We are engaged!

I met with two of my former students on Saturday and was invited to their wedding!! I remember the exact day and place they announced they were dating. They were surprised I wasn't surprised at all. I told them I knew that was going to happen. I'm glad that after five years they are getting married and that they are going to continue living nearby. Congratulations Yukie and Yuta! (They have the same last name, by the way.)

Celebrating with great steak on Saturday.

Back from Brazil

I was in Brazil for actually a short time and arrived back in Japan on Thursday. We had open campus on Saturday so I've been quite busy. While in Brazil I visited the University of Brasília and also the University of São Paulo. Lots of friends came over to spend Father's Day with us up in the mountains. It was a lovely day.

A cathedral in Brasília.

Great dinner with Tati in Brasília. 

My nephew sharing photos with my mother. 

My niece.

Last day in Frankfurt

The fun soap my brother gave me.

While Japanese people tie paper up to branches, the
Germans seem to prefer metal.

Bridge connecting the Intercontinental to the
museum street.

Hopefully you won't notice the damaged stars....

Germany: cruise on the Rhine

This is not my first time in Germany, but this is the first time I'm here on vacation. I met with my brother and Matthew here in Frankfurt on Sunday and we traveled a bit on Monday. Today we went on a cruise on the River Rhine. It was so beautiful and relaxing--I strongly recommend it!

Apparently the building in the center used to be the
immigration office years ago. 

Note the vineyards on the hills.

In St. Goar where we got off the ferry.

It was pouring when we arrived back in Frankfurt, so we
decided to have a drink at the station.

First beer in Germany at Frankfurt station.

Nice to meet you, Hana-chan!

Kawashima-sensei brought Hana-chan to my office on Friday. She is so cute and still so small. She was  born on July 12. Tiger came, too, but I ended up not taking a photo of him. Sorry, Tiger. 

Pot luck with extension group

The last Wednesday of July we had a potluck lunch. All the members of the extension course I teach during the day on Wednesdays cooked great food and we enjoyed a lovely meal together. 

Mr. Iguchi explaining the curry chicken he brought.