A Year From Now...

Back from Guam ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Shanghai

Four days later, Jonah is back from Guam with his coaches and his team, having had a great experience at the Asia Pacific Invitational Cross Country Championship.  This event included students from 28 regional international schools.  There were many teams from Japan, several from China, as well as teams from the Philippines, Hong Kong, Korea, and of course, Guam.  It turns out, that Jonah's previous school, ASIJ, took top honors at the event, Wow!!  But we are very proud of Concordia's efforts.  For a relatively young and small school, they performed very well up against some relative giants.  It's all in fun.  And sounds like it really was a fun time for all involved.

四日間後に、ジョナとチームはグアムから帰りました。アシアの太平洋の招待客大試合はとても良い経験と思います。２８つ校は遊びに会いました。たくさん日本の学校のクロスカントリーチームは来たので、中国とかフィリビン諸島と、韓国と、ホンぐコンぐ、そしてグアムから来ました。そうそう、東京のアメリカンスクールと言うジョナの前の学校は一番の賞を買ったので、おめでとうございます。でも、ジョナの新しい学校はよく努力したので、若くて、小さい学校だから、それも、よかったと思います。お疲れ様です。

Of course, since I didn't get to go to Guam, I have to borrow a picture from one of Jonah's friends who was there with him on the beach.  Here is the "Reunion" picture.  All the ASIJ team, plus Jonah who is in now in Shanghai, Talya who is now in Manila, and George who is now in Seoul.  These kids sure get around.  もちろん、グアムに行かなかったから、ジョナの友達からビーチの写真を使いました。下のは再会の集いの写真です。殆ど皆はアメリカンスクール日本で、ジョナは上海に引っ越した、タリアはマニラに引っ越した、そしてジオジはソールに引っ越しました。皆はどこでも行くの。

 

Home Alone ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Shanghai

So, yesterday, Jonah traveled with members of his school's Cross Country team to attend the APAC competition in Guam.   There they will compete with athletes from many other schools in the Asia Pacific region, including Japan.  Jonah expects to meet up with some of his friends from ASIJ while in Guam.  There's even a friend who he knew in Tokyo who has since moved to Manila.  She'll be there too, making the reunion even more interesting.  I'm proud of Jonah for sticking with his cross country training during this busy time.  Getting involved in this kind of running while in your teens seems like a great way to acquire a life-long fitness habit.  昨日、ジョナとクロースカントリーチームと、一緒にグアムに飛行機で、行きました。沢山アシアの学生はグアムに集めます。特別ことは、前の調布の友達たちも行って、一緒に競争してから、楽しみにしていると思います。ラーニングはとてもいい活動と思うので、若い人は習慣を始まったら、全体の生活を元気になって、使えます。

Which leaves me home alone, with Toby.  As we have mentioned, this next year... until June, will be different, with Martin setting up house and working in Michigan, and us still here.  But I'm not just sitting around with my feet up.  Seems that the word has gotten out that I'm pretty capable at tutoring, and I have students every day.  Plus I'm still working on the school spirit store website, which is volunteer, but quite a job.  

そして、私とトビだけは家にいるので、マーティンは新しいミシガン州の家にいます。でも、忙しいです。毎日に、学生たちは来るので、英語とか教えます。そして、学校の店のウエブサイトを働きます。お金がないけど、仕事のようです。

 

Toby and I usually take three walks a day, and often stay right here in the compound where there are fewer crazy drivers, meaning fewer scooters and cars driving on the sidewalk, that sort of thing.  The weather has been so nice lately, right around 70 F.  When I'm walking, I think about where my novel is going, and it feels like productive time, even if it never ends up going anywhere.  I don't know what Toby thinks about...  Chasing balls?  Eating French Fries?  World Peace?  毎日に、三回に、トビと散歩をしてので、よく家の近くのいます。安心から。近所の外に、トビのために、ちょっと危ないと思うので、いつもバイクとか車とか、歩道で運転をします。最近の天気はよくよいので、２１Ｃです。静かな時間だから、考えます。創作について考えます。  トビは何について考えると思うので、ボールを追う？フレンチフライーを食べて？世界平和？

The kitchen is small, but it has a nice view.  And, bonus, it doesn't smell bad!  台所は小さいですが、窓はいいです。視界は満足です。ボーナスは匂いは悪くない！

