Volume 14, Number 9 |
Since its inception in 1992, Tsukuba International School has had to operate on a very limited budget that has prevented it from reaching its full potential in serving the English-language educational needs of the international community. In what is hoped to be the first of an annual fund-raising event, TIS is sponsoring a charity concert featuring 'Los Tres Amigos', a well-known South American trio who give regular concerts around the country. Argentinean Luis Sartor (whose daughter attends TIS) will be joining together with Luis Carlos (Bolivia) and Ricky Rodriguez (Peru) to perform rousing renditions of popular South American songs, including several that will be 'sing-a-long' style. They do some truly amazing things on a variety of South American instruments, blending together beautifully.
Local violinist Craig Coleman and professional guitarist Akira Iida will also add there considerable talents to an evening of international music that will also include songs sung by the children along with audience participation songs.
All participants will be donating their time so that the proceeds can go entirely into a fund to benefit the school and provide some seed money towards establishing permanent facilities and adding a kindergarten level in the near future and junior and senior high facilities in the future. Tickets are being sold for a ´3000 donation for adults and ´1500 for students and children. If you or your organization would like to help in selling tickets, please call Tim Boyle at 55-1907.
As Nova Hall hold approximately 1000 people, our goal of filling it up would result in a considerable boost to TIS finances, and so TIS urges all in the international community to get behind this project. Doors will open at 6:30 PM, Friday, October 6, with the concert beginning at 7 PM.
Be sure to take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet Dr. Sushil Bhattacharya, the 1989 all-India Yoga asana contest champion. He gives workshops al over the worle and is founder of the Patanjali Yoga Center in Nepal For more info about his work, see his webpage at http://www.sapiayoga.com.
There will be four workshops on Oct. 17 and 18, 10 am - 12 noon and 6::30 Ð 8:30 pm. There is also a 4 day intensive retreat at Wagakuni Mt. Near Kasama from Oct. 19 - 22.
Workshops limited to 15 students. Call Svetlana for more information and to register: phone/fax 0298-56-0260 or email lambrozo@yahoo.com. A 30% discount is available for students.
The Tsukuba information Center offers a Chanoyu class on the first and third Fridays of each month, from 9:30 am to noon. The instruction by Ms. Soko Ohno, of the Urasenke School, is free, with your only expense being the cost of the tea and sweets along with a tea kit (sensu, fukusa, kobukusa, kaishi and youji). The cost of the tea and sweets is 300Y for each time. For further information, call the Information Center at 52-6789 and ask for Ms. Taniguchi or Ms. Miyanuma or email: www@info-tsukuba.org
The Tsukuba Catholic Church will be holding its annual CHURCH BAZAAR on Sunday October 22 from 10:00 to 14:00. This is your chance to taste great home cooked food not only from Japan, but also from Korea, the Philippines, Europe, India, and South America. There will be activities for children including games and crafts, also featuring a Japanese tea ceremony, a bottle and can stall and a lively auction of special goods. There will be lots of things for sale like clothes, things for school or the office, utensils, totemo oishii cakes, etc. This year they will also have a photo studio with a professional photographer offering quality portraits at low cost. Also check out the "English and Japanese books" sale with new titles priced 50% less than your regular bookstands. The location is on Doho Koen Dori between Hanamasa supermarket and Route 408. Parking will be provided nearby. Note: Since the money raised for the whole affair will be given to charity, you can be sure that prices are inexpensive! For details contact Brian Kelly at bkelly@home.email.ne.jp
The Tsukuba Gakuen Church (near Daiei) will hold its annual bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 28 beginning at noon. There are always lots of good deals on various used (and even new) items along with delicious food items and games for the kids.
Third Annual DISCUSS TSUKUBA
November 11, 2000 (Saturday) from 13:00 to 17:00 at Tsukuba Women's University (3-1 Azuma, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-003)
For foreign nationals whose mother tongue is not Japanese, living, studying or working in Tsukuba City, about 8 people in total. 1st prize - 30,000Y, 2nd prize - 20,000Y, 3rd prize - 10,000Y (special prizes and participation prizes will also be presented. Any topic is fine. Speeches should be under 6 minutes (followed by comments, Q & A for about 5 minutes). Screening: Application form, title & summary of speech (in Japanese under 400 letters) are required for preliminary screening. Application forms are available at Tsukuba Women's University, International Culture Office (Sakura Branch) and can be submitted to: Kyoumu-ka Office, Tsukuba Women's University (by direct, fax,email, and/or online submission). Deadline: October 23, 2000 (Monday). Preliminary Screening Result will be sent by postcard by October 30, 2000. International Friendship Party after the contest, snacks and drinks.
