Kaj and I found a hole-in-the-wall “diner” packed with locals enjoying all our favorite Japanese foods just a couple blocks from the New Sanno hotel, our home for a few days. We ordered a bunch of small dishes, getting one more plate of gyozas (pot stickers) before leaving. Food in the hotel was also memorable. [...]
Yokota West Elementary may have been our quickest school stop, but it was packed and lively! The principal and I, both Minnesotans, graduated from St. Cloud State University. This is mostly significant only if you’re also from Minnesota. We have a thing about our state. We would never say we were from the midwest. Cheryl [...]
When I was planning this trip, a friend reminded me that our friend SuzAnne Payseur was teaching in Japan. I found SuzAnne on Facebook and sent her a note. Her response was, “I’ll see if our school wants you to visit.” And then, later, “They already have you booked!” SuzAnne and Mike have worked at [...]
Arnn Elementary is Jan Danford’s school. Jan is the mastermind behind my tour. What started with a dream shared by me and Jason Rome, now 11, was made possible by Jan’s excitement, organization, and follow through. Here’s Jan introducing me… We created and acted out stories, sang songs, talked about how stories are put together, [...]
Our last night in Sasebo with the Duran/Rome family was spent at the Arcade, the name given to the covered shopping streets you’ll find throughout Japan’s cities. First, a stop for sweet bean cakes. We preferred the dark beans, warm and rich, oozing from the waffle-batter cake. Yummy! Next, dinner at a lovely Japanese restaurant [...]
Kameoka (or Hirado) Castle was our fist stop with Geena, Tom, and Jason on our last day with these Sasebo friends. The castle is perched on the hillside above the town of Hirado, looking over the sea. Little Kurokojima Island floats below. We hiked the grounds, peered into several out-buildings, and looked at the city [...]
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
 |
|
||
