From the Heart of Tokyo 東京の中心から

Jetlag Blues and Festive Kimono

時差ボケのブルースと快活着物

下に日本語で書きます。 This is a post about jet lag, which everyone in this family has recently suffered through.  First, you might ask, What does jet lag have to do with all these  pictures of girls (and guys) in summer kimono?  Not a lot, except that I had just returned from the states when Martin and I took Toby and attended the annual Azabu Juban Festival.  We walked all the way there and back, as exercise is good for jet lag, and I told him to take lots of pictures of the yukata clad girls (and guys) to which he readily agreed.  It was nice weather that night, unlike last year which had an entirely different ambiance with the downpour and all the umbrellas, so he got lots of good pictures.  The other reason I'm glad to show these kimono pictures is that, as Jonah says, "jet lag sucks" so let's try to balance that with some attractive people who are clearly having a good time.

All ex-pat's and international business folk routinely deal with jet lag, but even though experience may help a traveler cope, everyone still has to somehow get through the process.  There's plenty of information out there about the condition, most of which focuses on the phenomenon of time zone adjustment, generally noting that it takes one entire day to adjust to each hour of time zone difference, which is 13 days for us.  It is also noted that going West to East is harder than going East to West because you are losing time.  In my experience, the worst is to go West to East and then turn around and go East to West just a few days later. 

In July, M&J went to Michigan for three weeks and reported these symptoms both ways:  fatigue, insomnia and confusion, but they are young and they got through it okay while traveling, and dug in and slept as much as they needed to when they returned home.  When I went there in August, there was a problem with the connecting flight so I stayed part of the night in a Detroit hotel after arriving from Tokyo and wasting several hours waiting in the airport, so it actually took about 40 hours door to door, and I ended up with a migraine for the first two days of my visit with my parents and siblings.  Coming back a week later, there was no migraine, no pressure or issues, but it still took at least two weeks before I didn't feel tired all the time.

The one who really has it bad is Martin, who, after traveling all the way to the other side of the globe, has to "hit the ground running"  and go straight to work, and do the same on his return.  I just could not do that.  Maybe being an international businessman sounds glamorous, but it takes huge effort.

On the other hand, when friends and family come to visit us here in Tokyo, the excitement and uniqueness of the trip somehow compensates for the jet lag, and they seem to do pretty well.  So, please, don't let the fear of jet lag keep you grounded.

この物語は時差ボケについてです。最近家族は時差ボケを何とか忍びました。でも、まず、どしてこのトッピクと一緒に夏の着物の写真を載せたと聞きますか？そうそう、どしてね。時差ボケはとても悪い感情ので、このきれい写真はいい釣り合いと思います。私はアメリカから帰ったときにトビとマーティンも麻布十番の祭りに行きました。全部の写真はここにあります。その夜の天気はよかったので、去年よりとてもよかったです。去年は強い雨が降ったので、その写真はたくさん傘の写真でした。祭りへ歩いて行って来ました。時差ボケのために運動はいいです。

全部のエクスパットや国際のビジネスマンは時差ボケを処理しなければなりません。経験は役に立つけれど、皆はそれを一所懸命です。インタネットで、たくさん情報であるので、ときに時間帯の調整する方です。毎時間帯に旅行してので、一日をかかるすべきだろうと言います。私たちには、それは１３時間だので、１３日間がかかると思います。そして、西から東までは東から西までより難しいです。私の経験は西から東までに行くことと一週間後にずっと戻すことはとても難しいです。　 　

７月にモニカとジョナはミシガン州に行って、三週間で泊まりました。二人は疲労や不眠症や困惑も訴えたけど、若いだので、旅行するながら、大丈夫に過ごしました。帰った時間で、家でのんびりして、たくさん寝たから、ゆっくり普通な生活に戻しました。でも、私は８月に同じ所に行ったときに、最初の二日はひどい偏頭痛があったので、両親と兄弟の会うことは容易でわない。一週間後に、帰ったの時差ボケは頭が痛いじゃなくて、問題がないけど、まだ２週間でとても疲れました。

でも、マーティンは一番難しいことがあるので、いつも旅行して、仕事からので、目的地に着いてずっとに仕事にしなければなりません。そして、帰るときも同じ状態です。私は時差ボケがあるときに、考えられません。そして、それをできませんよ。インタナシナルのビシネスマンの生活は魅力的のような仕事そうだけど、たくさん努力を要ります。

他方に友達たちと家族たちも私たちに会いに日本に来る時に、それでもなんとか面白くて特別な旅行は償うと思います。そすると、時差ボケの恐れを忘れてください。旅行をしましょう！

2009 Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball

２００９年のマリアナスカップのビーチボレボール

 

日本語の要約は下に書きます。Who are those hunky guys Jonah is hanging with?  They're the Japanese beach volleyball players in the Marianas Cup in Saipan earlier this month.  Jonah's Japanese has improved enough that he can carry on a decent conversation with these pro players, and he and Monica were glad to see Fujimatsu-san and his partner, Matsumoto-san, who have participated in the tournament all three years that we've attended.  Here, Jonah is waiting in line with the pros to do POINT BREAK.  Apparently this was their first time, and they watched for awhile and took some pointers from Jonah and the clubmates before giving it a try.  It was pretty fun to watch these superb athletes trying out a new sport.  Martin happened to be roaming around with his camera and caught some good pix of their early attempts. 

We've traveled to Saipan several times over the years during holidays from school, but ever since we happened to be at the Pacific Island Club during the Marianas Cup, we've targeted that particular weekend for our trip to Saipan.  We always stay at PIC, which has so much to offer, there's been something for everyone as the family has grown older, beginning way back when the kids were young enough to enjoy "Kids Club" and make friends with the Clubmates, to now when they are free to roam the entire club independently, enjoying the snorkeling, lazy river, archery, etc as well as Point Break, Jonah's favorite.  PIC employees are all kind, with attention to safety and guest comfort, the food is really good, (Gold Card is the way to go), the flight from Tokyo is just over three hours.  We think its a relatively affordable family trip that yields in quality family time, life experience and good memories.  A big part of keeping memories is with pictures.

Here I introduce Martin's new website where he will put his best pictures, www.pixbymartin.com.  Last year's Volleyball pictures were very well received, and since then he's made progress with his equipment and his skill, so I made him a new website with a domain all his own with the idea that he could sell downloads of the pictures for a very modest price.   [a set-back was that I didn't have some setting quite right, and downloads were inadvertently free for the first week.  Oh, well, Grand Opening Special, I guess.] It was like a working vacation, but he really enjoyed taking pictures of the photogenic athletes, while Monica and Jonah and I thoroughly enjoyed watching exciting matches on the beach and from our ocean front hotel room balcony. 

