Professor Setsuko Watanabe, Bill Steinmann, David Biasotti and I have finished our second reading textbook for Nan'undo Press, WHO'S WHO ON THE WEB (WEB-WATCHING THE WORLD II). We tried to improve on the first book by adding more internet activities. I wrote chapters on three of my heroes: MLK (Martin Luther King Jr.), Bob Marley (the King of Reggae), and the Dalai Lama.
My brother Tinsley's new CD Hell or High Water will be released in February on Telarc Records. (1/26/2002)
Last weekend, I gave a presentation at the Internet English Seminars Conference in Ohtemachi. I explained how to motivate Japanese students with Web-Watching the World, the reading textbook I helped write while I was in Fukushima. Between 80-100 people, mostly teachers, came to the conference. I was happy to see some of the other writers, including my old Tohoku friends David Biasotti and Bill Steinmann. We hope to write another textbook for 2002. One funny thing happened when I entered the conference. The woman at the door couldn't find my name on the list of people attending the conference, so I told her that I was a speaker. The woman asked me if there was something wrong with the sound system speakers.
I just finished two challenging weeks of summer school, and tomorrow I'll go to NARITA to fly to Atlanta for my summer vacation. I'll spend a few days at home in Atlanta, then fly to Ft. Lauderdale Beach (near Miami), take a weekend cruise to the Bahamas (Nassau Island), and then head back to Atlanta before returning to Japan. I'll be out of Tokyo for almost three weeks! Hopefully, I won't suffer too much culture shock in the States. (8/11)
There's a new homepage (still under construction) for my reading textbookWEB WATCHING THE WORLD. This month, I wrote an essay about my experiences living in "gaijin houses" during my first two years in Tokyo. It was published as "The Ups and Downs of Living in a Gaijin House" in a new homepage called Japan Thru Non-Japanese Eyes, which is part of the larger homepage named SHE Japan.
The highlight of May was seeing my favorite band from America, NRBQ, play in Kichijyoji. I saw them play in the same place (Star Pine's Cafe) last year, but they were much better this year. They played for over two hours and came back three times for encores. The band seemed very fired up (excited), since this tour marks their 30th anniversary as a band. They played a mix of old songs and new songs from their latest CD. I especially enjoyed the new songs "Housekeeping" and "Pain" (with Terry screaming "ITAI!"). The Japanese audience liked the old rockers best: "Don't Tell Ma, Don't Tell Pa, the Mule is in the Corn," "Wild Weekend," and Richie Valens' "Come On." Check out NRBQ's unofficial homepage (link below):
I had a great time in Hong Kong on my spring break. I hadn't gone there in about five years, and I was happy to find the Hong Kong people friendlier than in my previous trips. The new airport (Chek Lap Kok) is very modern--like something in Star Wars with bullet trains connecting it with Central and Kowloon. The highlights of my trip were riding the Star Ferry at night, the friendly Planet Hollywood, the jade market, the spicy Cantonese food, the cheap night market, the giant seated Buddha on the peak of Lantau Island, cheap movies, the trams, big shopping malls, the highrise buildings on Hong Kong island (especially Pei's strange Bank of China Tower), and the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas (with about 10,000 stairs leading up to the temple) in Shatin. I stayed in the Kowloon Hotel very close to the Star Ferry. The weather was cloudy but much warmer than in Tokyo. Movie tickets are only about 400 or 500 yen (4/5 dollars). I saw three new movies: American Beauty, the Story of Us, and Dogma. American Beauty was the best--very funny! Shopping was, of course, excellent. I bought lots of jade, vitamins, cologne, books, magazines, etc.. I also love the fact that Hong Kong doesn't have a sales tax! There isn't much sign of change since the colony's return to China. I saw few Chinese flags, and I was surprised to see many copies of the Dalai Lama's books in many bookstores.
It's finally time for spring vacation! I only get one week off, so I'm going somewhere close--to HONG KONG. I hope to enjoy some good warm weather, Chinese food, and shopping. I haven't been to Hong Kong in five years, so it'll be interesting to notice the changes since the city's return to China. Time to head to Narita Airport once again! Aba yo!
1. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
2. Tinsley Ellis - Kingpin (Capricorn Records)
3. Eric Clapton - Chronicles
4. Austin Powers (The Spy Who Shagged Me) - Movie Soundtrack
5. Nirvana - Unplugged
6. Jackie Brown - Movie Soundtrack
7. Sheryl Crow - The Globe Sessions
8. Millennium Funk Party (Rhino Records)
9. NRBQ - NRBQ (Rounder)
10. Beck - Midnite Vultures
I've been too busy to update my homepage lately, mostly because I've been teaching overtime this month. My new students, who have just graduated from high school, seem very fresh and very repectful. I'm not used to being called "sensei." Anyway, I'm looking forward to a week vacation in April before the next school year. I hope to go somewhere warm like Bali. It's freezing here in Tokyo! (2/27)
I'm Baaaaaack! My winter vacation is over. Japan always seems very fresh after a few weeks in the States. My first culture shock was walking around Shinjuku and looking at all the people dressed up in formal clothes and all the women wearing lots of make up. For a minute, I thought it must be a special holiday. I forgot how much more formal Japan is than the U.S. I half slept through most of the flight. I did watch the children's movie Inspector Gadget, which was good for a few laughs. Ten minutes before my plane took off, six policemen entered the plane and took off a passenger. Some Japanese passengers seemed to enjoy this police drama.
My winter vacation has been great so far. I enjoyed swimming in the ocean in Ft. Lauderdale and driving the dangerous streets of Miami. I've seen a lot of good moives, including American Beauty, Being John Malkovich, Toy Story 2, Man on the Moon, Election, the Green Mile, Tumbleweeds, All About My Mother, and Life is Beautiful.
I saw my brother Tinsley's Live show last night. He played a benefit show for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and raised about 1,900 dollars for the charity. He played at a cool blues club called Blind Willie's. I especially enjoyed hearing him play his bluesy "Born in Georgia" and the old Elvis Presley song "Blue Christmas."(12/22)
I'm very happy my three-week Winter Vacation starts on Saturday. I'll go to Ft. Lauderdale Beach (near Miami) for one week, and I'll spend two weeks in Atlanta before returning to Tokyo. I'll be back in Tokyo on January 4th. Happy Holidays!
Web-Watching the World, the reading textbook I co-wrote with some teacher friends, was published this month. I wrote chapters on Atlanta, Key West, Norway, Plymouth (Thanksgiving), Rapa Nui (Easter Island), and Uttar Pradesh (India). The book was published by Nan'Un-Do Press (ISBN4-523-17349-4).
Lately, I've been enjoying hearing live music from Tokyo's best gaijin rock band, The Blast. I saw them play both Friday and Saturday nights. Friday they played The Fiddler just down the road (Meiji Dori) where I live. Saturday, I went to Ebisu to check them out at What the Dickens? pub where the people were even more mental. I especially like the Blast's song, "She's Gonna Find Out." Check 'em out sometime!
I'm happy my homepage just got added to the excellent Japan Ring!
(10/21)
My big news is I bought a new bicycle (a Mama Chari) this weekend. My old diary's page filled up, so I have to
start a new one. I'm now back in TOKYO and have started
teaching again. My new classes are going smoothly,
and I'm happy I have lots of motivated & genki
students. Here's a new joke for the latest holiday
(Respect for the Aged Day):
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