旭川英会話　Snowman Japan ブログ北海道　旭川市　英会話　スクール WEB LOG Snowman Japan Hokkaido Asahikawa BLOG　Life in Hokkaido Photos

www.snowmanjapan.net

for June 2007

NOTE: The OBJECTIVE of this BLOG is to help my students with their study of English.

AND

For all of you, out there, around the world to;

SEE HOKKAIDO

2007 June 30 Saturday.

I got an email from a friend who lives in Houston Texas that reintroduced me to the Native American Flute. I was aware of this musical instrument when I visited the Southwestern USA in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, the so called four corners region. I really like the kinds of Native American artwork and music. The flute you can see in the photo above/left is most likely a very expensive piece of musical artwork. I myself would like to get one of these flutes, but for now, my one dollar plastic recorders are enough of a challenge for me. One thing that I don't like about the recorder, is that I cannot make the very low mellow tones that are possible on a clarinet. Maybe I should go on a quest to the many recycle shops in and around this city, to see if I can find a used 尺八. I realize this instrument is very difficult to play well, but if I can find one for a reasonable price, I think I will give it a try. To see a video with the BGM of a person playing the Native American Flute, click here. In some aspects, it sounds very similar to the Japanese Shakuhachi. I must learn more about these wind instruments. I have spent most of my life strumming on and picking at guitar strings. I need to expand my horizons.

2007 June 29 Friday.

Lots to write about today, but no time to write it. Are you living in your own Private Idaho? To hear one opinion, click on the map, above/left.

2007 June 28 Thursday.

Lots to write about today, but no time to write it. SORRY. 髭剃り Can anyone out there read the Cuneiform Writing in the photo on the left? I haven't a clue as to what it says. Click Here to watch the B52s perform Mesopotamia live in 1990.

2007 June 27 Wednesday.

One of my students who is a lovely 25 year old single woman, just returned to Asahikawa from a 1 week vacation on Bali Island in Indonesia. Before she left for Bali, she brought a travel guide about Bali to class with her and showed me and the other classmates where she planned to go on the island, what she planned to see and do, and the foods she was planning to eat. In that guidebook, a photograph of silver bracelets caught my eye, so I asked her to please buy me two silver bracelets, and then I would pay her back when she returned to Asahikawa. I left the choice of the design up to her. You can see what she brought back in the photo above/left. They are much bigger than I thought they would be from looking at the photo in that guidebook, and I feel like a GLADIATOR when I put them on. I also have some silver NAVAHO bracelets that are much less wide, and are made of thicker silver. These bracelets from Bali are made from much thinner silver, but they are also much wider than the Navaho bracelets. Either way, they both serve the purpose of focusing my power of intention when I wear them. That is the real reason I like to wear bracelets whenever I go out and about. In general, I don't like jewelry all that much, except for silver and turquoise トルコ石. I would never consider wearing a big gold chain around my neck, or having a diamond ear piercing or wearing a diamond ring, for example. I just don't feel anything special when I see these things. However, I would like to find a really nice JADE ヒスイ necklace or bracelet someday. The color of jade reminds me of the ocean water, or the color of a river or a lake or some such thing. Anyway, a great big thank you to Mako for getting these two handsome silver bracelets for me, while she was on her very short vacation in Bali. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

2007 June 26 Tuesday.

The photo you can see above/left is of a handmade 徳利　which was given to me today, by one of my long time students. She has also been taking pottery classes since about two or three years ago, and she has made many various things. She made this one especially for me and my classroom. When I picked it up for the first time, I could feel the LOVE that she had put into making it, over many, many hours. This will be a treasure for me, during all of the quests to come. When I say that I can feel the love which was put into making this pottery, I mean it in the REAL sense of the word. Not just the feelings of smoothness and roughness that our sense of touch imparts to the brain, but also the INTENTIONS of the creator, during the creation PROCESS of this piece of ceramics. Her thoughts and feelings and expectations and everything else during that time, are forever imprinted at the core 核 of this creation we call, HARD REALITY. HOW HARD is it, REALLY? At every moment, her hands were shaping and molding the wet clay into her INTENDED shapes. The painting and glazing of the shapes and colors. All of these physical senses that we take for granted every day, combine into many complex patterns of wavelengths that allow a person to really SEE what it is, that the INTENTIONS of the creator have manifested into, by observing its physical equivalent. The one that you can observe in the photo above/left. The physical manifestations are what we can OBSERVE. The intentions of the Creators ARE what we can SEE. There is a difference. A very BIG difference, indeed.

2007 June 25 Monday.

Another beautiful day in Hokkaido. My first gig of the day didn't start until 13:00. It was at the 神楽公民館で英会話を楽しむ会　a mere 10 minutes walk from my classroom, if I walk slowly. Again today, I talked about the ridiculous invoice とんでもない請求書 that Charles Hamel and family had received after spending only 6 hours in a hospital emergency room ER in Houston Texas, for the sole purpose of passing kidney stones. I told the class that I had received an email and also looked at his blog called HOKKAIDO BOUND where the details of the hospital invoice are posted. All in all, the bill was for $12,559!!! Converted into Japanese Yen using the currency converter at http://www.ratesfx.com/ that comes out to 1,553,950 yen!!!! Remember, Charlie didn't even stay one overnight at the hospital. He went back home after only 6 hours and his loving Japanese wife took care of him for the next 3 days at the family home, until the kidney stones finally passed out of his body. Again, everyone in the class just couldn't believe what I was telling them. I can't believe it either because it is so phuckin' ridiculous. A person could buy a new economy car for that price! What indeed is a civilized society, anyway? I know what one is because I have lived here in Hokkaido for more than 17 years. This place is ultra-modern, civilized and close to nature. What else could a person want? The neon lights of a big city? You can get all of that in Sapporo, and even in downtown Asahikawa as well. Hokkaido Has IT ALL. I am a happy camper who has no plans EVER, to live anywhere else. Take a trip and visit other places? Sure, why not. I will learn something from that quest. But it is always good to come back HOME to my own private Hokkaido. Underground like a wild potato. Anyway, after that class was finished at about 14:40, I hurried back to my classroom for lessons from 15:00 until 20:00. When that was all out of the way, I got onto the World Wide Web to see what else I could learn about playing the vertical flute (recorder). During my information quest, I stumbled upon a blast from the past that reminded me of a song called RUBY TUESDAY performed by the ROLLING STONES in 1967. Brian Jones plays a larger wooden recorder in this video, and the sound is both nostalgic and refreshing. To see the music video, click here. Time to practice the flute some more. I guess I had better close the windows for now.