Being home alone isn't so bad.  I finally got things the way I want them in our little apartment.  It's kind of an odd idea, but I decided to make the living room into a multi-purpose room by putting my desk and bookshelves next to the windows.  I kind of like it.  一人で家にいるので、家は大丈夫です。珍しいだけど、私の考えは大きい部屋は多く目的に用いるの部屋になりました。好きです。

 

Father Son Run ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ Jinqiao

珍しい経験だので、昨日マーティンとジョナは近所の回りに多少のキロを走りました。一緒に始まったが、ちょっと違うの歩調です。もちろん違うの種類の走ることをします。ジョナはクロスカントリーレースをしてので、マーティンはトライアスロンのトレーニングをします。でも、面白い父息子のすることでした。所で、ラーニングしたながら、靴をはいたので、ジンチャウにはだしは危ないと思います。

A rare opportunity, Martin and Jonah got a chance to run around the neighborhood together for a few kilometers yesterday- at least they were together when they started... Yes, they do a different type of running, Jonah does cross-country racing, and Martin does triathlon training.  Still, it was a neat father-son activity.  By the way, this is after they came home and took off their shoes.  They did not run around Jinqiao barefoot.  LOL  That would be very dangerous.

Thanks Coach ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Shanghai

Last spring when Jonah participated in track, he had a great coach, Mrs. Bishop.  She really encouraged him as he tackled the sport of long distance running.  This summer, he often went running, wherever he happened to be, and continued to improve his skill while trying to prevent injury and deal with the inevitable issues like shin splints and managing nutrition while training.  When school started, Coach Bishop encouraged Jonah to join the Cross Country team, and, along with her assistant coach, Mr. Zielke, helped him improve his endurance and his times.  Jonah trains with a great group of kids from the high school, and it's really too bad that they can't all go to the Championships being held in Guam next month.  

What I think is really neat is that training for Cross Country has given Jonah a chance to practice and hone his leadership skills among his peers, as well as giving him practice at certain life skills that will be especially useful during his senior year and in college, such as planning, persistence, and follow through.  Congratulations, Jonah, on being chosen to go with your team to APAC.  Keep it up.  This is only the beginning.  

前の春に、ジョナは学校のトラックチームに参加しながら、いいコーチがありました。いつもがんばったので、ジョナは好きです。ジョナのイベントは３０００ミ-タ-を走りました。そして、夏に何回もどこでも走ることを練習しました。早くなってみて、忍耐もよくやてみます。怪我予防してみるといろい問題扱いします。８月から、新しい学校年は始まったから、コーチはまた激励くれて、ジョナはよくなりました。全部のチームはたくさん学生があるので、少しは来月にグアムの選手権に行くできます。ジョナは選ばれたが、全部のチームは良いと思います。  

特別いいことは、ジョナのために、走ることはチームの中に、リーダーになるので、一人で走ることはとてもいい考えているの時間です。今年や未来の大学校のために、計画を作って、根気を得て、達成も学べます。ジョナがんばって、今は始まったです。

Barefoot Frisbee in a Cloudburst ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Shanghai

All day, it looked like it would rain.  Then, on the way to school for Ultimate Frisbee, it started to sprinkle.  Then, CLOUDBURST, just when they got started playing.

一日中、雨が降ってそうだので、ウリチメートのフリースビークラーブをしに行って途中に、少しの雨が始まりました。でも、試合は始まった時に、豪雨だった！

So, after awhile of slipping and sliding in the wet grass, they all took off their shoes and played barefoot in the rain.  そして、ぬれたの草から、よく滑ったので、少しい時間後に、靴をぬいて、雨が降りながら、はだしで、遊びました。

Ultimate Frisbee _ _ _ _ _ Jinqiao

Jonah belongs to an Ultimate Frisbee club at his school.  Students and a couple of teachers play the game.  It's just for fun.  I got a chance to take a few photos on Sunday.

ジョナと学生と先生も毎週日曜日にウルチメッとフリスビーを遊びに会います。クラブは楽します。そして、私は写真を撮りました。

And he knocks it down.  Yeah, Jonah! 　空から転倒させた。ジョナはよかった！

もっと写真はここ：More photos here:  Ultimate Frisbee