Tag Archives: volunteers
Ishinomaki, December 2011
There is too much to tell you and not enough words. Everyone who was here on 11 March must have a story to make the hair stand on end, about where they were and what they saw, who they lost … Continue reading
Filed under Japan
Christmas in Tohoku Part 2
We got talking at the Free Tohoku and It’s Not Just Mud Christmas party, despite not sharing much language, our ‘conversation’ drifting over the head of her small boy, who wriggled in her arms in that way that children do … Continue reading
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Obon festivities
Often in class I find I am learning as much as the students. While they pick up the essentials of English grammar and usage, along with certain vignettes about British life, I am gaining too. Not merely an insight into … Continue reading
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How to help Japan
Following the survivors’ stories and video footage, here is the Tohoku earthquake rendered as numbers and facts (with thanks to Michael Soron for his illuminating post): The government estimates the material damage from the quake and tsunami alone could top … Continue reading
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Japan faces Golden Week dilemma
What is the correct response when a student offers you potentially radioactive peach sponge cake? Despite warnings of an 80% drop in tourist numbers this year, one of my students, a lovely and very generous lady, drove for hours and … Continue reading
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Colder than water
I arrived in Japan with so little experience of teaching children that I sometimes wonder if they can tell that I am learning almost as much in class as they are. Many of my students are 11 and 12 years … Continue reading
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Buy Quakebook early, buy Quakebook often!
Get your Quakebook NOW, full details are here. Quakebook is available now as an e-book for your Kindle, or you can download a free application to read it on your PC, Mac or iPad. If you are more of a … Continue reading
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Aiding Japan’s Recovery
I have spent quite a bit of time over the last three weeks reassuring friends and family and readers of ten minutes hate that all was well in Japan, so much so that it now seems slightly perverse to be … Continue reading
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Quakebook
I have been incredibly impressed with Twitter since 11 March. The earth had hardly stopped shaking before friends around the globe were using the service to get in touch, checking that I was still in one piece and sending their … Continue reading
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Are you ok?
So how are you? Are you doing ok? How is everything there? What’s happening? You alright? These and other variations on the same theme have been pinging around the world into the inboxes and ears of many residents of Japan … Continue reading
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