January 1997

  • I attended a U of T Continuing Medical Education seminar on "How to ask questions"
    (23 Jan 97)

  • Today I had to say goodbye to my friend, Dr. Yukihito Saitoh, a thoracic surgeon from Kansai Medical University in Osaka. Dr. Saitoh has spent the past six months observing lung transplantation at one of the hospitals here in Toronto (Japan is planning new legislation that will change the legal definition of death to brain death, thereby making larger numbers of suitable organs available for transplantation. Until now, organs were in poor condition by the time the potential donor's heart stopped.) I was introduced to him as someone with whom he could practice conversational English. We usually got together over supper at one of Toronto's many restaurants. I think I ultimately taught him more about food than English! Anyway, the fun is now over, as his wife Chieko (a very kind, intelligent lady, and also a physician) has arrived to take him back to Japan. Sayonara, Dr./Mr. and Dr./Mrs. Saitoh! Have a safe flight.
    (22 Jan 97)

  • I finally got out cross-country skiing this winter! Mansfield Outdoor Centre, about a one-hour drive north of Toronto, features 35 km of groomed double-track trails over interesting, hilly terrain, from beginner to expert level. There's a lodge with a hot stove for warming up while sipping a hot chocolate. A one-day trail pass is $11.50 (and for people like me who sleep in, a half-day pass is $8.00, beginning at 1400 h). They rent skis and are open seven days a week. Call (705) 435-4479 for trail conditions.
    (19 Jan 97)

  • I visited Momiji Seniors Centre (3555 Kingston Road, Scarborough) for the first time today. It is primarily a home for retired Japanese Canadians who are still fairly independent and healthy. It also offers to retired and non-retired people courses in the Japanese arts, like bonsai, bunka shishu, kindai ikebana (kakko-ru), yakimono and sumie. Other courses include drawing, painting, paper crafts, photography, line dancing and ballroom dancing. The building itself is beautiful: the architectural details have a Japanese sensibility, and there is an indoor bamboo forest and a pond with koi swimming around. The games room has the usual billiards and ping pong tables, but also has shogi and go! I was told that there is a long waiting list to get a Momiji apartment. Is it too early to think about putting my name on the list?
    (11 Jan 97)
[Back to TOP]