Volume 14, Number 6 |
In July of 1999, I had three child-free hours five days a week. Annie, my daughter, was three years old and attending playgroup and my son aged five had just started school. Both children were very happy with their schools, chattering endlessly when returning home about new friends, nature tables paintings and other activities. For me, the three childless hours when Annie was at playgroup were re-energising and provided me with the opportunity to take a course in Youth work. Well, that was in England in a small town situated between Birmingham and Stratford upon Avon called Redditch.
When my husband sprung on me the opportunity to move to Japan, I hesitated. My concern was the children and how their lives would be effected by the move. However, he'd done his homework on our destination - Tsukuba. He'd got information on an international school for my son and an English speaking playgroup which met one morning a week at YMCA for Annie. With the knowledge that schools were in place, I decided to take the risk and go - well I could always go back home if I didn't like it!
After two days of jetlag in Tokyo, we moved into Tsukuba Dai Ichi Hotel and within that time arranged for Liam to start at Tsukuba International School. From day one he loved it and so did his parents. However finding something for Annie seemed more difficult. During the first few days in Dai Ichi Hotel, we attended the first day of the English speaking playgroup - it folded on the same day. However, I was recommended to check out a popular private kindergarten. Popular was an understatement. On the sign up day the parents and grandparents were going to queue through the night for a place. Mad was my first reaction so I didn't bother. This was a big mistake! A new friend I'd met at my son's school suggested trying the Japanese playgroup at YMCA. She told me they had reserved places for foreigners. I contacted them, but was told they were full until April 2000, which was too long to wait or so I thought at the time.
From then on my journey through Tsukuba's pre-school provision for an English speaking child was both disappointing and frustrating. My daughter was just too young for the local public kindergartens. The private provision did not meet our needs for a diverse number of reasons. They were too far away and on one visit a cockroach ran across my foot as I took Annie to the toilet - a hygiene issue. Some places provided no play and others were just stuck in one room for a day with no outside space.
As time went on, Annie became more and more difficult, or so it seemed. She wanted to go to school like her brother and she had just got used to her independence as I had. We began losing our enthusiasm for any more trips to the library on bikes. All the parks had been explored thoroughly and although we had by now joined a Mummy's club, I was still searching for my precious three hours of freedom. Then I decided to check out the Public Day Care system. I'd heard that they were local authority regulated and standards were high. Apparently there were some English speaking kids in the local system, so a chance Annie wouldn't feel too isolated, and I was desperate for some time away from Annie.
So, I turned to the Day Care system and after two trips to the City office, I knew the requirements. A trip to a local employer secured me a job. After two trips to the Tokyo Immigration office, I got the permit to engage in activity other than that permitted by the status of Residence previously granted. Two more trips to the City office to provide information on my husbands earnings, got me registered for three Day Care Centres local to Kasuga.
Just before Christmas, I was offered a Day Care place in Yatabe. Too far from my employer, too far to co-ordinate with my son's school times and too far as a round trip. April's not that far off, said my husband. I screamed!
Well it's now May 2000 and I've been in Tsukuba for nine months and Annie is in the Japanese Playgroup at YMCA. She started in April 2000, eight months after our arrival in Tsukuba. She loves it and seems to be settling in well. I have two hours of freedom three days a week and I'm a new woman. So, why am I writing this? Yes, the 5000 yen is attractive. Yes, I'm indulging in egocentric therapy as I write but there's also another reason. My first eight months in Tsukuba would have been so much easier if something had been available for Annie. Here's the ideal: an international playgroup in which children can start whatever time of the year they arrive in Tsukuba. This playgroup would provide ten hours or so a week of quality care and play for international pre-school kids at a price that could be afforded in a location central to Tsukuba. The playgroup would have workers who were sensitive to both parents and children who are often exhausted by the huge cultural and geographical transition they are going through. Tentatively, I would suggest the playgroup be in English, thus also meeting the needs of some of the bi-lingual children who are already resident here. Some Japanese language would be an offer to start the process of integration. This would also alleviate some of the distress caused by being thrown in at the deep end. If you are reading this and have some opinions regarding my suggestion then please inform the Alien Times.
PS. I wrote this during my two hour break from children - bliss!
