Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Fall Semester

Here are a few photos from our Oyako (mother and child) outdoor English fall semester classes.







This was the first time any of our students (mothers included) had ever carved a pumpkin.


Looking forward to starting our winter semester in February.

tNt

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Impressions in the Snow

I can't believe I am writing about our first snowfall.
Seems like summer came and we tasted fall and now our kerosene
furnace is running full speed ahead and the water in the horses water
buckets is covered with ice that is four hundred millimeters thick.

It snowed yesterday morning but I had to drive in it and walk in slushy
parking lots.

This morning I went for a walk. Ahhh snow.

There were lots of animal tracks. The snow covered pathways tell stories I could otherwise never read about the lives of these creatures...

Mostly fox. One lone fox. And then smaller tracks...possibly a shrew.

Then the lone fox again...and blood. And then a few meters away...many lone fox prints all coming together to one place. I saw a few of these 'meeting circles'.

In these circles there were impressions of fox sized bodies who may or may not have decided to lay down and enjoy the morning sun.

I am going to do some more of that now.

Enjoy your day.

t

Friday, October 23, 2009

tNt Adventures in English

Our little English School is called tNt Adventures in English.

t for Tomohiro
N for Nature
t for Tammy

We have an oyako class (children and parents) on Saturday mornings.

This morning we climbed up and down a little mountain. Quite an adventure considering the five kids in our class are one, two, three, five, and six years of age.

The children looked for signs of fall and brought back some things they collected...and then we fed carrots to the horses.

The outdoors is our classroom.

t

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Into the Sunset

We have paddled canoes and mushed dogs together in the Yukon.

Today we rode into the sunset on horses... in Japan.

What a friendship!

What a ride!


Kate and me.




t

Friday, September 4, 2009

Starting Tuesday...

...I will be teaching seven classes to young men (and a few women)
from the ages of 18 to 21 !!!! At a technical college?? !!!!

Of course I`ll be teaching English...isn't that wild?????
I don't even own a proper pair of shoes!!!
I tried some clothes on at the store and I JUST FIT into the largest size
in business attire!

Depending on the cut.... OMG!!!

For all those Peanuts lovers! ...you can imagine that I am freaking out much like Charlie Brown's sister Sally as she gets ready for her first day back to school!

t

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Heaven for some...

I was thinking about how much I enjoyed my horse ride yesterday and wondered how some people would feel about:

Riding on a big sweaty animal.
Aching muscles.
Sun in your eyes.
The bugs.
Low tree branches that swat your face...

Some would probably prefer shopping in an air-conditioned mall.

Imagine that!

t

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Better than this?

I went horseback riding today.

The horses climbed a bushy slope bordered by pine trees and waiting for us at the top were rolling lush green open hills. A popular spot we shared with about twenty deer, a fox, and a dragonfly...

The way the sun was coming through the clouds and then reflecting on the still pond water...well if Heaven gets better than this...wow!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Thanks Mae

Hi Tam, I was not able to comment on your August 10th blog… so here is my comment re your sweet ride:


Love your sweet ride Tam! What a beautiful and peaceful life you have in Japan... Love ya! Mae


Mae, your comment comes at an interesting time...


It's Aug. 15 and Obon in Japan. This is the time when people who have died are remembered.

It is also the date when Emperor Hirohito surrendered after two atomic bombs (Aug. 6 and Aug.9) were dropped on Japan and the Soviet Union attacked the Japanese colony in Manchuria (Manchukuo) on Aug. 9 in 1945.


These were really sad times.

There is peace in the land again.

Mae, thanks for reminding me how lucky I am to have this beautiful and peaceful life in Japan.

I love you too.

t

Monday, August 10, 2009

My Sweet Ride

In seven minutes up a winding paved country road I reach the place where I can see cows grazing on the hillsides, farmers baling hay, colourful wildflowers, views of Me-Akan and O-Akan Mountains...

This is my sweet ride...



Smile.





At forty kilometers this top speed seems too fast for the life that surrounds me. I took time to stop, smell the wildflowers, and smile!

t

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Bass Player on the Mountain

When Mokoto asked if I would sing "Honky Tonk Woman", for the show in Obihiro, I said, "sure no problem". I had heard a few versions including Tina Turner's and really liked the feel and sound of the tune.

When I checked the lyrics online - I was kind of taken aback. I had no idea they were so raunchy.