M&J had their favorites, they would watch Fujimatsu-san's games, they would find Jen Snyder, and various other players.  Last year, Monica met Jen and her partner Janelle, who are the American Women's Pros, and Monica and Jen really hit it off.  This year there was a wonderful smiling reunion, and Monica hung with Jen most of the time.  Martin's got lots of great pictures of Jen and Janelle, who, as the offical pros, played the exhibition games on Friday night, and then were split up via a lottery and played with amateur players for the tournament games.

The US Men's Pros again this year, were Olympic Gold medal winner, Phil Dalhausser, and Paul Baxter.  The women's games are fun to watch, the athletes are skillful, lovely and graceful, but the men's games are hyperactive.  The jumping is so high, the ball gets smashed again and again, it's really an amazing spectator sport.  Please enjoy Martin's Pictures of BEACH VOLLEYBALL.  There are five galleries:  Please take your time and enjoy these pictures in slideshow mode on your pc.

　　　　　　　　　　　Friday's PRO Exhibition金曜日のプローの展覧会     　　　

Women's Saturday土曜日の女性　     　Men's Saturday土曜日の男性    

Women's Sunday日曜日の女性     　　　Men's Sunday日曜日の男性

ジョナとりっぱな体格の人々ですか？答えは日本人のビーチボレボールのプローです。 マリアナスカップに参加する人です。ジョナの日本語は上手じゃないけど、話せます。それで、この写真はポインとブレイクが待っています。二年前に、モニカとジョナは藤松さんと松本さんも会いました。いつも彼たちの試合を見て、楽しかったです。ボレボールプレーアはすばらしいスポーツマンだので、新しいスポートをしてみたら、面白いです。そして、ジョナは ポイントブレーキのポインターを教えました。笑。

八年間の中に、学校の休みの中に、何回もサイパンに行きました。三年前に、偶然に、ビーチボレボルのタノメントの間に、サイパンに行ったから、毎年、マリアナスカープの間に、サイパンに行きたいです。とても楽しいです。いつもパシフィクアイランドのクラブで、止まります。小さい子供ころから、モニカとジョナはPICを楽しました。いろいろことをできます。 例えば、アーチェリーとか、シュノーケルとか、水泳などをできます。私たちには、サイパンのPICはいい家族の時間を過ごせます。PICの従業員はとてもいいです。いろりろ言語を話せて、逆様は大切な感情と思います。料理もおいしいです。いつもゴールドカードを買います。それはいい方法と思います。家族のため、サイパンの旅行はいい生活の経験だし、いい家族の過ごすことだし、いい思い出すことをなれます。彼の忙しい仕事から、それは大切です。マーティンはたくさん写真を撮りました。

ここに、マーティンの新しい写真のウエブサイトを紹介をします。www.pixbymartin.com　 去年のボレボールの写真はいい熱烈な歓迎を貰ったので、今年に、私は新しいサイトを作って手伝いました。新しいレンスとか、今年の写真もいいと思います。努力だったけど、彼は楽しましたと思います。私と子供二人は試合をみてながら、マーティンはいつもビーチで、バルコニからも、写真を撮りました。

藤松さん間、モニカはジェンというアメリカ人の女のプローが好きです。去年会いました。モニカは一週末中ジェンと一緒に時間を過ごしました。いい役割モデルだと思います。マーティンのサイトで、ジェンとジャネルのビキニのボレボールの写真はHEREここにあります。それは金曜日の夜に、プローとプローの試合です。アメリカの女性は日本人の女性の試合と、アメリカ人の男性と日本人の男性の試合を見ました。すごい！

ところで、アメリカ人のフィルダルハワサーはペキンでオリンピックのゴルドメデルを勝ちました。ポールバクスターもとても目がいいです。女の試合はきていだので、面白いです。男の試合はよく活動的な試合です。来年もマリアナスカップに行きたいです。写真をリンクは上にある。スライドショーのモードを使って、見てください。ゆっくりどうぞ。

  

Fun Photos; Invago, The Arch

楽しい写真、インバゴやアーチ

   

日本語の要約を下に書きました。The above picture is Monica serving the Riverboat Special near the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, from this summer's visit with family.   Elsewhere on this page are pictures of the very fun time we and friends had recently here in Tokyo, at an Invago concert at What the Dickens in Ebisu.  What does Invago and the Arch have in common?  Well, let's think.  Both are famous.  Maybe the Arch is still a little more famous than Invago, but not for long.  We discovered this Tokyo based Alternative Rock band three years ago in Roppongi.  Since then, we've seen them perform several times at various venues, listen to their CD constantly, introduced lots of friends to their music, and even made friends with the guys in the band.  This was their last concert before they left on a working tour of several European cities.  Now they're safely back in Tokyo finishing their second CD, and hopefully planning another concert soon.

Since he got his Canon D40, Martin's photography hobby has really ramped up.  He takes way more pictures, they are higher quality and more artistic.  Toting the camera bag and lens around is a bit of a commitment, as it's heavy, and you wouldn't want to forget and leave it somewhere, but there's always something interesting going on, and having those pictures later is part of the fun.  Only trouble is, it does take time to process all those photos.   Thus, here we are in December and I'm showing you pictures from July and November.  But that brings up another commonality between Invago and the St. Louis Arch.  Both are very photogenic.  Invago certainly is.  At this most recent Invago Concert, Martin took lots of pictures, but we only put up the best ones.  Seems that Alexis (the French guitar player called "The Count" ) is in almost every picture.  So fine.  But Italian/English Luca, Japanese Koyu, Italian Stefano and Japanese/Italian Sasha aren't hard on the eyes either.  Together, making music, there's chance for lots of good pix.  To see Martin's pictures from their Emergenza Finals, link from the sidebar picture on this blog.   With regard to the arch, there are many different ways to view this massive structure, though it looks rather thin in these pictures.  It is always graceful and smooth.  An ideal shape, the arch was constructed from blueprints reflecting the geometric form of a complicated mathematical equation.  I don't understand it, but I think it's cool.