As part of its activities, the Tsukuba Information Center sponsors a bilingual discussion group the fourth Wednesday of every month from 2 to 4 pm, with invited guests giving a presentation from their area of expertise or experience. This month, we are pleased to have Mr. Thomas Deliens, from France, who is a coordinator for International Relations at the Ibaraki Prefectural Government. He will be speaking about Chasse Aux Sorcieres - The Great Witch Hunt that plagued the people of France for centuries. He says: "I will explain what the historical and psychological origins of the Great Witch Hunt were and why it spread so quickly. I'll also describe the situation for people living at that time."
In his presentation, he'll share his knowledge about witches and what they believe in. He'll even entertain us with a few witch tricks. So, if your impression of France includes only the good things, like the Eiffel Tower and Paris, the city of love, you'll be surprised by the facts he presents. Like all countries, France has gone through both good and bad times. One of those bad times is known as Chasse aux sorcieres- The Great Witch Hunt.
The Coffee Hour is meant to be an informal exchange of information and opinions. English and Japanese are both used with efforts made to make sure those who can't understand one or the other are able to at least get the gist of the conversation. Likewise, you don't need to commit yourself to the entire two hours and can come and go freely. So drop by, whether for a short time or for the entire two hours, and enjoy some free refreshments along with a stimulating discussion. Please let us hear your opinions as well.
Even though I've lived in Tsukuba for many years, I have yet to see a blueberry bush. Nevertheless, the underutilized International Congress Center Epochal in Tsukuba will be the site for a large conference on blueberries beginning Friday evening, June 30 and continuing through Sunday, July 2.
Of interest to the casual observer will be the various blueberry products that will be available for sale in the lobby and in the plaza of neighboring Takezono Park beginning at noon on Saturday. Various breads, muffins, cakes, etc. baked with blueberries, blueberry jams and juices, and even blueberry bushes will be on sale.
There are, apparently, a couple of blueberry farms in the area, and convention is offering tours where you can go and pick your own blueberries, for a fee, of course. For 3500 yen for adults and 1000 yen for children, you can eat all you want of the blueberries you pick plus take home a 600 gram box. A bus leaving from the center at 1 pm both Saturday and Sunday will take participants to two different blueberry farms, returning by 3 pm. Reservations are needed for this event. The email address to use for inquiries is: blueberry@icube-t.co.jp. Telephone inquiries are handled through the city hall number of 36-1111.
The Tsukuba Mommy's Network will have two activities in June. The first one will be held on June 12 (10:30 am to noon) at Matsunoki Park (In front of Ninomiya Jidokan). We will show you how to make paper airplanes. Let's have fun!! In case of rainy weather, it will be postponed to the next week. Our second gathering will be held on June 26 (10:30 am to noon) at Ninomiya Jidokan.
This is a time for kids and mothers to play and talk freely. For further information and inquiry, call Ms. Okumura at 56-2257.
Old timers in Tsukuba will remember Harry Burton-Lewis, who lived in Tsukuba from its beginnings in the mid-1970's until his tragic stroke in 1994. He is now living in North Carolina in a retirement home. He has limited mobility but is alert and keeps his mind active. If you knew him and would like to drop him a note of encouragement, his email is: Longhorn19@juno.com. (You can tell he's from Texas!)
Three beautiful and playful kittens born April 9 are looking for a home. They have long, straight tails and short hair. Call Tim if interested. 55-1907.
An English language interdenominational worship service is held once a month normally on the fourth Sunday of every month at 2 pm at the Tsukuba Gakuen Church near Daiei. The May service will be on June 25. It is followed by an informal fellowship time at the Tsukuba Christian Center next door. The Japanese language congregation meets every Sunday morning at 10:30 am, and the service is translated into English over headphones. There is also a Bible Study in English every Tuesday evening at 8:00 pm in the Christian Center. For more information or help with transportation, call Tim Boyle at 55-1907.
The Tsukuba Catholic Church has an English mass at 8:00 am every Sunday and the Japanese masses on Saturday night (6 pm) and Sunday morning (10 am) are accompanied by an summary of the message in English. There is even a Spanish mass on the 3rd Sundays at 3 pm. On the last Sunday of the month, there is a coffee social after the English mass. The Easter masses are at the regular times. For information, call the church at 36-1723.