A few days later we had a practice and I approached our bass player about my reluctance to sing the song.

He said, "Some people like to write and sing about the dark side of life. They are still good people inside."

I immediately decided to be "...a Honky Tonk Woman".

There are many times when I sing 'holy songs' and behave just the opposite when I walk through my front door.

And what is the dark side of life anyways?

I spent a few hours in the garden today picking weeds.

Some weeds are beautiful.

Who decides what is a weed and what is a plant?

More questions for my bass player on the mountain.

t

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Makoto and the Band!


Some fun news...

Last night I performed with a band!!!! We did a road trip to Obihiro
(a city 2 hours drive away).

It was sooo much fun! I even sang "Honky Tonk Woman" with a Yukon theme:

...I laid a trapper man in Dawson City....

great to change up the lyrics this way.

...Sure hope the Rolling Stones don't mind.

Makoto sang and wowed us all with his amazing guitar playing and there were drums, bongos, bass guitar, banjo, electric piano and would you believe a didgeridoo too.

Another favourite I sang last night was Rivers of Babylon...a song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of The Melodians in 1972...Who knew!

Our car cassette player only knew the Boney M version that it cranked out on family road trips some thirty years ago!!!!! Was it ever great belting this tune out to a funky disco beat. I think you would have all been up dancing and singing along for sure!!!

So let the words of our mouths
and the meditation of our hearts
be acceptable in thy sight here tonight!



t

Saturday, July 11, 2009

At Any Age

Teaching our students at the senior citizen's home has been quite an interesting, challenging and uplifting experience.

When preparing these lessons, we try our best to choose activities that are engaging and adaptable.

We need to consider the following:

We are teaching adults -lessons need to be clear
and repetitive, but not child-like.

English
-Most of our students have never been outside of Japan.
- I am the first white person most have ever met
-The majority didn't learn English when they went to school
(for most, I am the first English teacher they have ever had)

Trouble with movement - choosing physical movement songs that allow active ones to touch their toes and the not so active ones to sit, stand or watch (often smiling and swaying to the music)
- in some cases hand over hand printing, drawing, and even colouring (It is hard to remember to ask first if they would like help)
- time to allow everyone to complete the activities

Trouble hearing- repetition, repetition, repetition.
- we often use microphones and sometimes have to speak right up close into their good ears(without the microphones of course)

Trouble seeing - big font for our printed lessons
and large printing for anything we write on the whiteboard

The sense of touch - as often as we can, we bring items that our students can touch like pussy willows or beach balls

Games - Everyone loves a little competition and prizes too!

Seeing our senior friends is the highlight of our week.

We are always tired afterwards but it's a good tired.
Our students smile, learn, and thank us many times over after every lesson.

Last week we saw our 101 year old student pushing
his friend in a wheelchair!

We certainly learn from our students too.

So why do we learn at any age?

Maybe because it's fun and because we can!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Sailing Across the Pacific


Matt and Gill sailed from Australia to Japan in September 2008 on their sailboat Wooshee. We met them in January of this year at a party where they told us that their next journey would be from Hokkaido to Alaska. They left yesterday morning.

Since our meeting, friends we became, so it was tough seeing them off. But what an adventure they have ahead of them!

Matt and Gill want to live their dreams. Both of their fathers died at a young age and their dreams along with them. This young couple decided that while they have their health and each other...they would use all the money they had to buy a boat and sail.

And so they are...

Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean with hopefully strong winds in their sails.

All the best Matt and Gill.

t

Monday, June 8, 2009


It's June! Rokugatsu (sixth month)

It is rainy season in Tsurui-Mura. Brings back memories of growing up in Vancouver where it rains so much the locals call it “liquid sunshine”.

The mares and their foals have been released to the pasture. All that rain has made the grass so green and lush. It really is a horses' paradise! After being cooped up in their stalls since winter, it is interesting to see how the horses react to their 'freedom'.

Most immediately run. Some try to reacquaint with old pals and check out their new babes. Often these nosey ones get a swift kick from an annoyed mare. This is the time for the mothers to establish their social roles. So far one of the dark brown beauties is the boss.

We finally seeded our garden and are looking forward to watching which tiny sprouts will peek through the rich soil first. My guess... radishes.