Even with all that space inside, the Gateway Arch is considered the largest US National Monument due to its height and base width.  Since being completed in 1965, it's a national treasure and besides Budweiser Beer and the Cardinals baseball team, it's the symbol of the great city of St. Louis, Gateway to the West, located as it is on the Mississippi River, a formidable landmark to the westward expansion in America's history.  Two or three times in the past I've actually gone up inside the arch.  It's very interesting, but this time, with us four plus my Mom, Uncle Chris (not my uncle, Monica and Jonah's), Matt and Robin, we didn't want to stand in line for a long time and then ride the claustrophobic tram cars to the observation deck at the top.  So instead, we had all kinds of fun using the arch as a prop in Martin's photos.  Below is Chris propping up the arch with both hands.  See Martin's other Arch Pictures.

So, there's another thing that Invago and the Arch have in common: FUN.   Going to their concerts is really fun.  The song lyrics are lovely, often very heartfelt and clever, so when I'm home listening to the CD, (over and over) I can imagine  Luca writing these meaningful words.  But when we get to watch them LIVE, the way the five guys interact to perform the music, the way the fans respond, the energy is heightened and we just have to dance.  And you know, its a great joyful feeling when you just have to dance.  My friend Luis, an excellent dancer, showed up at What the Dickens that night with a painful looking limp.  He'd overdone it with training and didn't think he could dance.  But he was wrong.  When the Count  struck the first few chords of "Freedom" on the acoustic guitar, and I gave Luis the sign, he hobbled right over, because their music is just so fun.  Here's Koyu on base.

Oh, I just thought of another thing that Invago and the Arch have in common.  When folks come from out of town, as we did to St. Louis, it's fun to take them to the arch.  And when folks come to Tokyo, as Dermot happened to do when Invago was playing in Ebisu, it was fun for us to take him to see the band play.  You know your guest will have a good time, Invago never ever let's us down.  Here's their website:  INVAGO 

この日本語は要約だけです。上の大きい写真はモニカは川船のスペシェルを出します。 それは夏の旅行でセントルイスのアーチの近くです。このポストで他の話題の写真は私の気に入るの音楽のバンドに友達たちと見に、行きました。それはＩｎｖａｇｏです。What the Dickensと言う恵比寿のバーである。そして、アーチとインバゴは共通してもっているものであは何ですか？じゃ、考える。あった！両方は有名です。たぶん、今まで、アーチはインバゴより、有名だけど、もう次ぐにインバゴはもっと有名になると思います。見たコンセト後にバンドはヨーロッパに行って、ツアーをしました。

マーティンはカノンのＤ４０を買ったから、写真術の趣味はよくなりました。たくさん写真を撮って、芸術的な質は前よりよくなると思います。いつもカメラを持って行きます。たくさん写真 を撮って、経過事は長い時間かかります。そして、今は12月ので、写真は7月から、11月も撮りました。インバゴとアーチについて、もうひとつ共通性は両方は写真に適するなです。特にフランス人のＡｌｅｘｉｓがたくさんいい写真があります。そして、イギリス・イタリア人のＬｕｃａ，と日本人のこや、とイタリア人のＳｔｅｆａｎｏと日本・イタリア人のサーシャもきれいです。もっとＩｎｖａｇｏの写真は前のＥｍｅｒｇｅｎｚａのはこのブログのサイドバーでリンクに行ってみてください。もちろんアーチは写真に適するなです。アーチはとてもきれいくて、優美的なです。それは完璧な形です。数学の方程式から作りました。私は分からないけど、それは面白いと思います。

ゲイトウェイアーチは一番大きいのアメリカの国定史跡です。1965年に終わったから、 国民の宝物です。セイントルイスの有名な象徴です。ミシシッピー川の岸で建ったので、西への膨張ことの象徴です。二回三回前に私はアーチの上の中に行ってけど、今度私たちはアーチの下に遊びました。そのときに私の母とマーティンの二人兄弟と弟の奥さんと楽しました。

そして、もうひとつ共通性は両方は楽しいです。Ｉｎｖａｇｏのコンセトはとても楽しいです。いつも友達と家族と行って、音楽を聞いて、バンドを見て、ダンスをします。そのときに、ルイスとダンスをしました。

まあ、最後の共通性は両方はいつも友達は来て、一緒に行きます。セントルイスに行って、一緒にアーチに行って、母の初めてみました。東京にＤｅｒｍｏｔと言うマーティンの友達は来て、Ｉｎｖａｇｏに見に行きました。Ｉｎｖａｇｏのコンセトははいつもいい間過ごすことです。

すみません、この日本語は要約だけです。たくさん間違いと思ってので、英語を読む事ができれば、それも読んでください。

 

Turning 13

13歳になっている。

 Please look below the Japanese for English.  こんにちは皆さん。そうですよね、 日本に帰りました。今度 最初に日本語で書いて、できると思います。泣。アメリカへの旅行はとて も忙しくて、よかったです。たくさん色々所に行って、たくさん色々友達と家族に会って、たくさん色々面白いすることをしました。後で、時間がある時に、写真を体系付けてみて、物語も言いたいです。たとえば、バイクを乗るの経験について。

今、ジョナの誕生日について話したい。昨日、息子はティーンエイジャーになりました。とても大切な日と思っているので、時差ぼけがあるけど、家族は気に入るナレストランで祝いました。そして、昨晩、六本木のＣｈａｒｌｅｓｔｏｎ＆Ｓｏｎに、食べに行きました。家族の流儀は誕生日に食べ物を選ぶことができるので、ジョナはカボナラを食べたかった。レストランの友達に教えてので、びっくる誕生日のデザートが貰いました。もう、レストランのライットは暗くなったので、皆は歌いました。ジョナは恥ずかしくなったが、嬉しいと思います。今日彼の考えは初めて回転寿司を食べてみたので、二人は一緒に行きました。多分からは大人の味がなりました。

いつも最近の誕生日で、 アメリカの旅行の最後の日か飛行機であるので、彼は日本に着いた後の日はいいですと言いました。この写真は日本に入れる時です。とても疲れたけど、ジョナはトビがすごく寂しいだので、家に着いた直に車で友達の家に行って、トビを会いました。私は運転をできるけど、いつも道に迷う。そして、ナービを使って、日本語であるので、難しいだけど、できました！着きました。トビは元気です。友達二人は完璧な代用親です。インディは兄のようですから、トビは両方家が好きと思います。

前にセントルイスでマーティンの家族と私の 母とジョナの誕生日を早く祝いました。その時に、チーズバーガの形のケーキがあて、楽しました。その時も、野球の切符も貰いました。ジョナの気に入るチームはＳｔ．ＬｏｕｉｓのＣａｒｄｉｎａｌｓですね。それで、一緒に野球の試合に見に行きました。下に少ないマーティンの野球の写真を載せました。ところで、その試合は面白かったので、勝ちました。あれは二番の野球の試合がこの夏で見ました。今週火曜日に日本へ帰る前の日にミネアポリスでツインスとウワットサツを見ました。思い出して、６月で日本で西武ライオンスとＧｉａｎｔｓを見て、後で、デトロイトも野球の試合に行きました。多分ジョナは十分の野球の夏だと思います。

Hi Everyone.  Yes, we're back in Japan.  I started this post writing in Japanese this time, just to be sure that I could still do it.  Yikes.  The trip to America was good, but sooo busy.  We went many and various places, met with many and various friends and family, and did many and various things.  Later, as soon as I get a chance, I'll organize pictures and tell stories.  For example, the experience of riding motorcycles in Tennessee.  But now I want to mention that Jonah became a teenager yesterday.

