I am actually adding this post as a reminder to myself that I need to enter in an update for this trip. The UAE was a blast... Oman was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and the trip highlight. Highly highly highly recommend Oman.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Monday, January 27, 2014
Clean Up
I am working on cleaning up my travel blog. This is what I do when I am avoiding cleaning, writing papers, or working :) Apparently, people actually visit this blog! LOL. I will be adding the photo stream instead.
Thanks everyone!
Thanks everyone!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
I never did get around to writing about Japan. The experience was so wonderful and yet intense that I find it difficult to put into words. I was able to put together my unit and taught it to students in 7th grade. They love learning about Japan and I had great pictures to share with them. I made life long friends on this trip and feel extremely fortunate to have had this experience.
For those educators and administrators interested in applying for the fellowship, please visit
here.
For those educators and administrators interested in applying for the fellowship, please visit
here.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
So much
I have 1400 pictures and a million things to reflect on with thus trip to Japan. I will get things posted eventually.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Day one
There is so much of course that I do not know where to start. So I am going to try to keep it simple and highlight some things that I experienced throughout the day. Around 11:40am, felt an Earthquake / tremor. These are common and normal here. They experience up to 1,000 a year. Of course being my first, I was.... excited? That's not really the word I am looking for.
I'll back up. This morning I got up and went down to breakfast by myself. This was an experience in itself. In the elevator on the way down, I realized that I am very tall. At breakfast, I got a cup of very good coffee and watched people get their food from the buffet. I was trying to see what you do with what and how it is eaten. There are a few staple foods such as eggs, that I was fine with. I stuck with what I knew and tried a few other things that looked fairly simple. I had scrambled eggs, bacon, a salad, and decided that I would skip the spaghetti this morning.
I met everyone in the lobby and we took the metro to the KKC office. It was neat to finally see / be at the place that offered this amazing experience. We had a lecture on culture and geography of Japan. The gal that was our presenter was super cute and gave us all a gift. She also wrote all of our names in one variation of Japanese. We will be going to the prefectures where the most damage was done from the Earthquake and Tsunami. There is still debris....
Then we had our box lunch.
Next was a lecture on education in Japan. I have pages and pages of notes. Here are just a few things I learned or find interesting.
1. It is interesting that the leading nation in technology development is struggling (maybe not even really interested in) using technology in their public schools. In order to use technology in schools, they need to have the computer software.... this software has to be produced and published by publishers in Japanese. there simply aren't any publishers doing this.
2. They have realized that students have the memorization and knowledge based learning...however, they are struggling with thinking and problem solving..HMMMMM Where have we heard this before? I kept thinking TAP TAP TAP TAP.
3. When we practice drills (eg fire and tornado) they save lives. Yes, they can be irritating to teachers that are counting on instructional time but the lessons are valuable.... Because the school aged children knew that when there is a strong earthquake to go to higher ground......many students survived the Tsunami. There is more to this story.
After this lecture we went to Panasonic. Very cool. We walked through the prototype of a completely eco friendly home. ZERO Co2 emissions. We weren't allowed to take pictures. They are also building a eco friendly town with these homes / cars / etc. We watched a video on the worlds largest 3D television and learned a lot about the companies philosophy. I am on board and behind them 100%.
On the bus ride home....I was hit with extreme car sickness and exhaustion. My limbs began to tingle and I was trying not to get sick. Otchi had the driver pull over. Two others got off with me and we walked the remainder of the way in the WONDERFUL rain. Stopped at a 7/11 to get a diet coke and an ice cream bar. I needed some sugar. We came back to hotel and I will be staying in tonight. Everyone else met up for dinner. I am too exhausted. My body is telling me to rest.
So with that I say ...oh I was going to type the word in Japanese but my folder is on the other side of the room. Maybe next time. I will get some pictures up.
I will also say that these people have the best toilets in the world.
Good night!
I'll back up. This morning I got up and went down to breakfast by myself. This was an experience in itself. In the elevator on the way down, I realized that I am very tall. At breakfast, I got a cup of very good coffee and watched people get their food from the buffet. I was trying to see what you do with what and how it is eaten. There are a few staple foods such as eggs, that I was fine with. I stuck with what I knew and tried a few other things that looked fairly simple. I had scrambled eggs, bacon, a salad, and decided that I would skip the spaghetti this morning.