2007 June 24 Sunday.

ROAM if you want to, all around the world. Roam if you want to, without wings without wheels,..... MUSIC FOR THE ROAD by the B52s.

2007 June 23 Saturday.

No time to write today, I'm outta here and on another プチ vision quest. Have flute, will walk anywhere.　Walk with the wind. The wind can fly.

2007 June 22 Friday.

A nice and sunny day that started off at 9:00 with a class of 20, second year students at the Dokan Nursing School. After 90 minutes of fun and games, I took a taxi into downtown Asahikawa just to see what there was to see. I looked around at the book stores, music stores, jewelry stores, just about everywhere. I bought a book for my wife, that makes it really easy to learn the basics of the Korean writing system. The book is also useful for me as well. I also found a purple colored plastic flute at the 100 yen shop along with a tri-lingual dictionary in English Japanese Korean. Each for less than one dollar. Can't complain about that. After enjoying the civilized environment of the city center for about 2 hours, I walked slowly back to my classroom, taking the long way around along the river banks. Of course, I had to try out my new purple flute. Works fine. Just like all of the other ones. CLONES. I finally arrived back at my classroom at about 14:00, feeling great. I want to take another walk, just like that one, again soon. After having classes from 15:00 until 20:00, I was back on my feet again and hoofing it over to the other side of the Chubetsu River. Along the way, I stopped by at RABBIT らびっと to get one liter of freshly made, non-pasteurized 100% rice malt wine 純米生酒 with the label 男山笹おり. It is made right here in Asahikawa. The marketing director lives just a few blocks away from my place. I know him well. Good people, good products. No bullshit. I left the store with my pure brew and headed for the river bank only about 555 meters away. I crossed over the old Kagura Bridge which is now an illuminated walking and cycling path, and got on over to the city center side of the Chubetsu River and walked downstream until I got to the base of the new bridge, which is still under construction. From this location, I had a marvelous view of Venus in the West, Jupiter in the East and the half moon in between. As I played the first sounds on my golden flute, a pair of great blue herons アオサギ, startled by my sudden music, jumped up right in front of me and flew twice above my head before taking off downstream with a loud squawk. It literally scared the shit out of me and I was lucky to have had enough pocket tissue to finish the job. The good news is I got to hear the cry of a great blue heron for the very first time up close. Not such a pretty sound. I stayed at this location for about 2 hours, sipping wine and playing different riffs on my one dollar gold colored plastic flute. The sound of the river rushing by, played along on rhythm. The Summer Solstice. It only happens once a year so I don't want to miss its window of opportunity. And, I didn't. In closing today I would like to copy and paste a small section from the chapter of a book; A Separate Reality. I know Charles Hamel has already read this book, but this particular passage from it is indeed a timely message that must be broadcast again. Here it is; One has to reduce to a minimum all that is unnecessary in one's life. Once you decide something put all your petty fears away. Your decision should vanquish them. I will tell you time and time again, the most effective way to live is as a warrior. Worry and think before you make any decision, but once you make it, be on your way free from worries or thoughts; there will be a million other decisions still awaiting you. That's the warrior's way. A warrior thinks of his death when things become unclear. The idea of death is the only thing that tempers our spirit. To be a warrior you have to be crystal clear. SNOW CRYSTAL CLEAR

2007 June 21 Thursday.

Welcome back, Summer Solstice. I've waited one whole year for this day. I think I'll go for a walk. Have flute, Will travel. Sell HIGH, Buy LOW. It's time to SPEND more time outdoors. Day or night.

2007 June 20 Wednesday.

Another photo taken on my private beach, during last Sunday afternoon's mini vision quest. Summer vacation starts in about 5 weeks. Then I will have more time for this sort of thing. Almost one month to be exact. At 8:50 this morning, I had a class with 40 of the first year students at the Kosei Nursing School. The first thing I did was write the words FLUTE and FRUIT on the blackboard. Then, I reached into my bag of tricks and pulled out three plastic flutes, held the blue one in my right hand and said; "This is a FLUTE. Can anyone play it?" No one volunteered right away so I started walking down the aisles between the rows of desks, with the three flutes held in both hands and spread out like Neptune's Fork. After about 30 seconds of this, one of the girls raised her hand, and I gave her the blue flute. I said; "Do you know how to play 'Frogs' Chorus? かえるの合唱 Let's play that one." So, we did. Well, we sort of played it. Everyone in the classroom including myself couldn't stop laughing long enough to complete more than one round of this very well known children's song. Yeah, I get paid to teach this class. Anyway, after that we did pair work in small groups of 2, 3 or 4 students, using page two of my original text book Q&A, for the rest of the class time, as I hovered around and watched the students interact with each other. I sat down with each group to check what they had all written down as answers to the questions, and corrected any spelling mistakes that were there. There were quite a few. One girl even wrote 90% of her answers in Japanese. I did a translation job just for her, right there on the spot. When that class was finished at 10:20, I drove back to my classroom to eat brunch and get ready for straight classes from 15:00 until 20:00. Being an English teacher can be fun.