For more details: Contact either the Tsukuba Women's University Tel. 0298-58-4813 Fax. 0298-58-7388, www.kasei.ac.jp/~student/Other/ESS/speech2000/discuss-english.html, Email: kyoumu@in.kasei.ac.jp
or the International Culture Division, Tsukuba City Tel. 0298-57-3132, city.tsukuba.ibaraki.jp Email:kkoryu@intio.or.jp
'Something Cuban' has been HOT everywhere in the world recently. This craze started in major cities a few years ago, and it has been spreading like wildfire around the world. Japan is certainly no exception, as any event with a 'Cuban' taste is guaranteed to attract a crowd. Here in Tsukuba, dancing 'Salsa,' a passionate Cuban dance, is one of the HOTTEST things to do!
The Tsukuba Information Center will feature Ms. Milagros Valdes, a Cuban student majoring in Japanese prehistoric anthropology at the University of Tsukuba, as the main speaker at its October Coffee Hour. Since coming to Tsukuba a year ago, she has noticed the growing popularity of Salsa, and as a Cuban, she has one thing to say about the way 'Tsukubans' dance the Salsa. She says there is a huge difference between 'Cuban Salsa' and 'Tsukuban Salsa.' 'In Cuba, we dance Salsa more freely and naturally and we don't learn special dance steps like people do here.' Needless to say, for her and others who have experienced it both ways, the preferred way is the Cuban way!
The Coffee Hour is held every 4th Wednesday of the month, putting it on the 25th this month, from 2 to 4 pm on the 3rd floor of the Information Center.
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 October service will be held on the 22th. 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, and the service is translated into English over headphones. There is also a Bible Study in English every Tuesday evening at 8:00 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 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 restaraut with the dragon on the roof) from 10 am for Bible Study and 10:30 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 and Priesthood and Relief Society at 12:00. 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.
There are two types of "cosmos viewing" in the autumn. One you can do any clear night, but the other is a daytime adventure, where you look down instead of up. In addition to being another word for the universe, "cosmos" is also the name of a popular flower that blooms in abundance in early autumn. Entire fields are sometimes planted in cosmos, culminating in a purple, pink and white carpet of beauty.
In the Tsukuba area, there are several displays worth seeing. The Ushiku Daibutsu (the world's largest statue, a 120 m statue of Buddha clearly visible from any elevated point in Tsukuba), has 10,000 m2 of cosmos blooming around its base. On a nice day in early to mid October, it's definitely worth a trip. The entrance fee into the park is 1000 yen (including going up into the statue), but even when viewed from outside, it's quite an interesting sight. There is also a small enclosed area where children can feed rabbits and squirrels.
Another close-by place worth visiting is the Hitachi Fudoki no Oka just west of Ishioka. This park features authentic reproductions of ancient Japanese life including thatched roof houses and displays of what typical life scenes were like. You can even sample free tea in the tea room. There are also play areas for children along with beautiful walks along paths leading by ponds and fields of flowers. Like most such places, it is closed on Mondays (or Tuesdays if the previous Monday is a national holiday). Park hours are 9 am to 5 pm and there is a nominal entrance fee of 300 yen (150 yen for children). The last two weeks of October are the best times to go.
The other fall flower or note, the chrysanthemum, makes its debut the latter half of October and into early November. There are several noteworthy displays in Tsukuba, including Matsumi Park, in front of the Yatabe Branch City Hall and at the Tsukuba Shrine on Mt. Tsukuba. Perhaps the largest in the area is at the Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival, which begins Oct. 20 and continues through Nov. 26, and features amazing displays of chrysanthemum bushes bent and formed into fantastic displays of flowers. There is an admission charge to the Shrine displays of 900 yen for high school and above and 500 yen for children. There is an 'Autumn Festival' at the Izumo Shrine on the 22nd. A special "Takumi no Matsuri", or artisan's festival featuring Kasama pottery is to be held in conjunction with the chrysanthemum festival from Nov. 2 to Nov. 5, and is well worth seeing. There is also a large chrysanthemum festival in Mito at the Howaen Park on the west side of town between Route 50 and the river, with the dates being Oct. 24 to Nov. 14.
