Tag Archives: volunteers
Look Mam, I’m in the Asahi!
Here I am in the newspaper and for a good reason! Not like knocking off a bank or anything… I was lucky enough to meet up with Asahi Shimbun journalist Sophie Knight last time I was in Miyagi. It was … Continue reading
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Ishinomaki – Then and Now
Recently arrived back in Tokyo from another trip North and still attempting to unravel my answers to the natural question of ‘how was it?’ Perhaps this will help. The following is a documentary from Paul Johannessen, which interviews tsunami survivors … Continue reading
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
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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
Christmas in Tohoku Part 1
Before I came to Japan, I wondered what Christmas would be like. It is not a Christian country and New Year is a much more important festival in the Japanese calendar. So I wasn’t expecting to see many Christmas trees. … 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
Filed under Japan
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
Filed under Japan