2007 June 19 Tuesday.

Today I went to Asahikawa University as usual for a class with the freshman and repeaters starting at 10:40. When that class was all wrapped up at 12:10, and while I was walking out the front door of the university, one of the junior professors called out to me, and asked me if I had time to meet some foreign exchange students from Inner Mongolia. I said; "Sure, I'd be happy to." We walked back into the main entrance and turned to the left, where a new room had been set up. The sign above the door said; Foreign Exchange Students Meeting Room, or something like that. When the professor and I had entered the room, I saw three young ladies, one of whom is in the English class that I had just finished teaching. The other two I have never met before. All five of us sat down and talked in English, Japanese and a tiny bit of Chinese, until about 13:00. Damn! I have forgotten how to speak Chinese! Xit! Here is a big opportunity to learn it again! I was invited to come back again next week, and I most certainly will do so. Time to listen to those basic conversation CDs again.

2007 June 18 Monday.

My first gig of today was a 90 minute "class" at the 神楽公民館で英会話を楽しむ会。Today, I brought along three new plastic vertical flutes with me, that I had just purchased at the Kagura Daiso at about 13:00 yesterday afternoon. Three colors; Pink, Yellow, Blue. I picked up the blue one and played a simple major scale and mentioned how I have been enjoying playing the flute either at home, or down by the riverside. I encouraged anyone in the group who so desired, to take a blow on one of the flutes and play a simple song or two. Only one person, accepted my invitation, although I am sure that most of the members of this group can play a scale or two. My next topic of the day, was Medical Health Insurance issues with a focus on the different systems used in Japan and the USA. I specifically brought up the situation of Charles Hamel and Family, and asked the members of the group; "How much do you think it cost him to go to the hospital for 3 days and pass kidney stones." Most people came up with an estimate of $500 or $600 dollars, to be paid by the patient. When I wrote the number $4,100 on the blackboard, everybody's jaw dropped to their knees, and they had a totally blank look on their faces. Yeah, in a nutshell; they couldn't phuckin' believe it. I could, but then again,... I lived in the USA for about 33 years. I know what it's like to live there as a hard working middle class kind of guy. Because the USA has no Universal Health Care Plan for all of its Citizens, regardless of income level, a person who suddenly finds themselves unemployed for any reason, may suddenly have no more health insurance. That's the real bottom line. One thoughtful member of our group asked me the probing question; "What happens if an uninsured person gets sick?" I looked at her straight in the eyes, smiled in an evil sort of way and answered; "They must either heal themselves, or die." Everyone looked shocked. Another person made the comment that roughly translates into; "What a heartless society." You can say that again my friend. I've been there and seen that. I choose a different world, a CIVILIZED WORLD, where WA 和 is the name of the game. After that gig was finished at 14:30, I walked back to my classroom for straight lessons from 15:00 until 20:00. When all of my lessons were finished for the day, I sat down to check my email, and several other websites including HOKKAIDO BOUND. What I saw in the blog for this very same day, Monday June 18 TEXAS TIME was an update on the real COST of a SCREWBALL health care system that always puts the BEAN COUNTERS first. If you have a huge appetite for bullshit, click here to see the gory details. Xrist! JeeeeezUS! How much does it take!!! to get out of this place? Whatever it takes to get off the ground, and start flying, pay it forward and make your move NOW. I can't phuckin' believe it. Life DOES NOT suck. Living in a house of cards is what sucks. And so does an old vacuum cleaner that doesn't suck anymore. Useless things MUST be thrown away. Useful TOOLS must be retained, and carried with oneself at all times. Certain knowledge, and a vertical flute are an easy,.... and enjoyable way to get started. A vision quest can happen at anytime and anywhere, but only if you can visualize nature as you have already observed it,.... COUNTLESS TIMES BEFORE.

2007 June 17 Sunday.

The photo you can see in yesterday's blog and the one in today's blog, were both taken during today, Sunday June 17. The weather today was so perfect, in every way, that I wasn't even aware of my physical body for most of my journey today. The air temperature was just to the point that, I didn't even notice it. There was no wind. None at all. The sunshine was hot, but not too hot. Everything was perfect for a walk down to one of my favorite hidden beaches along the Biei River, less than one kilometer from my home. I won't tell you exactly where it is, but if you are one of the gentle persons who comes to my little old classroom on a regular basis, I will draw you a BIG MAP to this very location on the white board. It is very easy to find, and this area will soon be connected to the center of town, by a brand new bridge! Oh, No! I've already said too much. Please don't invade my Private Hokkaido. But then again, there are unlimited, Private Hokkaido launch pads on this island. Anyway, this tiny beach is right behind a very famous sightseeing spot right here in Kagura, and there is a walking trail through a small forest right above this private beach, so I was not totally isolated from other humans in the physical sense of the word. I came to this location at about 13:00 today, and I stayed until about 16:30. Somewhere close to 3 and one half hours, at this same location. As you can see from yesterday's blog photo, and also the one for today, I brought a vertical flute with me. I spent the entire time of nearly 4 hours, practicing the flute at full volume and observing everything about the local nature surrounding me, as I created original melodies out of thin air. Make no mistake about it, the animals within earshot of my "music" received it and responded to it. Yes, we had mutual communication. Especially with the crows and wild hawks. They would fly low above me, to check me out while I was simultaneously observing them. I especially love the wild hawks which are known here as 鳶 and 鷹. They are the most beautiful of flying machines and they have a very high and somewhat shrill calling voice, that I tried to imitate on my flute, with mixed results. The crows are mostly an annoyance to both me and the hawks. The crows regularly engage in airborne combat with the hawks, especially if the hawks are near the crows' nesting areas. When the crows start giving me a hard time, I blaze 'em with high pitched blasts of high decibel notes from my flute. It makes them stop and shut up for various lengths of time. Also during my VISION QUEST of this afternoon, an Akita Dog and its owner were walking along the opposite bank of the river heading upstream towards the southeast. The dog reacted very positively to my staccato flute riffs, and even tried briefly to jump into the river, with an intention to swim over to my side, but common sense soon got the better of him. The dog's owner, and elderly gentleman finally called the dog to come back over to him, and continue walking together. On my side of the river it was only me and the bubble of light that I was floating in. The only other humans that came down to my private beach were a medical doctor looking kind of guy, to whom I said; こんにちわ！　And he in turn replied; こんにちわ！　End of conversation. I faced back towards the river and continued my broadcasting channel via the vertical flute. After about two or three or maybe even a few more minutes, the M.D. looking chap had already taken in enough during his very short look at the river and walked back up to the trail from which he had come, to continue his walk in the forest towards the west. About 55 minutes later, a married couple, first the man and then the woman, came down to my private Hokkaido beach, to take a look around for a bit longer than the previous humanoid. Again I greeted them one by one, but this time I said; こんばんわ both times, and both of them answered; こんにちわ. What time is it anyway? It is daytime. In the afternoon to be exact. Soon it will become dark enough again, to call it nighttime. Plus the limitless shades of light and dark, color and light, heat and cold, in between. What time is it, indeed. It is the time of your life. It is always TODAY.

