Open School Day, Tokyo Capsule Hotel...

In Japan we have Japanese teachers to help us learn the language.  We are allotted a specific number of hours a week for class.  The children have had Mika Sensei since we arrived.  They typically study in the tatame room sitting at the kotatsu.  Soon she will take another job and we will have a new teacher for the children.  The children love working with her and will miss her when she leaves.

My Sensei's name is Sachiko Sensei.  She helped from the day we arrived, which means she also sat in Yamada Denki for 5 hours with us as we set up phones and Internet.  This week we had an open school day for the children and she went with us to help.

Kate's Sensei is Reiko Sensei.  She teaches Kate Japanese and typically helps with the children's school.  She also went along to the doctor when they had the flu.  She is the one on the right in the picture below.

This year we only saw it snow a couple of times, but it never stuck on the ground.  Last week we woke up to a maybe an inch.  Not sure how much it actually snowed to get that much to stick on the ground.  It was a very wet snow and after noon it was basically gone.  Many children played in it as they walked to school, but in morning it was raining so it was wet and cold.

Open school was interesting.  We were able to attend one class for each of the children to see how and what they are doing.  Takanezawa school is very friendly to foreign students.  One way they help to integrate them is by hiring English speaking helpers for the foreign students.

Here is Colleen's class. 

Kakenume Sensei is Colleen's teacher.  In the picture below she is sitting with her English helper.

Colleen's class was we attended was a class on morals.  In particular saying nice things to others.  As part of the class the children had to write nice things to say on a piece of paper and tape them on the board.  Colleen did not write hers in English, she wrote がんばって(ganbatte) or do your best.

We also saw some of the children's art work.  It was on display around the room.  Here is Colleen's mouse ねずみ.  

Liam also has an assistant, her name is Shido Sensei.  She goes to the class sometimes and helps him understand what is going on.  She is sitting next to him in the picture below.

You can see some of the children's artwork below on the wall behind them.

Liam did a picture of Totoro for his art work.  Totoro is a famous cartoon here about a helpful monster in the country.  It is a very fun movie, and I would advise renting it if you can.

His class we attended was on signs in Japan.  The children had to draw a picture of  a sign, then get up in front of the class and give a speech on it.  Liam gave his speech in Japanese.  We are very proud of both children for making an effort to learn the culture, language, and for the most part being very flexible.

Finally, I rounded out the week by making a trip down to Tokyo to meet Anthony.  We decided we would go to dinner, hang out a while, then stay in a capsule hotel for the night.  Since the adventure was in Tokyo we had to plan the best route to get there.  To do that I used my I-pod touch.  I have said that the I-touch is the greatest invention since the wheel and pants, the reason for that is that it is so versatile.  I have been able to load applications to help get around Japan among many others.  I use it for translation, Kanji look up, and travel.

For the trip I looked up the route by using the wi-fi from home, then took a screen grab for future reference.

Next I found the correct train with the JR East Map.

Finally, the Tokyo metro map got us to our destination.

The Capsule Hotel....  After a long day we hopped in a cab and were off to the hotel.  We arrived out front at 2:42 AM.   The sign says Capsule Inn Akasaka.

Once inside you pay 3600 yen (around $40).  Then you are given a key,on a bracelet, to a locker and told which floor to go to.  Once you get to the correct floor and find your locker, inside you have a robe and some slippers.  Since the capsules are not secure it is best to put your belongings in the locker.

Once you change you head to the capsule floor.  We had a pretty funny moment, when Matt discovered that the robes were a little on the small size.  It looked like he was wearing a miniature robe.  Two Japanese men walked by and broke out laughing, they said "mmm, not American size."  The Hotel actually provides public bathrooms and showers but we were too tired, so we just headed for the beds.

Below is Matt and I getting ready to climb in. 

Anthony snug in the capsule.

Here I am laughing at the whole situation, you can see the key bracelet in the picture (it is yellow)

Actually for me it was great.  The capsule bed was comfortable and large enough.  There was a shelf, mirror, and TV.  At the end of the capsule is a curtain for privacy.  The room was a comfortable temperature.  Matt had his TV on for a few minutes at a loud volume.  We were laughing because it was like we were in the room with him.  Since the only separation between you and the others is the curtain sounds travel from one capsule to another.  You could hear people in other capsules snoring.