Turning 13 is such an important event, that even though everyone was jet-lagged, we wanted to go out to eat to celebrate.  So we went to one of our favorite Roppongi restaurants, Charlston and Son, because he was very hungry for carbonara, and the tradition is that you choose the dinner on your birthday.  At the restaurant, I told my friend who works there, that it was Jonah's birthday, and they surprised him with a special dessert.  They dimmed the lights and sang a birthday song twice, and everyone in the restaurant joined in.  Jonah was pretty embarrassed, but it was all fun.  Today, Jonah had the idea that he wanted to try Kaiten Sushi for the first time, so he and I went there together.  I guess he's getting grown-up tastes. 

Usually, Jonah's birthday occurs on the last days of our trip to America, or even while we are in the plane flying home, so it was nice this time for him to actually be "home" when he had his birthday.  Even with full-blown jet-lag, that was better than while on the move.  Above is a picture I took from the air just as we entered Japan.  Jonah had been missing Toby so much, often asking when could we go get him from our friends' house where he had been staying all summer.  As soon as we landed, I communicated with Kusacchi and he agreed that we could come, so even though everyone was really exhausted, we moved the suitcases into the apartment, then got in the car and made our way to their home.  I'm fine with driving, but I'm always lost, so it's quite a challenge.  I can just barely use the Japanese navi system, but it worked this time, and we made it.  Above is a picture of the navi system in the car.  As you can see, it's not simple.  We had a wonderful reunion with our little Toby dog.  Our friends took really good care of him, better than we do, I'm sure.  They are wonderful surrogate parents for him, and Indy is just like a brother.

Jonah had another birthday celebration earlier, while we were in St. Louis with Martin's family, while my mother was also there.  At that time, his wonderful Aunt Robin and Uncle Matt gave him a cake in the form of a cheeseburger.  It was so cool.  And, among other nice presents, Jonah got tickets (from his Uncle Chris) for a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.  Remember, Jonah's favorite team is the Cardinals, and his favorite player is Albert Pujols.  So, we all went to Busch Stadium and enjoyed a fabulous game.  Very exciting, especially because the Cardinals won.  Thanks Uncle Chris!  Here, I'm putting just a few pictures of the game taken by Martin.  In June, we saw a game while still here in Tokyo between his favorites the Seibu Lions, and the Tokyo Giants at Tokyo Dome, and then while in Detroit, we watched the Tigers beat the Cardinals (oops), and then, just on the last day before we left the US, while in Minneapolis visiting Uncle Brett and Aunt Jackie, we saw the Twins beat the White Sox.  Jonah may have gotten his fill of baseball this summer. 

So far, so good.

ここまで、大丈夫です。

下に日本語の大要を書きました。 Hey there.  Maybe you think I dropped off the face of the earth.  No, just went back to my home country a few weeks ago and haven't had the opportunity to use the internet to post here.  Have spent a lot of good times with friends and family.  Let's see, right now we're in St. Louis, Missouri, but let's go back to mid-June to when Monica and Jonah left Tokyo, and just the two of them flew to Washington, D.C. to visit some school chums who moved there last year from Japan.  The kids had a great time, Jonah seeing many interesting historical sites and national monuments, and Monica, shopping with her girlfriend.  That was such a wonderful opportunity for them, a golden week to treasure forever.

  During that time, Martin was already in the US working, and I was back in Tokyo preparing for the long homeleave, such as taking Toby to Kusacchi's, taking the turtles to Justin's, cleaning out the fridge, etc.  Soon, I flew to Detroit, where we all four met up.  The first big fun event was a baseball game at Coamerica Park between Jonah's Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers.  We met Shin and his family and had a great time, but the Cardinals lost with a walk-off walk in the 10th inning.

Then we went to visit my family in Michigan for a few days.  We did lots of interesting things, Martin had a little time to relax, but he also worked quite a bit while we were there.  One day, the whole extended family got together for a potluck, and my Mom had us play a game of Egg Toss.  It was hilarious, and my Dad and Larry won.  I always enjoy going back to my family home, where I can walk in the forest and enjoy my childhood scenery.

  We left Michigan via ferry boat across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin and then via car down to our friend's home on a lake north of Chicago.  The kids always have a good time with these friends who we've known since they used to live in Tokyo.  We enjoyed the boat and jet-ski together, and twice went to McDonalds on the boat for breakfast.  The highlight was watching the 4th of July Fireworks from the boat.  What a cool experience.  The last day, some of us took a roadtrip to Notre Dame University, for a tour of that impressive school, and then enjoyed amazing pizza at Rocko's. 

Next was a very short stay in the city of Chicago, where we met my older two sons, Jay and Steve and their friends, who each traveled there from their homes in Iowa and Nebraska.  Even though it was a short visit, we enjoyed the Field Museum of Natural History, some good meals together, and frisbee on the beach.  Martin was even able to make it back from Detroit where he'd been working in time to see them before we had to be back on the road, this time to St. Louis.

We are enjoying our visit with Martin's family.  Together, we toured the Anheiser-Busch Brewery, among several other interesting activities.  Tonight we will watch the Cardinals vs the Padres at Busch Stadium.  Jonah is really looking forward to this game, the tickets are a birthday gift from his Uncle Chris.

