A Year From Now...

April 2013 - The machine that changed my life

When I was in elementary school, I helped my Dad maintain this Lawn Boy mower.  I was fascinated by the engine…so much power from such a small machine!  小学校にいたとき、私は父が芝刈り機を維持する助けました。私は、エンジンに魅了された...このような小さなマシンからそんなにパワーを！

That fascination led to my interest in engineering, and ultimately to the automotive propulsion industry. その魅力の影響、私はエンジニアになったことでした。今,自動車パワートレイン分野で働いっています。

Now, 40 years later, the fascination remains.  The machine that changed my life…and the Lawn Boy runs again! さて、40年後、魅力が残っている。私の人生を変えたマシンが...そしてLawn Boyがうなりを上げて始動しました！

 

Spring Break Continues - - - ~ ~ SE MI, Chicago, Wooster

Monica was the only one without jet-lag. We had a couple of days together, until the end of her college spring break.  モニカだけは時差ぼけがない人ので、二日間を過ごした。すぐにモニカの大学校の春休みは終わりました。

Back to Kalamazoo College for a great new semester.  モニカはカラマズ大学校に帰ったので、新しい間をがんばって！

Overnite trip to Chicago to look at universities again before the final decision.  シカゴ町に行って、二つか医学校をもう一回に見ます。ジョナは一ヶ月間しかがあるので、大学校を選びます。

DePaul University is right in the city, but Loyola Chicago isn't far out and it's right on the lake. The colleges both have great programs. Loyola is smaller and more of a residential college. DePaul has ambitious media programs, but now Jonah's leaning more toward psychology. シカゴはたくさん大学校があるので、二つだけはジョナの興味があります。違う学校はフィルムとか実業があるので、最近ジョナは心理学を興味があります。大学校はずっと隣に大きい湖水に立ちます。

The next day, we drove to a small town in Ohio and visited The College of Wooster. It is an excellent college with a great psychology department. 次の日、小さい町に運動をしたので、ウースターの大学校を見に行きました。すごい大学校はとてもいい心理学の部門があります。

Jonah and student-guide in the Wooster Cafeteria.  ジョナは学生とランチを食べました。

Finally I got to see the house that Martin bought a few months ago. All the stuff that was stored for 13 years while we were overseas is now in the basement. Here Martin enjoys treating his leather motorcycle jacket from long ago.私は 中国にいたときに、マーティンは家を買ったので、初めて見ました。13年間に海外に物が貯蔵をしたので、新しい家の地下に入れました。懐かしいに、マーティンはバイクの皮のジャケットを処理を楽します。 

Hello. .. Goodbye. ~~~~~~~~ Shanghai

 

Martin had some business here in Shanghai, so he stopped by.  This is the part that we expected, when weeks and weeks would go by, with no travel in this direction.  Then he flies in and its nonstop action for a few days, then off to Korea he went.  It was short but sweet and fun.  It was Valentines Day, afterall.  Probably the next time we will be together is March in Michigan.

マーティンは主張から、上海に来ました。四日だけが、よかったです。いつも仕事をしてので、一緒にの時間は珍しいだので、貴重です。次に韓国に行ったので、今飛行機の中にアメリカの自宅に帰ります。ばれんたいんの日もすばらしかったです。次の一緒にの時間は私の計画は遅い３月にジョナとミシガン州に行きます。

Jonah took us for Pho.  序名の好きなレストランに行きました。フォです。

I went for the hotter Pho, and I was not disappointed.  私はもっと辛いフォを選んだので、とてもおいしかったです。

Hanging out, just the two of us Valentines.  バレンタインの日から、２人だけを要ると思います。

   Father and son time.  父と息子の時間。

Cultural Cuisine ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ Xi'an

While on our short sightseeing trip to Xi'an, we had time to enjoy a couple of different styles of traditional cultural cuisine, the Chinese dumpling, which is a specialty of Xian, and the streetfood of the Muslim night market.  Added to that is another traditional food group, American Fast Food.  We did not know what to expect from Xian, but found it to be a modern city, and more orderly than Shanghai.  They are doing a lot of things right, except for the terrible air pollution.  We stayed near the Bell Tower, which is the center of the city, and admit to enjoying McDonalds and Haagen Daz while there.

最近家族と四安と言う中国の町に観光旅行に行ったので、二つの種類伝説な料理を食べました。中国の餃子は四安の専門です。そしてモスの夜の市場の料理は道で使ったので、面白いです。初めてに四安の町に行ったので、分からなかったが、モダンです。上海より行儀のよいです。空気汚染以外にいい町です。間の中に、マクドナルドとかハゲンダーズも食べました。

         

These dumplings are all different and interesting shapes, and with different and interesting fillings.  The little pig faces contain pork and cabbage, and the delicious duck shaped ones contain yummy duck.  The green ones were shrimp, and the eyes are some kind of fish egg plus a black sesame seed.  We each got one of each, a couple of dozen in all, and an interesting dumpling soup with very tiny dumplings.  I got two in my bowl, which means double happiness!