As I said before the capsule size was no problem for me, Matt on the other hand did not completely fit into the capsule.  In the picture below you can see his feet sticking out of the capsule.  Also as I said before the robes are not American size, so I took some creative liberty with the picture to re-size it.

In the morning I woke up and headed out early to go home.  This is the view from the elevator on the way out.

Back on the JR train that I planned with the I-pod...and home..

Have a good week..

Community activity, Nakagawa aquarium, etc..

Kate and the children signed up to make book cases as a community activity in Takanezawa 高根沢. They met at a school parking lot then drove to the activity. It was at a local residents house. I am pretty sure he has some sort of business there as he has a fork truck. I don't know many people that just have a fork truck. Everyone that went to the activity chipped in to make the day a success.

First all the wood was selected and cut to size.

The children drew a design on the side pieces with pencil. Another gentleman cut the patterns out.

Then the children smoothed all the edges with sandpaper.

Final assembly..

Here is the finished product.

After all the wood working was done it was time for lunch. That was also included in the 500 yen fee. (Katie writing) They started cooking lunch outside on the fire. The first pot was used to cook meat in oil. It smelled deeeelicious. Then there was a pot with broth and vegetables. I think they used the same pot for the broth that they cooked the meat in...for the flavor. They also boiled a pot of water to cook the soba noodles in. That part was very quick it seems just to heat the noodles. They put the noodles, soup and meat in the bowl. It was certainly a beautiful :) bowl of soup.

I didn't pay for me so I was not expecting to eat. I was thrilled they wanted myself and all of the parents to eat. Anyone who knows me well knows I LOVE food. They also served red rice, pickled daikon and a dish made out of a root with carrots. All of it was delicious. They sent me home with "take out" too.

I didn't know any of these people before this day or speak the language and still I felt like I was with family. It seemed like the kids felt the same running around the yard. At one point I was thinking....I can't believe I am here experiencing this wonderful day. I did wish that Larry could have shared with us.

The gentleman also made a me cutting board to bring home. I have used it everyday since. My plan is to make some cookies and drop them off soon. It is common to give a gift of thanks. I have several I am going to do this week.

This week was Liam's 10th birthday. He got a few small things, but has decided to save his money for next month's adventure. Pictured below is him making candy tako yaki from a kit he got for his birthday. Liam actually does not like the real thing. He was more than willing to tear up the candy version.

On the weekend we headed off to Nakagawa aquarium. It was about 30-40 min. drive. The drive itself was nice. It was good to get out on the warm day (about 58degrees).

The aquarium contains mostly fresh water fish. As a result they are not as colorful as the typical ocean fish, but still beautiful and interesting.

There were a number of exhibits that allow you to interact with the aquatic animals. There were starfish, turtles, sharks, crawfish, see urchin, and a crazy slimy thing (Sea Cucumber)...(these were some of the few salt water animals).

There were fish from the Amazon in a large tube style tank. The biggest and scariest would be the Arapaima. I could not imagine swimming in a river and seeing one of these things in the water. It would probably make me soil my trunks.

We saw our first ever Sea Monkey vending machine. The sign actually calls them Ghost Shrimp. Fortunately the children didn't see it or we would probably have a new pet. There are a few vending machines in Japan, so the children are happy when we find one....

Finally, I have been riding my bike to work pretty consistently. The bike I have been riding was made in 1993 and was the bike I used to race on. As a result the components were starting to really get worn out. The other problem was that we don't have a garage (they aren't common in Japan, in fact I have not seen any yet.) On top of that the bike was too big to fit in the entry way. I decided to get a new bike. I picked a Japan market only Gios. It has small wheels (20"), so it fits in the entry way easily. It has STI shifters, bladed spokes, and a carbon fiber fork. I will start riding it to work tomorrow.

We rode the train down to Utsunomiya to meet the Cao's for lunch. The last picture was Kate and I hanging out by the river. Have a good week......