2007 June 16 Saturday.

Are you all ready for a HORROR STORY? A scary story which is absolutely true? Here's how it goes,...... About one year ago, I received a long distance telephone call from a man in Houston Texas by the name of Charles Hamel. Actually, I wasn't at home when he called me, so he left a message on my answering machine 留守番電話. In his message he said that he and his family were seriously considering moving to Hokkaido, on a more or less permanent basis, and that he would like to ask me some questions about life in Hokkaido as an American, married to a Japanese. He told me his email address and we have been in touch ever since. The reason he called me is because he had found this website on the internet while looking for information about Asahikawa and Hokkaido. Since that time he has started several websites of his own, including the one called HOKKAIDO BOUND which you can see by clicking here. This website has been very useful for me in keeping track of his and his family's trials and tribulations, as they do what they need to do, to make the big move from TEXAS to HOKKAIDO. In his latest blog dated June 12, he tells about an expensive trip to the hospital. As he tells it, he woke up one morning in excruciating pain in his lower abdomen and back. His car is at the dealership for repairs, so he took an ambulance to the hospital. When he arrived there, the doctors told him he had kidney stones. So, he remained in the hospital for three days to let the kidney stones pass out of his body. When he checked out of the hospital three days later, he got a bill for a whopping $4,100 (about ￥492,000). This exorbitant price does not even include the ambulance 救急車 ride to the hospital! MY GOD! Please forgive me for passing gall stones! Unlike Japan, the USA does not have a universal health care plan that covers all of its citizens, regardless of income level. In Japan, there are several systems that everyone must pay into according to their previous year's income. Basically, it's a sliding scale tax. Right now, Ikuko and I must pay about 17,000 yen per month, every month, and we do. The plan pays for 70% of the medical costs, and the patient pays the other 30%. That's the basics. I very rarely go to a hospital, but Ikuko does from time to time. On those rare occasions when she has to pay more than 5,000 yen or so, she will complain that it was expensive. Babe, you don't know HOW EXPENSIVE medical care can become when, the needs of the patients are mostly the last thing on the minds of the Hospital Administrators. Make a profit, is the bottom line for the BEAN COUNTERS. Count away my friends, there is no limit on numbers. Especially if it is merely paper money or blips on a computer screen in the accounting office. Count yourselves to death, office slaves. The chain around your neck is now that 1,000 dollar silk necktie you just bought at that glitzy mall. A necktie chain that cost the maker in CHINA about 2 dollars to produce. HA! SUCKERS! Get a real life. Move out of the city. Get back to your roots as a biological vehicle, with complete freedom of thought and complete freedom of movement. Financial Independence DOES NOT EQUAL Financial Freedom. Financial Independence REALLY MEANS Financial INTERdependence. It's a HOUSE OF CARDS, credit cards. DON'T USE THEM. Pay it forward instead. Come on Charles and Family, you are almost ready to fly. Do it now. (Don't forget to click on the top frame for one more look at your new home. Remember?)

2007 June 15 Friday.

The photo on the left is another one that I took yesterday, inside the Taisetsu Arena, at the annual Flower Festa. In my opinion, the small bush in a tray 盆栽 art form, is stunningly beautiful. I especially like the miniature pine trees, none of which were on display at this location. This morning starting at 9:00, I had a class with one half of the second year students at the Dokan Nursing School, right next door to the National Medical College and Hospital of Asahikawa. Today, we did pair work using page one of my original textbook entitled Word Associations, the 4th word. It contains 6 sets of 5 lines with three words each, such as; red yellow green __________. You fill in the fourth word with what ever word pops into your mind first. Some of the students were absent today, so I paired up with the only boy in this half of the second year students class. Also today, I brought along my Rubik's Cube as a fun prop, and also to see how many of the kids in the class could solve the puzzle. Remember, I myself cannot yet do it. I have only learned the 8 step solution, up to the end of the second step. I gave the cube to various people in the class, and one of them was able to completely solve the puzzle in under 10 minutes! I was amazed. Right across the hall from my classroom today, is a classroom of the 1st year students. The doors were open, and there was no teacher in the room during this class time, so I walked on over and said; "Hi! Can anyone in this class solve the Rubik's Cube?" One of the boys in the class said; "Yes there is but, he is not in this room right now." So, I said; "When he comes back to this room, please call me." The young gentleman said; "OK. I will." About 10 minutes later, the young guy and his classmate came on over to our second year students classroom, and I gave the new kid the Rubik's Cube, and said; "Ready? Start!". This kid too, knows the method and was twisting around methodically on the cube for only about 7 minutes before he also, completely solved the puzzle!!! I AM IMPRESSED. I too will learn how to solve the puzzle completely and in a timely manner, but right now, I am more into playing the vertical flute (recorder) while walking along the river banks at night, or during the day. I mean, the weather is just so nice this time of year, and if I don't get out and about as much as possible, I feel like I am missing a big window of opportunity, to get close with the limitless beauties of nature, that only appear during this season of no snow. IT IS HAPPENING NOW. Speaking of which, I am leaving for a walk with flute, right now. Talk to ya'all again TOMORROW. Tomorrow, I have a very important message for Charles Hamel and Family so please check back again, at that time. TULSA TIME.

