USJ

When my dad and Henry came for a visit, they said they’d like to visit USJ—Universal Studios Japan. While I was more than willing, it did strike me as an odd way to spend time in Japan when there are temples to visit, and all that cultural jazz. But while the history and culture of Japan is rich and rewarding in its depth, there are limits. And if you just want to relax and have fun, a theme park is designed to do just that (well, that and to take your money). There is no pressure to understand what you are looking at, or to contemplate its history. USJ is nearly identical to its cousin in Florida. A bit smaller, but basics remain the same: rides, salty/sweet/deep-fried foods, line ups, thrills, people in character costumes.

There are a few Japanese touches to keep you aware of the fact that you are, actually, on a slice of Osaka real-estate and not in the USA. The usual reams of women in high heels, an unusually high number of people in cute novelty hats, and of course, the entire preamble to the rides is done in Japanese. But it doesn’t matter, because you’ve seen the movies—even if you are a bit rusty on all the details (Oh ET, it’s been ages).

Here are some photos for your enjoyment.

The main entrance of the park



The spider man ride = amazing



The Jurassic Park themed hats were quite excellent



Henry, post Jurassic park ride-- he got a little wet



The end.

Out and About

-I went to South Korea and I uploaded my photos here, so check them out.
-My dad and his friend Henry came to Japan. Highlights include: astonished school children, plum blossoms, and Universal Studios Japan.
-My penpal came to visit for 2 weeks. Highlights include: sumo, Nagasaki, natural hot springs/"the hells", and climbing a volcano!
-Today I am off to the Philippines for a week, with trips to Bohol's chocolate hills and Boracay.
-3 days after I come back, it's off to Tokyo to pick up my cousin Rachel for a 2 week adventure

photos and proper commentary will follow, once I am home and sans visitors. Honest.

nananana Nagano!

In January I went skiing in Nagano for a weekend. It was nice to see the Japanese Alps, and ski where Olympians have skied. But I did so with considerably less skill.
You can see the switch backs here in the middle--
they were the easiest way down the mountain, and fun.
It felt a bit like playing Mario cart.
Downhill starts! Wooo! Eeek!
None of the people I went skiing with were the same ability as me
(I was pretty much in the middle), so I spent a good amount of time on my own.
Home of the 1998 Olympics, booya! And that yellow building was our hotel.
Great location, but not great customer service
(1000Yen for early check in, and if we could please check in the 7 person room... I don't think so)

Overall a great, but very tiring weekend. We took the nightbus there and back-- I opted for the more expensive and more comfortable one, however the flu that I had caught made just about everything feel miserable. I booked the morning off on Monday, (to recover from the nightbus) but when I got to school, I was quickly ushered to the hospital, diagnosed with "influeza B" (which is the kind of flu that is a terrible cold, terrible terrible) and ordered 5 days of house arrest. Bleh. I am now better! And imunized against that one particular kind of flu. Yea? But Nagano, Yea! for sure.

The questions from this month's lesson and my answers

What time do you get up?
I get up at:
7:00 when I go to Ohyama, 6:45 when I bike to Ohyama.
7:30 when I go to Ochidani, Awaga and the Junior High. Except on Fridays when I sleep till 7:45.
9-12 on weekends.
Student's answers: between 5:45 and 7:00

What time do you eat breakfast?
I eat breakfast only if you count eating something when I get up at 10:30 or later on weekends. I know I know, most important meal of the day, but when you sit at your desk for the first 4 hours of a day, it's almost sleeping, you just have to blink, breakfast is not needed.
Student's answers: between 6:00-7:10

What time do you go to school?
I go to school at:
7:30 when I go to Ohyama, or 7:15 when I bike to Ohyama.
7:55 when I go to all of my other schools.
Student's answers: on average 7:00

What time do you go home?
I go home at:
4:00 when I am bored and cold at Awaga and the Junior High.
4:30 when I am warm and reading at Awaga and the Junior High.
4:35 when I am at Ohyama to catch the bus.
3:30 when I bike to Ohyama.
4:16 when I am at Ochidani.
End of July-Mid August when I am done teaching in Japan and my contract ends.
Student's answers: 2:30-4:00
A teacher's answer: 6:00

What time do you eat dinner?
I eat dinner when I am hungry and ambitious enough to make dinner (read: when I have talked myself into leaving my kotatsu)
Student's answers: 5:00-8:30 (a large number in the 7:00 range)

What time do you go to bed?
I go to bed at:
11:00 when I manage to convince myself my bed is more comfortable than my kotatsu
12:00 when I planned on going to bed at 11:30 and it took me 1/2 hour to get there
1:00 when I am mid-conversation with someone on Skype, if I have a good book that has sucked me in, or if I manage to convince myself that I have to finish some show online
2:00 when my kotatsu convinces me I want to sleep there, and I sleep for an hour wake up and realize I should have just gone to bed.
Student's answers: average of 9:00 for grades 4-6

[Creature of habit? Hmmm, maybe not.]

Economically Speaking

I read this New York Times article, and thought it was very interesting. I've noticed the big public works projects-- tunnels aplenty and roadwork on roads that don't really need work. Here is a sampling from the article to tempt you.

"Japan’s rural areas have been paved over and filled in with roads, dams and other big infrastructure projects, the legacy of trillions of dollars spent to lift the economy from a severe downturn caused by the bursting of a real estate bubble in the late 1980s. During those nearly two decades, Japan accumulated the largest public debt in the developed world — totaling 180 percent of its $5.5 trillion economy — while failing to generate a convincing recovery.

....

Moreover, it matters what gets built: Japan spent too much on increasingly wasteful roads and bridges, and not enough in areas like education and social services, which studies show deliver more bang for the buck than infrastructure spending."