Kim-chi, healthy or dangerous

When I was a graduate student at the University of Oregon, I taught a number of Korean students and I first learned how much Koreans love kimchi. Here at Gakuen, the exchange students are amazed that the Korean exchange students have a special refridgerator at the international dormitory just for kimchi that is sent from home. This article article talks a little bit about how much Koreans love their special food.

A little disturbing

060522_0954~0001.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

I went to school early this morning (around 8), and they must have sprayed this tree with pesticide because there were caterpillars dropping on the ground. It was obvious that the tree needed it, because there were about 100 caterpillars and you could hear them dropping plop plop plop, one or two every second. I'm don't like caterpillars very much, but when they landed on the ground, they would roll over and over, like they were in pain, so I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for them.

Kuro buta baby!

060520_1857~0001.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

Saturday night was Kurobuta shabu shabu night. Wow! Though I ma curious why Kagoshima's famous foods are not from the sea. Someone told me that katsuo was a Kagoshima speciality, but even that isn't really something like an umi no mono. Anyone from Kagoshima know why?

foot spa

060520_1256~0001.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

We stopped at the rest stop at Sakurajima rest stop and 'foot spa' looked very inviting, but I forgot to bring a towel. :^( So if you are going to Kagoshima, don't forget to take a small towel!

Ohmigod!!!

This is Ami's Book review. This is exactly what I want all of the students to do. Please write your book reviews!

with the kankyou class

Hello, I'm at PUK with the kankyou class.

Unbelievable!

This is amazing. What is the most you would pay for two melons?

Sankanbi

060514_1438~0001.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

Today was my daughter's sankanbi. In America, there is a 'open house' day, where parents can visit the school, usually in the evening, and see their children's classrooms, but there isn't anything like being able to visit a child's actual class. I like the idea, though. Do you have any memories of your sankanbi?

Peach Cake

Though my favorite cakes are chocolate, chocolate and chocolate, this Peach Cake looks delicious! I hope that Erika will add some more info so I know where I can buy one of these?

But more than cake, I like brownies and this recipe/explanation about how to make brownies is a great one. It says that good brownies need THREE different types of chocolate. My birthday is coming up this month, so any students who would like to make me brownies are welcome to!

Miki' dog is missing!!

I was sorry to hear that Miki's dog was missing. I had a pet when I was a boy, but nothing like that ever happened, so I guess I am lucky.

Here is a picture of Miki's dog

Boy, you all like to eat!

Why do I think so? Because of this and this, this and this Wow! Take a look!

yurika nakagawa: MC FLURRY

Yurika wrote about theMcFlurry. I told her that in Japan, there were 2 kinds, but in American there are four, but I found out that there were many flavors, but some of them weren't so popular so they stopped selling them. Here is a list of the different flavors in different countries.

Seriously samurai

This is a test of the photobucket software, but also a picture of me at a test cutting in Arao. I would like to bring the sword to class to emphasize my seriousness about teaching writing, but I don't think the other teachers would like that very much. So when you hear me scream, think of it as a kiai!

Photobucket

This is a test post from Photobucket.com

My girls

CA270092.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

After I got back from Osaka, we went to undo koen, over by KKR Wing on Saturday. Boy, was it hot! My youngest daughter, Lana, fell in love with the big slide there. Unfortunately, she is only 22 months old, so I would walk her up to the top of the slide and she would slide down with her big sister, and then I would have to run down to the bottom and take her hand to walk her back up. She cried when we said that we had to go home, but if I had to run back up and down one more time, I would have been crying!

Strange sign

CA270091
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

I took the night train back from Osaka to Kumamoto, which is a little cheaper and I get back to Kumamoto at 7:30 in the morning and can get home to do something with my family. The train is a bit old and there is a machine with a button that says 'drinking water', which I pressed and filled up a glass of cool water, which I enjoyed. But then, I saw this sign. I haven't gotten sick, but I have to admit, I was a bit worried. Why have a button that says 'Drinking Water' in English, and a sign that says 'don't drink this water' in Japanese?

Sazare no ishi

CA270086
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

Also at Hachiman Jingu was this. I have always wondered what "Sazare ishi no
Iwao to narite" meant. I mean, shouldn't it be boulders (iwao) becoming pebbles (sazare), but if you look at this, you can see how all of the pebbles have become one piece of rock.

I have always thought that Kimi ga yo was a very moving piece of music, but I understand that some people think that it represents Japan during a more imperialistic period. It's interesting that we don't play it at any Gakuen ceremonies. I wonder when the university stopped doing it (it was before I came to here)

Thomas Edison at Iwashimizu Hachimangu Jinja

CA270088
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

I was at Iwashimizu Hachimangu Jinja, (a very beautiful place, if you want to visit, take Keihan from Kyoto or Osaka and go to Yawata-shi, then take the cable car up the mountain to the shrine) and I was surprised to find a memorial to Thomas Edison? Why? If you are the first to tell me the answer, I'll buy you an ice cream!

What shape are your feet?

CA270090
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

I went to Osaka/Kyoto for part of Golden Week and this billboard caught my eye. My shape is the middle one (roundo), which has always bothered me, because my big toe always looks very fat!

Funny Italian web site

I found this website to be pretty funny, especially the differences between men and women video. Take a look!