The Tsuchiura Catholic Church offers an English mass on the last Sunday of each month at 3 pm (tel. 21-1501). There is also a Portuguese mass on the 3rd Saturday at 7 pm.
The Tsukuba Baptist Church offers an English language Bible study before the Japanese service every Sunday from 10 to 11 am. It is located in Inarimae just east of Nishi Odori on the street closest to the meteorological observation tower. Tel. 58-0655.
The Megumi Church in Tsuchiura (489-1 Kami Takatsu) also offers English translation of their 10:30 am Japanese service over ear phones. An English Bible class is held every Sunday morning at 9:00. There is also an International Fellowship group that holds a monthly pot luck dinner usually on the third Saturday. For information on that, call Melissa Ishio at 38-1374. For more information, call the church at 22-2244 or e-mail LDN03144@niftyserve.or.jp (Also see their Tsuchiura Megumi Church Web Page at http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/ro/tmc/index.html).
The Tokyo International Church, Tsukuba Branch in Amakubo 3-3-5 (across from Tsukuba Univ.) offers a 10:30-noon Chinese (Mandarin) service interpreted into both English and Japanese. There is also an English language Bible study every Sunday evening at 7 pm. For information, call Rev. Huang at 52-6820.
The International Christian Assembly meets every Sunday at their new building just off of Tsuchiura-Gakuen Sen east of Tsukuba (just behind the restaurant with the dragon on the roof) from 10 am for Bible Study and 10:30 am for worship. For more information, call Richard Swan at 36-0993.
The Nozomi Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tsuchiura (23-27 Komatsu 3-chome) also offers programs in English, including a worship service Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm and a Bible class on Sunday mornings at 9:30. English Bible information courses are available any time. For more information, call Glen Hieb at 0298-21-3578.
The Tsuchiura Christian Church offers an English message translated into Japanese every Sunday morning at 10:30 am. For information, contact Paul Axton at 56-2167.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tsukuba ward is located at Higashi 2-21-22 by Higashi Middle School between Doho Park and Tsuchiura Noda Sen. Services are translated into English over headphones. The Sacrament Meeting begins at 10 am followed by Sunday School at 11:10 am and Priesthood and Relief Society at noon. A Gospel Doctrine class in English is also offered. For more information, contact 52-6548.
The Jewish Community of Japan, invites anyone of the Jewish faith in the Tsukuba area to feel welcome at any of their programs in Tokyo. Sabbath services each Friday at 6:30 pm followed by Sabbath dinner; Kosher Kitchen, Saturday morning, 9:30 am. Contact 3-8-8 Hiroo, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 150; tel. 03-3400-2559, fax. 03-3400-1827.
The following thought-provoking short piece was submitted by Julie Vernon-Edo for our edification. Thanks, Julie.
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We have higher incomes, but lower morals; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of tall men and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to make a difference - or just hit delete.
The following thought-provoking short piece was submitted by Julie Vernon-Edo for our edification. Thanks, Julie.
There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the pastor's reply. "This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor. The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming - like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?'. Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork - the best is yet to come'."
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.
He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care.
This year, the rainy season seems to have come early. The official beginning here in the Kanto region, however, is typically not until early June, when the Weather Bureau officially declares the Tsuyu Iri (Entering Rainy Season). Sometime in July, they will announce the Tsuyu Ake for the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the muggy summer weather.
This relatively regular weather pattern in the climate of Japan is caused by the boundary between the warm, humid high pressure system that gradually builds up over the Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Japan and the cooler, dryer air to the north and west. A front develops between these rather stable air masses with waves of low pressure moving along the front across Japan.
This pattern first becomes prominent in late April across Okinawa and then gradually pushes farther north, sloshing back and forth as it goes. This oscillating movement of the front to the north and south is what gives us brief periods of good weather during the rainy season, when the front temporarily moves away from its average position.
By early June, the Baiu Zensen (rainy season front) has moved to where its average position is across Kyushu and Shikoku, bringing the end of the rainy season to Okinawa. This process continues until mid July, when the front breaks up over Tohoku due to the dominance of the Pacific High and a weakening of the contrast between the two air masses.
