absolutely NO complaints though. This is Kotomi's and my first Christmas together, and it has been a great one; an absolutely wonderful finish to an amazing year.
Just to refresh some people's memory, the end of last year saw a very large Scott hosting a very small Kotomi as she came to visit in Vancouver. Since then, Scott found a job teaching at an elementary school in Japan, and moved there so he could live with Kotomi. That was in April. Since then, Scott and Kotomi have been on numerous adventures together (climbing Mount Fuji, Disney Sea, and the Streets of Tokyo to name a few) and have even decided to spend the rest of their lives together. Yes, an engagement. The happy couple have snapped over a thousand photographs, which is why you have been directed to this blog for viewing. Please enjoy and comment if the spirit moves you.
From here on, things look to be getting a little busy. I decided to stay with my current company and school for the next year starting in March, but Kotomi's committment to disgruntled socialites and their kitchen appliances seems to be ebbing, and a change of employment may be in the cards in early 2005. While I was busy working away on extra projects and side jobs this fall, I am thinking about taking a bit of a break from that next year so I can focus on my Japanese study; it would be criminal to come back to Canada with the incoherent baby babble I possess now.
Aside from the studying and the job, Kotomi and I have our wedding to plan for next year. There is little news on that front, other than the wedding will be in August in Aomori (Northern Japan). We head up there next week for New Years and will check out a few hotels and churches while we are there, so look here for new information sometime early in the New Year.
Finally, Kotomi and I will try to have as much fun next year as we did this year. We hope everyone is healthy and happy this holiday season, and we wish you all the very best for 2005. We would like to give an extra BIG thank you to Shane, James, Ryan (x2), Maurice, Justin, and Ciffy for coming out to see us this year (not to make the rest of you feel guilty or anything ;) ) Kotomi says you are all welcome anytime! Take care everyone, and we hope we can see you all in 2005!
Love,
Scott and Kotomi
P.S. If you are one of those lovely correspondents who have e-mailed me recently, I will be writing your replies soon. Been a little busy AND sick this week, but I will set everything right this weekend. Cheers!! S
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