最近まさどんと話しながら、“so far, so good”と言いました。彼は意味が聞いたので、ええと、ここまでは大丈夫と思います。アメリカの旅行はここまで大丈夫です。3週間以上前に、モニカとジョナは二人で飛行機でワシントンディシに行きました。その所で友達の家族に遊びに会いました。その友達は前に日本に住んだが、 去年あそこに引っ越しました。モニカとジョナは殆ど一週間DCに泊まったはとても楽しかっただと言いました。色々有名な史跡にみました。例えばアメリカのナショナルの保管所とか、飛行と宇宙の博物館とか、ジェファソン史跡を行ったので、 遠いからホワイトハウスも見ました。でも、一番の気に入る部分は友達達と時を過ごしたと言いました。  

次ぐにデトロイトに行きました。マーティンはあそこに働いたので、私は東京から直接に行って、空港に会いました。次ぐの日にデトロイトで野球の試合に見に行きました。（Tigers　対　Cardinals）勿論、ジョナの気に入 るのチームはCardinalsがTigers も好きです。ところで、タイゲルスはイニング１０回で勝ちました。 試合は面白かったです。

 

次ぐに、私の生まれ故郷の町はミシガン州であるので、家族に訪問しました。 一週間ぐらいであそこに泊まったので、フェリーボートでシカゴに来ました。暴風からその船の旅行は荒天をついたけど、よかったです。

 

次ぐにチカゴの近くの友達の家族の家に泊まりました。 この友達も日本に会ってので、三年間夏で、チカゴで遊びました。家はお水の近くだので、子供達はたくさん楽しかったです。次ぐ後で、チカゴの町中に行って、二人大人息子に会いました。久しぶりでした。良かった。短い時間があったけど、一緒に自然博物館行って、食事を食べて、浜でフリスビーを投げました。

 

今、セントルイスにいるので、主人の家族とあります。色々面白いしたことをしたので、Budweiserの醸造所のツアーができました。今夜も野球の試合に行って、Cardinals　対　Padres)である。楽しみにしています。

 

（この日本語での部分は短いので、大要だけです。それから、上の英語の書きことを訳したら、面白いと思います。）

 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

今度、日本語で書けなかったです。この物語は長くて、難しいです。It's been hard for me to convince myself to write about this part of our Spring Break trip.  When Martin decided which locations we would visit, and I made the plans accordingly, I had no idea what I would encounter.  As he's very interested in geopolitics, and knowledgeable about world history, he thought he knew what to expect.  But we all four came away tremendously emotionally impacted by what we saw and learned there in Phnom Penh about the Khmer Rough regime.  I still can't stop wondering how it could have happened in modern times, that the leader, Pol Pot, could induce all those teenagers to act as his henchmen and exterminate a quarter of the population of his own country in less than four years.  In its quest to create a totally proletarian society, intellectuals and anyone not "working class", ie, doctors, dentists, teachers, engineers, merchants, etc. etc. were killed.  How can a country recover from that? Even after the regime was removed, there was no one with any education left to rebuild the country.  Certainly, the Khmer Rough is responsible for the poverty we see in Cambodia today. 

Back at the beginning of the trip, while still in Siem Reap, touring Angkor Wat with our wonderful Cambodian Guide, Rathana, I learned a bit about the Khmer Rough.  Being a truly cheerful and positive person, and an advocate for tourism, Rathana was reluctant to dwell on the negative, but several times he did note various impacts on the 1000+ year old architecture which have been attributed to the Khmer Rough, such as the stones which have been cut away between the statue guards on the way to Angkor Thom South Gate.  When we questioned him directly, we also learned that his parents lost several family members to the mayhem.  This was before they met, married, and started a family after the "Liberation" by Vietnam in 1979.

So, Rathana dutifully delivered us to the bus which would take us to Phnom Penh.  As we settled into our assigned seats in the first and second row, directly behind the bus driver, I looked out the window at the makeshift bus station, consisting of card tables set up behind pick-up trucks, amidst several worn but sturdy looking buses and various uniformed people running around with clipboards.  Several bottles of water were delivered to our bus for the passengers, as well as a small snack.  The seat was comfortable enough, and though it was very hot, there was air conditioning, which helped to some extent.  Besides the driver, there was an assistant, a woman who spoke both Cambodian and English.  Oh my.  That bus ride.  We had decided to take the bus for the six hour trip rather than the somewhat shorter trip by air, if you consider the airport time, as we thought this would be a good way to see the countryside.  Well, that was true.  The highway to Phnom Penh is basically straight, paved for the most part, and very narrow and crowded.  Because the bus is bigger than almost everything else using the road, people walking, on bicycles, scooters, cars and trucks, the method of progress is to drive very fast, weaving and dodging the moving obstacles and beeping the horn whenever the driver comes up behind something, or meets something coming the other way.  Which is pretty much constantly.  Half an hour down the road, we came across a similar bus which had been heading the other way.  It was pulled over to the side, and all the people were getting off.  In the road lay a flattened bicycle, and in the ditch lay an inert body of a man.    Well.  Let's pause for a moment here.

After that, our bus driver drove just as before, but used his horn even more constantly, I can still hear it now.  A raucous noise.  It was one HELL of a ride.  When I woke that night at 3am with the worst migraine I've had for some time, it was easy to blame the stress of the swerving, speeding six hour long bus ride with its constant loud horn honking, and exhaust smell as the culprit.  We survived.  Eventually, we reached Phnom Penh and pulled over.   We got out, and a mob of people were clamoring for attention.  I had to assume these were tuk tuk drivers looking for fares, but it did scare me a little.

When we saw our name on a piece of paper, we trepidatiosly let the two men take our bags, and followed themto a van.  Our tour guide, "Sam" was very different from Rathana, but also very good.  Actually he was perfect for the job, as his interest and knowledge of Cambodia's history, particularly the Khmer Rouge, was quite extensive.  He took us to our hotel and we talked about the plan for the following day, which we tweaked to include the Killing Fields, having to give up the National Museum.  (I had wanted to see all those Buddha's that had been removed from the Angkor Wat temples, but maybe there will be a next time... but not another bus ride, I can guarantee that.)

So the next day, we went to what has been termed the Killing Fields, which is different from the movie.  Choeung Ek Extermination Center is a little ways outside Phnom Penh, and is one of several places where people were killed by the Khmer Rouge.  Informative signs are in Cambodian and English, and the piles and piles of skulls, from just one of the numerous mass graves are entombed in a tall building to act as a memorial to all those slain.  It was a sobering event for us.  After that, even more upsetting, was a tour of the S-21, Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide, which had been a normal high school until the Khmer Rouge used is as a concentration camp.  We saw torture rooms, cells, and hundreds of individual pictures of the captives, all looking straight into the camera, holding a number.  Their expressions are unforgettable.  I found this informative post which explains it better than I can.   

