MAPLE LEAVES....

These pictures were taken by my student Ms. I!!! She`s like a professional photographer!!!

These Maple Leaf trees are from Kyoto! They are really beautiful! I have been to many places in the past to see Maple leaves, for example, Arashiyama, and also Akame in Mie Prefecture. In Akame there is a place called "48 Waterfalls." It`s a pretty cool place but a long hike, maybe about 4 hours!! In New England in America, and also even around my parent`s house in Philadelphia, the foilage is really out of this world! Do you recommend any good places to see the beautiful foilage?

KIMBERLEY the cat

My student, Ms. A, sent me this picture of her baby cat. She found it in a park 2 weeks ago. It was alone and very small and thin and she looked weak. Maybe the kitten was about 2 months old she thought. And she took it home and named it Kimberley. Now, when Ms. A takes a nap on the sofa, Kimberley comes over and sleeps in her hair. What would you do if you found a cat or dog?

DO YOU LIKE CATS OR DOGS?

Happy Thanksgiving from America!

LAUGHTER...AND Q-CHAN

The other day I went to YOSHIMOTO and saw some manzai comedy groups and also a comedy play. It was great. At Yoshimoto, they say, "Laughter can change Japan" and "Laughter is healthy"...I think they are right! Because laughing can change you, and you can change things around you! Do you have any funny stories to tell?

Also, Takahashi (Q-chan) was really great in the Tokyo marathon. Honestly, I didn`t think that she could do it. She failed at the Tokyo marathon 2 years ago, she changed coaches, she was injured, and she`s not young for a runner, but she just kept running...and she won! I ran the Fukuchiyama Marathon about 9 years ago and finished in 3 hours and 35 minutes. Believe me, a full marathon is not an easy accomplishment! Q-chan did a great job, and she did it with a smile, and she also made a lot of people smile!!! She is really something else!!! :)

MY VISIT TO THE APPLE STORE!

The other day I went to the APPLE store in Shinsaibashi for the first time. My brother recommended me to go...It is a really spacious store and very high tech! Since I don`t know anything about computers, I was lost...But i was glad that I went and I listened to some good songs on the I-pod. :)

TWO FRIENDS

These are two of my friends in Japan. One guy, is a great cook and the other guy is an "ok" cook! ;) Last week the two of them left Japan to go to America to work. The guy on the right has a Christmas tree business that he does every winter. If he sends me some pics, I`ll post them up for everyone to see. One guy will come back sometime in January. But the other guy will not. He will go to China I think...Why China? I don`t know though...But it was great to meet the guy and spend some time with him. We shared a lot of laughs and I just wanted to say to him, "Good luck and take care of yourself!"

CONGRATULATIONS TO~~~

I would like to congratulate two of my students!

First to Ms. H: Congrats on passing the "Teacher`s" Test! and becoming a Home Room teacher (all in the same week!) I know that you really studied hard and were very nervous and I am happy that you could make your dream your reality! From now, GOOD LUCK with those kids! :)

Next, I would like to congratulate Mr. T for doing an unbelievable job on the TOEIC test!!! He got over 900..that`s right, over 900!!! You deserved this score because you really study hard and make a solid effort all the time, every class! Well done!!

HAIRCUT...

Today I got my haircut. I go to a place called CUT SURGE in Honmachi. It`s only 1000 yen. Men and women can both go there, and I know what you are thinking, "1000 yen?! it`s gotta be a small, dirty place, and the haircutters can`t be good..." But on the contrary, actually it is very new and clean, and the staff is very friendly and are very professional! I used to shave my head by myself but now I go there about twice a month because it`s convenient, they do a good job, and I like to talk to the owner and staff. For any of you looking for a new or good hair cut place, lemme know and I will tell you where it is. I recommend it!


ABC RADIO

Every day I listen to ABC radio in my office when I am not teaching. It`s mostly an Osakan talk radio station...sometimes it`s pretty funny. I prefer listening to people talk rather than listening to music all day. I don`t know why, but I can relax more and it`s more interesting listening to talk radio. Anyway, sometimes they actually do play a few songs, and a few minutes ago they played a new song "ALWAYS" by the band B-51. I can`t explain it, but sometimes one song can just change your mood or change your day. Also the timing of when you listen to it. Well, this song kinda changed my mood and made me smile...Thank you (always) ABC RADIO and also B-51 for the cool song.

SCORES!

It has been about a week since I wrote last. I wanted to write a few times last week but I just got caught up in stuff and couldn`t...Anyway, i was thinking about SCORES recently. One of my students, Mr. a, went bowling the other day. He got a 70! That`s right, that`s not a typo...a 70!!! I am not so good at bowling either, I usually get somewhere between 100 and 150, my best score is a 190, maybe ;), once in my life! But Mr. a said "I couldn`t be upset, so I just laughed." "a bowling SCORE IS NOT IMPORTANT!! but HAVING FUN in bowling IS IMPORTANT", I told him. My favorite Japanese poet is Aida Mitsuo. In one of his poems he said something like "People are not scores..."

On another note, I also like American football. My football team is the Philadelphia Eagles. Last year they had a very strong team, but this year is another story. They are playing a game against the Washington Redskins in America as I write this now...it`s halftime, and The SCORE is 10-7. The Birds are losing...

"Morning" breakfast

I just finished having "Morning" breakfast with my friend Mr. O. Usually I don`t eat breakfast but every once in a while I like to get a typical "morning" set at some small coffee shop...just good coffee, some toast, and a hard-boiled egg. Simple, but good. And satisfying! If I go by myself, I enjoy reading the neswpaper while I eat. But if I go with a friend, then I enjoy the conversation. Today, as usual, I didn`t talk about anything special with Mr. O...baseball, golf, his sick friend, his karaoke friends, some small life changes, baseball again ;) Basic stuff, just basic stuff... it was a good way to begin the morning.