餃子はとても面白いです。全部は一つずつ違う形だので、中身とか味も、別々です。面白かったので、美味しかったです。例えば、豚の顔の形餃子は豚肉とキャベジです。着ろ色な鴨の形の餃子の中身は美味しい鴨です。緑は海老だので、目は魚卵だので、ゴマ種子です。ダンプリングスープはちっちゃな餃子があるので、少ない。私は二つを貰ったので、ダーブルハーピーの意味です。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Muslim night market was a nice surprise.  We had been warned to watch for thieves, and don't eat the food.  Instead, we found the people to be hospitable and fair.  The food was delicious.  We ate savory lamb kebabs, spicy fried tofu, cookies and candied crab apples.  モスの夜の市場はよくびっくりしたので、とてもよかったです。中国のガイドは危ないと言ったので、料理と食べないで、すり人も見てくださいと言いました。でも、違います。人人は歓迎的ので、料理は安くておいしかったです。味のよい子羊のカバブを食べたので、辛い焼き豆腐とか、クーキーとか、甘い小さい林檎も楽しかったです。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FYI, I arranged the trip with John McKenna of Travel the Real China.  Always excellent custom arranged travel.  Use the guide and driver when you need, and plenty of chance to explore on your own.  I highly recommend John.  He set up our excellent Yangzte River Cruise last spring as well.  

December 2012 Family Trip to Xi'an

Memories are formed in many ways.  Some come from the destination, some from the journey, and some from the company you keep.   From our family trip to Xi’an, powerful and poignant memories exist from all three.     思い出は多くのソースから来ています。たとえば、いくつかの旅から、行き先から、そしていくつかのあなたとしている人々からです。私たちの西安の家族旅行から、強力かつ感動的な思い出は、3つすべてから存在しています。

Our journey began at the Shanghai Railway Station.  Having enjoyed train travel in Japan and Europe, Pamela arranged an overnight train from Shanghai to Xi'an.  It was a noteworthy journey.  The facilities were well below standards based on our experience, but pretty comfortable considering China.  The family time was excellent!  Sleep?...well, that is a different story.

Visiting the Great Mosque in Xi'an opened our eyes to the consequences of ancient trade on the Silk Road and religious tolerance and endurance in China.  Muslim traders from the Middle East established bases in Xi'an more than 1000 years ago when China was a dynamic and prosperous great power.  Intermarriage mixed the populations, yet a distinct and harmonious Muslim culture thrives in Xi'an today, nearly one million strong.

The faces tell the story: a blend of Persian, Chinese, and Arab heritage spice the food and the environment at the downtown Night Market.

Exploring new places together brings out the best in our family.

A 14 kilometer bike ride on the largest city wall in world provides a fascinating view of Xi'an.  Low buildings on the inside and skyscrapers on the outside reflect good city planning.  Unfortunately, an insatiable demand for energy and an abundant supply of very dirty coal create an unbelievably thick and dense pollution cloud over the city.  Look carefully in the picture and you will see the sun "shining" through the thick gray clouds.  Hard to believe people live here...8 million of them!

 

We liked the Terracotta Warriors.  But, I must admit, I am skeptical about some of the "history" of the place.  The ratio of infrastructure to archeology is somewhat suspicious...and the role of the tip-collecting "hero" who "discovered" the treasure in 1974 is, well, interesting....    Anyway, we enjoyed climbing around on the ancient artifacts.  Just kidding!  I wonder if they will ever renew my China VISA again...

    

See all my posted Xian pictures at: http://www.pixbymartin.com/Travel/2012-December-Xian-China/27318085_w5kNsP#!i=2296129868&k=NG5KhPQ

Christmas Day 2012 - Shanghai

On Christmas Day, we celebrated at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Puxi, Shanghai. Very fun! クリスマスの日に、私たちは上海で聖ペテロカトリック教会で祝いました。楽しかった！

Daughter ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Shanghai

I am overwhelmed by the tragic news from Connecticut.  It makes us all appreciate our children that much more, even if they are no longer small.  I have been so blessed to finally spend some time with my daughter this week.  She doesn't understand this, but when I worry about her, it isn't because I lack confidence in her, it is because of the seemingly random nature of events that can dramatically change the course of life.  A life that is so precious.  So when I grab your arm crossing the street in Shanghai, put up with me, Monica.  We can't protect our children completely, but we still try.  Oh how we try.  And besides that, drivers here are crazy.