  Then we went to a pleasant air conditioned restaurant and ate excellent Cambodian food, though it was impossible to stop thinking about what we'd seen.  In the afternoon, we visited the splendid and serene Royal Palace, which is quite a contrast to the poverty and grimy bustle of effort we see elsewhere.  It is very interesting and suspicious that Pol Pot spared Prince Sihanouk and his palace during his reign of terror.  The palace has lovely architecture, a throne room with many buddhas, and in the elephant hut, there's several ornate seats for the king and queen to ride on elephants.  The current king is single and the country is poor, so that's not going on at all.  Later we had a chance to explore the Russian Market.  Monica's pretty good at bargaining, so I stuck with her and we picked up a few good things very cheap. 

The night we arrived, after the busride from hell, Martin walked outside the hotel and talked to a tuk tuk driver, and he took us to a safe place to eat.  A tuk tuk is an open cart pulled by a small motorcycle.  It's like a taxi.  They are all over, and you need to negotiate a price, the drivers can speak enough english for that.  Well this tuk tuk driver worked out very well for us.  He waited around till we finished, then took us back to the hotel, where we made a plan for the next evening with him to drive us around town for an hour for $5.00, which was very interesting, except for the car exhaust, and when we would stop at a light, very small children, maybe seven years old, would rush into the very congested six lane street and beg for money from us.  That was upsetting to me, and once I tried to tell them to get out of the street because of the danger, but they just laughed and mocked me.  I really can't imagine their life.

So, I took lots of pictures, and have many more in my mind.  Those few days in Cambodia will stay with me forever.  I'm glad my children had this chance to enhance their global perspective with this experience. 

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Spring Break Trip, part 1 of 3   学校の春休みの家族の旅行

   

日本語の略説が下に書きました。　We returned from the weeklong trip to Cambodia and Vietnam nearly two weeks ago, yet it's on my mind every day.  Traveling is both challenging and rewarding and this trip was very much the former.  The rewarding part will probably come in the form of perspective.  I'm still trying to sort it out.    Monica took the above picture of shrimp drying amidst the Floating Village of Tonle Sap Lake near Siem Reap, Cambodia.  It was an unforgetable experience, bumping along a makeshift road past some of the most obvious chronic poverty I've ever seen, to a small motorboat on a river which took us to this lake where families are clustered in ramshackle houseboats where they earn a meager living fishing.  Everyone was obviously very poor, but there were many smiles and the sense of family caring was strong.  Please see Monica and my pictures of the FLOATING VILLAGE .  Martin has many more and better photos, but he's so busy working, he hasn't had a chance to organize them yet. 

The day before, we had visited Angkor Wat and other century old ruins with our wonderful Cambodian guide, Rathana. Here, holding a village child.  This intelligent young man made our trip to Siem Reap very special.  He has seriously studied the complex history of the area, and is an expert on the temples of Angkor Wat.  That, in addition to having good English,  being perceptive of what his clients need and want, as well as a lovely personality, he endeared himself to all of us. 

The first morning, we woke up very early, before 5am, piled into the van and headed out to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, a temple built in the 12th century and often mentioned as one of the seven wonders of the world.  The temple began as Hindu but became Buddhist as Cambodia's culture changed.  It is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs (stone murals) and numerous asparas and devatas which are dancing or standing female figures decorating the walls and pillers.  Rathana's explanations added so much to my appreciation of the experience.  Please see the pictures that Monica and I took of our ANGKOR WAT adventure.

  After that, we went to see nearby Angkor Thom which was built about the same time, but is a very different temple with over a hundred faces of the king.  See here, Monica kisses the king.

During the two full days we spent in Siem Reap, we saw several other very interesting ruins and sites.  I particularly enjoyed the Terrace of the Elephants which was used as a giant reviewing stand by the king, as well as Ta Prohm, the Jungle Temple which was built in the 12th century then abandoned some three hundred years later until "rediscovered" fairly recently.  In the meantime, the jungle has integrated itself among the ruins and the ambience is very interesting.  On the third morning, Rathana took us to see how fine Cambodian silk is made, starting with the caring of the silk worms, through the many processes including dyeing and weaving.  About noon we boarded a bus for Phnom Penh.  I'll recount that part of the adventure in a later post.

We bought our international plane tickets from Tokyo to Siem Riep and from Hochiminh City to Tokyo from No 1 Travel in Shibuya.  They were really easy to work with, as usual, and we did all of it by phone and email in English.  For the actual tour itself inside Cambodia and Vietnam, we used and can recommend Banyon Tours.    This was arranged entirely via email, over the course of several weeks as our plans evolved and we determined what we really wanted to do.  The three tour guides they assigned in the three different cities were all good, each very well suited to their area of expertise.  They also arranged the hotels, and all transportation other than the international flights.  If you are only going to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), you should contact Rathana directly.  Besides guiding, he can arrange your hotel, driver, etc.  I'll be happy to give you his contact info.

Now for a summary of the above in Japanese.  二週間前に子供の学校の春休みで、家族はカンボジアとベトナムに行きました。あの経験はとても面白かったです。今まで、毎日それを考えています。とくに、旅行前に、カンボジアの貧乏ような見たことがありません。この物語はアンコールワットとかについてです。そして、浮遊の村落もとても忘れられないです。カンボジアの人々はすごく悪い事を我慢したが、家族はいいだし、一所懸命と思います。

Ｓｉｅｍ　Ｒｅａｐで、ガイドはとてもいい人です。彼の名前はラテャナアです。２３歳だけど、古い神殿を勉強したから、知識のあるです。よく知っています。彼の英語も上手だので、モニカとジョナの友達になりました。

もちろん、たくさん写真を撮りました。モニカと私の写真はここ　FLOATING VILLAGE　とここ　ANGKOR WAT 　　　　　です。見てください。マーティンの写真は私たちより上手だけど、彼の忙しい仕事から、今までできません。　この物語はＳｉｅｍ　Ｒｅａｐだけについて、後に、旅行残りについて書くつもりです。

Holy Week

聖週間

 

We've been spending a lot of time at church lately, him with the altar server program, me with the parish council, but this week, Holy Week, it's even more so.  We really wish we didn't have to miss the special Easter Vigil, but we're going to Viet Nam and Cambodia tomorrow.  It's a week-long trip, packed in one duffle bag and one carry-on  per person.  Tomorrow is a full day's worth of travel, Tokyo to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) in Cambodia, via Hochiminh City (used to be Saigon) in Vietnam.  We'll come back to Hochiminh later after Angkor Wat and a couple days in Phnom Phen.

It's the kids' Spring Break, so we've been planning this for awhile.  Martin wanted to go to Vietnam, he's very interested in geo-politics and he makes it seem very interesting.  When I was a child, the War in Vietnam and the domestic scene, with anti-war protests was on the news every night.  So there's that, but I'm also looking forward to seeing the ancient temples in Ankor Wat, whereas Martin is excited about the history museums in Pnom Pen.  Monica and Jonah are both looking around for the beach, alas...not in our plans.  But they are both experienced and congenial travel companions, and I'm sure they'll make the most of this opportunity to see another place in the world.

