Meeting with HUTE Graduate Students

Hi fellow travelers,
Today was a mellow day. I'm always surprised to find the life is not nearly as stressful when you get out of the US. I could get used to this, if it weren't for the fact that Maddy is not here. I miss her.

My big event today was to meet with the HUTE graduate students who are visiting Eau Claire and the University next week. There were 7 graduates and their professor. I remember the professor from one of her previous visits. The grad students' interests ranged from elementary science, to clinical psychology, EFL, Japanese culture, and elementary education. They will observe and have presentations from a wide swath of professors at UWEC. I gave them some contact names in their fields, so that they could follow up on their individual interests. I hope the colleagues back home will be cordial with them.

They were all very nice and extremely nervous to talk with me. They'd each prepared a personal introduction, so I was polite and attentive while they talked, encouraged them to try without fear of judgment, and asked informative questions.

They asked me questions about Eau Claire and the University, like if there is any Japanese food there, what to wear to keep warm, and which gifts to bring for their host families. They will stay at the Ramada on Clairemont Ave for 3 nights and then go to host families for the remainder of their 11 day trip. They leave there on March 7th. I do hope that they enjoy their stay. As for gifts, I recommended for the 19 year old son of one family who is majoring in Business Administration, a baseball cap of a Japanese baseball team. What do you think? Good idea? I was stumped with him. The girls and parents were so much easier! As for the food, I told them about Shanghai Bistro, Toyko and Infinitea. I also mentioned that they should try chicken and dumplings, chicken noodle soup, chicken and wild rice soup, meatloaf and chili.

Speaking of food, I'm having dinner right now. My dinner is at my apartment tonight. I am having steamed dumplings and green beans. Not bad for frozen food in a microwave, but very salty. I should have put in less soy sauce. Good thing I don't have a heart problem. Live and learn... I am having the most divine cold apple tea with it, too.

I took a walk today and wandered around a bit. Saw the cafeteria on campus and the bakery next door! Awesome. Wish we had a bakery. Fresh pastries are a nemesis of mine. Also, saw some workmen fixing up a dorm. They wore the most interesting work clothes. They all seem to wear the same type of clothing in white or medium blue (I think that's an apprentice), and most tuck their trousers into their socks. It creates this almost genie-look on the panties, which is totally thrown off by the tool belt and hard hat. One of the construction workers was a female.

I'm quite taken by the facial features of many of the folks I'm seeing. I'm not seeing the Japanese "type" I thought I would; Rather, I'm seeing so much variety in the physical and facial features. It's cool. The women are not all petite and super slim, some are healthy and robust looking with thicker legs. I've seen people of all body types, tall and shorter, thin and thicker, etc. I'm pleased to see such interesting diversity.

Really digging on my apple tea. I'm gonna get more of that!

I'm in the mountains south west of Kyoto, and north west of Kobe. The mountains range in the distance of the campus looks like the smoky mountains of Tennessee. This mountain range is very different looking from the ones I saw north of here while flying in. Those white-topped mountains were steep and choppy looking, as though they'd been carved by a huge cleaver. Then, there was the conical shaped smoothness of Mount Fuji, too, rising so effortlessly, sweeping up toward the sky. It is easy to see from these mountains that Japan rests on 3 tectonic plates that are vying for wiggle room to the dismay of the human population.

Tomorrow at 10am, I have my first research appointment. Hiro and I will depart for Kobe, which is a mid-size coastal town. We will meet 3 native-English speaking teaching assistants, like the kind I train and 1 elementary school teacher to interview. We will also observe a class or classes. Afterward, we will do some sightseeing in Kobe and have dinner there. Since it's a coastal town, there should be some excellent seafood! I'm looking forward to getting into my research. I'm chomping at the bit here with excitement. I need to forward my research questions along to Hiro tonight. Gotta remember that.

So, I hope you are enjoying this blog. If you have any questions, comments, ideas or suggestions, please post. Thanks!
k