I'll keep you posted.

t

Monday, May 11, 2009

Sakura

a young woman in her prime
full lips and bosoms -almost too beautiful to touch
for fear her delicate nature wither
even a thought could stir this motion beyond what it is

a moment in time
with the blink of an eye

she's gone

sakura

Sakura Blessings

The arrival of sakura (cherry blossoms) is a national celebration in Japan. Newscasts follow the blooming of the sakura trees which begin in mid-January in southern Japan (Okinawa).

It was Tokyo's turn in April. I was lucky enough to be there at that time strolling in a park while listening to the laughter of university students as they picnicked under the white and pink floral boughs. These picnics are an annual event enjoyed by all ages.

The sakura not only canopy picnics, the flowers are used to make sake and sweets...their precious petals can even be found in rice balls (onigiri).
Songs and poetry are sung, read, and written some more about the cherry blossoms.
A word used to describe the love for the sakura is "hakanasa" which loosely means - the feeling you have about the beauty of things that don't last forever.

Well, the sakura have finally blessed us in Hokkaido. Just in time for Mother's Day.

On a drive in the country today I couldn't help but smile with delight every time I spotted one of these wonders.

Around the bend, in the middle of nowhere...was the largest blossoming cherry tree I have ever seen.... or climbed for that matter.

t

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

April Update

There is even more life on the horse farm. Seven more babes have been born -Would you believe only one male in the bunch!

Yesterday on a hike in the hills I saw my first wild-flower of the season. It is yellow and the Japanese name for it is hukujusou.

I started teaching English at a cute little school house in Kushiro. Days have been busy remembering names and planning lessons.

There was a night of song at the opening of the Hickory Wind Cafe last Saturday. It was great belting out a few tunes with Makoto and the band again.

Easter greetings all.

t

Saturday, March 7, 2009

The New Addition



She was born yesterday morning. As we were away all day in the city, we did not find out about her arrival until today. There was a rain storm last night so I call her Ame -the Japanese word for rain (pronounced ah-may).

She is the youngest horse I have ever seen.

Ame is the first of 15 foals expected to arrive this spring!!

t

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Signs of Spring

We still have a tonne of snow on the ground. Some actually fell from the sky today. No photo could capture the way the snow clouds slowly covered the sunny sky and then how peacefully the big flakes fell upon the spruce trees. A very special fairy tale moment indeed - especially when signs of spring are about.

The days are getting longer, some snow is melting, the cranes are returning to the marsh, and a few pussy willow buds have showed themselves on the willow trees. Yesterday the sky was so blue and the sun was so warm - I didn't even have to wear snow pants or a warm jacket while cross-country skiing.

Nothing like taking a nose-dive in the cold stuff!

t



Sunday, February 22, 2009

Meeting Ali

It was a very cold day and getting even colder as the sun started to descend at around 4:00 pm when we arrived at the Akan Crane Center.

Ali from Florida had been at the center since 8:00 that morning and he was still enthusiastically taking photos and oohing and ahhing at the sight of the Japanese cranes landing and taking off again.

Ali is a photographer. You know...the kind of photographer who takes shots of the Obama inauguration and the Summer Games in Beijing.

He was wearing an Iditerod jacket (the famous Alaskan dog-sled race). Ali explained that he had taken photos for the Iditerod for a few years and when photographing last year's race, he had quite an unexpected experience.

Ali was a passenger in a small plane that was flying near the Brooks Range when due to bad weather, the plane went down and crashed into the Yukon River.

Ali said that he had enough time to think about three things before they hit...

1. He was okay with God -for the most part he tried to do the right thing
2. He was okay with others -he walked away from confrontation and did not feel
the need to apologize to anyone
3. He loved being a photographer and was happy with his life's work

If this was it...he was ready to go. He was at peace.


Thankfully it was not Ali's time and we had the privilege of meeting him and listening to his story.

Thanks Ali.


t

Shall We Dance?

It is wonderful to watch the Japanese cranes pair up then curtsy, jump, bow, twirl, turn...

And after the dance they raise their long necks to the sky, open their beaks and cry out in song- The male one melody, and the female another -sounding like a harmonious trumpet tune.

It really is difficult describing these elegant mating dance performances.

Typing these words makes me feel like I have 'two left hands'!

Enjoy the photos!

t




Friday, February 13, 2009

Tears Laughter and Love

I am learning to sing a few Japanese songs.


