The Day the Earth Shook + Kindness
Well, it finally happened. I experienced a tremor today in Japan. Getting dressed this morning, the building began to shake slightly and the water on my desk moved back and forth in the bottle. When we went to breakfast at a fine Japanese eatery ----- Denny's----- everyone else in the group had felt it too. One of our members was giddy because she wanted to feel an earthquake while we were here. Go figure ---- I am fine with not feeling an earthquake.
We next went to pay a courtsey call on the Superintendent of Education / Itabashi-ku. We met with officials and after being addressed by his honorable Superintendent, we discussed educational issues on both side of the world from inclusion to class sizes and curricular focus. At the end, we were given a small gift to honor our visit. Tomorrow we visit the elementary school and we are all VERY excited to see kids and teachers in action.
After a quick change of clothes to some that were more comfortable, we were off on a city tour conducted by Mokosan (JMFM guide), Toshi (JMFM interpreter) and officials from the ward of Itabashi-ku. We began the tour at a local buddist temple that has the third largest budda in Japan. Little did Mokosan know we were going to slow the tour so we could get our temple books done. Temple hopping groupies now total about 10 of our group. Because we had so many books, the monks invited us to see the inside of the temple (no shoes please) and to tea and cookies while we waited. NO JOKE. This was an unscheduled event and one that Moko said was unusual.
The lesson here folks is that good things come to temple hoppers! The temple was beautiful and they even let us take pictures which is unusual here. Check out the handsome guy next to the buddist monk. Huh, huhhh? The gardens were wonderful so Lorna, I'm getting out the hedge trimmers and my garden is going Japanese when I get home!!!
Next it was onto lunch. Check out the pics of me eating something called Devil's Tongue. It is a potatoe dish and well lets just say that I TRIED it and leave it at that. I think you can see how I feel by the thrill on my face.
We next went to pay a courtsey call on the Superintendent of Education / Itabashi-ku. We met with officials and after being addressed by his honorable Superintendent, we discussed educational issues on both side of the world from inclusion to class sizes and curricular focus. At the end, we were given a small gift to honor our visit. Tomorrow we visit the elementary school and we are all VERY excited to see kids and teachers in action.
After a quick change of clothes to some that were more comfortable, we were off on a city tour conducted by Mokosan (JMFM guide), Toshi (JMFM interpreter) and officials from the ward of Itabashi-ku. We began the tour at a local buddist temple that has the third largest budda in Japan. Little did Mokosan know we were going to slow the tour so we could get our temple books done. Temple hopping groupies now total about 10 of our group. Because we had so many books, the monks invited us to see the inside of the temple (no shoes please) and to tea and cookies while we waited. NO JOKE. This was an unscheduled event and one that Moko said was unusual.
The lesson here folks is that good things come to temple hoppers! The temple was beautiful and they even let us take pictures which is unusual here. Check out the handsome guy next to the buddist monk. Huh, huhhh? The gardens were wonderful so Lorna, I'm getting out the hedge trimmers and my garden is going Japanese when I get home!!!Next it was onto lunch. Check out the pics of me eating something called Devil's Tongue. It is a potatoe dish and well lets just say that I TRIED it and leave it at that. I think you can see how I feel by the thrill on my face.
With lunch over, we moved onto the Itabashi Art Museum where we were given a tour by one of the three curators. Austin Museum of Art staff, if you are reading, I asked LOTS of museum related questions and you will be fascinated by the answers. One answer I found interesting was visitors to the Museum count themselves with the clicker. Strictly the honor system sorted by adult, high schooler and children. What a country! We w
ere also given a present of museum posters in Japanese of the current exhibit ---- Way cool! 
Then we went onto a history museum where we saw traditional crafts of the area on display along with historic houses. We had tea on tatami mats in a 150 year-old, thatch roof Japanese house. Here is Bobby and Stacey having tea and listening to the curator.
