Around February this year my feet were getting itching and I felt the need to do some traveling to see family and friends. Checking out likely destinations, the U.S.A. came out on top of my Golden Week travel list as my sister and her family were preparing to relocate to Okinawa and I thought I could lend a hand packing and orienting them to Japanese life, not to mention their proximity to Washington D.C. made for some interesting sightseeing. On top of those good reasons, a good friend from my early days here in Tsuyama had himself just relocated to a new life in Texas, and a former teacher from this school and his wife, a former student here at Wright, had just had their first baby, and they lived just a short drive from my sister’s. So the itinerary was set; Japan to San Antonio, Texas for three days with Steve, then on to Virginia for five days with my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew, and to catch up with Jeremy, Motoko and Laird.
San Antonio, Texas

The Alamo

San Jose Mission
Virginia & Washington D.C.

Monica doing her magic!

The Vietnam War Memorial
I was privileged to witness my sister at work as a pre-school teacher and see a true pro at work. She was inspirational in how she conducted her classes, creatively stimulating the students to the maximum, maintaining order and respect for and amongst all the students in her class. The best teaching lesson I have ever had. My

The White House
当校に長年来て下さっている生徒さんの中には、私が 今回バージニアで会う機会があったジェレミー・サザランドを覚えていらっしゃる方もおられるでしょう。 もう10年ほど前、ジェレミーは当校に2年間勤務し、岡山に移り2年間日本語の集中講座を取った後、帰国しました。 その後、ここに勤めていた時に知り合った素子さんと結婚しました。 4月に私が訪問する少し前に、ジェレミーと素子さんに レアード "Laird"という可愛い初めての赤ちゃんが生まれました。 ジェレミーから、ライトの生徒さん、特に彼の事を覚えてくださっている生徒さんによろしくとの事でした。 ジェレミーに連絡をおとりになりたい方は ご連絡ください。 彼のメールアドレスをお教えします。
そして ようこそレアードくん!
Just one day for sightseeing in D.C. and a full day it was. Ever the one for tech gadgets, I chose a tour of the downtown area on a Segway, taking in the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, the Vietnam War memorial and gliding down the avenues and streets home to some of the world’s greatest museums and centers of governance. That afternoon it was on to the Pentagon for a guided tour of the ultimate symbol of military power in the world. Hard to believe what looked like a regular calm, office building on the inside, controls the motions of the strongest military force on Earth.
I spent a nostalgic last night with a former Wright teacher, Jeremy and the next day before my flight back to Japan with him, his wife Motoko and their newborn son, Laird. (See insert). A delightfully friendly end to my brief U.S. sojourn.
It really was a great trip, hectic, but relaxing and really enlightening for me. Thanks to all those who made it possible for me, most importantly the students whose schedules were changed to accommodate my flights, and Justen Allard for filling in for me.