2007 June 14 Thursday.

Finally, some rain to cool down the air and settle the dust on the ground. My pollen allergies say thank you. I had a lesson at my classroom this morning starting at 10:00. As you may know, on June 2 I began offering semi-private lessons at my classroom, in the morning hours, for the very first time ever. They are several reasons for this, but they all boil down to the fact that I saw a window of opportunity opening up, that had never been open before. Knowing that these wormholes in time do not remain open for very long, I jumped through it immediately, and scheduled 2 morning classes on Thursday mornings, and 2 morning classes on Saturday mornings. For details, click here. Now I have a total of 4 morning lessons that can seat up to a total of 20 new people. As of today, I have only one new student. Some people might view this as a failure, but for me it is merely the slow start of a new train ride. A ride that will continue forever and on into the future. In fact, starting in September of this year, I will also be adding 2 more classes on Wednesday mornings. How many new people will show up at that time? I have no idea. But, I do KNOW that if you don't plant seeds, nothing will grow, and if you don't go fishing, you won't catch any fish. That, I KNOW FOR A FACT. After my lesson with only one person was finished at 11:00, I walked on over to the Taisetsu Arena across the street, to see what was on sale at the annual Flower Festa event. To my surprise and delight, I found two very beautiful 藍染のれん for only 1,000 yen each. I have been looking around for some type of door curtains のれん for my classroom for many years, but never could find anything that struck my fancy, until today. Also, there were some very beautiful 盆栽 of various plants on display that I took photos of. Another thing that I enjoyed, was watching the little kids playing around inside of the inflated plastic cage that you can see in the photo above/left. What a blast that must be. I remember jumping up and down on my bed when I was really young, and also jumping on a trampoline at the YMCA when I was a bit older, but I never saw anything like this in those days. I wish that I could become young and small again, just for about 30 minutes, so that I too could get inside this padded romper room and just go crazy!!! Maybe they have one for adults somewhere?

2007 June 13 Wednesday.

Still hot and sunny. Getting into the uncomfortable zone for us polar bears. Today I have a rather bizarre tale to tell, which is entirely true. In the photo on the left, you can see a stack of white plastic chairs. When I first started my classroom 11 years ago, I went to NITORI and bought 24 of these very useful and comfortable chairs. Over the years, three of them have become broken and unusable for various reasons. Last Wednesday, we made arrangements and paid a small fee of about 700 yen to have the three broken chairs carried away as Large Sized Garbage　壮大ゴミ. When a person in Asahikawa wants to throw away a big piece of junk such as an old sofa or table or some such thing, they must first call the garbage collection agency and make a reservation to do so. When they do so, they must also buy a sticker that proves they have paid the hauling fee, and paste it onto the garbage to be carried away. In my neighborhood of Kagura, the Large Sized Garbage day is on Wednesdays. So, before last Wednesday, we made all of the necessary arrangements, pasted the sticker onto the chair on top of the small stack of three chairs, and carried them out to the garbage collection station on Tuesday night, to await pick up the next morning. Ikuko and I both have morning jobs outside of our classroom on Wednesdays, and when we got back home in the early afternoon on that day, we were surprised to see a notice pasted on our door that said; "We came to pick up the 3 plastic chairs, but we could not find them. They were not at the garbage collection station, and they were not outside of your classroom door." SAY WHAT??? We both looked outside at the garbage collection station, and sure enough, all three chairs were gone. If the garbage collection people didn't pick them up, WHO DID? Moreover, who in the world would want three broken and unusable plastic chairs??? If you think this story is strange now, read on. It gets even stranger. Today again, being Wednesday, Ikuko and I both went to our outside jobs in the morning. When I got up at about 6:00 this morning, I looked out of my classroom window towards the garbage collection station, and what did I see??? THE SAME THREE PLASTIC CHAIRS had been returned to the exact same location at which we had put them, exactly one week ago!!! What in the heck is going on here? Did someone steal the chairs, only to discover later that they are in fact broken and unusable, and then bring them back to the exact same location from which they had been stolen??? I can't think of any other explanation, unless a UFO pulled them up along a beam of light, examined them, and then lowered them back down to where they had been beamed up from. WEIRD!!! Anyway, we called the Large Sized Garbage Collection Agency again today, and told them this bizarre story. Finally, they came by again, and took the chairs away. WOW! I couldn't have written a better fictional story even if I had used the full extent of my imagination. This is a TRUE STORY.

2007 June 12 Tuesday.

It is getting hotter again today. My first gig started off at 10:40 with a class of first year students at Asahikawa University in the computer lab. The nice thing about having a class in the computer lab is that the room is air conditioned. If feels so cool and comfortable. I do enjoy hot weather from time to time, but when the temperature gets up near 30 degrees C, I start to feel uncomfortable. Especially if the humidity is high. Today the humidity was low, so it was enjoyable. None the less, I do keep a tub of cold water ready for an instant polar bear bath, when the need arises. Today was just such a day. Oh, speaking of cold tubs, I was surprised to learn that one of my students, a 7 year old girl, also likes to sit in a tub of cool water, and even drink cold juice or eat ice cream, all at the same time!!! I don't eat or drink in my cold tub, but I do appreciate the calming effects of the cool water, just like she does. Polar Bears know about it all too well, what we two are talking about. Sometimes during the hot summer in Asahikawa, my wife Ikuko will say something like; "Oh, it's so hot, I think I might die." 熱くて、死にそう。Every time I hear this, I always tell her the same thing; "Take a dip in the cool pool." 水風呂は如何ですか？ She always refuses. I don't think she has ever tried it before. It is her choice. As for me, IT IS Simple answers to simple problems. Take the plunge. You might even grow to love it. I did. You might learn to love it too. We are not alone.