両親はいつも子供を守りたいので、大きくなった子供も同じ感じです。3ヶ月以上に、娘に会わなかったので、私はいつも考えて、ちょっと心配ですが、大丈夫です。一週間前に、上海に来たので、よい時間を過ごしました。

We did a lot together this week.  Yoga Ball and Zumba class, decorating the christmas tree, massage, manicure and pedicure, walking and talking and meals.  Now she gets a few days to spend with Joey and Jonah without me around worrying about her all the time.  

今週いろいろことを一緒にやったので、ジムのクラスとか、スパーとか、歩いて、話して、おいしい料理を食べまして。今から、ジョオイと言う特別友達とジョナも時間を過ごすできるので、私は少ない時間を留守です。
 

Memories and Old Stuff November 2012

Household goods from Tennessee were delivered yesterday.  They had been stored in a Nashville warehouse for 12 years.  In some cases, it was like seeing old friends.  In other cases, it was just old stuff.  Thank you Monica for helping!  テネシー州から家財は昨日配信されていました。 それは１２年間ナッシュビル倉庫に格納されていました。時々それは旧友に会うかのよかったです。他のは、それだけで古いものだな。モニカ、助けてくれてありがとう！

garage - before  ガラージ　先

garage - after 　　ガラージ　後

basement - before  地下　先

basement - after  地下　後

Martin, remember twelve years ago . . . . . Franklin

To Martin> Yesterday, with Monica's help, you dealt with the return of our stored items from when we moved to Japan away from Tennessee so long ago.  The fact is, that lately, you have had to deal with a lot of challenges, on top of significant travel and with little support.  I really feel like you've grown quite sturdy and capable, and I think I will keep you.  

Here's some pictures to remind you (and our friends) of how much has changed in twelve years.  These are photos taken over the course of our last week living in Franklin, including the Tennessee style Sayonara Bonfire.  

  マーティンへ、昨日モニカは手伝ったので、あなたたちは十二年間で家財ことを倉庫を保管をした貰いました。テネシー州から日本にまで飛行したときについて話します。最近、マーティンは色々難問を処理をしたので、私は感謝の感じがあります。よくなったと思います。そして、これはテネシー州に住んでいたの最後の週間の写真です。十二年間は長いですね。皆は変わりました。そして、テネシースタイルのさよなら大かがり火のパーティも。 

写真にクリークをしたら、ガレリーに行きます。

If you click on any of the pictures, it will take you to the gallery with a few more.  

 

 

Thanksgiving . . . . . . .Pudong

When we are all together, we make a big meal of all of the traditional favorite foods, the menu varies from year to year depending on who's assembled and what everyone is willing to make.  This year, we are more scattered than ever, with Martin finishing up business in Japan, and Jonah and I here in Shanghai, the boys in Iowa, and Monica going back to Paris to gather with my family at Aunt Nikki and Larry's.  I envy her, as it has been many years since I have enjoyed a Knuth family Thanksgiving with my parents and the clan.  Martin's family is all staying home in Colorado, Texas and Missouri, so though I'm sure they are all having nice Thanksgivings, we will not see them either.  Nice to have FB to keep in touch.

今日はアメリカの感謝祭でした。いつも家族と遊びに、食べに集めたいので、今度私の家族は別々国にいます。マーティンは出張で日本にいるので、明日アメリカに帰ります。ジョナと上海にいる、そのままで。上の息子二人は遠いだので、モニカは一人で私の両親の家に行ってので、兄弟と遊びます。長い時間に行かなかったので、モニカは特別経験をできると思います。

It being Thanksgiving, and no school today, Jonah had an appointment to meet with a specialist about his shoulder downtown this morning.  Afterwards, he noticed this was near a place a friend had taken him last year for dumplings.  After we walked around for awhile, he found it.  Not the sort of place I would go in without knowing any Chinese, but it was no problem.  Delicious and Cheap!　感謝祭から、ジョナは学校がないので、角の問題のために医者に話しに行ったので、後で朝食中国料理朝食を食べに入りました。ちょっと難しいですが、一緒にできました。

Each steamer of 6 dumplings was 6 rmb, the pork cutlet was 15 rmb. This was a filling breakfast for two of us at a total cost of 27 rmb, which is $4.33 USD, and 358 日本円。

Though it may seem like I bombed Thanksgiving by not making Jonah a turkey and the works, this chicken here was pretty tasty, and even though they sent brussell sprouts instead of green beans, and carrots instead of sweet potatoes, the stuffing had some similarities to the crockpot stuffing we usually make, the chicken was tender and tasty, and the cranberries and pumpkin pie were really good.  We are thankful.

毎年アメリカの子供はトルコを食べに欲しいので、二人だけから、無理です。そして、今年に感謝祭の料理を作りません。店から注文をしたので、少しい恥ずかしいが、全部は美味しかったので、満足した。