UCR Campus Tour

Today, February 17, we went on a campus tour first thing in the morning.

Edmund was our guide today.

Luckily the citrus trees are in full bloom now.

University of California, Riverside

Ocean Charter Elementary School

"Ohayogozaimasu Eiji-sensei"

Practicing Japanese with the first graders.

Edgard in Riverside

Edgard was our first exchange student from UCR and he spent a year in Togane. He came see me this afternoon and it was really nice talking to him. We'll meet a few more times while I'm here.

Our first day here in Riverside was quite chilly and it also rained. This was the sunset view from my window.

UCR: Day 2

Associate Director Valerie Hodges greeting our students during the welcome lunch.

Helping themselves to some chicken, vegetables and rice. Oh, and some cookies, too!

Socializing with Teramoto-sensei, our Resident Director here in Riverside.

Valentine's Day in Riverside

The rose and the heart took all my attention and I forgot to take a photo of John and Sharon who had invited me to dinner on Valentine's Day! The food was great and so was the company. It's good to experience what Valentine's Day is in America. I kind of had forgotten about it after 20 years in Japan. There women tend to give chocolate to men on February 14 and then on "White Day" (March 14), men give women gifts--quite often chocolate as well.

Safe trip to Los Angeles

We flew Singapore Airlines this time and had a quiet trip to Los Angeles.

Narita Airport.

At UCR meeting with homestay families. Momoko and Yui are here for the second time.

The Taniguchis gave me a lot of "yuzu" (citron) from their garden. Around this time of year it's customary to put them in the bath type.

Japanese Cuisine

The one reason I renewed my one-year contract with JIU in 1992 was that I wanted to have more time to enjoy the food and also learn how to cook and how to make the pottery. The consequence of that decision is that I've gained about 13 kilos in twenty years.... I do appreciate the food, learned the names and also learned how to make some but mostly how to buy good pottery! My appreciation for the refined culture has improved.

Photos of a crab gratin taken at Umenohana in Chiba. The food, the decoration and the company were great!

A different environment for a change

I wish I could go out for dinner with the great people who come to the Discussions course more often. Unfortunately we usually meet and talk over tea and some sweets only, but this past Wednesday we were able to enjoy some Taiwanese food at Yutaka together. Meeting in a different environment is always great especially while eating good food. Last summer we met at Barbacoa in Tokyo and that was really fun, too!

A Japanese meal with my Taiwanese students

Nin-san's sister is visiting so I decided to invite them all to soba last night.