more Japan pictures

me and Jasmine

Sumo tournament!

playing games at Thanksgiving

more Sumo

Thanksgiving dinner

Thanksgiving weekend...in Japan

This past weekend we had off for Thanksgiving break, so I boarded a plane and headed to Fukuoka, Japan, to visit Uncle Bill, Aunt Nobuko, and cousins Sonia, Kaj, and Jasmine. The weather was cool and refreshing, and the Japanese countryside was beautiful with fall colors, rolling hills, streams, old fashioned style Japanese homes, and well manicured gardens. We went to a Sumo tournament, ate lots of Japanese food, took a drive through the mountains, walked around Akizuki (officially the town where they live), and had a big Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. It was exactly the refreshing break that I needed and I loved every minute. I will definitely revisit Japan. More pictures to come...

mountains, rice fields, stream, and valley

beautiful homes and gardens

typical Akizuki street (notice the water running through on the side)

Jasmine took me around the town. We stopped on this bridge to watch people and take in the scenery.

October 18, 2006

Yesterday I started my first tutoring session. I am teaching English to Karen (4th grade) and brother Brian (6th grade) who go to local schools here. Although Karen goes to an English speaking school, their parents want them to be taught by a "true Westerner". This job pays fairly well, and will hopefully cover some of my travel expenses this year. Lessons are very popular here, and it's not unusal for a kid to have 3 or 4 extra lessons of something every week. In true Chinese fashion, I got the job via the librarian at our school, who talked with another parent, who talked with Karen and Brian's mom when they saw that I lived in the same building. Apparently it would have been rude to approach me directly. I'm always learning something.

Christmas decorations and lights are starting to come out in full force. It seems odd to see Santa and greeting cards as it's barely warm enough to warrant wearing long sleeves (let alone long pants, some days). It also seems strange to see Christmas decorations when there aren't any Thanksgiving or fall festivities to kickstart the holiday season.

I will get a change of weather next week when I travel to Japan for our Thanksgiving break. I'm staying with Uncle Bill and family in the southern island of Kyushu.

Ocean Park and more

(turn head)


A couple of weekends ago, we had a long weekend for the Cheung Yung holiday, which is something to do with celebrating the graves of your ancestors. Since I don't have any of those here, I went to Ocean Park with some friends. The best comparison is probably Sea World, except that Ocean Park is separated into two separate parks, connected by cable car that carries you from one side of a mountain to the other. It was a beautiful view, on the mountain and with the South China sea all around. The roller coasters are on the side of a mountain, so when you're in mid-air, it seems like there is nothing below you but water.


Actually, this was not at OP, but is a picture of the trams that run through downtown. I went to a Halloween tram party a couple of weeks ago with the Democrats Abroad group here.

(turn head). Ocean Park had lots of explanatory signs, of which the English translations were very literal and pretty funny. I liked this one.

Another Hong Kong picture of a clam shop...this picture shows the entire store. Nothing but clams.