What does all this have to do with St. Patrick's day?  Good question.  Timing.  Martin took a few pictures at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Omotesandou last weekend.  I really like some of these pictures, please take a look. 

I have many good resolutions for when I get back from this trip.  Here is one:

I will start an English Conversation class for my beginner English speaker skater friends and their families.  We will have this class about twice a month on Sunday afternoon after City Run at my apartment.  In a group setting, for an hour and a half, we will talk, play games and enjoy speaking English.  There will be homework, but you don't have to attend every class.  The first class will be on April 6.  I will write more on Mixi after I return from Indochina

旅行後に、私は英語の会話のクラスを始まります。このクラスは初学者のためのスケータと家族のためです。　クラスは日曜日のごご、シーティーランの後で、毎月二回ぐらい催します。グルプは一時間半で、遊技して、お喋って、笑って一緒に。宿題ですが、やさしいです。初めのクラスは４月６日です。インド中国から帰る後でミクシでもっとを書きます。

Here is another.  I've learned a lot in Dreamweaver in my class at Temple.  I've reworked half the index page of my homesite.  When I come back, I'll move forward on that, and upload the page renewed as Dreamweaver.  That's a landmark start, and I can go on from there. 

That's just two.

   

Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Photos

マリアナスカップの浜のバレーボールの写真

今度殆ど全部は英語だけど、下の写真に行くのリンクと説明は日本語です。

Sometimes every day is so busy, so many things we want to accomplish, that actually leaving home is necessary to reconnect within the family.  Just this year, Martin's travel schedule has been quite challenging, with multiple trips to the US, Europe and Asia.  Still, a trip to Saipan is a welcome respite. 

Yes, we love Saipan.  The Pacific Island Club is the perfect place to take the family.  It's only a 3 1/2 hour flight from Tokyo, and since we've been there several times, the staff always welcomes us back.  It's very safe for the kids, and relaxing for poor overworked Martin.  We got lucky two years in a row when the school's winter break coincided with the Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Tournament which is held right there at PIC.  Martin recently got a new camera, and he really enjoyed taking pictures of VB players.  (especially ones wearing bikini's.)

Monica plays on the High School Volleyball Team, but Beach Volleyball is very different.  For example, in the gym there's a six person team, on the beach its two.  I think the net is quite a bit higher, and the sand makes for a way different play.  It's really fun to relax in the sun and watch the action.  The players are attractive in their swimsuits and muscles, and the scenic ocean backdrop is delightful.  Monica joined a VB clinic taught by the pros on the first day, and befriended some of the players, especially Jenn Snyder, pro from California, and Sonny, a very cool dude (semi-pro, I think) who we knew from last year, and of course, Marino, Monica's friend who has been a PIC clubmate since we first started going to Saipan.  The Marianas Cup is quite a big deal, with over a hundred players on the roster, so besides pros from the US, Korea and Japan, there were lots of Japanese players to chat with and watch, and the locals were all very enthusiastic players.  Everyone was a good sport.

So, as Volleyball was the main event, we got an ocean view room and could watch games on the beach as well as sunsets from the balcony.  But even when there's no tournament going on, Saipan PIC is a great place to visit.  Besides putting in plenty of time as "Ball Boy" for the tourney, Jonah had a lot of fun on the boogie board, went snorkeling, played baseball, archery and of course, swimming.  As you know, Martin and I enjoy frisbee so we did some of that, and while he was running after Marianas girls with his camera, I enjoyed reading my book and watching the action at the net.

  This link, GROUP 1,  goes to Martin's best volleyball pictures. 

Some were taken with his Cannon D20, and some with his newer D40, using a couple of different lenses.  Before coming to Japan, he had many hobbies, but now, as he's so busy with work, photography has become more important as a hobby. 

このリンクはマーティンを撮ったの一番いいの写真につないでいる。彼はキャノンD２０と新しいD40を使いました。

日本に来た前に彼はいろいろ趣味があったが、今仕事から急がしなので、写真術は一番趣味になりました。

But he took so many good volleyball pictures, that we made a second group.  　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　This link, GROUP 2, leads to yet more good pictures of hunks playing volleyball, and powerful lady players in bikinis.

たくさんいい写真を撮ったと思うので、これも乗せました。これもハンサムボレボールのプレアと元気なビキニを着ている女性ボレボールをしています。

Group 3 are just a few pictures that Monica and I took while in Saipan.  Not as good technically as Martin's, but we girls tend to take different pictures than he does. 

このグルプはモニカと私がサイパンにいる撮ったの写真です。私二人の写真はマーティンのより下手ですが、たぶん違ういろいろ面白い主題です。

      Group 4 are Martin's pictures of the family on the trip, not necessarily  having to do with volleyball.  Though there are some of Monica participating in the clinic run by US Pro players, Jenn and Janelle.  But there are also some nice sunset and beach photos.

このグルプもマーティンは撮ったの写真ですが、いろいろ家族について、必ずしも ボレボールについてじゃない。でも、この写真はモニカはクリニクを参加するです。アメリカ人二人、プロージェンとジャネルはボレボールのツリクを教えました。

And finally, Group 5, are a few flower pictures there at the club.  最後ノグルプはサイパンの花の写真です。

Just a quick note here.  My computer had major problems, which wastes a lot of time, and I'm afraid to try to update my main website for fear it will disappear altogether.  (It currently shows the ski slope picture, while here in Tokyo the plum trees are blooming.) My class on website design at Temple is almost over, and I'm still trying to make the most of it.  I'm planning to very soon change my main website over from Frontpage to Dreamweaver, but I haven't yet reached that level of assimilation.  Stay tuned.

 

July, USA, 5 States, 5 Skates

７月に、アメリカで、５箇所州、５回スケートをしました

下に日本語で概略を示しました。

We skated around this small lake in Colorado three times.  Under that expansive blue sky and those amazing clouds you can see the Rocky Mountain Range.  You can't see Pike's Peak from where we skated, but there's a fabulous view of that natural masterpiece from Martin's parents home, as you can see by the pix at the very bottom of this post.    

