Back in Hawaii for Business and Reflection
'Twas a place of fiction, music, and solace. From April 1st to the 11th I returned to Hawaii, where I grew up and where my family lives, for both research purposes and for a little R&R/personal reflection. On the business end of things, I was here to see what kind of cross-institutional connections I could establish between NAIST and my old alma mater, the University of Hawaii. Of course, trips back home are rarely ever as simple as one might want. After all I'd gone through
One of the best guitarists I know
Lately my motivation and morale has been down because sometimes the process of writing a thesis can seem like trying to show certain people how you're not a failure. However, this morning I received some wonderful notifications. In 2007, I had the honor and privilege of teaching a talented 7-year-old Japanese boy how to play the guitar. Despite having a full-adult-sized electric guitar, he managed extremely well. Reflecting back on the experience, to say that I actually "taug
On 大恐竜時代(Daikyouryuu Jidai/Era of the Dinosaurs, 1979)
On 大恐竜時代(Daikyouryuu Jidai/Era of the Dinosaurs, 1979): This aired on TV back in the early 80's when I was bout 5 or 6 years old. I remember watching this movie about three kids who are taken by an alien and transported back into the dinosaur era, where they befriend a blue baby Triceratops and run for the lives from a malevolent T-rex. They learn a great deal about the dinosaurs of that time, and somehow are transported to some point during the development of early humans, w
Japanese Intensive Language Course, C Class Reunion
My sincerest thanks to my classmates at Osaka University. It was great seeing all of you again. To those who are leaving Japan in March, I wish you safe travels and all the best. It has been a long time since I have been able to say this with any confidence, but I truly believe that bright futures lay ahead of us all. 阪大の日本語研修コースのクラスメートの皆様へ、心からまことにありがとうございました。今日のほとんど一年ぶりの再会は本当によかったわ。 僕、皆の人生で、明るい未来が絶対あると信じることは、本当に久しぶりな感じけど、今回、本当に信じています。これから、いつものように、頑張ろう！ #osakauniversity #fun
Random Access Memory: Improv Day
One day back when I was a high school teacher in Hyogo-prefecture, for the drama activity I let the students pair up and do impressions of me and my co-teacher Chelsea. It was a class called "Practical Communication," which basically meant that we could design the class to our liking so long as it taught the kids how to communicate. We thought it would be fun to have the students to lots of mini improve skits and dramas of their own devising. So, on this one day in October of