Depending on the weather and your time, proceeding on up to see the fall leaves at the Fukuroda Falls and the Ryushinkyo Bridge farther to the north is well worth the trip. Fall leaves are typically at their peak in early November.
Be sure and mark your calendars for October 7th for the annual Tsuchiura Fireworks. Held every year on the first Saturday of October, the Tsuchiura Fireworks is the last major competitive event of the year for pyrotechnic teams from around the nation. Many observers say that it is one of the very best fireworks displays in the entire nation, as fireworks artists put everything they've got into the grand display. Many of 20,000 or so bursts are prototypes of new designs for next year's season, and so fireworks makers want to make a good impression on potential buyers.
The higher bursts can easily be seen from any elevated spot in Tsukuba with a view of the eastern sky, but it is really worth making the effort to join the crowds near "ground zero" and take it all in. The show begins at about 6 pm and lasts for about 2 hours. Parking is always a problem, and since people begin showing up 2 or 3 hours early to get a good spot, you will need to allow plenty of time. In fact, many people plan an afternoon picnic while staking out their claims to a space. As much of the area will be newly harvested rice fields, be sure to take a plastic tarp to cover the ground along with any other convenience you want along, such pillows, blankets etc. you're willing and able to carry in.
The best views from the Tsukuba side are along Highway 6 (6-go bypass), which is an elevated highway across the fields. The Ohta Store parking lot is an excellent place to view from, but you need to get there early and not be in a hurry to get back. Cars crowd along every little side street, often making passage difficult. For easy access and relatively quick departure, the best parking is along the Tsuchiura-Gakuen Sen. The outer two lanes of this 4-lane road are made available for parking, and so if you need to make a quick exit, park along the side of the road headed towards the direction you want to go. You can then walk over the two or three hundred meters to find a good spot.
In case of rain or high winds, the event will be postponed until the following night. The weather is usually quite nice in early October, but by evening, it is likely to be a bit cool. So be prepared with a jacket and a flashlight.
By Eleanor Olds Batchelder, Ph.D.
Here is the schedule of college festivals this year. They haven't done well at spreading themselves over the month of October, as they did last year, but are bunched up at the beginning and end and dribbling into November!
For those who just arrived, these (gakuensai or bunkasai) are occasions when there are exhibits, performances, food booths, etc. at the college, and the community is invited to come and participate. It's a chance to see what the schools are doing. There is always a booklet with a schedule of events and exhibits (both outdoors and indoors); though it is in Japanese, there are occasionally pictures and maps that give you a general idea. Or ask at the reception desk for an English speaker. I don't have exact times, but usually midmorning to sunset. 11am is a good time to go and try to get some food before the lines get too long for the best ones.
Oct 7,8,9 (Sat-Mon) University of Tsukuba
Verrrry big. Covers the two campuses just north of and just south of Hiratsuka Dori. Don't plan on parking very close, or on riding your bike inside the campus.
Oct 8-9 (Sun-Mon) Tsukuba College of Technology - Hearing Division www.tsukuba-tech.ac.jp/collegee.htm
On Higashi Odori, at the walk-bridge south of Hiratsuka Dori. Last year, a student made some delicious Okinawan doughnuts, and I also enjoyed their art/design exhibits and several student-made videos. This year their theme is "Virtual Reality." Japanese page about the festival (opening movie is in English): www.tsukuba-tech.ac.jp/docs/gakusai12/start.html
Oct 28-29 (Sat-Sun) Tsukuba Women's University www.kasei.ac.jp/index.html
Just south of Kita Odori, one traffic light east of Nishi Odori. This year, the big attraction is a lecture by Akihiro Miwa, a noted cross-dressing chanson singer and movie personality ("Black Lizard", 1968, as Akihiro Maruyama). His talk is entitled "Livin' Easy" (my translation of "Ikiyasui Ikikata"), but may already be fully subscribed.
Oct 28-29 (Sat-Sun) Tsukuba College of Technology - Sight Division www.tsukuba-tech.ac.jp/collegee.htm
In Kasuga, just west of the University of Tsukuba, east of Nishi Odori. They are famous for inexpensive massages, but I liked the demonstrations of assistive technologies - a returnee student explained it to us in fluent English.