2007 June 11 Monday.

It is getting hotter and hotter, every day with a high temperature of 30 degrees C, being predicted for Wednesday. Today was another busy day with my first gig starting off at 10:00 at the Chestnut Tree Kindergarten くりの木幼稚園. This place now has a total of 222 students! That is up from last year. They have no more spaces available this year, and a waiting list for next year. Even with the declining birth rate in Japan, this school has more than enough students to fill its classrooms. The reason is because this is a very well managed family business that puts the students first. Everything else falls into place naturally, when the wants and needs of the students are given top priority. That gig was finished at 11:00 and I drove back to my classroom to eat brunch. I didn't have much time because I had lingered around the shopping centers on my way back home. At about 12:55, I headed on over to the 神楽公民館 for my weekly 英会話を楽しむ会 which starts at 13:00. Today, I brought my Rubik's Cube with me to see how many people remembered it,... when it first came out in 1974. Everyone remembered seeing it when it first came out, but couldn't quite remember what year that was. In 1974, I was in my third year of high school. That was 33 years ago. When that class was finished at 14:30, I walked back to my classroom for straight classes from 15:00 until 20:00. The gentle lady who comes to my classroom every week at 15:00 on Mondays, cannot only translate old stories for children 昔話 from Japanese into English very well, she can also play the vertical flute (recorder), very beautifully. In the photograph above/left, you can see two of the three plastic recorders that I have. The pink colored transparent one, I bought about 3 years ago for a bit less than 500 yen. The brown colored one on the right, I bought today for only 100 yen. Prices have come down a bit. When I bought the pink flute 3 years ago, I was thinking about how nice it would be for me to sit down by a river or lake, or even somewhere in the mountains or along the coastline, and play some simple melodies while meditating about anything and everything, according to were my thoughts would take me. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't even figure out how to play a simple chromatic scale of 7 notes plus the octave. It was my very first attempt to play any type of wind instrument 管楽器. I had no idea as to how to make beautiful sounds with this pink plastic flute. So, I sort of gave up on it,... and let the flute sit around and collect dust for about 3 years. Finally, a few months ago, this gentle lady who knows how to play the flute, asked me if I would play my guitar as an accompanist together with her flute melodies of Hebrew songs. I said that I would, and as we did so, I realized the beauty of the music produced by a flute, when played intelligently and skillfully. My interest in playing the flute, was rekindled by this experience. So today, with my new flute in hand, I asked her to please show me how to play the most basic of chromatic scales on the recorder. She showed me how it was done, and I managed to remember 5 of the 8 notes that I need to play a scale in a MAJOR KEY. Thank you so much! You have opened up a whole new world of music for me. I really appreciate it. In fact, after all of my lessons were finished for the day, Ikuko and I went for a walk along the river banks, and I brought along my pink flute to practice what I had learned today. Even after Ikuko went back to our home a bit early, I stayed along the river bank, because I wanted to continue practicing the limited repertoire that I had been taught today. Finally, I can produce some clear and clean musical sounds from the flute. I am looking forward to learning more. Much more. Oh! By the way, I also bought a white plastic flute which looks just like the brown one in the photo above, that I keep inside my TOYOTA NOAH at all times. Being a seeker of Hokkaido, I am always packed and ready to go, at a moment's notice, to anywhere on this dragon head island, that I want to go to. All I need to carry out of my house to my van at such a moment's notice, is "cash" 現金 and a change of clothes or two, or three or 4 or however long I am planning to be on the road. On the road again. Playing music with my friends. I just can't wait to get back on the road again.

2007 June 10 Sunday.

Another beautiful warm and sunny day. Two days ago on Friday it was the same way UNTIL,....... about 18:20 when the thunder started to crack and the lightning flashed again and again. Then the heavy rains began to fall, and they came down big time. The little girl who can solve the Rubik's Cube puzzle and who came to my classroom on that day, also learned an English phrase from her mother which she said to me in a small shy voice. "In ShinSeiCho it was raining cats and dogs, but here in Kagura it is clear." Yes, you are right my little friend but only a mere 80 minutes later, about 20 minutes after she and her mother had left my classroom after their English lesson, the "Sand and Earth"　土砂降り started falling out of the sky and I got completely soaked on my way back from the next door super market. That short walk took me only about three minutes. Can you see the rain in your mind's eye? Speaking of lightning, there is a lightning storm every second or two, 24 hours a day, every day of existence, forever and ever, somewhere on this EARTH. Do you know what that means? It means that there is a continuous and endless supply of FREE ELECTRICITY being stored between the EARTH surface and the Ionosphere top most F region about 400 - 600 kilometers above. Maybe electric cars and aircraft really are the best way to get around. If you like smoke, get yourself a PEACE PIPE.