While cloudy and sometimes rainy days are predominate during this period, it is still a good time to get out and enjoy the warmer weather before the oppressive heat of summer sets in. The flowers of this season shift to ayame (a type of iris) and ajisai (hydrangea), of which there are some excellent displays in the Tsukuba area.
Probably the most famous ayame display in all of Japan is the Itako Ayame Festival, in the town of Itako, located at the far end of Lake Kasumigaura. Over 1 million ayame of about 500 varieties are in bloom along the banks of the Hitachi Tone and the Maegawa Rivers. Tour boats go up and down the rivers and on weekends, the traditional Hanayome Fune boat, with a girl dressed up like a Japanese bride, makes its journey down the river. To get there, take route 125 until it dead ends in route 51; turn left and follow that road about 10 km to the town of Itako (turning to the right). The festival lasts throughout the month of June.
There are nice displays of ayame and other kinds of iris in Tsukuba along the pond in Matsumi Park and also in the park across from Texas Instruments, which was the sight of the - 5 World's Fair (now part of the Western Industrial Park).
Hydrangea festivals are also part of this season, with the biggest being in Mito at the Howaen park in Matsumoto Cho, northwest of the downtown area. Over 5500 hydrangea bushes grace the park and are in bloom from mid June to early July (with the festival running from June 11 to July 2). The park is located between route 118 and the Naka River.
There is also a good display of hydrangeas in the park above the parking lot for the cable car going up Mt. Tsukuba (the highest point you can go up by car). The flowers there come out a bit later, and are best in early July. If you can go on a (rare) clear day, the view is spectacular. There is a 400 yen toll for the road leading up to the cable car parking lot.
A little further north along the west flank of Mt. Tsukuba range is another excellent site in Daiwa Mura at the Amabiki Rakuho Temple (A very appropriate name for the rainy season, as amabiki means attracting the rain). Over 3000 bushes dot the hillsides around the temple. The Ajisai Matsuri there is from June 20 to July 20 and is free. To get there, drive north along the west side of Mt. Tsukuba through Makabe to Daiwa Mura. The road leading up to the temple is about 6 km north of Makabe.
Famous for its peonies, the Tsukuba Botan (Peony) Park in Kukizaki also has a spectacular display of some 80,000 lilies of various varieties. The main event is on June 18. The entrance fee is 700 yen (300 yen for children), but is well worth it. The Bara (Rose) Matsuri at the Flower Park in Yasato (on the opposite side of the range of mountains running east from Mt. Tsukuba) runs through June 25, with over 30,000 rose bushes in full bloom. It's quite a site, and there are numerous other flowers to enjoy as well. The entrance fee is 640 yen (320 yen).
Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter = Eskimo Pi
2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale University Hospital = 1 I.V. League
2000 pounds of Chinese soup = Won Ton
1 trillion microphones = 1 million phones = 1 megaphone
1 million bicycles = 2 megacycles
1/1,000,000 mouthwash = 1 microscope
365.25 days = 1 Unicycle
365.25 days of drinking low-calorie beer because it's less filling = 1 lite year
16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Sterling
0.5 large intestine = 1 semicolon
1,000,000 rent-a-cars = 1 megahertz
Weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 billygram
Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower
Shortest distance between two jokes = a straight line
Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond
0.5 bathroom = 1 demijohn
453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake
2000 mockingbirds = two kilomockingbirds
10 cards = 1 decacards
10 dents = 1 decadent
1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 Fig Newton
1 trillion pins = 1 terrapin
1 million billion piccolos = 1 gigolo
10 rations = 1 decoration
100 rations = 1 C-ration
2 paradigms = 40 cents
1 paradox = 2 MD's
Only in America...can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance...
Only in America...are there handicap-parking places in front of a skating rink...
Only in America...do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions, while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in America...do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
Only in America...do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
Only in America...do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
Only in America...do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place.
Only in America...do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
Only in America...do we use the word politics to describe the process so well: Poli in Latin meaning "many" and tics meaning "bloodsucking creatures."
Only in America do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.
Only in America can a homeless combat veteran live in a cardboard box and a draft dodger live in the White House!
Well, some of these can be witnessed here in Japan too!