Nov 18-19 (Sat-Sun) University of Library and Information Science www.ulis.ac.jp
Just south of Kita Odori, just east of Nishi Odori. Hmmm, will it be cold by then? Last year, as I recall, they had some interesting folk music performances and a book sale, among many other events.
by Joseph G. Robbie
"Yankee go home" was the chant from staff and patrons alike, as Randy Rogers was forcibly escorted off the festive barge permanently moored to the left bank of Klong Tui, a district frequented almost exclusively by local Thais seeking sensual pleasure of one illicit sort or another. His face bloodied, his shirt torn, he tried to focus, tried to remember.
The evening had started out fine. Getting off work at 9pm from B.E.S.T., Business English School Thailand, he'd hailed an open-air, three-wheel tuk-tuk and been driven to his regular hangout, the King's Palace in Patpong. Enjoying a Kloster beer with other working expats, he watched the show, ordered a back massage from the frisky middle-aged lady who regularly relieved his stress, and looked forward to the kickboxing matches that were to start at 11:00.
One barroom buddy, Hans Hoeflich, an engineer from Berlin, recommended the cheese schnitzel with fried potatoes for Randy's hunger. "Better than Bavaria", he claimed. The meal arrived and was truly delicious. In gratitude, Randy ordered a tall beer and a shot of Jaegermeister snaps for the two of them. As the boxing commenced, Hans reciprocated the gesture. Not to appear cheap or ungrateful, Randy got the following round. And so it went. By 2:30, they were totally polluted and the best of friends.
"Let's get away from this tourist scene", Hans suggested. "I'll take you to a place you'll never forget!" Randy was game. Thus they took a taxi to the barge. Upon exiting the cab, Randy's money clip missed his pocket and fell into the gutter. Uh, oh!
Aboard, they had a grand old time. Rude, crude, booed by the locals, they partook of a bit of all that was on offer there. Loud, obnoxious, oblivious of the glares from the others present, they drank, smoked, stroked and puked. Randy passed out.
Shaken roughly awake as dawn was breaking, Randy was asked to pay his tab and leave. Hans was nowhere to be seen. The tab for the two of them was roughly $320; not bad for the limitless debauchery they'd enjoyed. He found his trousers and reached into the pocket. Nothing. Frowns, scowls, harsh words exchanged. The bouncers there were about half his size. "I can take these guys out and make a run for it", he reasoned in his belligerent haze. After five months in country, he might have known that most Bangkok bouncers are martial arts experts. The inevitable scuffle ensued, and Randy was soundly thrashed.
The police arrived, the situation was explained, and Randy was given two choices by the authorities: leave the country voluntarily the next day; or, get charged, do time in a Thai prison and then be deported. He opted for the former, filled out the necessary paperwork, and was taken to shore.
During the two-hour walk back to his hotel apartment, Randy reflected on his recent past and near future. Several years ago, he had been forced to flee his hometown in Ohio; Gozaiymas was a small town with no secrets. Having impregnated the district attorney's 16-year old daughter, yet not ready to wed at age 24, he paid for and downloaded from the net a handsome and authentic-looking BA diploma in English Literature from Mid-Ohio College at Kent (MOCK). Degree and passport in hand, he flew to Acapulco, Mexico, and began what was to become his pattern in life. First, he found a local girlfriend with room for him at home. She then found him a teaching job at a local English school where his "diploma" opened the door.
Following Mexico, where Rosa's brothers had threatened to cut off the "eggs" of this deadbeat parasite, he made his way through Hungary, Turkey, and Pakistan in similar fashion before arriving in Thailand. Where to next?
He'd learned that there were only two places to make good money as an English teacher abroad: Saudi Arabia and Japan. He considered both options. Saudi's strict Islamic laws called for no alcohol, no contact with women, and beheadings, stonings and amputations for violations of various laws. In addition, it was said to be hellishly hot. Japan was rumored to be very open to drinking, full of beautiful women, and eager to hire English teachers. It also boasted a mild climate of four reasonable seasons.
So, he packed his backpack, retrieved his hidden stash of $1200, and slipped out of the hotel's rear delivery entrance to make his way to the airport. Ticket in hand, he waited nervously for the departure of Thai Air flight #69 to Haneda.