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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Choo, choo!
So how did those 20 American educators get down South to Himeji? Via Bullet Train! We were excited to experience this form of transportation. Japan was the first country to commit to building a high speed rail system. The previous rail system went around the mountains and other obstacles while the Shinkansen goes through them.
The Tokaido Shinkansen line runs from Tokyo through Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, and then continued on to Hiroshima, with its final distination of Fukuota. The Tokaido line was started in 1959 and completed just in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. The average speed of the train is 187 miles per hour with the top speed being 277 mph. You could not tell it was going that fast and the stops were not harsh either. We had one minute to disembark the train at Himeji. One of our colleagues actually met one of her former students at the Osaka station to say a quick "Hello" and I do mean quick.
The train was very clean and comfortable. We traveled a total of 400 miles in 3 hours. You do the math, How fast were we traveling?
Here is a corny photostory for you-
The Tokaido Shinkansen line runs from Tokyo through Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, and then continued on to Hiroshima, with its final distination of Fukuota. The Tokaido line was started in 1959 and completed just in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. The average speed of the train is 187 miles per hour with the top speed being 277 mph. You could not tell it was going that fast and the stops were not harsh either. We had one minute to disembark the train at Himeji. One of our colleagues actually met one of her former students at the Osaka station to say a quick "Hello" and I do mean quick.
The train was very clean and comfortable. We traveled a total of 400 miles in 3 hours. You do the math, How fast were we traveling?
Here is a corny photostory for you-
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Our Host City- Himeji, Japan
Our first visit in Himeji was to the mayor's office. 
We were welcomed to the city by Mayor Toshikatsu Iwami. During this period we were able to ask questions of him and the Superintendent of Himeji City Schools. Himeji is a port city with two rivers running from the hills into the ocean. They are known for their river eel, which I will say was oishii, delicious. 
Mayor Iwami was a soft spoken gentleman. He thanked us for coming and wanted to find out what our first impressions of his city was. He was very proud of the city, as he should be. I asked him about his goals and or hopes for his city. He said that he built his goals around three pillars. Pillar One-was to address what the country of Japan considers a problem and that was the growing number of elderly. He didn't believe this, in fact he felt that the elderly were their best assets. He was working on having them remain in viable relationships and involved with city issues and the community as much as possible. Pillar Two- Was to expand the responsibilities of businesses and the community in incorporating more environmentally sound practices that would allow Himeji to become a more global community, and Pillar Three- which was the education of the children, so that Pillar One and Two could be fulfilled. When Mayor Iwami was asked what we could not miss in his city, he said that of course you must see Himeji Castle and he would like us to see the Himeji Peace 
Monument. That very afternoon we headed out to both. Himeji Castle- "Special Features of Himeji Castle Himeji Castle is nicknamed "White Heron" Castle because of its white walls which are covered with white plaster. The reason for using white plaster is that it is fireproof. Like other surviving Japanese castles, Himeji Castle is built of wood, not stones, and so fire prevention is very important. As well as the fact that white plaster has fireproofing capabilities, it is also considered to be a strong reinforcement. Therefore it covers both walls and almost every outside structure from eaves to pillars. The castle is built on the top of a hill called Himeyama, which is 45.6 meters above sea level. The main tower, which is the center and the symbol of the castle, is 46.4 meters high; namely, it stands 92 meters above sea level." The above was information was taken from http://www.himeji-castle.gr.jp/index/English/ 
Our presentation:
We were welcomed to the city by Mayor Toshikatsu Iwami. During this period we were able to ask questions of him and the Superintendent of Himeji City Schools. Himeji is a port city with two rivers running from the hills into the ocean. They are known for their river eel, which I will say was oishii, delicious. 