NAKINASAI WARAINASAI
THOUGH THE TEARS MAY FALL
THERE'S LAUGHTER AFTER ALL
WHEN YOU FIND LOVE AGAIN


...from the beautiful Okinawan song, Hana (Flower)


Wishing you all love and laughter today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

t

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Nature's Way in Eastern Hokkaido

I just submitted the following entry for the Hokkaido Canada Association newsletter:

Two city dwellers who love the country are feeling fine in Eastern Hokkaido! My husband grew up in the city of Kobe, and I grew up in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia Canada. So how did we end up here?

First our love for nature lured us to the wilds of the Yukon Territory Canada where we met and stayed together for three years. Wanting to know more about my Japanese partner's language and culture, I suggested that we give living in Japan for some time a try.

I stumbled upon a volunteering position to teach English in Tsurui-mura, Eastern Hokkaido. This opportunity and our love of the north was the reason why we chose to be here.

Tsurui-mura is a very special village. We have been lucky enough to share this place with the tsuru (Japanese cranes), dairy cows (of which there are over one hundred farms), and the wonderful two thousand plus residents.

After a year of living in Eastern Hokkaido, we are happy to say that our love for nature is greatly satisfied.

The wildlife is abundant. On country road drives we often see not only
tsuru but also fox, deer, eagles, hawks and many varieties of smaller birds.
We have also spotted hare, owl, weasel and king fisher birds.
When there is fresh snow on the ground, it is wonderful going for walks and camparing our own footprints with the animals' tracks.

The environment that these animals share with us is beautiful. Tsurui Mura has a hilly landscape speckled with many dairy farms and it is bordered by the Kushiro Marshlands. We often go for hikes in the hills and we can see views of the Akan Mountains in the distance. At night we are lucky enough to enjoy the the star-lit skies.

My husband and I have a semi self-sufficient living on a horse ranch 15 kilometers from the village core. In spring we made tempura out of the many sansai (mountain plants). In our summer vegetable garden we grew all the vegetables from home plus daikon and edamame. Come summer's-end we learned how to pickle our harvest of daikon (takuan). In the fall and winter months deer hunting was possible and we now have a freezer full of this healthy lean meat. A very relaxing treat on cold winter days is bathing in the natural hot spring waters at one of Tsurui-mura's three nice onsens.

It looks like one year is extending to another. No surprise after our amazing experience here in Tsurui-mura Eastern Hokkaido.


Looking forward to planting again this spring!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

"Do what you love to do and then do more!"
Words of wisdom from Naomi...an 89 year old travelling grandmother!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Hokkaido Horses

It was a cold but beautiful afternoon in Shisetsuri. The snow was falling lightly and as I rode Aika, (a beautiful tan dosanko pony), I often looked up to see blue sky patches through the clouds and the leafless treetops.

A good day for a ride.

Conditions were perfect for training. With about 80 cm of snow on the ground, it would be difficult for the horses to run quickly and should I have fallen off Aika for any reason...cold white powder would cushion the blow.

Hiratasan, (our landowner and the horse trainer) tied Annie to Aika's tail to prevent her from her usual tomfoolery of taking off from her mother and causing quite a disturbance. I named the red haired filly Annie after the strong willed and intelligent red headed orphan Anne from the Canadian novel, Anne of Green Gables.

There are 44 horses on the ranch right now. Ten of the horses are miniature ponies and there is one huge draft horse. The rest are all a unique-to-Hokkaido dosanko breed. Come April a whole new heap of little ones will be born and we will be here to celebrate their entry into the world.

Lots to enjoy now and to look forward to in the spring!

Oh happy days!

t


Dosanko foals -photo taken in October '08

Friday, January 9, 2009

Senior Sensations

Three times a month we teach English at Silver City, a senior citizens home in Kushiro. There are 10 students in our class their ages ranging from 75 to 100!

Today we taught consonant identification by having our students bend and/or connect coloured pipe cleaners into Ns, Ps, Qs, Ss....

Our eldest student is 100 years of age and you should have seen him make his letters. He needed a little assistance at times to know what letter we were working on but once he knew that, he was quick and accurate. We were so impressed!

I really should not have been surprised considering that most Japanese seniors know the letters for three different alphabets -hiragana and katakana (the Japanese ones), and Kanji (the Chinese of which there are over 2000 characters). All school age students now learn and can recognize the Romanji alphabet (that would be the one we use).

And I thought we had it tough having to learn 26 letters of the English alphabet.

Ha!

t