I met everyone in the lobby and we took the metro to the KKC office. It was neat to finally see / be at the place that offered this amazing experience. We had a lecture on culture and geography of Japan. The gal that was our presenter was super cute and gave us all a gift. She also wrote all of our names in one variation of Japanese. We will be going to the prefectures where the most damage was done from the Earthquake and Tsunami. There is still debris....
Next was a lecture on education in Japan. I have pages and pages of notes. Here are just a few things I learned or find interesting.
1. It is interesting that the leading nation in technology development is struggling (maybe not even really interested in) using technology in their public schools. In order to use technology in schools, they need to have the computer software.... this software has to be produced and published by publishers in Japanese. there simply aren't any publishers doing this.
2. They have realized that students have the memorization and knowledge based learning...however, they are struggling with thinking and problem solving..HMMMMM Where have we heard this before? I kept thinking TAP TAP TAP TAP.
3. When we practice drills (eg fire and tornado) they save lives. Yes, they can be irritating to teachers that are counting on instructional time but the lessons are valuable.... Because the school aged children knew that when there is a strong earthquake to go to higher ground......many students survived the Tsunami. There is more to this story.
After this lecture we went to Panasonic. Very cool. We walked through the prototype of a completely eco friendly home. ZERO Co2 emissions. We weren't allowed to take pictures. They are also building a eco friendly town with these homes / cars / etc. We watched a video on the worlds largest 3D television and learned a lot about the companies philosophy. I am on board and behind them 100%.
On the bus ride home....I was hit with extreme car sickness and exhaustion. My limbs began to tingle and I was trying not to get sick. Otchi had the driver pull over. Two others got off with me and we walked the remainder of the way in the WONDERFUL rain. Stopped at a 7/11 to get a diet coke and an ice cream bar. I needed some sugar. We came back to hotel and I will be staying in tonight. Everyone else met up for dinner. I am too exhausted. My body is telling me to rest.
So with that I say ...oh I was going to type the word in Japanese but my folder is on the other side of the room. Maybe next time. I will get some pictures up.
I will also say that these people have the best toilets in the world.
Good night!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Made it
So I finally made it. The twenty minute flight to Chicago was so smooth it almost seems surreal. Then I had a four hour lay over at OHare. I sat at a bar and ate some breakfast. I then got to talking to a nice couple from Scotland and an Orthopedic Surgeon from ....I forgot where. We all had a Bloody Mary and "shot the bull" about politics, education, and our travels.
We boarded the plane and then were delayed. There was a storm coming in over Chicago. We hit the tarmac an hour late. I was blessed that the only empty seat on the plane was by me so I was able to spread out a bit. By this point (after not sleeping at all the night before) I was so tired I made it my mission to sleep. I can never sleep on planes.
On the Boeing 747 monster, there is the center isle that seats four across. I was on the side. Just as I dozed into a priceless and much needed slumber, the captain turned on the fasten seat belt sign and made an announcement for flight attendants to return to their seats. Now, if you have heard about a flight that I was on in 2001....you know that this type of an announcement sends a signal to my brain that makes me go into a slight panic................and sure enough, we were in for a little ride. At first the turbulence was a tolerable side to side motion...not to bad. And then it became the go....drop, up side side drop up something bangs type of turbulence. I looked around to notice that most were squeezing their arms of their seats (or person next to them.) There was a page that was numbers..never a good sign. I later saw that it was because someone threw up. Anyways, why am I bothering you with this story? Well beside me in the row of four was a father, two small children and their mom. When the turbulence started, their conversation went something like this:
Son: "Daddy, what is that?"
Dad: "Its called turbulence...its when the air rushes towards the plane and the plane adapts to it."
Son: "Oh, so we are running out of air?"
Dad: "No no no. We are okay. The air acts like waves in the lake."
***Turbulence intensifies***
Son: "Dad...THIS IS AWESOME!"