Mayor Iwami was a soft spoken gentleman. He thanked us for coming and wanted to find out what our first impressions of his city was. He was very proud of the city, as he should be. I asked him about his goals and or hopes for his city. He said that he built his goals around three pillars. Pillar One-was to address what the country of Japan considers a problem and that was the growing number of elderly. He didn't believe this, in fact he felt that the elderly were their best assets. He was working on having them remain in viable relationships and involved with city issues and the community as much as possible. Pillar Two- Was to expand the responsibilities of businesses and the community in incorporating more environmentally sound practices that would allow Himeji to become a more global community, and Pillar Three- which was the education of the children, so that Pillar One and Two could be fulfilled. When Mayor Iwami was asked what we could not miss in his city, he said that of course you must see Himeji Castle and he would like us to see the Himeji Peace 
Monument. That very afternoon we headed out to both. Himeji Castle- "Special Features of Himeji Castle Himeji Castle is nicknamed "White Heron" Castle because of its white walls which are covered with white plaster. The reason for using white plaster is that it is fireproof. Like other surviving Japanese castles, Himeji Castle is built of wood, not stones, and so fire prevention is very important. As well as the fact that white plaster has fireproofing capabilities, it is also considered to be a strong reinforcement. Therefore it covers both walls and almost every outside structure from eaves to pillars. The castle is built on the top of a hill called Himeyama, which is 45.6 meters above sea level. The main tower, which is the center and the symbol of the castle, is 46.4 meters high; namely, it stands 92 meters above sea level." The above was information was taken from http://www.himeji-castle.gr.jp/index/English/ 
Our presentation:
Friday, November 16, 2007
Video Troubles No More!
It looks like blogspot figured it out and I am so grateful! Now where to begin. I have been so overwhelmed going through all the photos and picking the best and putting tags on them. Sometimes it is hard to figure out which photos would be the best to show others; there are ones that mean a lot to me, but I know probably don't hold much to anyone else reading.
Really the best thing about having the video trouble is that I am now a little more articulate about my experience. When I first returned, everything was amazing, great, terrific!!! Don't get me wrong it was all that and more, in fact it was such a whirlwind trip that I think it left me with more questions than I had before. We received such a surface introduction to the country and its culture that it is hard to feel like I can even speak intellectually at all about it. I find myself researching different aspects of my trip because there was no time to digest it all.
The Japanese General Consulate in San Francisco hoped that we would "experience his country by hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling it." Of course, us Americans, giggled at the thought of smelling the country, but he was so right. We had to dive right in and experience everything in every manner to truly come away with an honest understanding of the incredibly gentle, honorable, polite, gracious people of Japan.
It is only when you step back that you realize the impact that your experiences will make in your life. This trip has been a small pebble in a great lake. I can't wait to see, feel, hear, and taste its ripples.
Really the best thing about having the video trouble is that I am now a little more articulate about my experience. When I first returned, everything was amazing, great, terrific!!! Don't get me wrong it was all that and more, in fact it was such a whirlwind trip that I think it left me with more questions than I had before. We received such a surface introduction to the country and its culture that it is hard to feel like I can even speak intellectually at all about it. I find myself researching different aspects of my trip because there was no time to digest it all.
The Japanese General Consulate in San Francisco hoped that we would "experience his country by hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling it." Of course, us Americans, giggled at the thought of smelling the country, but he was so right. We had to dive right in and experience everything in every manner to truly come away with an honest understanding of the incredibly gentle, honorable, polite, gracious people of Japan.
It is only when you step back that you realize the impact that your experiences will make in your life. This trip has been a small pebble in a great lake. I can't wait to see, feel, hear, and taste its ripples.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Video troubles
Hello All,
I know it is very frustrating on your end and embarassing on my end when the videos won't play. Blogspot knows about the problem and they are working to fix it. I will continue to post videos, but will also take their suggestion and find another location that can host my videos, so until I do that please be patient.
Coming soon- Bullet Train to Himeji, Himeji Schools, My Lovely Host Family, How-To on Making Sushi, and much, much more about my visit to Japan.
I know it is very frustrating on your end and embarassing on my end when the videos won't play. Blogspot knows about the problem and they are working to fix it. I will continue to post videos, but will also take their suggestion and find another location that can host my videos, so until I do that please be patient.
Coming soon- Bullet Train to Himeji, Himeji Schools, My Lovely Host Family, How-To on Making Sushi, and much, much more about my visit to Japan.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Just want to be a Rock Star!
We met the band Hanoi Rocks in the lobby at the Tokyo Prince Hotel Sunday morning.
They were all very nice and even added several groups of us to different guest list around Japan. We really wanted to go to Osaka to see them. We knew that by bullet train it would have been only 1/2 hour to 3/4 of an hour, but what we didn't realize is that it would cost $80 round trip. Even when you are on the guest list that is too much. Instead we found them on myspace and listening to several of their new songs; I hope you will do the same.
They were all very nice and even added several groups of us to different guest list around Japan. We really wanted to go to Osaka to see them. We knew that by bullet train it would have been only 1/2 hour to 3/4 of an hour, but what we didn't realize is that it would cost $80 round trip. Even when you are on the guest list that is too much. Instead we found them on myspace and listening to several of their new songs; I hope you will do the same.
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