My Garden on the Final Morning

With just a few hours for reflection, Laura and I wandered in our garden at the hotel. Sayonara Tokyo and Japan! This trip has been an experience of a lifetime. Thank you to the Japanese government and to the Dunham School Board of Trustees for making it possible!

Kim Wilding
JFMF Recipient
November 1,2008

Final Night

Our trip was about to end. We all posed for a final picture. Our Miyazaki Group bonded so well, even though we were a very diverse group.

Good-Bye Kids

Our time was over....farewell kids!

Video of Balance Beam

PE in Kindergarten

PE is another very important part of the kindergarten day. The children listen and follow directions and are very coordinated in both balance beam and parachute activities.

Visit to Sakuradai Kindergarten

Twenty of us went to visit this kindergarten for 3-5 year olds in Tokyo. As kindergarten is not mandatory in Japan, many are privately run. We were able to see many things during our two hour stay. What impressed me the most was that the children learn how to fold paper at a very young age. I have had this thought for quite a while that one of the reasons the Japanese students do so much better mathematically than students in the US is due to early math influences. Children that we watched were learning how to fold paper at the age of three! Not only did they show incredible dexterity but they were able to watch, listen and follow directions!Their geometric and spatial abilities surpassed mine.

Back in Tokyo

This was my last trip in Tokyo. We went to an antique kimono shop where we were dressed in antique kimonos. I was not going to get one, but once I was dressed in it I had to!

Good-Bye to Good Friends

It was sad to say "Good-bye" but I know I will see my new friends in California and will be able to treat them to some sightseeing in the Wine Country. My time with the Kugita fimily was priceless and I can't say enough thanks to them all. Domo arrigato gozaimas!

Terraced Rice Fields

I was so lucky to be the only one(I think) of our group to see the terraced rice fields. You can see that the rice has been recently harvested. The following pictures show the rice drying. You can also see the abunance of cedar forests!!! It is incredibly beautiful.

Sunday Trips

After the wonderful concert and tea ceremony it was time to leave for our sighteeing journey around the Miyazaki area. We visited the Devil's Washboard, created by crashing waves. We also visted the Udo shrine, where I was able to see a child being brought for a baptism by the Shinto priest.We also threw in clay balls into a rock bowl above the ocean for good luck.Women throw the balls with their right hand and men use their left. I was at a disadvantage, being left handed. Eiko made her throw! This meant she would get her wish.Then we travelled to Obi castle town which was the main castle of the Ito clan during the Edo period(1603-1867).

Chorus Mini Concert

Eiko was a former music teacher and still has a very wonderful chorus that she works with. These students are mostly in their thirties and she asked them to come and perform a "mini concert" for me. It was such a sweet gesture and I enjoyed it immensely.They were very good as well.

Sunday's Activities

We started with an elaborate Japanese breakfast of miso soup, rice, salmon, yogurt, fruit and pastries.I can't figure out why the Japanese peope are so slim. They eat sooooo much food. Perhaps it is because there is very little sugar and there are no processed foods?

Then Eiko conducted a traditional tea ceremony for me.

Cosmos

On the way to burial mounds we passed many fields of glorious cosmos flowers.

Touring With My Host Family

After our delicious lunch we visited ancient burial mounds. These date back to 200 BC and although hard to tell they are quite high. This was very impressive.

Traditional Japanese lunch

We had a wonderful lunch at a beautiful restaurant. These are pictures of the garden at the restaurant and the first course (there were at least three courses!)

Cars and TV's

Believe it or not, cars often have a tv on the dashboard of the car next to the driver.

My bedroom

This is the traditional tea ceremony room and it is where I slept. The floor is made of tatami mats and I slept on a futon.

How Welcoming!

Here is the sign that greeted me upon entering Eiko's home. We had a big sukiyaki party that night. Four generations were there; Eiko's mother, Eiko, Eiko's daughter Akiko,and granddaughter Sakura. Great grandmother, mother and daughter are all educators. Sakura wants to be a pediatrician.

Eiko's Home

Here are various pictures of Eiko's home. I am putting all the relevant pictures on this page.Yes..that is an elevator! Eiko's mom has difficulty with stairs and to be sure she is able to eat dinner with the family they put in the elevator!The concept of "family" goes very deep into Japanese culture.

My Host Family

I was fortunate to have been "picked" by Eiko Kugita and her husband, daughter,granddaughter and mother for my host stay in Miyazaki. Eiko and her husband Muneharu,were the first husband/ wife pricipals in all of Miyazaki.They retired, but Eiko now works as a teacher in-service coordinator for the City of Miyazaki Board of Education. What an exciting and whirlwind thiry hours we spent together!

Final Posts

I have many more items to add to my blog but I will be without internet for at least a day. i will finish up when I return to Petalluma on Thursday evening. This trip has been an opportunity for me to meet not only Japanese educators, children and families but also to meet educators from all over this country. I am so honored! More to follow....

Kim

Trip to Sake Brewery and Glass Blowing Factory

Sake is a very important industry in Japan. Many poeple love it and drink it every night. It is very stong and the fermentation smell is strong as well. Sake is made from rice, barley and sweet potatoes.

Aya Castle

This castle was built in the early 14th century but was ordered to be cosed during the 17th century when teh Edo shogunate ordered that there could ony be one castle per shogunate. It is built with Japanese cedar.

Miyazaki Shrine

Here is the shrine and an emblem of the twelve petaled chysanthamum of the Imperial family.

Our Tour Guides

Toshi was our interpreter for meetings with important city officials and educational representatives. Keiko was our tour guide. They were incredible!!!