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
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
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!
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
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
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
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