Last June in Murakami, I had the privilege to do some really fun English lessons in the swimming pool at Senami Elementary.  My supervising teacher at that school, Mrs. Hiki, was really, really, into English and integrating it into her classroom.  A few months ago, up here in Saroma, I gave a presentation about my [...]

米姉妹都市から中学生３人 若佐小でダンス披露 佐呂間で27日まで交流 「佐呂間」 町の姉妹都市、米アラスカ州パーマ市から来町した中学生３人が16日、若佐小の児童と交流を深めた。 町とパーマ市は1980年に姉妹都市提携を締結。毎年、中高生が相互訪問している。 今回来町したのはレベッカ・ファーリーさん（13）、ディーナー・クリスチャンセンさん（14）、エリン・ビンセントさん（14）。14日から27日まで町内でホームステイしながら、佐呂間中に通ったり、道内観光などをする。 ３人はこの日、町の英語指導助手ショーン・ホーランドさん（25）とともに若佐小を訪問。「チキン・ダンス」など米国に伝わるダンスを披露した。児童も一緒に踊り、英語で互いに自己紹介して交流を深めた。 （野口洸） （インターネットで発見出来なかったので、ブログに写しました。）

This article appeared on Page 26 of the Hokkaido Newspaper today, July 18th. Saroma Town: On the 16th, three students visiting from Saroma’s sister city, Palmer, Alaska, USA, deepened cultural understanding with the children at Wakasa Elementary. The link between the town and the City of Palmer began in 1980.  Every year, junior and senior [...]

George Carté, head of the Sister City Committee in Palmer and former AET, asked me to write a few short articles on recent events in Saroma for the newsletter that he puts out.  I obliged him, and while I’ve written better, here they are. Final Classes at Saroma Elementary In Japan the school year begins [...]

Leaving the elementary school today, I talked to two 3rd grade boys who were playing on a snow pile.  I asked them what they were doing, and one boy said “building a snow slide!”  The other boy pointed to his crotch and said “A snow slide for boys!” and gestured to a small horn shaped [...]

I’ve been putting off writing for a while, not feeling any inspiration, feeling tired, feeling over or underwhelmed with daily life.  I still have to talk about Remington’s visit, my Okinawa trip, my general life here in Saroma.  I’ll get there. Yesterday at Wakasa Elementary, I taught 3rd and 4th graders how to say “What’s [...]