2007 June 9 Saturday.

Today is the 11th anniversary of the start of our little classroom. Happy Birthday to Snowman Japan!!! Today is also the 17th Anniversary of Ikuko's grand father's death, and also the 13th Anniversary of her grandmother's death. Therefore, all immediate family members gathered together today at her mother's house for a Buddhist Commemorative Ceremony presided over by an 御坊さん. After the rather long ceremony by the rather young and inexperienced Buddhist Priest, we all sat down for a gorgeous lunch which was catered to the house by the 花月会館 here in Asahikawa. Very good food. Then, we all changed clothes and sat around or went shopping until about 19:00, when we all got back together again for a BBQ party outdoors in the warm evening air. Venus was bright and beautiful in the western sky, and Jupiter was clearly visible in the eastern sky. My two nephews where also there of course. One of them is 14 years old and the other is 10 years old. I showed them my Rubik's Cube and they both took a shot at trying to solve the puzzle. Neither one of them could do it, and neither could I. So, we all sat down and played some card games such as Black Jack and 大富豪. We all understood the rules of these games. I even showed them how to shuffle the cards in such a way that they make a very loud snapping sound when doing so. It was something that my grandfather had taught me, many many years ago. Everyone is a teacher to someone, in some way or another.

2007 June 8 Friday.

My day started off at 9:00 with a 90 minute English class for one half of the second year students at the Dokan Nursing School. I haven't seen these students since about the middle of May, so I asked them about how they spent their Golden Week. Some of them had to stop and think about it for a while, because GW was more than one month ago. After that class was finished at 10:30, I walked all the way back to my classroom, a distance of about 7 kilometers. Along the way, I stopped at the small Midori Ga Oka shopping center, to see what was new at the Daiso 100 YEN store. To my surprise and delight, I found a Rubik's Cube. It has been a very long time since I have seen or even thought about this very famous toy. I bought one, and played around with it while I was walking the rest of the way back home. Naturally, I couldn't figure out how to solve the puzzle, so I put the cube on top of my classroom table, and left it there. When students started coming to my classroom at about 15:00, they also tried to solve the puzzle but could not figure it out either. Then at 17:00, a mother and her 7 year old daughter came for their lesson as they do every week at this time. When the little girl saw the Rubik's Cube on the table, she immediately picked it up and began to solve the puzzle in a very systematic way. After only about 15 minutes, she had the top of the cube completely white, and the four sides all the same color down to the second row. The bottom of the cube was almost completely blue. I was amazed. The mother told me that her father had taught her how to do it. I was still amazed because the little girl had remembered so well, what her father had taught her. After all of my lessons were finished for today, I got onto the internet and found the Official Rubik's Cube website, where they have an 8 step video lesson on how to solve the puzzle. After watching the videos and twisting around on my new cube for about two hours, I was only able to get it right up to step two! That little 7 year old student of mine is a lot smarter than me when it comes to 3 dimensional number crunching. I will keep trying this again from time to time until I too,... can figure it out. How long will it take me??? I don't know so, I will keep you posted.

2007 June 7 Thursday.

Every Thursday, I get an email magazine from the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe. As you already know, Mr. Abe is now in Germany at this year's G8 Summit. This of course was mentioned in his most recent newsletter which I received today. Another link that was also included in this week's email magazine, leads to a video in English about next summer's G8 Summit at Lake Toya, right here in beautiful Hokkaido. To see the 8 minute video click here. This video is very well made, and does an excellent job of introducing the basic miracles of Mother Nature that this dragon head shaped island has in abundance. I know this for a fact because I have been to almost every region of this blessed land. Even if I go to a certain location over and over again, I still find something new and enlightening there, each and every time I go. I am often asked by my students; "Which place in Hokkaido do you like the best?" My answer is always the same; "That depends upon what I want to do on that day. If I want to go swimming in the ocean, I have many favorite places along the very long coastline of Hokkaido. If I want to go camping right next to a lake, I have many favorite locations that I know well, and can get to with ease. If I want to soak in a 100% natural hot tub, in the middle of nowhere, I know a lot of really excellent places to do exactly that." It is never about "money". It is only about how much time I have to take. Is it the short drive or a long drive, to and from that location, and how much time do I have to spend when I get there, during this relaxing journey. Those realities are all I need to consider when thinking about going anywhere within Hokkaido. Living in Asahikawa means that you live in the VIRTUAL CENTER of HOKKAIDO. This means that I can drive my Toyota NOAH to any place on this island within 6, 7 or maybe even 8 hours. I am talking about the not so far away places on land that touch the sea, on any side. Anyway, with all things considered for today, I only have enough time to take a walk along the river banks in the Kagura District of Asahikawa. That will be nice. Same as it always IS. SAME as it ever was.

June 6 Wednesday.

This is another photo I took 4 days ago on last Sunday, about 30 minutes after I took the photo that you can see, in yesterday's blog. Can you feel the warm glow? Can you hear the sound of the river as it flows along its winding way, floating above the hard earth beneath it, on towards the Sea of Japan? Can you hear the sound of the birds talking to each other? This location is a mere 20 minutes walk away from where I live. I can take a mini vacation like this, anytime I want to. The sunrise is also a good time to be here. But only during the season of no snow. When the snow is piled up high, getting this close to a river is not only much more difficult, it is also much more dangerous. It's not smart living to take any unnecessary chances in life. A leap of faith only makes sense when you have deeply considered all of the other options. Then, you KNOW that you are making the right decision. The right move. The MOVE that will change your life forever, in a very very good way. Optimism can be learned as a habit of thinking. Not dreaming, thinking. Being always aware of the fact that life is but a dream. A dream that can be created by merely thinking about it at all times. 24/7. Even when you are "sleeping" and seeing a "dream", you must always remain aware that your habits of thought, create the dream that you are living. You ALWAYS get back many MORE multiples of what you send out in your thoughts, your spoken and written words, and in your DAILY actions. If you want to receive good things, send out good things FIRST. Give first, receive later. Not "money". Action. LOVE. Love IS action. Always has been, always will be. Even in the Christian Bible it says; "It is better to give, than it is to receive." This is TRUTH. Not just a Christian truth, but a UNIVERSAL truth. Action ALWAYS is followed by Reaction. Always has been, always will be. It is circular MOTION, which IS at the core of EXISTENCE 存在. LOVE is always in the AIR. Are you tuned into the best vibration mix that suits your very own and unique image of yourself? Your image, my image. The image of a President or a Prime Minister. What you see is what you get? That depends on how deep (far into) your self image (SOUL) you can clearly see. Just like the RIVER, and the UNLIMITED number of H2O molecules there are FLOATING down stream, EFFORTLESSLY. Only to return to the mountain top again as CLOUDS, and then fall again, onto the hard EARTH as SNOW or RAIN. The CYCLE REPEATS itself ENDLESSLY. Always HAS and always WILL be the SAME cycle. Get used to IT because,.... THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS. I am. You are. We be. How many other languages are there , which can continue to transmit the exact same message? XIT!!! Once again, just like every time before, the answer is the SAME. It is COUNTLESS numbers of ENDLESS cycles that create the MOTION which becomes LIFE. Live IT, or Dream IT away. Your choice. Mine as well.