But this story is about skating, in particular, skating during our trip to the U.S. in July.  When I was packing our bags here in Tokyo, and reviewing the itinerary and the latest airline baggage limitations, as well as considering the size and cost of rental cars we would need, I almost reconsidered.  Did I really want to shlep this heavy bag of skates and gear through five different states, to at least 8 different sleeping places, on 7 airline flights and two ferry rides plus hundreds of miles in various cars.  No, I didn't really want to do that... but neither did I want to be somewhere beautiful and interesting and think, "Gee, if only I'd brought my skates..."                               SMUGMUG July US Skating Pix

As a side note, since we've returned to Tokyo, Monica and Jonah haven't missed a week joining City Run.  Jonah's skill level has increased and he's enjoying it more, and it seems that Monica is making friends within the group and even practicing a little Japanese.  So I'm especially glad I lugged that skate bag around afterall.   

MI  So, first stop was my childhood hometown, Paris, Michigan, and a nice long (more than a week) visit with my parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  My oldest son, Jay, left Iowa and flew to Michigan for a week to hang out with his little brother and sister and help out in Grandpa's store.  Spending time with Jay was a rare treat for us all.  (Maybe next time we'll also get to see Steve.) Martin had to work much of that time in Detroit, but he made it up for the weekend and for our family skate from Northend Park to River Walk, Big Rapids.  These parks run next to the Muskegon River and the surface is fine, the views are pleasant and the weather that day wasn't too hot.  Part-way through, we were joined by cousin Tyler on his skateboard.    Also SMUGMUG Tyler

IL  My Dad let me borrow his Yukon, a nice GM SUV, which I thoroughly enjoyed driving, and I took it on the ferry across Lake Michigan to visit our friends in Chicago, Illinois.  That visit was too short, but I did get a chance to skate twice, once with Jeremy when he rode his bike to football practice, and then later when he borrowed his Dad's skates and we went around the neighborhood for an hour before dinner.  Jeremy doesn't skate often, but as he's young, and a natural athlete, he did just fine, and it was fun. Also SMUGMUG Chicago visit

TN  Franklin, Tennessee, our old hometown, was another too short stop on our itinerary.  Besides visiting friends, seeing our doctors, and riding our motorcycles, we fit in a good family skate starting at River Park and along the creek connecting into Crockett Park.  It was a real hot Tennessee day, so the kids turned back after awhile, but Martin and I thoroughly enjoyed the sense of spaciousness that we don't usually get in Tokyo, surrounded as it is with tall buildings.  This trail is quite busy, used by skaters, bikers, walkers and runners, and its a little rough here and there, but it winds its way along the creek through a forest and opens into a lovely open field. 

Also in TN, is Sonic.  This is a drive-up hamburger restaurant.  The burgers are really yummy and they have this delicious Southern style sweet tea, good curly fries, shakes... yes, I do love American fast food.  The cool thing about Sonic is that the waitresses wear skates.  The day we were there, some were wearing rollerblades and some the old fashioned rollerskates.  All were wearing smiles.  Very cool.

CO  While back in Tokyo, I contacted my skater sister-in-law, Robin, who planned to meet us in Colorado, and told her to bring her skates.  She did, and after we dealt with altitude sickness for a couple days, we five skated around Lake Prospect in Memorial Park.  The trail is very rough and gravel strewn in places, sometimes we took to the road instead of the sidewalk, but it was still a lovely time because of the beautiful view of the mountains and the lake, and because it was the first time I got to skate with Robin who is quite an athlete.  We planned another skate, but then, stupid me, I fell out of the bus after white water rafting and got hurt, (didn't break any bones, but skating was out of the question for a few days) so that was our only skate in Colorado.

MN  Did you know that Minneapolis, Minnesota is the birthplace of Rollerblade, where the in-line skate was invented just 28 years ago.  Since our good friend Brett lives in MN, we decided to make a short (only a day and a half) stop to visit.  Not much time, but we went to Mall of the America's, which is HUGE, and we skated around Lake Calhoun three times for about 10 miles (16 km).  The day was very hot but there were lots of other skaters, bicyclers, and pedestrians out.  The path is wide enough and quite smooth except for several breaks.  The problem I had was that in Tokyo I'm used to moving to the right when a bike comes up behind but there I was expected to move to the left.  Or maybe I've got that backwards now.  I hear there's a FNS through downtown.  It runs 9 to 10:30.  (Our Saturday Night Skate here in Tokyo runs 6pm to about 8:30, then the banquet.) I want to spend more time in MN next chance we get, but not in winter, which I've heard lasts for about 9 months.  No thanks.

Here's a short summary in Japanese of what I wrote above.  Then the picture of Pike's Peak from Mary Kay and Mike's house.

六年前に日本に来てから、毎年夏にアメリカに旅行に行きます。色々大切なことをやります。特に家族に会いたいので、友達に会ったり、バイクに乗ったり、買い物をしたりします。いつもスケートを持って行ったので、（去年以外は。腕を折ったから。）今年荷造りをする時、スケートを持って行くかどうか考えました。皆のスケートの荷物はとても重いし、アメリカの中でたくさん色々な場所に行くし、もっと高くなります。でも、アメリカで、色々いいスケートをする機会があるから、ついにスケートを持って行こうと決めました。決定はよかったです。

MI　ミシガン州で、私の生まれ故郷の町に家族と友達に会いました。４人家族は川の隣にスケートしました。いとこもスケートボードで参加しました。

IL　私は父の車で渡しでチカゴのイリノイ州に友達たちに会いに行きました。そこに二回め友達の息子とスケートしました。彼はあまりスケートをしないけど、天賦な運動選手だので、よかったです。

TN　フランクリンのテネシー州は前の故郷です。いつもそこに行って楽しけど、今年に短い時間しかかかれません。そこに友達に会ったり、医者に会ったり、バイクを乗ったり、スケートをしたりしました。とても暑かったが、東京から太陽の熱が狎れるので、４人はよくスケートをしました。

CO　主人の両親はコロラドに住んでいるので、彼の兄と弟と弟の奥さんも集まりました。その場所はとてもきれいだけど、最初に高山病を処理しなければなりません。後で、４人家族とロビンも三回に回してスケートをしました。計画はも一回滑りたかったが、私はウイとワーターラフティング後で、バスから転んだ、危害があったと、コロラドで一回しか滑りませんでした。

MN　ミネアポリスのミネソタ州でローラーブレドは生まれました。知りましたか。その場所はいいスケートの所です。友達は住んでいるので、短い間に泊まりました。そこに湖の回りに滑って、たくさんスケータを見ました。

毎日よく日本語を勉強します。ゆっくりだけどだんだんよくなります。最初のパラグラフを先生は直す手伝ったが、のこりを自分でできました。間違いをすみません。

　マーティンの両親の家から景色です。