Dad: "Well that's one way to look at it..".
The little boy then shouts, "WOOOHOOO so much fun!" and outs his arms in the air.
I died laughing.
Tokyo seems so clean. There isn't trash on the streets, grafitti, I havent seen a homeless person pee on the street yet, much less a homeless person.
Saw McDonalds.
Saw something that would make my friend Rosey excited. ;)
So tired I am going to cry and throw up.
More to come when it can. Night all!
We boarded the plane and then were delayed. There was a storm coming in over Chicago. We hit the tarmac an hour late. I was blessed that the only empty seat on the plane was by me so I was able to spread out a bit. By this point (after not sleeping at all the night before) I was so tired I made it my mission to sleep. I can never sleep on planes.
On the Boeing 747 monster, there is the center isle that seats four across. I was on the side. Just as I dozed into a priceless and much needed slumber, the captain turned on the fasten seat belt sign and made an announcement for flight attendants to return to their seats. Now, if you have heard about a flight that I was on in 2001....you know that this type of an announcement sends a signal to my brain that makes me go into a slight panic................and sure enough, we were in for a little ride. At first the turbulence was a tolerable side to side motion...not to bad. And then it became the go....drop, up side side drop up something bangs type of turbulence. I looked around to notice that most were squeezing their arms of their seats (or person next to them.) There was a page that was numbers..never a good sign. I later saw that it was because someone threw up. Anyways, why am I bothering you with this story? Well beside me in the row of four was a father, two small children and their mom. When the turbulence started, their conversation went something like this:
Son: "Daddy, what is that?"
Dad: "Its called turbulence...its when the air rushes towards the plane and the plane adapts to it."
Son: "Oh, so we are running out of air?"
Dad: "No no no. We are okay. The air acts like waves in the lake."
***Turbulence intensifies***
Son: "Dad...THIS IS AWESOME!"
Dad: "Well that's one way to look at it..".
The little boy then shouts, "WOOOHOOO so much fun!" and outs his arms in the air.
I died laughing.
Tokyo seems so clean. There isn't trash on the streets, grafitti, I havent seen a homeless person pee on the street yet, much less a homeless person.
Saw McDonalds.
Saw something that would make my friend Rosey excited. ;)
So tired I am going to cry and throw up.
More to come when it can. Night all!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
What we are Going to Do
2012 Keizai Koho
Center
2012
|
|
Activities |
Place |
Day 1 |
||
|
|
-
Fellows
will arrive at
-
Our
travel agent, JTB, will be meeting you at the arrival gate of the airport and
will guide you to the transportation to the hotel.
-
Check
in at the Tokyo Dome Hotel
Tokyo
Dome Hotel
Address: 1-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku,
TEL: 81-3-5805-2111
FAX: 81-3-5805-2200
|
|
|
Dinner
|
Free
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Tokyo Dome
Hotel
|
|
Day 2 |
||
|
9:30 a.m.
|
Meet
at the hotel lobby and go to KKC by subway
|
|
|
10:00-10:30
a.m.
|
Orientation
-
Welcome Remarks
-
Program Introduction
|
Otemachi,
|
|
10:30-12:30
p.m.
|
Lecture on Japanese Culture
(Japanese
Geography, Customs, Advices for Homestay, etc.)
Ms. JTB Tour Guide
|
Otemachi,
|
|
1:00-2:30
p.m.
|
Lecture on Japanese Education
“Educational System in
Mr. Masahiro NII, Senior Researcher, Curriculum
Research Center, National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER)
1:00-2:00
Presentation by Mr. Nii
2:00-2:30
Q&A
NIER
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
|
Keizai Koho Centerl, Otemachi,
|
|
3:30-5:30
p.m.
|
-
Introduction
-
Observe “Eco Idea House”
-
Observe Cutting-Edge Technology
-
Q&A
Panasonic
|
|
|
Dinner
|
Free
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Tokyo Dome
Hotel
|
|
Day 3 |
||
|
9:20 a.m.
|
Meet
in the hotel lobby and go to Nagatacho by subway
|
|
|
10:00-11:30
a.m.
|
Lecture
on Reconstruction
“Revival
Situation in Disaster Area Affected by the Great
|
|
|
noon-2:00
p.m.