Bonsai was the next event on the list. We visited a bonsai master's studio and saw an enormous collection of bonsai. Some were a 100 years old and they were just beautiful. Finally, our tour ended with----- yes------ you guessed it---------SHOPPING!
We went to the Happy Road Shopping Arcade. This is basically a glass enclosed street that runs for blocks, lined with shops on either side. Several 100 yen stores were in the retail mix. We walked back to the hotel from there and were told to meet in the lobby at 6 pm for a special meeting.
So 6 pm rolls around and we all gather in the lobby for announcements for the next day. After a couple of announcements, Tania's friend she met on the plane over here shows up to greet us. Tania, a member of our group from Oklahoma struck up a conversation on the plane with this young lady, Katsue Maezama about passports. Come to find out she lives in Itabashi-ku. Tania went out with her all day last Saturday and she shows up tonight to give each person in the group yumata (summer kimono) with sandals for the women and jinbei (imagine pj's) with sandals for the men. 20 sets of clothes and shoes to us because of the kindness shown to her in America and her pride in us visiting Itabashi-ku. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!?!? After we all got instructions on how to wear our new outfits, we took pictures and then she presented each of us with bags of candies and toys like are given on children's day in Japan. The kindness and respect shown to us just keeps going and growing. It is really hard to process all that has happened in the past few days and how much the Japanese people appreciate the Fulbright program and our roles as teachers.
Just when we think it cannot get better, something unexpected takes place. Our questions to each other right now have been, would they be treated the same way in America? Would our society step up and make the Japanese feel as welcome in our country as they have made us feel in their country. Ponder that today as you go about your business and think about do you practice random acts of kindness or a pay it forward philosophy in your life?
ere also given a present of museum posters in Japanese of the current exhibit ---- Way cool! 
Then we went onto a history museum where we saw traditional crafts of the area on display along with historic houses. We had tea on tatami mats in a 150 year-old, thatch roof Japanese house. Here is Bobby and Stacey having tea and listening to the curator.
Bonsai was the next event on the list. We visited a bonsai master's studio and saw an enormous collection of bonsai. Some were a 100 years old and they were just beautiful. Finally, our tour ended with----- yes------ you guessed it---------SHOPPING!
We went to the Happy Road Shopping Arcade. This is basically a glass enclosed street that runs for blocks, lined with shops on either side. Several 100 yen stores were in the retail mix. We walked back to the hotel from there and were told to meet in the lobby at 6 pm for a special meeting.So 6 pm rolls around and we all gather in the lobby for announcements for the next day. After a couple of announcements, Tania's friend she met on the plane over here shows up to greet us. Tania, a member of our group from Oklahoma struck up a conversation on the plane with this young lady, Katsue Maezama about passports. Come to find out she lives in Itabashi-ku. Tania went out with her all day last Saturday and she shows up tonight to give each person in the group yumata (summer kimono) with sandals for the women and jinbei (imagine pj's) with sandals for the men. 20 sets of clothes and shoes to us because of the kindness shown to her in America and her pride in us visiting Itabashi-ku. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!?!? After we all got instructions on how to wear our new outfits, we took pictures and then she presented each of us with bags of candies and toys like are given on children's day in Japan. The kindness and respect shown to us just keeps going and growing. It is really hard to process all that has happened in the past few days and how much the Japanese people appreciate the Fulbright program and our roles as teachers.
Just when we think it cannot get better, something unexpected takes place. Our questions to each other right now have been, would they be treated the same way in America? Would our society step up and make the Japanese feel as welcome in our country as they have made us feel in their country. Ponder that today as you go about your business and think about do you practice random acts of kindness or a pay it forward philosophy in your life?Tommorrow we get up early and go off to our elementary school assignement to see the kids walking to school. It sounds like it will be another incrediable day in Japan. Til tomorrow folks! Stay tuned!
Sayonora,
Timsan
posted by Tim Lowke at 1:33 AM
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