2007 June 5 Tuesday.

Here is another photo that I took last Sunday on my way back home from downtown Asahikawa. Instead of crossing over the Chubetsu Bridge to get back into Kagura, I walked down the slope and passed under the bridge heading towards the southeast. I often walk this way because I like to be close the the river and watch all of the things that are in motion. Along the way, I stopped on a beach and took off my shirt in order to soak up the warmth of the setting sun. Across the Chubetsu River on the Kagura side of the river bank, this young man was playing his trombone for about an hour or more. He was very good at it and I enjoyed listening to the clear and low sounds float across the blue water and blue sky. Instead of playing complete songs, he would only play little sections from many different songs. He was in fact practicing his art, and nobody will complain about the sound because he is not very close to any houses. I was certainly not going to complain. I wanted to complement him on his playing but, why break the mood? I'll just keep my comments to myself. Besides the BGM, there were the usual things to watch along the river, mostly birds of several varieties including a Japanese Wagtail セグロセキレイ Which was flying around very close to me and catching insects. He or she was a cute little bug catcher and was trying to talk with me, and I with it. It was a rather short conversation but the gist of it was; "Hi!!! Beautiful day, isn't it. Yeah, it is. The most beautiful day of my life because it is happening right now. Talk to you later. I gotta fly."

2007 June 4 Monday.

The warm sunny weather continues, and so does the summertime festivities in Asahikawa. Today was the start of the 護国神社祭 which is focused mainly around the GoKokuJinJa located in 春光 and also the many vendors in Tokiwa Park. I had a full teaching day with my first gig at 10:00 at Mebae Kindergarten, followed by a 90 minute class starting at 13:00 at the 神楽公民館英会話を楽しむ会, and then straight classes from 15:00 until 20:00 at my own classroom. It's nice to have a full time job. Especially when it is in reality composed of many many separate part time jobs. In such a case, no one single person can make me become unemployed because I don't have just one boss, but many many bosses. They are my students. Each and every one of them are my bosses. Finally at about 20:15, Ikuko and I got into a taxi and rode on over to Tokiwa Park to get into the crowd and feel the heat of of the night. After wandering around here and there inside the park, and then sitting on a wooden bench by the large pond and talking about various things for about two hours, we walked into town and tried a new restaurant for a late dinner. The food was good and the atmosphere was relaxing. So relaxing in fact that I was starting to fall asleep at the table. Something which almost never happens to me. Apparently, my long work day and the hot weather finally drained my battery to almost zero. After eating dinner, we got into a taxi and came back home. I went to bed immediately. Tomorrow will be another hot and busy day.

2007 June 3 Sunday.

Today was a rather sad day in some ways. The very first English Conversation School in Asahikawa, which was started almost 30 years ago, closed it's doors for the last time today. I was invited to the good bye party. The school which was started in 1977 by an American man from Vermont and his Japanese wife from Tokyo, was originally called 旭川英会話 and was located on the 5th floor of the Hokkaido Bank Building in downtown Asahikawa. I worked there for 3 years from March of 1993 until March of 1996. In October of 1995, the owner and his wife sold the school to an American man from Niigata, and the whole family moved back to the Seattle area in the USA. The original owner offered to sell the school to me, and I seriously considered it for a while, but declined to buy it. Instead of paying a big chuck of money to buy an existing school, I decided to bet my entire life savings and start my own school at a different location. Eleven years later, I can say with certainty that I made the right choice. Anyway, the school which was renamed Asahikawa English Communication Services (A.E.C.S.) continued in business for another 11 years until Friday June 1 of this year. The final farewell party was held today from 14:00 until about 16:30. I saw many students there today that I haven't seen in more than 10 years. Everybody looked about the same. Except for me. I am much fatter now than I was at that time. Much fatter. Of course everyone noticed it immediately. After eating some food and talking about the good old days for more than two hours, I said goodbye to everyone and walked on over to the Matsui Jewelry Store on the 2nd floor of the EXC Building, to get my silver Navaho bracelets cleaned by the owner, Kuni. Kuni is a big fan of American Country and Western Music, especially the Dixie Chicks. It was nice to talk to him again while he was making my sliver wrist accessories shine brightly. After that, I went outside onto the Kaimono Koen Pedestrian Mall and noticed the sound of a live band playing at the other end of the mall. Being a sometimes band member myself, I hurriedly walked down to the far end of the mall and got there just in time to hear the last 40 minutes of what had been a 5 hour event of free live music. Asahikawa truly is a music city. A very nice place to live if you can find a job here.

2007 June 2 Saturday.

Starting at about 12 noon today, the annual Hokkaido Musical Parade 北海道音楽大行進 was held as usual on the first Saturday of June. The weather was perfect. Warm sun, clear skies and a cool breeze to top it all off. Ikuko and I walked across the Chubetsu Bridge and into town at about 14:50 to do some shopping for books and to look at all of the people who were crowding around in the center of town, either participating in the event, or just watching it. It is at times like this event, when you remember that Asahikawa is in reality a rather large modern city. However, the wide open country living is ever present and not far away.