Luncheon
|
Lecture
on Japanese Education
“Japanese
Education and Global Human
Resource Development”
Mr.
Natsuki KOMATSU, Senior Writer, The Yomiuri Shimbun
|
Rom 403, 4th floor,
Kiedanren Kaikan
|
|
2:30-4:00
p.m.
|
Lecture on Japanese Society
“Declining Birthrate and Aging Population
in
Mr. Naoki ATSUMI, Director, Diversity &
Work-Life Balance Research Development, Toray Corporate Business Research Inc.
|
Rom 403, 4th floor,
Kiedanren Kaikan
|
|
|
Return
to the hotel by subway
Free
until dinner meeting
|
|
|
6:00-8:00
p.m.
Dinner
|
Lecture on Corporate Management
“Omron’s Corporate Philosophy and Management”
Mr. Fumio TATEISI, Vice-Chairman, Omron Corporation
Omron Corporation
|
Japanese restaurant, 4th floor, Tokyo Dome Hotel
|
|
Accommodation
|
Tokyo Dome
Hotel
|
|
Day 4 |
||
|
8:00 a.m.
|
Meet
in the hotel lobby and go to the school by subway
|
|
|
8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
|
- Welcome Remarks by Principal Ms. Utako KURIHARA
- Explanation of the School, Observe the school
- Dialogue with the students over lunch
- Observe the classes
- Discussion with the teachers
|
Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku,
|
|
|
Leave the
school and go to Tokyo Foundation by subway
|
|
|
4:00-5:30
a.m.
|
Lecture on Japanese Politics
“U.S.-Japan Relations and
Mr. TsuneoWATANABE, Director and Senior Fellow,
|
|
|
|
Leave
the Tokyo Foundation and go to dinner place by subway
|
|
|
6:00-8:30
p.m.
Dinner
|
Lecture on Japanese Culture
“Japanese Hospitality”
Ms. Yumi SATO, President, INTEGRACE
|
Japanese restaurant, “Tofu Ukai”, Minato-ku
|
|
|
Return to the hotel by taxi
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Tokyo Dome
Hotel
|
|
Day 5 |
||
|
9:15 a.m.
|
Meet
in the hotel lobby and go to Akasaka by subway
|
|
|
10:00 a.m.-noon
|
Visit Hakuhodo Inc.
Lecture on Japanese Society
“Today’s Japanese Young People and their Future”
Mr. Yutaka Tezuka, Senior R&D Director, Executive Manager,
Hakuhodo Inc.
Hakuhodo
Inc.
|
Hakuhodo Inc., Akasaka
|
|
12:30-2:30 p.m.
Lunch
|
Lecture on Japanese Economy
“Current Situation and Future Prospects on Japanese Economy”
Mr. Masataka MAEDA, Senior Economist, Economic
JCER
|
5th floor, room 506,
Keidanren Kaikan
|
|
3:00-5:30
p.m.
|
Sightseeing
in Asakusa
Asakusa
Sensoji-temple
|
Asakusa
|
|
Dinner
|
Free
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Tokyo Dome
Hotel
|
|
Day 6 |
||
|
by
8:50 a.m.
|
-
Check Out of the Tokyo Dome Hotel
-
Bring Necessary Things for Overnight Homestay
-
Your suitcase will be delivered to Miyagi prefecture
|
|
|
9:00
a.m.
|
Meet
in the hotel lobby and go to KKC by taxi
|
|
|
9:30-11:30
a.m.
11:30-12:30
p.m.
|
Discussion with Japanese Educators
(Divided into Three Groups)
Lunch
with Japanese Educators (Buffet)
|
|
|
1:30
p.m.
|
Meet with Homestay Host Families
Host families are arranged by Kawasaki City International
Association
|
|
|
Afternoon
|
Homestay
|
Kawasaki city, Kanagawa prefecture
|
|
Day
7
|
||
|
|
Homestay
|
Kawasaki city, Kanagawa prefecture
|
|
By 5:30 p.m.
|
Please
Return to a meeting room in Tokyo Station by 5:30 p.m.
Your
host family will bring you there.
|
|
|
6:28
p.m.
8:08 p.m.
|
Leave
Arrive
at
Check in at
the hotel
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Hotel Metropolitan Sendai
|
TEL:022-268-2525
|
|
Day
8
|
||
|
9:00 a.m.
|
Check out
of the hotel
Meet in the
hotel lobby and leave the hotel by bus
|
|
|
10:00-11:45 a.m.
|
Company Visit
Iwaki Diecast Co, Ltd.
(Iwaki
Diecast Co.,Ltd. manufactures die casting and metal powder injection molding
products.)
-
Meeting with Mr. YOKOYAMA, Senior Managing Director, Iwaki
Diecast Co., Ltd.
-
Factory Tour
Iwaki Diecast Co., Ltd.
|
Yamato-cho,
|
|
|
Lunch
|
|
|
1:00-3:00
p.m.
|
Visit Urakasumi Saura Co., Ltd.
(Sake Brewery)
Lecture on Japanese Culture
“Sake in Japanese Life and Culture”
Mr. Koichi Saura, President, Saura Co., Ltd.
Observe Sake Brewery
|
Shiogama,
|
|
|
Sightseeing
Matsushima
|
Matsushima
|
|
Dinner
|
Arranged
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Hotel
Taikanso Matsushima
|
Matsushima,
|
Day
9
|
||
|
7:30 a.m.
|
Please
re-pack your luggage and keep necessary things for the overnight trip to
Minami Sanriku on July 10t. Your large suitcase will be delivered to
Check out
of the hotel
Leave the
hotel by bus
|
|
|
9:00a.m.-2:00p.m
(tbc)
|
School Visit
|
Ishinomaki,
|
|
PM
|
Visit
to disaster area affected by March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake
(arranged)
|
|
|
Dinner
|
arranged
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Minami
Sanriku Hotel Kanyo
|
Minami Sanriku,
|
|
Day
10
|
||
|
AM
|
Company
Visit
(arranged)
|
|
|
Lunch
|
|
|
|
PM
|
Sightseeing
in World Heritage Hiraizumi
|
Hiraizumi,
|
|
6:40 p.m.
9:12 p.m.
|
Leave
Ichinoseki station by bullet train
Arrive at
|
|
|
|
Head
for the Tokyo Dome Hotel by taxi
Check
in at the Tokyo Dome Hotel
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Tokyo Dome
Hotel
|
|
|
Day
11
|
||
|
9:30 a.m.
|
Meet in the
hotel lobby and leave the hotel by subway
|
|
|
10:00a.m.-
1:00p.m.
|
Visit the
The Diet
lunch will
be arranged at a restaurant in the Diet
|
Kasumigaseki,
Chiyoda-ku
|
|
2:00-3:30
p.m.
|
Lecture on Economy
“Keidanren’s Growth Strategy”
Mr. Masakazu Kubota, Senior Managing Director, Keidanren (
Keidanren
|
4th floor, rom 403,
Keidanren
|
|
5:00-7:00
p.m.
|
Seminar “Education in Global Society: Views from North American Teachers”
Moderator: Mr. Natsuki KOMATSU, Senior Writer,
Yomiuri Newspaper
5:00-6:00 Presentations by fellows
(5 minutes each)
6:00-6:40 Discussion moderated by Mr. KOMATSU
6:40-7:00 Q&A with the audience
|
2nd floor, Hall North,
Keidanren Kaikan
Chiyoda-ku,
|
|
7:15-8:30
p.m.
|
Farewell Reception
-
Farewell Remarks by Mr. Hiroshi Nakayama, Managing Director and Secretary
General, KKC
-
Present Certificate of KKC Fellowships
-
A representative fellow will deliver a speech on behalf of KKC fellows
|
5th floor, Room 501,
Keidanren Kaikan
|
|
Around
9:00 p.m.
|
Return
to the hotel
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Tokyo
Dome Hotel
|
|
|
Day
12
|
||
|
|
Fellows
depart from
|
|
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